Government + Fad Diets

The Canadian government is proposing that all Canadians be legislated to go on a low salt diet.  A recent article in Macleans by Alexandra Shimo "A Pinch of Reality About Salt" argues that the science behind the the benefits of a low salt diet is far from conclusive.  As the article points out, salt is an absolute necessity of life and most people will not be healthier by consuming only a small amount of it on a daily basis.  Too often governments fall into the same traps as individuals do when it comes to health and other issues.  They go with what is popular not what is right. 

How often have we seen the perceived wisdom of one generation be looked upon as a total fallacy by the next generation?  How absurd to think that covering a person with leaches would cure their illnesses.  It was considered state of the art for a time.  What if the government had legislated that all sick people needed to undergo leach treatment?  Not too many years ago eggs were considered to be almost lethal because of their cholesterol content.  Today we know that eggs are fabulously nutritious.  What if they had been legislated out of the market? 

The problem with trying to put human nutrition into nice tidy boxes where everything is defined is that humans are simply too complex.  There are too many interactions between systems, chemical reactions, etc. to come up with absolutes.  "Normal" lab values are constantly changing as research discovers new "truths" about what is necessary for health.  For every suggested parameter there are many scientists who would suggest other figures as being normal.  For instance recommended vitamin C intake is 90 mg/day while a highly respected Noble scientist believed it should be 10,000 mg/day.  Which amount is correct?  With such great disparity by leading experts it certainly wouldn't be wise to legislate an amount.  The same holds true for salt.

The chiropractic approach to body function is that the body knows what is best for its own individual situation.  We need to supply the body abundant amounts of natural substances which are free of toxins while adopting a lifestyle which promotes health.  Rest, exercise, stress management and regular chiropractic care will help the body to function optimally.  Then listen to the body's subtle signals.  It will tell you when it has inadequate or adequate levels of salt.  It doesn't need the government to tell it what is right. 

Don't Take It Easy

This post is going to reveal just how ancient I am.  I remember when people who worked in offices were called secretaries.  These people did their work on typewriters.  People who worked on typewriters expended a great deal more energy during the course of a work day than people working at computers do today.  It took more effort to push the keys on a typewriter than it does to use a computer keyboard.  Secretaries weren't tied to their desk chairs the way office workers are today.  They had to get up frequently to get paper and resource material that now is right at the finger tips.  Over the course of the day a significantly greater amount of energy was expended by the typewriter user than the computer user.

At a time when our society is struggling with both an obesity crisis and an epidemic of health problems related to poor physical conditioning, I think we need to look at how we do everyday things in our lives.  For most of my lifetime the aim of products and services has been to make life easier.  Perhaps life has become too easy for our own good.  We have made it incredibly easy to avoid the expenditure of physical energy.  As a result our total caloric expenditure over the course of a day is significantly less than it was before we made life so easy for ourselves.

I propose that we can be healthier, thinner people if we find ways to expend more energy during the course of the day.  When doing any activity, see if you can think of a way to do it that will require you to move more or use more muscle.  We've long been encouraged to take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Maybe take that one step further and make more trips up and down the stairs rather than group tasks at either the top or bottom.  When going shopping, instead of taking the spot closest to the door, park further out in the lot.  Hand carry a basket rather than push a cart for a small number of items.  If you only have one or two cuts to make on a board, use a hand saw rather than a power saw.  Use a hand screwdriver instead of an electric one when there are only a few screws.  Move the computer printer away from the computer so you have to get up to retrieved your printed material.  Sit on a gym ball or even stand for some of the time when at the computer.  Even something as simple as toe tapping increases muscle and energy use.  There are endless possibilities do things in ways to expend more energy. 

A portion of a calorie burned here, a portion of a calorie burned there and over the course of the day it ads up.  Doing this day after day will result in not only an increase in energy used but an increase in muscle mass.  This muscle will itself increase calories burned.

I have no desire to go back to manual typewriters, but I see a great need to change my own lifestyle to move more.  Rather than do things the easiest way, I'm looking for ways to use my body.  Remember the old cliche: "Use it or lose it."   

Fighting Germs

There have been several news articles on the net recently about how many germs are lurking on common surfaces we contact on a daily basis.  Among those highlighted have been toothbrushes, the computer mouse and keyboard, cell phones, dishwashers, sponges, vacuums, door knobs, your office desk, handles on kitchen faucets, mats at the gym, the ATM, and of course the TV remote.  The solution given in every article is to to clean, clean, clean.  Disinfect every surface, every time.

The reality however is that we all touch countless surfaces every day that are brimming with pathogenic bacteria and viruses.  So why aren't we all sick all the time?  That's because the germs are only part of the equation.  The most significant factor is what is termed "host resistance".  This refers to the ability of the person coming in contact with the pathogen to be able to fight the pathogen's ability to cause the disease.  The stronger our immune system is the less likely we are to be affected by any particular germ.  I've observed over the years that some of the people with great immune systems are not particularly fastidious.  On the other hand, I've seen many people who are obsessed with cleaning things yet they have poor immune systems and are frequently sick.  One of the reasons for this is that contact with pathogenic organisms strengthens our immune systems.

The immune system is complex and contact with pathogens is only one factor in strengthening it.  Other things an individual can do is to get adequate sleep, manage stress levels, avoid toxins. exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet particularly one that promotes alkalinity.  Nutritional supplements such as B complex, Vit. A, C, D & E, probiotics, zinc and others can be very helpful.  An often neglected factor in immune system health is the nervous system which controls all body functions.  Regular chiropractic care assures that the nervous system and consequently the immune system can work optimally.  I've worked hard to keep my immune system strong and chiropractic adjustments are a key factor for me.  Please do not take my next statement as bragging.  As a result of getting adjusted regularly plus consciously looking after my immune system, I have missed only 3 days of work in 26 years due to illness.  Keep in mind that I'm in contact with unhealthy people every day.

Despite what you might think from what I've written already, I truly believe hygiene is an essential factor in maintaining a healthy immune system.  But, we cannot rely on chemical cleansers to keep us healthy.  It's unrealistic to think we can simply clean every surface every time.  We cannot avoid all pathogens, but we can't be foolish and put ourselves in situations where our immune systems will be overwhelmed.  Cleaning hands and surfaces is wise but not to the point of being obsessed. Germs only beat us when we are weaker than the germs, so stay strong.

Dr. Yoon Han

Dr. Yoon Han has just joined our team of chiropractors.  We are excited to have him on board!  Although Dr. Han has just recently completed his license requirements for Canada, he has 10 years practice experience in Asia.  During that time he was able to develop the chiropractic skills he learned at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA.  This is the same school both Dr. Powers and Dr. Ruzycki attended.

Practicing in his home country of South Korea was certainly much more of a challenge than North American chiropractors face in the 21st century.  There is no licensing of chiropractors in that country, as a result many misconceptions of our profession persist.  This is not unlike what chiropractors in North America experienced 50 years and more ago.  Dynamic Chiropractic published an article recently on prosecutions of Korean chiropractors.  It is very difficult for Korean chiropractors to effectively help their patients.  They face so much opposition.  These circumstances forced Dr. Han to look beyond his homeland for practice opportunities.

Because of the persecution of chiropractors in Korea, Dr. Han and his family moved to Malaysia for four years where he practiced while waiting for Canadian Immigration to approve their move to Canada.  Canada is the country of their dreams!  We are happy they have chosen to make Medicine Hat their home.  As well as joining our office, Dr. Han and his wife own and operate the Esso convenience store and gas bar at the corner of 11th St. S.E. and Division Ave. 

Dr. Han is excited about helping people in Medicine Hat with their spinal health.  Although he is just learning the Activator Methods technique, he is already quite proficient with instrument adjusting.  He knows the body and the power of the chiropractic adjustment.  His experience helping patients is very transferable to his new technique.  You can schedule an appointment to see Dr. Han by calling our office at 403-529-9069.  

Welcome to Powers & Jans Centre Dr. Han!

"I Know I Should ....

Exercise more, eat less sugar, avoid deep fried foods, get more sleep, take more time to relax, stop smoking, get more massages, get adjusted more often, look after myself better."  I hear some version of these statements from my patients on a daily basis.  The conclusion I have to draw is that almost universally people know what they should be doing to be healthier.  But they seem unable to do it.

I was watching a health guru talking to a large group of people.  He was telling them that there were three things each and every person needed to do to be healthier.  As the camera panned across the audience I found myself saying, "He'll do it." "She won't do it."  They aren't going to take his advice."  "That person is right into it."  The people who were going to follow the expert's advise were probably already doing the right things to a very large extent.  The people who were not already on the road to looking after their own health may have been nodding approval but there is only a very slim chance they will actually follow the advice.

We are an educated society.  There are some well known health principals that virtually everyone knows, like getting regular exercise, eating fewer processed foods and more natural foods, getting adequate rest, and practicing good hygiene.  But just because we know these things intellectually doesn't mean we will do them.  There is a great scripture verse that spells out the struggle we face.  "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."  Mt 26:41  This applies to all aspects of our lives not just our spiritual lives.  Sadly most of us know what is right and yet we choose to do what is wrong.

I've observed that people make positive changes in their lives in one of two ways.  The first is to reach a point of crisis and the second is to make small incremental changes.

Alcoholics usually have to reach bottom before they will make the necessary changes.  Sugarholics usually have to have diabetic complications before making lifestyle changes.  The reality is that we all have unhealthy behaviours we are addicted to.  The sooner we acknowlege them, the sooner we can get on the road to becoming truly healthier.  That time of acknowledgement often comes at a time of crisis.  This is not the most pleasant way to be motivated to make changes for better health.

The second way to improve one's health is to make a small step forward today.  Take one thing and make it a part of your lifestyle.  Perhaps it will be to exercise 20 minutes everyday, or eat a more nutritious breakfast, or get more sleep, or see your chiropractor regularly.  When that one thing is a part of you, make another small change.  Over time you will become a healthier person.  Each positive result will help motivate you to make another change. The key to this approach is to make small achievable changes to avoid discouragement.  The changes are not dramatic like when we reach a crisis point, but they can be every bit as effective if we persist.  This is why I continue to pass on tidbits of information that you may find helpful.  Perhaps there will be something I say that will click with you and help you to change without having to reach a crisis point.