Your Health

Week of: Monday March 25, 2019

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: Immune cells in the gut may explain why some people can't lose weight  Immune cells in the gut may determine whether our metabolisms run hot or cold, a new study suggests. Experiments done in specially engineered mice found that certain immune cells in the small intestine tended to slow down metabolism and send ingested food to be stored as fat rather than converting it to energy, according to the study published Wednesday in Nature. Mice engineered to lack these immune cells could consume diets high in fat, sugar and salt without developing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, researchers reported. The hope, experts say, is that these findings will suggest ways to tweak something in the guts of people genetically programmed to have "thrifty" or slow metabolisms. “When you eat a meal, your body needs to decide what to do with the energy in the meal,” said study coauthor Filip Swirski. “The immune cells calibrate that decision and essentially they put the brakes on a high metabolism.” Swirski and his colleagues started out by focusing on a protein, called integrin beta7, that directs immune cells to the gut. Mice without the gene for the protein ate a lot more than those with it, but didn’t gain weight, despite being no more active than the normal mice. The mice without beta7 stayed trim and did not develop glucose intolerance, which leads to higher than normal levels of blood sugar and high blood pressure. NOTE: cultured foods and supplementing those with fermented foods help maintain healthy levels of friendly bacteria. We can test you on probiotic formulas to find the best one for your system.

WELLNESS: Fatty Liver Disease Is Triggered by Choline Deficiency Choline, found in ample amounts in egg yolks, is an essential nutrient for brain, nervous system, cardiovascular and liver function, and is essential for prevention of fatty liver disease, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). An estimated 90 percent of the U.S. population are deficient in choline, a nutrient required to move fat out of your liver. NAFLD is the most common form of liver disease in the U.S., with an estimated prevalence of 30 to 40 percent among the adult population. Choline deficiency appears to be a far more significant trigger of NAFLD than excess fructose, and the rise in NAFLD may be largely the result of the widespread avoidance of liver and egg yolks. In the absence of sufficient choline, even healthy saturated fats can contribute to fatty liver. Choline minimizes liver fat no matter what the source, and the more dietary fat you consume — even if the fat itself is healthy — the higher your requirement for choline. This nutrient, which you need to get from your diet, is required for: Healthy fetal development, The synthesis of phospholipids, Nervous system health, Cell messaging, Fat transport and metabolism, DNA synthesis, Methylation reactions, Healthy mitochondrial function.

CHIROPRACTIC: Chiropractic and Vega testing a dynamic duo chiropractic's main focus is to restore the communication channels between the central nervous system and the organs and parts of the body. The body knows how to maintain proper function as long as it can properly communicate and control the different organs and parts of the body. That's why chiropractors are so concerned about the spine because those communication signals travel between the vertebra and communicate both back and forth between the central nervous system and the body. But with the communication channels intact the body requires certain nutrients for proper function. Having the nutrient without the ability of proper function or having proper function without the nutrient can lead to ill health. Vega testing allows us to scan the body for issues that can interfere with normal health like toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and mental and emotional stress. When we combine chiropractic adjustments with the appropriate diet and nutritional support we can see dramatic recovery from all types of health challenges. Even your ability to hold your adjustments can be compromised by toxicity and nutritional imbalances. So whatever your health challenge is reestablishing property communication along with balanced chemistry will lead to much better health. It's important not to ignore symptoms because those are the first signs of dysfunction and if dysfunction is left alone it can develop into disease. So no matter how minor you think the symptoms are it's important that you mention those when your history is taken so we can determine a developing problem long before it becomes an issue. Laboratory workups are great and if you haven't had lab work for a while we can send you to our lab for a thorough workup. But not everything can be determined by lab work that's where Vega testing shines. Combining Vega testing with laboratory studies is a more powerful evaluation. Remember the laws of health: proper sleep, exercise matched with your body type, rest and relaxation, proper diet matched with your body type and a healthy nervous system which only chiropractic physicians have the training to detect and correct subluxations which interfere with the communication essential for proper function and health. Who do you know who could benefit from chiropractic and Vega testing? Tell a friend today.

FUNNY BONE:  I teach kindergarten and when I was urging a student to get down to work, he looked up and me and said, “You do know that I didn’t sign up for this. My dad did it.”@@ I was teaching in a rural school district in a town of about 1200 people. It was 3rd grade. We were discussing Native American Indians. The kids were really into the discussion, when one little girl named Alysha raised her hand and said, “I know a whole lot about Native American Indians!” I said, “Oh you do? She said, “Yes, the reason I know so much about them is because my daddy is FULL BLOODED REDNECK!”@@ “I punished my pupil for faking his parents’ signatures. The next day, his parents sent a complaint about me to the principal. Well, I couldn’t have imagined that the maiden name of his mother was Batman.”@@ “If you’ve heard this story before, don’t stop me, because I’d like to hear it again.” Groucho Marx@@ A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, “I’ll give each of you just one wish” “Me first! Me first!” says the administration clerk. “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.” Poof! She’s gone. “Me next! Me next!” says the sales rep. “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.” Poof! He’s gone. “OK, you’re up,” the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, “I want those two back in the office after lunch.” Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say.

Week of: Monday March 18, 2019

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

DIET: Alarming levels of heavy metals found in nearly HALF of all fruit juices tested For many, cadmium, arsenic and lead might bring to mind the contents of test tubes brandished by mad scientists and comic-book villains – not the contents of a child’s sippy cup.  However, researchers at Consumer Reports say they recently detected potentially harmful quantities of these toxic heavy metals in a variety of popular fruit juices. Appallingly, almost half of the juices tested contained enough of the heavy metals to potentially harm children – even when given in amounts as low as 4 ounces a day! Despite growing public awareness of its high sugar content, fruit juice remains a popular beverage for children and adults.  In one study, a whopping 80 percent of parents of children three years and younger acknowledged giving children fruit juice at least “sometimes” – and three quarters of the children who drank fruit juice did so at least once a day. The varieties included apple, pear, grape and “fruit blends.”  24 national, store and private-label brands were evaluated, among them Apple and Eve, Capri Sun, Dollar General, Juicy Juice, Mott’s, Whole Foods, Minute Maid, Ocean Spray, Rite Aid, Trader Joe’s and Welch’s. Health tip: eating sulfur-rich garlic and onions, along with cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale helps to replenish glutathione, the body’s premier antioxidant and neutralizer of toxins.

IN THE NEWS: New reports link zinc deficiency to high blood pressure  If your zinc levels are lower than normal, new reports show you’re at risk for high blood pressure. A recent study published in the American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology found that too little zinc could cause your kidneys to reabsorb salt, causing high blood pressure. And, here’s an important point: low levels of zinc are common across many chronic diseases.  And, it’s already been known to make high blood pressure reading worse.  However, it wasn’t until this study that we knew that zinc deficiency on its own can have a a (negative) impact on your blood pressure reading. It’s estimated that 15-20% of the world’s population isn’t getting enough zinc in their diet. That’s right, a zinc deficiency is a worldwide problem – especially in infants, pregnant women, lactating women and older adults.  You may also be at risk if you’re a vegan, vegetarian, alcoholic, on diuretics, have stomach disorders or you’re an endurance athlete. Zinc improves eye health and can help to  enhance your immune system, aid in nutrient absorption and promote heart health. Foods high in zinc include: Seeds-Lamb-Grass-fed beef-Cocoa powder-Legumes-Shellfish-Dairy products-Nuts-Whole grains-Eggs

CHIROPRACTIC: The Study: X-ray vision: the accuracy and repeatability of a technology that allows clinicians to see spinal X-rays superimposed on a person's back.   Facts: a. The authors noted that we have always looked at the x-rays and the patient separately. b. The method being discussed projects x-rays of the spine onto the patient’s back.  c. The image is aligned on the spine using anatomical landmarks. d. “vertebral levels were identified and validated against spinous process locations obtained by ultrasound.” e. They repeated the process in 1-5 days. f. “The technology employed in this project is an optical see-through head-mounted-device (OST-HMD) that provides the user with a mixed/augmented view of reality.” g. The device utilizes a battery powered goggle system. h. “With this data, virtual objects can then be superimposed into the scene and therefore appear to co-exist with real objects while remaining in place regardless of the user’s movements or direction of gaze.” i. The device already has some medical applications and has also been used to superimpose CT images on a phantom. j. In the present study, the authors used the technology “to superimpose a virtual object (a person’s own lumbar anteroposterior X-ray) onto the surface of their back.” k. “Should the accuracy and repeatability of this system be acceptable, the use of OST-HMDs would be valuable for many clinicians (anesthesiologists, orthopods, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc.) toward visualizing X-rays on their own patients while freeing their hands for procedures such as surgery, injections, and palpation.”  l. The authors felt there were some ways accuracy could be improved, including compensating for the projection errors that occur with radiography. m. “The projection system created on-target projections with respect to individual vertebral levels 73% of the time...” n. The authors felt this technology “has potential to place radiological evaluation within the patient context.”

FUNNY BONE: Let minnow what you think.@@You have cat to be kitten me right now.@@If you understand English, press 1. If you do not understand English, press 2. Recording on an Australian tax help line@@I was at the customer-service desk, returning a pair of jeans that was too tight. “Was anything wrong with them?” the clerk asked. “Yes,” I said. “They hurt my feelings.”@@Never trust math teachers who use graph paper. They’re always plotting something.@@I had my credit card stolen the other day but I didn’t bother to report it because the thief spends less than my wife.@@That awkward moment when you leave a store without buying anything and all you can think is “act natural, you’re innocent”.@@Wife: “Our new neighbor always kisses his wife when he leaves for work. Why don’t you do that?” Husband: “How can I? I don’t even know her.”@@The attorney tells the accused, “I have some good news and some bad news.” “What’s the bad news?” asks the accused. “The bad news is, your blood is all over the crime scene, and the DNA tests prove you did it.” “What’s the good news?” “Your cholesterol is 130.”@@Q: How do you stay warm in an empty room? A: Go stand in the corner—it’s always 90 degrees.@@Did you hear about the statistician who drowned crossing a river? It was three feet deep, on average.

Week of: Monday March 11, 2019

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: PUBLIC MISLED: Sealed testimony reveals makers of OxyContin concealed strength of drug from doctors and consumers Use of the term “epidemic” to describe the current state of opioid drugs (like, OxyContin) in this country is not fear-mongering – it’s tragically accurate. According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 130 people die of an opioid overdose every day in America.  And, for the first time in recorded history, Americans are now more likely to die in an opioid overdose than a car crash! This grim picture doesn’t only involve illicit street drugs.  Between 1999 and 2017, nearly 218,000 people died of an overdose of prescription opioids, including oxycodone, better known by its brand name OxyContin. These drugs – which doctors prescribed by the millions over the past three decades – come with a high risk of dependency and abuse. It’s a troubling realization … made much worse in light of newly released information showing that the powerful people behind these drugs lied about how dangerous and addictive opioids truly are. What kind of marketing are we talking about? Improper at best – unlawful at worst. Court filings submitted ahead of the Kentucky Supreme Court (and more recently in a suit filed by the Massachusetts attorney general) allege the following: Back in the 1990s when the drug first came out, the Purdue Pharma marketing team purposefully deceived doctors about their new drug, allowing physicians to believe that OxyContin was not as strong as morphine (in reality, it’s STRONGER). Why the sleight of hand? Simple: it boosted sales. The company directed its most aggressive marketing to doctors identified as frequent opioid prescribers – many of whom who ended up losing their licenses over their egregious, kick-back fueled over-prescribing. Sales representatives were allegedly trained to say that the drugs they were pushing couldn’t be abused and had a low risk of addiction (a claim with absolutely no scientific evidence to support it). NOTE: How can you trust your doctor’s advice when who he trusts for advice lies? There are simply no safe drugs so seek solutions for your health problems not just cover up. Natural healthcare and chiropractic can help with most issues of pain.

WELLNESS: Discover the silent killer that is putting you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke-Heart disease, the top cause of death in the United States, claims about 610,000 lives (every year) – while a stroke can kill an additional 140,000.  Solid research shows that a common (but insidious) condition can increase the risk of both a heart attack and stroke – often without any clear symptoms. The fact is: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly recognized by researchers as a “silent” threat to cardiovascular health. NAFLD, which currently affects close to 30 million Americans, is the most common liver disorder in the United States.  While many cases of NAFLD are mild, the danger is that untreated NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, (or NASH) – a much more serious condition with potentially life-threatening consequences. Symptoms of fatty liver disease can include fatigue, dark-colored urine, weight loss, excessive sweating, pale-colored or black (and dark red)-looking stools, lack of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) and abdominal pain – especially in the upper right side of the stomach. Up to 20 percent of people with fatty liver will progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis – an inflammatory response to the excess fat in the liver. If untreated, NASH can lead to liver cancer, liver cirrhosis (scarring), liver failure – and even death. The good news: unlike other body organs, the liver has the ability to regenerate and repair itself. With simple – but wide-ranging – lifestyle changes, NAFLD can be prevented, treated and even reversed. Begin by eliminating or sharply reducing your consumption of alcohol, refined sugar, fatty foods, processed foods and junk food. Following an organic (non-GMO!) diet can help reduce the toxin burden on a fatty liver. Dr. Hyman also advises consuming healthy amounts of high-quality protein in the form of chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds and fish. Cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli sprouts can help to promote the production of glutathione (the body’s most important disease-fighting antioxidant, and a mainstay of liver health). Routine, consistent exercise can improve metabolism of fats and improve liver health.  Generally speaking, it’s advised to get between 75 and 150 minutes a week of aerobic exercise – such as brisk walking, jogging and swimming – interspersed with weight training.

CHIROPRACTIC:  Spinal cord “smarter” than previously thought- We often think of our brains as being at the center of complex motor function and control, but how “smart” is your spinal cord? It is well known that the circuits in this part of our nervous system, which travel down the length of our spine, control seemingly simple things like the pain reflex in humans, and some motor control functions in animals. Now, new research from Western University has shown that the spinal cord is also able to process and control more complex functions, like the positioning of your hand in external space. This kind of hand control requires sensory inputs from multiple joints — mainly the elbow and the wrist — and these inputs were previously thought to be processed and converted into motor commands by the brain’s cerebral cortex. This finding adds immensely to our understanding of neuroscience and neurocircuitry, and provides new information and targets for rehabilitation science. “A fundamental understanding of the neurocircuits is critical for making any kind of progress on rehabilitation front,” said Pruszynski who is also a scientist at Western’s Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute. “Here we can see how this knowledge could lead to different kinds of training regimens that focus on the spinal circuitry.” NOTE: a spinal adjustment not only improves these basic functions but allows your central nervous system better control over how your body functions.

 FUNNY BONE:   REAL NEWS:US police received a surprise when they were called to check on the welfare of a cardboard cutout figure. Officers in the snowy northern state of Minnesota were told an adult male had been seen standing "motionless outside" while "wearing no coat in the cold and hugging a pillow". The figure turned out to be a life-size cardboard cutout of local millionaire and inventor Mike Lindell, the CEO of the popular MyPillow brand.@@ Amanda Teague, 45-years-old and unbothered by the 255-year age difference, married the ghost of Jack Teague, a Haitian pirate who allegedly sailed the seven seas in the early 1700s. Ironically, Mrs. Teague works as a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator in Ireland. The pair first met – if you can call it meeting – in 2015, when Teague was lying in bed at her home in Drogheda, Ireland. She said she felt a ghostly presence in her room and continued to do so almost every night after. Six months after first feeling the ghost’s presence, Teague said she developed feelings for him. Together, they made plans to wed.@@ I am an ER doc. I once had a 20 year old and his girlfriend come in at 2 am freaking out becuase "something had tore his throat open". He seemed fine. No blood. Breathing fine. I had him open his mouth, saw nothing. Finally I say look, it seems ok...what do you feel or see? "I dont feel it but LOOK ITS RIGHT THERE". WHERE??? Looking, looking. It was his uvula. Somehow this kid had gotten to the age of 20 without ever noticing his uvula. Girlfriend was also horrified....I told them it was normal. Did not believe me. So I told them I was about to blow their minds and showed him his girlfriends uvula. Minds blown, another life saved in the ER.

Week of: Monday March 4, 2019

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: SOME KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET STREP THROAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN—HERE'S WHY As repeated sufferers will know all too well, strep throat can cause a fever, painful swollen tonsils that can become red and streaked with puss, and puffed-up lymph nodes in the neck. Unlike other sore throats, it does not cause a cough. While most sore throats are caused by viruses, strep throat is caused by the A Streptococcus bacteria. As many as 600 million cases of strep throat are diagnosed each year, the authors said. Repeated attacks can cause children to miss school and use antibiotics over and over, which can make the drugs less effective. In some cases, the bouts are so severe that children have to have their tonsils removed. While such procedures have a high success rate, all surgeries carry risks, the authors said. It’s a mystery, they wrote, why some children develop immunity to strep throat and others don’t. Dr. Shane Crotty, study author and Professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) told Newsweek: “Recurrent tonsillitis appears to involve genetic susceptibility related to certain immune system functions, and the strep bacteria directly target the immune system cells in a way that prevents proper protective immunity in some kids.” Crotty explained to Newsweek that tonsils are an important part of the immune system, because they trap bacteria and viruses before then can infect the body. However, they can paradoxically also provide the perfect conditions for bugs like Group A Streptococcus to thrive. Note: Cayenne pepper has shown promise though it is an aggressive approach. Adding half a teaspoon (2.5ml) of cayenne pepper powder to 1 cup of hot water and gargling every 15 minutes with the spicy solution will help cure your sore throat. According to Organic Authority you can swallow a little bit of the mixture each time you gargle. This will definitely burn, but that’s the reason why it works. Cayenne pepper is also a natural antibiotic, and it can be taken with orange juice. However if you swallow it in powder form, be sure to have eaten something before so that it doesn't damage the stomach lining; Dr Ben Kim reports.

WELLNESS: Eating Organic Significantly Reduces Health Risks. For individuals who have significant immune system disorders like autoimmune, multiple environmental allergies, should consider organic foods as a strategy to eliminate the effects of toxicity. A meta-analysis of six epidemiological studies published between 2001 and 2018 found glyphosate increases the risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) by 41 percent in highly exposed subjects. Of the six studies included, five showed a positive correlation. In the sixth, NHL risk was diluted due to the inclusion of people with very low exposure. Most foods (processed foods in particular) are contaminated with glyphosate, and more than 70 percent of Americans have detectable levels of glyphosate in their system. Recent research again confirms you can significantly reduce your toxic pesticide load by going organic, and results can be rapid. On average, pesticide and pesticide metabolite level for 14 compounds representing about 40 different pesticides were reduced by more than 60 percent, on average, after six days of eating an all-organic diet.

CHIROPRACTIC: Natural healthcare can help you Studies show more people are searching for natural solutions for their health. In 1993 the American Medical Association is a survey of health habits of Americans and found that more Americans visited doctors that practiced natural healthcare than doctors practicing drug therapy and surgery. There are many reasons for this shift in healthcare. Some people are concerned about the side effects that drugs have, (2000 deaths per week nearly 1 million injuries per year), some people have a sense of body ecology and don't want to put any artificial substances within their body. Some people have discovered drugs mainly cover-up symptoms and never get to the root of your problem, and are more concerned with maximizing their health than just making some symptoms disappear. I'm sure you have seen a popular magazine or news program on TV about the benefits of different natural healthcare techniques. Chiropractic is the world's largest natural healthcare profession and specializes in finding the root cause of health problems and helping restore patients to better health through natural methods. At Keefe clinic these are the principles that we specialize in. We promise you that we will not just cover-up your symptoms and allow the underlying condition time to get worse. Chiropractic care, homeopathic care, individualized diet, acupuncture, nutritional therapy, muscle therapy and exercise, whatever it takes to move your body from disease to health, dysfunction to realizing your genetic potentials. We will customize a program to fit your particular health needs, from low back pain and headaches to digestive problems and PMS. From ear infections in babies to arthritis or heart disease in the geriatric population, we offer the latest in natural healthcare. Tell a friend about chiropractic and natural healthcare.

FUNNY BONE:. But really, they need me: Dad’s pager beeped, summoning him to the hospital, where he is an anesthetist. As he raced toward the hospital, a patrol car sped up behind him—lights flashing, siren blaring. So Dad hung his stethoscope out the window to signal that he was on an emergency call. Within seconds came the policeman’s response: a pair of handcuffs flapping outside the police car window.@@ My friend and his rock band were playing a concert at the psychiatric hospital where he worked as a musical therapist. The audience was a little too quiet for his taste, so the guitarist decided to do something about it. He grabbed the microphone, pointed to the group and yelled, “Are you ready to get a little crazy?”@@ My doctor told me I needed to break a sweat once a day so I told him I'd start lying to my wife.@@ A couple years ago my therapist told me I had problems letting go of the past.@@ My doctor told me that jogging could add years to my life. He was right—I feel ten years older already.@@ My therapist told me that a great way to let go of your anger is to write letters to people you hate and then burn them. I did that and I feel much better but I'm wondering... do I keep the letters?@@ I have an inferiority complex but it's not a very good one.@@The therapist asked my wife why she wanted to end our marriage. She said she hated all the constant Star Wars puns. I look at the therapist and said, "Divorce is strong with this one!"

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