Courtesy of:
John H. Keefe III, D.C.
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DIET: WEIRD THINGS FAST FOOD DOES TO YOUR BRAIN Here’s one way to get cultured: kick your McDonald’s habit. Exposure to fast food makes it harder to appreciate beautiful art and music, finds a new University of Toronto study. Researchers found that just seeing fast-food restaurants and logos—not even necessarily eating it—can trigger impatience and make it more difficult to savor enjoyable experiences, like listening to an opera or looking at photos of nature. How come? Fast food brings to mind speed and instant gratification, both of which make you more restless, says study coauthor Sanford DeVoe. We don't need to remind you what fast food can do to your body, but you might not know these surprising ways it can screw with your brain: Ever wonder why so many fast-food chains use the same colors in their logos? The marketing scheme is no coincidence. Studies have found that seeing the combination of red and yellow helps kickstart your metabolism, increasing hunger. Simply walking by a fast food joint can mess with your financial sense. In another study from the same Toronto researchers, participants were offered the choice between choosing a cash reward the next day and a slightly bigger one the next week. Those who were asked to pick while standing next to a fast-food restaurant were 40 percent more likely to opt for the smaller, speedier payout than those who were questioned near a full-service eatery.
WELLNESS: THE WARNING SIGNS OF KIDNEY DISEASE Kidney disease is a stealth illness. It may often be silent for many years—until it has reached an advanced stage. When you get a checkup, it's important to make sure your health care provider includes tests of your kidney function, experts say. This is especially true if you have some of the conditions that can increase your risk for kidney disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Two simple blood tests, blood-urea-nitrogen and serum creatinine level, and a regular urine analysis can help determine if your kidneys are functioning normally. Many people don't realize how important their kidneys are to their good health. In addition to filtering wastes from your blood, the kidneys do several other key jobs to keep your body functioning smoothly: They produce a hormone that helps your body make red blood cells. This prevents anemia or a low blood count. They make hormones that help to regulate blood pressure. They keep your bones strong by making an activated form of vitamin D.
CHIROPRACTIC: MELINDA'S STORY I would like everyone to know my story: In 1997 I was a passenger in a car violently slammed from behind. Since that day, I've had serious neck and back pain, as well as severe headaches. My treatment through the years went from occasional medication to constant use of painkillers, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory. After giving up on these, I went through a regimen of trigger points and painful injections. Still suffering pain, my landlord encouraged me to go to a chiropractor. By this time I was ready to try anything as long as it didn't involve needles! The x-rays proved that my neck was not holding my head up properly, and with that knowledge I stopped taking trigger points injections. Instead, I have been going to get adjusted three times a week. Well, the good news is that my headaches are way better, my arms and legs have better flexibility and sensation, and I am not taking as many pain pills. I can move my neck from side to side, so I can finally turn my head to see behind me in the car. Visit our web site: eefeclinic.com&facebook/keefeclinic