We live in a world where we are constantly being bombarded with information. Access to information of all types is more accessible than ever and the amount of data out there is increasing exponentially as we speak. According to the latest estimates, we’ve created more information in the last 10 years than in all of human history before that. Amazing!

This is, of course, due to the omnipresence of the internet, social media, and smartphones. In this cauldron of information, how do we know what is true? When it comes to news and information about our health, how can we know what to believe? How do we separate what is fact from fiction?

Here are 5 things to look for when reading information or news about your health:

1. Look at the quotes in a story (or, rather, look for the lack of quotes):Legitimate journalists will use multiple sources from people who are considered experts and professionals in their fields. Most often, the article will include direct quotes from these sources.
2. Google it!: Do a little digging online to see if the sources or citations within an article are correct and true. If it is citation, you will most likely find it used in other articles as well. If it’s a source, a professional or expert, then you should be able to access their work or credentials online.
3. Pay attention to the domain and URL:For instance, there is a website URL: www.abcnews.com.co that is a fake website that looks very similar to the legitimate website www.abcnews.com.
4. Does it contain any citations?:Most health articles have citations, usually to other articles or published research, that support the claims being made in the article. If it doesn’t, that’s a major red flag. Most scientific work will have a lot of references and is published in peer reviewed journals. Also, make sure the work that the article cites supports the original author’s findings. Often, they are hoping you won’t take a closer look for data being used out of context.
5. Does the article make outrageous claims?:“The cure for _______” or “ _______ definitively proves X” are major red flags. If it’s too good to be true, most of the time it is. This is a circumstance where Google is your best friend. If a cure or breakthrough is found, EVERYONE will be talking about it. It would be in every major news outlet and publication.

Can there be differing opinions about your health? Of course! Most doctors don’t agree about everything. But, it’s important that when you are reading an article about the latest health news or doing research to help you make a decision about your healthcare that you get the most reliable and truthful information available.

READ MORE:

How to spot fake news

Fake news or real news

How to spot fake health news (Video)

How to spot a fake science article

Reputable Medical Journals

 

Over the last 3-5 years, we have seen the rise of companies such as Uber and Airbnb in what economists are calling the “sharing economy.” These companies are doing so well that both can be found on Fortune’s Unicorn List, a list of private companies that have at least a billion dollar valuation. What makes these services so profitable and creative is that they use what already exists, your car or a basement apartment in your home, and makes use of it in a way that maximizes it potential value. In the case of Uber, you already have your car.  You might own it outright or be making payments on it, and you are paying for insurance, so why not turn those costs into an investment? This is a great business model because it’s simple and sustainable. You don’t have to build anything new. You don’t have to sell anything. You take what you have already and make it work for you.

When we look at healthcare, most services and treatments do exactly the opposite of Uber. Rather than working with what is already there, they essentially add to (or in some cases like surgery) take something away from your body. It’s a business model centered on treating and managing symptoms. If something isn’t working right with your body, there is a product available for that. For instance, if you have an ache or pain, you take an Advil or Tylenol for relief; This is adding something to the body for the purpose of symptom management. Without a doubt, there are times where some healthcare products are lifesaving, especially in a crisis or emergency. But for the majority of us, thankfully, we do not live in a state of constant crisis as far as our health is concerned.

This is where NeuroStructural Chiropractic care can make a difference. Instead of focusing on symptoms and treating pain, NeuroStructural Chiropractic looks for underlying Structural Abnormalities within the spine. We know that these departures from normal can compromise the structural integrity of the spine (the foundation of the human body) and can also cause deficits in optimal brain-body communication over the complex network of wires (nerves) that the spinal segments are responsible for protecting. Focusing on the underlying cause allows the NeuroStructural Chiropractor to provide a self-sustaining, longer-lasting solution to the patient’s Secondary Conditions (symptoms).

In essence, we look at your body and we find ways to maximize its potential for health without adding or taking anything away from it. NeuroStructural Chiropractic improves the body so that it is PROACTIVE in terms of PREVENTING illness, disease, and degeneration, while at the same time OPTIMIZING the body so that every muscle and organ is working at full capacity.

Is this possible? Health without external products and treatments? Emphatically, the answer is YES. In fact, health has always come from within us. And just as it is so in this new sharing economy, the best model is one where you can maximize what you already have within your amazing body.

Hopefully by now you know how important your gut health is to your overall wellbeing.  A healthy microbiome usually means a strong immune system, good digestion, and a clearer thinking.  About 70 percent of our immune system is housed in the gastrointestinal tract, so protecting it is critical for good immune function.

There are many reasons why our intestinal flora might be out of balance.  Antibiotic or other medication use, food sensitivities, infection, or a breakdown in communication between the brain and gut can all interfere with the maintenance of a healthy gut.

Now that we know that bacteria is not our enemy, how do we nurture a healthy relationship with it?
How do we begin to rebuild a healthy environment in our digestive system?

·         Eat fermented foods – kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, and Greek yogurt are all rich in beneficial bacteria.

·         Probiotics & prebiotics – if you’re looking to supplement, using a pharmaceutical-grade probiotic can replenish your microbiome.  Prebiotics are also available, and act as food for the good bacteria so they can grow and flourish.

·         Fiber – gut bacteria love fiber because it makes it to the intestine undigested where bacteria can feast on it, so be sure to eat your fruits and veggies.

·       Avoid antibacterial soaps – even the FDA has recently recognized that antibacterial soaps not only do little to nothing to make soap work better, and they may actually contain unsafe ingredients like triclosan.  Washing with plain soap and warm water is sufficient to prevent the spreading of germs to others.  Soaps, shampoos and other cleansers that will clean your skin without stripping it of the beneficial bacteria are much preferred, such as Mother Dirt, which nurtures and replenishes natural bacteria that normally live on our skin.

·         Don’t over sterilize your environment – a little dirt never hurt anyone.  In fact, there’s a building body of evidence that it’s actually good for you.  Studies show that children raised in ultra-clean environments aren’t exposed to organisms that help them to develop appropriate immune system responses.  Obviously things like washing your hands after using the bathroom are habits we should keep, but we shouldn’t live in fear of kissing the family dog or eating that piece of dropped food off of the kitchen floor.

Taking these steps gives your gut flora, the gatekeeper to your immune system, a fighting chance to thrive.  Remember that bacteria only become our enemy when things are out of balance.  Under normal operating conditions, bacteria support our health and help us to fell and function at our best.

Related Links and Articles:

Your Living Biome: The Living Ecosystem That Keeps Us Healthy

Defining the Human Biome

Fermented Food: A recipe for good gut health? 

Babies Know: A Little Dirt is  Good for You

We are losing the war on bacteria and our health is the biggest victim.

Antibacterial soap, bleach, and disinfecting wipes are common items on the shelves of our grocery stores. As a society, we are obsessed with hygiene. We wash our bodies once, sometimes twice, a day with hot and soapy water. This obsession coupled with our phobia of bacteria keeps sales of these products strong but our immune system compromised.

On top of that, the over use of antibiotics further compromises our immune system while creating super bugs that become antibiotic-resistant.

We have missed the point completely.

Bacteria is not our enemy. On our skin, a healthy bacterial diversity and flora prevents pathogens from entering the skin. In our gut, a healthy bacteria flora is one that’s balanced with a large variety to help you break down food and synthesize important vitamins and nutrients. Most bacteria have a SYMBIOTIC relationship with the body including notorious bacteria such as H. pylori, E. coli, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus.

So what happens when you get an infection if these bacteria are already in your system? The answer is twofold.

Number 1: The immune system becomes stressed, which causes the bacteria diversity of the body to falter.

Number 2: An unbalanced community of bacteria flora allows certain bacteria such as E. coli to overwhelm the entire system.

THAT’S when these bacteria can become very dangerous. A weakened immune state and an imbalance of the bacterial flora is how most infections happen. This is why only some of the kids at the playground get sick or how only a few of your colleagues at work catch the latest bug going around.

Next week we will talk about how we can be the ones that don’t get sick by boosting our immune system and nurturing a diverse bacterial ecosystem! 

Suggested Articles:

How we stop the rise of super bugs

Antibiotics and Resistance Fighters

CDC sounds alarm on deadly , untreatable super bugs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-raphael-kellman/the-war-on-bacteria—-who-are-we-really-harming_b_9253218.html

https://www.wired.com/2012/03/allergic-bacteria-disease/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ultimate-social-network-bacteria-protects-health/

Three Dangerous Food Additives to Avoid At All Costs

The food we eat is more processed than ever before. This is due to the way our food gets to our table and how our food industry has developed over the past 50 years. Additives are used mostly to preserve, stabilize, and manipulate our food, but they can also lead to ill effects on our health. Even major chain restaurants such as Panera are wising up and taking the time to rid their menu of additives.   Here are the top three on my list to avoid!

Hydrogenated Oils

Food manufacturers began using hydrogenated oils to increase the shelf life of products and to save on costs. When a liquid unsaturated fat is manipulated into solid form, hydrogen is needed to stabilize the oil. This is how trans fats are made. These hydrogenated oils increase your LDL Cholesterol and lower your HDL Cholesterol, a good way to create increased stress on your cardiovascular system.

Common Culprits of hydrogenated oils include:

·         Margarine

·         vegetable shortening

·         packaged snacks

·         Prepackaged baked good

·         Fried food

·         Coffee creamers

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid that the body uses and needs. However, synthetic manipulation and processing of glutamate produces a form that is not found in nature and can be a toxin when ingested. Common symptoms from people that ingest MSG included headaches, flushing, poor attention, and weakness in the arms and legs.

Common Culprits of MSG include:

·         Soy sauce

·         Chicken Flavoring

·         Seasonings

·         Soy Protein

·         Corn Starch

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is an extract from a red seaweed that is used as a thickener or emulsifier to improve the texture of ice cream, soy milk, cheese, and other processed foods. Research has shown that carrageenan causes inflammation and that’s a big problem considering inflammation is the underlying constant for major diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Common reactions to carrageenan include skin rashes and digestive disturbances.

Common Culprits of Carrageenan include:

·         Flavored milk

·         Cottage cheese

·         Cream

·         Ice Cream

·         Yogurt

·         Non-dairy milk replacements (such as soy, coconut, or almond)

·         Certain deli meats

Let these lists serve as a guide.  Cleaning up your diet can feel overwhelming at first until you learn to recognize these harmful additives.  Take a few minutes while you’re out at the grocery store to read the labels of the foods you purchase.  Replacing foods that contain these additives with products that don’t can make a big difference in how you feel and function day to day.