Nutrition history is riddled with nonsense. People have been advised to do all sorts of strange things that challenge common sense. Some of these things are not only useless, but potentially harmful. The worst part...a lot of this misguided advice is still being pushed. Here are the top 5 contenders for the worst advice in history.

2. Everyone should eat a low fat, high-carb diet...even diabetics. Several studies have shown that low-fat diets can adversely affect some the key risk factors for metabolic syndrome and heart disease. 
3. A calorie is a calorie, food quality is less important. Eating a high protein diet can boost metabolism by 80-100 calories per day and healthier foods have varying effects on feelings of fullness so it takes less good foods to appease your hunger than junk foods, or those 100-calorie snack packs. 

For more information visit: 
eatlocalgrown.com/article/12863-the-worst-nutrition-advice-in-history-here-s-top-5-contenders.html?c=cure

We see it everywhere we look around today, somebody on their phone, and not talking, but looking down on it because their either texting, or maybe chasing after a pokemon or some other creature. In today's society it seems like everyone has a phone glued to them and are constantly looking down at some kind of screen. So it's no wonder more and more people are experiencing shoulder and neck pain and maybe even headaches. As Family Wellness Chiropractors, your family's overall health and wellness is our biggest priority. If you are using your cell phone or tablet a lot then be sure to consider the following information. 

An adult head weighs between 10-12 pounds in the neutral position. As the head tilts forward the orces seen by the neck surges to 27 pounds at 15 degrees, 40 pounds at 30 degrees, 49 pounds at 45 degrees, and 60 pounds at 60 degrees. These changes are what actually causes Forward Head Posture of "text neck". 

Many times, it's just not logical to put your phone or tablet down until your finished with it, so taking breaks is vital. 

Stand up or change positions every 15-20 minutes to reduce neck and shoulder muscle fatigue. This can include just looking up and stretching your neck. Just as looking down for long periods of time is all about repetitive stress to the cervical spine, looking up and stretching in the opposite direction may relieve the pressure on the neck/spine. 

If All Else Fails
Prolonged texting with your neck craned forward, without taking a break, may cause irritated nerves and, over time, disc degeneration, headaches, and other problems. If you are in pain after using your cell phone or tablet for prolonged periods of time, then be sure to get in and see your chiropractor. Pain in the cervical spine or shoulders may be an indication that there is some form of cervical spine issue brought on by repetitive stress syndrome leading to spinal misalignments. 

Minor misalignment of the atlas can potentially injure, impair, or compress and/or compromise the brain stem neural pathways. The relationship between hypertension and the presence of circulatory abnormalities in the area around the atlas and posterior fossa of the brain has been known for more than 40 years and manual correction of the atlas misalignment has been associated with reduced arterial pressure. 

For more Information visit:
www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS7Atlas_Vertebra_Realingment.shtml

If the stress is prolonged, the hypothalamus will trigger the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary gland. This will then stimulate the adrenal cortex to release steroid hormones called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids then turn on transcription of certain genes in the nuclei of target cells. 
In other words, when stressed or afraid, our bodies release various hormones to create a biomechanical response. Yet, what if the source of that stress or fear is a prank? What if there is no actual danger? Our body has just released a deluge of hormones, we're in fight or flight mode, and we're geared up charged, ready to defend ourselves against...nothing. What happens to all those hormones that are flooding our body, entering cells, affecting muscles, and preparing to help us defend ourselves? When we look at misalignment this way, it's easy to see how emotional stressors may very well affect our spine and result in nerve interference. ​

Additional chemicals consumed include caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Any chemical we put in our body is going to affect our overall health and irritate the optimal function of the nervous system creating nerve interference. 

It's estimated that there are about 80,000 chemicals on the market in the U.S that have never been tested. To put this into perspective, let's compare the FDA, which has banned only 11 products, to the European law where over 1,000 products are restricted. In Europe it is required that the manufacturer proves the chemical is safe prior to releasing it to the public as opposed to the US where chemicals are not subject to FDA approval. 

Tragically, studies have shown that many of these chemicals are not metabolized by the body and so they pass to the environment through human waste. Rebecca Klaper and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recently tested Lake Michigan and found evidence of 32 pharmaceuticals and personal products in the water and 30 in the lake's sediment. Ecologists have long acknowledged that pharmaceuticals are polluting the environment. 

The Chiropractic Response
Clearly, no matter how hard we try, it's not going to possible to completely shelter ourselves and our children from all exposures to chemicals. We live in a society that makes that next to impossible. But with education and research we can at least avoid some of the more blatant chemicals. Making dietary changes, researching the best household cleaning supplies, and picking the best personal-care products, is a start.

The biggest concern must be how exposure to these substances is affecting our health and what to do about it. Regular chiropractic checkups and adjustments will surely be the first step at reversing the spinal misalignment being caused by these chemical stressors, and also the physical and emotional ones as well! 

Thirty young healthy subjects recruited from a local university participated in this study. Subjects were randomly allocated into an experimental group and control group. The experimental received thoracic spinal manipulation and the control group received placebo thoracic spinal manipulation. Respiratory function tests, including forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second, were measured before and after manipulations. 

the values for both tests were significanly higher ub tge experimental group. The control group showed no change after the placebo manipulation. Differences in pre- and post-manipulation values for both tests were significantly different between the experimental and control group. 

In conclusion, spinal manipulation therapy applied to the thoracic region improved respiratory function test results of participants in this study. This is good information and can be applied to individuals who may suffer from asthma, allergies, COPD or other debilitating diseases of the respiratory system. 

For more information visit: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5080173/

With the nicer weather happening now...and yes I'm aware that it can change at any moment...it gets me in the mood to deep clean my house, garage, and yard. Yes I know that sounds ambitious, and I'll be real with you it probably won't happen, but if you are catching the spring cleaning bug as well let's talk chemicals. Chemicals? Yes, those cleaning products that we use to keep our house free of germs and smells can have some pretty harmful chemicals in them. 

Almost every single cleaning product today will contain some kind of toxin or dangerous substance. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted that many household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs, such as formaldehyde and other harsh acids. This is important because exposure to VOCs can lead to several symptoms including: eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches; nausea; liver, kidney and central nervous system damage; loss of coordination and more. 

​Let's Talk Laundry
The skin is out largest organ and extremely absorbent. The chemicals that we use when laundering our clothing may easily be absorbed into our bodies through our skin. However, while that may seem obvious, what many don't know is that we may be inhaling chemicals as well. How we care for our clothing may genuinely be affecting our health. Here are just a few of the harmful chemicals in today's laundry detergent: formaldehyde, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 1,4-dioxane (a byproduct of the detergent when used). I know these are big names, but what's so bad about them?

Cleaning Green
So then how can we avoid all these chemicals and still get a spotless house? The good news is there are tons of products out there that can be switched out for you regular cleaning supplies...and the even better news a lot of these are safe to have around the house without having them locked away from those crazy kids!

Our daily household cleaners can be replaced by things like: vinegar, essential oils, baking soda, and olive oil. There are also many good green companies out there that have cleaning products without the harsh chemicals, if making your own isn't your style. 

Chiropractic Factor
There are three causes of spinal misalignments: physical, emotional and chemical. Yes, chemicals in our environment can actually work against our regular adjustments and wreak havoc with our central nervous system, not to mention some of the side effects the chemicals can have. So if you are experiencing any symptoms while spring cleaning make sure you get in and get checked. Better yet, take the steps to clean green, and if you have any questions on homemade products, or what store bought products are chemical free we are here to answer your questions!