Posted on 11th January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips
diet weight loss potatoes vegetables health, fast food, french fries, potato chips
Potatoes can be good for you, but for a variety of reasons, often are not. When potatoes are bad for you, it is nearly always because of portion size and the way they are prepared. I certainly love French fries, especially waffle fries made from whole potatoes, like the delicious ones they serve at Chick-fil-a. I also like the fresh, whole potatoes cut into fries by a press, like the ones served at Ted’s Montana Grill. Unfortunately though, my love for French fries is bad for my health. We’ll save the discussion on fried foods for another time, but French fries hurt us, not help us. Potato chips are another commonly consumed potato product and are terrible for you. There are many other examples of bad ways to eat potatoes, but now onto the good news.
A small baked potato, 5 ounces or less, is a good choice. Eaten with the skin on, it will provide 27mg of vitamin C, which is 45% of RDA. This is more vitamin C than there is in a serving of grapes or tomatoes. You would also get a decent amount of B6 and trace amounts of B1, B2, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. The skin has about 2g of fiber, the equivalent to many whole grain breads, cereals and pastas. The Department of Health does not count potatoes as a vegetable and has never included the potato in the 5 a day criteria during healthy eating campaigns. The DOH considers the potato a starchy food because they are often eaten in the place of other starchy carbohydrates such as bread, rice or pasta.
The potato is 100% natural, fat and cholesterol free and packed with vitamins and minerals. So bake it, boil it and consume it with the skin!
Posted on 9th January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips
diet weight loss corn health vegetables potato
Corn is not a vegetable. When I ask patients to keep a diet diary, they often tell me that they eat a lot of vegetables. When I ask them to name them, corn comes up very often, as do potatoes and green beans. Unfortunately the three most popular items on our plates have some of the least nutritional benefits. Corn is a grain and is the least healthy grain of which I am aware. It is a lot of sugar and starch. It also has a very high glycemic index. If you are trying to lose weight, concerned about blood sugar, obesity, or improving your nutritional status, avoid corn. When we have a backyard barbeque, I will eat an ear of corn. My family also has delicious recipes for fried corn and Cajun corn. We only eat these on rare occasions, like the Fourth of July.
The most troubling fact about corn is that it is the number one ingredient in almost all processed and fried foods. The government subsidizes corn farmers and a lot of high fructose corn syrup is produced. High fructose corn syrup is in almost everything: spaghetti sauce, breakfast cereals, wine, whole grain breads, soda, sports drinks, and many, many products. With obesity and diabetes a runaway epidemic in this country, you can blame a lot of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, obesity and type two diabetes on this worthless grain.
Posted on 9th January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips
acne, breast, cancer, loss, prevention, weight
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| Acne Medication Uproar |
 
There have been several different acne medications over the years and one that has caused serious concern lately is Accutane. Accutane is made up mostly of vitamin A. This drug has a long list of negative side effects and was consequently pulled off the market. It can cause severe depression, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, hair thinning, nose bleeds, peeling skin, headaches, and even reduced bone growth. While all of these side effects are serious, the gastrointestinal problems that Accutane causes are by far the worst. Several people that have taken this drug have had to have surgeries to remove their colons or their large intestines. Once these surgeries are performed the patient can no longer have any sold foods and in the case of the colon removal, the patient would no longer be able to absorb essential nutrients. These people would have to be on a continuous supply of artificial nutrients from the duration of their lives. How long is this going to last? How many more drugs will cause devastating side effects that completely ruin or end peoples’ lives? Here at Chiropractic Wellness we offer many natural skin care alternatives. Just a few of the supplements that can help with acne and other skin conditions are Dermaco, Chaste Tree, Andrographis Complex, Cataplex F, and Thymex. Try the 100% chemical free route before subjecting your body to these drugs that could have horrid side effects. We do not diagnose or treat skin diseases. We offer nutritional support to help your body heal itself. |
| Avastin and Breast Cancer |
We do not diagnose or treat breast cancer or any other type of cancer.
According to recent statistics, about 1 in 8 American women will develop a serious form of breast cancer at some point during their lives. That totals to 12%. According to the American Cancer Societies’ website, “breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.” In 2010 there were 207,090 reported cases of serious breast cancer among women and 54,010 non-invasive cases.
Avastin is a drug that was recently pulled off the market by the FDA for use in breast cancer patients for not living up to its manufacturer’s claims and even causing harm in some cases. This drug was supposed to delay growth of metastatic tumors, however, there is no proof of this. The side effects of this drug are very serious and can even be fatal. Some of the many side effects include massive bleeding, high blood pressure, perforations in parts of the body such as the stomach and intestines, heart attack, and even heart failure. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says she is not satisfied that there is enough evidence of the benefits of this drug for women to be taking the risk of using the drug. Doctors still use Avastin to treat certain types of kidney, lung, brain, and colon cancers and Avastin is currently the world’s best selling cancer drug. This drug is extremely expensive and some insurance providers are refusing to cover the costs. An estimate claims that a year’s supply of Avastin could cost around $100,000.
In our office we offer Estronex (2 hydroxyestrogens: 16 hydroxyestrone) urine tests. This test will help determine your risk level for breast and estrogen sensitive cancers. If you or someone you know is interested in preventative measures, you can obtain a supplement called Cruciferous Complete from our office. All of our supplements are made directly from foods and plant parts. We also recommend that you eat the actual food. We do not diagnose or treat breast cancer. We do however offer patient education, the above mentioned test, supplements for wellness, and referrals to the appropriate medical professionals if necessary. Be sure to practice self-breast exams monthly and follow up with you medical doctor for all of the appropriate screenings. |
| Weight Loss in 2012 |
Have you made good New Year’s resolutions?
Its a new year and most people have had a few holiday treats. Most of us have gained a couple pounds and many of us even had some extra pounds before the holidays. Weight loss is a very popular new year’s resolution. Weight loss is not quick, fast, or easy. We all want to look slim and we want results fast but weight loss is never quick. It is a life long journey.
Exercise is the most important component. Studies have shown that exercise improves blood pressure, blood sugar, depression, flexibility, and endurance among other things. Gym memberships are all the rage after the holidays. There are some terrific deals on gym memberships and they are fine as long as you actually use the gym on a regular basis. There are also many advertisements for exercise equipment. Before you make a purchase on anything, realize how much opportunity exists for absolutely no money. If you cannot afford cardiovascular equipment, there are staircases in almost every home and business. They work just fine and cost nothing to use. Walking your dog is free and will do you both a lot of good. Most senior citizen centers, universities, churches, and other organizations have exercise classes and many of them are free.
Realistic goals:
If you are not exercising at all, have a poor diet, and are tremendously overweight, do not disappoint yourself by setting yourself up for failure. Make one or two realistic goals per week and stick with them.
The best diet drink is water. Artificial sweeteners are very bad for your health and I have found no evidence to prove that people who consume them actually lose weight because of these products. Junk food is junk food. Do not be fooled by labels that say “light”, “fat free”, “all natural”, “low-carb”, etc. For the most part these are just marketing techniques. If you smoke light cigarettes do you get light cancer? Poison ivy is all natural. Do you want it in your salad?
A realistic goal to start with could involve eating something raw at each meal. This could consist of a serving of fresh fruit at breakfast, having lettuce, onion, or tomato on sandwiches, or eating carrot sticks or any other raw vegetables.
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Here at Chiropractic Wellness we have a very important New Year’s resolution. This resolution is to help our patients get healthy and stay healthy. We would like to give a warm welcome to our new staff member Courtney Larkin. Courtney will be assisting Dr. George in the office along with Dana. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Best wishes to you and your family this new year,
George Tomes
Chiropractic Wellness By Dr. George, LLC |
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Posted on 4th January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips
bad carbs, bad fats, diet, good carbs, good fats, health, weight loss
People often come into the office and ask “should I eat this or not eat that?” The answer is not simple. A variety of factors can come into play: age, activity levels, overall health, genetics, diseases and weight. These are among some of the factors determining diet and portion sizes. I often have people tell me that they are on a low-fat diet; they don’t consume butter, eggs, cheese or whole milk. I disagree with these concepts. Just like there are good and bad carbs, there are also good and bad fats. With anything, it is the amount of these foods you consume. Butter is high in vitamin E, vitamin D, lecithin, conjugated linoleic acids, medium chain fatty acids, selenium, iodine and vitamin K2. The Journal of Nutrition(March 2002) published a study on the effects of MCFAs and how they prevent obesity. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the butter help with the absorption and utilization of vitamin D.
As I have often stated, whole, natural foods are always a safe choice. People have eaten butter, eggs, avocados, cheeses, nuts and animal fats for centuries. Obesity and many other diseases that have become so epidemic in modern times are most often the result of overconsumption of bad carbohydrates, sugar, and processed foods.
Posted on 2nd January 2012 by dr george in Family Health Tips
cholesterol, diet, eggs, weight loss
Now that the holidays are over, everyone is concerned about their weight. Diets, diet products, diet shakes, diet pills, and almost everything imaginable is being marketed to us.
When considering what to eat and what not to eat, always think about natural whole food. Processed food is not a good idea. Marketing has misled many Americans and harmed their health. One prime example of this is eggs. For awhile, because of dietary cholesterol, eggs were not considered to be heart-healthy. This was a misconception. It is now known that trans-fats are more responsible for raising your cholesterol levels than dietary intake. Harvard did a study that shows that eating one egg a day had no effect on cholesterol levels. Eggs are high in cholesterol, but they are also high in lecithin, which keeps the body from having increased cholesterol levels. The yolk is where most of the vitamins, minerals and at least 40% of the protein are found. The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology(2007) had one group eating a bagel and the other group eating two eggs. After eight weeks, the egg-eaters experienced 65% greater weight loss, 83 degrees decrease in waist circumference and more energy. Changes in plasma, cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ between the two groups.
I would caution diabetics and those with heart disease when consuming large numbers of eggs. Before eating eggs on a daily basis, check with your physician, dietician or nutritionist for advice.
Posted on 10th October 2011 by dr george in Family Health Tips
foot, foot pain, heel pain, pain, plantar, plantar fasciitis
I would love for you to take a look at my newest presentation on foot pain. I hope you enjoy it!
Foot Pain and Plantar Fasciitis
Posted on 19th September 2011 by dr george in Family Health Tips
carpal tunnel, finger, numbness, wrist pain
Click on the link below to view the comprehensive power point presentation that I put together on carpal tunnel syndrome. It contains so much valuable information that could benefit you or your loved ones.
Wrist Complaints and Carpal Tunnel PPT
Posted on 15th August 2011 by dr george in Family Health Tips
blood, diabetes, diet, disease, health, protein, weight loss
Many of us are concerned about weight loss. Not nearly enough of us are concerned about health. We’re more concerned about the way we look. As I’ve said many times, weight loss is simply burning more calories than you consume. When we are out of shape, we are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. CVD happens through a sequence of biochemical events. Fat cells in our bodies cause inflammation in our blood vessels which leads to high blood pressure. At the same time, a high level of fatty acids in the blood which occurs in obese people, inhibits a compound that helps relax blood vessel walls and lower blood pressure.
Fat cells secrete estrogen which leads to certain types of cancer, mainly breast cancer. Being overweight also increases the chance of type II diabetes. You are at risk for diabetes if you have a waist larger then 40” for men and 35” for women, a body mass index greater than 25, triglycerides over 150mg/dl, an HDL level less than 40 for men and less than 50 for women, or a blood pressure greater than 130/85.
Many people think they can lose a lot of weight by eating no carbs and being on a mostly meat diet. This could even be dangerous to your health. Here is a very good article on how much protein your body needs and just some good information.
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/how-much-protein-do-you-really-need-2523319/
Posted on 30th March 2011 by admin in Family Health Tips
chiropractor, depression, health, mental, mood, natural, nutrition
Depression can be a very serious problem. If you are concerned about having depression, certainly go to a mental health professional. (Chiropractors and nutritionists do not diagnose or treat mental health problems.)
My personal preference would always be a psychologist. Their emphasis is on counseling rather than psychotropic drugs and pharmaceuticals. The psychologist can also refer to a psychiatrist if they feel it necessary.
There are many natural products that help with mood. Studies also show that aerobic exercise helps relive depression dramatically. If I were depressed, I would start on a pro-active program early of proactive exercise, lifestyle changes, stress reduction, anger management, along with some safe natural supplements to improve my mood. If I felt my depression was serious enough, and I had thoughts of harming myself or others, I would get to a mental health professional as quickly as possibly.
Posted on 28th March 2011 by admin in Family Health Tips
cholesterol, disease, fat, health, heart, injuries, vitamins
Did you know that eating a handful of nuts every day could reduce your chance of getting heart disease? According to research by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 there are several health benefits to eating some types of nuts.
Walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts were reported to have “good” fat called monounsaturated and polyunsaturated which have been shown to lower “bad” cholesterol called LDL. So, these types of nuts are good for your heart and help reduce the risk of heart disease. These fats also have an anti-inflammatory effect and can help repair tiny muscle injuries. Plus, nuts are an excellent source for vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Other nuts were researched by the FDA, as well. Macadamias, cashews and Brazils were shown to have higher levels of saturated fat and were not recommended for preventing heart disease.
So, the next time you’re in the mood for a crunchy treat, do your heart a favor and pick up some almonds, peanuts or pecans.
Happy snacking!
