Children, ADHD, and Sensory Disorders


It is any parent’s greatest wish to see their children happy and healthy. There is nothing more joyful than seeing a carefree, innocent smile light up your child’s face. Read more

Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Disorders


Your gastrointestinal system is an incredible design. It contains endocrine (hormonal) and immune system cells. It cooperates with beneficial bacteria to break down food and protect against harmful pathogens. Read more

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Could It Be Your Thyroid?

May 16, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Digestive Health, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Supplements, Wellness Leave a comment  

Fatigue, weight gain, and memory loss. Constipation plus cold hands and feet. Puffy eyes, dry skin, and hair falling out. How old does this person sound? If you think they are elderly, you may be right. Or they may be middle-aged and have a malfunctioning thyroid gland. Thyroid disorders are the most common malfunction of the hormonal system, much more prevalent than diabetes. Did you know that you can suffer from the classic symptoms of hypothyroidism and still look good on paper? In other words, you can have all of these symptoms, but your blood tests come back normal. So your diagnosis may be that you’re getting older, or you’re depressed. But your gut instinct tells you there’s a better explanation for your troubles.

Your thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones that control metabolism, which indirectly affects most body functions but is most obviously related to weight loss and gain, as well as your energy level and stamina. Here are some things you should know to protect this critical hormonal system.

You need a healthy digestive tract and liver. Most of the thyroid hormone in your blood is inactive. When your body needs the power of active thyroid hormone, conversion happens in the digestive tract or the liver. Inadequate conversion means your thyroid gland produces more inactive hormone, to create more active thyroid hormone through sheer volume. This can lead to an imbalance of thyroid hormones that, if given enough time, can become apparent on lab tests. Foods rich in vegetable fibers and probiotics, for example, are essential for a properly functioning thyroid gland.

High levels of estrogen-like compounds interrupt thyroid function. This applies to men as well as women. Pesticides, environmental pollutants, plastics, BPA, and pharmaceuticals can mimic estrogen and should be minimized. Choose organic produce when possible, and store foods in glass or ceramic containers.

Remove the competition! Not ultimate-fighting style, but from a biochemistry perspective. Iodine is a key component of thyroid hormone, but it can easily be replaced by more reactive elements like bromine, chlorine, and fluorine. These elements can replace iodine and create an ineffective thyroid hormone. For example, fluorine is in non-stick coatings on cookware, in the compound PFOA. In 2010, the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives reported that people with the highest blood levels of PFOA were twice as likely to have thyroid disease. For this reason, use cookware made of ceramic, glass, cast iron, or stainless steel. Also, choose reverse-osmosis-filtered or spring water instead of tap water, which has added chlorine and fluoride.

Recovering from a hormonal imbalance like thyroid malfunction requires work and dedication. There is no single solution, and we’ve only discussed a few of the lifestyle changes that you can take on at home.

 


The Fires Within: Inflammation

January 25, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Digestive Health, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Immune System, Wellness Leave a comment  

Let’s talk about inflammation. In the short-term, inflammation is your body’s intelligent healing response to an injury. The pain and stiffness associated with inflammation after you stub your toe forces you to protect your foot from further injury while the tissues heal. When inflammation becomes systemic and chronic, it damages your body. In 2004, Time magazine published a special issue about inflammation. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic pain, thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions, even brain conditions like depression and Alzheimer’s disease have all been linked to chronic inflammation.

Why is chronic inflammation bad? It damages your cells. Chemical signals created during the inflammatory process are called cytokines. When cytokines are elevated, they interfere with normal cellular communication. They can go even further and damage your cellular membranes, which starts you down the path to organ dysfunction and illness.

Would it surprise you to know that what we think of as a “healthy diet” is pro-inflammatory? Doctors, magazines, and websites typically recommend avoiding saturated fat and cholesterol, eating pro-inflammatory polyunsaturated seed oils, and eating grains. Grains, even “heart-healthy” whole grains, contain the pro-inflammatory sugar amylose. In fact, an excess of sugar drives inflammation, which plays a part in developing type 2 diabetes. Sugar is known to feed cancer cells, and it is the damage from high levels of sugar in blood that causes plaque to form in the arteries. So we should really get the message to focus on eating low-sugar, not low-fat!

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified family chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


Cholesterol, Statin Drugs, and Heart Disease

January 18, 2012 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Brain, Digestive Health, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Immune System, Medicine, Nutrition, Research, Supplements, Wellness 1

In 2004, the National Cholesterol Education Program issued guidelines calling for Americans to lower their LDL cholesterol to less than 130 mg/dL. In 2006, a review of the literature found that there was no strong evidence to support the NCEP recommendations. The review noted that dropping LDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dL showed no decreased risk of cardiovascular death in elderly people, and that having high HDL was protective when LDL was around 130 mg/dL.

Every cell in the body needs cholesterol to make the cell membrane flexible and waterproof. Cholesterol is needed for tissue repair. It is the main building block of vitamin D and several hormones which are essential for normal body function. Cholesterol is also a powerful antioxidant.

Statin drugs interfere with the liver’s ability to synthesize cholesterol. There is a sequence of 32 distinct biochemical reactions to produce cholesterol, and statin drugs stop this sequence at the third step. The tenth step produces CoQ10 (ubiquinone), which is an antioxidant that all cells need to produce energy from glucose. The heart, since it beats constantly, has the highest requirements for CoQ10. Heart failure is one of the side effects of CoQ10 deficiency. CoQ10 also maintains the integrity of the cellular membrane, which has recently become known as the true brain of the cell. To offset for this side effect, studies indicate 200-600 mg/day of CoQ10 should be taken with a statin drug. Step 30 of the cholesterol synthesis sequence produces a compound that synthesizes vitamin D from sunlight, so statin drugs keep your body from making its own vitamin D. Statin drugs also inhibit nuclear factor kappa B (NFKB), which is a part of the immune system that helps fight infection and cancer.

There are no studies that prove significant improvements in overall mortality for women, or for people over age 65, who take statin drugs. The statin drug companies distort the statistics on mortality. In a study where 100 patients take statin drugs, 2 will have a fatal heart attack, while 3 of 100 people taking a placebo will die of a heart attack. To prevent a single heart attack, 100 people must be treated with statin drugs. The absolute risk reduction is an unimpressive 1%. The drug companies, however, promote statin drugs according to the relative risk reduction, which is a 33% reduction.

In studies on rodents consuming a similar relative dose of statin drugs prescribed to humans, the rodents developed cancer. Statin drugs raise a person’s risk of polyneuropathy (nerve damage) by 1600%. Signs of polyneuropathy include pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, and difficulty walking. The degree of symptoms is proportional to the duration of statin drug usage. Statin drugs are also known to cause myopathy (muscle damage) which is characterized by muscle wasting, weakness, and fatigue.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be 44% more effective than statin drugs in reducing death from heart attack and stroke. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to be 32% more effective than statin drugs in reducing all causes of death.

These facts have been brought to you by the world’s leading medical journals. You want references? We’ve got ‘em!

About the author: Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP, is a wellness-certified family chiropractor at Vital Life Chiropractic in Eagan, Minnesota.


Conquering Stress, Hormones, and Toxicity: Part 2

April 6, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Chiropractic, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Nutrition, Stress, Supplements, Wellness 1

Last time, we summarized the effects of stress and toxicity on hormonal balance. Now, let’s discuss some practical solutions!

First, have your nervous system checked. This is your lifeline of communication between your brain and your body. If there is nerve disturbance, it’s like having static on your cell phone signal. The presence of nerve disturbance is a source of stress on your brain and your body. So schedule a chiropractic check-up!

Second, exercise to bring down your stress hormone level. Remember the “fight-or-flight” response? With vigorous exercise, you trick your brain into thinking that you have removed the source of your stress. The primitive, stress-handling part of the brain thinks that you’ve either neutralized the threat (fight) or run away from it as fast as your little legs can carry you (flight). Either way, the brain interprets exercise as changing our surroundings to keep us safe and sound. One hour per day is a good target, but if you can do 10-minute bursts of intense activity, that is also beneficial.

Third, choose anti-stress nutrition. Cut down on soda, sweets, white breads, and pasta while increasing fruits and vegetables. Kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and collard greens are powerful nutrition for the liver and can help estrogen-dominant women to properly break down estrogens. Choose grass-fed, free-range, and wild-caught meats and eggs. Plan whole-food meals as much as possible, and select organic produce. Eat breakfast every day, and include protein and fat at every meal or snack. Regarding fats, select nuts and seeds for their high mineral content. Cook, store, and reheat foods in stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, and glass; avoid plastics.

Fourth, switch to low-toxicity cleaning products. Natural foods stores carry safer products. Product lines like Melaleuca and Norwex are also effective. You can also clean using simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt. A good rule of thumb: if you have to lock it up from your toddler, it probably shouldn’t be in your house.

Fifth, consider having your hormones measured if you are concerned about stress-related symptoms or hormonal imbalances. It is much easier for a natural health practitioner to help you if there are numbers to go by.

Sixth, you may benefit from using supplements to repair overburdened organs (adrenal glands, digestive tract, liver), or from undertaking a safe detoxification/purification program. The body has an amazing capability to heal, but sometimes it needs professional help. Find a natural health practitioner (e.g., chiropractor, naturopath) who works with detoxification and nutritional healing protocols.

www.vitallifechiropractic.com


Conquering Stress, Hormones, and Toxicity: Part 1

March 30, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Stress, Wellness Leave a comment  

Stress. We can’t live with it, and we can’t live without it. Imagine how boring life would be if we never had stress. We wouldn’t date, buy a house, or have kids. The best things in life are stressful, don’t you agree? But of course negative stress, or a chronically high level of stress, can damage our health. How do we protect ourselves against the demands of modern life?

We’re all familiar with the “fight or flight” response triggered by stress. Our heart starts to race, our vision and hearing become sharpened, and emotional reactions dominate our logical, thinking brain. This is an intelligent move by the body because it is intended to get us out of danger, but it is intended for short-term use only, to let us escape a threatening situation.

Chronic stress contributes to heart disease, diabetes, digestive difficulties, and decreased mental performance. Under chronic stress, the adrenal glands produce high amounts of stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol). This can eventually cause adrenal fatigue and also disrupt hormone balance, which is common for both men and women in their 40′s and 50′s.

Using menopause as one example, here’s what happens. After menopause, the adrenal glands are tasked with producing estrogen once the ovaries decrease their production of estrogen. If a women is in a state of adrenal fatigue due to chronic stress, her adrenal glands can’t produce enough estrogen, and the hormonal changes of menopause become too drastic for her body to adapt to. Symptoms like mood changes, insomnia, and hot flashes can be disruptive to a woman’s life.

Female reproductive hormones can be thrown out of balance by chronic stress. When stress hormone output is high, the hormone progesterone is depleted. This can cause a state of progesterone deficiency, which is similar to estrogen dominance. In a cycling woman, this can result in heavy bleeding, cramping, water retention, headaches, and moodiness.

Toxicity, in the form of estrogen-mimicking chemicals, can contribute to hormonal imbalances in two ways. First, the sheer amount of estrogen-like chemicals contributes to a state of estrogen dominance. Second, excess toxicity overloads the liver and prevents it from properly breaking down both natural and artificial estrogens.

Next week, we will discuss solutions for balancing hormones naturally and protecting ourselves against chronic stress.


What Women Want: Ask Them!

February 2, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Digestive Health, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Stress, Wellness 2 Comments

I was recently asked to speak at a statewide conference for a women’s organization. For 45 minutes, we talked about “Conquering Stress, Hormones, and Toxicity.” The room was at overflow, which says that this topic really grabbed the group’s attention. Who wouldn’t want to know how to age well? And of course no one wants to be toxic!

At the end of the presentation, I asked the group for their feedback on what they learned and what two changes they would like to make to improve their health. I also asked them what health and wellness topics they would like to hear more about. There were 11 issues to choose from, and most people picked at least two topics. Here are the results:

  1. Detoxifying & Weight Loss 83%
  2. Aging Well 61%
  3. Digestive Health; Exercise for Busy People; Stress Management; tied at 50%
  4. Nutrition & Eating Well; Women’s Health; tied at 44%
  5. Brain Health, ADD & ADHD 39%
  6. Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue; Workplace Wellness; tied at 17%
  7. Children’s Health 11%

I was surprised to see digestive issues ranking so high on the list. It beat nutrition and women’s health, and the survey participants were 100% female! Then, thinking about my clients, I shouldn’t have been shocked. Many people make an appointment for help with headaches, neck and back pain, or foot pain. When we sit down together at their first visit, they mention that their digestion is malfunctioning as well: heartburn, stomach pains, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, food allergies and intolerances. As we complete the exam and nerve scans, there are almost always indicators of nerve disturbance in the upper neck.

The upper neck contains C1 vertebra, which influences the vagus nerve. Vagus controls the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, small intestine, and part of the large intestine. If there is nerve disturbance at C1 vertebra, which controls most of the digestive system, do you think the digestive system will work at its best, or will it be compromised? Similarly, nerves coming off the spinal cord in the mid-back, low back, and pelvis directly influence the digestive organs. How many people with low back issues also have abnormal digestion?

Once we begin restoring normal nerve supply to the digestive organs, the body can resume its regularly scheduled programming. The good news is, the body replaces our digestive lining every 5 days or so, since it is such an important body part. The digestive tract itself can heal pretty quickly, but due to years of malfunction, we often need to address stomach, liver, and gallbladder function. Fortunately, adding clinical-grade whole food supplements can accelerate the healing process. Our office works with a broad array of safe, natural supplements based on foods, herbs, and glandular ingredients. It is truly remarkable how quickly the body can turn things around, once we remove the “white noise” from the nerve system and feed the body properly!


Why Should You Do a Purification?

January 12, 2011 Dr. Barbara Kaiser, DC, CCWP Aging, Balanced living, Digestive Health, Healing, Hormonal Balance, Nutrition, Supplements, Wellness Leave a comment  

Purification is also known as detoxification. The goal of a purification process is to remove toxins from all cells of your body. We are exposed to toxins every day, including air and water pollutants, pesticides, and chemicals. Our bodies also produce waste products as a result of normal metabolic function. Although your body is designed to rid itself of these toxins naturally, it can become overburdened. Purification offers your body additional support to expel natural toxins and minimize your weight, which is important to maintaining your health and vitality.

You may benefit from purification if you: 

  • Eat processed foods
  • Eat non-organic fruits and vegetables
  • Eat factory-farmed meat and poultry
  • Eat genetically modified foods
  • Take artificial sweeteners, soda, coffee, alcohol, or tap water
  • Eat foods with preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweeteners
  • Eat food from restaurants
  • Grill foods

Symptoms that indicate the need for a purification:

  • Stuffy head
  • Moodiness
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Reduced mental clarity
  • Low libido
  • Food cravings
  • Weight gain
  • Digestive problems
  • Sore, stiff, and achy joints

Call our office at 651-757-5096 to find out whether a purification program is right for you. We can help you detoxify in a safe, healthy way.