Archive for Nutrition
Is Obesity Linked to Low Back Pain?
Low back pain has been recognized as a problem of epidemic proportions. It’s estimated that approximately 80% of the North American population will experience low back pain at some point in their adult lives. It’s no surprise that more and more people are going to chiropractors to find relief.
What’s alarming is the apparent link between the incidence of low back pain and obesity. According to the American Obesity Association, 64.5 % of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese. Recent evidence suggests that obesity seriously impacts the musculoskeletal system. Obesity increases the risk of low back pain, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.
Why obesity causes back pain hasn’t been totally investigated. However, I think common sense can be applied here. The laws of physics would tell you that the excess weight causes more wear and tear on the joints of the spine. The extra stress would cause more degeneration and pain.
Also many of the foods that lead to obesity like sugar and toxic fats, also cause inflammation. Inflammation causes pain and accelerates the production of arthritis.
In order to lose weight, overweight people will need to exercise. However, if the person is suffering from back pain, they may not be able to do anything. The inactivity leads to more weight gain, which leads to more back pain, and on and on.
The good news is that chiropractic care that focuses on posture correction can relieve pain and restore function in people even if they are over weight. The treatment along with diet correction and exercise can lead to dramatic improvements in health.
For more information on how I treat back pain, log on to: www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.
Can Food Improve Your Mood?
Most of us underestimate how food can affect our moods. The brain reacts quickly to food- both good and bad- depending on what you feed it.
Although you may feel sugary candy gives you an energy boost, you expose yourself to erratic fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. After the “sugar rush” effect wears off, your mood gets bad. (This can make you want to eat more and more sugar !)
Caffeine is not much better, as it eventually makes you feel jittery and anxious. A better approach is to feed your brain the right nutrients so you can expect good moods to consistently dominate over bad moods.
Eating right does take some time and planning. Unfortunately, in our rushed, stress-filled lives, we frequently turn to quick fixes like fast food. But these quickie meals are often nutrient deficient and heavy with ingredients that make you feel sluggish.
Select carbohydrates like fruits and whole grain products. Fruits that are lower in sugar are the best option; these include berries, apple and kiwi. If you’re not able to get these fresh or in season, choose frozen fruit. (canned fruit usually has sugary syrup in it) And, choose whole grain breads over highly-refined baked products.
Vegetables that are low in starch and high in fiber are excellent sources of brain nutrients. Try spinach, kale, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumber, carrots and cauliflower. Fresh vegetables are better than frozen, but frozen is better than canned.
When cooking food, opt for olive oil or macadamia nut oil. Stress can cause inflammation in your body. The inflammation affects how your brain functions, making you more prone to anxiety and depression. These oils are filled with oleic acids which are anti-inflammatory compounds.
And, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Keeping your body well hydrated keeps you from feeling tired and irritable.
If you suffer from low moods look closely at your diet. If you are being treated for anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder it is especially important for you to follow and good consistent diet. You will be surprised at how good you can feel.
For more information on nutrition and a variety of other topics log on to my web-site www.painfree-greatposture.com.
Health is a Choice
They say that 70% of killer diseases like heart disease, cancer, obesity, stroke, and diabetes, are diseases of excess. They are the manifestation of poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, bad food choices, stress and lack of exercise.
In fact, I remember reading about a study done where they polled a large group of random people (off the street) and asked them…Tell us 3 things that you could change about your lifestyle right now that would extend your lifespan? These were the top 3 answers.
- Eat better, more vegetables, less fat and processed foods.
- Lose weight/Exercise more.
- Stop smoking or drinking.
People are smart, but we can also be lazy and indulge too much in things that taste and feel good.
And the problem with these lifestyle temptations, is they do their damage slowly, and for the most part silently. After-all…the first symptom of heart disease 2/3 of the time is a heart attack, many of those fatal.
So…while health is not a mystery, since most of us know what we should be doing to stay healthy…the mystery is why we don’t do it.
I think it’s because we think we can get away with it. We think…I’m young…I can change my bad habits before it gets too late…then get healthy. Meanwhile…time goes on and nothing happens (and years pass) to you even though you are drinking, smoking, and eating garbage…you get a sense of false security…then BOOM.
Did you hear…Betty was stricken by cancer…like she was hit by a car and had nothing to do with it.
But the thing is…a healthy lifestyle pays dividends now (and later).
You feel better about yourself when you are healthy. You look better. Your body functions better. You sleep better. It gives you a lot more options when it comes to expressing life. And you can do it for longer.
So listen to yourself…because you are right…Health is choice.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Kramer call Jennifer at 262-251-8306.
Dr. Kramer on “What’s Cookin”
Last month I was on the local TV show called What’s Cookin’ with KC Thorson. She interviewed me about nutrition. It was a great little discussion filled with lots of information.
My son’s cub scout troop was there to watch and they had a blast sitting in the audience with big head phones on.
We talked about a variety of hot topics in nutrition and then KC made an excellent pizza.
To check it out, log on here!
Can You Recommend A Detox Product?
Several of my patients have asked about different detox products they have seen on TV or in health food stores. The product I recommend and use myself is Total Tea. I use it because it is gentle acting and the herbs in it have multiple benefits, not just in detoxification. It is not the total answer if you are concerned about toxicity in your body, but it is a great start.
Total Tea contains:
GynoStemma (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)
- Acts as a scavenger in the stomach and intestines to eliminate waste and toxins from the body
- Helps accelerate metabolism by adjusting blood sugar and reducing blood fat
- Contains many beneficial amino acids and vitamins and minerals, including selenium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese, phosphorus and more
- Strengthens the body’s overall health and thought to have a strong anti-fatigue effect
Senna (Cassia angustifolia, Locust Plant)
- A “cleansing herb” that relieves constipation, increases peristalsis, and helps soften stools
Papaya (Carica papaya)
- Contains “papain”, an enzyme chemically related to “pepsin” which helps digest protein in the body and acts as an anti-inflammatory
- A safe and natural digestive aid that helps prevent indigestion
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)
- Excellent digestive aid that helps reduce stomach acids and contains anti-inflammatory components
- Relieves indigestion, gas pains, irritation to the intestinal walls, diarrhea, and stomach cramping
- Contains therapeutic properties that stimulate blood circulation, toxin removal, and cleansing of the bowels and kidneys
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
- Soothes and comforts the stomach, promoting healthy digestion
- Stimulates the flow of digestive juice and bile and the expulsion of gas from the GI tract
- Helps with the treatment of ulcerative conditions of the bowel and intestinal colic
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
- Stimulates the immune system to counter both bacterial and viral infections
- An alterative herb that can be used for long periods of time to gradually and gently detoxify the blood stream thus improving digestion, glandular secretion and assimilation
- Contains anti-inflammatory components
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
- Calms and relaxes the entire body; reduces anxiety; supports a healthy nervous system; helps ease digestion, tense muscles, and menstrual pain; relieves irritability; and helps sleep
- Contains anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the digestive tract and help relieve pain, indigestion, acidity, gas, gastritis, bloating, colic, ulcers and other inflammatory conditions of the digestive system
Rosehips (Rosa canina)
- Mild diuretic and laxative that helps soften stools without purging
- Beneficial for constipation, infections, bladder problems and diarrhea
- Excellent nutritional supplement and helps prevent colds
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
- Used to combat microorganisms, diarrhea and other GI disorders, and has anti-oxidant properties
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
- Used to treat constipation
- Possesses anti-inflammatory properties
For more information on Total Tea go to www.totaltea.net. You can also get it at my office for the same price as online. If you would like to sample it, ask Jennifer on your next visit and she will make you some.
Solutions to Chronic Pain As Seen On What’s Cookin’?
I had the great pleasure of being on a local cable TV cooking show called “What’s Cookin’ ?”.
The show is hosted by KC Thorson who also teaches organic cooking classes and sells different tasty and healthy food items.
The show is about the health benefits of fish. I talk about the high amounts of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and other fatty fish. This show may be of interest to you, because fibromyalgia, endometriosis, arthritis, degenerative discs and chronic fatigue are related to lack of Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet.
At the end KC cooks some salmon in mustard/tamari sauce. The fish is excellent!! You’ll see me continuing to nibble on it while KC is talking at the end
of the show! 
You can see the show on the web at the following links:
http://fallscable-wi.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=d14c5730b1795f6e4e2c8a
http://fallscable-wi.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=d14c5730b179
www.fallscableaccess.com
So check it out. I had fun doing it and I think you’ll enjoy watching it.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, good nutrition is the foundation you will need to feel better. However, you will need assistance from a physician that knows what you will need to eat and how to supplement safely and effectively.
For help on this, call Jennifer or Leah at 262-251-8306 and they can set up a free consultation when we can go over your health status and see if I can help.
If you have fibromyalgia go to www.stopyourfibronow.com for important information that can help you get better.
Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Good For You?
I’ve been asked more than once about a web-site called www.sweetsurprise.com. The web-site is advertised on TV. It discusses high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and how it’s supposedly good for you!
Well, I beg to differ.
There is some evidence that HFCS has more impact than regular sugar on blood glucose. Also, if you are allergic to corn, you can have a reaction to it.
The web-site claims that HFCS is no more dangerous for you than sugar. It sites a few studies that seem to indicate that it effects the body just like table sugar. So, for the sake of argument let’s say that’s true.
My point is, any sugar is dangerous for your health! Too much leads to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, nervous system disorders and on and on.
The reason processed food manufacturers use lots of sugars in their products is that eating it actually makes you more hungry. Whether it is HFCS or regular sugar, the result is the same. You eat the product, you get more hungry, you eat more of the product.
The biggest reason HFCS is so dangerous is that it is cheap. Cheaper than sugar. So now companies can add more of it to their products, at a cheaper cost and as a result, you get more hungry and eat more of their products.
Another problem is that companies now add HFCS to products that never contained sugar before, due to the expense. So now you have bread with high amounts of HFCS in it, which makes you hungry for more bread. That’s a quick way to obesity and diabetes.
My advice is to stay away from HFCS, sugar and sugar substitutes like aspartame and splenda. Which basically means, stay away from foods that come in boxes, bags and cans. Look for organic foods. Eat lots of vegetables, meat in moderation, fruit, nuts and whole grains in smaller amounts.
If you are interested in any more information or any of the services we offer, you can check out some of our other blog posts, or you can call Jennifer or Leah at 262-251-8306 and set up a FREE consultation and posture evaluation to see if I can help you get pain free-great posture.
Article by Dr. Paul Kramer, DC of Menomonee Falls WI
Nutrition Information…Who Can You Trust?
The internet is full of information on nutrition. Some is good. Some not so good. When you add in all the info. on TV, radio and newspaper, it can get overwhelming. Its hard to know who to trust.
My favorite resource is the Price/Pottenger Nutritional Institute. Found at www.ppnf.org.
I like them because they have been around a long time, their approach is fairly simple and the research done today is confirming what Dr. Price and Dr. Pottenger were advocating over 50 years ago.
Dr. Weston Price was a dentist. He traveled the world studying different groups of people in order to find out what the healthiest people ate. He found that people that had no cavities, no arthritis, good bone structures and good longevity ate pretty much the same things. They ate meat (some of it raw), vegetables, fruit, nuts, sprouted whole grains and raw dairy products. As soon as a culture started eating refined grains, sugar, cooked dairy and overcooked meat, they began to fall apart. Literally. He observed cavities, birth defects, arthritis and weak immune systems as a result of bad diet.
He predicted that due to the way we eat, America as a nation would not only become very sick physically, but also mentally and morally. Well… all you have to do is look at what has happened to America over the last 50 years and you will see that he was correct.
Dr. Pottenger was a neurological researcher who did a lot of work with cats. He found that he could induce many types of diseases by feeding the cats diets that were missing key nutrients. Without key nutrients, the cats DNA would become damaged. So, the cats would pass these diseases along to their off-spring.
He believed that humans did the same thing when they ate bad diets. But, the good news was that he found that if he switched the cats back to healthy diets, the DNA would repair itself. These findings were confirmed by studies done at the University of Wisconsin some 50 years later.
The principles these two doctors believed in are what guides the Price-Pottenger Nutritional Foundation today. On their web-site you can find all kinds of different information and books to help guide you on your way to eating healthy. I use their principles and they work very well. Trust me.
If you are interested in any more information or any of the services we offer, you can check out some of our other blog posts, or you can call Jennifer or Leah at 262-251-8306 and set up a FREE consultation and posture evaluation to see if I can help you get pain free-great posture.
Article by Dr. Paul Kramer, DC of Menomonee Falls WI