Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on April 21, 2009 under Nutrition, Research Articles | 
From the Healthhabits blog:
Need to lose a few pounds?
Try this…
Tomorrow morning, instead of wolfing down a bagel as you run out the door, scramble up a few eggs with some cheddar cheese and black forest ham.
According to a bunch of new studies, this high protein breakfast will help you manage your hunger while also reducing the amount of calories that you pack away throughout the day.
The Science
University of Conneticut researchers found that adult men who consumed eggs for breakfast:
- consumed fewer calories following the egg breakfast compared to the bagel breakfast
- consumed fewer total calories in the 24-hour period after the egg breakfast compared to the bagel breakfast
- reported feeling less hungry and more satisfied three hours after the egg breakfast compared to the bagel breakfast
This study was presented at Experimental Biology 2009. This research builds upon previous work by Dr. Fernandez which showed how the cholesterol from egg yolks improves the level of good (HDL) cholesterol.
.
A second study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, concluded that eating eggs for breakfast as part of a reduced-calorie diet helped overweight dieters lose 65 percent more weight and feel more energetic than dieters who ate a bagel breakfast of equal calories and volume.
And if that isn’t enough proof, you can check out this study which showed that getting your protein with breakfast was more effective at controlling hunger.
But what about the cholesterol?
For years, we have been told to avoid eating too many whole eggs.
We’ve been warned by the experts that the cholesterol found in those egg yolks are going to clog our arteries.
Maybe the experts are wrong.
New research (presented at Experimental Biology 2009) out of the University of Florida State examined the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as body mass index, serum lipids and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and the degree to which these factors are influenced by dietary intake of fiber, fat and eggs. The study found:
- no relationship between egg consumption and serum lipid profiles, especially serum total cholesterol, as well as no relationship between egg consumption and hs-CRP
- a positive correlation between dietary trans-fat intake (the margarine on your bagel) and CVD risk factors, as well as a negative correlation between fiber and vitamin C intake and CVD risk factors(6)
In additional research presented at Experimental Biology, investigators with Exponent, Inc. evaluated egg consumption data from the NHANES III Follow-Up Survey to determine the association between egg consumption and heart health. The researchers developed a statistical model which showed:
- no increased risk of death from coronary heart disease with increased egg consumption
- a reduced risk of mortality among men who consumed one to six eggs/week compared to less than one egg/week
- a significant reduction in risk of stroke among women who consumed one to six eggs/week and one or more eggs/day
So, while I am not advocating that you chug back a dozen raw eggs at breakfast a la Rocky, I am suggesting that you replace your morning toast with an omelette.
Your shrinking love handles will thank you.
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on April 4, 2009 under Back pain, Chiropractic, Research Articles |
Finally, there’s a treatment to conquer back and leg pain without dangerous medications or painful surgery.My name is Dr. Jonathan Walker D.C., clinic director of Ocala Integrative Medicine. I work with Dr. Anthony Sancetta D.O. to help find pain relief solutions for countless patients. I understand what it feels like to live in pain, because I see it every day.
I’ve seen hundreds of people with disc herniations and sciatica leave the office pain free.
When cushions in your back joints, called discs, get injured or wear out, they begin to degenerate and cause pain. Bulging and herniations begin to form, pressing on the nerve roots.
The most common invasive treatment for disc herniations is surgery. Even with health insurance the patient is left with their own portion of the bill, in excess of $10,000-$15,000, and sometimes more.
In addition, the recovery time and missed work can be anywhere from 3 to 6 months, not to mention the obvious severe risks associated with all surgeries.
Before You Go Under The Knife And Opt For Spinal Surgery…
You should seriously consider a less invasive approach called spinal decompression.
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a new technology that has been proven to help disc herniations. It creates a vacuum effect on the disc, which pulls the disc back into its normal position and brings in a fresh blood supply to promote healing.
The conditions this amazing treatment has proven successful are:
- Herniated and/or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- A relapse or failure following certain surgeries
- Lumbar Facet syndromes
Proof This Treatment Works
While non-surgical spinal decompression is a rather new treatment, there’s plenty of research to back up its claims. Here’s just a handful of scientific studies…
“We thus submit that decompression therapy should be considered first, before the patient undergoes a surgical procedure which permanently alters the anatomy and function of the affected lumbar spine segment.” – Journal Of Neuroscience Research
“86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms” – Orthopedic Technology Review
“vertebral axial [spinal] decompression was successful in 71% of the 778 cases” – Journal of Neurological Research
“good to excellent” relief in 86% patients with Herniated discs” – The American Journal of Pain Management
“decompression therapy reported a 76.5% with complete remission and 19.6% with partial remission of pain and disability” – Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery
Another study presented at the American Academy of Pain Management in 2007 showed…
“Patients reported a mean 88.9% improvement in back pain and better function…No patient required any invasive therapies (e.g. epidural injections, surgery).”
As you can see, spinal decompression has a high success rate . What this means for you is that in just a matter of weeks, you could be back on the golf course, enjoying your love life, or traveling again.
Could This Be Your Sciatica And Back Pain Solution
It’s time for you to find out if spinal decompression will be your sciatic pain solution.
For 10 days only, $47* will get you all the services I normally charge new patients $257 for!
What does this offer include? Everything. Here’s what you’ll get…
- An in-depth consultation about your health and well-being where I will listen…really listen…to the details of your case.
- A complete neuromuscular examination.
- A full set of specialized x-rays to determine if a spinal problem is contributing to your pain or symptoms… (NOTE: These would normally cost you at least $100).
- A thorough analysis of your exam and x-ray findings so we can start mapping out your plan to being pain free.
- You’ll get to see everything first hand. I’ll answer all your questions about spinal decompression. I’ll let you know if this amazing treatment will be your back pain solution, like it has been for so many other patients.
Call today…phone 352-732-5590!
The normal price for this type of evaluation, including x-rays, is $250 so you’re saving a considerable amount by taking me up on this offer.
Call today and we can get you scheduled for your consultation, exam and x-rays as soon as there’s an opening.
Our office is located just east of the downtown square on Silver Springs Blvd, just a few minutes from you. When you call, tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Spinal Decompression Evaluation so she get you on the schedule and make sure you receive proper credit for this special offer.
*Not applicable to Medicaid, Medicare or Medicare replacement policies. BUT HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS! An evaluation with Dr. Sancetta is covered by Medicare, and can help determine if you’re a candidate for treatment! The patient and any other person responsible for payment has the right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination or treatment which is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free, discounted or reduced fee services, examination or treatment.
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on January 31, 2009 under Back pain, Chiropractic, Neck pain, Research Articles, Whiplash |
The syndrome of whiplash was first described in litigation in 1928. Since
that time whiplash has had an unsavory reputation. Many researchers and doctors avoided involvement with whiplash injuries and opinions varied.
Over time, it became clear that complaints of patients sustaining this type of injury were, in fact, fairly consistent. The most common complaint, neck pain, could easily be understood, but other symptoms, such as ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, numbness, and back pain, were not so easily explained clinically.
According to research statistics, nearly one-third of all motor vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions. Newton’s first law of motion states that “an object continues either at rest or in a state of motion in a straight line, unless it is acted upon by an external force”. When a vehicle stopped at a red light is hit, the car is moved forward by the external force of the impacting vehicle. This force pushes the seat and driver forward. The neck, which is not in contact with the seat, remains stationary, causing hyperextension of the neck. When the front vehicle stops, the driver is thrown forward.
Although the shoulder harness prevents the driver from hitting the steering wheel or windshield, it forces the head to fly forward in a twisting motion, causing hyper flexion of the neck. Most injuries are a result of hyperextension, when the neck can exceed the maximum physiologic extension of 70 degrees by as much as 120 degrees, stretching some muscles as much as 30%.
The forces exerted on the head and neck with rear-end collisions can be quite high. For example, one G is the force exerted by the earth’s gravity which causes an object to fall at 32 feet per second. Pilots begin to pass out at 6 Gs, and at 8 Gs you are pinned to your seat. If a 150-pound person is subjected to 10 Gs, this is a force of 1,500 pounds. In crash testing, with impacts below 10 mph, the head can be subjected to 10 to 15 Gs for 100 milliseconds.
If the average head weighs 12 pounds, then it becomes a weight of 120-180 pounds. Talk about a headache!
Research involved with the actual injuries sustained by victims of whiplash show tearing of muscles, ligaments, vertebral disc derangement, tears in the ligamentous capsules surrounding the joints, damage to the sympathetic nervous system and peripheral nervous system, occult fractures, mild concussions, and micro-hemorrhages of the brain tissue and spinal cord, as well as stress disorders.
Many of these injuries are imperceptible on MRIs, CT scans, and x-rays. The symptoms range from muscle pain, headaches, jaw pain, vertigo, nausea, visual problems, forgetfulness, and unexplained numbness in the arms and legs, etc.
Symptoms may not present themselves for hours, days, months, or even years after the accident. Scientific evidence supports these characteristic of whiplash injuries. Other studies show that neck pain presents in 65% of patients within 6 hours of the accident, 28% within 24 hours, and 7% within 72 hours, though those people suffering symptoms immediately after the accident are more likely to continue to show symptoms more than 2 years following the initial injury.
People who have pre-existing conditions such as arthritis, and women due to their smaller frame and less muscle density than men, are more likely to be injured, though the speed and size of the vehicles involved, as well as the position of the seat and other factors play a significant role in determining the severity of an injury. Government reports revealed over one million injuries from rear-end collisions in 1990, and estimates project that over 25 years the prevalence of chronic pain from whiplash is more than 9% of the total U.S. population.
To lessen your risk of serious injury, wear your seatbelt, sit up in your seat with your seat in the upright position, and stop thinking of your head restraint as a headrest. The majority of people have their head restraint improperly positioned. Correctly adjusted, your restraint should be about even with eye level, and with no more than a two-inch gap between the restraint and your head.
If you are in an accident, even what appears to be a minor one, after life-threatening injuries have been ruled out, follow-up with a physician who specializes in soft-tissue trauma.
Remember, prevention is always best… drive safely, and watch out for the car behind you.
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on January 16, 2009 under Nutrition, Research Articles |
The benefits of strength training are well-documented and extensive. From increasing bone density to improving cholesterol, resistance training should be included in any exercise routine. Recent research is showing that people with more lean muscle mass may be at an advantage when it comes to fighting cancer.
A study in the British medical journal Lancet found that cancer patients with increased levels of lean muscle mass lived on average 10 months longer than those with lower muscle mass. While other studies have shown that people who exercise have lower levels of cancer, it is unclear whether lifting weights prior to or after the cancer diagnosis has the greatest effect.
The researchers still are not sure exactly what causes lean mass to have a protective effect. My take would be this- lean muscle mass increases our metabolism, burning fat. Stored fat in the body produces excess estrogen, which has been linked to certain cancers (this is one of the reasons Hormone Replacement Therapy in post-menopausal women increases the risk of cancer). So by reducing fat mass the progression of cancer is slowed.
We also know that fat tissue causes the release of a variety of chemicals called cytokines. These chemicals chronically increase inflammation in the body. It has been well demonstrated that inflammation is the root cause of many types of cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. People with more lean muscle mass have lower levels of inflammation, and therefore are better prepared to stave off diseases such as cancer.
So get started today! Don’t wait until it’s too late to begin anti-inflammatory (and anti-cancer) habits. Exercise regularly with weights, eat an anti-inflammatory diet (lots of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and protein), and supplement your diet with quality nutritional products.
If you want the support of physicians trained in natural and preventative medicine, contact our office today. Dr. Walker and Dr. Sancetta can help develop a plan of action for you to achieve your goals!
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on January 7, 2009 under Nutrition, Research Articles |
Some interesting research is being brought to the forefront in the synthetic vs. whole food supplement debate. The more time I spend studying, the more intuitive sense it makes to me that natural whole food supplements are superior to their synthetic counterparts. It is impossible to replicate in a lab the nutrients the healthy foods our bodies are designed to function on.
All of the nutrients in whole food supplements, like the Optimal Health Systems line we carry in the practice, are derived from natural sources. Also, the minerals in the supplements we use are bound with amino acids to significantly increase absorption.
These studies illustrate not only the possible superiority of whole food supplements, but also the potential dangers of synthetic vitamins.
Synthetic Vitamin C Supplements May Lead to Heart Disease
Researchers from the Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research found that “regular intake of [synthetic] vitamin C pills may quicken the thickening of artery walls, a condition known as atherosclerosis”. Of the 573 men and women studied, those that had consumed at least 500 milligrams of ascorbic acid Vitamin C supplements a day, developed an inner artery wall layer 2.5 times thicker than that of people who did not take the synthetic supplements. However, the researchers found “no evidence that vitamin C from food caused heightened atherosclerosis progression. According to researcher James H. Dwyer, “When you take in vitamins from food, you take them in with a large number of other components of that food. It is plausible that the protective effective of a diet occurs because of the interaction of many components of those foods.”
Rado, Alicia. “Too much of a good thing? Large doses of vitamin C linked to atherosclerosis”. HSC Weekly, Feb 25, 2000; Vol 6, No 7.
Synthetic Vitamin E Harmful
According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the synthetic form of vitamin E (alpha-tochopherol) does an incomplete job of neutralizing certain compounds and can actually block beneficial natural nutrients in the body. Stephan Christen, lead author of the study, said consuming over 100 international units of alpha-tocopherol may be harmful. Christen said he hopes vitamin/pill companies will soon begin adding gamma-tocopherol to their formulas so consumers can receive the full benefits from vitamin E.
Recer, Paul. “Vitamin E pills may pose risk.” The Arizona Republic, April 1, 1997.
Synthetic Vitamin C May Contribute to DNA Damage
According to an article published in the journal Science, researchers found that “the [synthetic] vitamin C pills taken by millions of health-conscious Americans may actually help produce toxins that can damage their DNA, a step toward forming cancer cells”. Ian A. Blair, the study’s lead author, said they found that synthetic “vitamin C was highly efficient in converting lipid hydroperoxide [a compound produced in the body from fat in the diet] into gene-damaging toxins.”
Recer, Paul. “Lab Study Finds Vitamin C Dangers.” The Washington Post, June 14, 2001.
Beta-Carotene Provides No Benefit in Cancer Prevention
“Former blue asbestos workers known to be at high risk of asbestos-related diseases, particularly malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, were enrolled in a chemo-prevention program using vitamin A. [The goal of the study was] to compare rates of disease and death in subjects randomly assigned to [synthetic] beta-carotene or retinol.” Results of the five-year study “confirm other findings of a lack of any benefit from administration of large doses of synthetic beta-carotene.”
de Klerk NH et al. Vitamin A and cancer prevention II: comparison of the effects of retinol and beta-carotene. Int J Cancer 1998 Jan 30; 75(3):362-7.
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on November 17, 2008 under Acupuncture, Back pain, Research Articles |
This is the blog of Dr. Jonathan Walker, clinic director of Ocala Chiropractic Center in Ocala, FL. My goal is to provide solutions to problems such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches that countless people in Marion County are needlessly suffering from. I also hope to inform you about some of the most cutting edge information on health and nutrition.
Today’s post will cover one of the more popular “alternative” treatments for a host of ailments- acupuncture. Does it really work? How can it help your problem? Read on to learn more…
Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing disciplines in the world. Most of the acupuncture treatments in the United States are using a system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, just as the cuisine of China, Japan, Thailand, and virtually every other Asian country all very distinct, each country has it’s own system of acupuncture. Even more interesting, there is evidence of acupuncture being practiced in ancient Egypt as well as in bush tribes in South Africa.
The most common acupuncture treatment method is inserting tiny steel needles into various points in the body which run along paths called meridians. Ancient acupuncture theory states that these needles are affecting the flow of energy, or “chi” along these meridians. Modern science has shed light on at least three methods by which acupuncture helps treat certain conditions:
- Chemical- the release of pain blocking hormones called endorphins is triggered when specific points are stimulated.
- Cellular- cells called fibroblasts, which aid in the healing reponse of tissue move to the area where an acupuncture needle is inserted.
- Electrical- conduction of signals in the nervous system is affected during acupuncture treatments.
If you are in pain, this information may be interesting (hopefully!) but your primary concern is whether or not acupuncture can help you. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared acupuncture for low back pain to traditional medical treatments. The acupuncture treatments were 50% MORE effective in relieving low pain than the conventional approach of medication and rehab exercises.
If you’re interested in trying acupuncture for yourself you can call my office or visit our website at www.ocalachiropracticcenter.com for more information. Stay tuned for more information…
