February is when all our thoughts turn to love….. so naturally I thought I would talk about what we at Desert Valley Chiropractic love the most. Chiropractic!
I know we talk a lot at Desert Valley Chiropractic about the benefits of chiropractic on pain levels and joint function. One of the tag lines I have used since we opened the office is “chiropractic keeps you moving” and I believe wholeheartedly that motion equals life. The reduction of pain and improvement of function is no small thing. I have seen many peoples lives completely restored by having years of pain reduced or completely healed by what we do. One of my goals is to help as many families in our north Phoenix, Moon Valley and greater Phoenix area experience the difference a gentle activator adjustment can make! BUT this month I wanted to talk more about the wellness and vitality part of chiropractic.
Chiropractic is an amazing whole-body treatment benefiting every muscle, organ and gland in your body via the nervous system.
How are we doing that you ask?
Well, every time we adjust, we are aligning the joint we are working on. This restores function and motion to the joint. The adjustment puts motion back into the segment allowing it to move in its correct lines it also reduces the inflammation and swelling surrounding the nerve root. These nerve roots head out to every muscle, organ and gland in the body. Think of the spine and nerve roots as the fuse box of the body. The adjustment flips the breaker!
Now for the next neat bit! Those muscles organs and glands, they feed signals BACK to the nerve roots, spinal cord and brain. So inflammation at either point the organs, glands, muscles AND OR at the nerve roots and joints in the spine creates an irritation at that root level in the nervous system. Chiropractic is the intervention to that cycle. By reducing that inflammation at the joint and nerve root we are calming the signals fed out and back to the cord and brain. This calms and heals the area. This is how and why chiropractic patients often report less illnesses, less hospitalization, less need for medications, improvements in stomach and reproductive disorders. Improved sleep which alone allows the whole body the vital time to repair that it needs! We often see Reduced bed wetting and ear infections in children. Chiropractic care is like life changing magic via your spine and nervous system!
Something I find very sad is that Chiropractic is only utilized by approximately 10% of the population. We ALL know someone who could benefit from this amazing healing treatment but doesn’t know it yet! They have no idea what a chiropractor does. They are afraid. They’ve been told it is not “scientific”. They do not “believe in it”. They had one bad experience. Share with them how chiropractic can help, why it is not scary and how choices like Activator are gentle safe and effective and backed by research. Let them know chiropractic is like every other profession some are a good fit for you and some are not, try it again. Remind them good science is the willingness to question, experiment, investigate and then make your conclusion! As for the “believing in it “thing please tell them I am very much real and they can come and meet me any time!
One of the problems with the trials and tribulations of getting older, that I discuss almost daily with our patients at Desert Valley Chiropractic, is…..well…….. there is no good alternative to aging! We simple must do our best to age well.
So, can taking vitamin D make you immortal? Umm No. But, it can reduce your chances of mortality by around 30%. Now stats like that can sometimes make you laugh a bit because, well we all are going to die of something eventually, right? However, what this is referring to is by age and risk factor you’re are still 30% less likely to die than your peer group just by keeping your vitamin D levels at a healthy level. Not bad.
But what is a good level and how do I find mine?
Medically they tend to use a range of about 30-90. They also tend to give you your results in terms of deficient or not. You are not usually flagged in the medical model until you are below a 30. In the functional model where we focus on what keeps you in good health and functioning 30 is too low. We like to see 50-70. So getting a vitamin D test and looking at that actual number is a great place to start. Vitamin D is not part of a standard CBC but can easily be added by your doctor and often even requested by the patient at some labs. I recommend always asking for it. You can also use an easy at home test like omega quant and do it yourself with a quick finger stick and mail it in with no additional lab fees. We are carrying these tests at the office, and we have all done them ourselves you can ask any of us questions about it!
Available now for purchase in office.
How do you use this one health measure and vitamin to your best advantage?
One of the great things about vitamin D is the more the learn the better it gets. This one vitamin and health stat is a great measure of both your likelihood of acquiring a major medical condition and your outcome if you do. If your number is below 50 you can benefit functionally from an increase in that value. 10k IU a day is not uncommon to boost you up but you should speak with a healthcare professional who is trained in functional medicine. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin making toxicity possible therefore the testing and recommendations of a professional are beneficial. If you are testing and supplementing in an effort to raise your D levels, you should be testing every 3-6 months depending on levels and dosing. It is not much given the immense benefits of maintaining these levels at a healthy range. If you would like to test your vitamin D levels stop by the office and grab a testing kit or talk to one of us on your next visit. We carry both the tests and high quality vitamin D supplements in the office.
More information:
Vitamin D is the only vitamin that can be produced by our bodies. While other vitamins must be taken in through diet or supplementation, our bodies produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to UV rays from the sun.
The best food sources of vitamin D are egg yolks, fatty fish, liver, and grass-fed cheese and butter.
However, for many people, supplementation may be necessary to increase their levels of vitamin D to optimal levels. It is important to test your level of vitamin D regularly to ensure it is optimal and to prevent health issues associated with deficiencies.
Vitamin D is unique in that it functions as a prohormone Prohormones are substances that the body converts to a hormone.
Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and must be activated by the body.
Vitamins are either water soluble or fat soluble. Vitamin D, along with vitamins A, E, and K, are fat soluble which means they need a source of fat to be absorbed. Fat soluble vitamins can accumulate in the body’s tissue.
The Immune System
Vitamin D plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. The active form of Vitamin D plays a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis.
D3 is an immunomodulator targeting various immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, as well as T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Several epidemiological studies have linked inadequate vitamin D levels to a higher susceptibility of immune-mediated disorders including chronic infections and autoimmune diseases
An autoimmune condition occurs when the body’s immune system malfunctions. It mistakenly identifies healthy cells and tissues as foreign invaders and starts attacking and destroying them. This can happen in almost any part of the body, including the brain, muscles, skin, and other organs. Autoimmune diseases associated with low vitamin D include multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes mellitus (DM), inflammatory bowel disease and lupus.
Protects Against Cancer
Vitamin D has demonstrated cancer-protective and anti-cancer properties. These properties include triggering apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibiting cancer cell growth, and reducing metastatic potential.
Multiple studies show an increased risk of cancers, including colon, breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, among people with vitamin D deficiency. Studies have also linked higher levels of vitamin D with a lowered risk of certain cancers and a better cancer outcome.
Prevents Cognitive Decline
Dementia is a syndrome (group of symptoms), usually chronic and progressive, associated with the loss of memory and other cognitive functions. It is caused by different brain illnesses that affect thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, judgment, behavior, and memory without a lack of consciousness. These symptoms are severe enough to interfere with a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks.
Numerous studies have shown that vitamin D may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. In a 2014 study, researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a substantially increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s. Individuals with severe vitamin D deficiency (less than 10 ng/mL) had a 122% increased risk of dementia and Individuals deficient (less than 20 ng/mL) in vitamin D had a 51% risk of dementia. Vitamin D3 has neuroprotective effects including the clearance of amyloid plaques.
Various definitions and practices exist some I agree with and some I don’t. We will use the concept of “hacking your biology to increase wellness , vitality , mental acuity and longevity”. Among the most famous are Tony Robbins and Dave Aspry both follow a healthy wellness routine I can mostly agree with and relate to. However, my favorite bio hacker was a farmer named Jack Gray who also happened to be my grandfather. Although not famous he was a bit notorious amongst family and his community for his wellness “projects and advice!” He regularly saw chiropractors, acupuncturists and reflexologists. He had been part of a chelation study; he ate good food much of which had come from his own land and community. He swore by olive oil, garlic, and apple cider vinegar as his favorite remedies long before they were on the radar of mainstream wellness. He wore copper bracelets and had magnetic insteps. He even had dappled a bit in CBD and medical marijuana! Most importantly he approached his health with a willingness to experiment and an attitude of empowerment over his own health not just a passenger in the traditional medical model. This is my desire for our patients, to not just feel and be passive in your health journey but to be an empowered and informed patient.
We need modern medicine, it is good, but we do not have to just be a passenger on the ship. We can sensibly research our own options and conditions. I am a huge advocate of working with naturopathic doctors, functional medicine providers and chiropractors to dig deeper into your medical diagnoses, (please do not just rely on the internet!) These people have devoted their careers and decades of learning outside of the influences of the pure medical model to learn about health, biology, and vitality from a different and wholistic view. My goal here as your chiropractor is to introduce you to a few simple, effective, ideas that I use and, a few new ones I want to try myself, that I feel can increase your vitality, wellness and maybe just prolong your life. As well as helping you feel a sense of empowerment over your health and vitality. We will discuss at least one topic here each month under the umbrella of “biohacking”.
And how you ask did Papa Jacks “bio hacking” work out? Well, he lived to be 95 in his own home on his own farm with my grandmother, who also lived to just under 95. He had healed ventricular damage to his heart muscle far past what is considered “the norm” and well out lived the prognosis of his damage much to the marvel of his medical team. He still drove, better than many people I see today. His cognitive abilities were completely intact, his long and short term recall was excellent. He stood six feet tall with no stoop to his posture or walking aids until the day he died. He had hardly any symptoms of arthritis despite a long life of farming. He enjoyed his life and his family for nine and a half decades! He had a sense of empowerment over his health that he passed down to his family. When he did leave us he did not linger long in the hospital or any facilities. So I believe his simple lifestyle hacks and lifelong willingness to explore his health and biology paid off!!
The first easy bio-hack I wish to explore with you is vitamin D……..
click the link below to read more about this awesome vitamin!
Could having a healthy blood level of vitamin D help you avoid the intensive care unit and death if you become infected with COVID-19?
More research suggests that the “sunshine vitamin” may play a role in how severe your case may be.
While the studies don’t prove cause and effect, “these studies support the notion that vitamin D might be protective against COVID complications,” says Vadim Backman, PhD, a professor of biomedical engineering and medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago. He researched the link between vitamin D deficiency and differences in death rates in different countries.
Among the newest studies:
More than 80% of 200 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had vitamin D deficiency. Patients with lower vitamin D levels also had higher blood levels of inflammatory markers. But the researchers found no link between low D levels and how severe the disease was.
Interested in purchasing vitamin D and other high quality supplements for your family? Check out our store on FullScript! These products will ship from Fullscript directly to you. Staying healthy and keeping your family healthy has never been more essential to your wellness! We have created some basic protocols to equip yourfamily with a wellness plan that includes multivitamins, vitamin D3 , omega3s , and a selection of our favorite supplements geared towards boosting and supporting the immune system.
Unless you work in the medical field you’ve likely had more exposure to masks and their merits and shortcomings in the last few weeks than ever before! But here we are in the age of the Corona Virus, and now these have become part of our discussions and daily activities. Chances are at some point you are going to need to wear one, so let’s discuss how to do so correctly, because to be honest…….there are a lot of upside down, inside out and poorly placed masks out there!! ( scroll down for our instructional video!)
“When it comes to spreading COVID-19 from coughing and sneezing, there’s the large droplets of spit that fly out,” Dr. Sam Hay explains to “These land pretty quickly on any nearby surface, including your face. Then there’s the fine misty cloud that lingers in the air for longer before landing on surfaces, which are far more easily breathed in.”
It’s these fine misty droplets that are the big problem.
“A standard face mask won’t protect you from all the fine misty droplets that are also coughed or sneezed out, as these can be breathed in around the sides of the mask.”
It’s because of this, Dr Hay wants you to think of masks as “droplet catchers”, instead of a complete coronavirus protection method.
But the other problem is: they’re only effective when they’re actually worn properly, which a lot of people are failing to do.
10 steps to using a mask properly.
Before putting on a mask, wash hands for at least 20 seconds with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Check the mask for defects, such as tears or broken loops.
Position the colored side of the mask outward.
If present (normally with P2/N95 masks), make sure the metallic strip is at the top of the mask and positioned against the bridge of your nose.
If the mask has:
Ear loops: Hold the mask by both ear loops and place one loop over each ear.
Ties: Hold the mask by the upper strings. Tie the upper strings in a secure bow near the crown of your head. Tie the bottom strings securely in a bow near the nape of your neck.
Dual elastic bands: Pull the top band over your head and position it against the crown of your head. Pull the bottom band over your head and position it against the nape of your neck.
Mold the metallic strip to the shape of your nose by pinching and pressing down on it.
Secure the bottom of the mask by pulling it over your mouth and chin.
Double check the mask fits snugly.
Do not touch the mask once it’s in position.
Replace the mask with a new one if it gets soiled or damp.
Whether you are making your own or buying a cloth face covering the mask should:
Fit snugly but comfortably against the sides of the face.
Be secured with ties or ear loops.
Include more than one layer of fabric.
Allow for easy breathing.
Be able to be washed and dried without changing shape.
How to wear and care for your mask
Take these steps to get the most protection from your mask:
Before using your mask, always wash your hands or use hand sanitizer
Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth when wearing or taking off your mask. Wash your hands if you do.
Replace masks if they become damp. If you’re using a single-use mask, discard it after use.
To take off the mask, remove it from behind. Don’t touch the front, as it may contain germs. Put the mask in a secure place until you can wash it. If it is a single-use mask, throw it in an enclosed trash can.
Wash your hands right after you take your mask off.
You should wash your cloth face mask often in hot water.
Who shouldn’t wear a mask
Cloth face masks should not be placed on:
Children under age two.
Anyone who has trouble breathing.
Anyone who is unable to remove the mask without help.
Do not wear a mask for water activities
Do not wear a mask during activities requiring heavy exertion
