Mercury in High-Fructose Corn Syrup?

If you aren’t aware of it by now, I am very adament about reducing or eliminating heavy metal toxicity in our body’s.  I also feel that there is too much sugar in our diets that effect being truly well.  Here is an article from Web MD on both Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Jan. 27, 2009 — Some foods and drinks rich in high-fructose corn syrup may contain detectable levels of mercury, a new report shows.

The report, published on the web site of the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), shows detectable levels of mercury in 17 out of 55 tested products rich in high-fructose corn syrup.

But the researchers aren’t telling people to avoid those products or other items containing high-fructose corn syrup, and they aren’t sure what form of mercury those products contained.

The Corn Refiners Association stands by high-fructose corn syrup, calling it “safe.”

Mercury and High-Fructose Corn Syrup

The new report comes from researchers including David Wallinga, MD, director of the IATP’s food and health program. They bought 55 products that list high-fructose corn syrup first or second on their list of ingredients, which means high-fructose corn syrup was a leading ingredient in those products.

Wallinga’s team sent samples of those products to a commercial lab, which checked the levels of total mercury in each sample.

“Overall, we found detectable mercury in 17 of 55 samples, or around 31%,” write Wallinga and colleagues.

Here is the list of those products:

 

• Quaker Oatmeal to Go bars
• Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce
• Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
• Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
• Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars
• Manwich Gold Sloppy Joe
• Market Pantry Grape Jelly
• Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly
• Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry
• Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup
• Wish-Bone Western Sweet & Smooth Dressing
• Coca-Cola Classic: no mercury found on a second test
• Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt
• Minute Maid Berry Punch
• Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink
• Nesquik Chocolate Milk
• Kemps Fat Free Chocolate Milk

 

Wallinga and colleagues caution that their list was “just a snapshot in time; we only tested one sample of each product. That clearly is not sufficient grounds to give definitive advice to consumers.”

Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system. A form of mercury called methylmercury is particularly risky to a baby’s developing brain and nervous system, according to background information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Wallinga points out that the lab only tested for total mercury levels, not methylmercury or other types of mercury. He also notes that the EPA has a “reference dose,” or upper limit, for methylmercury intake but not for other forms of mercury.

 

Where Did the Mercury Come From?

Wallinga’s report doesn’t prove that the mercury in the tested products came from high-fructose corn syrup, but “I’m hard pressed to say where else it would come from,” Wallinga tells WebMD.

Wallinga explains that mercury can be used to make caustic soda, which is one of the products used to make high-fructose corn syrup. That’s outdated technology; mercury isn’t needed to make caustic soda, notes Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, in a statement emailed to WebMD.

Erickson didn’t comment specifically on Wallinga’s study. Instead, her statement focuses on a new study published online in Environmental Health, which shows mercury in some samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup tested in 2005.

“This study appears to be based on outdated information of dubious significance,” Erickson states. “Our industry has used mercury-free versions of the two re-agents mentioned in the study, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda, for several years.”

Wallinga agrees about the technological shift away from mercury. “If you just look within the confines of the U.S., yes, about 90% of production now is not using mercury,” says Wallinga. “The problem is that we don’t actually know where our companies are buying their high-fructose corn syrup from … it’s a global industry.”

“For me, the take-home message is really that this is a totally avoidable, unnecessary exposure to mercury,” says Wallinga. “We’ve got a safer, more efficient technology for making these chemicals that are part of the ingredients used to manufacture high-fructose corn syrup.”

Mercury’s Form Unknown

Like Wallinga’s report, the study published in Environmental Health doesn’t specify the form of mercury present in the high-fructose corn syrup.

“I would imagine that a good majority of the mercury that is detected would have been in the form of elemental mercury,” not methylmercury, toxicologist Carl Winter, PhD, tells WebMD. Winter, who directs the FoodSafe Program at the University of California, Davis, says that methylmercury is “by far the most toxic form of mercury” because methylmercury is better absorbed by the body than other forms of mercury.

“We have a principle in toxicology, which is the dose makes the poison,” says Winter. “It’s the amount of a chemical, not its presence or absence, that determines the potential for harm, and frankly, I don’t see based on their findings that they’ve made much of a case that this is something that consumers need to worry about.”

Besides his academic work, Winter is a volunteer spokesman for the Institute of Food Technologists, a nonprofit scientific society that includes food science and technology professionals in industry, academia, and government. Winter says his work has never been funded by food or chemical industries.

Companies Respond

WebMD contacted the makers of all 17 products that tested positive for mercury in Wallinga’s report.

ConAgra Foods, which makes Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe and Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup, is “absolutely confident in the safety of our products,” ConAgra Foods spokeswoman Stephanie Childs tells WebMD.

Childs notes that “the levels of mercury reported in our ketchup are well below the EPA’s safe exposure level. In fact, we estimate that you’d have to eat more than 100 pounds of ketchup per day to even come anywhere near the EPA’s safe exposure level in terms of mercury.

A spokeswoman for Kraft Foods, Adrienne Dimopoulos, tells WebMD that Kraft has not had time to review the study’s findings. However, “Kraft Foods’ highest priority is the safety and quality of our products and the safety of our consumers. All of the ingredients we use are approved and deemed safe for food use by regulatory agencies, including the US FDA.”

Amy Reilly, a spokeswoman for Target, which makes Market Pantry Grape Jelly, tells WebMD that Target is carefully evaluating the information and that “Target looks to the Food and Drug Administration to provide guidance on the safety of food additives and ingredients.”

An FDA spokesperson tells WebMD that the FDA takes mercury contamination in food very seriously and that methylmercury is the form of mercury that’s of the greatest concern. Dietary exposure to methylmercury comes almost exclusively from fish, and the new research on mercury in high fructose corn syrup doesn’t provide enough information or analysis because it focuses on total mercury levels and the potential levels of exposure are extremely low, the spokesperson notes. 

If you are interested in the effects of Mercury Toxicity look back on my June 16, 2010 Blog Post.

Please pass this information on as well as letting others know about my blog and if you or someone you know that could use some assistance please call my office for a free consultation.

Sunrise Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center
39210 State Street, Suite 120
Fremont, CA 94538
510–796-7000
www.sunrisechiropractic.org

Is Your Daily Supplement This Complete?

Nearly everyone would agree that eating a diet rich in whole foods is the best way to get your vitamins and maintain health.  If you disagree with this statement then you should probably stop reading now and go get yourself some processed food and look elsewhere on the internet.

However, so many of us (myself included) have very busy lifestyles and the standard American diet can leave us lacking many of the improtant nutrients that our bodies require to function at its best.  So what do most of us do?  We take a daily multi-vitamin supplement.  Most of us are unsure why we do it but we do it because it gives us some assurance that we should do something positive for our health.  We surely know that we do enough harmful things.

So many of the people I come in contact with take a multi-vitamin and they buy whatever is on sale at one of the big chain superstores not exactly knowing if it is good for them or it is what is required.  It is usually the cheapest and has great marketing or a fancey package.  Hopefully this article will shed some light and educate you on making a better informed choice.

The average consumer does not understand what is on the label or how the ingredients interact with the body.  For example, many consumers buy a breakfast cereal fortified with whatever.  These have no real nutritive value as they have been processed an refined to increase shelf life.  They contain hydrogenated oils, sugar, and vitamin isolates.

Research now suggests that single vitamins, taken out of the food complex, may not be as effective in promoting health as eating the whole food.  Each whole food ingredient offers its nutrients, plus synergystic cofactors, to provide you  with the strongest, natural, and most well-balanced suppplement.  For example one ingredient may be dl-alpha tocopherol acetate,  This is not a food ingredient.  It is an isolated component of the vitamin E complex.  If you were to take a supplement with just dl-alpha tocopherol, you would be missing at least five other importnat nutrients as well as hundreds of other nutrients that occur within the whole vitamin E complex.  These nutrients are only available by cnsuming natural, whole food forms of vitamin E, such as wheat germ oil, pea vine, green leafy vegetables, nuts, and sunflower seeds.

To be effective, more is not always better.  A small amount of a vitamin in whole food form is far more important to the human body than a large dose of an isolated vitamin.  This is because the isolated form is just a fraction of the whole and is missing important nutrients that the body needs. 

So what is my suggestion? Get a multi-vitamin that contains nutrients from many whole food sources.  One that contains synergistic nutrients, phytonutrients and glandular nutrients to  support and stimulate natural cell and tissue repair.  Make sure the manufacture use quality ingredients that are tested for peak nutrient value, certified organic organic sources and are have good manufacturing processes.  Are the supplements easily digestible? Will they breakdown and be absorbed before they reach the end of their journey?  Many are so hard you need a hammer to break them. 

My choice to my clients are physician grade whole food supplements that are certified organic, tested and retested for quality, easily digestable and they work.  They are not overpriced costing less than $15.00 per month.

If you would like more information or to purchase better nutritional products or you would like to schedule a consultation on how supplements can help improve your quality of life please contact us:

Sunrsie Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center

39210 State Street, Suite 120

Fremont, CA 94538

510-796-7000

Do You Have Mercury Toxicity?

If you have been keeping up with my blog you will know that my passion is to keep the world healthy one patient at a time.  So many of us begin to develop health issues as we get older myself included albeit much slower than what I see in practice.  Most of the time the medical community attributes this to aging.  Well in my opinion is that there are specific reasons on aging.  It isn’t so much the chronological age but of cellular stress and nutrition or lack thereof.

After reaching the peak of health at age 25 or thereabouts, the disease of aging creeps in. Modern concepts defined aging as nothing more than a disease state characterized by symptoms clearly definable into three phases:

1. Sub Clinical Phase (between ages 25-35) where cellular damage has started without outward symptoms or measurable laboratory results.
2. Transitional Phase (between ages 35-45) where cellular damage now produces outward symptoms.
3. Clinical Phase (age 45 and beyond) where deterioration of bodily function accelerates with illness setting in.

What I have been finding is that many patients when afflicted with different health issues that are unresolved by traditional methods have an underlying buildup of one or more heavy metals in their body.  Myself I have Arsenic, Mercury and Aluminum.  

The good news is that there is tissue mineral analysis available to determine the levels of health of our cells and determine whether or not we have toxic metals in our system.  In this issue I will talk about Mercury toxicity and what I am doing to remove this from my body.  In the future (several months), I will be reporting back on how I rid my body of this and other metal toxicities.

At the present time I am using homeopathic means of removal which are safe and effective and at a very low cost.  I will also be removing the amalgam (dental fillings) and having them replaced with bonding.  Nutrition will also play a part to keep my body cleansed and not allowing the toxicity levels to increase.

The cost of the test is around $100 and comes with a very detailed report and the nutritional supplements vary depending on what other issues you may also have going on.  In most cases removal of heavy metal toxicity can be as low as $50.00 per month and only needs to be done for 2-3 months.

Here is some basic information about Mercury.

SOURCES OF MERCURY TOXICITY

• Tuna fish, swordfish, shark and tile fish
• Contaminated drinking water
• Dental amalgam (silver fillings)
• Seeds and vegetables treated with mercurial fungicides
• Medications – diuretics, Mercurochrome, Merthiolate, Preparation H, contact lens solution
• Occupational exposure – felt, algaecides, floor waxes, adhesives, fabric softeners, manufacture of paper, production of chlorine
• Children can be born with mercury toxicity that is passed through the placenta from their mothers.  Mercury can also be passed to children in breast milk

 

DETECTION OF MERCURY TOXICITY

Both blood and hair have been used to detect mercury poisoning.  In one study, hair levels generally correlated with blood levels.  Hair levels are about 300 times higher than blood levels.  Copper toxicity and zinc deficiency are often associated with mercury toxicity.

HOW MERCURY AFFECTS HEALTH

Energy - Mercury compounds inhibit the enzyme ATPase, which impairs energy production in all body cells.

Nervous System - Degeneration of nerve fibers occurs, particularly the peripheral sensory nerve fibers.  In addition to sensory nerve damage, motor conduction speed was reduced in persons with high hair mercury levels.

Endocrine System – Mercury has been shown to concentrate in the thyroid and pituitary glands, interfering with their function.  Impairment of adrenal gland activity also occurs.

Kidneys - Mercury can accumulate in the kidneys, where it may cause kidney damage.

Possible Conditions Associated With Mercury Toxicity

Adrenal Gland Dysfunction

Alopecia (hair loss)

Anorexia

Ataxia

Birth Defects

Blushing

Brain Damage

Depression

Dermatitis

Discouragement

Dizziness

Fatigue

Hearing loss

Hyperactivity

Immune system dysfunction

Insomnia

Kidney damage

Loss of self-control

Memory loss

Migraine headaches

Mood swings

Nervousness

Numbness/tingling extremities

Pain in limbs

Rashes, skin

Salivation, excessive

Schizophrenia

Thyroid dysfunction

Timidity

Tremors

Vision loss – peripheral vision

Weakness, muscle

What To Do If You Think You May Have Heavy Metal Toxicity Or Just Want To Be Tested

Testing is a painless procedure and only requires a small sample of hair and takes only a few minutes to collect.  The hair sample is then sent to labratory for testing and a very detailed report is sent back.  Once we receive the results we bring you back in for a consult on a plan of action to help restore your body back ro it’s vibrant self.

If you are interested in this procedure you can call my office to make and appointment and we can get started right away.  In upcoming updates I will discuss Aluminum and other heavy metals.

Please pass this information on as well as letting others know about my blog and if you or someone you know that could use some assistance please call my office for a free consultation.

Sunrise Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center
39210 State Street, Suite 120
Fremont, CA 94538
510–796-7000
www.sunrisechiropractic.org

Dangers of Tylenol

I hear on a daily basis on how so many of my patients take Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID’s). The truth of the matter is that even though you can get these medications over the counter they can still be very dangerous. I have reprinted some statements from several articles from medical journals.

Hopefully after reading you will realize how dangerous taking these so-called over the counter drugs can be. Please forward this article to everyone you know.

In 1994, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medical School published in the New England Journal of Medicine an article noting (1):

Risk of Kidney Failure Associated With the Use of Acetaminophen, Aspirin,
and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

New England Journal of Medicine
December 22, 1994.

“People who take analgesic drugs frequently may be at increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).”

“Heavier acetaminophen use was associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal disease in a dose-dependent fashion.”

Those who took 105 – 365 acetaminophen pills per year had a 40% increased risk of end-stage renal disease compared to those who took 2 – 104 acetaminophen pills per year. For some, the risk of end-stage renal disease was as great as a 140% increased risk.

For those who took more than 365 acetaminophen pills in a year, the increased risk of end-stage renal disease was 110%. For some, the increased risk of end-stage renal disease was as high as 270%.

For those who took more than 1000 pills containing acetaminophen in their lifetime (compared to those who took fewer than 1000 acetaminophen–containing tablets), their increased risk of end-stage renal disease was 100%. For some, the increased risk of end-stage renal disease was as high as 220%.

For those who took more than 5,000 pills containing acetaminophen in their lifetime, their increased risk of end-stage renal disease was 140%. For some, the increased risk of end-stage renal disease was as high as 380%.

The increased risk for end-stage renal disease noted in this study was adjusted for race, sex, age, and intake of other analgesic drugs.

The authors noted that 8 – 10 % of the overall incidence of end-stage renal disease is attributable to acetaminophen use.

The authors concluded, “People who often take acetaminophen have an increased risk of end-stage renal disease.”

In 1997, researchers from the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, published in the New England Journal of
Medicine an article noting (2):

Acetaminophen Toxicity in an Urban County Hospital

New England Journal of Medicine
October 16, 1997

Acetaminophen ingestion accounts for 12% of all patients hospitalized with drug overdoses.

Acetaminophen ingestion accounts for 40% of patients with acute liver failure.

In 2004, Tim Davern, MD, a liver transplant specialist at the University of
California, San Francisco, published (3):

The Danger Of Mixing Candy And Poison

San Francisco Chronicle
August 14, 2004

“First Do No Harm” is a cornerstone of modern medicine.

“I think the practice of combining acetaminophen (Tylenol is one popular brand) and an opiate, such as hydrocodone bitartrate, together as a single drug (as Vicodin does) defies logic, if not common sense.”

Acetaminophen is a “potent dose-dependent poison for the liver; simply stated, if you take too much, your liver dies.”

Acetaminophen overdose is the “leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States today.”

On the other hand, opiates, such as hydrocodone bitartrate and codeine, while safe for the liver, are highly addictive.

“Vicodin is currently the most popular prescription drug in the United States.”

Some patients become addicted to the opiate component of Vicodin and consume increasing amounts of acetaminophen, “ultimately leading to acute liver failure.”

“With overwhelming liver injury from acetaminophen, what follows is a particularly grisly death punctuated by bleeding, confusion, coma, brain swelling, damage and death.”

“Patients typically take too much acetaminophen for fever or pain over several days, not realizing the potential for liver damage.”

“Many are unaware that acetaminophen is contained in dozens of over-the-counter cold and flu preparations.”

“This situation is particularly tragic in young children accidentally overdosed with acetaminophen, typically in the setting of a flu-like illness, by well-intentioned but misinformed parents.”

Acetaminophen packaging should have better warning labels, and should not be sold in 1,000 pill mega-bottles.

Acetaminophen-opiate combinations [like Vicodin] should be removed from the market.

“The prescription rules in California have made it far easier for physicians to prescribe an acetaminophen-opiate combination, such as Vicodin, than a pure opiate, such as codeine, although the former is far more dangerous.”

The FDA banned Ephedra, which “contrasts with its puzzling, relatively meager efforts to prevent acetaminophen hepatotoxicity, which kills far more Americans each year than Ephedra.”

In 2006, regular PARADE columnist Isadore Rosenfeld, MD, publishes (4):

Take This Painkiller Carefully

Medical News That Matters
Second Opinion
By Isadore Rosenfeld, MD

Parade, February 19, 2006, pg. 6

“Acetaminophen, whose best know brand name is Tylenol, is one of the most widely used non-prescription painkillers is the US.”

“Overdosing with it is the leading cause of serious poisoning in this country.”

“Every year, too much acetaminophen accounts for 50,000 emergency room visits, 42% of liver failures, and an average of 458 deaths.”

“Never take more than 4,000mg a day—eight 500mg extra-strength capsules.”

Numerous other drugs also contain acetaminophen, including Nyquil, Sudafed, Alka-Seltzer, Sinutab, Contac, Actifed, etc.

“If you have two or three alcoholic drinks or more a day, be sure to consult your doctor before taking Tylenol.”

“The symptoms of acetaminophen overdose are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and lack of appetite.” [NOTE: these are symptoms that some may take Tylenol for, flu-like symptoms.]

“The specific antidote is N-acetylcysteine (NAC).”

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) works to save the liver following acetaminophen poisoning because it elevates levels of the antioxidant and detoxifier, glutathione
(5). We can provide N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in the product Complete Glutathione.

In 2005, researchers associated with Harvard Medical School published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, an article noting (6):

Non-Narcotic Analgesic Dose and Risk of Incident Hypertension in US Women

Hypertension
September 2005

Acetaminophen [Tylenol, Atasol, Anacin-3, Panadol, Excedrin {has acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine}], is one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States.

Compared with women who did not use acetaminophen, older women who took >500 mg per day had a 93% increased risk of hypertension.

Younger women who took >500 mg per day of acetaminophen had a 99% increased risk of hypertension.

Compared with non-users of acetaminophen, older women who consumed >500 mg per day for headache had a 240% increased risk of hypertension.

Compared with non-users of acetaminophen, younger women who consumed >500 mg per day for headache had a 370% increased risk of hypertension.

Higher daily doses of acetaminophen significantly increase the risk of hypertension in women.

Acetaminophen [Tylenol, etc.] impairs renal function by depleting glutathione, leading to renal endothelial dysfunction.

Clinicians commonly do NOT understand that acetaminophen is NOT safe, and causes significant hypertension.

There are three nutritional strategies to boost levels of glutathione to protect oneself or patients against the toxicity of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other drugs, as well as protect our bodies from other toxins such as mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminum (5):

 

1) Take B6, B12, Folic Acid: they help the body convert the harmful amino acid
homocysteine into the beneficial amino acid cysteine. Cysteine is the rate-limiting factor in the construction of the antioxidant/detoxifier glutathione.
(I advise patients to use Complete Omega-3 Co-Factors).

2) As noted above, take N-Acetyl Cysteine, or NAC.
(I advise patients to use Complete Glutathione).

3) Consume undenatured whey protein. According to Dr. Gutman (5), undenatured whey protein is probably the best method to elevate one’s levels of glutathione.
(I advise patients to use Complete Whey-G).

If you find yourself taking NSAID’s far often then you should then your body is telling you that there is something wrong and you need to do something about it.

Schedule yourself an appointment to see your physician to treat the underlying condition and not the symptoms.

References

1) Perneger TV, Whelton PK, Klag MJ; Risk of kidney failure associated with the use of acetaminophen, aspirin, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; New
England Journal of Medicine; Dec. 22, 1994;331(25):1675-9.

2) Schiodt FV, Rochling FA, Casey DL, Lee WM; Acetaminophen toxicity in an urban county hospital; New England Journal of Medicine; Oct 16, 1997;
16; 337(16):1112-7.

3) Davern T;The Danger Of Mixing Candy And Poison; San Francisco Chronicle;
August 14, 2004.

4) Rosenfeld I; Take This Painkiller Carefully; Medical News That Matters, Second Opinion; Parade, February 19, 2006, pg. 6.

5) Gutman J; Glutathione, Your Body’s Most Powerful Protector, Kudo.ca Communications, 2002.

6) Forman JP, Stampfer MJ; Curhan GC; Non-Narcotic Analgesic Dose and Risk of Incident Hypertension in US Women; Hypertension; September 2005;46:500.

What’s Up With Your Gut?

Sorry to all of you looking forward to my blog updates. I have been really busy taking care of ill patients. That is a great thing in that there are much happier people in the world now!

This entry I’m going to be talking about your gut and why it is so important to take care of it. Almost no one ever hears that we should take care of our gut but in reality we should be really looking to keep our gut as healthy as possible.

When I speak to patients regarding their gut the first thing that comes to their mind is “I don’t have a digestion problem”. After asking a few questions, if they have any issues of gas, stomach pain, rumbling, bloating, belching, nausea or a burning sensation the reply is well yes I have those. I also ask questions if they have any allergies to substances that they never had before or they just don’t do well with eating certain foods? Another one is if you get sick more frequently than you used to there is a problem with your gut. If you answered yes to any of those questions then you most likely have gut issues that need attending to.

The gut is unique in that it does not just process the food we ingest but it also assimilates and eliminates as well. What most people do not realize is that many of our hormones are manufactured in the gut and most of our immune fighting capabilities also come from the gut. If our gut isn’t functioning properly we don’t either.

So what makes our gut get worse as we get older?

Consumption of sugar, alcohol, coffee, greasy, spicy, refined foods, junk foods and legumes for as start. Other factors are antibiotics, chemotherapy, oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, chlorinated water, heavy metal overloads, poor diet and underlying illnesses can be contributing factors.

The lining of our intestine is meant to not only to absorb food, but also act as a barrier to keep out invading pathogens. When things like aspirin, bacteria, or even pesticides sprayed on our food batter this lining, the lining loses its integrity. WHen the lining loses its integrity then bad bacteria, viruses, parasites and other microorganisms and undigested proteins make their way through the gut lining and permeate into the blood stream causing allergies and insensitivities to occur.

How can we prevent and improve the health of our gut?

The best way is to avoid those things listed above that cause destruction of the lining. Other ways are to take proper nutritional supplements to help the gut lining repair itself. In order to do that you need to build up the good bacteria in the gut and that is by taking Probiotics, taking enzymes with your meals to help digest the intake of your foods and taking Glutamine for restorative tissue repair.

Probiotics are necessary to rebuild the friendly bacteria in the gut. A healthy balance supports immune function and decreases colony populations of harmful bacteria. Billions of these beneficial micro-organisms are there to keep the intestines clean by feeding on the putrefaction, waste, fungus, yeast and other harmful bacteria. These beneficial micro-organisms also aid the body by producing the essential elements such as hormones, vitamins and proteins that are needed to run our body.

Enzymes are needed for every chemical reaction and reaction that takes place in the body. The american diet is pretty much devoid of the enzymes that we so critically need. Vitamins, minerals, and fiber are non functional without enzymes. metabolic enzymes are needed to mobilize our organs, tissues and cells. Hormones are also dependent to work properly. Enzymes have a specific function in the body from digesting food to repairing muscle and bone. Assimilation as well as detoxification are dependent of enzymes. Cooking, microwaving, etc. destroys many of the food enzymes. LIFE IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT ENZYMES!

All raw foods naturally contain the proper types and proportions of enzymes necessary to digest itself, whether in human consumption or in the eventual decomposition in the natural world. Supplementation of food enzymes is necessary to today’s society due to the prevalence of cooked and/or processed foods. Food enzymes are essentially destroyed at 188 degrees Fahrenheit. Placing the full digestive burden on the body, the digestive process becomes over-stressed and vital nutrients are not released from food for assimilation. Digestive enzymes begin in the mouth with the salivary enzymes, however their activity level is limited to a pH of 5.0 or higher. Several studies conducted at major universities have shown that enzymes in the saliva continue their digestive activity in the upper stomach and can digest up to 30% of the ingested proteins, 60% of ingested starch and 10% of the ingested at during the 30 to 60 minutes after consumption.

Exogenous plant enzymes are active in the pH range of 3.0 to 9.0 and can facilitate the utilization of a much larger amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat before HCL is secreted in sufficient amounts to neutralize their activity. Taking high-potency plant-digestive enzymes when you have a meal will greatly enhance your digestion and optimize the breakdown of food. Complete breakdown of food eliminates multiple allergen sources, and provides support for allergy-related conditions.

Glutamine is a major fuel of the intestines and contributes to the metabolic processes that are necessary for restorative tissue repair. A healthy intestinal lining maximizes nutrient absorption, while acting as a barrier to foreign invaders. Glutamine reinforces the immune system and has been proven to stimulate intestinal cell growth while reducing cell injury and infection. It also stimulates mucosal cells, which are highly protective against the damage seen in ulcers.

Healing the gut lining is applicable in patients with: asthma, arthritis, food allergies, ulcers, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases, alcoholism, chronic fatigue, joint pain, migraines, diarrhea, parasitic infections, dysbiosis, candidiasis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, T-cell lymphomas and generally as a preventative measure, since we all have permeability to some degree.

So the point I am trying to make is this. If you are experiencing any type of dis-ease process it can most likely be related in some way shape or form of gut related issues. Improving the health of the gut will in nearly all cases make an improvement of one’s life. Knowing what to take and how much can only be determined by your doctor.

If you suspect that you may have an issue with your gut make an appointment to have a consultation to discuss how giving your gut the proper nutrition can help save your life.

Please pass this information on as well as letting others know about my blog and if you or someone you know that could use some assistance please call my office for a free consultation.

Sunrise Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center
39210 State Street, Suite 120
Fremont, CA 94538
510–796-7000
www.sunrisechiropractic.org

First day of the Seminar

Today was an eye-opening event.

I realized today how important reducing heavy metal toxicity is if we are to stay healthy.

I have always thought of myself as being really healthy and having very few issues. Most who know me, know that I am in really great shape and never ever get sick (in 17 years of practice I have only taken time off work 3 times) and that I have an abundance of energy. Well I learned today that I have some heavy metal toxicity and that was hiding some underlying health conditions that would not otherwise show up on testing. Great for me because before the problems get worse I can clear out these heavy metals and begin to restore the health to my other organs.

Starting next week I will begin to remove the heavy metals from my body and begin to make subtle changes to improve my health even more.

I can’t wait until tomorrow to learn even more so I can bring this information back to all of my patients to get them moving forward to improve their health and wellness.

If you aren’t feeling your best and I don’t just mean about your spine. If your digestion is off or you can’t sleep at night or feeling tired all the time or emotionally you aren’t feeling calm and relaxed, you may be experiencing nutritional deficiencies or heavy metal toxicity issues. I will be able to help you with these issues.

Be sure to come on in and talk to me about these issues and we can schedule some time to go over these areas and get you on the better road to health too.

Bringing Wellness to The World

It isn’t very often that I take a day off from my office. Many of my patients say they can set their watch by my schedule (am I that predictable?). I know that I almost never take time off from my office as I love to be there serving my patients and improving their lives. My goal is to improve the world one happy and healthy patient at a time. If everyone was vibrant and full of life the world would indeed be a better place.

Back to the reason of this post. I will be out of the office on Friday, March 26, 2010. Am I doing anything exciting for my time away from my patients? Yes I am! I am going to a 3 day workshop on wellness. Some people would not like to waste a 3-day weekend going to a seminar for work… But not me.

When you are passionate about what you do for a living it is easy to make what you do a part of your life. I am passionate about learning and living a wealthy life. Not in the financial sense, I drive a 22 year old truck with 250k miles on it. I am talking wellness here. Your health and wellness is the greatest asset you could have and investing in it is the best wealth accumulation you can find.

So I am off to learn about what steps that I can do to be the healthiest I can be and I am going to be sharing that with all of my patients that want to be wealthy too.

I will be attending a Wellness Workshop for three days and looking to bring new procedures to help improve the lives of all my patients, past, present and those in the future. At the workshop they will be discussing issues of electromagnetic pollution, nutritional inadequacies or deficiencies, allergies and sensitivity triggers, emotional stressors and toxic accumulations or exposures.

I can’t wait for this week to be over as I am inspired to serve my patients better.

If you would like to know more about those steps you can take to be healthier call my office in the next few weeks and stop by for a tune up and we can talk. You know how passionate I am about being healthy.

Sciatica

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression and/or irritation of one of five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, and/or various parts of the leg and foot. In addition to pain, which is sometimes severe, there may be numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles or tingling and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.

Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low back pain and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain. This point is important, because treatment for sciatica or sciatic symptoms will often be different, depending upon the underlying cause of the symptoms.

 

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is generally caused by the compression of lumbar nerves L4 or L5 or sacral nerves S1, S2 or S3, or far less commonly, by compression of the sciatic nerve itself. When sciatica is caused by compression of a dorsal nerve root it is considered a lumbar radiculopathy (or radiculitis when accompanied with an inflammatory response) from a spinal disc herniation (a herniated intervertebral disc in the spine), or from roughening, enlarging, and/or misaligning of the vertebrae (spondylolisthesis), or degenerated discs. Sciatica due to compression of a nerve root is one of the most common forms of radiculopathy.

“Pseudo-sciatica,” which causes symptoms similar to spinal nerve root compression, is caused by the compression of peripheral sections of the nerve, usually from soft tissue tension in the piriformis or related muscles (see piriformis syndrome and see below).

 

Spinal Disc Herniation 

One cause of sciatica is a spinal disc herniation, pressing on one of the sciatic nerve roots. The spinal discs are composed of a tough spongiform ring of cartilage (annulus fibrosis) with a more malleable center (nucleus pulposis). The discs separate the vertebrae, thereby allowing room for the nerve roots to properly exit through the spaces between the L4, L5, and sacral vertebrae. The discs cushion the spine from compressive forces, but are weak to pressure applied during rotational movements.

That is why a person who bends to one side, at a bad angle to pick something up, may more likely herniate a spinal disc than a person falling from a ladder and landing on his or her back.

Herniation of a disc occurs when the liquid center of the disc bulges outwards, tearing the external ring of fibers, extrudes into the spinal canal, and compresses a nerve root against the lamina or pedicle of a vertebra, thus causing sciatica. This extruded liquid from the nucleus pulposis may cause inflammation and swelling of surrounding tissue which may cause further compression of the nerve root in the confined space in the spinal canal.

Sciatica caused by pressure from a disc herniation and swelling of surrounding tissue can spontaneously subside if the tear in the disc heals and pulposis extrusion and inflammation cease.

Sciatica can be caused by tumors impinging on the spinal cord or the nerve roots. Severe back pain extending to the hips and feet, loss of bladder or bowel control, or muscle weakness, may result from spinal tumors. Trauma to the spine, such as from a car accident, may also lead to sciatica.

 

Spinal Stenosis

Other compressive spinal causes include spinal stenosis, a condition wherein the spinal canal (the spaces through which the spinal cord runs) narrows and compresses the spinal cord, cauda equina, and/or sciatic nerve roots. This narrowing can be caused by bone spurs, vertebral dislocation, inflammation, or herniated disc which decreases available space for the spinal cord, thus pinching nerves from the spinal cord that travel to the sciatic nerve and irritating them with friction.

 

Piriformis Syndrome

In 15% of the population, the sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle rather than beneath it. When the muscle shortens or spasms due to trauma, it can compress or strangle the sciatic nerve beneath the muscle. This cause of sciatic symptoms is piriformis syndrome. This may be the major cause of sciatica when the nerve root is normal.

Another source of sciatic symptoms is active trigger points of the lower back and the gluteus muscles.  In this case, the referred pain is not consequent to compression of the sciatic nerve, though the pain distribution down the buttocks and leg is similar. Trigger points occur when muscles become ischemic (having low blood flow) due to injury or chronic muscular contraction. The most commonly associated muscles with trigger points triggering sciatic symptoms are: the quadratus lumborum, the gluteus medius, the gluteus minimus, and the deep hip rotators.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

Because of the many conditions which can compress nerve roots and cause sciatica, treatment and symptoms often differ from patient to patient. Diagnostic tests can come in the form of a series of exams a physician will perform. Patients will be asked to adopt numerous positions and actions such as squatting, walking on toes, bending forward and backward, rotating the spine, sitting, lying on back, and raising one leg at a time. Increased pain will occur during some of these activities.

Treatment of the underlying cause of the compression is often the most effective course. When the cause is due to a prolapsed or lumbar disc herniation, research has shown that, with supportive treatment to help relieve pain, 90% of disc prolapse will recover with no specific intervention. Genetics appear to influence the risk of developing disc herniation.

Imaging methods such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may help diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. MRI has been shown to diagnose 95% of severe sciatica patients; while as few as 15% of sciatica sufferers in the general population are diagnosed with disc-related problems.

For most people, sciatica responds well to self-care measures. You’ll heal more quickly if you continue with your usual activities, but avoid what may have triggered the pain in the first place. Although resting for a day or so may provide some relief, prolonged bed rest isn’t a good idea. In the long run, inactivity will make your signs and symptoms worse.

In addition to resuming usual activities, try the following measures:

• Cold packs. Initially, using cold packs may be able to reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort. Wrap an ice pack or a package of frozen peas in a clean towel and apply to the painful areas for 15 to 20 minutes at least several times a day.

 

•  Hot packs. After 48 hours, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use warm packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. If you continue to have pain, try alternating warm and cold packs.

 

• Stretching. Stretching exercises for your low back can help you feel better and may help relieve nerve root compression. Avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting during the stretch and try to hold the stretch at least 30 seconds.

 

• Over-the-counter medications. Pain relievers (analgesics) fall into two categories — those that reduce pain and inflammation and those that only treat pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can both be helpful for sciatica.

 

Although they can provide real relief, both types of medication have a “ceiling effect” — that is, there’s a limit to how much pain they can control. If you have moderate to severe pain, exceeding the recommended dosage won’t provide additional benefits. What’s more, NSAIDs can cause side effects such as nausea, stomach bleeding or ulcers, and acetaminophen can cause liver problems if taken in excess.

If you use these medications, talk to your doctor so that you can be monitored for problems. In addition, periodically re-evaluate whether you still need them. Exercise, stretching, massage and other nondrug treatments can often provide the same benefits without side effects.

Most cases of sciatica can be treated by one or more of the following:

• Non-surgical spinal decompression.  Spinal Decompression is a non-invasive, non-surgical technology where a patient is placed onto an instrument which belts them in and separates their lower body from their upper body. This allows for pressure to be relieved on certain joints and structures in the lumbar region of the spine. Spinal Decompression is the result of traction when negative pressure is created within the disc during traction.

 

To achieve Spinal Decompression, this type of traction needs to be applied in long axis of extension. In other words, the spinal segments need to be gently pulled part, systematically and continuously. When this technique is applied, negative pressure is created within the disc allowing for the disc material that has moved away from the central part of the disc, and crowding a nerve, to be “sucked back in” and drawn back inside the disc, which takes the pressure off the nerve. Subsequently this results in reduced back pain and leg pain, as well as promotes true healing of the disc. So, for lack of a better term, this type of traction is also referred to as “Spinal Decompression” – although it’s the “traction” that causes the spine to decompress.

• Physical therapy. If you have a herniated disk, physical therapy can play a vital role in your recovery. Once acute pain improves, your doctor or a physical therapist can design a rehabilitation program to help prevent recurrent injuries.

 

Rehabilitation typically includes exercises to help correct your posture, strengthen the muscles supporting your back and improve your flexibility. Your doctor will have you start physical therapy, exercise or both as early as possible. It’s the cornerstone of your treatment program and should become part of your permanent routine at home.

• Prescription drugs. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication along with a muscle relaxant. Narcotics also may be prescribed for short-term pain relief. Tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs also can help ease chronic pain. They may help by blocking pain messages to the brain or by enhancing the production of endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers.

 

• Epidural steroid injections. In some cases, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication into the affected area. Corticosteroids mimic the effects of the hormones cortisone and hydrocortisone, which are made by the outer layer (cortex) of your adrenal glands. When prescribed in doses that exceed your natural levels, corticosteroids suppress inflammation around the irritated nerve, thereby helping to relieve pain.

 

Their usefulness in treating sciatica remains a matter of debate. Some research has found that corticosteroids can provide short-term symptom relief, but that these medications aren’t a long-term solution. In addition, corticosteroids can have side effects, so the number of injections you can receive is limited — usually no more than three in one year.

• Surgery. This is usually reserved for times when the compressed nerve causes significant weakness, bowel or bladder incontinence, or you have pain that gets progressively worse or doesn’t improve with other therapies.

 

Surgical options include lumbar laminectomy and microdiskectomy. In lumbar laminectomy with diskectomy, surgeons remove a portion of a herniated disk that’s pressing on a nerve. Ideally, most of the disk is left intact to preserve as much of the normal anatomy as possible. Sometimes a surgeon will perform this operation through a small incision while looking through a microscope (microdiskectomy).

Success rates of standard diskectomy and microdiskectomy are about equal, but you may have less pain and recover more quickly with microdiskectomy. Discuss which option might be best for you with your doctor, and carefully weigh the potential benefits of surgery against the risks.

• Exercise regularly. This is the most important thing you can do for your overall health   as well as for your back. Pay special attention to your core muscles — the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment. For cardiovascular benefits, try using a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical trainer or cross-country ski machine. Cycling outdoors also is beneficial, but be certain your seat and handlebars are adjusted properly.

 

• Maintain proper posture when you sit. A good chair should comfortably support your hips, and the seat shouldn’t press on the back of your thighs or knees. If the chair doesn’t support the natural curve in your lower spine, place a rolled towel or pillow behind your back.

 

When working at a computer, adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the floor and your arms rest on your desk or the chair’s arms, with your elbows bent at a right angle. Take frequent breaks, even if it’s just to walk around your office.

When you drive, adjust your seat to keep your knees and hips level, and move the seat forward to avoid overreaching for the pedals.

• Use good body mechanics. Being conscious of how you stand, lift heavy objects and even how you sleep can go a long way toward keeping your back healthy. That’s because poor posture stresses your back, leading to fatigue and stress on joints and nerves. If you stand for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. While you stand, hold reading material at eye level instead of bending forward. Before you lift something heavy, decide where you’ll place it and how you’ll get there. Bend at your knees, not your back, so that your legs do the lifting. Carry objects close to your body at about waist level. If possible, set the object down on a surface between shoulder and knee height to avoid lifting objects over your head or bending over too far. Don’t twist at your waist. Instead, turn by pivoting your feet.

 

Be careful moving heavy things when you’re tired — fatigue can cause you to move more awkwardly. Heavy loads pose the greatest risk, so know your limitations. Don’t attempt to lift something you feel is beyond your ability. For the best sleep posture, choose a mattress that feels comfortable to you. Use pillows for support, but don’t use one that forces your neck up at a severe angle.

• Regular exercise. It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when you’re in pain, but regular exercise is one of the best ways to combat chronic discomfort. Exercise prompts your body to release endorphins — chemicals that prevent pain signals from reaching your brain.

 

Early in the course of sciatica, water exercise or other low-impact exercise such as a stationary bicycle will help you stay active without worsening your symptoms. Later, as you improve and the pain lessens, combining aerobic activity with strength training and core stability exercises that improve the strength of your back muscles can help limit the effects of age-related degenerative changes in your back.

If you’re new to exercise, start out slowly and progress to at least 30 minutes most days. To prevent injury, consider learning proper weightlifting techniques from a certified personal trainer, fitness specialist or physical therapist.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to medical and health care systems, practices, and products that aren’t currently part of conventional medicine — the care you receive in your primary care doctor’s office. Many of these therapies are being studied intensely, and some have proved to help alleviate back pain.

• Acupuncture. This therapy is based on the idea that your health depends on a vital energy called qi — pronounced “chee” — that flows along pathways in your body. It’s believed that when qi is blocked, disease and pain result and that inserting fine needles into specific points along the pathways unblocks energy flow and restores balance.

During an acupuncture treatment, you’ll have hair-thin needles inserted into your skin. In most cases, you won’t feel the needles — in fact, many people find the treatments extremely relaxing.

Research into acupuncture’s safety and efficacy has been inconsistent. Some studies have suggested that acupuncture can help back pain, while others have found no benefit. If you decide you’d like to try acupuncture, choose a licensed practitioner to ensure that he or she has had extensive training.

• Chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment is based on the philosophy that restricted movement in the spine may lead to reduced function and pain. Spinal adjustment (manipulation) is one form of therapy chiropractors use to treat restricted spinal mobility. The goal is to restore spinal movement and, as a result, improve function and decrease pain.

 

Chiropractors manipulate the spine from different positions using varying degrees of force. Manipulation doesn’t need to be forceful to be effective. Chiropractors may also use massage and stretching to relax muscles that are shortened or in spasm.

Some studies done on spinal manipulation have found it to be as effective and safe as standard treatments, especially for initial pain relief, though the optimal number of treatments is unknown.

• Massage. It’s difficult to conduct objective clinical trials in massage due to variances in practitioners and in massage types. However, studies that have been conducted suggest that massage may ease low back pain symptoms.

In Closing, if you or someone you know is suffering from poor health let them know that there may be hidden health problems that chiropractic can help.

To schedule a free consultation to see if chiropractic can help you, call our office today at 510-796-7000

Yours in excellent health,
Gary Wong, DC

Important Keys to Great Health!

“If you want to have an average life, do what average people do. 

If you want to have an extraordinary life, don’t do what the average people do!”

 

     Being a Chiropractor for the past 16 years has given me the opportunity to see many thousands of patients from newborns to people on their death beds.  Through my years of training while in school and post graduate education as well as clinical experience, I have found out many keys that contribute to a vibrant lifestyle of being truly healthy and well.

     In this post, I have put together four of what I feel are the most effective key points if you wish to have an extraordinary life. Please ponder these four key tips and if you like to discuss these in further depth I would be more than happy to help you achieve an extraordinary lifestyle.

     The first key is Structure, In anything, structure comes before function. If a spine is misaligned or segments don’t move properly, the function of everything served by that area (where the nerves come off the spinal cord) will be less than fully functional. BE AWARE, Pain is not always present when dysfunction begins to quietly set in.

     In November 1921, Henry Windsor, MD, Medical Times,

     

     The Evidences of the Association, in Dissected Cadavers, of Visceral Disease with Vertebral Deformities of the Same Sympathetic Segments

      It was found that 49 of 50 cadavers who exhibited abnormal curvatures and deformities from spinal dysfunction had correlated diseased organs (138 of 139) of the same sympathetic or adjacent segment.

     Abnormal spinal curvatures precede old age and to cause old age. Visceral diseases and pathology can be traced back to the segmental levels of sympathetic involvement with nearly 100% correlation.

     Chiropractic adjusting of the spine improves structure and function and slows the progression of Spinal pathology.

 

      The second key is Nutritional / Biochemical: Everything affects your chemistry. That includes the foods you eat, the vitamins or supplements you take, your hormonal system, your mineral balance, your hydration level and the quality of the liquids you consume. 

     Unless you consume 80% raw food diet you should take enzymes with your meal.  Enzymes assist the body in digestion, assimilation and elimination. Probiotics is the next necessary group of nutrients EVERYONE NEEDS. We must digest our food with the help of enzymes that process and detoxify at the intestinal level. There have been over 500 good bacteria identified in the gut.

     Proper gut bacteria aids many body functions from B complex formation, to digestion, to proper elimination, and immune protection. Over 60% of the body’s immune system is in the gut.

     Multi-vitamins, enzymes, probiotics and essential fatty acids taken daily help to replenish your system and balance deficiencies and inadequacies and help rebuild your body with the proper building blocks.

 

     The third key is Allergies and Sensitivities: More and more people are becoming at odds with nature and substances that exist on planet earth at this point in time.

     Our immune systems become over-reactive, but they can be re-set to be in proper harmony.

     As stated earlier, the gut is responsible for most allergic reactions.  When the gut lining begins to weaken a condition of “Leaky Gut” appears and this is what creates many allergies and sensitivities as we get older. 

     Strengthening the gut and reducing inflammation are key to resetting the natural balance.

     The fourth key is Toxins: This is an important buzz word.

     Heavy metals, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, industrial pollution, auto exhaust, etc. are serious problems and are shortening our life span and causing dis-ease daily.  

     Detoxification is a must in everyday life now. All detoxification processes in the body are nutrition dependent. A patient may show a need for a liver or total systemic detoxification, or show a need for specific organ support to the liver or kidneys. He/she may need nutritional support to add enough energy to get the job done or antioxidants may be necessary to help against breakdown from free-radicals.

     Everyone should detoxify their bodies at least twice a year for several months to keep it operating at its peak efficiency

THE GOOD NEWS!

     We have procedures to address all 4 of the Interferences to Health mentioned above.

     Some folks may be 40% Structural imbalances and 20 % Toxic with a little of this and a little of that thrown in.

     Some just need a quick adjustment to realign their spine, reduce pain and improve nerve energy to the rest of their bodies. Others need nutritional support to help get them back to their vibrant self. 

     Whatever stage of health you are in we can quickly get to the problem and get you back to feeling your best.

     For those who may have questions, please call our office at (510) 796-7000 to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Gary Wong.

It’s Your Body, Your Health and Your Choice. Choose well!!

Hello World!

Hello World!

I am Dr. Gary Wong and welcome to my Blog. 

My purpose is to spread wellness throughout the world though better education. 

I hope that you stay tuned into this blog and either join as a fan or help me out by letting others know about what I am trying to achieve.

Please bear with me as I am new to Blogging and as I learn more about the process I will be able to get you valuable information on how to live healthier.