Rice bran oil is vastly superior to traditional cooking oils and can be considered a nutraceutical (food as medicine) oil that is perfect for all your healthy cooking needs. Rice Bran Oil is quickly becoming a favorite in commercial frying to replace hydrogenated oils that contain trans fat. This is due to rice bran oils health, flavor and performance benefits.

Some of the benefits of Rice bran Oil are:

• A source of vitamin E complex, antioxidants and other micronutrients to help fight free radicals and combat the effects of aging. Rice bran oil has more of these components than other cooking oils.  The components of rice bran oil give it an outstanding shelf life.
• Rice Bran Oil has the best balance of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats as recommended by such organizations as the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization.  It’s the oil of choice for improving serum cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
• The viscosity of rice bran oil is very light and the flavor delicate.  Foods cooked with  Rice Bran Oil absorb up to 20% less oil!  Less oil absorbed results in reduced calories, better, lighter tasting food and enhanced flavor and palatability.  Less oil absorbed also makes it more economical.
• Rice Bran Oil is hypoallergenic.  For those who have an intolerance to other cooking oils this is an excellent alternative.
• Rice bran oil is a naturally occurring source of many antioxidants such as Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Gamma Oryzanol, Phytosterols, Polyphenols and Squalene.
• Rice bran oil has a very high smoke (burn) point, making it perfect for deep frying, pan or stir frying and is a premium choice for the replacement of hydrogenated oil containing trans fat now being used in deep fryers.
• Rice bran oil creates less polymers than other oils meaning better flavor and easier clean-up.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the average intake of fat should be 30% of your total caloric intake. This fat intake should consist of balanced fat, which provides nutrients that are essential to sustain life. A Balanced fat intake should contain approximately 30% saturated fat, 33% poly-unsaturated fat, (containing Essential Fatty Acids) and 37% mono-unsaturated fat.

Comparison of smoke point and balance of fats in some commonly used oils:

Rice Bran Oil: The most balanced and versatile oil on the market and closest to the AHA recommendations. Rice bran oil is a superior salad, cooking, and frying oil which leaves no lingering after taste. The high smoke point prevents fatty acid breakdown at high temperatures. Its light viscosity, allows less oil to be absorbed in cooking, reducing overall calories. It mixes better in salad dressings and improves the taste of baked goods, providing cholesterol reduction, nutritional and anti-oxidant value.

Olive Oil: High mono fat, able to lower cholesterol but deficient in poly fat, which contains Essential Fatty Acids (EFA). EFA’s are truly essential to life as every metabolic process in the body depends on these fats

A low smoke point makes it a poor choice for frying, and its heavy taste makes it undesirable in many baked goods. Traditionally a good salad oil.

Canola Oil: High mono fat with cholesterol lowering ability but there are concerns about the origin. “Canola oil” is a term coined by Canada to change the name of “rapeseed oil”. The rapeseed plant contains erucic acid making it toxic and is used as an industrial lubricant. It has been genetically modified and hybrid to produce a low erucic acid version. Commonly hydrogenated, it is extensively used in the food industry because of its low price. The hybrid plant would be the best choice.

Peanut Oil: A good balanced oil. This oil has good cholesterol lowering ability and a high smoke point, making it a good frying oil. It imparts a slightly earthy, nutty flavor. It lacks the anti-oxidants and micronutrients of Rice Bran Oil. A small percentage of people are allergic to nut oils.

Soybean Oil: This oil is a high poly fat. As recommended by the AHA your poly fat intake should be around 33% of your total fat intake. A high poly percentage is, an aid to tumors and cancer and should be carefully watched. Up to 80% of the oil consumed in the U.S.A. today comes from soybeans. Soybean oil is commonly hydrogenated and used in many processed foods.

Grape Seed Oil: A good frying and salad oil, but again high in poly fat. It does lower cholesterol because of the high unsaturated fat content but is way over the recommended 33% poly-unsaturated fat.

Comparison of natural antioxidants in edible oils

Ppm=parts per million

Because you use less oil and there is less absorption of oil into foods. The cost of rice bran oil is about the same as the better quality olive oils and much more nutritious for you.

For a more complete description of the nutritional make up of Stabilized rice bran, why it’s one of the best supplements to take due to the it’s high antioxidant values and overall nutrition, read my article on rice bran the new super food at www.tricitychiro.com . Stabilized rice bran and stabilized rice bran oil is very different than just rice.

Rice comes in 2 forms, brown rice which we know is the healthy and white rice which is the most consumed form of rice today.  A rice grain is made up of an outside husk layer, a bran layer, and the endosperm. The husk layer helps protect the grain kernel from insect and fungal attack. When the husk is removed, the rice is called brown rice. Brown rice contains the bran layer and the endosperm. When rice is milled the bran layer is removed to make white rice. It is this layer that is removed that is the center of stabilized rice bran and the nutritional benefits it offers. The problem with rice is that the brown part (the bran) which contains all the nutritional benefits contains lipase. This enzyme lipase starts to make the bran rancid within about 1 hr. making the bran not useable for human consumption. When stabilized the lipase is denatured within the rice bran giving it a shelf life of 1 year and fully consumable for human consumption.

Ok, so why is stabilized rice bran so good for you and can you get the same nutrition just from eating brown rice? First, like many foods cooking denatures the nutrients and proteins rendering them useless for the body to use. I remember a few years ago the New England Journal of Medicine came out with a study of the benefits of blueberry’s and its effect on lowering cholesterol. It’s true the bioflavonoids in blueberries can help lower cholesterol however the amount you need to eat to lower cholesterol you would need blueberries in your diet on a daily basis. All foods especially fruits and vegetables have sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The concentrations needed on a daily basis to give therapeutic benefits , you would need to eat every fruit and vegetable on a daily basis.

Stabilized rice bran is a concentrate of just the bran of the rice formed into a power and or oil. SBR contains over 100 different antioxidants, rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, Minerals, proteins, high in omega 3’s and 6 fatty acids, phytosterols, tocotrienols, Polyphenols, soluble and insoluble fiber, ferulic acid and gamma-oryzanol just to mention a few of the nutritional components. I’m sure your all just saying wow sounds good but what can it do for me and what the heck is gamma oryzanol and the other things in this stuff.

Before I get into what phytosterols and the rest, the benefits of taking stabilized rice bran are:

• It is gluten free
• It is lactose free
• Has no cholesterol
• No zero trans fat
• Superior for health maintenance
• Low-glycemic food value
• Great for weight loss management
• Helps maintain energy levels
• Helps support the immune system
• Helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and in some studies can help reduce cholesterols which makes it great for heart health support.
• Helps to maintain blood sugar levels and in some studies has helped to reduce blood glucose levels.

Let’s break down stabilized rice bran into some of its components. I’m going to touch on the components I feel are the most important.

Phytosterols: These are natural chemicals found in plants, vegetable oils, nuts and legumes. There are many of them also. Phytosterols can help lower cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the intestines. The FDA has allowed the following statement to be true regarding phytosterols. “Foods containing at least 0.4 gram per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 gram, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.” Sterols can reduce cholesterol by 10-15%.

Tocotrienols is part of the vitamin E family of essential nutrients for the human body and is considered a needed antioxidant for the body to combat oxidative stress and free radical damage. I can write a whole article on oxidative stress and free radicals which many researchers believe leans to inflammatory diseases and by ridding the body of free radicals you will live healthier and longer. Besides there antioxidant qualities tocotrienols can help prevent stroke help to lower cholesterol can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and may help prevent certain types of cancers.

Ferulic acid is a phenol found in plant walls it’s considered a potent antioxidant. Like all antioxidants it binds free radicals helping to reduce oxidative stress which can lead to DNA damage, cancer,  premature aging and other inflammatory issues causing poor health and disease.

Polyphenols There are over 4,000 different Polyphenols, their found in most fruits and vegetables, green teas and grains. They are antioxidant in nature helping to maintain good cardiovascular health and binding into free radicals and helping to reduce oxidative stress to the human body. Again oxidative stress which produces free radicals has been associated with the causation of disease including cancers.

Gama –Oryzanol Gamma oryzanol is a mixture of ferulic acid esters of sterols and triterpene alcohols, extracted from rice bran oil. Gama Oryzanol stimulates the release of endorphins the body’s so-called “feel good” hormones. These hormones stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain, and this stimulation results in an elevation of mood. While not as effective as some prescription pharmaceuticals used to treat depression, gamma oryzanol can significantly improve mood. Gamma Oryzanol has been proven to have very strong antioxidant activity and one study showed that it was up to ten times stronger than vitamin E for scavenging free radicals and preventing tissue damage that results from oxidative stress. High LDL levels or high levels of low density lipoproteins “bad cholesterol“ is one contributing factor to hypertension or high blood pressure. Gamma Oryzanol has been used as a treatment for high cholesterol levels, and science shows that it may work at reducing blood pressure by increasing HDL high density lipoprotein – the so-called “good” cholesterol levels. Gamma oryzanol may boost strength, increase muscle gain, reduce body fat, speed recovery and reduce post-exercise soreness. Gamma oryzanol also has been proven effective to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and aging syndromes.

Stabilized rice bran is a super food. It can help control or lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels making it very good fighting coronary heart disease and diabetes. It is high in antioxidants, fighting oxidative stress to the human body. High in proteins, minerals and antioxidants adding stabilized rice bran to your diet will allow your body to fight off the effects of free radical damage bring better quality of health to you and perhaps allow you to live longer and healthier.

If you would want more information on studies done please e-mail me at drgold@tricitychiro.com

Of course this consumer reporting magazine likes to rate things by how well it performed. I myself will usually go with their best buy recommendation.  The ratings were based on helpfulness of the treatment and satisfaction with the health care professional.  I know Chiropractic is the best treatment for back pain and associated musculoskeletal conditions but, to read it in a magazine that has never written many favorable things about chiropractic I had to sit back and smile.

They found 59% were completely satisfied with their chiropractor, 34% with their primary care physician and 44% with a physician specialist I assume that to be an orthopedic.  Physical therapy and massage followed chiropractic. The article further goes onto state many of their respondents who saw their primary care physician left dissatisfied.  Their respondents also credit there chiropractor in teaching proper ergonomics and lifting techniques.

Why does chiropractic have such an overwhelming success rate over drug therapy offered by medical doctors?  As chiropractors we understand that drugs for most musculoskeletal conditions covers up symptoms. They might relax muscles or reduce inflammation but they cannot find nor correct the causation of those symptoms.  As stated by the leading consumer reporting magazine chiropractors have the highest rating in treating back pain. We do because we treat the causation instead of treating a symptom.  We teach our patients proper ergonomics and lifting techniques to help prevent reoccurring back problems.

• Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.
• The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
• A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.
• Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the backpack will be.
• Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.
• Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child’s shoulders.
• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.
• If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks.
• Although the use of rollerpacks – or backpacks on wheels – has become popular in recent years, the ACA is now recommending that they be used cautiously and on a limited basis by only those students who are not physically able to carry a backpack. Some school districts have begun banning the use of rollerpacks because they clutter hallways, resulting in dangerous trips and falls.

Most importantly listen to your child, don’t brush off,  my back hurts carrying the back pack or sitting in class. Act early finding the causation of all there health issues not just trying to treat a symptom. The earlier the intervention the least likely there will be any long term health issues. It’s said hindsight is foresight. Instead of the I should of, could of, would of say I am going to.

CARMICHAEL, Calif. – August 13, 2008 – At age 40, Jeff Hartwig goes on record as the oldest member of the 2008 Olympic U.S. Track and Field team, competing in the pole vault event.  A two time Olympian and four-time national champion, Hartwig holds the American indoor pole vaulting record and attributes much of his athletic success to chiropractic care.

“The first time I was treated by a chiropractor was akin to a miracle — a much better option than simply using conventional medicine because my injuries healed faster and my whole body felt better,” said Hartwig during an interview conducted a week prior to the Olympic events.

Just shy of his 41st birthday, Jeff is one of the three U.S. pole vault athletes competing in Beijing.  He vaulted 18 feet, eight inches to become the oldest American to qualify for the Olympic team in his event. Hartwig finished 11th at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and went on to set the American record in 1998 at 19 feet, 9¼ inches.

“Without chiropractic care, I doubt that I would ever have been able to reach these levels or be able to train at such an intense level,” said Hartwig.

Jeff is treated by U.S. Olympic Committee team chiropractor Ted Forcum, D.C. of Tigard, Ore., one of four doctors of chiropractic joining the 62-member U.S. Olympic healthcare team for the 2008 Olympic Games.

“Chiropractic fulfills a niche need, not only by treating injuries but also by aiding in recovery and positively impacting athletic performance,” said Forcum. “Chiropractors promote active care and treatment with a commitment to healthy progression and rehabilitation.”

Since the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, chiropractors have provided healthcare services to elite performers, and this year chiropractors will assume an even greater role in the integrated healthcare team, which includes medical doctors, massage therapists, and certified athletic trainers.

In addition to the four chiropractors who will provide care to the U.S. Olympic athletes, chiropractors from around the world will be joining their respective Olympic teams in providing safe and effective healthcare. Team chiropractors will be present from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, and China among others.

A little anatomy to enjoy first, I’m sure your tickled pink. First off tendons are the end points of muscle that attached to the bone. When we’re talking about bicep tendonitis we are talking about inflammation of the tendon of the bicep where it either originates or inserts into a bone.  It’s an injury to the bicep muscle just involving the tendon of the muscle. There are also three kinds of muscles in the body the first is cardiac muscle, the heart is a muscle. The second types of muscles we have in our body are called smooth muscles. Smooth muscle is involuntary in other words we can consciously tell smooth muscle to contract or relax. An example of smooth muscle is your intestines just imagine if you had to consciously tell your intestines to contract and relax during digestion. The third type of muscle which I’m going to spend the rest of the time talking about is called striated muscle or skeletal muscle these muscles have both voluntary and involuntary movement. Right now I’m typing this article, I’m thinking about what keys to press and the muscles in my arm, hand and fingers are tapping those keys. Too bad it’s the back space key to often than not. That’s a voluntary action just like running lifting your arm to catch a ball. Muscles can also contract in 3 different ways. The first type of contraction is Isometric contraction , This occurs when the muscle exerts force but there is no movement of the limb (for example; when carrying a bag of groceries, the arm muscles are contracting in order to hold the bag but the arm itself is not moving). The second type of muscle contractions is called Concentric contraction can be described as a shortening of the muscle in order to exert force and move a limb (for example; flexing the biceps muscle is a concentric contraction in order to do an arm curl). Eccentric contractions the third type are relied on the most. These are contractions that occur in the muscle while it is lengthening (for example; as a person lowers the curl bar in a biceps curl, the biceps are performing eccentric contractions in order to slow the descent of the bar. The muscle is getting longer but it is still exerting force). Within each muscle there are 2 kinds of muscle fibers Type I fibers have slower contraction rates and are used more for extended activities as they are more resistant to fatigue and Type II fibers have faster contraction time and are seen mostly in muscles that cross two joints performing eccentric contraction such as the hamstring muscle.
Injuries to muscle tissue can occur three different ways: contusion, strain or laceration. Ninety percent of occurrences are as contusion or strain. A contusion is described as a trauma occurring from a direct blow or a sudden heavy compressive force. In strains, an excessive tensile force upon the muscle fibers can lead to a rupture where the belly of the muscle becomes the tendon of the muscle. The more muscle fibers that are involved the more severe the injury is. The most common muscle types that strain are those that cross two joints known for eccentric contraction such as your calf muscle and hamstrings. There are three classifications of muscle injury: mild, moderate and severe. Mild (first degree) is described as a tear of only a few muscle fibers with minor swelling and pain. There is usually no or minor loss of strength or movement.
Moderate (second degree) is considered to have a greater damage of the muscle with a loss of ability to contract and is more painful. Severe (third degree) is defined as a tear extending across the entire muscle resulting in complete loss of muscle function. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon which in turn pulls the bone. A strain is an injury to that muscle or tendon. If the muscle is stretched too far or stretched while contracting, a strain can happen. The extent of the injury is a result of the stress on the muscle and is determined by the amount of tissue damage – defined earlier as mild, moderate or severe. Strain injuries will usually cause an increase in pain with active motion where sprain injuries will usually cause an increase in pain with passive motion.

Treatment of strain injuries requires time just like sprain injuries. If the is overpowered by use before it’s completely healed it can become reinjured. This will cause more scar tissue to form which makes the muscle weaker over time. Many people think once the symptom of pain goes away their 100% healed.  Healing takes time the absence of symptoms does not mean the muscle is healed it just means healing has started.

Treatment is always ice for the first 1-2 days after any acute injury to soft tissue. After that time I recommend to my patients a combination of ice and heat for another 2 days 3-4 times a day. Once the pain is 80% reduced which can be in a few days to a few weeks or more heat can be used before gentle stretching starts then followed by ice to prevent inflammation returning.  Goals are to reduce inflammation and allow the body to start the healing process. Depending on the severity of the injury immobilization and rest should also be considered. Therapies like ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation massage can also help to promote healing. Personally, I do not recommend over the counter analgesics such as those creating heat or cold. They basically cover up symptoms. I do recommend to my patients arnica. In either pill form or cream form the herb arnica helps to heal muscle, reduce inflammation which will promote faster healing.

Can strain injuries cause subluxation to occur? Of course, if the muscle is damaged from a strain injury it can no longer give strength to that joint. If the joint is not allowed to heal increased stress is exerted to the ligaments which can cause further damage to the joint. The instability can lead to misalignment of the bones comprising the joint. Continuation of joint irritation will lead to further inflammation and a compromise joint function. If the injury is to the back for instance this inflammation can put undue pressure to the nerves exiting the spine causing dysfunction of that nerve. Continued muscle tightness occurs as your body’s way of self protection and guarding and all of a sudden from what seemed to be no big deal just a pulled muscle turns into not only chronic back issues but the potential of issues to those parts of the body that nerve innervates.

A few things to remember:

Always stretch, warming up muscles can prevent strains.

The first sign of muscle strain that pulled feeling stop and get some ice on it right away.

Start with gentle stretching as you get better increasing any physical activity slowly. Use a combination of  ice and heat to control inflammation and allow  new fluids to help the healing process.

.Arnica will help heal faster than over the counter analgesics.

Don’t be confused by the absence of pain, it’s just a symptom let the area fully heal before stressing it again.

If symptoms are not decreasing and other symptoms are starting to present themselves see your chiropractor. We are specialists in neuromuscular skeletal injuries.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament as I said. Every joint has ligaments that hold the two bones together to prevent excess movement. All joint have ligaments that encapsulate a joint. There called capsular ligaments. Inside this capsular ligament is a fluid called synovial fluid. Think of synovial fluid as the oil of a joint keeping it lubricated. We have 2 kinds of ligaments fibers in the body. White ligament fibers which are for strength, an example would be the anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate ligaments that prevent the tibia or lower leg bone from moving to far forward or backwards on the femur or thigh bone. Perhaps you have heard of an athlete suffering an ACL injury to the knee there talking about the anterior cruciate ligament. We also have yellow ligament fibers; these ligaments are more elastic than strong still they hold a joint together. An example yellow ligament would be your finger joints. You can stretch your fingers backwards far beyond their normal range of motion. The percentage of fibers is based on what the body needs to do with the joint. Amazing how the body adapts to so many things isn’t it.

When ligaments are subjected to repetitive overloading stress or traumatic injury, the ratio of yellow and white fibers is altered. The body creates a more flexible ligament with more yellow fibers compared to white fibers to withstand the stress. This is a normal adaptation response and although the ligament is less likely to tear with from trauma, the joint is weaker and more susceptible to dislocation and arthritic degeneration.  This same adaptation the body does also works in reverse, When joints are not stressed enough as in constantly wearing knee braces and lumbar back braces the body adapts by decreasing the flexible yellow fibers which can make the joint more susceptible to decrease range of motion and the start of restrictive joint issues.

Joints should be taken through their normal range until one feels restriction due to muscle tightness and not going beyond that point stressing into ligaments. One should always increase joint motion by increasing muscle elasticity only. It’s a slow process I know but, will help to avoid both ligament and muscle injuries.

Sprains are classified by the degree of insult to a ligament. First degree sprains are where ligaments are over stretched. No tearing of the ligament has happened. Passive range of motion of the joint is intact and associated with some pain and swelling though the motion. Ice is used to decrease swelling and pain. Healing time can be a week to a few weeks. A second degree sprain happens when there is some tearing of the ligament and still attached to the bone. Passive joint motion is more painful and swelling is more prominent perhaps some bruising of the area can be seen. Again ice to decrease inflammation perhaps a brace to give stability to the joint will be needed. Healing time is can be a few weeks to a few months. The more you try to use the joint the longer it will take to heal. I always find people have a hard time understanding that or are is it they don’t want to? Time heals plain and simple. The third degree sprain is where the ligament has been torn away from the bone. Usually there will be joint laxity and requires surgery to repair and extensive rehabilitation.

Joint dysfunction will also start to happen as inflammation sets in. Muscles become hypertonic or tight you feel stiff due to that muscle tightness and the resulting inflammation around the joint capsule. If the sprain injury has occurred to the back or neck associated stress to the nerve exiting the spine can occur. A subluxation has occurred. If not treated the compromise to the area of the body that nerve innervates will continue causing other symptoms. Chronic pain, degenerative joint changes, joint instability the weakening of that joint causing flair ups can happen without proper treatment. These changes can also happen in other area besides the spine. Just the absence of symptoms is not enough, making sure the alignment of the joint is intact is crucial for proper rehabilitation to occur.

Joint dysfunction will also start to happen as inflammation sets in. Muscles become hypertonic tight you feel stiff due to that muscle tightness and the resulting inflammation around the joint capsule. If the sprain injury has occurred to the back or neck associated stress to the nerve exiting the spine can occur. A subluxation has occurred. If not treated the compromise to the area of the body that nerve innervates will continue causing other symptoms. Chronic pain, degenerative joint changes, joint instability the weakening of that joint causing flair ups can happen without proper treatment. These changes can also happen in other area besides the spine. Just the absence of symptoms is not enough, making sure the alignment of the joint is intact is crucial for proper rehabilitation to occur.

]]> http://tricitychiro.com/?feed=rss2&p=106 0 http://tricitychiro.com/?p=70 http://tricitychiro.com/?p=70#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:28:51 +0000 evan http://tricitychiro.com/2009/03/29/70/ Resveratrol: Cutting-Edge Technology Available Today
By Terri Mitchell

Wine. No other beverage has attracted the attention of modern medicine like this drink. Although it is most widely known for its benefits for the heart, wine has benefits against cancer, dementia, and other age-related diseases. Researchers in Denmark recently looked at 25,000 people to find out what drinking alcohol does to mortality and discovered that wine drinkers slash their overall risk of dying from any cause by about 40%.[1]

Chemists took wine apart years ago to find out what makes it tick. Basically, it contains a host of plant compounds. Unfortunately, resveratrol and some of the other beneficial components got shelved as “toxicants,” and nobody paid much attention to them until a scientist tried to figure out why the French can eat so much fat and not get heart disease. It turns out that part of the answer to the “French paradox” is resveratrol found in red wine.

Resveratrol is naturally created by certain vines, pine trees, peanuts, grapes, and other plants. One of these plants (Polygonnum cuspidatum) is an ingredient in traditional Asian medicines that are prescribed for liver and heart conditions. Resveratrol is classified as a polyphenol because of its chemical structure. Polyphenols make up a huge group of plant compounds that are further broken down into other classifications such as flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and the like.

In the early ’90s, after wine was pinpointed as the probable answer to the “French paradox,” researchers realized that the resveratrol content of wine might be the secret ingredient behind the healthy heart effects attributed to it and the traditional Asian heart medicines containing Polygonnum. Research began in earnest, and just over a decade later, the accolades are enormous: “marked antioxidant activity,” “shows great promise for preventing cardiovascular disease,” “remarkable inhibitor,” “chemotherapeutic, little or no toxic effects in healthy cells,” “high efficacy against multiple sites.” Dozens of studies were published in this past year alone. Research has uncovered a diverse range of activities that may make resveratrol one of the most useful agents ever discovered for a wide range of human health problems.*

Heart/Blood Vessels, Antioxidant Vitamins and Resveratrol Supplements

When researchers deconstruct heart disease, they see many different things happening at the level of the cell. Cholesterol and other fat-related substances are one small part of a bigger picture that involves many other factors. Fortunately, many facets of heart disease can be controlled through dietary means. Resveratrol is a dietary agent that has powerful and diverse effects on the heart and blood vessels.*

The “French paradox” says that a person can eat a lot of fat, yet not get heart disease. Why? One of the reasons is that the wine they drink contains resveratrol, which is a powerful antioxidant. By now, many people have heard that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a problem in heart disease. This is why vitamin E helps prevent heart problems-it scavenges the radicals that oxidize this fat/protein. However, the kind of radicals that vitamin E blocks are not the only kind of free radicals people have to worry about. There are other types, which is why it’s important to take all of the known antioxidant vitamins. In a study published in Free Radical Research,[2] resveratrol was put to the test against vitamin E and a synthetic antioxidant. All three were very good at scavenging artery-damaging radicals, but resveratrol emerged as the best defense against certain types of radicals. This points out the importance of using a multi-approach to antioxidants.*

One of the serious complications of free radical damage is hardening and thickening of arteries. A “vicious cycle” of radicals, artery damage, and narrowing due to scar tissue that, in turn, promotes more free radical activity and more damage, has been described.[3] Resveratrol, melatonin and Probucol are suggested as treatments for this progressive process. Resveratrol’s antioxidant action helps stop free radical damage and opens the arteries by enhancing nitric oxide.*

Nitric oxide is a critical component of heart/artery function. It allows blood vessels to “relax,” which enhances blood flow. In a recent study, a high-cholesterol diet decreased nitric oxide by about a third.  Resveratrol supplements significantly reversed the trend.[4] In this respect, resveratrol is similar to Viagra, which also affects nitric oxide. However, whereas Viagra only affects small vessels, resveratrol affects the main arteries.*

Finally, resveratrol also stops the proliferation of cells in blood vessels that narrow the arteries,[5] and it also keeps blood cells from sticking together.[6] Both are very important for preventing heart attacks. The ability of resveratrol to keep blood cells from sticking together was investigated by Canadian researchers who wanted to know what role, if any, other components of wine might play in the process. They found that ethanol itself inhibited one type of stickiness-promoter (thrombin), and quercetin (another polyphenol) inhibited a different one (12-HETE), but nothing else they tested was active against this aspect of heart disease except resveratrol, which inhibited not only thrombin, but a host of other stickiness-promoting factors.[7]*

Alzheimer’s and Resveratrol

It was shown recently that resveratrol possesses a “novel mechanism” for scavenging radicals.[8] Might this novel mechanism protect the brain from free radical-driven diseases like Alzheimer’s?*

Although the research is very preliminary, studies indicate that resveratrol supplements may be particularly important for those at risk for Alzheimer’s, or those who have it. It is theorized that free radicals might initiate the process that leads to the disease.[9] The brain is composed mostly of fatty acids, and just as the heart needs to be protected against oxidized fat, so does the brain.*

Alzheimer’s patients produce an abnormal peptide (a piece of a protein) known as “beta-amyloid” in their brains. Beta-amyloid provokes oxidative stress, and eventually cells are killed because of the abnormally high levels of free radicals. The killing of brain cells causes the gradual decline in Alzheimer’s patients. It has been proven that resveratrol can protect the brain against oxidative stress, and keep cells alive.[9,10] Research shows that adding antioxidant vitamins C and/or E to resveratrol provides a greater degree of brain protection than any of these antioxidants alone.[11]*

Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke and Resveratrol

A recent study by Chinese researchers is notable.[12] If confirmed by other researchers, it could be very important for people who undergo serious brain/spinal trauma or stroke. In these types of injuries, the body’s response causes further injury, and for that reason, people are treated with drugs like cortisone, and in the case of stroke-aspirin. The idea is to reduce the body’s inflammatory response to the injury.

The study from China showed that resveratrol reversed the signs of inflammatory response to spinal cord injury on a level comparable to prednisone (a steroid used to reduce inflammation), but with better energy compensation and protection against free radicals, when injected immediately after injury. Besides helping to ameliorate this type of injury through free radical blockade, resveratrol actually inhibits specific enzymes that change the way individual cells respond to the injury. It’s possible that if a person regularly takes resveratrol supplements, they will be more likely to withstand a stroke or other injury to the brain. This has been demonstrated in rodents pretreated 21 days with resveratrol.[13] Less motor damage, and less brain damage occurred post-stroke.*

Cancer and Resveratrol

Cancer is, perhaps, the most dynamic area of resveratrol research. Resveratrol is the first natural medicinal to have solid evidence behind it showing that it blocks or stops many stages of cancer. Resveratrol not only prevents cancer, it’s being proposed as an additional treatment.[14-16]*

The number of studies has exploded in the past three years, with the depth of knowledge about this polyphenol increasing with each report. Resveratrol is a broad-spectrum agent that stops cancer in many diverse ways, from blocking estrogen and androgens to modulating genes.[17-20]*

Some of the latest information about it shows that resveratrol causes a unique type of cell death,[14] and kills cancer cells whether they do or do not have the tumor suppressor gene, p53.[21] It also works whether cancer cells are estrogen receptor-positive or negative.[18,22]*

In addition to these findings, researchers are beginning to uncover the ability of resveratrol supplements to augment other chemotherapies. For example, vitamin D3 converts to a steroid that inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have shown that resveratrol increases the effects of vitamin D.[23] Other research shows that it causes drug-resistant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer cells to become susceptible to chemotherapeutic drugs (Gemcetabine, Navelbine, cisplatinum, Paclitaxel, and TRIAL).[14]*

Researchers in Austria have done elaborate studies showing that resveratrol blocks the ability of cancer cells to metastasize to bone (30-71%).[24] The highest results were for pancreas, breast, and renal cancer. Prostate and colon cancers were also inhibited, but not as much.*

Resveratrol also acts against a component of the Western diet that promotes cancer cell growth: linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is converted to arachidonic, which is converted to hormone-like substances (such as prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4) that can promote inflammatory processes that stimulate cancer cell growth, among other things. It has been demonstrated that the Western diet can cause colon cancer in rodents without any other chemical or factor being necessary.[25] In a study from Japan, resveratrol in an amount easily obtained by supplementation, inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells, and blocked the growth-promoting effects of linoleic acid from the Western diet.[26]*

Resveratrol works against a wide range of cancers, both at the preventive and treatment stages. Its ability to stop cancer is connected to its capability, first, to distinguish a cancer cell from a normal cell. Unlike chemotherapeutic drugs that affect normal as well as cancer cells, resveratrol does not damage healthy cells. Not only is it not harmful to normal cells, it protects them.[27,28] Second, resveratrol is sophisticated in its actions. It doesn’t just scavenge free radicals, it activates and deactivates critical enzymes and genes, hormones and chemicals.[29-31,14,19]*

Resveratrol Activates a Longevity Gene

In a widely publicized report, researchers at Harvard Medical School and BIOMOL Research Laboratories have demonstrated that resveratrol activates a “longevity gene” in yeast that extends life span by 70%. The effects mimic those of calorie restriction, the only proven way of extending maximum life span. Resveratrol activates one of the same “sirtuin (SIR)” genes as calorie restriction. Although the research has only been done in yeast, flies and worms so far, humans have their own version of the same life span-extending gene.*

Resveratrol’s ability to activate the gene has to do with its chemical structure, not its antioxidant potential. It works by increasing the rate of a reaction known as “deacetylation.” Acetylation reactions affect whether a gene is “off” or “on.” This is extremely important. In cancer cells, for example, genes are activated that aren’t supposed to be, and vice versa. By controlling deacetylation, and augmenting the longevity gene, resveratrol is able to confer some serious life extension benefits-at least in lower critters. And, yes, acetylation modulators are being pursued for the treatment of cancer to restore the normal activation/deactivation of genes in cancer cells.*

One of the known causes of aging and death is that older cells lose their ability to perfectly replicate DNA in every new cell. DNA “mistakes” accumulate and allow little pieces of DNA to become active and print themselves out, so to speak, creating a type of “DNA debris” that eventually stops a cell from functioning. It is similar to printing out a report and having a couple of pages at the end not contain any relevant information-so you throw them away. The cell can’t throw away the extra “printed out” DNA; it accumulates and clogs up the cell. This build up of “debris” is connected to aging, and the death of individual cells. Resveratrol reduces the frequency of “DNA debris” by 60% through the longevity gene that it stimulates.*

How Much Resveratrol Is In Wine

In order to understand how much resveratrol is in wine, one must realize that resveratrol is a natural substance made by grapes and other plants in response to fungal infection. How much resveratrol is in a glass of wine depends, first, on whether the grapes were grown organically, and, second, how the wine was made. Grapes sprayed with pesticides that prevent fungal infection contain little, if any, resveratrol. Wines grown in dry climates have less resveratrol than those grown in humid areas. Red wines contain more than white because of how red wine is made. The end result of all of this is that organic red wines from certain areas of Europe contain the highest level of resveratrol. But most wines contain either no resveratrol at all, or very little (less than a milligram per glass).

The only sure way to obtain a certain amount of resveratrol daily is to take a standardized extract. Standardization ensures a consistent amount of resveratrol with consistent high quality. The finest resveratrol available comes from Europe. It is made from organic French grapes known for their high resveratrol content. The resveratrol is carefully extracted to retain other compounds (polyphenols) that naturally occur with it. This pharmaceutical wine extract is then enhanced with resveratrol extracted from the roots of a medicinal plant (Polygonnum cuspidatum) used for centuries in Asia for the treatment of inflammation, heart, blood vessel and liver disease, skin and lipid problems. The result is a product that retains the active parts of wine in a natural balance with increased potency and consistent quality.

The Hidden Dangers of Alcohol

Although red wine has been shown to confer some benefits, it must be noted that excessive consumption of alcohol can be dangerous to one’s health.

Alcohol is the most socially acceptable addictive drug that has life-threatening health hazards. Alcohol consumption is so ubiquitous that people often don’t realize how dangerous it can be.

Alcohol is a proven carcinogen, and those who drink have significantly higher rates of brain, esophageal, liver, breast, and other cancers.[32] About one-third of heavy drinkers develop peripheral neuropathy.[33]*

Most people associate drinking alcohol with liver cirrhosis. Mortality statistics, however, show that increased cancer risk may be the real concern.*

Smokers generally know that smoking is hazardous to their health. Yet most people are not aware of how dangerous alcohol is from a statistical standpoint. Epidemiological studies show lower heart attack rates amongst those who regularly consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Yet those same benefits-and more-may be obtained with polyphenols such as resveratrol, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) from green tea and aspirin.*

Summary

The research on resveratrol is so voluminous that it’s not possible to cover it in one article. In addition to the benefits mentioned previously, resveratrol has been tested for its ability to stop pain,[34] stop the growth of the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers that can lead to cancer (Helicobacter pylori),[35] protect immune cells,[36] protect DNA,[37] protect against skin cancer,[38] and many other conditions. As pointed out earlier, recently resveratrol became the first-ever supplement known to activate a longevity gene.

While it is important to point out that a lot of the research on this wine extract has been done only in test tubes or rodents, the sheer volume suggests that resveratrol is one of the most versatile and effective plant compounds discovered so far. Resveratrol represents a novel solution to many common problems encountered by aging humans.

References

1. Gronback, M. et al. Type of alcohol consumed and mortality from all causes, coronary heart diseaes, and cancer. Ann. Intern. Med. 2000;133:411-19. 2. Tadolini, B. et al. Resveratrol inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Free Radic. Res. 2000;33:105-14. 3 Simonini, G. et al. Emerging potentials for an antioxidant therapy as a new approach to the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Toxicology 2000;155:1-15. 4 Zou JG, et al. Effect of red wine and wine polyphenol resveratrol on endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Int. J. Mol. Med. 2003;11:317-20. 5 Haider, U.G. et al. Resveratrol increases serine 15-phosphorylated but transcriptionally impaired p53 and induces a reversible DNA replication block in serum-activated vascular smooth muscle cells. Mol. Pharmacol. 200;363:925-32. 6 Zbikowska, H.M. et al. Antioxidants with carcinostatic activity (resveratrol, vitamin E and selenium) in modulation of blood platelet adhesion. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2000;51:513-20. 7 Pace-Asciak, C.R. et al. The red wine phenolics trans-resveratrol and quercetin block human platelet aggregation and eicosanoid synthesis: implications for protection against coronary heart disease. Clin. Chim. Acta. 1995;235:207-19. 8 Burkitt, M.J. et al. Effects of trans-resveratrol on copper-dependent hydroxyl-radical formation and DNA damage: evidence for hydroxyl-radical scavenging and a novel, glutathione-sparing mechnism of action. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 2000;381:253-63. 9 Draczyska-Lusiak, B. et al. Oxidized lipoproteins may play a role in neuronal cell death in Alzheimer disease. Mol. Chem. Neuropathol. 1998; 33:139-48. 10. Jang, J.H. et al. Protective effect of resveratrol on beta-amyloid-induced oxidative PC12 cell death. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2003;34:1100-10. 11. Chanvitayapongs, S. et al. Amelioration of oxidative stress by antioxidants and resveratrol in PC12 cells. Neuroreport 1997;8:1499-502. 12. Yang, Y.B. et al. Effects of resveratrol on secondary damages after acute spinal cord injury in rats. Acta. Pharmacol. Sin. 2003; 24:703-10. 13. Sinha, K. et al. Protective effect of resveratrol against oxidative stress in middle cerebral artery occlusion model of stroke in rats. Life Sci. 2002;71:655-65. 14. Cal, C. et al. Resveratrol and cancer: chemoprevention, apoptosis, and chemoimmunosensitizing activities. Curr. Med. Chem-Anti-Cancer Agents 2003;3:77-93. 15. Pervaiz, S. Resveratrol-from the bottle to the bedside? Leuk. Lymphoma 2001;40:491-8. 16. Ding, X.Z. et al. Resveratrol inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. Pancreas 2002;25:e71-e76. 17. Gusman, J. et al. A reappraisal of the potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties of resveratrol. Carcinogenesis 2001;22:1111-17. 18. Lu, R. et al. Resveratrol, a natural product derived from grape, exhibits antiestrogenic activity and inhibits the growth of human breast cancer cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 1999;179:297-304. 19. Serrero, G. et al. Effect of resveratrol on the expression of autocrine growth modulators in human breast cancer cells. Antioxid. Redox. Signal 2001;3:969-79. 20. Mitchell, S.H. et al. Resveratrol inhibits the expression and function of the androgen receptor in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Cancer Res. 1999;59:5892-5. 21. Narayanan, B.A. et al. Interactive gene expression pattern in prostate cancer cells exposed to phenolic antioxidants. Life Sci. 2002;70:1821-39. 22. Pozo-Guisado, E. et al. The antiproliferative activity of resveratrol results in apoptosis in MCF-7 but not in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells: cell-specific alteration of the cell cycle. Biochem. Pharmacol. 2002;64:1375-86. 23. Wietzke, J.A. et al. Phytoestrogen regulation of a vitamin D3 receptor promoter and 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin

]]> http://tricitychiro.com/?feed=rss2&p=70 0 http://tricitychiro.com/?p=65 http://tricitychiro.com/?p=65#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:23:39 +0000 evan http://tricitychiro.com/?p=65 A Chiropractic Success Story

NFL Legend and Dancing With the Stars runner-up Jerry Rice has a formula for success that’s grounded in hard work, a positive attitude – and chiropractic care. In fact, he attributes much of his long-term success to regular adjustments from his chiropractor.

Jerry Rice played in the National Football League for 20 years , which is an accomplishment in and of itself, considering the average NFL career spans only 3.5 years. Widely touted as the best receiver to ever play the game, his spectacular career included 16 seasons and three Super Bowl wins as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, followed by three seasons with the Oakland Raiders. (He was on the roster of the Seattle Seahawks when he retired in 2005). Rice was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times, winning the Pro Bowl MVP award in 1995, and received the Super Bowl MVP award in 1988. He held an amazing 38 NFL records at the time of his retirement.

With all the records and accomplishments, Jerry Rice is perhaps best known for his desire to succeed and his willingness to do whatever it takes to be the best. Consider what NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue had to say about Rice in an ESPN Classic documentary:

“One off my vivid images of Jerry Rice [is] him working out at the Pro Bowl. Here you are, after he wins the Super Bowl, he’s played in front of 500 million people. Less than a week later, he’s out there running wind sprints to play in [an] exhibition game.” (emphasis added)

Not one to rest on his laurels after retirement, Rice signed on with the hit TV show “Dancing With the Stars” for the 2005-2006 season. Paired with dancer Anna Trebunskaya, Rice finished second in the grueling competition, losing to Drew Lachey (who, along with brother Nick, sang in the pop group 98 Degrees) and dance partner Cheryl Burke. If you think the show was all smoke and mirrors, consider that participants, many of whom had little or no dance experience, formal or otherwise, had approximately six days to learn a new dance routine before each week’s competition. According to reports, that sometimes meant practicing for up to five hours a day.

As much attention as Jerry Rice has received for his dazzling catches and amazing abilities, on and off the field, he has an important message to share about how to maximize health and wellness, regardless of whether you’re an elite athlete, a weekend warrior or anywhere in between. Rice believes chiropractic has helped him tremendously over the years and wants others to experience the same results. Obviously, going to the chiropractor may not make you the world’s best receiver (or dancer), but it can certainly help you live a happier, healthier life free from pain.

“Chiropractic care has been instrumental in my life, both on and off the field, and I am excited to share this with the American public,” says Rice. “I have been blessed with a long and healthy career as a professional athlete, and as I move forward into the next stage of my life, chiropractic care will continue to be an important part of my game plan.”

Rice credits chiropractic care in terms of his achievements on the gridiron, the dance floor and life in general. “Optimal health has been a key to the success of my athletic career, my dancing experience and my ability to enjoy my life to the fullest. Chiropractic care is an important part of my game plan for healthy living.”

Jerry Rice is such a big supporter of chiropractic care that he recently became the official spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the value of chiropractic care to the public. The foundation is using Rice’s image and message about the value of chiropractic care in various ways, including a full-page advertisement you may have seen recently in print. The ad already has appeared in the Dec. 15, 2008 issue of ESPN The Magazine, the January 2009 issue of Sports Illustrated, the Jan. 16/17 issue of USA Today, the February 2009 issue of Men’s Fitness and the January/February 2009 issue of Women’s Health.

Jerry now lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife and their three children. In addition to the FCP, he supports a variety of other worthy causes, including the March of Dimes, the United Negro College Fund and his own “127″ Foundation. Undoubtedly, he is also preparing for his next life challenge. Whatever that is, two things are fairly certain: He will be successful at whatever he sets his mind to, and he will be better able to achieve his goal because of his lifelong commitment to chiropractic care.

1.     Subluxation Free

2.     Diet and Nutrition

3.     Exercise

4.     Emotional Health

5.     Financial Health

Today I’m going to talk about diet, not diet as it pertains to losing weight but diet as it pertains to inflammatory and non inflammatory foods. The simple fact is we become sick from inflammation, we can die from inflammation, we have acute and chronic pain due to inflammation. In medical terminology the suffix “itis” means inflammation IE: tendonitis, arthritis, pancreatitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis and so on. So what causes inflammation? Toxins cause inflammation plain and simple, bacteria, viruses, free radicals and more cause inflammation. Makes sense that the more inflammatory causing things were exposed to the more unhealthy we will be. I wonder if the air we breathe filled with pollutants causes us inflammation, the foods we eat can cause us inflammation, emotional stress that taxis the body can cause inflammation?  These are just a few things that can cause inflammation that stresses our body’s defense mechanism that causes us to be unhealthy filled with symptoms and searching for the answer how can I feel better. One way is though diet. The simple fact is again if you eat more antinflamatory causing foods you will be healthier. Take hold start a better way for you for your family stay around for a while.

Inflammatory causing foods sorry but so true the things we like are the things that are the worst

Red Meats especially those juicy rib steaks high in fats as well as most dairy products are high in saturated fats. Saturated fats have an essential fatty acid called arachidonic acid which although is needed by our bodies to much of it is inflammatory in nature. I don’t have to tell you about friend foods there very high in omega 6 which is not to be confused with the good omega, omega 3′s so Oils high in omega 6 are safflower, soy, peanut, corn  Partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats, there found in chips candies some cereals and baked good . SUGARS including white sugar wheat sugar all wheat products have sugar in them, soft drinks and diet soft drinks. Sugar as one of the most serious causes of inflammation, rapid aging and weight gain thus one of the most dangerous foods to eat. Sugary foods quickly elevate blood sugar, creating an insulin release along with free radicals that oxidize fats. When oxidized, the fats form plaque deposits in our arteries, leading to disease.  Insulin release also increases stored body fat and release of pro-inflammatory chemicals causing cell damage and accelerated aging.

Ok so that gets rid of all junk foods, fast foods, cookies, cakes, chips, rolls and most breads, I almost forgot most condiments and white potatoes also. There goes that outback rib steak with a loaded baked potato? Not necessarily. The key to all this is to start off slowly make gradual changes. You can’t shock the body; you can’t one day say ok and throw away somewhere 50-80% of your foods and start eating anti inflammatory foods.  Everyone knows your intentions are great and maybe you’ll last 1-2 months. Unfortunately odds are not with you. This is a lifestyle change for better health not ok today I’m going to eat healthy starting today or well it’s the weekend I’ll start Monday. As soon as you’re invited out and that blooming friend onion is placed on the table that little voice is going to say 1 day isn’t going to hurt me. The time you think about eating health. The key is to make gradual changes, start with the good foods you like, the good foods you enjoy. Eat slow allow your food to digest allow your stomach to stretch sending that message to the hypthalmus that says ok I’m full versus the all you can eat restaurants. You eat as much as you can in a short period of time get that full feeling but that’s just the tip of the iceberg isn’t it. By the time you get home you can barely get out of the car. What happens after you come out of the bathroom you sit down lay down and say what I’m never eating there again I can’t move. You look over to your significant partner and say, If I ever mention all you can eat shoot me but hey couple of weeks later all is forgotten and your there again. It’s a struggle we were brought up on the basis of family dinner time at night. Such the wrong way to eat, why fill up the gas tank at night before bed time when the best time to fill it up is in the mornings so you have all that potential energy just waiting to be used. Breakfast should be your biggest meal followed by lunch followed by dinner as the smallest. Totally against how most of us were brought up. Sorry got a bit off track for a bit. Anti-inflammatory foods Lets talk a bit about those what should I eat?

Leans meats as in chicken, turkey, fish, fish is very high in omega 3′s. Fry using extra virgin olive oil, grape seed oil avocado oils.  Eat lots of dark green veggies, fruits, berries, nuts especially almonds Hazel nuts, walnuts flaxseeds. Drink herbal teas instead of coffee. Foods high in omega 3′s as in salmon and almonds High ORAC value foods as in berries, Foods high in Proanthocyanidins as in red grapes.  Remember also antioxidants are the key to living longer the more you get the healthier you will be plain and simple. Every person including children should be taking antioxidants.  I’ll talk about supplements another time tough This is about foods things you can get at any grocery store things you can start today with no additional costs to you. In a time of stress, in a time of pleasure we seek those comfort foods right? Foods that make us feel good foods that are tasty unfortunately there also foods that promote inflammation. Those foods will cause continued pain and symptoms and will shorten your life. It’s hard there are going to be slips but if you start off slow and if you do slip remember it’s ok just get back on track don’t try to change in a day or week. Do not rob yourself either. I’m not saying never have a cookie or piece of cake or steak and loaded potato, What I’m saying is enjoy those things at times make it a treat not the normal. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me or ask me in the office if you’re a patient.

USDA Database for the Proanthocyanidin Content of Selected Foods – 2004

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods – 2007

Can Foods Forestall Aging?

I’ll be very happy to e-mail these reports to you also.