Sugar Makes Us Old!

By Linda Saether
CNN

 

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Before you grab that leftover piece of Halloween candy, you might want to rethink the decision. It could cost you, in wrinkles. It now appears the sweet stuff might make us happier and possibly more hyper, but also make us look older.

Foods that turn into glucose in the body also can make you look older, researchers say.

A study in the British Journal of Dermatology breaks down the science of how this works, putting the aging blame on a process called glycation. Glycation occurs when sugars -- not just refined sugar, but anything that turns into glucose in your body -- are eaten and the glucose hits your bloodstream. As they float along, they search out and latch on to proteins and form a new molecule called advanced glycation end products, or appropriately shorted to AGEs.
The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you produce. As they multiply, these molecules wreak havoc with adjacent proteins. The most vulnerable of these proteins are just the ones we want to stay strong: collagen and elastin. They are the compounds responsible for keeping our skin firm and elastic.
The result is sagging, wrinkled skin. DRAT.
But before you throw in the towel and start saving for plastic surgery, there is some good news about this newly reported form of sugar blues. There are some things you can do to put the sticky sweet damage into rewind.

The first place to start is probably the most obvious: Limit the sugar in your diet. Kerry Neville, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, says, "The lower you can get the added sugar in your diet, because they aren't adding anything to your diet, the better."
But those added sugars can be hard to ferret out. "Eliminating them all is hard," Neville contends. "Often it is a matter of where you are getting the added sugar. Food labels don't spell out added sugars," so look for words such as corn sweetener, corn syrup, sucrose or sorghum, to name a few.
Overall, the latest finding about wrinkles sits well with the Seattle, Washington-based nutritionist, because, as Neville points out, "Americans eat too much sugar, and it appears that the threat of making them fat doesn't seem to discourage excess sugar eating. So this latest wrinkle scare might just do the trick. That is great.
But Dr. Darren Casey, a dermatologist and dermatological surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia, isn't so worried about potential skin damage from sugar. "Sun and smoking are the leading cause of wrinkles," he said. His best advice, aside from getting plenty of antioxidants in your diet, is to take "a chewable vitamin C."
And whether your skin is sugar damaged or just environmentally challenged, Casey says, you can't go wrong by using products that contain retinoids, which are a class of compounds related chemically to vitamin A. Those products, whether over the counter or prescription, are the best to help soften fine lines or wrinkles, which in turn will make you look younger and may just make you act sweeter, no sugar necessary.

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
IPF  (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) is a condition in which over a period of time the lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff, and
scarred. The development of the scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred and thicker, the lungs lose
their ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs don't get the oxygen they need.
Symptoms

• shortness of breath
  
• chronic dry hacking cough
  
• fatigue and weakness
  
• discomfort in the chest
  
• loss of appetite
  
• rapid weight loss
  

Causes
The origin and development of IPF is still not completely understood. The current thinking is that there is an abnormal
response to microscopic injury which ultimately results in scarring. There are also genetic factors that may contribute to the
development of IPF:

• Smoking
  
• Environmental dust/pollutants
  
• Viral infections
  
• Genetics
  

Western Medicine Treatment
The clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is highly variable and may be difficult to predict. As a result, strategies
to treat IPF are highly individualized, based upon the specific patients’ medical history and other conditions. Typical standards
of care may include:

• prescription therapies
  
• supplemental oxygen
  
• pulmonary rehabilitation
  
• lung transplantation (Lung transplantation remains the most viable course of treatment to  extend the lives of those with IPF)
  

Adopted from Wei Laboratories, Inc.

Chiropractic Care for Children

Chiropractic care can have an immense impact on the wellness of a child. However, many parents are
 unaware of the benefits it can have on their children’s health. This unawareness can provoke apprehension, resulting in opinionated theories against the matter, such as:

• Children are fragile; chiropractic treatment is not the same for a child as it would be for an adult.
• Availability of medications that relieve pain and cover a vast array of diseases.
• Children are simply too young for treatment.
• Unawareness of chiropractic methodologies and practices. If parents are unsure about the benefits of chiropractic care themselves, why would they send their kids there? 

Encouragement is key for parents that are apprehensive. They should be fully informed of the benefits, the safety factors, and the positive outcomes that come from chiropractic care. It is important to explain how children can be highly vulnerable to long-term injuries from daily activity. As children are constantly growing and adapting to the natural transformations, they become prone to long-term injuries, or developing musculoskeletal disorders that can last for many years.

According to Dynamic Chiropractic, “children's bones and muscles are more elastic and heal faster. At the peak period of adolescent linear growth, the musculoskeletal system is most vulnerable because of imbalances in strength and flexibility and changes in the biomechanical properties of bone.”[1]

D.Cs should encourage patients to have their children receive treatment. Chiropractic care can help prevent children from developing:

• Long-term musculoskeletal dysfunctions
• Imbalances in the body
• Dependencies on medications

In a To Your Health article, “The same treatments we administer to adults are just as safe for children. Ailments that adults commonly come into our offices with happen to children as well. Chiropractic techniques performed on children are modified so the procedures are gentler for the child's particular body type.”[2]

Another way a chiropractor can help prevent children from the development of postural and musculoskeletal disorders is by ordering them Stabilizing Orthotics. Many children suffer from pronation and the low arches in their feet can disrupt normal gait patterns and create postural imbalances later in life.

In an article concerning children’s foot health, Dr. Brian Jensen states, “Foot problems from childhood can interfere with adolescent (or adult) spinal function, which can result in poor biomechanics and accelerated degenerative changes in the knees, hips, and spine.”[3]

Children that are monitored and treated by a chiropractor can reduce the risk of developing postural disorders and other ailments that typically go unseen. Parents should be encouraged to have their children routinely examined. A few steps towards prevention can make a great difference in long-term postural stability in a child.


  

[1] Pate, Deborah. (October 21, 2010). Musculoskeletal Development and Sports Injuries in Pediatric Patients. http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?t=34&id=54950
[2] Wong, Kevin M. (August, 2007). Chiropractic for Growing Bodies. http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=932
[3] Jensen, Brian. (Nov/Dec 2006). Can Orthotics Help Kids?  Transitions, NYCC

Three easy steps to break you out of the cycle

If you are feeling overworked, overtired and stressed, you are not alone. American families are busier than ever. In my own life, I am running my business, traveling to Atlanta monthly and planning long-term care for my ailing parents who live 3,000 miles away.
My husband and I work opposite schedules. We have a busy toddler up for hours during the night cutting her molars. I load up on coffee during the day, and I look forward to my secret stash of chocolate at night.
Stress is a phrase coined by Dr. Hans Selye in the 1950s to describe an increasing phenomenon affecting his patients. Seyle discovered that people will adapt to both good and bad stress in their lives until their bodies cannot take any more. We adapt by coping the best way we know how; we develop vices - poor eating habits, excessive drinking or smoking. The stress spills over, creating a number of varied health issues prevalent in our society. A few common symptoms that can be directly related to chronic stress include high blood pressure, insulin resistance, decreased immune function, insomnia and obesity.
By following a few key steps described below, you can intervene in this cycle.
Step 1: Visualization and breathing. Start by visualizing something wonderful. Athletes use visualization prior to competing to take the stressful edge off and get them through the stages of the upcoming competition. Your mental picture could be of a fantastic vacation, a place of happiness or contentment from your childhood, or simply walking into that board meeting and wowing your CEO with your presentation. The body will follow what your mind conceives.
We have been breathing since the day we were born, yet somewhere we lost how to really breathe, down to our belly. It is easy to take breathing for granted. Without thinking, we accept air into only the upper parts of our lungs, which has been effective at keeping us going every day. During the day, if you start feeling the stress coming on, or feel tired, overwhelmed or generally unenthusiastic, do a few deep breathing exercises. Take a long, deep breath. Fill your lungs from the bottom up. Take in a little more. Now, let it go. It may help to close your eyes while you focus on expanding your lungs. Fresh oxygen will enliven your blood and the slow breathing encourages you to be still for a brief moment.
Step 2: Exercise. Exercising actually helps you relax and combat those sleepless nights. In our hectic lives it is hard to find five minutes for ourselves, let alone to get up and move our bodies. There are little ways to bring a bit of extra activity into what we are already doing every day:
* When going to the store plan on choosing a parking spot farther away from the entrance in order to take a few extra steps
* While at the office or at home, stand up to complete some of your tasks, perhaps while making phone calls.
* While working on projects with colleagues, schedule a walking meeting. Walking increases blood circulation, improving the flow of oxygen to the brain and helps get those creative juices flowing.
The point is to be consistent. A little extra movement every day will begin to add up, and release a lot of stress.
Step 3: Healthy diet. As difficult as it is to eat healthy foods on a daily basis, it is most important during times of high stress. What we eat and how often we eat can affect our moods. By skipping meals or choosing an unhealthy option, we burden our bodies unnecessarily during stressful times. Poor food choices cause our systems to work harder, and when the body is already overwhelmed with demands, those choices can be the catalyst to numerous health issues. It is best to eat small meals every two to three hours to fuel our bodies. Foods that are rich in antioxidants, folate, fiber and omega-3s such as fish, nuts, leafy green vegetables, bananas, pineapples, oats and brown rice are perfect options.
When a complete lifestyle overhaul is not an option, using these key steps will keep you healthier, smarter and less stressed.

Do you tip the scales? Will you tip the scales?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), two out of every three Americans are obese or overweight. If the current trajectory continues one in two adults will be obese by 2030.
“Research shows obese people receive less income than people maintaining a healthy weight,” said Gregory Adams, MD at Bon Secours. “Obesity results in lost workdays, lower productivity and negative health outcomes, including diabetes and depression.”

There are many key factors that account for weight loss success. They include education, support and supplements. Applied Health gives you access to a team of specialists, doctors, nutritionist, trainers and counselors.

“Never underestimate the value of drive,” Adams said. “We can give you all the tools, but enthusiasm and effort are up to the individual.”

The cost of obesity
According to a George Washington University study released September 2010, the annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and $2,646 for a man. These were tallied by health care costs and wages lost from the salary differences between individuals who are height and weight proportionate and those who are obese.


Adapted from Healthy Communities Vol V No 2 Summer 2011

Low Back Pain FAQs & Stats

Back Pain Facts & Statistics
Although chiropractors care for more than just back pain, many patients visit chiropractors looking for relief from this pervasive condition. In fact, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time.1

A few interesting facts about back pain:

•One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.2
•Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
•Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
•Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.3
•Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.4
What Causes Back Pain?

The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements—for example, picking up a pencil from the floor— can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.

Manipulation as a Treatment for Back Problems

Used primarily by Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) for the last century, manipulation has been largely ignored by most others in the health care community until recently. Now, with today's growing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness, manipulation is receiving more widespread attention.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.5

In fact, after an extensive study of all currently available care for low back problems, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research—a federal government research organization—recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal manipulation as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.6

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) urges you to make an informed choice about your back care. To learn more about how chiropractic manipulation may help you, contact a Doctor of Chiropractic in your area. Search our online database of ACA members to find a doctor of chiropractic near you.

Tips to Prevent Back Pain

•Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
•Remain active—under the supervision of your doctor of chiropractic.
•Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
•Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities, such as gardening.
•Maintain proper posture.
•Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
•Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
• Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
•Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
•Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your computer workstation is ergonomically correct.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

1. Jensen M, Brant-Zawadzki M, Obuchowski N, et al. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People Without Back Pain. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 69-116.

2. Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.

3. This total represents only the more readily identifiable costs for medical care, workers compensation payments and time lost from work. It does not include costs associated with lost personal income due to acquired physical limitation resulting from a back problem and lost employer productivity due to employee medical absence. In Project Briefs: Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT). In MEDTEP Update, Vol. 1 Issue 1, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville,

4. In Vallfors B, previously cited.
5. Time to recognize value of chiropractic care? Science and patient satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of spinal manipulation. Orthopedics Today 2003 Feb; 23(2):14-15.

6. Bigos S, Bowyer O, Braen G, et al. Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Clinical Practice Guideline No.14. AHCPR Publication No. 95-0642. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December, 1994.

Calorie Count In The Juice Aisle

When in the juice aisle, looking over a stretch of shelves packed with
colors, claims and stats, you see plenty of key words: antioxidant,
all-natural, 100%. However, when it comes to satisfying your thirst, think
before you drink. Beverages can be a top source of sugar and empty calories
– and it’s not just soft drinks, it’s also juices and sports drinks.
While teas or juices seem like healthier options, these drinks can lead to
weight gain and high blood sugar. For instance, some cranberry drinks contain
18 teaspoons of sugar in a single serving.
Judy Heidenthal, registered dietitian at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center,
recommends drinking water – but not necessarily the eight glasses
traditionally cited. “Factors like age, health, activity level and climate all play
a role in how much we need to drink,” said Heidenthal. “The eight glasses per
day rule is not scientific. The easiest way to ensure you’re drinking enough
water is to check the color of your urine. If it’s pale yellow, you’re probably
drinking enough.”
The recommended daily amount of total beverage consumption varies for
men and women. Experts suggest men should drink roughly 2.5 liters (10
cups) of liquids daily, while women should ingest about 2 liters (eight cups).
To reach these daily goals, Heidenthal recommends drinking sugar-free
beverages and water. According to American Dietetic Association (ADA),
calorie-free beverages are effective at managing weight, maintaining blood
glucose levels and preventing cavities.