Monday, September 21, 2009

Student Survival Tool Kit

If it's good for my son, it's probably good for you too.

As Alain was preparing to go away to college, I assembled a kit of vitamins and supplements for him to take. I realized that the number had to be minimal and instructions laid out simply. Yet, I wanted to cover as much ground as possible.

The goal here is to promote general health and wellness. I identified some of the challenges a student might encounter. Therefore, the supplements had to effectively deal with the destructive impact of stress, erratic sleep patterns, possible toxins. They also must prime the immune systems.

So I came up with a short list of supplements and an equally short user's manual. Since everyone who hears of this "tool kit" wants to have it, I am posting it here for all to enjoy and benefit from.

Alain’s Supplements
:

  • Omega 3. Take 2 daily
  • Co-Factors. Take 1 with omega 3.
  • Complete Glutathione or NAC. Take 2 when you want to cleanse toxins, after strenuous exercise, lack of sleep. PRN.
  • OPC Pinegold. Immune booster. Take 2 when you feel that you are coming down with something. Take 2 every 1-2 hours if you are sick.
  • Arnica. Melt 2 pellets under tongue after physical trauma. Every hour for up to 24 hours.
  • Sabadil. Allergies. PRN.
  • Multi. Take 1-2 daily.
That's it. 3 supplements daily and a couple of "just in case".

Since I want Alain to have the best, cleanest products, I carefully selected the brands of each of these products. The first 3 and the multi are from Nutri-West. OPC is the brand name. Call my office to order any of these . Sabadil and Arnica Montana are homeopathics from Boiron and can be found at Whole Foods and better health food stores..

Dr. Jean-Marc

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Health Care Cost up 131%

BE Healthy!

When I see these numbers, I get more and more convinced that shuffling who pays for health care is not the answer. Isn't it time to actually BE healthy?

This is a quote from Dr. Gerry Clum, President of Life Chiropractic College West.

"Mid-September also brings us an annual report from the Kaiser Family Foundation on the cost of health care insurance in the United States. In the past year, premiums have risen 5% and, in the past decade, they have risen 131%. This is in contrast to an increase in wages over the past decade of 38% and an inflation rate of 28% for the period. This means health care costs rose at a rate 4.67 times as great as inflation. Some other numbers from the KFF folks...if family coverage increases at a rate of 6.1%, as anticipated, by 2019, the annual cost of the average family's health care insurance will be $24,000...this year, the average individual cost was $4,824 and the average family cost was $13,375...60% of employers provide coverage, down from 66% a decade ago...more than 40% of employers indicated they would be shifting more health insurance cost to the employee...on average, employers pay 74% of the cost of family coverage. The full report from the Kaiser Family Foundation can be found at www.kff.org."

I know from personal experience that MA cost are substantially higher. Now you know why the family budget just doesn't allow as nice a car or as exotic a vacation as it used to. But for some, it is cutting into healthful endeavors like a gym membership, unprocessed food, stress reducing activities. It is fascinating to see how rising health care cost has become a clear cause of poorer health. More on that in a later post...

Dr. Jean-Marc

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

School on Wheels


Thanks to your generosity, our School on Wheels donation program was a great success. Thank you for all your donations of school supplies for Massachusetts homeless kids. Our school bus boxes were overflowing with backpacks (like the cute Hello Kitty you can see my patient Marie and me trying on), pens, pads, folders, binders, notebooks, pencils, staplers, rulers...

A big thank you to all of you who participated and donated generously!

Dr. Jean-Marc

Friday, February 20, 2009

Fast Food

Just Having the Fast Food Nearby Increases Stroke Risk!

This is a fun study. Essentially, they found a link between living close to fast food joints and the risk of stroke. For every fast food store nearby, your risk of stroke goes up 1%.

No word regarding what happens if you actually eat there...

http://www.ireallyshouldstudy.com/health/2009/02/20/would-you-like-a-stroke-with-that/

Enjoy!

Dr. Jean-Marc

Monday, February 16, 2009

Fruit Drinks and Diabetes

High Fructose Corn Syrup Strikes Again

OK, you know how bothered I am about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine drives the point home.

It also tells us that fruit drinks should be avoided. No more juice boxes for your kids!

Lets jump to the results of this study done over a 6 years period following 43,960 subjects. (This is the best and most difficult type of study-long term and lots of people to track)

After adjustment for confounding factors (diet), your risk of developing type 2 diabetes goes up 24% if you drink 2 sweetened (HFCS) drinks per day. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes goes up 31% if you drink 2 fruit drinks per day.

So... by now you probably figured out that sodas are bad for you. But really, juice boxes and sports drink are just as harmful.

If you have kids, the effect will be magnified. It is never appropriate to routinely consume sodas, fruit drinks and sports drinks.

I'll leave you with a quote for the article that nails the HCFS coffin: "High fructose corn syrup, which is now the sweetener used in soft drinks consumed in the US, appears to be particularly effective at promoting weight gain because of its adverse effect on insulin secretion and leptin release, leading to a reduction in the normal inhibitory effect on food intake". (emphasis mine).

The article abstract can be found here: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/168/14/1487

Dr. Jean-Marc

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Get the Facts about high fructose Corn Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup is a man-made chemical that should be avoided entirely.

Further problems were recently found as highlighted in this article.

That's the facts.

BTW: did you catch the spoof commercial on youtube? Of course it's in bad taste but it makes the point.

Have fun!

Dr. Jean-Marc

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Pediatric Chiro

Nice USA Today article!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2009-01-18-your-health_N.htm


Dr Linda is certified in pediatrics and the healing I have seen her do is just amazing.

Bring your kids, get their life force turned on!

Happy Inauguration Day!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We came back from France refreshed and energized. We are looking forward to 2009 to be a pivotal year in your ability to get the most out of your life; through chiropractic care.

While spending the New Year in France, I was reminded of a tradition that I had forgotten. I noticed how the New Year wishes go far beyond happy-healthy. I saw and heard everyone exchange thoughtful and lengthy wishes to each other. It was a display of care and love that I have seldom seen in an otherwise relatively rigid and non-demonstrative social code and I really enjoyed receiving these good wishes. So here is my wishes for you in this new year.

I wish you a happy New Year. One filled with warm relationships. May you give love freely every day and may you be aware of the love washed upon you by your friends, family and God. I wish you vibrant health. I wish that you feel better than good. I wish that you get to experience the wonder of your body; through healing or performance. I wish you an extraordinary journey through each day because they are a gift, each an opportunity to do it right and to improve. I wish you abundance beyond your wildest dreams. A year when not only all your needs are met, but one when you can spend time growing yourself and your relationships, try new things and see at least one miracle of nature every day. I also wish that you dream; dream big Dreams. And that they come true! I wish that the ones you care about give you the rewards you seek and acknowledge how important you are. I wish you peace and safety in all your endeavors. I wish that you participate in making our world a better place and feel good about it! Well, 2009 is already shaping out like the year to remember! I wish you an awesome New Year!

Dr. Jean-Marc