Men who gain a considerable amount of weight after their “20s” face a higher risk of prostate cancer than those who remain close to their more youthful weight. Researchers followed nearly 84,000 middle-aged and older U.S. men followed for about a decade, and found that white and African-American men who had gained weight since the age of 21 had a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

It may depend on race as to how much weight is “too much” weight as a man ages. But, for a white male, the amount of weight increase, though, isn’t all that much.  Compared with those who gained fewer than 10 pounds, while males who gained more than that had twice the risk of being diagnosed with advanced or aggressive prostate cancer. Among black men, the risks began increasing after a 25-pound weight gain.  Japanese men, in a surprising contrast, actually saw their prostate cancer decline with weight gain.

As anyone over 30 knows, gaining weight becomes easier as we age. Why? One reason is that the body doesn’t utilize calories in the same way it did when we were younger or release it as quickly. Since we can’t “go back” and not gain the weight, it’s important to make lifestyle changes that will help us to lose the added weight, slowly and permanently (no fad diets!)

So men, listen up! Eat a healthy diet and get regularly exercise. This will help you to either stay at a healthy weight or get back to it. Do it for the health of your entire body, not just your prostate!

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A new study shows that short children are no more likely to be depressed, unpopular with their classmates, or have other social and emotional problems than their taller peers. Good news concerned parents! Apparently, the “traumas and dramas” of childhood happen to children of all shapes and sizes.

The study, published in Pediatrics, analyzed data on 712 sixth-graders. Twenty-eight children were classified as having short stature, i.e., they were below the 10th percentile on a growth chart; the remaining children were non-short stature (10th percentile and up). Average height was considered between 25th and 75th percentiles.

The social and emotional well-being of the study group was measured through a number of questionnaires answered by their teachers and the children, themselves. Short children reported slightly higher levels of being victimized or teased by their peers, but there was no difference on other measures of depression, behavioral problems, or popularity.

As soon as a baby is born, pediatricians start monitoring that child’s height and weight by percentile. Although low numbers may create anxiety in parents, that anxiety is likely unwarranted, the researchers write. The short children in the study “reported marginally higher levels of peer victimization … this was not associated with poorer adaptation,” said Joyce Lee, MD, MPH with the department of pediatrics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues.

So, listen up parents of short children because the researchers concluded that short children may interpret the everyday teasing as more significant because their parents “verbalize concerns about their child’s height and its possible negative impact on social functioning.” The best thing that any parent can do for their children is to encourage them to feel confident and secure about themselves and to measure their “growth” from the inside out.

Technorati Tags: chiropractor, pediatric chiropractic

To begin with, as a Tampa chiropractor, let me make it unquestionably clear that I unwaveringly believe that certain things that we put into our bodies can be beneficial to our health.  So, I’m definitely not against taking supplements. Not only do I advocate them for my patients, but I listen to my own advice and take them as well. Secondly, if confession is good for the soul, and red wine is good for the heart, then I’d like to take this opportunity to help both by stating for the record that I enjoy drinking a glass of red wine (and even a martini on occasion). The notion that red wine might have heart-healthy properties, well, that’s like icing on the cake, so to speak. And, lastly, as far as caffeine’s ability to genuinely reverse or prevent Alzheimer’s disease goes, I believe that if that were generally the case, life would be far less frightening and far more enjoyable for many people and their families.

However, before taking ill-considered action, and indiscriminately adding more coffee to your morning grind, another glass of red wine to your evening ritual, or an additional outlay of your hard-earned cash on exotic herbs that promise to make you live forever, let’s rationally think about a couple of things.

For example, let us consider the human condition. We are dynamic, biological beings, free to vigorously participate in life. We have not been cooped up in a cage all our life, and we have not been bred to “unnaturally” incur the age-related afflictions that lab animals do, disease and debilitation that is then “eliminated” by resveratrol, caffeine, or some “amazing” supplement.

Fundamentally, we are far more than the sum total of our parts. We are dynamic and biological, not “mechanical, conscienceless devices.” We are biologically individual, i.e., we respond in a uniquely individual ways to internal irritation factors and external environmental influences. Case in point, though smoking cigarettes is commonly unhealthy, there are a few people who are able to smoke, so it seems, and live to a ripe old age without any apparently-related problems.

Scientific studies isolate certain variables in order to achieve particular outcomes.  That’s scientific inquiry! But, because the results occur through such isolation, and due to the fact that they are generally done on animals, when it comes to translating such results to humans, it can be said that what may work for some of the people all of the time, won’t work for all of the people all of the time, and sometimes won’t work at all (to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln!).

You make choices each day, some that are intentional and others that may be indifferent, that will affect your physical health, now and in the future. You decide what (and how much) you’ll eat and drink, and the amount of physical activity and rest you’ll get. Even though you can “sense” what is healthy for you, by the way your body responds, sometimes, perhaps too often, you may override the feedback. Clearly, when you don’t consciously make healthy choices, you jeopardize your health and longevity.

Then you, like many others, may enthusiastically jump on the bandwagon of the latest report that announces that researchers have uncovered THE VERY THING that has the potency to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things you have been doing to your body on a routine basis! Talk about wishful thinking!

Your human body is an elegantly complex, homeostatic system. In other words, every operation is interdependent and sensitively balanced. When you choose an unhealthy lifestyle, your fastidiously-responsive system gets “off balance.” Sooner or later, the imbalances created by choosing unhealthily, result in diseases and a shortened lifespan.

If supplements help you to feel more energetic and healthy, then as a chiropractor who takes them as well, I say great, take them! If it feels like the thing to do, drink that additional cup of coffee as well. And, have a little more red wine if it honestly feels beneficial. But, keep in mind that the only legitimate way for anyone to avert or reverse age-related health problems is by choosing a consistently healthy lifestyle. You won’t get healthier by chance. There is no “lucky charm” when it comes to health and longevity.

Technorati Tags: chiropractor, coffee, exotic herbs, red wine, supplements

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Friday 3rd July 2009 06:51 PM

Unions seek a new definition of liberty – health care for all
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor 3 July 2009
ST. PAUL – When the founding fathers (and mothers) declared their goals of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” did they mean to include health care? This Fourth of July holiday, many unions and citizens are saying yes.

For the first time in 15 years, Congress is considering legislation to provide health care to all. President Obama and many elected officials back a plan that includes a public option to private insurance. But opponents, including some labor-backed Democrats, are trying to block that effort.

At events in Minnesota and across the country, people are telling their elected officials that it’s time to act.

An overflow crowd of more than 200 people spilled out into the hallway at a forum Wednesday held by Congressman Keith Ellison, DFL-5th District. A town hall meeting held that same night by Congresswoman Betty McCollum also drew a large crowd.

On Thursday, SEIU activists gathered at McCollum’s district office in St. Paul to present her with a “Healthcare Independence Flag,” featuring photos and quotes from members sick and tired of enduring abuse when they try to get health care.

“Today we declare independence from a health care system that isn’t working for too many workers. This year—2009—is the year we fix health care and make sure all Americans gain the freedom of knowing we have affordable, guaranteed health care,” said Maristella Chimbo, SEIU Local 26 member.

Nationally, the United Food & Commercial Workers is inviting people to emulate their counterparts in the American Revolution by “declaring independence from the tyrannical insurance industry and demanding the choice of a public health insurance option.” See the campaign website, http://ufcwaction.org/campaign/independenceday.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, health care