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WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE

Week of: Monday Aug. 26, 2019

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

WELLNESS: Why collagen is critical for cancer and heart disease prevention by: Lori Alton, staff writer | August 12, 2019 Cancer, which claims roughly 630,000 lives a year, remains the second leading cause of death in the United States – right behind heart disease.  Sadly, experts say that a startling 90 percent of cancer deaths aren’t a result of the original tumor – but of its dangerous metastasis (or spread) into surrounding tissues and organs.  Now, research is highlighting the potential of collagen – the unifying intracellular substance that helps give form and structure to skin, ligaments, cartilage, and bones – to help prevent cancer’s invasion. In order to spread, cancer must first breakthrough connective tissue, which is formed primarily of collagen. And some natural health experts, including noted German physician Mathias Rath, MD, maintain that a weak collagen matrix may actually encourage the spread of cancer.  In fact, some experts refer to cancer as a “collagen disease.” Researchers have found that cancer cells utilize enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to “melt away” collagen and connective tissue so the cancer can spread. Dr. Rath, a German physician who worked with Nobel Prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling, has devoted much of his career to focusing on how to naturally stop the metastasis of cancer.  And, he believes the answer lies with a specific, collagen-supporting combination of micronutrients.  Dr. Rath reports that he has found that certain natural substances can deactivate the MMPs in cancer cells, thereby inhibiting the invasion of neighboring tissue.  He lists vitamin C – and the amino acid lysine – as particularly beneficial.

IN THE NEWS: Medical benefits of dental floss unproven "The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal," said one review conducted last year. Another 2015 review cites "inconsistent/weak evidence" for flossing and a "lack of efficacy." One study review in 2011 did credit floss with a slight reduction in gum inflammation — which can sometimes develop over time into full-fledged gum disease. However, the reviewers ranked the evidence as "very unreliable." A commentary in a dental magazine stated that any benefit would be so minute it might not be noticed by users. Are skinny people MORE likely to get Alzheimer’s? A new study warns too much weight loss could drive up our risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Experts at Massachusetts General Hospital have found a link between low body-mass index and a build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain, which fuel the devastating brain disorder. The findings have been hailed as a necessary warning to people to eat well and exercise, rather than simply dieting to stay slim. 'Finding this association with a strong marker of Alzheimer's disease risk reinforces the idea that being underweight as you get older may not be a good thing when it comes to your brain health,' senior author of the report, neurologist Gad Marshall, said. The Surprising Health Benefits of Unripe Banana, Papaya and Mango Green (unripened) banana, papaya and mango contain higher amounts of digestive-resistant starch than ripe ones, which is important for optimal gut health. Unripe banana is composed of as much as 80 percent starch, most of which is digestive-resistant starch. As the banana ripens, the starch gets converted into sugars. Unripe Langra mango has as much vitamin C as 35 apples or nine lemons, and while ripe and unripe papaya are both rich in antioxidants and fiber, green papaya contains higher amounts of potassium.

CHIROPRACTIC:  Neck Function and Balance In the nervous system, there are three primary areas that regulate our balance: the cerebellum (located in the back of the brain), the dorsal columns (located in the back of the spinal cord), and the inner ear (the “vestibular” part of our cranial nerve VIII). There are also small, microscopic “proprioceptors” or mechanical receptors located in our joint capsules, muscles, and tendons that relay information to the brain and work hard to keep us upright when we walk, run, and play! Conditions that can result in balance problems include, but are not limited to, BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal where our spinal cord is located), dorsal column disease, cerebellar lesions, and/or circulation loss into the back of the brain. Other conditions associated with lightheadedness include low or high blood pressure, hydration, medications, postural or orthostatic hypotension, diabetes, endocrine disorders, hyperventilation, heart conditions, and vasovagal syncope. However, issues with BPPV/inner ear are the most common reported cause of dizziness. Emergency actions should be exercised when dizziness is associated with chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations. If eating helps resolve the dizziness, blood testing for hypoglycemia is appropriate. If confusion, memory lapses, changes in speech, facial droop, weakness on one side of the body, or acute headache occur, these could be signs of a stroke or a brain bleed or tumor and should be quickly evaluated.  If ANY of these signs or symptoms is present, we will refer you to the appropriate specialty for further evaluation. The upper cervical spine has also been found to affect balance, and it’s a primary area of treatment that we as chiropractors focus on when patients complain about balance dysfunction. Unique to this upper cervical region is the fact that the nucleus of cranial nerve V (the trigeminal nerve) extends down the spinal canal to the C2 level and adjustments in this region can have significant benefits for several other conditions, including trigeminal nerve problems as well as BPPV (inner ear dysfunction such as dizziness) where small crystals dislodge from the ampulla of the semicircular canal and interfere with the flow of fluid inside the canal with resulting dizziness. Adjustments and the BPPV exercises (Epley’s and/or Brandt-Daroff) significantly benefit this cause of dizziness.

FUNNY BONE: The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.@@ The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.@@ These are actual comments made on students' report cards by teachers in the New York City public school system. 1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig. 2. I would not allow this student to breed. 3. Your child has delusions of adequacy. 4. Your son is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot. 5. Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them. 6. The student has a "full six-pack" but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together. 7. This child has been working with glue too much. 8. When your daughter's IQ reaches 50, she should sell. 9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming. 10. If this student were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week. 11. It's impossible to believe the sperm that created this child beat out 1,000, 000 others.  12. The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.