Get your Dose of D: Play in the Sun this Summer

Dr. Wayne and Angie spent the day Tuesday with family out on a rented pontoon boat(Thanks Baxter Boat Dock...love all you Pollards!). Aaah...4 hours out on beautiful Table Rock Lake, just what the Doctor ordered for Dr. Wayne!

Needless to say, we got a bit sun kissed. In other words, we got our dose of D. We didn't put on a whole lot of suncreen because we wanted to get all the benefits of the sun:

Supports cardiovascular health

Promotes optimal cholesterol levels

Enhances your muscle strength

Helps produce optimal blood pressure levels

Helps maintain a healthy immune system

Supports healthy kidney function

Promotes healthy teeth

Helps keep your bones strong and healthy

Please understand -- this list of important benefits represents a tiny fraction of the ways vitamin D keeps you healthy and fit. And, although you can get vitamin D from natural food sources, experts agree on one thing. Natural sunlight is by far the best way to get Vitamin D. (mercola.com)

Many people slather suncreen on before they even step outdoors. Stop!

As you may know, wearing a sunscreen on your uncovered skin blocks your body's production of vitamin D. In fact, sunscreens reduce vitamin D production by as much as 97.5 to 99.9%. And interfering with your body's production of vitamin D by 97.5 to 99.9% may have dire health consequences.

Dr. Mercola's advice on run-of-the-mill sunscreen that is in your beach bag:

Dump it in the trash now.
Yes, that's right. Toss your sunscreen in the trash if it contains any of these questionable chemicals:


Para amino benzoic acid...

Octyl salicyclate...

Avobenzone...

Oxybenzone...

Cinoxate...

Padimate O...

Dioxybenzone...

Phenylbenzimidazole...

Homosalate...

Sulisobenzone...

Menthyl anthranilate...

Trolamine salicyclate...

Octocrylene...

Don't worry, we've got your covered. We bought a boat-load of Mercola's natural suncreen to protect you when your sun exposure is extensive this summer. Come on in and grab some and save 15% and you'll save on shipping costs if you were to buy direct from mercola.com.

The Gift that Keeps Giving: Hydration

Dr. Wayne would like to reward a few committed patients a special gift as the temperatures start climbing into the 90s. This gift, proper hydration, is going to keeping giving to you:
Increased energy
Detoxification
Weight management
Mental clarity
Help with Hypertension

"Did you say Help with Hypertension?" you perk up.
Many people who are being prescribed blood pressure medication could avoid it if they just starting drinking adequate water. Here’s why. High blood pressure means the pressure against your artery walls is too high either when the heart is pumping (the top #) or when it’s at rest (the bottom #). Drinking water causes the arteries to vasodilate….this means they stretch open to make a bigger carrying vessel. If you have a 1” diameter tube, the pressure against the walls of that tube are less than if you are trying to carry the same amount of fluid (blood) down a tube with only a 1/2” diameter.

Feeling tired & depleted?
“But Dr….I drink lots of cold ice tea…doesn’t that count?” you inquire. No it doesn’t. Actually tea has caffeine in it which depletes your body of water making you require more than if you hadn’t had any tea at all. We call caffeinated beverages, “diuretics” because they make us lose water. Instead of reaching for ice tea, or a coke or even coffee, try grabbing a big drink of water. It will leave you feeling more energized without stressing out your adrenal glands (the gland which helps you adapt to stress) and causing your heart to race.

How much do I need?
The simple equation is ½ your body weight in oz. of water per day. For easy math, let’s say you weigh 200 pounds. Take your weight, divide by 2, and that’s the amount of water you need in oz. In this case it would be 100 oz. Yes that’s a lot and you’re probably not getting nearly enough. If you’re just starting out making friends with water, try 2/3 of this amount. (Take half your body weight, then multiply that # by 0.66). Believe me; your body will thank you.

We've got the equipment you need to stay hydrated. We have 22 oz. glass water bottles for sale. See www.lifefactory.com. Don't face the heat without one!

Stomach Acid: It's a Good Thing

Standard Treatment for Acid Reflux: A bad dream

One night I had a dream that terrified me. I woke up in a cold sweat not believing what had just happened. I was greatly relieved that it was just a dream. The dream was about a treatment that would relieve patients’ symptoms, but in so doing would actually worsen the root problem. The good part of my dream was that I was making money ‘hand over fist’ using this wrong treatment AND I was unaware of what was the root cause. Phew…what a nightmare.

Sound far out? It’s really not a nightmare. It happens all the time when people take acid reflux medications like Prilosec, Zantac, Prevacid, Pepsid, Nexium or other proton pump inhibitors.

First of all, let’s get one thing clear. The stomach must be acidic! Unlike the majority of our bodies which requires and prefers a more alkaline environment, our stomach pH needs to be around 2 on a 1-14 scale with 7 being neutral and 14 being the extreme alkaline. As we age and consume the SAD (Standard American Diet), our stomach becomes less acidic. The result is that we never fully digest our food, don’t kill parasites, break down proteins, or ultimately get the GOOD out of our food.


How reflux works

Our esophagus is the path which food takes from our mouths to our stomachs. A valve at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) must open for food to enter the stomach. It also must close to keep food and stomach acids from washing up into the esophagus. When it doesn’t close properly, stomach acids wash up into the esophagus and create heartburn (otherwise known as acid reflux or GERD -gastro-esophageal reflux disease). This valve is pH driven. It will not close properly unless the stomach is sufficiently acidic. An antacid doesn’t stop contents from washing up into the esophagus, it just makes everything less acidic so it doesn’t hurt!

How would you like a plumber to wipe up your kitchen floor without fixing the leaky pipe? He would proceed to tell you that as long as you repeated this mopping regimen once a day, everything would be fine!

Dr. Wayne’s Treatment Protocol

1. Correcting acidity usually involves taking a product such as Zypan from Standard Process (not just a food enzyme) for a period of time.

2. “Pulling down” a hiatal hernia when the stomach has actually started to invaginate up into the esophagus. (above the LES)

3. Nutritional counseling to avoid foods that lower stomach acidity like simple carbs, processed foods etc.

Do-it-Yourself Remedies

1. If you’re overweight, losing weight helps immensely. (Stay tuned for future posts on weight loss)

2. If you have issues at night after lying down, try elevating the head of your bed several inches.

3. Avoid eating right before you go to bed as this puts more pressure against the valve, forcing it open.

4. Refrain from drinking liquids with meals. We often tend to “wash down” food with liquid instead of properly chewing food. Also, too much liquid with meals dilutes the necessary stomach acids.

Get Cultured: Why you Should Take Probiotics

Constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel, celiac disease, you name it. The “ins & outs” of digesting, assimilating, and eliminating are a challenge and are 'a lot to absorb'(no pun intended) for even the best doctor. All kidding aside, these processes must be addressed in order for a patient to truly be healthy with an abundance of vim, vigor and vitality. After all, your digestive tract is the pipeline which nutrients and cellular building blocks must follow in order to promote health in your amazing body. Too often we get a ‘road closed’, a bridge out, or a drainage problem with one of these major conduits!

One of the easiest and most effective ways to greatly improve the entire digestive process is through the use of probiotics. These good bacteria have fancy names like lactobacillus, acidophilus, and bifidum to name just a few, and they have a remarkable role as ‘healthy bacteria’ that promote good flora in our intestines. Yes, our bodies need bacteria. The key is to have more good bacteria than bad. If this balance is upset, we get a condition known as ‘dysbiosis.’ Dysbiosis creates an environment for poor intestinal health and suppressed immunity. If you’ve suffered with the likes of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel, or even canker sores and acid reflux, chances are you would greatly benefit from probiotics.

"But I eat yogurt and get good bacteria from that," you say. Yes but no. While Dr. Wayne prefers whole foods as the primary source for vitamins and minerals, probiotics are a bit of an exception. He suggests not using yogurt or some other dairy source for your probiotic needs since the processes of pasteurization and homogenization alter the chemical makeup of these products and ultimately create a different set of digestive health concerns for patients including food sensitivities. Also the number of cultures of active bacteria are considerably lower in foods like yogurt than in the pill form. Dr. Wayne’s first choice for probiotics is Ortho Molecular Products, “Ortho Biotic.” In addition to lactobacillus and other bacteria traditionally found in probiotics, it also has saccharomyces boulardii which will kill clostridium difficile, a potentially lethal infection. His second choice does not contain s. boulardii but continues to be an effective product called “Probiotic Advantage” formulated through Dr. Williams. Both products are available through Tompkins Wellness Center.

Join us next week for more talk on your digestion!

Politics and Potassium: Do you Know the Facts?

The other day a patient told me an MD found that her potassium level was low and raised her potassium prescription level. I encouraged her to eat a banana every day since it’s often easier to assimilate the minerals and vitamins we require from foods rather than in pill or capsule form. She informed me that potatoes were higher in potassium than bananas were! I humbly told her that I had just learned something new and decided to research the mineral myself. Sure enough…she was right! 1 medium banana has 440 mg of potassium while 1 medium potato has782 mg of potassium! But to my great surprise…a different food altogether has much higher levels of potassium than either potatoes or bananas …and more than both added together! Avocadoes take first place at 1360 mg of potassium. Bring on the guacamole!

I wonder how many other people would have considered bananas as the food of choice for potassium? Or oranges for vitamin C? Or milk for calcium? By the way, 1 medium orange has only 50 mg of vitamin C while raw broccoli yields 132 mg of vitamin C! Need calcium? One cup of skim & 2% milk has only 300 mg of calcium, while a cup of cooked turnip greens has 492 mg. Topping the list is 3 oz. of Gruyere cheese at 860 mg of calcium. (These numbers were taken from tables in Medical Nutrition by Marz, copyright 1999)

Our perception of what’s healthy is so often skewed by trendy advertising campaigns such as, “Drink milk…strong bones,” Even political persuasions that place grains at the bottom of our food pyramid.

Case in point. My wife and I were working out at the gym the other day at lunch and noticed that the corn growers are fighting back to all the negative exposure that has resulted from research on the ill effects of high-fructose corn syrup. They are fighting back with glossy commercials to make it not seem so bad. Take a look:
http://www.cornsugar.com/video-gallery/


Here’s the lesson: take time to read blogs like this, sites we are linked to, and reliable sources on nutrition to get the undiluted truth. Ask yourself the question, “who wrote this and what’s their motivation?” Becoming a critical reader and thinker doesn’t mean you’re a critical person, it just means that you don’t swallow the first bait that’s thrown your way.

The Twisted Sisters: The Female Hormone Saga

Once upon a time there were two sisters who had to live together and get along. One of the sisters was very bossy and had a domineering nature. Her name was ‘Estrogen’. The other sister was quiet and submissive named ‘Progesterone’. Estrogen tried to run the show and didn’t know her boundaries. Unfortunately, she had all the connections and received a lot of help and support from outside the house. She hooked up with her evil friends like Toxin, Stress, & Pollution. With supervision, Estrogen really shined, but left alone, she made poor choices in choosing her friends which upset the restful order in the home.

Progesterone, on the other hand, was pretty smart, but she needed lots of help. When Estrogen and her evil friends ruled the roost, she tended to shut down and not stand her ground. However; she knew what it took to create an environment that was inviting and safe for new little inhabitants in the house. With some support from her friends, Rest, Nutrition, & Purification, she harmonized marvelously and stood her ground with her often dominant sibling.

Now you’ve probably figured out this house is your body and the story is not a fairy tale from the past. It is present day reality and describes a condition commonly known as ‘estrogen dominance’ when estrogen has the upper hand. Estrogen’s friends are what are known as xenoestrogens or false estrogens. They are toxins, food dyes, preservatives and noxious chemicals. They are very good imitators of actual estrogen and easily latch on to its receptor sites. The result is hormone imbalance and a dominance of estrogen in the body.
Keeping a balance between estrogen and progesterone are critical for fertility and female health in general. Read the following lists and decide which category you fit into:


Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

*Infertility
*Painful, irregular menstrual cycles,
*Endometriosis
*Polycystic ovarian syndrome
*Fibrocystic Breast Disease
*PMS
*Fatigue
*Hot flashes
*Foggy thinking…just to name a few


Results of Hormone Balance:

*Fertility
*Regular menstrual cycles
*Sufficient energy levels
*Normal sleep patterns
*Smooth transition into menopause
*Absence of unwanted conditions/diseases such as endometriosis, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), fibrocystic breast disease etc.
*Clear-headed thinking


Hopefully your body is in a state of balance. All too often; however, we see a prevalence of estrogen dominance. Read on to see how balance can be restored in your body.

Dr. Wayne’s protocol for restoring hormone balance

1. Get a clear picture of your hormone health. Visit with a Natural Women’s Health Practitioner you trust to order a female hormone panel which is customized to your stage of life. ( See special offer at the end of this article to get started)

2. Commence recommended female hormone balancing program which usually includes:
-Specific herb and supplement protocols
-Detoxification and lifestyle modification
-Possible adjunctive therapies such as chiropractic & acupuncture
-Labs to determine initial baseline and progress

Mother’s Day Special Offer
25% off: Initial Female Health Panel
Good through May 18, 2011

The Best Nest: A Loving Note about Fertility

What does a chiropractor/acupuncturist have to do with fertility? Well, quite a bit, actually. Here's just a few things that can happen when you are treated with the natural methods Dr. Wayne employs:

- Improved nerve and blood flow to the reproductive organs with pelvic and pubic bone alignment.

- Nutritional healing with customized supplementation and addressing food sensitivities from reproductive complications, such as Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Fibroid Tumors, etc. (Yes, your body can heal itself from these if given the right help.)

- A clear picture of your personal hormone health with comprehensive labs.

- Balanced hormones and stress reduction with acupuncture.

http://www.babycenter.com/404_can-acupuncture-boost-my-fertility_1403253.bc

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/253484/9/Couples-with-fertility-problems-turn-to-acupuncture


The medical community advocates that IVF is the best route to go for infertile couples. Just know that you have choices. You can go this route, which has around a 55% success rate with the help of some pretty strong drugs. Or you can be kind to your body and participate in natural treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional guidance. Dr. Wayne learned from one of the best - Dr. Angela Hywood, ND. Pay a visit to Dr. Angela Hywood, ND and check out her 89% success rate chart.

Just have to share a testimonial from one of our former employees. She volunteered this. THANKS, Cindy. We share in your joy! *Sniff*

"I met Dr. Wayne 3 years ago when I had an opportunity to work in his office. For 10 years prior to that, my husband and I had been trying to conceive with no success, after 6 miscarriages and turning 41 our chances were getting slimmer to carry a child and decided to stop trying. When I came to work one day having menstrual cramps, Dr. Wayne suggested an adjustment called a Uterine Lift,not only did this relieve my cramps but a month later I became pregnant and was able to carry my son full term. I had previously seen 2 infertility specialist and had a number of expensive test and treatments that were very draining on my body physically and mentally. I truly feel that God sent me to Dr. Wayne and his wife Angie, with his treatment and her nutritional education, my husband and I were able to have our miracle. Ronnie is 2 years old now and the light of our life. Thank you so much Dr Wayne and Angie."