Not a day goes by that we don’t hear the “c” word—cancer. It seems as though everything causes cancer. Treating cancer is important, but preventing cancer should be in the forefront of everyone’s mind as well. And there’s lots of things you can do everyday to help beat the odds. Consider these suggestions courtesy of Beating Cancer with Nutrition:
ü Make “Better Butter”—a healthier blend of 50% olive oil and 50% butter.
ü Use unsweetened applesauce to replace ½ the amount of oil in dessert recipes. Try it—it works!
ü Cut down on the sugar. Sweeten desserts by adding extra cinnamon and vanilla.
ü Look for vegetable cooking sprays that contain lecithin. Some sprays even contain olive oil—all the better.
ü Make eating your veggies fun for you and the kids. Grow alfalfa sprouts on your windowsill. It only takes about a week.
ü Look for reasons to add flax meal to salads and vegetables. A sprinkle on top adds a nice change of flavor.
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“No one with a headache is suffering from a deficiency of aspirin.”
That phrase should be carved in stone outside every medical doctor’s office. It summarizes perfectly what chiropractors and other holistic health care practi-tioners have been saying for years!
I wish I could say I thought of it myself, but I came across it in a book entitled Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin, Ph.D., R.D., CNS. The author goes on to argue that “no one with elevated serum cholesterol is suffering from a deficiency of clofibrate. Arthritis sufferers are not suffering due to lack of cortisone, and cancer patients are not lacking chemotherapy. All of these therapies are short term, symptom-fixing drugs which provide immediate relief, but do nothing to change the underlying causes of a disease.” I think you get the point, but do you really?
Actually, many patients still miss the point. The point is that need to fix the problem—major or minor—should not be the only preoccupation in treating illness and disease. When your body is telling you that something hurts (i.e., “my back aches”), it’s sending you a message. You can reach for the pain reliever or you can look deeper.
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It drives me crazy when I see someone too young to know any better lifting, bending or twisting in a manner that’s unhealthy. I am often reminded of construction workers who, after years of “herk and jerk” with huge weights, find that they have aches and pains.
Whether back pain is part of your life or not it pays to know the risk factors. Here’s what the Smart Guide to Healing Back Pain had to offer on the subject:
§ Age. Pain can start as early as the twenties, but many patients report troubles between thirty-five and forty-five years of age.
§ Occupation. People in both sedentary and physically demanding occupations are at risk. The bottom line is that those working in heavily manual jobs tend to take significantly more time off due to back pain.
§ Posture. “Different postures exert different amounts of pressure on intervertebral disks, which cushion the bones of the spine.” Bad posture—bad back.
§ Pregnancy. At least 50% of pregnancies involve back pain. The problem is usually self-correcting after nine months.
§ Height and Weight. Tall people have been found to have a greater incidence of back pain than short people.
§ Smoking. There is evidence to suggest an increased prevalence of low-back pain associated with smoking.
Last word: Stressed, depressed, or fatigued people are at increased risk. Your state of mind matters!
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Fascinating Facts!
There’s a unique advertising phenomenon taking place today. Pharmaceu-tical manufacturers advertise their drugs directly to consumers encouraging them to talk to their doctor. Not surprisingly, it’s highly effective! But before you ask for a prescription, ask your chiropractor what options exist involving vitamins and minerals. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that what ails you can be treated naturally with vitamins and minerals.
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You Don’t Need to be an Athlete to Exercise!
Doctors can only do so much. I can’t say that often enough. We’re not miracle workers. Patients have to take a certain degree of responsibility for their health and well being. You know this.
Everyday I hear from patients that they don’t have time for exercise, the stamina or the interest. I can’t stress enough that we need to change how we think of exercise. It need not be the deliberate, premeditated act that health clubs would have you believe it is. And it needn’t be a pain. It can be fun.
With spring upon us, it’s a perfect excuse to get up and get moving. The days are getting longer and the weather is improving. Many patients in cold climates report that by March they’re spending too much time in the house, too much time on the couch and too much time “hunkered down.” And that’s understandable given the winter weather. But it’s also a perfect time to try something new:
ü Spinning. More health clubs are offering this popular cardi-ovascular-boosting exercise.
ü Walking. Patients tell me that in some neighborhoods it’s a nightly ritual.
ü Stretching. One patient I know has experienced tremendous relief in his shoulders by doing a simple stretching routine daily.
Like the commercial says, “Just do it!”