Kayser's Korner, Winter 2016-2017

Doc's Corner

"Why back pain?"

It is estimated that as many as 80% of us will experience low back pain at some time in our lives. Patients say, "If I only knew what I did. Possible reasons are improper lifting, normal wear and tear, accidents, falls, overexertion on the weekends and even stress. But here are a few you may not have considered:

• A big wallet -  Sitting on your wallet elevates one hip higher than the other. This can cause misalignment and even sciatica.
• Flip-flops - These give no support and can even cause arch and heel pain. Flip-flops were designed for the beach or locker room.
• Heavy purses or shoulder bags - place the spine out of alignment. Shoulder bags can cause neck and shoulder pain. Weight of the bag should be no more than 10% of your body weight. Shift bag from shoulder to shoulder.
• Constipation - many patients experience relief of back pain with BMs. constipation can irritate large intestines and back muscles. Exercise, fruits, vegetables and high fiber helps.
• Sitting - creates more pressure on the spine than standing. Hunching forward creates even more pressure. Arch back at times and shift weight.
• Gum chewing - can cause jaw issues, neck/arm pain, and even headaches!

Dr. Rich's Kitchen

Wholesome, easy and oh, so good! Try this favorite from Dr. Rich's Kitchen.

• 2-3 medium-large sweet potatoes
• 1 dozen eggs
• olive oil
• 1 regular sized muffin pan, oiled.

Preheat oven to 425°. Wash and peel sweet potatoes, then shred them. Put the shredded sweet potatoes in the muffin pan on the bottom and sides. Bake for 10 minutes at 425°. Break eggs into a mixing bowl and mix with your favorite seasonings. Pour into sweet potato cups to rim. Bake an additional 1-12 minutes... enjoy!

May the (Life) Force Be With You

The film Star Wars has coined the phrase, "May the Force be with you." But did you know that:

• 2 1/2 million of your body's cells die and are replaced every minute?
• Every Single cell, organ, and tissue function is controlled by the nervous system.
• When the spine becomes misaligned, pressure is put on the nerves. Like a kinked water hose, this reduces the nerve function and causes diminished life force to your cells.
• Chiropractors are trained to detect these nerve interferences and adjust as necessary.
• Correcting these subluxations allow the body to repair and restore itself.

May the life force be strong in you!

Five Steps to a Better You!

1. Follow your dreams - "You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream." (C.S. Lewis) It's all up to you. Whether it's beginning a new exercise routine, reading a new book, learning a new craft or skill, commit to challenging yourself something new!
2. Take a break - What do you do on a daily basis to enjoy the moment? Life doesn't have to be a race. Take time to enjoy: a morning sunrise, a hike in the park, a good book, a beautiful sunset, a day of fishing - whatever floats your boat! Find time to relax and reap the physical and psychological benefits.
3. Turn bad into good - We all experience good and bad moments in our life, but whether we crumble or climb depends on our attitude. Negative breeds negative with disastrous results. Willy Nelson says, "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
4. Eat less sugar - Imbalanced blood sugar is a contributing cause of fatigue, brain fog, cravings, depression and a weakened immune system - just to name a few!
   • Try transitioning away from sugar to naturally sweetened foods, like fruit.
   • Take a generous dose of green food supplements daily (like Greens First) to help balance blood sugar and reduce cravings.
   • Feed cravings of sugar and sweets with protein.
   • Eat protein before sweets to lower overall glycemic index.
   • Eat an animal protein or whole grain within an hour of waking.
5. Laugh, it does the body good!

Dr. Joe's Rule #9: Don't take life so serious!

So, the next time you catch yourself going down that road, just find something to make you smile. Here are a few starters:

1. The Roman numerals for forty are XL.
2. The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he/she can tell when he/she is really in trouble.
3. The easiest way to find something is to buy a replacement.
4. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight — because by then, our body and your fat have become really good friends.
5. "My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already." (Milton Berle)
6. "You have to stay in shape. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today, and we don't know where in the world she is!" (Ellen Degeneres)