Dr. Crom’s Weekly Adjustment

Well last time I talked about parabens, how they are bad for your body, and how we need to try and limit our exposure to them.  Well today, I am going to talk about how the toxins in our foods are adding to the overwhelming overload of toxic build up in our bodies.

We know that toxins enter our body through contact with our skin, we also know that we inhale them, (which I will talk about next time), finally they can enter our body through our  mouth.  So lets talk about the foods we are eating.

Now I know what you are thinking… Food bad for us?  I thought that was how we got the fuel we needed to survive.  Well you are right, it is.  But what most Americans are eating these days doesn’t qualify as food.  It is counterfeit food.  Food that has very little to no nutritional value.

How has our food gotten to this point.  Well look around.  Farming is big business, and producing as much product is good for profits.  Then there is fast foods, convenience foods, processed foods, that have done nothing but make our country fat and sick. 

  Our bodies are not being able to keep up with the burden that we are putting on it.  So we end up becoming fatter, and sicker every time we eat.  Processed foods have lead to an epidemic of diabetes and obesity in adults and now our children.  Take a look around at the popular diets these days.  One that is on TV all of the time, is selling you on eating their pre-made meals, which have to be loaded with additives and chemicals that are body can do nothing with.  I know one person that is on a plan that keeps track with points, but she can still have fast food in her diet as long as she has enough points.  How is that healthy?  You are not going to lose weight being able to have fries and coke.

Foods that were once healthy for us to eat, like fruits and veggies are now being sprayed with so many chemicals to make them grow bigger and defend them for pests, that they are losing most of their nutritional value, and becoming loaded with chemicals they have absorbed while growing.

You wanted to know why your arthritis is acting up.  Take a look at your diet.  The things that you are putting into your body are most likely causing your body to stay in a constant state of inflammation because the toxic burden placed on your body is too high for it to deal with.  High fructose corn syrup,hygrogenated oils, soybean oil, food dyes, food additive, refined sugars, caffeine, these chemicals will cause your body to constantly be in pain.  But these are the things that we are constantly eating.

Yes, meds can help with some of your health issues, and yes there is a time and place for them, but if you change what is going into your body, your health will change.  Food IS our fuel, we just have to make sure that we are using the right fuel for our health.  This would be organically grown fruits and veggies, wild fish (not farm raised), grass fed beef, and free range chicken.  Avoid meats that have been given antibiotics and steroids in order to grow larger animals.  These types of chemicals will be passed onto you when eaten.

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Broccoli lovers, know this: Your favorite veggie is loving you right back, with ample amounts of this stroke-stomping, diabetes-deterring nutrient — vitamin C.

High blood levels of vitamin C could cut stroke risk by as much as 42 percent and reduce your odds of developing type 2 diabetes by a whopping 62 percent.

“C” the Stats
Yep, that’s exactly what happened in two recent studies involving middle-aged and older adults. As blood levels of C went up, risks went down. Researchers suspect that the vitamin’s strong antioxidant qualities may be the reason for its protective effects. And there’s no better way to raise your blood levels of C than to start filling your body with C-rich winter foods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, and oranges

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What do bananas have in common with corn, eggs, salmon, and spinach? Hint: a vitamin that’s great for your colon.

We’re talking about B6. And science shows that simply getting your share of this nutrient could cut your risk of colon and rectal cancer. A lot.

Big Time B Benefits
In one of the largest studies to date on B6 and colon health, people with the highest intake of the vitamin — from food and supplements — reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 20 to 30 percent. And this study is just one of many showing a benefit. Researchers suspect that B’s role in the metabolism of folate — another colon-friendly B vitamin — might explain the protective effects.

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What Is Organic Food?

Organic food is any food grown or raised in accordance with the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. For the most part, it includes grains, produce, animal products all grown without the use of growth hormones, pesticides, genetic modifications, or the use of any other product to increase the size of supply of products.

Conventional farming uses chemical pesticides to help protect the crops. These pesticides will reside in the soil and find their way into the produce for years, potentially leading to health or environmental problems.

Organic foods are grown in the soil without pesticides or other chemicals having been used for at least three years prior to harvest. The crop is often smaller and generally rotated to ensure healthy soil and improved nutrient content.

Although organic produce usually doesn’t look as shiny or large as conventional options in the supermarket, it often has a purer nutrient content and tastes better. If locally grown, the food should have an even greater flavor and nutritional content due to a reduced time from harvest to your table. Conventional produce may have a trace taste of pesticides or wax and may lack flavor because of poor soil, longer shelf life, artificial growth inducers, or longer traveling distance. In addition, larger produce does not necessarily mean higher nutrient content; instead, artificial means may have been used to boost production and growth of the plant.

Sensitivity to Pesticides

Many people can also be sensitive to pesticides in their foods and feel they cannot eat raw fruits/vegetables because of this.¹ Other times, allergies to specific foods may be mistaken for sensitivities to the chemicals used on the foods. Chemical sensitivities can manifest with symptoms similar to food allergy, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and eye or skin irritation or rash.² Organics eliminate these chemicals so most people can eat the foods and receive the nutrients they provide.

But They’re So Expensive!

The cost of organic products has gone down greatly, bringing the price very close to the conventional options. To keep your grocery bill low, purchase organic products that are on sale and eat with the seasons. Think of healthful eating as a long-term investment. By taking preventive measures, you are taking steps to reduce your healthcare spending one of the greatest living expenses for many people.

Environmental Health

No matter how many fruits and vegetables we eat or how many supplements we take, if we are surrounded by smog and chemicals and have limited exposure to sunlight and nature, our health cannot be optimal. For this reason, as we consider eating organic foods, we should take into account the beneficial impact these foods have on the environment. Organic foods allow the earth to produce natural, wholesome food and prevent the use of the harsh chemicals and pollution that contribute to problems in human and environmental health.

Local Vs. Organic

Organic and local foods are both good choices. When choosing between them, select the option that makes more sense for your personal concerns. Organic foods, produced without pesticides and containing purer nutrients, may be especially important for people with pesticide allergies or those concerned with reducing cancers linked to some pesticides. Local foods reach the consumer closer to the date they were picked, ensuring more nutrients and reduced impact to the earth since the foods are not traveling long distances. Local foods also allow you to support your local farmers. There is even a growing idea that eating local honey can help stave off allergies by exposing you to small amounts of your local pollen.³

Does Organic Mean Healthful?

Remember that organic does not always equal healthful. With the popularity of organic foods, many processed food manufacturers have begun including more natural ingredients into chips, cookies, crackers and other foods. While these options are certainly better than the traditional packaged foods, many contain high amounts of salt, sugar and fat and are still highly refined, stripping the food of its nutrient values. When selecting such products, pay attention to your serving size and complement these choices with whole, unprocessed foods.

Tips for Healthful Eating

• Choose local, unprocessed foods whenever possible.
• Use a safe cleaning agent such as Castile soap or a fruit or vegetable wash to remove external pesticides from produce.
• Peel the skin from conventionally grown produce. Eat organic produce whole, if possible — edible fruit and vegetable skins store the majority of fiber and nutrients in most produce.
• Grow your own foods!
• Request and support organic choices at your local grocer or farmer’s market. If local markets see demand for organic foods, they will meet it by stocking the requested products. Your voice can help make organics available in your area.
• Go to www.localharvest.org to find a local coop or CSA, so you can purchase organic produce directly from the grower.

References:

1.http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/consumer_faq.htm#chemically_sensitive

2.http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/multiple-chemical-sensitivity

3.www.honey.com/consumers/honeyhealth/healing/diseaseprevention.asp.

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Nutrition Advice for a Healthy New You

There is no better way to revamp your health than by eating more nutritiously. In fact, even a few small and simple changes in the way you view food and your lifestyle, can have a positive impact on your health-and any health problems that you may be experiencing at this time. The traditional coffee and doughnuts for breakfast; a drive through for lunch-or no lunch; candy, cookies, and a soft drink for a snack; followed by a huge dinner with more protein than a person needs-are unhealthy dietary choices. As a result, younger people are starting to suffer from heart disease-not only because of poor diet, but also because of an epidemic of inactivity. Processed foods and video games are making our children obese and extremely unhealthy

How can you reverse this alarming trend. Start by eating a balanced diet, drink more water (you should drink half of your body weight in ounces per day), STOP SMOKING, exercise, and supplement the vitamins and minerals that you are not getting from your food.

What Can You Do?
The American Chiropractic Association offers the following prevention and wellness advice:

Lifestyle Changes

• Exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes three or four days a week.
• Eat out more sparingly. Food preparation methods in restaurants often involve high amounts-and the wrong types-of fat and sugar.
• Brown-bag your lunch to control your fat and sugar content while adding nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Limit your intake of alcohol and quit smoking. Drinking alcohol excessively and/or smoking hinder your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from your food.

Dietary Changes

• Eat more raw foods. Cooking and canning destroys much of the nutrition in foods. With the exception of canned tomatoes, which can help prevent prostate cancer,1 fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables always have more natural vitamins and minerals.
• Select organically grown foods when possible, because they have lower amounts of toxic elements, such as pesticides and heavy metals.
• Consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. Whole-grain breads and cereals, beans, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables are good sources of fiber. High-fiber diets can help prevent digestive disorders, heart disease, and colon cancer.
• Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and alcohol are dehydrators. Don’t substitute them for water.

Vegetarian Diets
Research shows that a good vegetarian diet as part of a comprehensive health program can help prevent heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. However, fried foods, hydrogenated fats, and commercial meat substitutes may contain more sugar and fat than a meat-eater would consume.

If you are considering a vegetarian diet, keep the following tips in mind:

• Don’t rely on fruits and vegetables at the expense of grains and legumes. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to consume a wide range of nutrients.
• Tiredness, malaise, and anemia can be signs of deficiencies. Have your B12 and iron levels checked at least once a year.
• Consume fortified foods or take supplements to obtain the nutrients you no longer get from animal-based products, such as vitamin B12.
• Before eliminating animal products from the diet, learn to do it right. Children, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and people recovering from illness should consult their health care practitioners.

Supplements According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dietary supplements are not substitutes for foods, nor can a person sustain good health by just taking vitamin and mineral supplements. When taken properly, however, supplements can play an important role in achieving maximum health. If you are considering nutritional supplements, keep the following tips in mind:

• Remember to consume dark green vegetables, oils, nuts, and seeds, which are sources of magnesium, fatty acids, and many other vitamins and minerals.

Don’t “self-prescribe.” Consult a health care practitioner, such as a doctor of chiropractic, to determine what supplements are best for you. If you have symptoms such as headaches, chronic fatigue, or cardiac problems, seek professional advice from a health care provider who specializes in nutrition.

References

1. Pohar KS, Gong MC, Bahnson R, Miller EC, Clinton SK. Tomatoes, lycopene and prostate cancer: a clinician’s guide for counseling those at risk for prostate cancer. World J Urol. 2003 May;21(1):9-14. Epub 2003 Mar 22.
2. Beilin LJ. Vegetarian and other complex diets, fats, fiber, and hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;59(suppl):1130-1135.
3. Dwyer JT. Health aspects of vegetarian diets. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988;48(suppl):712-738.
4. Economic Characterization of the Dietary Supplement Industry: Final Report. In “U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition” March 1999.

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