Most people exercise to lose weight. But is this the right goal?

Exercise should be done with the purpose of promoting both strength and flexibility. With this in mind, ideal weight levels can be achieved over time, providing the diet contains the nutrients essential for good health.

Exercise helps to reduce stress, improve blood flow, and increase breathing.

What I look for in a proper exercise program is, does it improve posture? Jack La Lanne was once quoted as saying, "Healthy people in their 80’s and 90’s have two things in common, both perfect posture and less than their ideal weight."

Do it for yourself. Be consistent. Stop using excuses like "no time", "too tired", "I don’t feel like it". These are traps. No-one can make you do it. This I know for sure.

In our office, we have specific exercises designed to relieve pain and correct abnormal posture to create a longer lasting benefit to chiropractic treatment. This I see as a solution to an overused misconception about chiropractic "once you go you always have to come back".

We turn the responsibility for your health back over to you. It is our job to locate and correct the problem and it is your job to keep it that way. So, therefore, exercise is another vital key.

The body contains 650 muscles that are all designed to move the bones. Someone has to be in control. Shouldn’t it be you?

Very basic components of good health and feeling good are calcium and magnesium. They underlie many basic body functions.

We all know that calcium is necessary for strong bones and teeth. What you may not know is that calcium is required for every cell of the body to function in a healthy way. Besides acting as a cellular cement for bones, calcium is used by nerves and muscles, and it also contributes to proper blood clotting. Here’s an overview of the good things calcium does for your body:

calcium promotes healthy bones and teeth.

Just as lime is necessary for strong concrete, calcium is needed for strong bones. Calcium is continually deposited into multiplying bone cells, like the cement that holds together the particles of stone and sand in a chunk of concrete. The stronger the bone development during childhood, the healthier those bones will be in adulthood. That is, the stronger the foundation, the sturdier the eventual building.

During adolescence bones grow rapidly, so teens need a lot of calcium in their diet. Once a person reaches full growth, calcium needs stabilize, but there are periods when calcium needs increase, such as during pregnancy, lactation, and healing from injuries. In old age, the bones begin to lose some of their sturdiness (this is called osteoporosis or "fragile bones").

There are a variety of reasons for this, some hormonal and some related to the fact that calcium absorption lessens in elderly intestines. Also, certain medications decrease the body’s ability to absorb calcium, including antacids. Senior citizens need to be particularly conscious about the level of calcium in their diet and about which medications interfere with calcium absorption.

But waiting for a pronounced calcium deficiency to manifest is not the way it works. Building stronger bones with a calcium-rich diet and weight-bearing exercise in your twenties and thirties is more likely to prevent osteoporosis than preventive measures in your fifties. Although, of course, starting in your fifties is better than not starting at all.

Other functions of calcium.

Besides promoting healthy tooth enamel, calcium helps muscles. Muscles can cramp, and heart muscles can even fail, if these muscles are not supplied with just the right amount of calcium. Nerve impulses, the transmission of information between nerve fibers, will not function properly without just the right amount of calcium. For example, muscles twitch when the calcium supply to neuromuscular cells is insufficient. Calcium is one of the most vital minerals for optimal functioning of your entire body.

How does calcium work?

As with other minerals, the body has a marvelous system for keeping the concentration of calcium in the blood and tissues just right. This is needed because if calcium concentrations fall too low or get too high, certain organs will fail to function.

The first checkpoint is in the intestines. If you eat too much calcium or already have enough calcium in your blood, the intestines simply absorb less of the calcium in the food you eat. If your body needs calcium, the intestines absorb more.

Bones are the second checkpoint. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body may borrow what it needs from your bones. This works for a time, yet continued withdrawals of calcium from the bone bank can lead to osteoporosis.

A hormone called parathyroid oversees all this calcium activity like a vigilant bank manager, keeping the calcium concentration just right. When calcium levels fall, this hormone stimulates vitamin D to increase absorption of calcium from the intestines and to release calcium from the bone bank until a proper balance is restored.

but i already drink and eat calcium enriched products…

Milk, yoghurt and other dairy is generally pasteurized, tainted with toxins, antibiotics and other bad farming habits. Secondly, when food is artificially enriched with calcium various factors enter in – what type of calcium, what is the source of the calcium, was it the right calcium for your body?

Calcium deposits can result from the wrong type of calcium – in other words you could have calcium deposits and still be deficient in the calcium that your body requires.

There are many, many calcium supplements and they are purchased more than any other mineral supplement but at the same time many of them are not right for your body or correctly balanced.

calcium must be balanced with magnesium

Calcium and magnesium work together and must be correctly balanced. That balance is generally established by which calcium and magnesium supplement you are taking.

this is a vital subject.

This is one area where testing for the correct supplement is a must. It is one of the most basic nutrients I test for and a keystone for many health programs.

On an unusually serious note, don’t leave your calcium and magnesium supplement to chance. Find out and you may unexpectedly resolve health issues you wouldn’t have related to the deficiency of calcium and magnesium.

Make an appointment to get tested for your calcium and magnesium at the office number (727) 446-1141.

A significant number of people suffer from parasites in today’s culture. You may have uninvited guests robbing you of food and energy.

When the pH* balance of your body is out of balance – either too alkaline or too acid – it opens the door for parasites to move in, specifically intestinal parasites.

Parasites are organisms that rob your body of your nutrients and can make you ill.

The effects of having parasites can include:

• Putting on weight
• Being underweight
• Always hungry
• Extreme irritation
• Extreme irritation or the "shakes" when a meal is late or missed
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Tiredness
• Lowered immunity or "resistance"
• Itching of ears or anus

In kids you could notice:

• Paleness
• Dark smudges beneath the eyes
• Recurring colds or earaches
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Nervousness

And the list goes on. What this adds up to is a condition that should be treated immediately and for a number of weeks to ensure that the parasites and their eggs and offspring are all eradicated.

Having parasites is a hidden influence and causes unnecessary overload on your system.

handling your parasites

• Be on the right supplement to nail the parasites in their tracks. Being tested for the right product is particularly important as you really need to kill off all the generations of these uninvited guests so they never come knocking again.
• Correct your pH balance through eating fresh vegetables and unrefined foods. Ensure you are washing the vegetables thoroughly.
• Do a thorough cleaning of the kitchen, food storage areas, toilets and bathroom.
• Get re-tested after several weeks to ensure there are no new outbreaks.
• Drink lots of water to help the body expel the "critters."

And, just like that, you could have more energy and feel better!

The issue is about a health hazard which is relevant to many.

We all know that we are not supposed to touch or handle mercury due to toxicity, but have you taken into account some of the environmental exposures? Mercury is a poison which is cumulative.

Exposure to toxic levels of mercury can lead or contribute to;

• Kidney Damage
• Multiple sclerosis
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Alzheimer’s
• Autism* in children
• Damage to:
  • Eyes
  • Immune system
  • Gastrointestinal system
  • Muscle control
  • The speech center

There exists no barrier to prevent mercury from reaching brain cells and nerve tissues, where it is retained in the pain center of the brain.?

sources of mercury exposure

First and foremost is the amalgam or "silver" fillings – these contain nearly 50% mercury. If you have old metal fillings it may be time for them to go. The New England Journal of Medicine has called metal fillings the chief source of mercury exposure. In addition, a study showed that chewing gum can release further mercury from the fillings into your system.

Next on the list is vaccines, a derivative known as Thimerosal. Mercury is used as a preservative in certain vaccines, many of which are specifically administered to children. Studies are linking this to an increased rate of autism amongst children world wide.

And then of course there is fish, once one of the healthiest foods. Certain fish, when eaten, can expose you to high levels of mercury due to pollution running off into the water from coal mining.

the bodies defense

Located in each cheek is avery large salivary gland called the parotid* gland. Under normal conditions one of the functions of this gland is to secrete enzymes powerful enough to sweep away harmful chemicals and poisons.

However, in the presence of excessive exposure the gland becomes overwhelmed. Support of the gland is often necessary.

As a word of caution one should never attempt mercury detox without first removing all amalgam fillings and second without trained supervision. The result could be harmful.

what are the solutions?

1. I recommend having any amalgam fillings removed. Consult a mercury free dentist who has the knowledge and experience to remove the fillings safely.
2. If you have a child who is due for vaccines discuss alternatives with me before using generic, unsafe vaccines.
3. If you feel you have been exposed to mercury that may now be affecting you, come in and get a nutritional exam and testing.

A common element of good health has been mentioned in a number of articles — drinking water. Drinking water is vital top your health, with 75% of your body and 85% of your brain being made up of water. But what happens if you are making the correct effort to drink water but didn’t experience the benefits you expected?

You may have heard of the various problems with water. I will go over a few of the common problems experienced.

drinking tap water

Tap water can have the wrong pH* balance, contain toxins and taste bad.

In general, a water with a low pH (< 6.5) could be acidic, soft, and corrosive. Therefore, the water could leach metal ions such as: iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc from the aquifer*, plumbing fixtures, and piping. Therefore, a water with a low pH could contain elevated levels of toxic metals and have associated problems such as a metallic or sour taste.

In addition, drinking too much of this water could also affect the pH balance of your body, leading to other health risks such as parasites or yeast infections. Or even dehydration!

drinking water from plastic bottles.

Plastic has certain components which disrupt the body’s hormone* system. Tiny amounts of the plastic compenents can be absorbed into the contents, in this case water. Ingesting these tiny amounts daily for a long period of time can lead to long-term effects such as incorrect hormonal balances, low birth weight, miscarriage, infertility and cancer.

distilled water – only for the short term

Drinking distilled water has it’s place when detoxifying the body but can only used for the short-term. In the long-run it can pose health risks. To quote Dr. Zoltan Rona:

“Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapour condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and, because of this, has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Studies validate the benefits of drinking distilled water when one is seeking to cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks at a time). Fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.”

so are there any solutions?

Of course. If you suspect that your water is wrong for you here are some tips:

Drink filtered water, or spring water bottled in glass or polyethylene. Polyethylene bottles can be located at health focused stores such as Natures Food Patch. Glass-bottled water is available for use with water coolers by delivery in Clearwater and, presumably, other cities.

My key advice is, come in and see me with the waters that you drink and find out which one works best for your body.