December 13, 2013

The "O" Zone

     We call the system we all engage in, “Health Care.” I hope each of us is interested in our health. I hope that each of us makes a sincere effort to continually nurture and improve our health. Remember that health is not the lack of symptoms, and the presence of symptoms shouldn’t be the focus of our efforts in health care. 
     Often we are interested in our pain, discomfort, distress, dis-ease, dysfunction, depression, anxiety, indigestion, or weakness. It would be wise if we focused, instead, on the lesson we can learn from our symptoms. From our pain, we can learn to be more present, from our distress we can learn to be more creative in our view of our circumstances. Each of our symptoms brings lessons. 
     I find that almost all people want what they want. Of course, why wouldn’t we? We all want abundance, ease, comfort, indulgences in food and entertainment. We want easy relationships, co-operative children and spouses. A peaceful work environment, a job that entertains us, challenges us in only the ways we like, and pays us abundantly for our contribution of time, not necessarily value. 
     We want life to fall in line with our views. When it doesn’t, we try to fix it. We try to make it fit our image of what we think it is suppose to be like. We try to get others to behave the way we think they should, to preserve our comfort. 
     Life is not designed to preserve our comforts. Indeed, the very nature of life is to challenge our capacity, our ability to grow and adapt and to transcend the mundane cycles of our comfort zones. The more we resent the interruption of our comfort, the less likely we are to transcend the spiritual malaise that led to the dis-eased state in the first place. 
     I believe that our diseases are an attempt of life to create a state of growth and transcendence within us, rather than a punishment or a state of discomfort that we should try to conquer and beat into submission so we can once again get what we want. 
     Health is not the byproduct of a behavior or a set of behaviors. It is the byproduct of a becoming, not a doing. We don’t find health by eating a certain way. We don’t find health by exercising. We don’t find health through meditation, contemplation, rumination or elimination. 
     We find all of those things by choosing a healthy intention and purpose and then pursuing it with vigor. 
     So what is your intention? What is your purpose? 
     What is a healthy intention? What constitutes a healthy purpose? 
     This will get deep quickly. Read on at your own peril. 
     A healthy intention is one that creates optimal health, in you and in your environment (that means other people in your environment as well). It is an intention that looks outward, rather than inward. 
     I remember talking to a patient who said her purpose in life was to take care of her dogs. Was that looking outward, or inward? It could be either, so how can we know which it was? By looking at her health. It was failing. If she continued on her existing health trajectory, she was going to pass on from this life about the same time as her dogs did, around the age of 50. In this case, her purpose was not enhancing her health, it was detracting from it. So, it would seem her desire to take care of her dogs was a self-serving desire—possibly because they were safe for her. They would never reject her nor traumatize her, unless they left her, and they would only do that by dying. So her desire to care for her dogs was possibly an attempt at self-protection. 
     Another patient said she wanted to see more of the world before she passed on. I suggested to her that the world didn’t need to be seen by her, that her intention was self-centered. We then discussed the notion of a purpose that would be other-centered instead of self-centered. She came up with a beautiful other-centered purpose: To learn how to heal cancer from within—and this was her 5th time having breast cancer—so she could teach others how to live so they could transcend cancer. 
     So, what is your purpose? Is it self-centered or is it other-centered? If it is other-centered, how pure is that intention? A wise prophet once stated, “When [you] are in the service of your fellow beings, [you] are only in the service of your God.” 
     Any self-centered intention or purpose lacks the power necessary to attract the ingredients of good health into your life. 
     Next month we will talk about the mechanics of how we attract things into our life.

     Have a blessed holiday season,

     Dr. O.

November 25, 2013

Short and Sweet!


Acupuncture Proven Just as Good as Counseling for Treating Depression: A new study recently published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE found that acupuncture is at least equally as effective as counseling at treating depression symptoms and that acupuncture in particular can lead to a nearly 50 percent reduction on the depression scale in just three months. http://www.naturalnews.com/042286_acupuncture_depression_treatment_counseling.html


Casual Sex Linked to Depression and Suicidal Thoughts in Men and Women: Dr Sara Sandberg-Thoma, of Ohio State University and lead author of the study, said: "This study provides evidence that poor mental health can lead to casual sex, but also that casual sex leads to additional declines in mental health."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/10463976/Casual-sex-linked-to-depression-and-suicidal-thoughts.html

High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Addiction: Canadian researchers have found that high-fructose corn syrup can cause behavioral reactions in rats “similar to those produced by drugs of abuse, such as cocaine.” “There is now convincing neurobiological and behavioral evidence indicating that addiction to food is possible.” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337798/Are-sugar-addict-Scientists-say-high-fructose-corn-syrup-addictive-cocaine.html#ixzz2Xlm6SZaX


Back Pain is Predictor of Future Health Woes: The investigators said that patient beliefs that their severe, short-term low back pain will persist for a long time can predict progression to chronic low back pain. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/low-back-pain-chronic-pain-disability-pain-intensity/2013/08/21/id/521538#ixzz2cdBq1FqN 

Attack of the Superbug: An antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhea—now considered a superbug—has some analysts saying that the bacteria's effects could match those of AIDS. Because it resists current antibiotic treatment, the strain has been placed in the superbug category with other resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and CRE. These superbugs kill about half the people they attack, and nearly one in 20 hospital patients become infected with one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cnbc.com/id/100685883

Farmer Acquitted of Producing Milk Without License: ‘Liz Reitzig, a founder of Farm Food Freedom Coalition, a group advocating for greater consumer access to natural, unprocessed food, says that the case ‘should give small farmers renewed courage to continue to operate within their communities.”’ http://washingtonexaminer.com/farmer-acquitted-of-producing-milk-without-license/article/2530615

Breakfast: The Most Important Meal? Research shows a correlation between eating breakfast and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. As Americans continue to fight the obesity epidemic and try to stem the incidence of type 2 diabetes, dietary guidelines are becoming increasingly important. http://scienceblog.com/66810/breakfast-the-most-important-meal/#hQMBKFbVJCLRMO4i.99

October 30, 2013

Product Spotlight!


Vitamin C is one of those staples we rely on when we catch those pesky flus and colds. We hear all kinds of great things about vitamin C helping to boost our immune system’s fighting power—exactly what we want when we’re trying to fight a bug, right? But did you know that not all vitamin C is created equal? Unfortunately, most of the vitamin C supplements that we find at our local drug store are isolated vitamin C, or synthetic, often referred to as ascorbic acid. This is only “a distillate of naturally occurring vitamin C.” 1 In other words, it is only a small part of the phytonutrients that naturally make up vitamin C.

“Over 90% of ascorbic acid in this country is manufactured at a facility in Nutley, New Jersey, owned by Hoffman-LaRoche, one of the world’s biggest drug manufacturers…. Here ascorbic acid is made from a process involving cornstarch and volatile acids. Most U.S. vitamin companies then buy the bulk ascorbic acid from this single facility. After that, marketing takes over. Each company makes its own labels, its own claims, and its own formulations, each one claiming to have the superior form of vitamin C, even though it all came from the same place, and it’s really not vitamin C at all. FRACTIONATED = SYNTHETIC = CRYSTALLINE = FAKE. The word synthetic means two things: manmade [and] occurs nowhere in nature.” 1

Here at Olson Chiropractic, we searched earnestly to offer you the highest-quality, most-healing vitamin C supplement on the market. It has been selling in our office for about 2 years now, and we can’t say enough good things about it. The product comes from a health company called Health Force. They are also the creators of Vitamineral Green—the wonderful, all-round, whole-food supplement that we love. Health Force is one of the leading producers in naturally occurring, whole-food, organic supplements. They put a lot of integrity into the products they create, because they know the healing power that is available through the use of whole foods. Their Truly Natural Vitamin C is a “naturally occurring, truly natural, absorbable vitamin C complex from a whole food extract of acerola berry. Food sources of the entire vitamin C complex are the only way to get nutrition as nature intended.” 2

As the cooler weather hits, adding a natural form of vitamin C to your morning smoothie, your cup of juice, or just drinking it in some warm water, will help support your immune system, offer your body some powerful antioxidant activity, and promote healing. “When we get enough in our diets, vitamin C helps detoxify our bodies, promotes healing of all of our cells, and allows us to better deal with stress. It also supports the good bacteria in our gut, destroys detrimental bacteria and viruses, neutralizes harmful free radicals, removes heavy metals, protects us from pollution, and much more.” 3




If you aren’t getting enough vitamin C into your system, stop by the office and pick up a bottle of Health Force’s Truly Natural Vitamin C! It is a truly fantastic source of this important vitamin!
  







1. thedoctorwithin.com. “Natural Whole Food Vitamins: Ascorbic Acid Is Not Vitamin C.” http://www.thedoctorwithin.com/vitaminC/Ascorbic-Acid-Is-Not-Vitamin-C/

2. healthforce.com. https://healthforce.com/longevity-immunity/truly-natural-vitamin-c

3. Melissa Makris. “The health benefits of vitamin C go well beyond a stronger immune system.” 11 April 2011. naturalnews.com. http://www.naturalnews.com/032027_vitamin_C_immune_system.html

Photo of Truly Natural Vitamin C from healthforce.com.

Photo of acerola berries from www.incrediblesmoothies.com.

October 18, 2013

The "O" Zone


Health is the ability to comprehend yourself in your environment. 
This capacity and level of living grows out of a vivid understanding of ourselves: who we are, what we are, what our potential is. As we act out of an intelligent understanding and awareness of this reality, we can begin to be accurately aware of our environment.   
Once we can connect to our environment, we can begin to sense the other people in our circle of influence.   
As we become aware of the realities of other people, we can start to gain insight into the full sense of our environment.  
As we come to know ourselves in our environment, we can seek the path of health, with growing knowledge and our most powerful intention.  
To review these steps again:
1.    A vivid understanding of ourselves: who we are, what we are, and our potential.
2.    An accurate awareness of our environment.
a.    Our geographic environment.
b.    Our physical environment.
c.    Our social environment.
d.    Our emotional environment.
e.    Our spiritual environment.
3.    With this accurate awareness, we begin to seek a balance of these factors to engender a powerful basis for our physical, emotional and spiritual being to thrive and grow in.
In this state our physical being will reflect this amazing integrity by flowing through life like a stream over a rough streambed. It creates a harmony of sound and sight, and an unending persistent rush to our fullness. 
In our full awareness, or intelligence, we are primed for more and greater wisdom, knowledge and enlightenment to be added to our heart, mind and soul.
There is a good example in the scientific literature. One study found that our "surroundings play a key role in [our diet choices and in obesity]." They found that “people who used to be satisfied by a 12-ounce can of soda may now feel that a 20-ounce bottle is just right.” They determined that “people learn how big an appropriate food unit is from their cultures. For example, yogurt containers in French supermarkets are a bit more than half the size of their American counterparts. Yet French shoppers don't make up the difference by eating more containers of the stuff.” 1
If we enjoy a full awareness of our environment, we will be aware of our own needs and the pressures of our society, and resist the pressure of society and meet the genuine needs of our body in our dietary choices, social choices and our interaction with both the people in our environment as well as the culture of our environment. 
The oft-repeated quote makes this principle plain and simple: “To thine own self be true.” But to be true to yourself you must know yourself as you really are, not as you have believed yourself to be in the past. I hear from people, over and over again, statements like: “My mother had degeneration in her hips, so I am sure that I am going to have it too.” Or, “It’s going to take a long time for me to change.” Or when we hear we have been diagnosed with cancer, we believe our culture, and the belief we acquire is expressed in the first question we ask, which is, “How long do I have to live?” This shows that we believe the doctor really knows what our potential is, and that we choose to take their opinion of what our likelihoods and possibilities are and accept these as real, and by so doing we make them real. Statements like, “Well I am the kind of person that…” are deadly traps in which disease finds a fertile, fresh Petri dish to grow on. 
Our environment only becomes a limitation to our expressed potential if we choose to let it be. If we don’t really understand that environment, it will likely take control of our destiny.  
We can become anything we desire; anything within the laws of nature, and they are very generous in so far as potential goes. If we are to be truly healthy, we will come to know what kind of a person we really are, and really can become. The reality is that we can become whatever kind of person we choose to be. 
Best,

Dr. O.

1. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-07-30-eating-cues_x.htm

October 7, 2013

Short and Sweet!


Help Alzheimers by fasting: Several studies have suggested that fasting can have health benefits. A recent study from the National Institute on Aging found that fasting one or two days a week eases the symptoms of those suffering from Alzheimer's, and other studies have shown that fasting increases life span as well as being protective of the brain. 

Fast food burgers contain only 7% meat; the 8 other ‘ingredients’ will disgust you: Americans consume somewhere in the ballpark of 5 billion hamburgers a year. A study published in the Annals of Diagnostic Pathology helped to discover that actual meat content in the burgers is only 2-14% of what you think it is! The other tissues were connective tissue, blood vessels, peripheral nerve, adipose tissue, plant material, cartilage, bone, and intracellular parasites known as Sarcocystis. http://www.realfarmacy.com/fast-food-burgers-only-7-meat/#uAHPFymstubXWbhO.99

New research explains statin-caused memory loss: In a new study published in the journal Disease Models & Mechanisms, UA investigators determined statin drugs may cause unusual swellings within nerve cells that appear to cause cognitive declines in some patients taking the widely prescribed class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. http://www.newsmax.com/Health-News/cholesterol-lowering-drugs-statings/2013/05/13/id/504235

Vinegar, not just for your salad: Vinegar is probably a staple in your kitchen for homemade salad dressings, but it's been known for its healing properties since the ancient Babylonians and Greeks. Vinegar has uses which effect the following: Weight loss, diabetes, arthritis, heart health, stomach problems. http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/vinegar-apple-cider-vinegar-folk-remedies-weight-loss/2013/07/07/id/513664#ixzz2YVY0AWSw 

Be careful next time you change the kitty litter: Cat feces can carry a nefarious parasite that may be much more widespread than thought, researchers say. Cats in the United States release about 2.6 billion pounds (1.2 million metric tons) of feces into the environment every year. Cat dung carries the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled organism that creates infectious agents called oocysts. These oocysts can infect pregnant women, causing congenital problems in the baby such as deafness, seizures, eye damage and mental retardation. The parasite also infects people with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/07/09/cat-poop-parasite-is-dangerously-widespread/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fhealth+%28Internal+-+Health+-+Text%29#ixzz2YZlDpAAC

Gardasil may not be as safe was we were told: US court paid $6 million to victims of Gardasil, the vaccine for HPV (human papillomavirus). Judicial Watch announced it has received documents from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealing that its National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has awarded $5,877,710 dollars to 49 victims in claims made against the highly controversial HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines. To date (as of April 10, 2013), 200 claims have been filed with VICP, with barely half adjudicated. http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/stress-and-health-dr-lind/2013/apr/10/us-court-pays-6-million-gardasil-victims/#ixzz2QV4Fdx3L  

September 30, 2013

Fabulous Food: Megan’s Experience

This month’s Fabulous Food article will not be about one specific product, in fact it won’t even be backed with very much science but rather a small experiment I did and the fabulous impact that eating whole foods had on me.
I love eating great, clean, whole foods. I was raised to eat that way. But I also love chocolate. What’s a girl to do? I have a serious sweet tooth and, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t stop. I was eating gobs of my favorite treats almost daily for several months straight. I wasn’t gaining a ton of weight, so my usual motivation to stop the treats just wasn’t working. Well, lo and behold, my body wasn’t going to let me get away with that behavior for long. One day, my skin broke out with acne, pretty much all over. You would have thought I was a 14-year-old kid again! I knew that food could affect my skin from past experiences, like when I would juice for a period of time or eat a raw diet, and my skin would end up glowing. So I did a three-day cleanse and only ate and drank juiced fruits and veggies. As you can imagine, after eating junk food for months on end—and gobs of it—I could hardly make it through the three days, my skin was no better, and I was feeling defeated. Chocolate seemed like a good enough solution to help ease my suffering….
Ok, ok, I’m shallow enough that I just couldn’t let the broken-out skin continue, so I decided to get serious. I looked up lots of info on all my favorite blogs, health forums, and such, about what else I can do besides eating clean to help clear up my skin. But naturally, it did begin and end with eating clean. Lots of what I found said two key things to cut out of a diet during bouts of acne are sugar and wheat. And processed food should go without saying. When comparing vegan, vegetarian or paleo diets, I’m not of the mindset that any one way is better than another. I know lots of people would argue against that, but for me, I believe in finding what works best with your body, and as long as you stick to whole foods, and the chain between the sun and your food is as short as possible, you are on the right track.
Another key component to healing my skin was vitamin D. Getting out in the sun is a good way to get vitamin D, but when you have bad skin, you don’t want to be out too much because it could increase scaring. I tried to balance supplements and sun.
I also began taking somewhat large doses of probiotics—I was taking it in pill form, buying raw fermented foods, and drinking Kombucha. All of these are available at health food stores.
As far as the products that I put on my skin, I stuck with my guns and used whole foods: In a glass jar, I mixed up a concoction of 1 cup of organic cold pressed olive oil and 1-2 tablespoons of castor oil. Every evening, I would massage the oil into my face and then use a hot washcloth to rub it off, and that was it—that was all I would use on my face until the next evening. You can learn more about this process at theoilcleansingmethod.com.
I had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Olson during this time, who was able to test me for various food sensitivities, which we are still in the process of clearing me for. I can’t say my skin is perfectly clear but I will say it is very close, and the best it has been in months. I love how Mother Nature has this way of restoring balance when we take care of our bodies naturally. I was able to get my skin to take a total 180 by using zero chemicals or toxins. I feel so grateful for the knowledge that I have from working with Dr. Olson so long, that if my skin is breaking out, it is probably a warning from my body letting me know there is an imbalance, and to try and restore the balance instead of masking the symptom.
**I want to be clear to all those who try to stick with a whole foods diet, especially if you are a chocolate lover like me: I’m not a cold turkey kind of a gal. I found alternative options to satisfy my cravings. I have a stevia chocolate bar that I love. The great thing about eating it is that there is no sugar, thus my addiction doesn’t get out of control. Two or three small pieces are enough to leave me feeling satisfied. If you are in the market for other tasty, whole-food, sweet treats, look for “RAW desert” recipes—it is always a good way to find stuff you can eat. They are usually made with a base of dates and nuts. Searching for “Paleo deserts” is another option because they are usually made with almond or coconut flour.  

September 17, 2013

"O" Zone


This month’s “O” Zone article is an excerpt from Dr. Olson’s book, “Children of Promise.” 

     The human body is a self-healing mechanism. A cut on your finger will heal with little attention on your part. The same is true thousands of times a day throughout your body. 

     When we create the ability to perceive ourselves in our
environment, the body’s natural inclination to heal will take place at a highly efficient rate. Our ability to perceive ourselves in our environment is the capacity to recognize our environment and correctly choose the most efficient and effective path to full and vibrant health within the realities of that environment. If we are unable to achieve our full potential because we misread our situation, we will simply adapt to the best of our ability. This adaptation is a common cause of many chronic health problems. 
    
     We settle for adaptation instead of healing. If our recognition of the outside environment or our inner healing mechanism is not correct, our response will be less than appropriate. The result will be an imbalanced adaptation and less than optimal health.

     This is exemplified by conditions like allergies, which are an abnormal reaction to a normal environmental substance. Some people react to dust by sneezing, having a stuffy nose, puffy eyes, and other symptoms of allergies. Other people can breathe in the same dust and have no response at all. The problem is not in the dust, but our response to a normal, environmental substance. By helping the body perceive itself and the environment more clearly, the need to react abnormally is resolved. I have personally experienced hundreds of cases of allergies relieved naturally by use of an approach called NAET, Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique. Autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and Crohn’s disease all are incorrect responses within the body to common stressors. The body believes it needs to attack itself to adapt to its environment, when the body’s reaction is, indeed, the major cause of the condition and the symptoms that follow. As the body truly comprehends itself in its environment or understands its physiological needs and the real impact of the environment, it will not attack normal tissue in an effort to stay balanced. It will seek to heal and restore these tissues in a continuing cycle of restoration that is normal to our nature. These are only a few of the myriad situations of the body not comprehending itself in its environment. Therefore, we may be able to diagnose and manage a disease, but if we restore health fully, the disease will have no root to grow and will disappear.

     When we see the real, underlying cause, we can choose to eliminate it from our being. True health is a noteworthy objective in life, if our desire is to live up to our highest potential.

August 13, 2013

Short and Sweet!


The dangers of Diet Soda: According to a new study published in the journal General Dentistry, constant exposure to the citric and phosphoric acid in soda – without proper dental hygiene – can be just as damaging to teeth as methamphetamine or crack cocaine.

Omega-3s Shown to Inhibit Cancer: Researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolite products slow or stop the proliferation, or growth in the number of cells, of triple-negative breast cancer cells more effectively than cells from luminal types of the disease.

The Benefits of Boosting Testosterone: In addition to sex drive, testosterone helps maintain strong bones, muscle mass and strength, and keeps fat evenly distributed. Also, a recent study found that men with low testosterone levels were at greater risk of developing painful rheumatoid arthritis as they aged. Men can boost testosterone levels naturally by increasing their intake of certain foods: Oysters, broccoli, garlic, bananas, brazil nuts, eggs. 

Irregular Bedtimes Lower Kids' Test Scores: Young children without consistent bedtimes in early childhood score lower on tests of intellectual performance at age 7, which may affect their health and wellbeing later in life. The researchers said that the effects seem to build up over time.

Incredible Number of Psychiatric Diagnoses:  New York’s Health Department estimated that more than 145,000 city children struggle with mental illness or other emotional problems. If that is true, that equals an amazing 1 in 5 kids. There has been a massive mislabeling of psychiatric diagnosis among children because of recent medical fads.

Personal Reactions Predict Personal Health: Contrary to popular perception, stressors don’t cause health problems — it’s people’s reactions to the stressors that determine whether they will suffer health consequences, according to researchers at Penn State.

July 19, 2013

Fabulous Food!

To conclude our look at the incredibly nutrient-dense Vitamineral Green, by HealthForce, we are going to look at the powerful ingredients that come from the earth. Would you believe that Vitamineral Green contains over 15 different, leaves, grasses, and roots? Each single ingredient provides therapeutic advantages that your body craves. Today we’ll take a look at just a few of my personal favorites.

Dandelion Leaf has been used as a healing and preventative herb for centuries. And currently it's one of the top herbs being researched by western medical science. It contains substantial vitamins and a host of plant-based minerals, especially potassium. The herb stimulates the flow of bile from the liver into the gall bladder, making dandelion a key ingredient in liver cleanse formulas. It helps to break down liver fats and is an effective diuretic. The scientific community has been frenetically studying dandelion recently, due to encouraging evidence that dandelion suppresses the growth and invasive behavior in several types of cancer. —Donna Earnest Pravel

Wheat grass is composed of the young shoots of wheat before stalks form a head with grain. It contains no wheat gluten, and is considered by many natural health professionals to possess healing properties. Wheat grass is, by composition, a superfood. This is due to wheat grass's heavy concentration of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Wheat grass is usually consumed either as wheat grass powder or juice. It can be taken orally, or as an effective enema implant for detoxification. Clinical studies have confirmed that wheat grass juice and wheat grass extract do have healing properties. Wheat grass juice has been used clinically to treat ulcerative colitis, aid breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and act as a potent antioxidant. —Donna Earnest Pravel

Native to the rocky terrain of the Mediterranean, carob pods have been used in food preparation for thousands of years. From ancient Egyptians to Mohammed's army to Spanish conquistadors, carob found its way into a variety of cultures to serve many purposes. More recently we have discovered the reasons why carob is so prized as a health food: Carob contains a wealth of minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, magnesium and selenium. It is especially rich in calcium and iron. Carob contains essential nutrients like vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and D. It also contains pectin, a beneficial fiber that aids the elimination of toxins.

If you haven't already tried Vitamineral Green for yourself, and have not experienced the benefits that this nutritionally-dense superfood has to offer, get started right away by asking Diane or Caroline for a sample packet of Vitamineral Green! Don't miss out on this simple way to get the essential nutrients your body needs for maximum wellness!  

June 19, 2013

Fabulous Foods

     I hope that by now you have started consuming Vitamineral Green, the nutritionally dense, therapeutic green superfood powder and have begun to notice some of its wonderful healing powers, including better digestion, more energy, and a stronger immune system.

     The incredibly long nutrition list for Vitamineral Green is broken down into a few easy to understand categories: from the Land, from the Waters, and from the Oceans. Last week, we addressed the healing ingredients of the Oceans, and this week I want to focus on the Waters. The two ingredients from this category are chlorella and spirulina.

     “Chlorella is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. And chlorella provides these nutrients in a whole food bundle, which is far superior to any manufactured formula. Like most dark green veggies, chlorella is packed with highly beneficial magnesium, which improves blood sugar levels, heart health, mental health and relaxation to name a few. Chlorella also contains other important minerals like potassium, iron and calcium. These days, toxins come at us from every possible angle: food, air, water, beauty products, cleaning supplies and even clothing. It's important to give the body what it needs to detox from all the harmful substances it encounters each day. Chlorella has an amazing ability to bind with toxins like chemicals and heavy metals, and move them swiftly out of the body. These benefits are powerful and can have a definite positive impact on our health.” -Elizabeth Walling (http://www.naturalnews.com/027384_chlorella_health_benefits.html)

     “The original 'superfood,' spirulina is so nutrient dense that you could survive on it and water alone. Hundreds of studies have confirmed spirulina's powerhouse status. It has 60-70% complete protein, meaning it has all 8 essential amino acids and 10 non-essential ones that support good health Spirulina also contains all the other B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin E, calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc. It has various antioxidants, phytonutrients and carotenoids. It protects the brain and detoxifies the liver and kidneys. It balances pH to reduce inflammation, the root of much disease. It balances the immune system, including calming an overactive one, which is significant because overactive (or inflamed) immune systems are responsible for autoimmune diseases. Its superfood status means spirulina has many more benefits.” -Willow Tohi (http://www.naturalnews.com/036101_spirulina_superfood_nutrients.html)

June 10, 2013

The "O" Zone

Our apologies! 

We are having technical difficulties, and the most recent email update was illegible. 
Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this issue!

Now, on to our usual "O" Zone article:

I just got back from Orlando.  I promised my wife a surprise trip for her last birthday (her 29th for those of you keeping track).  As we walked around Universal Studios, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Sea World, I couldn’t help but people watch.  I asked my wife to estimate the number of people that walked by who looked like they were “good walkers,” meaning they could go out and do 10 miles and not by undone by it.  We decided it was probably about 1 in 20 of the people who passed by us. 

A recent study demonstrated that just twelve minutes a week of intensive exercise is enough to improve fitness and encourage weight loss.  While there may be some debate about the idea, the reality is that some exercise is better than none, and even a little exercise is beneficial.  Another recent article claimed that “sitting” is the new smoking.  That medical doctor felt that sitting is as damaging to our well being as smoking has been and is for the diminishing number of smokers. 

Exercise is vital.  But, if we are to get the value from our exercise that we should, we must take care of the other aspects of our health as well.  From nutrition, a good healthy nerve system that stems from a well-adjusted spine, good energy movement and flow that comes from a balance life as well as seasonal acupuncture to preserve that balance, and an active spiritual life, we will get the full advantage from our activities and exercise.  If we exercise but don’t allow a good foundation to build upon (acquired by doing the things mentioned above), we won’t enjoy life to the full measure. 

Stay on top of your health plan.  Get adjusted, get acupuncture, eat well and stay active in life and in your spiritual journey, and life will give back in rich abundance.

Have a blessed month,

Dr. Olson

May 14, 2013

Short & Sweet


A U.S. government study of an experimental HIV vaccine has been halted effective immediately, because the vaccine did not prevent HIV infection in some volunteers.  A scheduled safety review on April 22 found that slightly more volunteers who had received the vaccine later became infected with HIV. Overall, 41 cases of HIV infection occurred in the volunteers who received the experimental vaccine and 30 cases of HIV infection occurred among the recipients who received the dummy injection.
So it is possible for vaccines to spread a disease?  Yes.  This is proof.

New research has found that people who believe in a higher power respond better to psychiatric treatment.

Implants make breast cancer more deadly: women with implants had a 26 percent increased risk of being diagnosed at a later stage of breast cancer. Also, women with implants have a 38% greater risk of death from breast cancer than those without.

Eating vegetables from the Solanaceae plant family may reduce your risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a new study from the University of Washington in Seattle. The study specifically mentions peppers and tomatoes. The Solanaceae plant family includes bell peppers, chili peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplants, and potatoes.

A German study shows that the act of exploring contributes to contributes to successful personality development, and that neither genetics nor environment alone could cause this personal growth.

For anyone who still thinks that drinking does not contribute to cancer, a new report finds that alcohol is to blame for one in every 30 cancer deaths each year in the United States.

May 1, 2013

"O" Zone


A new article, titled "Latin America Faces Cancer Epidemic," states the following about a recent study1 in Latin America:
Latin America's growing prosperity is fueling a cancer epidemic that threatens to overwhelm the region unless governments take urgent preventive action, a study published on Friday warned.
A multinational team of researchers found the current state of cancer care and prevention in Latin America incompatible with the socioeconomic changes taking place in the region, where an increasingly urban populace faces mounting lifestyle-related cancer risks.
Writing in The Lancet Oncology medical journal, researchers said Latin Americans are enjoying the benefits of growing economic prosperity but also are leading longer, more sedentary lives, accompanied by a rise in alcohol consumption, smoking and obesity. That is not only leading to an increase in cancer rates, which are expected to rise more than 33 percent in the region by 2020, but a disproportionately high number of cancer deaths.
"If corrective action is not taken this problem will become magnitudes of order bigger than it is today, it will create massive human suffering and it will threaten the economies of the region," Paul Goss, a professor at Harvard Medical School who led the study, said at an event in Sao Paulo on Friday."2
It is interesting that the cause of cancer is being addressed here: a so-called advanced society, and economic prosperity. But in our country the emphasis is on treatment of the condition after the condition has already settled into the body. We see the results of this approach. We spend nearly twice as much per person as any other country on health care, and we rank near 30th in outcomes.  
So, what is the answer? The answer lies in a healthy lifestyle. Once cancer shows up, it is hard to heal. Once diabetes is present, it is a slow decline to the end stages of life, and the list goes on. So the answer is to stay healthy, avoiding the pitfalls of a so-called prosperous society. So what should we do?
Stay active. That means stay off the couch. Exercise regularly. It doesn't take much. Just walk a few times a week. Be able to go hike and not worry if you can make it up a hill. Be active. 
Eat well. That means to determine what your body needs, and feed it clean, seasonally available foods that are organic, if possible. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, beans, clean meats, and healthy grains, according to your Metabolic Profile. If you don't know what that is, stop by the office and take the test—it’s free—to determine what your profile is. Then start planning your food choices.  
Come in and get your body balanced with the seasons with acupuncture. We just shifted into the spring season and it has sprouted a lot of allergy- and viral-related illnesses. Come in and get balanced and stay healthy, instead of trying to regain lost momentum.  
Lastly, seek an avenue to help you become more spiritually and emotionally healthy. Of all of the aspects of health, this is the most difficult to achieve and the most important to work on. It is the foundation of all the other aspects of your health makeup. If you don't know where to start, or are stuck on your current path and it no longer gives you the passion you need, it is time for a visit to Dr. Olson. Come in and we'll get you on an active path toward spiritual and emotional health again.
It is surprising what medical science knows, that they don't preach. So take control of your own health. Plan where you need to improve. Start today. Tomorrow may be much harder or too late. 

1.            “Planning cancer control in Latin America and the Caribbean.” http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(13)70048-2/abstract