What's Your Sign?

What's Your Sign?

"Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying." This truism is well-known in human potential circles and can often be heard at personal growth-and-development seminars. But the implications of this meaningful phrase are often ignored in our day-to-day activities and relationships. Sometimes we pretend that others are unable to see through our facade of words and that they cannot recognize our hidden qualities, desires, and intentions. In the world of Snow White, Sleepy, Grumpy, Bashful, and Happy were exactly that. The dwarves were their names! In our world, though, Madison, Cassidy, Jason, and Patrick don't help us out that much. But people unknowingly present many signposts that function equally well as do names of the dwarves from Snow White. Tone of voice, eye contact, posture, and facial expressions are some of the clues to what's really going on. In fact, if one is able to pay attention and accurately interpret the information available, other people might just as well be holding up pictures of the Seven Dwarves in front of their faces. The character of their inner selves is clear. Other people really do know what's going on with us. If we could get the full impact of this powerful proposition, all of our interactions would benefit. Also, our stress levels will usually go down. When we're interacting meaningfully and communicating clearly, we become less stressed. The unlooked-for benefit is our health improves as a result.1,2,3 Here's a quick way to get how you're being in the world. Do dogs growl when they pass you on the street or when you enter the home of a dog and its human companions? Similarly, do cats hiss at you? When you're introduced to a baby or toddler, does the kid start to fuss or cry? These are all pretty good signs of a certain kind of personal vibe. The flip side is also accurate. When dogs see you, do they start licking your hand, jumping around, and generally letting you know they want to play? Do cats rub around your legs and purr? Do babies smile and gurgle at you? Do little kids show you their toys and smile shyly at you? These are all signs of a different kind of vibe. Animals and young children are excellent barometers of the qualities of the people around them. Who you are being is not a mystery to them. They get it all. Many of us lose this inner sight and interact with others based on what they say. In this respect, everyone loses - we think if we say the right words, it'll all be ok. The notion of being-in-the-world is important in health care interactions. The doctor you've waited two hours to see says nice words, but you sense he doesn't really care - he just wants to move on to the next patient. Likewise at the front desk - they're perfectly polite, but you're aware they're super-stressed and can't wait to get out the door themselves. In contrast, chiropractors are aware of the importance of the human component of their interactions with patients. A chiropractor's office is a welcoming environment - people often say their chiropractor's office "feels just like home". You get the sense your chiropractor is authentically interested in your health and well-being, making sure to take the time to really listen to your concerns and make sure you're getting the service you need. Chiropractic is a healing profession and the quality of the doctor-patient relationship is an important part of the healing process. 1Seedat S, et al: Life stress and mental disorders in the South African stress and health study. S Afr Med J 99(5 Pt 2):375-382, 2009 2Beeri MS, et al: The effects of cardiovascuclar risk factors on cognitive compromise. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 11(2):201-212, 2009 3Koetaka H, et al: Long-term effects of lifestyle on multiple risk factors in male workers. Environ Health Prev Med 14(3):165-172, 2009

Practicing Being Present Being present is not the same as raising your hand when your name is called. The skill of being present implies "being in the moment" and is an ongoing practice. It's not something you learn how to do and then there's nothing more to it. Being present is not even a skill that becomes second nature like playing the piano or shooting free throws. Being present is a moment-to-moment thing. It's a very subtle skill and requires ongoing attention. Which is the whole point, really. Being present is all about paying attention. Paying attention to the present moment. Because, after all, the present moment is all we have. The past is gone. The future is not here yet. If we're not in the present moment, we're nowhere. Being present provides great personal power. When you're present, everyone around you can feel your energy. Their experience of you is that you're a great listener. You become very attractive. People want to be with you. They feel good in your presence, because you are able to be with them authentically. Being present can start right now, in this present moment.

Please sign up to our member wellness area which is separate from our newsletter.  You will have acess to exercises and stretches for your spine.  Please consult me prior beginning any exercise routine.  Thanks and have a great day!!
Dr. Pete

TOYOS CHIROPRACTIC

Coming Up for Air

We're almost at the end of 2009, a very important anniversary year in both history and science. Both Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, and Charles Darwin, author of The Origin of Species and creator of the theory of natural selection, were born on February 12, 1809. Modern evolutionary theory, of course, is based on Darwin's theory of natural selection. The evolutionary history of humans traces the family history of mammals back to tetrapods, four-footed vertebrate animals in existence 365 million years ago, in the late Devonian period. Tetrapods originally were wholly aquatic, and toward the end of the Devonian they developed the ability to breathe on land and walked out of the seas. How were the tetrapods able to accomplish this revolutionary transition? Over long stretches of evolutionary time, genetic mutations which conferred a benefit were retained. 1,2 Those tetrapods that had developed the complex ability to survive and thrive on land gained a reproductive advantage. The history and science of evolution can be summarized by a simple concept - those that produce the greatest numbers of surviving offspring win. The air-breathing tetrapods won because they could explore new territories and find new supplies of resources. They became stronger and could reproduce stronger, survivable offspring who would pass on the air-breathing genes. Human beings continue to evolve, although we ourselves don't notice the process. Our lives are short in comparison to the lengths of time involved. We are able to observe that humans are certainly taller and live much longer than the humans of 1000 years ago. These changes represent evolutionary advantages. On an individual level we're not able to alter our genes. But we are able to take steps to make our bodies strong and help ensure our cellular and genetic processes are functioning at their highest level. Cells need the right raw materials and the right metabolic environment in order to function properly. So healthy food in the right quantities and sufficient amounts of regular exercise are important. 3 A key critical factor is proper functioning of the nerve system, which coordinates all your body's activities. The nerve system, conductor of your physiologic orchestra, makes sure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. From the point of view of genetics and evolution, an individual human being has an advantage if she is healthy and well. If such a person has children it is likely they will be healthy and well, too. They will survive and pass on whatever genetic advantages they have gained. A healthy nerve system is needed to help ensure such health and wellness. Chiropractic care helps ensure that your nerve system is functioning at peak efficiency and doing what it's supposed to do. Chiropractic care optimizes biomechanical function of spinal vertebras which optimizes the free flow of nerve signals throughout your body. These nerve signals coordinate the work of all body systems. Raw materials reach cells when they're needed. Genetic function is optimized, cellular products are produced on time, and the cell divides when necessary. Proper flow of information and instructions transmitted via the nerve system helps ensure health and well-being at the very deepest level. Your genetic advantage is passed on when you're healthy and well. Chiropractic care helps make this happen. 1Zhang F, et al: Copy number variation in human health, disease, and evolution. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 10:451-481, 2009 2Danilova N, Amemiya CT: Going adaptive. The saga of antibodies. Ann NY Acad Sci 1168:130-155, 2009 3Solomons NW: Developmental origins of health and disease. Concepts, caveats, and consequences for public health nutrition. Nutr Rev 67(Suppl 1):S12-S16, 2009

Chiropractic - A Link to Your Genes The genes you've inherited from your parents determine all of your physical characteristics. Your genetic heritage also contributes, to a variable extent, to your personality, your interests, your choice of activities, and your choice of profession. Your genes are very closely involved with your health and well-being. But there's much more to making you who you are. The DNA code packed into every one of your cells is only the starting point. The ways in which your genes are expressed are also determined by environmental and socioeconomic factors and the availability of raw materials. A significant part of the environment we often overlook is the nerve system - the guiding system of our internal environment. If nerve signals are blocked or not flowing freely, gene expression may become disordered and disorganized. The proper information isn't getting through and health begins to break down. Chiropractic care helps restore nerve system function which helps optimize cellular function and normal genetic activity.

Aging gracefully..

When Parents Get Older

The average age of Americans is increasing year-by-year. Approximately 77 million babies were born in the United States during the boom years of 1946 to 1964. In 2011, the oldest will turn 65, and on average can expect to live to 83. Many will continue well into their 90s.1 Most people continue to retain the habits they developed as children and teenagers. For many Americans, these habits included lack of regular exercise, sedentary activities, and poor nutrition. As adults we no longer possess the free pass we had when we were kids. If we continue to eat high-fat and high-carbohydrate foods, we'll gain more and more weight. If we persist in viewing regular exercise as an unnecessary indulgence, we'll continue to experience high blood pressure, heart disease, and weakened immune systems. Older adults who resist the importance of good nutrition and regular exercise are also missing the thrill and sheer joy of having a vibrantly healthy, high-efficiency body. In contrast, older adults can achieve high levels of fitness, or even satisfactory levels, and feel much more youthful than they have in years. Young adults who are the children of older adults can set a good example for fitness. Of course, this strategy is the reverse of what we're used to - our parents setting the example for us. But good examples work both ways, and smart parents may be willing to take a tip from their kids. The first good example is regular exercise. 2,3 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of exercise five times per week. Most Americans do no exercise at all. Get your parents into the routine by inviting them to go for a walk or bringing them to the gym and showing them a few basic exercises. For our parents, the key is to get them started. Keep encouraging them - not as something they "should" do, but rather as something they could bring into their lives as a "choice". No one wants to do what they "should". Make it an invitation - make it fun. Also, begin to set a good example with nutrition. Take your parents out to dinner at a healthy place - talk to them about eating smaller portions, avoiding fried and processed foods, and food combining. Food combining means eating a portion of protein and a portion of carbohydrate at every small meal. For most people, altering their food habits-of-a-lifetime is pretty radical. Help your parents learn how to take small steps in the direction of healthy nutrition, rather than attempting to change everything at once. Again, help them have fun with it. Good nutrition is a choice. For all of us, it's important to walk the talk. Our kids - and even our parents sometimes - will mimic what we do. We want our own lifestyle choices to be healthy and life-promoting, so our kids and our parents have a good example to follow. Your chiropractor is an expert in using exercise and nutrition as a means of helping patients restore good health. We will be glad to provide valuable information on both of these topics for you and your whole family. 1MetLife Demographic Profile. MetLife Mature Market Institute, New York, NY, 2006 2Howard RA, et al:Physical activity and breast cancer risk among pre- and postmenopausal women in the U.S. Radiologic Technologists cohort. Cancer Causes Control October 21, 2008 3Leitzmann MF, et al: Physical activity recommendations and decreased risk of mortality. Arch Intern Med 167(22):2435-2460, 2007

Baby Boomer Vitamins and Minerals We all need to ensure we're getting our daily vitamin requirements. Baby boomers have additional concerns, relating to maintaining: A strong immune system Strong bones A quick memory Good nerve function Various vitamins and minerals support these functions and activities. Vitamin C specifically helps strengthen the immune system. Vitamin C and vitamin E are powerful antioxidants, helping protect against a variety of serious diseases and disorders, including cancer and heart disease. B-complex vitamins help support nerve system function. B-vitamin deficiencies have been specifically linked to memory loss and other neurological disorders. Calcium and vitamin D are necessary for healthy, strong bones. In combination with regular exercise, these vitamins and minerals can help prevent untimely loss of bone mass. Good nutrition includes making healthy food choices as well as paying attention to our daily vitamin and mineral requirements. This is all pretty easy to do once we've learned the basics.

Kids and Chiropractic...

Chiropractic Check-Ups for Kids

Kids can get checked, too. Do kids need regular blood pressure check-ups or regular tests of their blood glucose levels? Probably not - these simple procedures can be done during a child's annual physical. But kids are very active and more frequent chiropractic check-ups are usually a good idea. Most of us were introduced to chiropractic care when we were adults - and we had to play catch-up for however long a period of time before we really began to feel healthy again. If we began chiropractic care as a younger adult, it probably didn't take too long to restore good health. If we were older - well, the process probably took more time. If chiropractic care is valuable for you, imagine how valuable it is for your children. Kids are natural explorers - they run, jump, climb things, fall down, and bounce around. 1 And, kids are resilient - this ability to recover quickly is one of the great benefits of being very young. Occasionally, one of these activity-related injuries impacts a child's spine. Nothing obvious has happened and nothing hurts. But there may be subtle injuries to spinal muscles and spinal ligaments that have a long-term effect on spinal nerve function.2,3 Spinal nerve function depends on mechanical integrity of the spine itself. If spinal muscles and ligaments are inflamed or irritated, spinal nerve function is compromised to a greater or lesser extent. In a child, the short- and long-term results may include muscle pain and stiffness, loss of full range of motion in the neck or lower back, frequent colds, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, allergies, and asthma. Of course, when it comes to good health for you and your family, preventing a problem is much easier than treating a problem. In the long run, prevention also costs much less. We all want our kids to be healthy and well. We want them to play full-out, to engage in all kinds of sports, and to have a lot of fun. In order for children to continue to enjoy optimal health, regular spinal check-ups are as important as an annual physical exam. Your local chiropractor is the spinal health expert in your community. She will be glad to help you ensure your child's continued good health. 1Barkley JE, et al: Reinforcing value of interval and continuous physical activities in children. Physiol Behav April 16, 2009 2Fecteau D, et al: The effect of concentrating periods of physical activity on the risk of injury in organized sports in a pediatric population. Clin J Sport Med 18(5):410-414, 2008 3Spinks AB, McClure RJ: Quantifying the risk of sports injury: a systematic review of activity-specific rates for children under 16 years of age. Br J Sports Med 41(9):548-557, 2007

Good Nutrition and Lots of Exercise for Healthy Kids We're in the middle of a raging epidemic affecting America's youth - the obesity epidemic. The number of American adolescents who are obese increased 300% in the last 40 years. This is a problem that can potentially affect every family. The good news is that in almost all cases, obesity is a lifestyle disorder. In other words, children become obese because of behaviors learned from their friends and their parents. Healthy eating and regular exercise are the two critically important steps to take to help ensure your child retains an appropriate weight. With respect to healthy eating - Eliminate all trans fats from your children's diet - this includes almost all fast foods Cut down on sugary drinks Serve at least five portions of fresh fruits and vegetables every day Serve complex carbohydrates such as whole grains Serve lean meat, fish, and poultry Count calories! Children need at least an hour of physical activity every day. This includes outdoor play, sports, and calisthenics. Make sure your kids are getting enough exercis