Neck Curvature Makes All the Difference After a Car Accident

With texting, phone calls, and other distractions while we drive, our roads are more dangerous than ever. Automobile accidents can happen to even the most careful drivers, and the injuries sustained from these accidents are collectively called “whiplash injuries.” It is important to know what to do in the event of an accident and take all the precautions you can for your own health.

If you get into an accident, don’t disregard your injuries just because nothing is broken and damage may appear to not be serious. What you need to be aware of is that the cervical lordosis (the curvature in your neck from the side) affects how severe your initial injuries are, as well as “the long term pain and suffering from whiplash injury to the occupants.”[1]

If your neck’s curvature is already abnormal before an automobile accident, it stands to reason that it will take longer to restore it to an ideal position afterwards. That’s why it’s important to get chiropractic restoration before you’re injured. According to several research studies, patients who suffer long-term from whiplash injuries are those who have abnormal cervical lordosis. They may experience “neck pain and stiffness, headaches, arm pain, thoracic outlet symptoms, dizziness, lack of concentration, degenerative arthritis in the cervical spine, and disc herniations.”[2]

Just because you don’t feel immediate pain, or “only” experience a symptom like a headache or minimal neck pain after an accident, it doesn’t mean you aren’t seriously injured. Once your neck curvature is misaligned from an accident, it can cause nerve interference and ultimately affect every limb of your body.

So, what can you do? Ideally, seek spinal restoration care before an accident occurs. It will set you up for a much easier recovery. But regardless of whether you’ve seen a chiropractor before your accident or not, if you’ve been in any kind of car accident (as small as it may seem to you), seek chiropractic care immediately so they can assess damage and the overall health of your spine.

The methods of Chiropractic BioPhysics that I implement in my practice “are the only true evidence based methods that have been shown to statistically and clinically improve the amount of cervical lordosis without the use of surgery.”[3] If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of recovering from whiplash, wouldn’t you want to make it easier on yourself by using proven, scientifically supported techniques?

Working to restore GOD's perfect design in you!

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[1] “Your Neck Curvature Will Help You or HURT YOU if You’re Involved in a Car Crash.” July 1, 2014. From IdealSpine.com

[2] Kai et al. Journal of Spinal Disorders 2001: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Kai+Journal+of+Spinal+Disorders; Hohl M. Journal of bone and Joint Surgery Am. 1974: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4434036; Norris SH and Watt I. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 1983: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6643566; Giuliano V. Emergency Radiology 2002: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15290548; Kristjansson E, et al. JMPT 2002: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Kristjansson+E+Journal+of+Manipulative+and+Physiological+Therapeutics

[3] “Your Neck Curvature Will Help You or HURT YOU if You’re Involved in a Car Crash.” July 1, 2014. From IdealSpine.com

Is Full-Fat Dairy Really So Harmful?

Many of us have been taught that if we’re going to consume dairy products at all, the healthiest options are low- or nonfat. This post may encourage you to think again.

One of the biggest concerns about dairy is that dairy products often contain 50-60% saturated fat, and most people think that saturated fat is bad for the heart.[1] But in a 2010 article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists stated that “…There is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of [coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease].”[2] Not only do full-dairy products not increase heart or cardiovascular disease, but in fact, recent research has found that eating full-fat dairy products can actually reduce the risk of diabetes.

This finding came from research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, Austria. The study followed over 20,000 people between the ages of 45-74 for 14 years. Scientists found that “those [study participants] who ate eight portions of full-fat dairy products a day cut their risk of diabetes by nearly 25 percent, compared to those who ate fewer portions.”[3] Some experts have set forth the notion that it is the naturally occurring palmitoleic acid in full-fat dairy products that protects people against insulin resistance and diabetes.

While raw dairy (always full-fat) is preferable to pasteurized dairy products, most research today is based on pasteurized dairy, so we must look to that as an example. In addition to lowering the risk of diabetes, studies have also shown that full-fat dairy may reduce the risk of cancer, help people lose weight, and lower the rate of death from heart disease.[4]

People all over the world have started trading in margarine and returning to butter. In fact, the export of American butter has grown from zero to over 10% of the market since the early 2000s.[5] When you’re at the market and about to purchase butter, though, remember that the products’ nutritional values are dependent upon how the cows are raised. Fatty acids found in butter vary in degrees according to the cows’ diet. Your best option is raw, unpasteurized butter from cows that have been grass-pastured. Also, look for certified organic products. If you can’t access that or aren’t sure, try pasteurized butter from grass-fed cows. The least healthy option of these is regular pasteurized butter that you’ll commonly find in grocery stores, but even this is healthier than margarine or fake butter spreads.

As I mentioned briefly before, you should aim for raw dairy whenever possible. The pasteurization process destroys the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and beneficial bacteria that dairy products begin with.  Here are just a few of the benefits of drinking raw milk[6]:

If you’d like to gain the benefits from raw, full-fat dairy products but aren’t sure where you can purchase them in your area, try using The Campaign for Real Milk’s Real Milk Finder (http://www.realmilk.com/real-milk-finder/). This is also a great website for more information, if you’re interested. Feel free to also ask me questions about why I think raw dairy is best!

Working to restore GOD's perfect design in you!

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[1] Mercola. “Full Fat Dairy May Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes and Other Health Problems.” September 29, 2014. From Mercola.com.

[2] The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition March 2010: 91(3); 535-546

[3] Mercola. “Full Fat Dairy May Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes and Other Health Problems.” September 29, 2014. From Mercola.com; Telegraph September 16, 2014

[4] Mercola. “Full Fat Dairy May Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes and Other Health Problems.” September 29, 2014. From Mercola.com.

[5] Id. 

[6] Id. 

Feeling Great is Not a True Measure of Health

The title of this blog post really says it all: using how we feel to determine our health is not an accurate measurement! If somebody has a “sudden” heart attack and dies, do you think that person was truly healthy the day before, or even in the months leading up to the event? Of course not! You can feel perfectly healthy while things you’re not even aware of are at work inside your body, and it’s important to be aware of that fact.

That being said, your body is extremely intelligent and will try to warn you about health problems before they get out of hand. For example, the next time you have a fever, think about the fact that your body is safely killing viruses or bacteria that have attacked you. If you take an Aspirin, you’re lowering your own body’s function of fighting that infection and allowing it a better chance to attack you further.

How about a runny nose? A runny nose is a sign of a properly functioning body, as annoying as it might be. When your nose runs, it’s defending you from allergens, bacteria, and viruses all around you. Mucus catches these harmful things before they can get into your lungs.

In a similar way, vomiting is a common effect of ingesting something harmful. It certainly isn’t fun, but your body is doing its job of expelling these dangerous substances before they can continue to be digested.

If you have a hangover or a headache, think about the root cause of the problem, not just the symptom. (Obviously, we all know the cause of a hangover, and I believe alcohol should be consumed sparingly, if at all.) For instance, your headache may be because you are dehydrated and all you need is to drink a few glasses of water. Certainly, popping a pill in this instance only mutes the symptom in the short-term and doesn’t actually deal with the problem your body is trying to communicate to you. 

The key point here is simple: listen to your body. Trust your body when it tells you something is wrong, and don’t assume that just because you’re feeling great in the moment that you’re healthy. On the flipside, try not to think of being sick temporarily as a nuisance; instead, appreciate your body’s incredible ability to heal itself. And give it the chance to do so! Rather than take a drug to dull the brief discomfort of a cold or a headache, try to fix the problem naturally and let your body do the work.

Working to restore GOD's perfect design in you!