Eat Well for Your Heart

So what is healthy eating? Ideally our goal should be to eat healthily for all of your organs in your body. The medical field tends to have a reductionist mechanistic mindset where things are broken down into pieces and parts. Chiropractic on the other hand tends to have a more holistic approach to life. Where your body is concerned, it cannot be broken down into pieces and parts because the body functions as a whole, each part communicating and interacting with the other. A healthy diet for one organ is a healthy diet for all.

To begin, let’s consider the nutrition of animals in the wild. An elephant, or say a dung beetle, doesn’t wake up in the morning and say, “Hmm, I wonder what I’m going to eat today”. They simply eat what they are genetically programmed to eat. It is my opinion that humans should do the same. Through studying the diet of our ancient ancestors we can determine what our genetically compatible diet would be. Now, one might argue that our ancient ancestors didn’t live as long as we do today and enjoy the health standards of contemporary society. Certainly scientific evidence suggests that our ancestors lived shorter life spans and had their own diseases to contend with, but in today’s contemporary society we also enjoy less harsh living conditions and better hygiene. However, the leading killers in today’s society are all diseases of lifestyle, many of which are directly related to our diet. Here are some simple guidelines for implementing a diet that is genetically congruent:

~ Eat mostly vegetables - “If you want to be more alive than dead, eat foods that are more alive than dead”, so stay away from processed foods. Try shopping around the outside isles of the grocery store. Eat some raw vegetables with every meal. Vegetables should make up 70% of your meals.

~Drink a lot of clean water but avoid drinking water with your meals. Drinking water dilutes the digestive enzymes your body produces to help you digest the food you are eating. This habit comes from eating processed foods that contain no water, making them hard to swallow.

~Eat grass fed meat or organic.

~Eat at home or pack homemade lunches when possible.

~Purchase tools for healthy eating: food processor, slow cooker, vegetable steamer, a juicer, stainless steel pots and pans (no non-stick) and glass storage containers.

~When frying, use heat tolerant oil such as sesame oil, almond oil, or organic raw butter.

~Eat frequent small meals rather than eating a few large meals each day. Enjoy what you eat and don’t use food as an emotional comfort or reward.

~Never shop when you are hungry – otherwise you will buy convenience foods!

The nutritional decisions that determine your health are made at the supermarket. If “bad” foods aren’t purchased they can’t be eaten. Never feel guilty about a food choice. Guilt will never serve you well. Always look forward to your next meal as a chance to improve your eating habits and your health. The farming techniques and depletion of soils over the last century have drastically reduced the vitamin and mineral content present in our food supply. It is very difficult to get all the nutrients you need from your diet alone.

Therefore, in addition to the recommendations above I suggest adding a quality Omega-3 oil supplement such as Eskimo or IQ oil, and possibly a good multivitamin and probiotic to your dietary regime.

By incorporating the recommendations above you will be taking important strides not only toward the health of your heart but the health of your entire body. My hope is that you will use and share this information with others. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Hear This

The Truth About Ear Infections

Chances are your children have had an ear infection, if not multiple ear infections before the age of 3. Ear infections or otitis media as it is also known, is the most common illness in children.

Ear infections most often occur when bacteria or viruses get into the middle ear through a tube called the Eustachian tube, which helps to balance pressure within and drain fluid from the middle ear. Ear infections usually occur after another health challenge, such as a cold or flu. When the Eustachian tube becomes swollen or inflamed it can trap fluid within the middle ear and because Eustachian tubes in children are situated more horizontally they don’t drain as well. Ear infections can be quite painful due to increased pressure in the middle ear from the build up of fluid. However, ear infections do not always cause pain. Other symptoms might include tugging of the ears, crying more than usual, fluid draining from the ears, or trouble with sleeping, hearing, or balance.

The most common form of treatment for otitis media is a course of antibiotics. In more chronic severe cases a procedure called a myringotomy (“tubes”) may be performed.

However recent research suggests that antibiotics are virtually ineffective at treating non-severe ear infections. A 2005 study published in Pediatrics, in which 223 children were divided into two groups and treated with and without antibiotics, revealed no difference in parents’ satisfaction with their child’s care, resolution of symptoms, or failure and recurrence rate of ear infections.

Another concern with the use of antibiotics is the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A study in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal found that 3-4 days after a round of antibiotics there was a significant increase in the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria found in the nasal passages of 120 pediatric patients.

The use of antibiotics in non-severe cases of ear infections also decreases the efficiency of the child’s immune system, which can lead to further ear infections, and there is the issue that antibiotics can kill off beneficial bacterial populations in the body, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast and other microorganisms. These problems are prompting parents and doctors to seek more conservative methods for treating ear infections. In fact many physicians are now recommending a wait-and-see approach.

Regardless of the approach, no drug will cure an ear infection. The only thing that will heal an ear infection is the immune system. Any other attempt can only be considered as supportive or for the relief of symptoms. As a parent it is difficult to see your child in pain. Rather than giving them a pain relieving medication that may have harmful side effects, consider using a warm compress over the ear to alleviate the discomfort. Many homeopathic remedies, such as mullein, garlic, lavender, peppermint tea, and Echinacea have been shown to support the body’s natural defense. As always prevention is obviously best. So let’s look at some things that you can do to help prevent ear infections.

1) Chiropractic care has been found to be very effective at alleviating and preventing further ear infections. A study in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics found that out of 332 children receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments nearly 80% did not have another ear infection within the first six months of their initial evaluations.

Chiropractic is not a cure for ear infections but rather chiropractors focus on correcting imbalances within the nervous system that result from daily stresses. For children the birth process, especially with medical interventions such as use of forceps and vacuum extraction, can cause imbalances within the nervous system called subluxations that affect the body’s ability to regulate and heal itself. Just as all children should have their teeth checked on a regular basis, all children should have their neuro-spinal systems evaluated by a chiropractor on a regular basis.

2) If you are pregnant the importance of breastfeeding your child cannot be overstated. No formula on Earth can compare to nature’s formula. Breast milk is necessary for the proper development of your baby’s immune system and the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

3) Avoid exposing your child to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke and clothing and materials saturated in it have been shown to increase the incidence of ear infections.

4) If conservative treatment hasn’t been effective, your child may have a food allergy. Some common allergens include dairy, wheat, corn, soy, citrus, chocolate, eggs, and yeast. Dairy is by far the most common culprit. Eliminate any form of dairy from your child’s diet for two weeks and see if symptoms subside. If not, consider a visit to a naturopathic doctor for food allergy testing.

So once again it comes down to simple advice a well functioning spine ands nervous system, a healthy diet, exercise, and a loving supportive home. Meet these needs and your children will have a much better future!

Climbing Up An Escalator The Wrong Way

Eat to Remember

I recently heard someone say that living a healthy lifestyle is like trying to climb up a down escalator, if you see what I mean! At the top of the escalator is optimum health and wellness, and at the bottom is sickness and disease. If you put in enough effort you can climb to the top, but as soon as you stop you immediately lose ground. Unfortunately, many people seem to be living their lives in such a way that they are running down the escalator.

Another reality is that as we get older and our bodies break down as part of the ageing process, living a healthy lifestyle takes even more effort. For many individuals and their families one of the most difficult aspects of the ageing process is the loss of memory and cognitive function. The good news is that if you feed your brain the right foods you can improve your memory.

The first rule is to eat a lot of brightly coloured fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Blueberries, cherries, and strawberries are great sources of anthocyanin which is a memory boosting phytochemical. Spinach, peas, oranges and broccoli contain high levels of folic acid which lowers homocystein levels in the body. High levels of homocystein are associated with memory loss. Another great food you can use to flavour your food and boost your memory is Rosemary. The active ingredient in Rosemary, carnosic acid, has been called a neuroprotective and may help in preventing degenerative neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

The second rule is to make sure you get your Omega-3 essential fatty acids that are necessary for proper nerve function. What makes it essential is that our bodies can’t make it, so it is “essential” that we get it from our diet. Salmon, sardines, and herring are great sources of Omega-3s. If these don’t sound appetizing to you there are many good Omega-3 supplements on the market. Just visit your local health food shop.

So, as you climb up that escalator of health and wellness, make sure you properly fuel up, and the next time you remember to eat, eat to remember.