If you experience any discomfort in the abdominal area, or have that fat that never goes away even when you lose weight or do exercise, you may have issues with your digestion. Here are some tips to get you by.

A very common health situation involves digestion. Food quality, food allergies, refined carbohydrates, genetically modified foods lead to the inability of the body to correctly digest food. The result?

Abdominal pain, burning feeling in the upper abdomen, heartburn, nausea, abdominal bloating, belching, vomiting, flatulence and, of course, that "tire" around the waist.

The liver, pancreas and gallbladder are closely connected to the digestive tract. The liver is similar to a chemical processing factory and has many functions, including the production of the digestive liquid called bile. The gallbladder stores and concentrates this bile, while the pancreas produces a juice that contains powerful digestive enzymes.

As the liver is one of the largest and most important internal organs, especially in the digestive system I wanted to explain more about it.

liver function

The liver produces cholesterol and bile* from the breakdown of dietary fat and old red blood cells. Using amino acids* it makes protein and stores iron, vitamins and more. It also removes substances such as poisons and waste products from the blood, excreting them or converting them to safer substances.

The liver is the most vulnerable to deficits in function. Today’s diet, combined with environmental stresses and a hectic lifestyle, subject the liver to too many refined carbohydrates, fats, chemical toxins, and devitalized foods that can disrupt the liver’s intricate biochemical processes. Because it is responsible for eliminating the very toxins that cause these disruptions, any deficits in liver function can lead to a cycle of liver deterioration.

Performing over five hundred different functions each day, the liver requires many different nutrients to operate efficiently. Nutrients to support healthy liver function are vital in many cases and certain foods can aid digestion, such as leafy green fresh vegetables.

The irritation and choking of nerves in the spinal cord (subluxation) can cause communication to this vital organ and other parts of the digestive tract to be interrupted, and therefore nutrients and messages necessary to operate correctly never reach the area. The reverse of that is; communication from the liver is altered resulting in even more confusion.

Chiropractic adjustments assist in restoring communication and can greatly improve function.

A health alert to correct some false information on a food that could be damaging your health.

• Infertility
• Kidney stones
• Cancer
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sexual dysfunction
• Growth-retardation
• Mineral deficiencies
• Infant brain damage
• Food allergies
• Brain atrophy*
• Increased risk of Alzheimer’s
• Early puberty in girls
• Retardation of physical maturity in boys
• Altered menstrual patterns
• Hormonal imbalances

Sound like a toxin? While it pretty much is, especially in an unrefined form. Soy has even been labeled as an "anti-nutrient". While millions is poured into marketing soy beans as a health food, it could be causing you serious health issues. Although there are some benefits to soy, the risks involved greatly overshadow these. In addition, soy beans are highly genetically modified.

why would soy cause so much damage?

My research into soy beans show that soy products are powerful inhibitors of mineral absorption in humans. What this translates to is: the minerals you take and those you get from the food you eat are blocked by soy!

If you do use soy products such as tofu, miso, soy sauce, soy milk and other foods, body products and meal replacements, schedule an appointment for nutritional testing and find out if soy does have a negative effect on your body.

I have included an excerpt to an article on the subject of soy beans and there is a link to the full article.

newest research on why you should avoid soy

by Sally Fallon & Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.

Cinderella’s Dark Side

The propaganda that has created the soy sales miracle is all the more remarkable because, only a few decades ago, the soybean was considered unfit to eat – even in Asia. During the Chou Dynasty (1134-246 BC) the soybean was designated one of the five sacred grains, along with barley, wheat, millet and rice.

However, the pictograph* for the soybean, which dates from earlier times, indicates that it was not first used as a food; for whereas the pictographs for the other four grains show the seed and stem structure of the plant, the pictograph for the soybean emphasizes the root structure. Agricultural literature of the period speaks frequently of the soybean and its use in crop rotation. Apparently the soy plant was initially used as a method of fixing nitrogen.

The soybean did not serve as a food until the discovery of fermentation techniques, some time during the Chou Dynasty. The first soy foods were fermented products like tempeh, natto, miso and soy sauce.

At a later date, possibly in the 2nd century BC, Chinese scientists discovered that a purée of cooked soybeans could be precipitated with calcium sulfate or magnesium sulfate (plaster of Paris or Epsom salts) to make a smooth, pale curd – tofu or bean curd. The use of fermented and precipitated soy products soon spread to other parts of the Orient, notably Japan and Indonesia.

The Chinese did not eat unfermented soybeans as they did other legumes such as lentils because the soybean contains large quantities of natural toxins or ‘anti-nutrients’.

The full article on the problems of soy.

So Spring is here and Summer is on the way. Temperatures are rising and so this is a good time to discuss dehydration prevention.

Every Summer I have a number of patient visits resulting from dehydration. A lot of you know the basics such as drinking water, taking sea salt and/or potassium and cell salts. Yet some of you still suffer from dehydration.

Symptoms include:

• increased thirst
• dry mouth and swollen tongue
• weakness
• dizziness
• palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding)confusion
• sluggishness, even fainting
• inability to sweat
• decreased urine output: urine color may indicate dehydration. If urine is concentrated and deeply yellow or amber, you may be dehydrated.
• headaches, even migraines
• low blood pressure
• nausea

still dehydrated?

So what happens if you are drinking water, taking salt and potassium and cell salts and still feel dehydrated, thirsty, or experience the above symptoms?

Well, here’s another factor to take into account: the incorrect pH balance in your body could result in a situation where your body is not absorbing water but simply passing it through. Think of a dry sponge and a running faucet. If the sponge is bone dry the water simply drops straight through without the sponge absorbing any water. This can happen to your body when it has the incorrect pH balance – too acid or too alkaline. One way to tell if this is happening is if you urinate too frequently.

This can occur due to poor water quality, incorrect diet or other factors. So if you suspect you are dehydrated you can come and get nutritional testing to find how to correct the pH balance in your body.

drinking water

Drink at least 8 glasses (about 4 pints) of water daily. If you are active, increase this by another 2-4 glasses (1-2 pints). If you want to add electrolytes to your water, or buy water with electrolytes, inspect the ingredients and try to avoid those with sugar, glucose or aspartame.

Spring is in the air. Green shoots and budding trees are uplifting to see but, unfortunately, this is also pollen season.

Allergic reactions are inappropriate, overblown responses mounted by the body’s immune system against a harmless substance — take oak and ragweed pollen, for example. Neither of these pollens are poisonous, infectious, or in any way harmful to humans. But in some people it triggers an attack by immune system cells that takes the form of an allergic reaction. When this happens, the oak and ragweed pollens — or any offending substance — are called allergens.

Is It Necessary?

Your child is very important to you. With a lifetime ahead of him or her and you want to give your child the right start. Well, did you realize that you could take steps now that would affect his or her future health?

Babies

I treat all ages and even have patients who started under my care the day after their arrival amongst us. Birth is physically traumatic, and is particularly difficult on the baby’s nervous system and spine. Subluxation (the choking or irritating of nerves at the spinal joint) does occur. It is quite a contortion act to get through the birth canal!

Children

Children have growing bones and bodies. Their health can be influenced by numerous factors that lend themselves to chiropractic care. Physical injuries, for example, are common in childhood. If not treated properly, these injuries can lead to muscle imbalances, where some muscles become tight while others become weak. In other cases, injuries can cause spinal joint dysfunction, which can affect spinal biomechanics* and other bodily functions.

Subluxation (the choking or irritating of nerves at the spinal joint) during this period is vital to treat. By correcting them early, you have chance to help your child prevent physical weaknesses caused by the little knocks and growing pains of small bodies. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree!” Regular chiropractic checkups can help prevent problems in the spine, and thereby help prevent disease too. As a doctor of chiropractic I am well-trained to examine, diagnose and manage infants and children. What you and I do today can make a healthier future for your child tomorrow.

What About Teenagers?

As with children, the examination and treatment of teenagers is of critical importance. During puberty, the numerous changes taking place in a teen’s body can place significant demands on muscles, joints and bones. During this period, bones tend to grow fast while muscles grow slowly by comparison. These changes can cause muscle imbalances and injuries.

The transition from teen to adult also brings significant changes to actual bone structure and composition. Before the teen years, many bones in the body are soft and flexible. This is because much of the bone is actually made of cartilage. As a teenager, the cartilage hardens into true bone. During this period, the bones and associated ligaments are more vulnerable to fractures, strains and sprains. Therefore, the detection of subluxations and associated muscle imbalances can be helpful in the prevention, restoration and maintenance of health.

A very important issue when it comes to health is being able to sleep long enough, regularly enough to feel rested. When you don’t get enough sleep it can leave you irritable and unable to function at your normal level of operation. Certain activities such as driving, operating equipment and studying become more difficult. Sleep is one of the top reasons you, my patients, come in to see me.

Make the Dream of a Good Night’s Sleep a Reality.

Thoughts and ideas of work and life might have you tossing and turning at night and waking up on the wrong side of bed in the morning.

Your body can live longer without food than it can without sleep. Sleep is vitally important to the health of your body, yet it can be terribly elusive. Getting enough sleep is vital to achieving your goals but it needs to happen when you need it to happen. On demand, so to speak.

While there might not be much you can do to prevent the occasional sleepless night, a good mattress and pillow, as well as a few simple lifestyle and nutritional changes, can work wonders when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. Below, in the supplement section, is one of the products that has been used successfully with patients to achieve a better night’s sleep.

Key to handling the inability to sleep is to get your nutrition checked so your supplements are exactly right for you because everyone’s body is different. What might make one person fall asleep may wake another up.

But did you know that Chiropractic Care Can Help…

If you experience pain and discomfort at night or have difficulty falling asleep, come in for a spinal adjustment. As a Doctor of Chiropractic I can treat the aches and pains that can interfere with a restful night’s sleep. In addition, I can also offer specific advice that will help you get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Tips:

1. When choosing a mattress, look for one that is comfortably supportive. Although the very firm "table board" mattress used to be in fashion, the new industry trend toward "selective support". Selective support allows you to press down one area of a mattress, leaving other areas unaffected.
2. Be selective when choosing a pillow. When lying on your side, your head and neck should remain level with your mid and lower spine. When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine. In other words, your pillow should not be so thick that it causes your head and neck to be propped up or angled sharply away from your body.
3. A regular exercise program can help you sleep more soundly at night. Exercising in the mornings is best, but if you must exercise in the evenings, do so at least two hours before bedtime. Any later, and your increased heart rate can interfere with your sleep. This does not include taking a walk. You can ‘take a walk’ at any time.
4. Always drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Although an ice cold glass of water can be refreshing, cold water can disturb the digestive system due to its "shock" effect. If you have trouble sleeping, drink water at room temperature. Truthfully, caffeinated beverages and foods should be avoided if you’re having sleep problems. However, if you cannot avoid having some, drink an extra 8-ounce glass of water for each cup of caffeinated beverage you drink.
5. And most importantly, don’t forget to come in for regular adjustments!

For growing bodies, calcium is vital. From birth until about age 18 bones are forming and growing. Calcium in essential for this process. As children grow, it is equally important that their diets remain calcium-rich. The calcium provided to bones early in life helps to determine how well they will hold up later in life.

Kids should have their calcium everyday without fail. Especially with the onslaught of processed carbohydrates and sugars depleting their calcium and magnesium levels. Note that in most cases calcium enriched milk, or other similar products will NOT meet the calcium needs of a growing body no matter what the marketing says.

My office stocks several forms of calcium. Your child can be tested for the right form of calcium for his or her body. This is important because calcium supplements are not all the same – there can be wide variations introduced by different sources. Call (727) 446-1141.

Adjusting a child is not a difficult procedure. In fact, in most cases, a child’s spine is much easier to adjust than an adult’s. They have not had the long- standing subluxations of older bodies, their muscles are usually not as tense and they are usually more relaxed in general than adults.

Not only are kids easier to adjust, but also in most cases, they hold their adjustments for longer periods of time and their corrective adjustment plans are almost always significantly shorter than the average adult. However, with the falls, accidents and the generally active lives most kids experience, regular check-ups are vital.

Chiropractic adjustments are generally painless. Children may, on the first visit or two, be somewhat reluctant. However, they rarely hesitate to get on the table to be adjusted, especially when they see that visiting the chiropractor is a family affair. When they see Mom, Dad and their brothers and sisters getting adjusted, they are usually more than willing to be checked for subluxations too.

The care of children and teenagers is my special area of interest. I love kids and it’s great to see them happy and well. If they have never had an adjustment before, I will talk to them and put them at ease. In fact, in a very short period of time, most kids really look forward to their regular chiropractic visits. So go ahead and schedule a check-up for your child with the office at (727) 444-1141. And did you know, I also deliver school physicals as needed?

At some point in your life you have probably experienced back pain of some nature. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office and recently the number one reason for missed work. Most cases of back pain are mechanical and can be alleviated with a chiropractic adjustment.

Dealing With Back Pain

The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments*, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments*, strain muscles, rupture disks*, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements, like picking up a pencil from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and stress can cause or complicate back pain.

Back injuries are a part of everyday life, and the body is quite good at dealing with these often "pulled" muscles. These very minor injuries usually heal within 1 or 2 days. Some pain, however, continues.

Common reasons may include stress, mood changes, bad diet, lack of exercise and even the fear of further injury that may prevent you from being active. In addition, sometimes a painful injury or disease changes the way the pain signals are sent through your body, and, even after the problem has gone away or is inactive, the pain signals are still being sent. Chiropractic adjustments would assist in restoring proper communication by relieving irritation or choking of nerves caused by misalignment of the spinal joints.

What Can You Do to Prevent Long-Term Back Pain?

In addition to any other measure a chiropractic adjustment will give you relief. Together we can also work on reversing negative conditions to actually improve the condition, rather than just relieve it. Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that I can address. Many of my patients with relatively long-lasting or recurring back pain feel improvement shortly after starting chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective treatment. So there is no reason to put it off and live with the pain. Early treatment can help prevent degeneration and arthritis.

How Can You Prevent Back Pain?

1. Don’t lift by bending over. Instead, bend your hips and knees and then squat to pick up the object. Keep your back straight, and hold the object close to your body.
2. Don’t twist your body while lifting.
3. Push, rather than pull, when you must move heavy objects.
4. If you must sit for long periods, take frequent breaks and stretch.
5. Wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels.
6. Exercise regularly. An inactive lifestyle contributes to lower-back pain.