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Health Newsletter - Summer '09

Prepared By Burdi Chiropractic & Massage; Dr. G. Burdi, D.C.
Celebrating 30 Years Of "Light-Force" Adjusting, Massage & Wellness

Welcome to our health newsletter. It is meant to entertain, inform, and even inspire you to better health. Help others by sharing your thoughts and experience. They will thank you profusely.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Is This YOU At 100 Years Of Age?
  • Bras Affecting Lymphatic Drainage, Reflex Points, Fibrocysts, and Cancer
  • Drinking Soda Can Damage You
  • Nail Fungus
  • Old man rocking

    Is This YOU At 100 Years Of Age? - Yes, it is increasingly probable to live that long or longer, as noted in Dr Eric Plasker's book titled The 100 Year Lifestyle. The author points out that thousands of people are already living to over 100 years old, but never expected it! Consequently many are living in hospices. They did not realize that it would be possible to live so long and did not maintain nature's  fundamentals - Endurance (aerobic), Strength (weights), and Structure (alignment with proper nutrition). In fact over the next few years the numbers will grow to millions reaching the age of 100. And many will be disabled and under our younger generation's care. Do you want to be a burden? (I certainly don't.)

    So let's PLAN for the longer good life by taking better take care of ourselves NOW. Look around you will see those who are currently not doing such and some are. A prime example is Jack La Lanne (maybe you are not old enough to remember his TV programs) whose lifestyle is enabling him to still go strong at 93 years old. Incidentally, he graduated from chiropractic school. He must have learned something that shaped his life!

    Dr Plasker's comments made me realized that even though I keep up my endurance by walking the golf course, jogging with the dog several times per week, working out (but not enough) with weights, and balancing my body with good food and spinal checkups. I do need to do more by spending devoted time at the gym to improve my strength so I will have the strength to enjoy my older years.

    So how about everyone think about what changes in their lifestyle could be done to reach 100 years old and enjoy our entire life rather than being too weak and/or ill to do this. Are you ready?

    Surgeon

    Bras Affecting Lymphatic Drainage, Reflex Points, Fibrocysts, and Cancer. - Some types of bras are worse than others. Many physicians and researchers, as stated by Dr Mercola, agree that wearing a tight fitting bra can cut off lymph drainage (wired bras especially), which can contribute to the development of breast cancer. The body is less able to excrete all the toxins exposed to on a daily basis. For example Aluminum from antiperspirants is one potentially dangerous source of toxin that can accumulate if the lymph drainage is impaired. Dr Michael Schacter, MD stated in his article, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer, that "Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow. The nature of the bra, the tightness, and the length of time worn, will all influence the degree of blockage of lymphatic drainage. Thus, wearing a bra might contribute to the development of breast cancer as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast." Consequently, constricting bras have also been implicated in the rise of benign (non-cancerous) but often painful breast cysts and lumps. Dr. John McDougall, MD, in his book titled The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart, states that "After repeated bouts of inflammation, the breasts develop scar tissue in many places, and some of the milk ducts become plugged, forming cysts. Fibrocystic breast disease, not surprisingly, is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer." Suggest avoiding these drainage issues by tossing  wired bras. One source to research the many other choices of bras available is the website, Linda’s Bra School.

    Another potential problem are the reflex points around the breasts. John D. Andre, DC, ND points out that there are two important neuro-lymphatic reflex points.  The one below the right breast corresponds to the liver and gallbladder organs. The one below the left one goes to the stomach. Continued stimulation by underwire bras causes sedation of these points and a subsequent decrease in its associated function. This can cause dysfunction of the associated circuits for the liver, gallbladder, and stomach. Also the metal wire can act as an antenna attracting electromagnetic fields, which can also increase the risk of cancer. Other studies like Medical anthropologists Sydney Singer and Soma Grismaijer conducting a study of over 4,000 women, and found that women who do not wear bras had a much lower risk of breast cancer. Comparing to those who wore it 24 hours a day there was a 125-fold increase in  getting breast cancer. Relating this to cigarette smoke, there is only a 3 times greater risk for those who smoke  to those who did not.

    Furthermore, Singer and Grismaijer found that about 90 percent of fibrocystic patients improve when they quit wearing bras. Another example is a 1991 study published in the European Journal of Cancer found that premenopausal women who did not wear bras had half the risk of breast cancer compared with bra users. Yet another study by Japanese researchers discovered that wearing a bra can lower by 60% the levels of melatonin, involved with the regulation of sleep cycles, having anti-cancer effects, as an antioxidant, preventing DNA damage, and binding to T-helper cells.

    Obviously there may be distinct reasons to wear bras. So to minimize problems I suggest going to the wireless style. Every little thing to further your chance of a healthier life is a step in the right direction, right?

    Dog drinking from toilet

    Drinking Soda Can Damage You - Doctors are warning that cola consumption can lead to anything from mild weakness to profound muscle paralysis. This is because the drink can cause the blood potassium to drop dangerously low. One Australian ostrich farmer needed emergency care for lung paralysis after drinking large amounts of cola. The heart muscle suffers especially if other heart conditions, like cardiac ischemia, heart failure or left ventricular hypertrophy, exists. It is also the number 1 source of calories for Americans! With such aggressive mass marketing, super-sizing of soft drinks, and the effects of caffeine dependence,  tens of millions of people in industrialized countries drink at least 2-3 liters of cola per day leading to 60 gallons each year. Excessive cola consumption has also been linked with obesity, diabetes and tooth and bone problems.

    According to the researchers, hypokalemia can be caused by excessive consumption. Of the three most common ingredients in soda - glucose, fructose, and caffeine, soda also leads to caffeine intoxication. This involves nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, rapid heartbeats (tachycardia), psychomotor agitation (restlessness and pacing) and in rare cases, death. Even diarrhea can occur. Weight gain can result because a single can a day translates to more than a pound gain every month. Diet soda can even add more because of the artificial sweeteners inducing a whole set of physiologic and hormonal responses. Liver damage can lead to cirrhosis just like in chronic alcoholics. Tooth decay is increased due to the soda dissolving the enamel with the acidity really worse than the sugar in candy. Kidney stones and chronic kidney disease is increased due the high phosphoric acid content, a substance that changes urine in a way that promotes kidney stone formation with 3 12-ounce cans per week increasing the risk of developing stones by 15%. Diabetic risk is also increased due to soda stressing the body's process of sugar with type 2 diabetes increasing by 90% in the last ten years. Heartburn due to acid reflux can by caused with heavy consumption. Osteoporosis risk increases due the linkage to the phosphoric acid. Because when phosphate levels are high and calcium levels are low, calcium is pulled out of the bones. Hypertension and heart disease by drinking more than one per day increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar, elevated fasting triglycerides, and low levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol). Indigestion by drinking on an empty stomach can upset the fragile acid-alkaline balance of the stomach and other gastric lining, creating a continuously acidic environment. This prolonged acid environment can lead to inflammation of your stomach and duodenal lining. Mental disorders are on the list. Gout can occur by a 85% risk factor if only 2 or more per month drinks are consumed. Wow, what a list of side effects. Let's take soda off our shopping list and add water (use this link for more details) to improve our health and longevity.

    UPDATE - Researchers at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2011 conducted an experiment finding that people who drink diet soda may have a much higher risk of vascular events compared to those who don't drink soda. They followed participants for an average of 9.3 years and kept track of vascular events such as strokes. They also said their results showed a connection between salt and stroke. After a follow-up period of about 9.7 years, those taking in more than 4,000 milligrams of sodium per day doubled their stroke risk compared to people who consume less than 1,500 milligrams per day.

    A 2007 study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that people who drink one or more soft drinks a day are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a heart disease precursor, than people who drink less than one soda a day

    Feet

    Nail Fungus Help - Have a thick, yellowish nail? HealthDay News published an article regarding such fungi infections which occur underneath nails on the toes and fingers. Apparently this is a common problem, especially for older folks. The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists the following warning signs for nails:
    * Being brittle and crumbling;
    * A change in shape;
    * Increased thickness.
    * A change in the color;
    * Dull or separates from the skin; and/or
    * Appears to have particles beneath it.

    Medical treatment is by a prescription drug, which has very bad effects on kidneys and liver. A better way (natural approach) that has worked very effectively on many patients is to daily apply Sesame Seed Oil on the nails. In fact it is also beneficial for Athlete's Foot by putting the oil between the toes before putting on socks. A fungus is very hard to eradicate and keeps returning without preventive care. Recommended preventive measures are: keep the nails and toes clean by using a tooth brush with soap around and between the toes, maintain the toes dry with cotton socks and maybe some powder, and apply Sesame Seed Oil daily until sores heal, then weekly for the rest of one's life!

    UPDATE - Some people have recommended Tea Tree Oil. Our experience shows it is not as effective as the above treatment. Plus it smells terrible! So suggest staying with the Sesame Oil and above recommendations.

    Balls lined up

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