Sleep and weight are like a double edge sword. Less sleep will cause you to gain weight and gaining weight will cause you to sleep less. Since everyone wants to get a better night sleep, we need to cut those tight bonds so that our overall health and mental state to improve.
Less Sleep= More Weight
With our busy fast-paced lives, we tend to take on more commitments than we want. As well as, being stressed all the time. This lifestyle is not good for our bodies when we want to have a better lifestyle. In our previous article, lack of sleep can lead to chronic illness and loss of productivity. Not even that, Japan hold the number one spot of less sleep with 5 hours and less; while the U.S. holds the number two spot with 6 hours and less.
So, when we don�t get enough sleep due to causative factors, two major hormones in our body are affected and not in a good way either. It is our pituitary glands and our hormonal cortisol that get affected when we don�t get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. Our pituitary glands are the master controller to all our hormones and are sensitive when we don�t get enough sleep. When we actually get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep, our pituitary glands release our growth and thyroid hormones as well as suppressing the stress hormone cortisol.
But in today�s society, according to the National Sleep Foundation, the average American sleeps only about seven hours per night-while other sleep five to six hours per night on a regular basis. With these studies, our body will be more or less in a constant state of partial sleep deprivation. Or if you have an anxious mind or have mental health issues, partial sleep deprivation can lead to chronic sleep deprivation. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to elevated cortisol in the evening, a crucial time for the levels should be diminishing.
Cortisol Levels
When our cortisol levels get too high, we can develop insulin resistance, thus leading to weight gain and the high risk for type 2 diabetes. Chronic sleep deprivation can also change your growth hormone release. Instead of sending out one large pulse of growth hormones as soon as our heads hit the pillow, our bodies send out two small pulses, one before we go to bed and one after, thus leading us to have sleep deprivation. The one large pulse is responsible for the exposure of our tissues and reducing our glucose tolerance.
When we don�t get enough sleep throughout the day, the fat cells can�t handle the insulin in our bodies and will drop as much as 30 percent. When our cells resist insulin in our bodies, our blood sugar goes up and the excess sugar we produce is stored in our bodies as fat. This is dangerous to our health because not only we will gain the weight, but we will be at the risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. According to the CDC, 11.1 percent, adults who snooze less than 7 hours per night have type 2 diabetes, while 8.6 percent of adults who snooze more than 7 hours per night may already have the disease.
Late Night Munchies
One study stated that, people who snooze less tend to be heavier than people who sleep the recommended amount. The study looked at the younger age group and discovered that short sleep duration appears independently associated with weight gain. And the CDC also stated, 33 percent of adults who snooze less than 7 hours are obese, while 26.5 percent of adults who sleep more than 7 hours are obese as well. But the question still remains, why do we gain more weight when we snooze less?
The answer is that our hormones are the ones that get affected the most when we don�t get enough sleep. Hence why we get the late-night munchies. When we are supposed to get our full 8 hours of sleep, our bodies release hormone leptin, which regulates how satiated we feel, and releases hormone ghrelin, which stimulates our appetite. So, when our hormone leptins go down and ghrelins go up, our minds think that we are very hungry and that we need to get up to satisfy that hunger with carbohydrates, thus making us loose those few extra minutes of sleep. So, it�s not your willpower that is making you wake up to eat at around 2 a.m., it is your lack of sleep that is causing the imbalance in your body.
More Weight= Less Sleep
Like we stated in the beginning, sleep and weight are like a double edge sword. Being overweight or obese can keep you from getting enough sleep as well. There are some weight-related issues like, sleep apnea, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and arthritis that can be an issue from getting those recommended snoozes.
Sleep apnea is very common for obese or overweight adults. When we have sleep apnea, our airways collapse or is blocked when we snooze. Our breathing gets very shallow or even stop while you sleep and can last for a few seconds to a couple of minutes or even longer.
We do wake up with a choking noise or snort then we go back to sleep, but when it�s the day time we are at risk for daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea can be treated with breathing devices but major lifestyle changes can help you lose this medical condition.
When you are suffering from COPD, you will notice a shortness of breath and have more trouble sleeping. People with COPD may be overweight or obese can actually exercise to combat this condition. However, you must consult with your doctor if you want to change your lifestyle and fix this condition.
Painful, arthritic joints can keep you up at night. Granted that there are anti-inflammatory and pain medication that may help you sleep; but if you are overweight or obese taking those medications, they will add on more problems like digestive discomforts or a dependence.
Conclusion
Here at Injury Medical Clinic, we do consult with our patients about the importance of exercising and eating healthy to assist whatever ailments they may have. Whether it is stress or medical conditions, we strive to make our patients feel good.
In conclusion, sleep is highly important and should be on the top of the list for a better lifestyle as well as placing weight in second. Granted with our busy work schedules, and fast-pace lifestyles, we ignore sleep and we gain the weight. If you have any sleep conditions like COPD or sleep apnea, please seek professional help to get it under control. But if you change your lifestyle a little bit by eating right, focusing on mental health, exercising, and sleeping at the appropriate times; not only your mood changes but your body will heal tremendously and you will feel like you can conquer the world.
The Most Effective Chiropractor | El Paso, Tx (2019)
Neck pain and back pain are common symptoms which can develop because of sports accidents, automobile crash injuries, and a variety of other wellness issues. Painful symptoms can ultimately impact an individual’s daily physical activities, tremendously affecting their well-being. Patients clarify their neck pain and spine pain symptoms improved after they visited Dr. Alex Jimenez. Chiropractic care focuses on the diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of a variety of injuries and/or aggravated conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system. Patients highly recommend Dr. Alex Jimenez and his team as the non-surgical alternative for neck pain and spine pain related to sports injuries, auto accident injuries, and other health problems towards pain relief.
NCBI Resources
Chiropractic can help you sleep. In fact, one-third of people who undergo chiropractic adjustment report sleeping better immediately, according to the�National Sleep Foundation. The benefits are not just for adults � 40 percent of infants slept better after just one chiropractic session. That is good news, considering one-fourth of babies experience sleep problems and when babies don�t sleep, nobody else in the house sleeps either!
The microbiome is a crucial part of the body and how effectively it functions.� The microbiome plays a significant role in the immune system, the digestion of food, how the body metabolizes drugs, detoxification, vitamin production, as well as protection from foreign innovators. However, just like many other parts of the human body, it is greatly influenced by stress, environmental factors, and sleep which can ultimately impact intestinal permeability.
Ideally, the best functioning microbiome is diversified. The more diversity a microbiome has, the more stable and resilient to antibiotics it becomes. In addition to this, a diversified microbiome also has stronger pathogen resistance.
The microbiome is filled with many different bacteria strains that all play essential roles in keeping the gut healthy and controlling intestinal permeability.
Bacillus is a spore-forming bacteria whose major role is the production of B and K2 vitamins in the gut.
Clostridia compromise about 10-50% of the microbiome and are anaerobes that are not found in probiotics. These thrive on high fiber and polyphenols.
Akkermansia makes up 1-3% of the microbiome and helps to reduce inflammation and protect against inflammatory bowel disease.
Lipopolysaccharides are bound on gram negatives residing in the gut and protecting the bacteria from bile salts. (Lipopolysaccharides are normal in the gut, but they are not normal in the bloodstream)
The main reason it is important to have a diversified and healthy gut is to avoid problems with intestinal permeability or “leaky gut syndrome”.� A leaky gut refers to how easily substances that are not fully digested pass through the intestinal wall. This occurs when the tight junctions of the walls become loose, allowing the gut to be more permeable.� This is how bacteria and toxins pass from the gut into the bloodstream, causing inflammation and other autoimmune diseases.
Keys to a healthy gut:
Eat more organic fruits, vegetables, and fermented food
Try to limit the amount of food that is boiled as boiled foods contain fewer polyphenols
�Supplements such as Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Omega 3’s
Detox: sauna, yoga, meditation, and regular exercise
Prebiotics and Probiotics
It is important to remember that the best thing for a healthy gut is diet. Suppliments and pills can help, but in the long run, a diet is the most important and influenctial factor to the gut. A gut healthy diet will aslo help to maximize liver detoxifaction. If you do not know where to begin, I recommend getting a gut zoomer blood test and consulting with a doctor about what probiotics and diet are best for you. – Kenna Vaughn, Health Coach�
Now and days, mostly everyone has a gluten sensitivity or a gluten allergen in their bodies. This could happen to anyone whenever they are eating gluten-contained food or products and suddenly feel unwell or their gut acts differently throughout the day. Or they actually get tested by their physicians and realizes that they have celiac disease. In the last article and the previous one after that, we talked about the 8 products that have hidden gluten in them; as well as the introduction of the wheat zoomer we use for our patients.
Here at Injury Medical Clinic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez consults with our patients about certain zoomers that can actually aid the patient�s body. In this article, we review the factors that affect test results such as medication and fasting after taking the Wheat Zoomer, as well as, focusing heavily on the mechanism of the intestinal permeability, the structure and function of the epithelium. We also focus about important immunomodulatory metabolites, epithelial cell types and the roles in the epithelial barrier.
Intestinal Permeability
Let�s start with the mechanisms of intestinal permeability. The main purpose of the intestinal epithelium is to keep the good things in and the bad things out. While the system is complex and ever changing, it still sends out a message to the host and maintain balance both physical and biochemical as a protective barrier.� There is an abundance of antigen sampling to regulates the flow of nutrients in the host�s body, as well as, keeping an eye on the body by the mucosal immune system. Not only that, if you have an injury or an acute inflammation, the intestinal epithelium will support tissue repair by coordinating with microbiota.
Another thing that the epithelium does is that it responds to the microbial signals that will make our bodies tolerate any continuous exposure to commensal bacteria. But we do want to keep the good bacteria in our bodies but get rid of the bad bacteria, so our bodies feel good. The intestinal epithelium also convey microbial signals to the mucosal immune cells, while promoting a coordinating immune response to battle against commensal bacteria and the enteric pathogens, since these two microsomes should not be in places they are not allowed in.
While the epithelium is battling with the bad bacteria in our system, it also regulates the B and T cell response to either, control inflammation, squash inflammation, or cause inflammation on the intestinal barrier, depending on the situation. Plus the epithelium locally regulates the immune response at the intestinal barrier by influencing innate and adaptive immune responses to the body�s intestines.
However, if there is something disrupting the intestines, like chronic inflammation or leaky gut; the epithelium barrier can be compromised. In order for us to fix a leaky gut, we must learn what is causing the inflammation in the first place. The epithelium is home to many microbes, immune cells and can determined if we need the immune response on any harsh exposure. If we can learn more about these mechanisms, then we can calm down the inflammation by resetting it back to its calm, natural state.
But the immune cells in our intestinal epithelium can also cause disruption on our gut by leaking out of the protective barriers and attacking the pathogens anywhere in our system. So epithelial permeability can not only cause inflammation but prevent it in our intestines, which is both good and bad depending on the situation.
Dr. Alexander Jimenez consults with our patients with natural alternatives of healing inflammation in their gastral intestines.� If he can find the sources of what causes the inflammations in your gut, then he can work with aiding them with functional medicines while informing you what they can do to heal your gut.
Now let�s looks at the intestines and the many microsomes that they contain. Here are some microsomes we will be discussing as well as what is their key roles in the intestines; so we can figure out how to prevent a leaky gut.
�
The Mucosa
This is in both the small intestines and the large intestines and are completely different. The small intestines has one mucus layer and has limited microbes inside it�s mucosa, while the large intestines has an attached inner mucosa and a loose outer mucosa. The mucosa plays an important role in the intestines because it can tell �Friend� from �Foe� in the immune system.
Important Tight Junction Proteins
The tight junction is an important function in the intestinal epithelium as it is one of the barriers that separates what comes in and what comes out in our gut.
Actin: Are the structure and functions of tight junctions. But they constantly disassemble and reassemble actin filaments if they are anti-Actins. It is controlling the tight junctions cells as it acts like a contractable belt by pulling or contracting the junctions in the intestinal cells.
Zonulin: They are the �gatekeeper� proteins that are responsible for opening or closing the tight junctions. Zonulin acts the mortar of the intestines and is associated when gluten sensitivity is present, if there are low counts of zonulin thus causing inflammation.
LPS(Lipopolysaccharide): These sent out a signal to the tight junction permeability as they find signs of bacterial endotoxin by translocating across the epithelial barrier and entering circulation. LPS is made up of gram negative bacteria in the GI tract. LPS outside the epithelial cell wall and reacts to fatty acids, which can lead to obesity for individuals.
Cell Receptors Involved in the Barrier Integrity
These cells are protectors of the epithelial barrier walls as they strengthen the immune intolerance and digestive tract, as well as causing or preventing inflammation when necessary.
G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs): GPCRs are the main players of the immune system in the epithelial system. A wide variety of substances can bind with GPCRs depending what the substances are. Short chain fatty acids, omega-3�s and any food that we eat is fermented by our gut and stimulate repair on the epithelial barrier. However if there is a consumption of low or zero-fiber in our diet, the food will not be fermented and causes inflammation.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors (AhRs): AhRs interact with a range of aromatic hydrocarbons like food and microbes both in and out of the gut. These receptors respond strongly to compounds found in cruciferous vegetables, thus preventing a heighten immune reaction and reducing epithelial damage as well as promoting functioning intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs).
But if we are not eating enough cruciferous vegetables, the IELs are being produced less, the epithelial barrier is compromised and will cause inflammation.
Bile Acid Receptors (BARs): BARs recognize primary and secondary bile acid. The primary bile acids comes from the liver and then transformed into secondary bile acids by microbes. BARs play an important role in in metabolic regulation, however if there is suppression of bile in the GI tract; then the intestinal barrier is more susceptible to destruction. However, if you are producing a low bile count or obstructed bile flow, it can be the result of the microbes translocating to the small intestines and causing mucosal inflammation, SIBO and leaky gut.
Epithelial Cells Involved in the Barrier Integrity
These cells are very important to the intestinal epithelial barrier as they can either protect the barrier walls or can lead them to their demised.
Dendritic cells: Dendritic cells are presenting antigen cells that are found the epithelial layer. These cells sample and present antigens it to Tcells, thus activating immune response. Dendritic cells help the Tcells tell the difference between self and non-self because if we eat commonly consumed foods or foreign antigens are present, we don�t want our immune system to rise up�most of the times.
Goblet cells: Goblet cells are very important of the epithelial barrier because they provide the mucus barrier that coats and protects the intestinal walls. Without this mucus barrier, we will sick and any harmful bacteria will come in and out of the intestinal barriers.
Enteroendocrine cells: Enteroendocrine cells host receptors and produce a wide range of hormones, enzymes and neurotransmitters that affect or control our appetite, digestive functions, motility and interacts with microbial communities. However, these cells can either be beneficial or not if the host diet is in played.
M cells: Microfold cells or M cells are located over the Peyer�s patches and they constantly sample outside the intestinal epithelial barriers for any microbes that pose a threat. They also present antigens from the outside to the dendritic cells to activate the Tcell response, as well as consuming the antigen by neutralizing it. Without the M cells, we risk of losing tolerance to microbes, thus causing inflammation on our intestinal barriers.
Conclusion
In total, we now have a deeper knowledge of our gut system as well as taking an in depth look on what our intestinal gut goes through to stop inflammation. In order to stop leaky gut, we must change our eating habits gradually when we want a healthier life. Dr. Alexander Jimenez does discuss to our patients the importance of protecting our gut with functional medicine as well as, encouraging our patients to take that first step into a healthy lifestyle.
Ah� the bathroom, nature�s thinking room. The one place where we create many thoughts that turn into ideas, a place to read, and the place where we want peace and quiet. Known as many different names,� the bathroom is the one place where we flush out our systems after consuming quantities of food. However, did you know that the bile inside your body plays a huge important role in our system?
Bile is a vital body fluid that absorbs nutrients in our small intestines and flushes the toxins out of the liver. Bile continuously is being produced in the liver and then stored in the gallbladder. It also works as a signal molecule for both inside and outside the liver as well. When the liver and bile is disruptive, it can cause many problems for the body.
TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) stated that the liver is known as the �master organ� and it is the causative factor in many of the body�s ailments. When there are major imbalances on our bodies, it causes liver dysfunction. In TCM, the liver actually helps with detoxification; enzyme, hormone, and bile production, immune cell activation and stores vitamins and iron.
How Does the Liver Work?
The liver�s main job is to get rid of bile in our internal system. Not only that but the liver plays an important role by distributing nutrients by converting those nutrients into metabolizing energy. As well as storing vitamins and minerals for later use.
However, in today�s fast-paced society, the liver can�t perform right as we don�t give the liver it�s essential nutrients that it needs to function. Which causes blockage in the gallbladder, diseases, and digestive issues.
The Importance of Bile
As stated, bile has many functions that play an important part in the liver. Bile actually lubricates our small intestines and stool for easy disposal. But when there is less lubrication in our small intestines and stool, it can lead to constipation and too much lubrication can lead to diarrhea.
There is also a chance of blockage in bile where it can increase the accumulation of toxins in our body which creates oxidative stress and back up our waste matter. When we eat too much food and it�s still in our intestines, it will ferment and causes a leaky gut as toxic gasses penetrate the intestinal lining.
Another function is that the bile salts break down and processes fats that are essential for weight loss. Bile can also transport toxins out of our liver to feces while keeping everything free-flowing. When there isn�t enough bile being produced, cholesterol stones are forming.
Vitamins like, vitamin A, D, E and K can break down the excess fat in the body if there is an adequate amount of bile. But if patients had gallbladder surgery must be taken to account that they don�t have a bile storage system, and must manage their bile production.
Liver Functions for Hormonal Balance
Did you know that the liver and thyroid have a synergistic relationship? That�s because the T4 is converted to T3 for the liver. It turns out that the T3 is more potent in the thyroid hormone and is metabolized from iodine. When a patient has a thyroid problem, it could actually be the result of a bile or liver malfunction.
When our mood and mental state is imbalanced, it can be the results of a sick or fatty liver. Due to the fact that the liver influencing on our hormones. Because our mental state and our moods correlate to our hormones, it is important to keep the liver healthy but also finding a good place in our state of mind to make sure that we keep our liver healthy as well.
Signs of Liver Imbalance
There are many symptoms that can cause the liver to be imbalanced and can contribute to a low bile count:
Now that we understand what symptoms that causes our liver to be imbalanced, here are 5 ways to make sure that you are protecting your liver and producing a healthy amount of bile.
Removing Causative Factors
The first and foremost factor in protecting your liver is to get rid of the causative factors that are harming your liver. Things like an excessive amount of lactate in coffee, sugars, alcohol, and processed foods can disrupt your liver�s health. It�s ok to enjoy those things sparsely but, if you are trying to maintain a healthy liver, it�s best to ease up on the consumption of those lactate factors as much as possible.
Eating Liver Supportive Foods
There are many foods that actually help support the liver. Grapefruit, blueberries, cranberries, prickly pears, and bitter greens are just some of the foods that can actually help your liver and bile production. We here at Injury Medical Clinic, always inform our patients the importance of whole nutritious food to heal and repair what ailments in our patient�s bodies.
Practicing Deep Breathing Exercise
Practicing deep breathing exercises have been known to lower stress and diaphragmatic breathing exercises is no exception. Since the liver is positioned below the diaphragm, when we do any deep breathing exercises; these motions actually massages our liver and stimulate bile production. Hence why singers do these exercises when they are getting ready to perform. They are massaging their liver without even knowing it.
Intermittent Fasting
Since we now know that bile is continuously being produced in the liver and being stored into the gallbladder when we are not eating, intermittent fasting is a good way to increase the bile production in the gallbladder. Plus it has been known for weight loss and beneficial for the body to heal while getting rid of the junk in our cells.
Stress Less
Stress is one of the huge factors that can either cause our body to improve our immune system or causes the body to chronic illness. Emotional stress is known to cause a huge burden to our organs because it is tied to our hormones. When we get emotionally stressed, our liver cannot get rid of the excess toxins and hormones.� So we have to find ways to de-stressed ourselves so we won�t hurt our organs, especially the liver.
Conclusion
So when it comes to our liver, we must make sure that the bile that we are producing is turning into energy all the way to feces. So, when we have to go to the bathroom we can let out the toxins naturally without any complications. If we can lower the factors that are causing us to have an inadequate bowel movements, then we can improve our body�s ability to detoxify.
NCBI Resources
Western diets, high in sugar and fat, cause liver inflammation, especially in males, according to a new animal study in�The American Journal of Pathology. Inflammation was most pronounced in males that lacked farnesoid x receptor (FXR), a bile acid receptor.
One of the most recognized running injuries is runner�s knee. However, runner�s knee is not an injury but a result of different injuries. Running can hurt when improper mechanics, inadequate shoes, and cheap over the counter insoles are being used. It can lead to:
Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendonitis
Medial tibial stress syndrome
Metatarsalgia
Runner�s knee
Runner�s knee is not an actual injury in of itself
It�s a broad description of knee pain caused by other knee injuries, which include:
Iliotibial band syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)
Chondromalacia patella
This can keep runners sidelined, annually.
Runner�s knee is caused by usually one of two things: poor biomechanics and overuse.
Feet are the foundation of the body and if not taken care of, pain
Feet are 99% normal at birth.
Then life takes over and issues begin to arise.
8% develop foot conditions, then�by age 5 that number jumps to 41% and 80%� at twenty.
By forty pretty much everyone has a foot condition or some type of foot pain from work and activity.
These foot issues then begin to set up problems for the rest of the body, especially the generalized condition of back pain or leg/knee/hip problems.
Being able to foresee and realize a potential problem with the feet can PREVENT other injuries from beginning to present themselves and dodge any issues that can affect health and lifestyle.
Runners who are able to avoid injury are those that land the lightest, much like a cat and sustain the lowest level of impact.
Runners think about landing softly and adjust their stride so they land closer to the midfoot.
However, it’s easier said than done.
Most runners tend to be heel-strikers
Runners with excessive pronation that try to change to a forefoot strike pattern are more prone to inner foot and ankle injuries,
And runners with high arches that try to change to a forefoot strike pattern end up with sprained ankles and metatarsal fractures.
Runners try to treat the pain with stretches or exercises that target the area, but the source of the pain is actually elsewhere and they don’t realize it and are treating the wrong area.
A lot of the time the source of the imbalance comes from the feet.
An overlooked option for reducing knee injury and pain is the use of custom orthotics.
Custom orthotics align and support the foot/ankle in a more normal physiologic position for weight-bearing, which prevents dysfunction and improves the function of the body as a whole.
What they do is:
Make a symmetrical foundation that blocks pronation and supports supination
Give the heels shock absorption
Stops serial stress throughout the body
Enhances re-educating muscle-memory
Custom-made orthotics help reduce the impact of heel strikes when running or walking.
Shock absorption is a must when there is
Instability
Chronic degeneration
Inflammatory arthritis
Orthotics that are designed specifically to cushion the impact load from running can reduce pain triggers throughout the body.
Avoiding knee injuries
When orthotic care is indicated, custom-made functional orthotics can help reduce pain.
Look for orthotics that support the running gait and
Absorb shock at heel-strike
Support mid-stance
Provide propulsion at toe-off
Excessive Foot Pronation can Affect *FOOT POSTURE & MOBILITY* | El Paso, TX (2019)
The following video discusses how excessive foot pronation can ultimately have an effect on foot posture and mobility. Several things can impact foot posture and mobility, such as excessive foot pronation. Excessive foot pronation is most widespread among the overall populace, therefore, it’s regarded as one of the most frequent factors for abnormal foot posture and mobility, which can lead to a variety of health issues like overuse injuries. Excessive foot pronation and supination can ultimately impact general health and wellness.
What’s Afoot
Misalignment can be caused by many common runners� experiences including running on the same type of surface every day, running on a slanted surface such as a beach or replacing running shoes too infrequently. As a runner, you can work to vary your running surfaces and keep a better watch on your shoes, but your chiropractor will let you know if your body is in need of more balance.
NCBI Resources
If you are an active amateur or a competitive runner, using the services of a chiropractor can make a vast change in your overall health, reduce your pain from injuries and improve your alignment for a more effective run. Runners may not even realize that the tension they feel is the beginning of pain caused by being out of balance until it is adjusted. Chiropractic adjustments are often part and parcel of a runner�s training program to strengthen and improve performance. They can also help�recover from pregnancy�and postpartum bodily changes.
According to research studies, transcranial infrared laser stimulation, as well as other types of transcranial lasers, utilized on frontal cortex functions can improve sustained attention and working memory, among other brain functions. Transcranial laser stimulation with low-power density (mW/cm2) and high-energy density (J/cm2) monochromatic light in the near-infrared wavelengths regulates and maintains brain functions and may promote neurotherapeutic effects in a non-destructive and non-thermal manner. Researchers determined through the first controlled research study that transcranial laser stimulation improves human cognitive and emotional brain functions. �
In the field of low-level light/laser therapy or LLLT, developing a model to demonstrate how luminous energy from red-to-near-infrared wavelengths improves bioenergetics has been in development for the last 40 years. Previous LLLT research studies have demonstrated historical a variety of developments, principles and applications on the subject matter. The purpose of the following article is to demonstrate an update on LLLT’s neurochemical mechanisms supporting transcranial laser stimulation for cognitive-enhancing functions. We will describe the effect of LLLT on brain bioenergetics, briefly discussing its bioavailability and dose-response, and its effects on cognitive brain function. Although our focus is on prefrontal-related cognitive functions, LLLT should be able to improve other brain functions. By way of instance, stimulating different brain regions affect different functions associated with sensory and motor systems. �
Transcranial Lasers on Brain Bioenergetics
Near-infrared lasers and light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, affect brain function according to bioenergetics, a mechanism which is fundamentally different than other brain stimulation methods and techniques, such as electric and magnetic stimulation. LLLT has been demonstrated to regulate and maintain the function of neurons in cell cultures, and brain function in animals as well as cognitive and emotional functions in patients and health issues. Photoneuromodulation is associated with the absorption of photons by certain molecules in neurons which activate bioenergetic signaling pathways after being exposed to red-to-near-infrared light. The 600mm to 1150 nm wavelengths provide improved tissue penetration by photons because light is scattered at lower wavelengths and absorbed by water at higher wavelengths. Over 25 years ago, it was demonstrated that molecules which absorb LLLT wavelengths are part of the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme cytochrome oxidase in different oxidation states. Moreover, for red-to-near-infrared light, the main molecular photoacceptor of photon energy is cytochrome oxidase, also known as cytochrome c oxidase or cytochrome a-a3. �
Furthermore, photon energy absorption by cytochrome oxidase is the main neurochemical mechanism of action of LLLT in neurons. The more the enzymatic activity of cytochrome oxidase increases, the more metabolic energy which is developed through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. LLLT provides the brain with metabolic energy in an analogous manner to the conversion of nutrients into metabolic energy with the utilization of light instead of nutrients developing the source for ATP-based metabolic energy. If an effective near-infrared light energy dose is provided, it stimulates brain ATP production and blood flow, ultimately fueling ATP-dependent membrane ion pumps, promoting greater membrane stability and resistance to depolarization, which has been demonstrated to transiently reduce neuronal excitability. Electromagnetic stimulation also directly affects the electrical excitability of neurons, as demonstrated in research studies. �
A long-lasting effect is provided by LLLT’s up-regulating the amount of cytochrome oxidase, which improved neuronal capacity for metabolic energy production which can be utilized to improve cognitive brain functions. In mice and rats, memory has been demonstrated to improve by LLLT and by methylene blue, a drug, which at low doses, provides electrons to cytochrome oxidase. Near-infrared light stimulates mitochondrial respiration by providing photons to cytochrome oxidase because cytochrome oxidase mainly accepts photons from red-to-near-infrared light in neurons. By stimulating cytochrome oxidase activity, transcranial LLLT promotes post-stimulation up-regulation of the amount of cytochrome oxidase in brain mitochondria. LLLT may also improve the conversion of luminous energy into metabolic energy during light exposure as well as the up-regulation of the mitochondrial enzymatic machinery to develop more energy after light exposure. �
Bioavailability and Hormetic Dose-Response by Transcranial Lasers
The most numerous metalloprotein found in nerve tissue is cytochrome oxidase and its absorption wavelengths are often associated with its enzymatic activity and ATP production. Increased LLLT bioavailability to the brain in vivo has been demonstrated in a variety of research studies by exposing brain cytochrome oxidase activity transcranially, resulting in improved extinction memory retention in healthy rats and improved visual discrimination in rats with impaired retinal mitochondrial function. Other LLLT research studies utilized a variety of wavelengths (633�1064 nm), daily doses (1�60 J/cm2), fractionation sessions (1�6), and power densities (2�250 mW/cm2) which ultimately characterized effective LLLT parameters for both rats and humans. �
By way of instance, researchers evaluated in rats the effects of different LLLT doses in vivo on brain cytochrome oxidase activity, at either 10.9, 21.6, 32.9 J/cm2, or no LLLT. Treatments were utilized for 20, 40, and 60 min through four 660-nm LED arrays with a power density of 9 mW/cm2. One day after the LLLT session, the brains of the rats were extracted, frozen, sectioned, and processed for cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. A 10.9 J/cm2 dose increased cytochrome oxidase activity by 13.6 percent. A 21.6 J/cm2 dose developed a 10.3 percent increase. A non-significant cytochrome oxidase increase of 3 percent was found after the highest 32.9 J/cm2 dose. Responses of brain cytochrome oxidase to LLLT in vivo were characterized by hormesis, with a low dose being stimulatory while higher doses were less effective. �
The first demonstration that LLLT increased oxygen consumption in the rat prefrontal cortex in vivo was demonstrated by another research study. Oxygen concentration in the cortex of rats was measured utilizing fluorescence-quenching during LLLT at 9 mW/cm2 and 660 nm. LLLT promoted a dose-dependent increase in oxygen consumption of 5 percent after 1 J/cm2 and 16 percent after 5 J/cm2. Because oxygen is utilized to develop water within mitochondria in a response developed by cytochrome oxidase, more cytochrome oxidase activity should promote more oxygen consumption. �
LLLT can also offer several benefits over other types of stimulation because LLLT non-invasively targets cytochrome oxidase, a fundamental enzyme utilized for energy production, with promoted expression associated with energy increase. LLLT is mechanistically specific and non-invasive while transcranial magnetic stimulation may be non-specific, prolonged forehead electrical stimulation may increase muscle spasms and deep brain or vagus nerve stimulations are invasive. �
Transcranial Lasers on Cognitive and Emotional Functions
LLLT through commercial low-power sources, such as FDA-cleared laser diodes and LEDs, is a highly promising, affordable, non-pharmacological alternative treatment option for improving cognitive brain function. LLLT offers safe doses of light energy which regulate and maintain neuronal functions, however, these are low enough to not damage the brain. In 2002, the FDA approved LLLT for pain relief in cases of head and neck pain, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. LLLT has been utilized non-invasively in humans after ischemic stroke to improve neurological functions. It also improved recovery and ultimately reduced fatigue after exercise. One LLLT stimulation session to the forehead, as demonstrated in another research study, developed a considerable antidepressant effect in patients with depression. No adverse side effects were found either immediately nor at 2 or 4 weeks after LLLT. Therefore, LLLT treatments have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in humans. Although LLLT has been determined to be safe and it received FDA approval to be utilized for pain treatment, transcranial lasers for the augmentation of cognitive brain function should be limited for further research studies until further outcome measures support this application for clinical utilization. �
Transcranial laser stimulation to the forehead was utilized in a placebo-controlled, randomized research study, to demonstrate the effects of cognitive tasks associated with the prefrontal cortex, including a psychomotor vigilance task, or PVT, and a delayed match-to-sample, or DMS, memory task. The PVT evaluates sustained attention, with patients remaining vigilant during delay intervals, and pushing a button when visual stimulation appeared on a monitor. The laser stimulation targeted prefrontal regions which are believed to be utilized in the sustained attentional processes of the PVT. The DMS task supports the prefrontal cortex as part of a network of frontal and parietal brain regions. �
Healthy patients received consistent wave near-infrared light intersecting cytochrome oxidase’s absorption spectrum, targetted to the forehead utilizing a 1064 nm low-power laser diode, also known as �cold laser�, which increases tissue penetration due to its long wavelength and has been utilized in humans for other health issues. The power density or irradiance, 250 mW/cm2, and the cumulative energy density or fluence, 60 J/cm2, were identical which demonstrated the benefits of psychological effects in another research study. This laser exposure develops negligible heat and no physical damage at the low power level utilized. This laser apparatus is utilized safely in a clinical setting by the supplier of the laser. Reaction time in the PVT was improved by the laser treatment, as demonstrated by a considerable pre-post reaction time effect associated with the placebo group. The DMS memory task also demonstrated considerable improvements in measures of memory retrieval latency and number of correct trials, when comparing the LLLT-treated with the placebo group as demonstrated in Figure 1. Self-reported positive and negative affective or emotional states were also measured utilizing the PANAS-X questionnaire before and 2 weeks after laser treatment. As compared to the placebo, treated patients demonstrated considerably improved affective states. We suggest that this type of transcranial laser stimulation may serve as a non-invasive and efficacious method and technique to augment cognitive brain functions associated with attention, memory, and emotional functions. �
Figure 1. Cognitive performance in the delayed match-to-sample (DMS) memory task was improved after transcranial infrared stimulation to the right forehead. The DMS task involves presentation of a visual stimulus (grid pattern) on a screen. Then the stimulus disappears, and the participant must remember the stimulus through a delay. Then two choices appear, and the participant must decide which of these two is identical to the previous stimulus (the �match�). Treated subjects showed faster memory retrieval (left panel) and increased number of correct trials (right panel) out of 30 trials when attempting to choose the correct grid pattern. The function of frontal cortex regions, implicated in the attentional mode network utilized during this visuospatial memory task, was augmented by the laser treatment. Compared to baseline, this treatment also increased by 5% the oxyhemoglobin concentration of the prefrontal cortex as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, both during the laser stimulation and during post-treatment DMS performance (in preparation). The data for the treated group consisted of n = 10 males and n = 10 females; the control group also consisted of n = 10 males and n = 10 females. *Significant treatment by pre-post score interaction, p < 0.05.
LLLT’s bioenergetics mechanisms associated with cognitive augmentation may also be associated in its neuroprotective effects. LLLT’s stimulation of mitochondrial respiration should improve cellular function due to increased metabolic energy and cellular survival after injury due to the antioxidant effects of increases in cytochrome oxidase and superoxide dismutase. �
Laser transmittance of the 1064-nm wavelength at the forehead LLLT site was estimated in a post-mortem human specimen, which demonstrated that approximately 2 percent of the light passed through the frontal bone. This yielded an absorption coefficient of a = 0.24, similar to the demonstrated a = 0.22 transmittance through cranial bone for this wavelength. Furthermore, it was estimated that about 1.2 J/cm2 of the 60 J/cm2 LLLT dose applied reached the surface of the prefrontal cortex. This value is similar to 1 J/cm2, the peak effective LLLT dose in neuron cultures for increasing cytochrome oxidase activity. �
Transcranial absorption of photon energy by cytochrome oxidase, the terminal enzyme in mitochondrial respiration, is associated as the bioenergetic mechanism of action of LLLT in the brain. Transcranial LLLT up-regulates cortical cytochrome oxidase and improves oxidative phosphorylation. LLLT improves prefrontal cortex-related cognitive functions, such as sustained attention, extinction memory, working memory, and affective state. Transcranial infrared stimulation may be utilized effectively to support neuronal mitochondrial respiration as a new non-invasive, cognition-improving intervention in animals and humans. This fascinating new treatment approach should also be able to affect other brain functions associated with the neuroanatomical site stimulated and the stimulation parameters utilized. �
Low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, and other types of transcranial lasers are non-invasive, low-powered lasers which are now being utilized in specific cortical regions of the brain to improve physiological responses and cognitive function. Many research studies have demonstrated that transcranial lasers can ultimately improve attention, memory, and reactions, where many other research studies have also demonstrated that these can also help improve depression and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease. Although further research studies are still required, the outcome measures are promising. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
According to research studies, transcranial infrared laser stimulation, as well as other types of transcranial lasers, utilized on frontal cortex functions can improve sustained attention and working memory, among other brain functions. Transcranial laser stimulation regulates and maintains brain functions and may promote neurotherapeutic effects in a non-destructive and non-thermal manner. Researchers determined through the first controlled research study that transcranial laser stimulation improves human cognitive and emotional brain functions. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . �
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez �
Additional Topic Discussion: Chronic Pain
Sudden pain is a natural response of the nervous system which helps to demonstrate possible injury. By way of instance, pain signals travel from an injured region through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Pain is generally less severe as the injury heals, however, chronic pain is different than the average type of pain. With chronic pain, the human body will continue sending pain signals to the brain, regardless if the injury has healed. Chronic pain can last for several weeks to even several years. Chronic pain can tremendously affect a patient’s mobility and it can reduce flexibility, strength, and endurance.
Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease
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Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural ZoomerTM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus is designed to assess an individual�s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention. �
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Ever wondered why you feel sluggish from a long day? Or feel sick to the stomach when you ate something bad or overindulged on your favorite food? Could it be that your gut is showing signs of stress and discomfort due to certain habits that you may encounter and didn�t even know about it?
In our previous article, we talked about the six types of food that our gut needs to be healthy. Since our gut contains trillions of microbiomes, both good and bad, these microbiomes play an important role in our overall health. A healthy microbiome improves our gut health, heart health, brain health, controls our weight and regulates our blood sugar. With the good bacteria in our gut, the bacteria benefit us with a good digestive system and destroys the harmful bacteria. But certain lifestyles and diet choices can actually increase the bad bacteria and lower the good bacteria and overall health.
Here are five surprisingly lifestyle choices that are hurting your gut:
Not Eating a Wide Range of Foods
Our gut plays an important role in our overall health. When we eat good whole foods, our gut is happier; we have more energy to complete any task that is thrown at us and we are getting nutrients for our gut flora. However, during the past couple of decades, we have been leaning more into processed foods due to the economic pressures of increased food productions. FOA stated that �75 percent of the world�s food is generated from only 12 plants and five animal species� and that is very bad to our gut flora.
Here at Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, we inform our patients about the importance of eating nutritious, whole foods to promote not only a healthy gut but a healthy mind. When the body gets introduced to a wide variety of whole foods (with a high fiber content), our gut starts to repair the damage of processed food that we may have consumed internally.
However, when you disregard prebiotics to your diet, you are harming your digestive health. Without prebiotics, our digestive system slows down the development and diversity for our gut flora. So in order to have a healthy microbiome development, you need to incorporate foods filled with both digestible and indigestible fibers to your diet. Some foods included in this category are oats, nuts, onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, bananas, pears, chickpeas, and beans.
Sticking to a high fiber diet maybe challenging however, there is the option of taking prebiotic supplements. If you have a food allergen or food sensitivity to any high enriched fiber foods, taking prebiotic supplements can actually help grow Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium in your gut and be beneficial to your health without the discomfort.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Every adult enjoys alcohol once in a while. Yes, it�s one of those beverages that help you relax a bit after a long day, however, too much of it can lead to alcohol abuse and addiction. So, did you know that consuming that much alcohol is bad for your heart, liver, and brain; thus hurting your gut health and giving you dysbiosis?
One study stated, that the alcoholics with dysbiosis had a lower median abundance of Bacteroidetes and a high abundance of Proteobacteria. The ones that weren�t alcoholics were not affected by the study.
However; there is some good news on limiting yourself to alcoholism and that it can be beneficial to your gut bacteria. If you moderately consumed red wine responsibly, the polyphenols in the wine can help benefit your gut flora. So, enjoy a glass of wine once in a while as a small treat that should not be taken for granted.
Inadequate Sleep
In one of the previous articles, we talked about how to achieve a good night sleep through herbs. When we get little to no sleep through our hectic lives, it affects us through various health problems, including heart disease and obesity. In a 2016 study, researchers discovered the effect of short-term sleep deprivation on the gut microbiota after two days.
When our body doesn�t receive the recommended 8 hours of sleep, our gut takes a huge toll as we feel sluggish and exhausted. So, to make sure that our gut microbiome will be taken care of, we recommended to turn off your electronical devices at least 30 minutes before you get ready to settle down for the night. Turn off all the lights, and don�t drink any liquids at least two hours before bed, close your eyes and take a deep breath in a meditative state, and relax as you drift off into slumber town.
Inadequate Exercise
Through our fast-paced lifestyle and stressful jobs, it�s hard to find time to exercise. But when we actually do find time to exercise, not only do our minds feel good; but our body and gut feel good as well. However, things always come up when we are in an exercise routine and we have to skip exercising altogether. It happens to all of us and it�s hard to pick up where we left off when we tried to exercise.
When we don�t exercise at least a couple of times out of the week, our bodies take a huge toll on us as we gained weight, our stress is way too high, and we have a higher chance of getting a chronic disease. When this happens our gut flora is a huge disadvantage. Here at the clinic, we strive to inform our patients about the importance of exercising and that it not only changes their lives but also changes their mood entirely.
However, don�t just go into a hard exercise routine where you will injure yourself. Start off with a low-intensity workout then build it up as you go because your gut flora will thank you for it.
As a final say, we here at Injury Medical want to keep you informed on nutrition and ways to help you improve your ailments with these 5 surprises. But to also educate you on what may be hurting your gut. With these surprises and slight changes to your daily life, your gut will be thanking you for the long haul.
NCBI Resources
According to evidence from a 2016 research study, the gut�s immune system is fundamental towards preventing a variety of diseases and it may often contribute to metabolic disorders. However, it might also help provide a treatment goal when observing systemic inflammation in insulin resistance. Moreover, modified gut immunity has been linked with changes to the gut microbiota, intestinal barrier function, gut-residing immune cells, and resistance to antigens which enter the gastrointestinal, or GI, system. Although this has been previously believed to raise the danger of esophageal ailments including, pathogenic infections and chronic inflammation, which may ultimately lead to chronic health issues.
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