Why I am drawn to alternative medicine and choose to embrace holistic chiropractic care...

Because it searches for the answer to WHY?

I was watching a video yesterday of another holistic chiropractor named Dr. Schmitt to freshen up on some new information. In this video he was talking about patients who use chondroitin sulfate for joint health and respond well to using these supplements. Then he went on to explain the biochemical pathways where this is used and why patients respond well to these supplements. The point of this is to find why the person responds well to these because your body should make these things on its own. Maybe you don't need to give your body the end product, but instead give it the correct supplement it needs in making that end product. This would be even better because that nutrient may be needed in other processes throughout the body, but if the person is only thinking of their joint health and not their fatigue for example; they really are not solving the problem.

Chiropractors in general and alternative medicine seek to answer this why question. This is part of what drew me to the profession. Click here to find out why I became a chiropractor. The answer may surprise you.

The physical side to golf...

There are several components to a good golf game. There is the technical component of the golf swing and then there is the mechanical. There is also a mental side as well as physiological. I come from a family of golfers and have had the fortunate experience of learning under my uncle who is a PGA golf instructor. I recently attended Dr. Blanchard’s golf seminars to learn more on how to help golfers as a physician. Here are several tips to get your body into shape for golf.

1. Drink water and snack during game. Hydration and blood sugar balance are important to your performance.

2. Flexibility and balance of several muscle groups is key. The golf swing requires extreme flexibility in the shoulders, back and hips. Any dysfunction in these muscle groups can alter your ability to effectively play and can lead to injury. To find a doctor trained to evaluate muscle dysfunction in golfers, visit www.golfinjurydoctors.com. Pilates and yoga exercises can be used by golfers to gain flexibility.

3. Alignment from head to toe is needed to have proper form and freedom in range of motion for that ideal golf swing. Staying under the care of a chiropractor will be of great benefit to the golfer. Proper lumbar and pelvic alignment aid in the extreme rotation, lateral flexion and extension movements required. Also, proper foot biomechanics should be evaluated for balance and to handle the stress of prolonged walking during a game. Orthotics should be utilized by every golfer.

4. As for any athlete, proper nutrition is a must. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet of lean meats, fish, lots of fruits and vegetables and whole sprouted grains. Avoid dairy, alcohol, caffeine and processed foods. Supplement with fish oils, vitamin D3, probiotics and as needed. Find out if you have any allergies or hypersensitivities to outdoor allergens, foods or pesticides. There are a number of environmental factors to consider when on the greens, so be prepared. Allergies can many times be treated through nutrition. I suggest trying this first.

5. Get your head in the game. A large portion of this game is mental. Any emotional stress you have should be dealt with. Then learn how to focus during those few seconds of swing time.

6. Take lessons under a PGA instructor. Not only will they teach you everything you need to know about the game, they will be able to evaluate you and give specific advice based on what they observe. They will teach you the proper way to play, which will ultimately help in preventing injury. Also, most instructors will video your swing so you can see what mistakes you are making and how to correct them.

If you are in the Miami area and would like my help in some of the above areas, please contact my office.

To gain access to the best PGA instructor in the industry (in my opinion) click HERE.

Sebastian Camillo- PGA instructor at the John Pallot Golf Academy located at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida.

A little lesson on chiropractic...

Nervous System Physiology

Virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body is controlled and regulated by your nervous system. And while the complex chemical and electrical nature of this vast network is best left to others, here are four key things you should know:

When the neurological circuits have integrity, your body works as it was designed.

When spinal vertebrae pinch or choke nerves, affected organs and tissues don’t work the way they should and ill-health results.

Efferent Communications

Nerve impulses are sent from the brain out to the organs and tissues of your body.

Afferent Communications

Nerve impulses are sent back to the brain to make sure everything is working correctly.

Compressive Lesions

If spinal vertebrae pinch or choke nerve tissue, signals going from or to the affected organ or tissue can be diminished. (i.e., constipation.)

Facilitative Lesions

If spinal vertebrae chafe or irritate nerve tissue, signals going from or to the affected organ or tissue can be excited. (i.e., diarrhea.)

The nervous system is vulnerable where delicate nerve tissue comes into proximity with the moving bones of your spine. That’s why we're interested in your spine!

(From my office web page: www.miamichiropractor.net) Visit for more information on chiropractic and health issues. 

Why Breast is Best...

Mother's milk really is irreplaceable. It supplies the baby with the perfect meal for development and provides a nourishing experience for both mom and baby. Here is some great information taken from my reading in a book titled "The Crazy Makers".

• Mother's milk contains about 100 elements that are missing from formula (including friendly bacteria, immunoglobulins, enzymes, growth factors, hormones and nonessential amino acids
• "Mother's milk contains growth factors that promote the development of the GI tract, these are missing in infant formula."
• The amino acids in mother's milk promote brain growth while the amino acids in cow's milk promote the growth of muscle and fat. This is because cow's milk is meant for the nourishment and development of baby cows.
• The act of breastfeeding "activates hypothalamic and other brain stem structures which regulates the sleep wake cycle and increases attention and vigilance through cortical activity."
• A mother's milk production is different from meal to meal and from the beginning of the meal to the end, giving the baby exactly what she/he needs. 
• Fatty acid and cholesterol content is unique in breast milk and is not duplicated in formula or cow's milk.
• "the mineral content differs in some formulas by as much as 500%"

Mom's diet while breastfeeding should include:

• Omega 6 and 3
• Eliminate trans fats (this is for anyone)
• Magnesium
• Healthy protein
• Variety of colorful vegetables
• Avoid exposure to toxins

Planning Parenthood...

Lately I find myself reading up on pregnancy and pediatrics in relation to health topics more and more. As my desire to become a mother grows, I get the feeling that I am studying for my board exams on motherhood. I have studied up on pregnancy and infants since getting married about 6 years ago, and while I have no intention on having a child right now, I figure that I went to school for 8 years to become a chiropractor (and continue to study), so why would I not study up on how to become a mother?

I say all this to encourage women to take charge of their health and the health of their family at whatever stage they are in. I have met many mothers who struggle with their diet and exercise because of busy lifestyles. The parents’ lifestyle is then passed on to the kiddos. I understand how great a responsibility it is to be a mother and also see how raising a healthy child is difficult. I know I have no experience and therefore have no place to judge. I only want to encourage. I have seen and experienced mothers who have made a change in the lifestyle of their family. So for those who those who need hope, you have it.

The greatest weapon we have is knowledge. Here is a list of the top things a parent should be aware of and some helpful resources.

•        What are you and your family eating? You should be aware of the effect of certain “foods” and the chemicals in them. Is your family eating real food or manufactured “food”? Think about making all food at home if you can, even baby food. (Books: “The Crazy Makers”, “Inflammation Nation”, “Hidden Food Allergies”, “Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven”)
•         Are you a woman with no intention of getting pregnant? Did you know that what you do to your body now affects your future child? (Magazine: “Pathways”, Book: “The Crazy Makers”)
•       Don’t even think about doing anything but breastfeeding. This is one of the greatest things you can do for your baby. Look into milk banks if you cannot breastfeed. AVOID milk from animals and formulas (they don’t even come close to breast milk). “Book:“The Crazy Makers”)
•          Do your own research on vaccines and come up with what you think is best for your family. (web site: www.nvic.org)
•       What skin products are you using on your child? Are they safe? (web sites: “Skin Deep” www.cosmeticsdatabase.com, www.ewg.org, www.healthychild.org
•        Chiropractic should be a part of every family’s health plan. (web sites: www.icpa4kids.com, www.miamichiropractor.net)
•          Know that wherever you are in your health, you can always decide to make a change. The body is incredibly forgiving with all the damage we do. 

What's the big deal about Omega 3 fish oil?

An essential nutrient is one that is needed, but cannot be made by the body. We must consume these nutrients either through the diet or via supplementation. Omega 3 fatty acids are just that, an essential nutrient. They are involved in a variety of cellular functions including: Improving cell membrane and cell function; increasing ability to regulate physiological functions; increase in immune function; benefit fatty acid ratio; and needed for neural development and maintenance. Research has also shown a wide variety of benefits to overall health and to disease processes: Fibromyalgia, allergies, depression and bipolar disorder, ADD/ADHD, autoimmune disease, autism, cardiovascular diseases, back pain, diabetes, osteoarthritis, asthma, pain, inflammation and many more conditions are improved with increased omega 3 intake. Unfortunately our diets are usually low in this fatty acid and/or have trouble breaking them down because the body is also lacking in the necessary co-factors, thus leading to many preventable disease processes. Omega 3 should be included in the diet and for many it is helpful to supplement this powerful nutrient.

Omega 6 is also an essential fatty acid which is usually too high in most diets causing prolonged inflammation in the body and leading to various health problems. This omega 6 to 3 ratio should be 3:1 to 1:1 ideally. Here is a short list of foods and their omega 6 to 3 ratios.

Pro-inflammatory            
Grains - 10:1                 
Wheat bread – 27:1        
White bread – 21:1         
Grain-fed meat – 5:1       

Potato chips – 60:1         

Seeds/Oils – 70:1          

Grain-fed chicken – 17:1  

Anti-inflammatory

Fruit – 3:1
Broccoli – 1:3
Potato – 3:1
Grass-fed meat – 3:1
Sweet potato – 4:1
Flax, hemp, chia seeds – 3:1
Fish – 1:1

This list shows how easy it is for us to slip into a pro-inflammatory state and how difficult it can be to maintain a proper omega 6 to 3 ratio. Fish oil is an excellent source of omega 3 which is conveniently already broken down into the fatty acids EPA and DHA making it readily available for the body. There is no need to worry about mercury toxicity when taking fish oil as any reputable supplement company uses a distillation process to take out any impurities. In fact, there is regulation on the amount of impurities allowed in supplements which is extremely low, even lower than found in nature.

 

Remember the key to good health is a multifaceted and integrative approach.

Click here for my recommended Omega 3 supplement or contact my office to make an appointment.

Ask not only what you put in your body, but also what you put on your body…

For years I have put thought into what I put in my body, but have never given much thought to all of the products I use daily to cleanse, moisturize and beautify. Then, recently I did some reading and research to find that all of the cosmetics I have used most of my life are toxic. Ahhhh! Yes, I am mad, but why have I not thought of this before? The truth is that it takes time and money to figure these things out. I spent a whole afternoon just researching the products I currently use. Then I started to research the safer products that I want to start using, and from looking at the product reviews there is a good reason women continue to use the popular toxic cosmetics. They work better and are cheaper! I was looking for a new mineral powder foundation and in every review there was a comment about the lack of coverage. That is the purpose of a foundation! I am frustrated by this new knowledge, but I think we all need to be aware of what we are putting on our skin. Your skin absorbs these chemicals and in many of these products there are ingredients that can modify your hormones. This is especially important with baby products because they are very sensitive to slight changes in hormones. In my research I read an article on the suspected effects of tea tree oil and lavender causing gynecomastia (development of breast tissue) in young boys. Just think about how many baby products have these ingredients and how harmless they sound. Now think about all the ingredients you don’t recognize and can’t even pronounce.


Here are some sites that have great information on skin care products. I will blog about any products I try.

http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/9_better_baby_lotions_and_potions_you_can_make_in_minutes/ (good blog on homemade baby products)

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/(for info. on safer sunscreens)

www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ (info. on cosmetics, gives safety ratings and details of toxicity of ingredients)