Back Clinic Health News El Paso Functional Medicine Team. Chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez brings the latest articles, blog posts, technology, and advancements in health for the El Paso, TX. community. Dr. Jimenez follows health science, which is the protection and improvement of the health of families and communities through the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Combined with this comes research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases. In addition, we take a global functional fitness treatment approach to regain complete functional health.
Dr. Jimenez presents health news El Paso articles from his own experience and various sources on a healthy lifestyle or general health issues. I have spent over 30+ years researching and testing methods with thousands of patients and understand what truly works. Health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, and administering services. A big part of public health involves the promotion of health care equity, quality, and accessibility.
Ketosis is a natural procedure the human body goes through on a regular basis. This method provides the cells with energy from ketones if sugar isn’t readily available. A moderate degree of ketosis occurs when we skip a meal or two, do not consume many carbohydrates throughout the day or exercise for an extended amount of time. When there is an increased demand for energy and carbohydrates are not immediately available to meet that need, the human body will subsequently�begin to raise its ketone levels.
If carbohydrates continue to be limited for a considerable amount of time, ketone levels may increase further. These deeper degrees of ketosis provide many favorable effects throughout the entire body. These benefits can be taken advantage of by following the ketogenic diet. However, the majority of people are seldom in ketosis since the human body prefers to utilize sugar, or glucose, as its principal fuel supply. Below, we will discuss ketosis, ketones, and how these procedures work together to keep the cells healthy.
How Nutrients are Converted into Energy
The human body processes several kinds of nutrients to produce the energy it requires. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats can be converted to energy in order to fuel various metabolic processes. If you consume high-carbohydrate foods or excessive amounts of protein, your cells will break these down into a simple sugar called glucose. This occurs because sugar provides the cells with the fastest source of ATP, which one of the main energy molecules required to fuel virtually every system within the human body.
By way of instance, more ATP means more cell energy and more calories result in more ATP. As a matter of fact, each calorie consumed from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats may be utilized to maximize ATP levels. The human body consumes a lot of these nutrients to maintain the proper function of all its structures. If you consume more than sufficient food, nevertheless, there’ll be too much sugar which your�system does not need. But, considering this, what does the human body do with all this excess sugar? Instead of eliminating excess calories which the body does not need, it will store them as fat where it can be used later once the cells require energy.
The human body stores energy in two ways:
Glycogenesis. Through this procedure, excess glucose is converted into glycogen, or the stored form of glucose,�which is stored in the liver and muscles. Researchers estimate that the entire human body stores about 2000 calories in the shape of muscle and liver glycogen. This generally means that glycogen levels will be used within 6 to 24 hours if no additional calories are consumed. An alternate system of energy storage may help sustain the human body when glycogen levels are reduced: lipogenesis.
Lipogenesis. When there are sufficient amounts of glycogen in the muscles and liver, any excess glucose is converted into fats and stores through a procedure called lipogenesis. Compared to our limited glycogen stores, our fat stores are almost infinite. These supply us with the capability to sustain ourselves for weeks to even months without enough food being available.
When food is limited and the intake of nutrients like carbohydrates are restricted, glycogenesis and lipogenesis is no longer active. Rather, these procedures are replaced with glycogenolysis and lipolysis which free�energy from glycogen and fat stores throughout the human body. However, something unexpected occurs when the cells no longer have stored sugar,�fat or glycogen. Fat will continue to be used as fuel but an alternate fuel source known as ketones is produced as well. Because of this, the process of ketosis occurs.
Why Does Ketosis Occur?
When you don’t have any access to foods, such as when you’re sleeping, fasting, or following the ketogenic diet, then the human body will convert some of its stored fat into exceptionally efficient energy molecules known as ketones. Ketones are synthesized following the entire breakdown of fats into fatty acids and glycerol, where we can thank our cell’s capacity to change metabolic pathways for this. Although fatty acids and glycerol are turned into fuel throughout the entire body, they’re not utilized as energy by brain cells.
Because these nutrients are converted into energy too slowly to support the function of the brain, sugar is still considered to be the principal source of fuel for the brain. This process also helps us understand why we create ketones. Without an alternate energy supply, the brain would be exceedingly vulnerable if we don’t consume enough calories. Our muscles would be broken down instantly and converted into sugar to feed our hungry brains. Without ketones, the human race would have most probably been extinct.
Low-carbohydrate modified ketogenic diets have been demonstrated to have many health benefits, including weight loss and the increased ability to help fight diabetes. These type of diets have a remarkable way of providing energy for the brain. Research studies have discovered that entering ketosis has the ability to reduce insulin levels, freeing fat from fat cells. Researchers have also shown that the ketogenic diet can have a significant metabolic advantage, which leads to more calories burned than with any other diet. Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
The Way Ketones are Produced
The human body breaks down fat into fatty acids and glycerol which may be utilized for fuel in the cells directly but not by the brain. To fulfill the requirements of the brain, the fatty acids from fats and glycerol go through the liver where they’re then converted into glucose, or sugar, and ketones. Glycerol undergoes a process called gluconeogenesis, which transforms it into glucose, where fatty acids are converted to ketone bodies through a procedure called ketogenesis. As a consequence of ketogenesis, a ketone body called acetoacetate is generated. Acetoacetate is then converted to two different types of ketone bodies:
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). After being keto-adapted for several weeks, the cells will start to convert acetoacetate into BHB because it’s a more efficient source of fuel where it destroys an extra chemical reaction which provides more energy to the cell compared to acetoacetate. Research studies have demonstrated that the human body and brain favor utilizing BHB and acetoacetate for energy because the cells can utilize it 70 percent better than they can sugar or glucose.
Acetone.�This substance can occasionally be metabolized into glucose, however, it is largely eliminated as waste. This is what specifically provides the distinctly�smelling breath which many ketogenic dieters have�learned to understand.
Over time, the human body will release less surplus ketone bodies, or acetone, and, should you utilize keto sticks to monitor your degree of ketosis, you might believe it’s slowing down. As the brain burns off BHB as fuel, the cells attempt to present the brain with as much effective energy as they can. This is why long-term low-carbohydrate users won’t show profound levels of ketosis in their urine tests. As a matter of fact, long-term keto dieters can endure around 50 percent of their basal energy demands and 70 percent of their brain’s energy demands from ketones. Therefore, you shouldn’t allow the urine tests to fool you.
The Significance of Gluconeogenesis
Regardless of how�keto-adapted the human body may become, the cells will still require glucose to function properly. To satisfy the energy demands of the human mind and body which can’t be fulfilled by ketones, the liver will initiate�a process called gluconeogenesis. Amino acids in proteins and lactate in the muscles may also be transformed into glucose.
By converting amino acids, glycerol, and lactate into glucose, the liver can satisfy the glucose demands of the human body and brain during times of fasting and carbohydrate limitation. That is the reason why there’s not any crucial requirement for carbohydrates to be included in our diet. The liver will, generally, make sure to have sufficient sugar in the blood for your own cells to survive.
It’s important to remember, however, that certain variables, such as eating too much protein, may get in the way of ketosis and boost the demand for gluconeogenesis. Insulin levels and ketone production are closely connected. Protein sources, which are generally consumed on the ketogenic diet, can also increase insulin levels. In response to a rise in insulin levels, ketogenesis is downregulated, which raises the demand for gluconeogenesis to generate more sugar.
This is the reason why eating too much protein may impair your ability to enter ketosis. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you ought to limit your protein intake either. By restricting protein intake, your muscle cells will be employed to generate the sugar your body and brain demand for fuel. With proper guidance, you can consum the perfect quantity of protein your body needs to maintain muscle mass and fulfill your glucose needs when you’re on the road to ketosis.
Recognizing the Path to Ketosis
Almost all of our understanding behind ketosis originates from research studies on people who have fasted from all foods, not only from ketogenic dieters. However, we could make many inferences concerning the ketogenic diet out of what the researchers discovered from the research studies on fasting. First, let us look at the phases the body goes through during fasting:
Stage 1 – The glycogen depletion phase – 6 to 24 hours of fasting
In this phase, most energy is produced by glycogen. During this time, hormone levels begin to change, causing increases in gluconeogenesis and fat burning, however, ketone generation isn’t active yet.
Stage 2 – The gluconeogenic stage – 2 to 10 days of fasting
In this phase, glycogen is totally depleted and gluconeogenesis supplies the cells with energy. Ketones begin to be generated�at reduced levels. You will notice you have keto breath and are urinating more frequently due to greater acetone levels in your blood. The timeframe for this phase is so extensive (two to ten days) since it is dependent upon who is fasting. By way of instance, healthy men and obese people have a tendency to remain in the gluconeogenic phase for extended periods of time compared to healthy women.
Stage 3 – The ketogenic stage – after 2 days of fasting or more
This phase is characterized by a decrease in protein breakdown for energy through an increase in fat and ketone usage. At this phase, you will surely be in ketosis. Every individual can�enter this point at various rates based on lifestyle and genetic variables, their physical activity levels, and the number of times they fasted and/or restricted carbohydrates before. Whether you’re following the ketogenic diet or fasting, you may go through these phases, but this doesn’t guarantee the same benefits fasting as you do from the keto diet.
Ketogenic Diet Ketosis vs Starvation Ketosis
The ketosis which you experience on the ketogenic diet is considered to be a lot safer and healthier compared to the ketosis you get to when fasting. During the time you’re fasting, the human body doesn’t have any food resources, therefore it begins converting the protein from your muscles into sugar. This induces rapid muscle reduction.
The ketogenic diet, on the other hand, provides us with the healthiest and safest way to experience the advantages of ketosis. Limiting carbohydrates while keeping sufficient caloric intake from protein and fat permits the ketogenic procedure to sustain muscle tissue by employing ketosis and the ketone bodies we generate for fuel without having to utilize valuable muscle mass. Many research studies have discovered that ketones can also have an array of beneficial effects throughout the entire body too.
Ketoacidosis: The Bad Side of Ketosis
Ketoacidosis is a potentially lethal condition which occurs when excessive ketones accumulate in the blood. Some healthcare professionals may advise against increasing your ketone levels with the ketogenic diet because they fear you could enter ketoacidosis. The practice of ketosis is closely governed by the liver, and also the entire body infrequently generates more ketones then it requires for fuel. That is the reason why the ketogenic diet has been referred to as a safe and effective way to enter ketosis.
Ketoacidosis, on the other hand, is more likely to occur in type 1 and type 2 diabetics who don’t have their glucose under control. The mix of insulin deficiency and higher glucose levels, which are generally found in people with diabetes, produce a vicious cycle which causes ketones to build up in the blood. By limiting carbohydrates, nevertheless, healthy people and patients with diabetes may continue to keep their glucose under control and also experience the advantages of utilizing ketones for fuel.
Putting It All Together
Ketogenesis takes fatty acids from stored fat and transforms it into ketones. The ketones are subsequently released into the bloodstream. The procedure where the body burns off ketones for fuel is known as ketosis. However, not all cells can utilize ketones as fuel. Some cells will always utilize glucose to function accordingly. To satisfy the energy requirements which can’t be fulfilled by ketones, your liver utilizes a process called gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis is the procedure where the liver converts glycerol from fatty acids, amino acids from proteins, and lactate from muscles,�into glucose. Collectively, ketogenesis and gluconeogenesis produce the ketones and glucose which fulfill all the body’s energy demands when food is not available or when carbohydrates�are limited.
Though ketones are well-known for being an alternate fuel supply, they supply us with several unique advantages too. The best and safest way to receive all the advantages of ketosis is by simply adhering to the ketogenic diet. In that way, you won’t encounter the chance of losing valuable muscle mass or inducing the potentially lethal condition of ketoacidosis. But, the ketogenic diet is somewhat more nuanced than a lot of men and women think. It is not just about restricting carbohydrates, it’s about making sure sufficient fat, protein, and overall calorie intake are consumed, which are ultimately vital.�The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal health issues. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topic Discussion:�Acute Back Pain
Back pain�is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain attributes to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as�herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief. �
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In fact, it is becoming a sort of new normal in today�s hectic, fast paced, high pressure society. Chiropractic treatment can help relieve stress symptoms and achieve optimal health!
However, a large percentage of the United States population is feeling a significant impact from the stress in their lives; 77 percent say they experience physical stress related symptoms on a regular basis. Additionally, 73 percent report experiencing stress related psychological symptoms including anxiety and depression. These are not accurate numbers though because many people never seek help for their stress issues.
Stress symptoms should not be taken lightly. It is important to address the symptoms and find ways to reduce the stress. Chiropractic is an effective stress reliever.
What Is Stress?
In literal terms, stress is the state of emotional or mental strain, pressure, or tension that result from difficulties, adverse situations, or extremely demanding circumstances. However, the very nature of stress by definition makes it very subjective. What is an adverse situation to one person may not even faze another. What one person finds to be an extremely demanding circumstance would to another barely warrant a second thought. This makes it difficult to pin down a precise, universal definition. More often, the term stress is more often used to describe the set of symptoms that are caused by stress and those symptoms can be as varied as the people who experience them.
What Are The Symptoms Of Stress?
Stress symptoms can affect the entire body, both physically and mentally. Common symptoms of stress include:
Technically, stress itself does not have a negative impact on health. Some people deal with situations that others would consider to be stressful, yet they never exhibit the first symptom. This again speaks to the subjective nature of stress. Different people experience different symptoms and it is a combination of the stress symptoms and how the person handles those symptoms that adversely affect health.
Ultimately, stress symptoms can lead to some very serious conditions including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and even certain cancers. Psychologically, it can lead to social withdrawal and social phobias. It is also often directly linked to alcohol and drug abuse.
How Can Chiropractic Help Relieve Stress Symptoms?
Chiropractic cannot get rid of stress, but it can help relieve stress symptoms. The more stress the body endures, the more sensitive it becomes to pain and physical imbalances. Chiropractic can help with bringing the body back into balance, aligning the spine, and relieving pain.
On a larger scale, the simple act of aligning the spine helps to relieve stress in the body that the person may not even be aware of experiencing. The physical stress of a misaligned spine can exacerbate stress symptoms and make a person more susceptible to stressful stimuli in their environment.
Chiropractic helps to improve circulation which is essential in relieving muscle tension. This is integral in achieving and maintaining a relaxed, balanced state. It shuts down the fight or flight response that is a common accompaniment to stress, and allows the body to rest and heal.
Stress symptoms are should not be ignored. They can lead to several very serious health conditions. If you are experiencing stress in your life or stress symptoms (you don�t have to recognize that you are under stress to experience its symptoms) pay attention. Those symptoms aren�t likely to go away but instead get worse. Take care of yourself; get help for your stress.
Injury Medical Clinic:�Whiplash Pain Treatment Chiropractor
Antibiotics have long been used to treat infection and illness. While they can be effective, there is a down side. Antibiotics can have some unpleasant side effects. What�s more, bacteria can become resistant. The more you take the less effective they can be, making the healing process much more difficult. It isn�t smart to depend on antibiotic for ultimate health. The better route is to take a more holistic approach by incorporating chiropractic, nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyle changes.
What Are Antibiotics?
Since the discovery of penicillin in the 1920s, antibiotics have been used to treat illness and infection. They have become a major component in American medicine. However, few people know exactly what they are or how they work.
They are medications that are used in the prevention and treatment of infections such as pneumonia, kidney infection, or an abscessed tooth. They are a type of antimicrobial drug and are not effective against viruses like the flu or a cold. As medicine has made significant advances in treating some of the worst and even deadly illnesses in the world, more are being developed to better target specific bacteria.
How Do Antibiotics Work?
Different antibiotics work in different ways on the cells that they seek out. Cells in the human body have some similarities to bacteria. Antibiotics affect those properties in bacteria that are different from human cells.
For instance, many strains of bacteria have cell walls while human cells do not. Penicillin prevents the bacteria it attacks from building those cell walls. Other antibiotics use other differences such as how they copy DNA or build proteins or dissolve bacteria cell membranes. The effects that antibiotics have on bacteria are intended to keep it from replicating and kill it.
Do Antibiotics Only Affect The �Bad� Bacteria?
Unfortunately, antibiotics can�t always distinguish between �bad� and �good� bacteria. This means that while they attack the harmful bacteria that is making you sick, they also attack the resident, helpful bacteria.
The �good� bacteria, or friendly bacteria, keeps you healthy in a variety of ways. It protects you from certain illnesses and keeps your body functioning at an optimal level. When you no longer have that friendly bacteria in your body, you lose out on the health boosting benefits that they offer. What�s more, when you lose the friendly bacteria it leaves room for certain other harmful bacteria to come in.
How Do Bacteria Become Resistant To Antibiotics?
When these medications are misused it can result in the emergence of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. There are several ways that they can be used inappropriately. They are only meant to be taken for a limited time, usually five or ten days. When they are taken longer than that or when several rounds are taken back to back, that qualifies as misuse. It can also occur when antibiotics are taken for viruses or other purposes for which they are not intended.
What Happens When Bacteria Become Resistant To Antibiotics?
Bacteria has a very strong ability to adapt to environments in order to survive. It can evolve and change as their environment becomes uninhabitable, such as with increasingly higher antibiotic doses. As bacteria is exposed to antibiotics it will make adjustments, adapting to them, even thriving.
The bottom line here is that while these medications may be beneficial in certain situations, they should be used as rarely as possible and usually as a last resort. There are many lifestyle changes that a person can make that can help them stay healthy and prevent illness so that they have no need for these medications.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, proper food handling and preparation, adequate sleep, regular chiropractic treatments, and eliminating unhealthy activities like smoking and alcohol consumption can all lead to better health and fewer illnesses. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent illness than it is to treat it.
Health: At its core, chiropractic is about allowing the body to naturally seek its natural balance, allowing all systems to work together. When it is unencumbered it can actually begin to heal itself. However, it can only attain proper function when it is at its proper structure.
When the structure becomes impaired through disease, stress, or injury, function becomes impaired. The degree of impairment often depends on a variety of factors including the nature of the root cause, the length of time it is left unchecked, and the patient�s support system.
Chiropractic is an exceptional part of a patient�s wellness team, addressing existing conditions as well as preventing many health issues. While most people relate the physical aspect of chiropractic to the practice, it is really a whole body approach to wellness. Chiropractic address body, mind, and spirit.
Health
Body
Chiropractic for physical health helps manage pain and heal injuries. Patients who receive regular chiropractic care enjoy a greater range of motion and improved mobility as well as decreased or even the elimination of pain in the body. Spinal misalignments can cause misalignments I other parts of the body which can cause a variety of symptoms from pain to impeded organ function.
When a part of the body is injured, such as the ankle, the body attempts to compensate. It may cause the pelvis to tilt or the spine to curve. The patient may experience pain in the hips, knees, and lower back.
Chiropractic addresses these issues, seeking out the root of the problem and then working to bring the body back into perfect balance. It is a viable and effective treatment for back pain, joint pain, sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, and tendonitis. However, it can also be used to treat digestive disorders, asthma, and allergies.
Mind
Imbalances of the mind, such as depression and anxiety are not only destructive and debilitating on their own, they can also exacerbate pain and immobility in the body. These conditions often occur when there is an imbalance of some kind, usually within the brain.
When the body itself is out of alignment, it can inhibit the transmission of messages between the brain and vital nerves. Misalignment that blocks the central nervous system can cause imbalances in the brain, leading to conditions like depression.
Spinal misalignments and pain put a great deal of stress on the body which can affect the mental state. Physical stress that comes from injury or illness can bring about anxiety and panic disorders. When left unchecked, it can lead to mental health issues that can affect family, work, and social activities.
Chiropractic for mental health addresses several mental health issues by aligning the physical body and promoting whole body wellness through lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and other therapies like massage. When the whole body is in alignment, mind, body and spirit are healthier.
Spirit
You don�t hear a lot about chiropractic for spiritual healing, but many practitioners are discovering the spiritual benefits of the treatment. Doctors have long known that a person�s thoughts contribute to their physical health. A person�s spirituality, their connection to whatever that means to them, plays a very significant part in their overall wellness both mentally and physically.
Chiropractic for spiritual healing may incorporate meditation, yoga, massage, and breathing exercises into treatment. When the physical body is out of balance, the spirit can become imbalanced as well. Bring the body into alignment, and the spirit will follow.
The nervous system is what controls the entire body; when there is interference, the energy cannot flow as it should, causing discomfort and disease mentally, physically, and spiritually. When the flow of energy is without interference, the body can begin to heal itself.
Injury Medical Clinic: Elderly & Geriatric Fitness
Everyone has stiff, sore muscles now and then. From overdoing it at the gym to sleeping in an awkward position, there are many reasons you might feel some muscular aches and pains. Some medical conditions or illnesses can also cause soreness. Several studies have found a remarkable, effective, inexpensive cure that is natural and safe � magnesium.
Pain � It�s All In Your Head
Well, it�s in your brain, anyway. A chemical in the brain, NMDA, is responsible for pain. When this brain chemical is overly stimulated, the body experiences pain. The way the brain processes pain in an individual determines how that person will experience it and manage it.
There are very few medications that deal directly with NMDA, balancing it and decreasing its production. However, the side effects of these drugs are usually significant and undesirable. Magnesium has been found to calm production of NMDA without causing the side effects or toxicity. What�s more, magnesium is very inexpensive. It is far cheaper than pharmaceuticals at just pennies a dose. One drawback is that the FDA has not yet put its stamp of approval on the mineral that is often called the �gateway to health.�
Clinical Studies Find Magnesium Is An Effective Way To Relieve Pain
A study published in The Journal of Physiology in October 2010, explores the effectiveness of magnesium in decreasing nerve pain. The study, conducted on rats, found a strong link between magnesium deficiency and pain. In fact, that authors of the study suggest that pain is increased, or the sensitivity to pain is increased, due to magnesium deficiency.
As people are moving away from fresh foods, processed foods are becoming more prevalent. While processed foods offer easy, quick preparation and gratification, the trade-off has been a significant decrease in nutrition, leaving most people magnesium deficient. However, adding a magnesium supplement that provides 250 to 500 mg of the mineral will not only eliminate the deficiency, but decrease the pain as well. This usually happens surprisingly quickly � after only a few weeks you will notice a definite difference.
Chia Seeds Are High In Magnesium.
Other Benefits Of Magnesium
Magnesium has a wide range of uses and benefits for the entire body. It has long been used to treat indigestion as well as constipation when taken by mouth. For heartburn and indigestion, magnesium hydroxide has been noted as the fastest acting. It is also given to pregnant women to treat high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia). When given as a shot or by IV, magnesium helps lower blood pressure during pregnancy. It is also the treatment of choice for eclampsia because it reduces the risk of seizures that accompany the condition.
Magnesium, given intravenously, is effective in treating torsades de pointes, a type of irregular heartbeat. Additionally, it is believed to help these other conditions:
Various types of pain including nerve damage associated with certain cancers, pain after surgery, pain after hysterectomy, and chest pain.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, and reducing the stress in your life will also help with your pain management. When your body is properly nourished it functions at a more optimal level, meaning not just less pain, but better management of it. Exercise causes your brain to produce endorphins which not only minimize pain, but also boost your mood.
Stress can make you more sensitive to pain, causing you to feel it more and experience it on a more intense level. It decreases your ability to tolerate pain and manage it. Even learning relaxation techniques and breathing exercises can help you better manage stress that you may not be able to eliminate completely. Adding magnesium to your diet can help improve your overall wellbeing as well as decrease your pain.
The human body needs vitamin D in order to build strong muscles and bones. When the body does not get enough vitamin D, it is not able to absorb calcium effectively. This makes it very important for good bone health. Children who do not get adequate vitamin D develop rickets, a condition that causes weak bones, deformities in the skeleton, and a stooped posture.
What Is Vitamin D?
Most people believe that vitamin D is a vitamin; it isn�t. It is actually a hormone. A vitamin is a nutrient that the human body requires but is unable to produce. This means that it can only be obtained through supplements and food.
However, the body is able to manufacture this vitamin. When the skin is exposed to the appropriate sunlight, the body begins a process that produces vitamin D. It should also be noted that vitamin D plays a part in a strong immune system and can prevent certain chronic diseases in older adults.
There are supplements for people who do not produce enough vitamin D or who do not get adequate amounts in the food that they eat (fish liver oils, certain fish, and egg yolks are good sources). Children and adults typically do not get enough from their foods and activities. People spend a great deal of time indoors with adults at work and children at school. The emergence of digital devices and video games has managed to keep children inside as they engage in these activities.
This vitamin is not measured in milligrams like many other supplements, but in International Units (IU) instead. Research has caused the daily recommended allowance for vitamin D to increase over the years, and the current recommendation is 400 IU. It has been determined that this amount is the most beneficial in promoting healthy bones.
The Role Of The Skeletal System
The skeletal system has several functions. The first and most obvious is that it is the structural support for the body. It also protects vital organs.
For instance, the skull protects the brain and the rib cage protects the lungs and heart. It is also an anchor point for muscle so it helps with mobility. The red bone marrow provides illness fighting white blood cells, as well as red blood cells. Calcium is stored in the marrow, as is phosphorous. Certain minerals and fats are stored in the yellow marrow which is found in the long bones of the body.
How Vitamin D Benefits The Skeletal System
Getting enough vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium which is a bone building mineral. In addition to that task, it also promotes good muscle health.
Stronger muscles can work much more effectively in protecting the muscles and supporting the skeletal system. This can help with joint health as well. Older people who have adequate vitamin D do not fall down as often and people of all ages have fewer broken bones.
Results Of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is a serious condition mainly due to its essential role in the body�s ability to absorb calcium. Muscle weakness and bone pain are two common symptoms, but are typically seen in more severe cases.
A simple blood test can check for vitamin D levels � and it should be checked regularly. Even �minor� cases of low vitamin (those without any symptoms) have been linked to some serious health conditions including:
Increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease
Vitamin D is generally very accessible. You can get it through foods and sunlight or via a supplement. People who may have some trouble getting adequate amounts are those who have limited exposure to sunlight, fail to consume the necessary levels of the vitamin, and people who have dark skin. If you think that you may have low vitamin D, it is best to talk to your doctor so you can come up with a plan to get your body back in balance.
5 benefits of�walking in order to achieve better health is not new. Doctors and fitness experts have been touting its benefits for decades. When you walk, you engage more than 200 muscles � this includes your pelvis and spine. This makes it an exceptional complement to chiropractic treatment. However, if you aren�t convinced, these five compelling reasons that chiropractic patients should walk are sure to win you over.
5 Benefits Of Walking
Helps With Weight Loss & Weight Management
When you are carrying around excess weight it can lead to back pain and impaired mobility. Fat around your middle, especially in the stomach area, throws your body off balance. There is extra weight in front and it pulls that portion of your body forward, causing a swayback effect.
The pain in the lower back that is caused by this pressure can be excruciating. Over the long term this can cause damage to your spine and cause misalignment. While girdles or slings may help, the permanent remedy is to lose the weight. Walking is an excellent, low impact exercise that helps you lose weight, stay active, and stay healthy.
Improves Mobility & Flexibility
As we age we become less flexible and we don�t have the mobility of youth. As you walk, your circulation increases and that helps improve flexibility and mobility.
Add a little light stretching to the mix, along with regular chiropractic treatments and you will have a much better range of motion. Your posture will improve and you will reduce your chance of injury during physical activity. All this greatly enhances your spinal health making walking a great complement to chiropractic care.
Relieves Back Pain
Back pain is one of the top reasons that Americans miss work and worldwide it is the number one cause of disability. It is also expensive. Each year, Americans spend upwards of $50 billion trying to escape back pain.
Walking is recommended by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) to help ease back pain. It is a very good, low impact exercise that helps you manage your weight and stay active � excess weight can cause your back to hurt. Walking helps relieve back pain, but it can help to prevent it as well. Even walking for just 30 minutes a day 3 to 5 times a week is beneficial.
Rehydrates Spinal Discs
There are small, fluid filled disks that lie between each vertebrae, acting as a cushion. As you move about during the day, gravity and certain movements cause your spinal disks to compress, squeezing the water out of them. This can lead to back pain and mobility issues.
The increased circulation from walking helps to force water into this area and the disks absorb that water and are rehydrated. This allows them to continue doing what they are supposed to � act as shock absorbers for your spine. It also helps if you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day.
Improves Circulation
Good circulation is integral to spinal health as well as a properly functioning central nervous system. When you walk it increases your circulation allowing your blood to carry vital nutrients to your spine, organs, and your entire body. The soft tissues are enriched and nourished as toxins are flushed out.
Another benefit of this increased circulation is a decrease in blood pressure. It brings your body into balance so your muscles, ligaments, and joints are nourished. This, in turn, helps to make your chiropractic treatments more productive and beneficial.
5 benefits of walking is beneficial for whole body wellness. It can help you reduce your risk of many serious health conditions including diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. It is also great for giving you a mental health boost and make you less prone to osteoporosis. So commit to walking just 30 minutes a day, 3 to 5 days a week. You will be astounded at the difference it will make.
Injury Medical Clinic: Elderly & Geriatric Fitness
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
Relieves Back Pain
