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Why do you need PROBIOTICS when using Antibiotics?

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THE INSIDE INFO ON YOUR INSIDES

When we feel those sinus-like symptoms start to kick in, our society tends to turn to antibiotics like amoxicillin. The antibiotics then eliminate both the thriving and harmful bacteria that is intruding on our systematic physiological flow (“anti”- against, “biotic”- living organisms). We have so much concern with bacteria in and on our bodies that we go to extreme lengths to eradicate them- all of them (which means destroying the destructive and beneficial little buggers alike).

Here is a run-down of what happens when antibiotics are introduced to the body:

Antibiotics wipe out all bacteria, good & bad –> No good bacteria left to  fight off remnants of virus/disease –> Bad bacteria strengthens & becomes resilient to antibiotics –>

SCORE:

Bacteria- 1

Body- 0

Now, please do not misunderstand me- I believe antibiotics have their place in our lives (i.e. In emergency situations). However, when we take them, we have to be so intentional about also giving our bodies plenty of probiotics to help support their natural ability to rid themselves of harmful illnesses. In Joyce Killian’s article “The Overlooked Role of Probiotics in Human Health” in Life Extension Magazine, April 2012, she explains the impact that probiotics have on a person’s overall health. Our bodies depend on these organisms for healthy immune functioning (as the gut is host to more than 70% of the immune system), decreased inflammation, and gut flora balance. Probiotics also group together to line the intestinal walls, hence acting as a shield against the determined and harmful bacteria that want to escape into the body. Protecting the gut is foundational to a healthy and thriving body.


Food sources of probiotics

Sauerkraut – Kombucha (fermented tea) – Fermented vegetables

Organic fermented dairy (from grass-fed animals)

 

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Can Chiropractic Help Digestive Problems?

Can Chiropractic Help Digestive Problems

Every month our office sees numerous people who suffer from some form of digestive problem. So, for today’s article, we’ll answer the patient question “Can chiropractic help digestive problems?”.

Whether it is acid reflux, bloating, constipation, irritable bowel, or some other digestive disorder, most of these problems can be resolved with chiropractic adjustments and lifestyle changes.

The nervous system controls every cell, tissue, muscle, and organ system in the body, and interference from everyday stress can disrupt this system. The nerves in the lumbar and sacral area are directly related to digestion, so when the body is under a state of stress, the nerves stay hyperactive, which negatively affects digestive processes.

The Role of Stress

For example, if someone is chasing after you, your body is under stress , so it does not expend energy digesting food. Rather, your body will use its energy on the innately driven physiological responses to keep you safe. This kind of acute situation can be easily changed by various means. However, in today’s world, many people develop chronic stress due to lack of interest in their careers, constant sitting, toxic diet, sedentary lifestyles, or negative thinking, all of which rot the spine and lead to bodily shut down.

Structural chiropractors are well trained on how to reposition the vertebrae in place, so stress is removed from the nervous system, thereby allowing the digestive system to work more efficiently. A case study done a few years ago shows a woman who suffered with IBS symptoms once or twice a week for 5 years. After her first adjustment, she noticed an ease of symptoms, and quickly all her digestive problems disappeared. At her follow-up visit 2 years later, she was still symptom free.

Chiropractic for Infants with Digestive Problems

In 2008 a study showed how chiropractic can also help with infants who have digestive disturbances. Researchers chose 3 infants who had infrequent bowel movements ranging from once a week to once every 3 – 4 days. Parents of these infants tried laxatives and other medical procedures recommended by their primary care providers to regulate their babies’ digestive tracts, but they had little success. Then, the infants began chiropractic care for anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months, and all 3 infants experienced immediate improvement and began to have bowel movements on a daily basis.

The bottom line is that when we take stress off the nerves and the nervous system, the body is able to function at its fullest potential and digest foods more easily.

Get Involved

Have you, or anyone you know, found chiropractic to help with their digestive problems?

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32 Years Old
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32: Life Lessons & Best Secret

 

As many of you remember, my birthday is my time to reflect on life and the previous year. Most people review their year from January – December, but personally I like to review each age.

Last year, I wrote the article “31 Lessons in 31 Years“, and it discussed thirty lessons I have learned in my life. Since I have not learned thirty-two new life lessons since my birthday last year, I want to share the “gem” or “golden nugget” I learned at 31 that transformed my life.

Like every human being in the World, I have challenges in my life. These are not challenges that prevent me from living an amazing life but they are just “stuff” that occur personally, professionally, financially, socially, and emotionally. The challenges I experience can only prevent me from living an amazing life IF I allow it to do so. The only thing blocking or stopping me from an amazing life is the person I see when I look in the mirror.

Focusing on the “Stuff”

This year I focused on looking at this “stuff” as tests from the Universe to see how strong of a person I am; if I can overcome a trying situation then the Universe will provide me with more abundance and happiness. Many do not realize, but we are constantly tested to see how much we can handle. Once we get to a point when we say “Life is amazing and perfect”, then usually a test is around the corner. This test shows up in my different forms but the only grades are pass and fail.

Failing means reacting negatively, allowing circumstances to consume your life, or not choosing to be proactive when situations arise. Following a failing score, the Universe will keep you at that level in your life or bring you back down to where it thinks you need to be.

Being Tested

An example of a test personally was when I went to dinner at Seasons 52 four years ago. On the way out to valet I looked in my wallet and only saw two $5 bills. I thought to myself, “I can’t give the valet a $5, so I should ask for change.” Unfortunately at this younger age I was not aware of “tests” and how the Universe worked, so I gave the gentlemen $5 and asked for $3 back instead of giving this young, hard working kid the full $5. The Universe was testing me to see if I was ready for the next level of success and if so, how much. Unfortunately at that time, I failed by not giving the valet the full $5 so the Universe humbled me.

Passing means you moved past negative situations, stopped letting others affect you, or you did the right thing. You will always know your score because if your life stays status quo, then you have been failing however, if you are living a life of true happiness, then you are passing.

For example, last year my wife came home from dinner and told me she lost her phone. I had to be up early the next morning, so I was asleep when she told me that she thought she left it in her taxi. She called the company from my cell phone but unfortunately could not track down her phone nor knew what action steps to take. I woke up patiently and found her iPhone using the “Find My Phone” app and hunted it down through the streets of Buckhead.

Eventually the taxi stopped, and she got the phone from the driver. The driver and her passengers were completely shocked that we tracked the phone down successfully but this challenge was a test, a test of my patience and selfless commitment to my wife. Since that experience, our relationship has moved to another level of growth.

None of us on this Earth are ever put here to be unhappy, and everything that God created was designed for success and growth. Everything!

My Challenge to You

Take note, and be observant in your life because everyday there are tests to determine which level of life you are ready to experience.

Focus on this year to see how you’re being tested and watch your life grow drastically even times when these tests can be scary. Trust the process, and trust the outcome!

Get Involved

We all have a story to tell about life lessons, I’d love to hear yours! Please leave comments below.

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How to Make Someone Elses Day

How To Make Someone Else’s Day?

How to Make Someone Elses Day

On February 6th, my team and I were sent an email from a patients father that stated his daughter will be passing away very soon. We were all upset, as this patient was such an inspiring young woman. She had been through a lot from her time in the service and recently residing in a wheelchair after losing a leg to gangrene. Even though the situation has been upsetting, this whole process has taught us a few lessons about life and our practice….and how to make someone else’s day when they come to visit.

Myself and everyone one of my employees has a goal to make every single persons day at least 1% better by walking through our double glass doors. We want everyone to know and recognize how valuable they are as a human and that they have a whole lot of worth in this world. There is nobody that God created that was by accident or mistake. Everyone was created for a reason and with a purpose to fulfill…which is usually through helping others.

In her last few months, she shared how she looked forward to every visit and enjoyed seeing our smiling faces as well as our other patients. Believe it or not, many of you current patients shared words with her that were uplifting that helped get her through the day.

Interpret this article how you will but the vision is for you read this and recognize that every single person you encounter in your life is there for a purpose. There are no accidents why you walk by someone, sit next to someone, get adjusted at the time-slot as someone, or even bump into someone. Be observant and always be alert on how you can increase the value and experiences of someone else’s life.

Get Involved

I would love to hear experiences you have had that were powerful or examples of uplifting someone’s day, please leave comments below.

Here are some examples of how we are always looking to make other peoples day:

  • On Valentines Day, we bring roses to the homeless shelter to surprise the women and children
  • Sending birthday and anniversary cards to everyone
  • Surprising my staff with gifts and lunches
  • Adjusting the men in the homeless shelter monthly
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Can Chiropractic Help Heart Disease?
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Can Chiropractic Help Heart Disease?

Can Chiropractic Help Heart Disease?

When people think of heart disease, many usually think of clogged arteries or a sedentary life with little exercise to strengthen the heart muscle. What many people don’t know, though, is that Chiropractic has been showing to help your heart. So, todays article is for those wonder, “can chiropractic help heart disease?”

We live in a World where at least 50% of the population will suffer from heart disease and not because of genes or age but because of our lifestyles. Many people around the World live longer and rarely get heart disease, but it is because of their more proactive lifestyles, which have been instilled in their cultures.

Beyond eating healthfully and exercising regularly, chiropractic can drastically impact our heart health in a positive way.

What Research Has Found

Recent research by medical provider Dr. George Bakris out of the University of Chicago Hypertension Center found that a misaligned spine can lead to high blood pressure. He took 50 patients with high blood pressure and gave half of them a real chiropractic adjustment and the other half a series of fake adjustments.

Those with the real chiropractic adjustments experienced improved blood pressures as systolic (top) numbers lowered by 14 mm. In conclusion, receiving a chiropractic adjustment lowered blood pressure better than 2 medications and has zero side effects.

Heart Disease & Posture

As many of you are aware our office focuses on structural correction to combat the postural patterns to which we subject our bodies everyday. The most common pattern is Anterior Head Syndrome where the head is shifted forward over the ears.

According to Rene Cailliet, the University of California’s Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, “This posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage pulling the entire spine out of alignment and may result in the loss of 30% of vital lung capacity.” As forward head posture decreases lung capacity, it prevents the body from effectively oxygenating cells. This can lead to asthmatic conditions, blood vessel problems, and heart disease.

Therefore it is so essential to see a corrective chiropractor to make sure your head tilts back and the curve in the neck is structurally sound.

More To Come

For those who think chiropractic is solely for improving neck pain, back pain, and headaches, this month is dedicated to teaching chiropractic care’s positive effect on the heart. Stay tuned for great opportunities to learn why getting your spine corrected and maintained exponentially increases your quantity and quality of life, especially for your heart.

Get Involved

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave comments and questions below for our next articles relating to chiropractic and your health.

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immune system
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Best Time To Start Chiropractic Care

Best Time to Start Chiropractic Care

When many people first visit our office they’re in shock at the average age of our patients. Most people are expecting to walk into an office full of older people with back and neck pain, but not expecting to walk into an office of young, healthy people. We do take care of many people that are in the baby boomer generation but most of our patients choose to be “proactive” and are in their 20’s to 40’s. So, perhaps you wondering about the best time to start chiropractic care? We will discuss the topic in this article!

Starting BEFORE the Pain

Speaking of our patient base, this younger generation chooses to get adjusted and see a chiropractor BEFORE pain happens and a problem becomes worse. Many of our patients have seen the suffering their parents and grandparents have gone through with drugs and surgery and want to prevent that route at all costs.

When it comes to any disease, including osteoarthritis of the spine, the process can be stalled with proper care. Similar to taking care of your teeth before they rot or eating clean before you become overweight, many people younger people in Atlanta tend to take care of their spine early before it becomes too spine.

What’s A Good Time to Start Seeing A Chiropractor?

The human spine was designed to last. When kept in proper biomechanics, the spine can go strong for 120 years. Unfortunately, the spine often shifts out of alignment and stays this way for years since people do not seek chiropractic care. Only a trained corrective chiropractor can retrain the spine to go back to normal once it reaches this level.

To give you a comparison, I like to use the example of a care and it’s alignment. The longer you go without taking it to a mechanic for an alignment, the faster your tires wear out and the sooner you find yourself breaking out the wallet to replace them.

Unfortunately, with the human spine, once it wears out then there is little that can be done to reverse course. It’s essential to make sure you’re in alignment before it becomes too late. This not only prevents wear and tear to the vertebrae but also keeps the body functioning optimally. When the spine is in its proper alignment the brain and spine communicate more effectively with little pressure.

Get Involved

Did you start chiropractic care young? Leave a comment below with age you, or your children, started chiropractic care!

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Is Chiropractic Safe
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Is Chiropractic Safe?

Is Chiropractic Safe

One of the most common questions people around Atlanta ask when visiting my office is “Is Chiropractic Safe?”. Maybe they have seen too many horror movies depicting chiropractic negatively, perhaps even heard a story from someone who has never been to a chiropractor. I’m not only able tell you chiropractic is extremely safe but also can show the proof in the numbers.

Chiropractic Versus…

We all know that doctors need to carry malpractice insurance to cover being sued for improper care. I posted my annual premium for my malpractice insurance on this page. Malpractice insurance is based on how many claims get submitted every year from that profession, as you can see mine is a measly $1,200.

To give you an idea of how low that is compared to other professions in other big cities. Ob-Gyn’s in New York pay over $200,000 PER YEAR, surgeons from Miami pay $190,000, and internists from Miami pay $47,000.

These numbers go to show how safe chiropractic as it is a drugless and non-invasive profession designed to get the body working at 100%. The only side effect from chiropractic is better health as it is a completely non-invasive and drugless profession.

In fact, in 2007 Spine magazine performed a study on 19,700 people to track the safety of chiropractic. Following 50,000 adjustments on the subjects there were no serious adverse effects which translated to the risk at being 1 per 10,000 per this study.

Get Involved

I hope that this article gives you better insight on the safety of chiropractic. I would love to hear some concerns from the general public, as sometimes the fear of seeing a chiropractor can stall someone from getting healthy and living their life to the fullest potential. Leave comments below!

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Are High Deductible Healthcare Plans Good
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Are High Deductible Policies Good?

Are High Deductible Healthcare Policies Good

The other day I had a discussion with a patient and the topic turned to healthcare policies. That conversation inspired this weeks blog topic, “Are High Deductible Policies Good?”.

My patient was explaining how she felt, sick with a higher fever. After talking for a little while she stated that she didn’t want to go to a the medical doctor. She chose not to seek professional care because US healthcare costs were inflated and her high deducible policy wouldn’t foot the bill.

Instead of going to the doctor and becoming dependent on medicine and other allopathic tools, she chose to care for her body naturally. She took vitamins, rested, increased fluid intake, drank green juices, got a chiropractic adjustment, and did other holistic procedures to help her body heal from the inside-out instead of the outside-in.

The Importance

This story is important because premiums, deductibles, and co-pays are rising significantly. If you want to save money in your life then taking care of your health was important yesterday. Since her deductible is so high she is now choosing to care for her body better so she can avoid the medical world and live a healthier life.

When people tell me that eating healthy, working out, chiropractic, massage, and other proactive tools of living are expensive, I usually let them know that these are investments. Living proactively is the best “health” insurance for yourself and is the only tool that can keep you healthy.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where people wait until they get diagnosed with a disease before they become serious about being proactive with their health. Many people wait until they have heart disease before they eat an anti-inflammatory diet and workout. People wait until they have cancer before eating an alkaline diet. Most people will even wait until they have diabetes before cutting their sugar intake.

Let’s get real, NOBODY but you can provide the best care for yourself. We are the keepers of our body and the only person that can make sure it stays healthy and lives on.

Is it bad to see the medical doctor? Absolutely not! However, they are designed for crisis care situations and to put fires out. Chiropractors, eating healthy, and working out are tools that rebuild the body to prevent fires from re-occurring.

Get Involved

Let’s hear your story. What actions are taking to better care for yourself?

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Sticking To Your New Years Resolutions
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How To Stick To My New Years Resolutions

Sticking To Your New Years Resolutions

Twelve months ago on January 1, 2013, many of you created goals for yourself for that year. Some of you achieved these goals, while others will carry them into the 2014 year because you never made them happen. There is a high likelihood that many of these goals were health related, and yet the theme stays similar each year: unaccomplished. We have this dream and hope for something bigger and better each year, but we do not always achieve those results. This year, I wanted to write and article to help my patients asking themselves how to stick to my New Years resolutions.

Sometimes I feel personally responsible when you do not achieve your health goals because maybe I did not challenge you enough.

As I was debriefing at the end of the year I thought, how can I make the quality of my clients’ lives better while helping them achieve their health goals for the year? Many of you have shared your goals with me, which include running marathons and 5ks, eating paleo for breakfast and dinner, lose or gaining 15 pounds, doing a triathlon, completing a cleanse, and the list continues.

In 2014, we are going to make it easier for you to achieve your goals by holding you accountable. Of course, our new space opening in March 2014 will be the epicenter of health in Atlanta, as the amenities will encourage a healthy lifestyle. Jessica is also training to become a clinical nutritionist, so all of you will have a resource to learn how to eat cleaner and learn the nutrients your bodies are craving. Even so, we want to continue to go far beyond these programs.

Challenging You

By January 15th, we are asking every client to e-mail us your top 2 health goals for the 2014 year. We are going to keep track of them and do quarterly check-ins to see how you are doing. You will also have the opportunity to be part of a forum where many of us can work together to help each other with our goals. People can share recipes, training ideas, best exercise classes, and steps they are taking to become healthier. This group will be a place where you will be inspired to step out from the World that is constantly marketing misinformation to you about how to lead a healthy life. We will provide feedback and ways to help you reach your goals and not let them become more resolutions that never get accomplished.

As a chiropractor, my mission has always been to have the World look at my community and ask, “How is this community so healthy without utilizing as many drugs and surgeries as the rest of the country?” I want the public to see that the body heals itself from the inside-out, and with proper preventative care and proactive living, we can live our greatest lives.

Please send your goals to us by January 15th, and be as specific as possible. For example, rather than saying you want to lose weight, write down how much weight you want to lose. Instead of deciding you want to eat paleo, include which days you will commit to eating a paleo diet every week.

For 2014 my goals:

  1. Do a cleanse in March (minimum of 3 days)
  2. Complete an Ironman by December 31, 2014

Closing Thoughts

Start your 2014 health planning early and share your goals by commenting below! If you still are unsure about the health side, still feel free to speak opening about your other New Years resolutions.

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Difference Between Physical Therapists and Chiropractors
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What’s the Difference Between Physical Therapists & Chiropractors?

Difference Between Physical Therapists and Chiropractors

Many people come to our office with either back, neck, shoulder, or hip pain thinking they either need to see a chiropractor or physical therapist, but they use the terms interchangeably. The fact is that Chiropractors and Physical Therapists (PT’s) are so different in their practices; it would be the same as if someone had tooth pain and they were thinking of going to a dentist or cardiologist. These professions, like chiropractic and PT, learn different information and each have its own specialty. I’m writing this article so you know you’ll know what’s the difference between physical therapists and chiropractors.

Let me first preface that if you ever go to a chiropractor or PT who negates the other profession, please walk away. This person is usually not in the best interest of the patient and their results but more interested in the dogma between the two professions.

History of the Two Professions

Physical therapy was founded in 1916 when the polio outbreak occurred and people needed a profession to re-educate the muscles. The field then grew significantly during WW1, as many people in the army were getting injured and needed to rehabilitate their muscles and soft tissue…which is when PT is the best!

Chiropractic was founded in 1895 when DD Palmer, a magnetic healer, adjusted his janitor, Harvey Lillard’s neck, which restored his hearing. DD felt Harvey’s neck, and on the top vertebrae which controls eyesight, headaches, and hearing he noticed it was sticking out. He then adjusted this vertebra back into place, and Harvey noticed his hearing slowly coming back. The profession began to grow rapidly as chiropractors began seeing people with many different problems including vision, cancer, heart disease, and other issues related to the nervous system.

The Difference

If I ever had surgery on my shoulder for a tear or other issue, there is a high likelihood I would see a PT to re-educate the muscle and stretch out the joint. The PT would also teach me exercises and other trainings I could do at home to maximize the recovery. Physical therapy is great for tendonitis, sprained ankles, or for a post-op recovery on any joint. PT’s are the experts in this department, and nobody can argue with that especially because their techniques such as ultrasound, dry needling, and specific stretching techniques, are so successful.

When it comes to the spine however, chiropractors are the experts. They detect and correct subluxations in the spine, which are misalignments that can cause nerve pressure. Sadly, with computers and slouched posture only a few chiropractors like myself focus on corrective chiropractic. This type of chiropractic detects the cause of the problem and works to bring the spine back to alignment through many objective tools such as x-rays, postural assessments, range of motion, and stress scans.

The Problem

The problem is that some people see a PT for spinal issues, and others see chiropractors for physical therapy problems. If you see a PT for spinal problems, so they can work on your muscles, BUT structurally your spine is completely out of alignment based on x-rays, than you are working on muscles on top of a weak spine. Unfortunately, this could make the spine worse as you age because the biomechanics are not properly aligned, which would cause the body to wear out faster. There is no problem seeing the two together and having each professional communicate with one another, but the key is going to the provider who can help with the problem at hand.

PT’s are in the medical realm and great for injuries and problems. Chiropractors are in the holistic and preventative realm and are good for the effects of everyday life, such as sitting in front of a computer, traveling frequently, sleeping improperly, scoliosis, or regular tune-ups for preventative care.

Closing Thoughts

We work with many PT’s who will help support the musculature along the spine as we perform our corrective care work. If you are confused about which provider you should see, please comment on this post or call our office so you can be sent to the correct healthcare professional, keeping in mind that sometimes it may be both.

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