McGee Chiropractic

Detoxification….. Most folks, when they hear that word think of people who are alcohol or drug addicted  going to a “clinic” for rehab. But  the detoxification I would like to speak about today is unfamilar to a lot of people. The fact of the matter is that over the last 30 to 40 years there have been thousand of chemicals  invented for various uses which we are exposed to on a daily basis. I would also include in this list of toxins we are exposed to  metals, air, water and soil pollutants.  To be more specific, pesticides used to treat our crops and fertilize our flowers and lawns, chemicals used to treat our furniture, mercury in our seafood and carried in the air from industrial uses such as coal burning plants.  Think of anything you put in or on your body such as shampoos, moisturizers, sunscreens and makeup. The list is almost endless. Collectively, year after year your body  is absorbing these substances, many of them to varying degreee have been proven toxic and detrimental to your health.  The good news is that your body has built in features which function to excrete these toxins from your system. Your liver, kidney, lungs and skin as some of the main detoxifying organs of the body do a very good job. But as with many aspects of modern living which we humans were never designed for, your system is probably in a state of toxic overload. What can we do ? Well, you can exercise more. Through perspiration and rapidly induced breathing  we detoxify our system. Also make sure you are ” regular “. Daily bowel movements keep toxins from ” hanging around ” too long in our system.  Indoor pollutants are a growing problem. Keep lots of houseplants such as english ivy and ficus to clean and detoxify your home. Nutritional supplements such as chollella have been shown to bind to metals stored in your body and excrete them along with a bowel movement. Be proactive, read the labels of any products you use on your body to determine if the ingredents in that product are considered safe for your health. For a more comprehensive nutritional detoxification program, consult  a health practioner who is knowledgeable in this area of health. For more information on this topic and other nifty health information, a two good websites to peruse are www.naturalnews.com and www.hsibaltimore.com For help in getting yourself on  a good detoxification program call 617-846-4553 or fill out a contact form

The researchers found a clear connection between vitamin B and depression. In fact, participants with the most B6 and B12 intake had the fewest episodes of depression. And to be more specific, the researchers found that for every 10 milligram increase of B6 and for every 10 microgram increase of B12, the risk of depression dropped by two percent.

For more information on nutrition and wellness call Dr. McGee at 617-846-4553

The topic of the day is Vitamin D.  Although known to many health care practitioners, who have stressed the inportance to their patients of having adequate amounts of vitamin d levels in our bodies, only recently has this information come to light in the media  and medical mainstream. Our main source of vitamin d throughout human history has been the sun.  Human beings evolved and developed in sunlight as did every living creature on earth. Basically, the way it works is that as our skin is exposed to sunlight, cholesterol converts the sunlight to vitamin d in our bodies. Once in our bodies , vitamin d acts more as a hormone than a vitamin and it uses and functions are incredibly numerous and essential to our health. If you wish to minimize your exposure to sunlight but want to maximize your vitamin d levels ,then taking a vitamin D3 supplement ,which is D in its natural form and the one best absorbed by the body, is your best option. A 25 Hydroxy vitamin D blood test can tell you your current vitamin d level  in your system and give you a baseline from which to begin increasing your levels. For more information on vitamin d I refer you to the website Vitamindcouncil.org. Another good website on safe, nontoxic and effective sunscreens is www.ewg.org.

Today I would like to talk about a serious health condition which is rapidly reaching epidemic proportions in our country called diabetes. Not the form of diabetes which can be inherited, but the type that develops as a result of  of  improper eating and living habits. Looking  for  reasons  for the tremendous increase in cases of diabetes in  our country , I believe can be summed up in one short sentence. Lack of physical activity and too much sugar intake. In the year 1700 Americans ate approximately 4 pounds of sugar a year. By the year 2010 we are eating approximately 180 poundsof sugar. On the whole, children growing up today are less physically active and consume more processed foods ( which are quickly converted to sugar in our bloodstream )  then ever before.  The fact of the matter is that throughout human history, as a species, we consumed very little sugar. And when we did, it was primarily in the form of fruit. Certainly not in the form of processed foods which we eat in overabundance today. Human beings are designed to be physically active and to eat nonprocessed foods. This is how we thrive. So how do we do this ?  Eat as much nonprocessed food as possible. I’m talking about fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean meats and eggs from grass feed animals and drink good clean water. Be physically active. Walk run, bike, hike and be out in the fresh air as much as possible. I reccomend to  a lot of my patients who are fearful of this condition to begin a weight lifting program.  I am not talking  about turning into the next Arnold Schwarzenegger, but light to moderate weight lifting, especially for the upper body has been shown to burn off excess blood sugar in rapid fashion. In many cases, treatment or prevention of this condition is more involved and complex, but just by making these basic lifestyle changes I mentioned above can help alleviate or possibly prevent this disorder known as diabetes.