Dr. Atkinson's Wellness Blog

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What You Need To Know About BPA

Over the past several decades, more and more chemicals are making their way into our food supply.  One of particular concern is BPA, other wise know as Bisphenol A.  BPA is a chemical compound that is found in just about all plastic products that are used for food storage and cooking.  What is particularly troubling is that the FDA has known about the harmful effects of BPA but is currently choosing to ignore the evidence.  In January 2010, the FDA stated that "while it has some concern" about the safety of the chemical, more research is needed."  According to Food Safety News, current research has directly linked BPA to disruptions in the endocrine system and this can cause reproductive, neurological, and behavioral problems.   Additionally, BPA can increase an individuals risk of breast and prostate cancer, contribute to infertility, and cause diabetes, obesity, hyperactivity, and early puberty just to name a few.   More troubling is that BPA is found circulating in over 90% of all cord blood, and according to the CDC, it has been found to be in over 95% of Americans urine.   There are some steps that you can take to protect yourself from this chemical.  

1. Never, ever cook in plastic of any kind.  Remove the food from the plastic and place it on a glass plate. 
2. Do not cover food with plastic when cooking or refrigerating.  Use a glass lid whenever possible, or use wax paper to cover foods in the refrigerator.  This will keep the BPA from seeping into the food.
3.  Get rid of your plastic cups.  BPA will seep into your drinks and beverages.  You can purchase BPA free  bottles from stores like REI.  Check the bottom of the bottle for labeling that states that the product is BPA free.
4. Store food in glass container or glass jars rather than plastic containers.
5. Avoid buying canned foods.  Many canned foods use BPA in that pretty white liner that is inside each can.  There are very few companies that use BPA liners.  Check out the following link for a list of companies that use BPA free liners:  http://organicgrace.com/node/316.
6. Use glass baby bottles or BPA free baby bottles.

 

7 Tips to Boost Your Immunity Naturally

   With the cold and flu season in full swing, many people want to know what they can do to strengthen their immune system.  Here are some simple tips that can strengthen your immune system and help you to stay healthy this winter:

1. Carrot & Papaya juice- This combination helps to build white cells, which will boost your immunity.
2. Miso Soup- This soup will boost the antibodies in your body.  Antibodies attach to the white cells which boosts the immune system.  Miso is also thought to have an antibacterial effect.  
3. Sardines- This tiny fish helps to boost the white cell aggressiveness in the body, which strengthens the immune response.
4. Garlic- Garlic is rich in allicin which is know to support the immune system.
5. Elderberry juice- In order to get the full benefits from this berry, you must drink the juice rather than take the capsules.  This berry packs a one two punch as some research has shown that it can block the flu due to its antiviral properties.  
6. Avoid Sugar-Refined sugar causes inflammation in the body and decreases the immune system. 
7. Get Adjusted-Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments can help to boost the immune system. In clinical trials, monitored by the Rand Corporation, and conducted at Life University,chiropractic showed great potential to boost immune function. In addition to this study, several other preliminary studies also showed immune system boosting. In 1991Patricia Brennan, PhD conducted a study that demonstrated an increased immune function following a mid back adjustment. Dr. Pero stated in his research that "Chiropractic patients in the study had 200 percent greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic, and 400 percent greater immune competence than people with cancer or other serious disease."

A Word of Caution to Parents Concerning Chiropractic Care and X-rays

  

   Chiropractic care can be very helpful for children, and I see many children of all ages for chiropractic care in my office.  On a recent occasion, a patient brought her child in to my office for chiropractic care, and brought along x-rays that were taken of her child by her chiropractor.  The child was being seen to see if the child's ADHD could be helped with chiropractic care.  There are studies that have shown that chiropractic care can help children with ADHD.  I was rather surprised to see that x-rays had been taken, as there was no report of accidents, falls, or injuries.  The child was not being managed for scoliosis, which is a curvature in the spine.  There were no other unusual symptoms in this case. The chiropractor took front and side view x-rays, and it showed the child's skull to the knee on the x-rays.  I am not really that clear at this point why a full spine x-ray + extremity view was taken of this child, which leads me to my warning to parents.  There needs to be a clear reason why full spine x-rays would be taken of a child, period.  I am not in favor of exposing a young child to unnecessary radiation like this, simply to check the alignment of the spine.  As a parent, if you are going to take you child to a chiropractor and the chiropractor wants to take x-rays you need to have a clear reason of why x-rays are being taken.  The main reason for taking x-rays are to evaluate the area of the spine or extremity as a result of an injury, accident, scoliosis, to rule out cancer, or spinal instability.  If the child has injured his or her knee then it may be recommended that an x-ray of the knee be taken.  If a child has injured his or her low back, then it is reasonable that an x-ray of the low back (NOT FULL SPINE) be taken.  In the case of the child that I was referring to, I can find no clear indications of why a full spine and extremity x-rays were taken, and I find this approach irresponsible.  If a chiropractor wants to image your child's full spine to check alignment, then I would recommend that you walk out the door and find another chiropractor.  I realize that this may be unpopular with "technique based chiropractors", but sorry, this is irresponsible, unacceptable, and is exposing the child to unnecessary radiation. 

Why dieting does not work and may make you fatter.

  Have you ever noticed that many people that you know are constantly   dieting, and never seem to be losing weight?  The truth of the matter is that diets just simply do not work.  Most diets require some kind of food restriction as well as significant calorie reduction.  The first few days most dieters feel excited about the diet, but quickly lose their enthusiasm after a few short days when hunger sets in.  After a week, most dieters typically are wondering how much longer they can stand the diet, and they typically will begin to "cheat".  Typically cheating results in weight gain, which leaves the dieter discouraged and feeling like the diet just isn't working.  Before you know it, the person you knew who was 'on a diet' is no longer 'on that diet' because the diet simply did not work.  You may even notice that the dieter looks like he or she has actually gained more weight than he or she has lost. The simple truth of the matter is that diets are based on a substantial calorie restriction and denial of many foods.  So what do you do if you need to lose weight and keep it off?   

• Eat healthy and the main key is to control portion size.  Most people gain weight because they eat huge portion sizes.  Learn what a portion and serving size is and stick to this at each meal.
• Set a reasonable weekly and monthly goal of what you would like to lose and track your results.
• Keep a food diary and discover what triggers you to overeat.
• Exercise burns calories and curbs hunger, so find something you like to do and get moving!
• Allow yourself an occasional indulgence so that you do not feel deprived.  Remember to watch your portion size.
• Stay away from diet drinks and "sugar-free" products.  Many of these products leave you unsatisfied and stimulate hunger.