Raw Milk: A Do or a Don’t?
Raw milk has become such a hot topic of debate recently; police are even getting involved. Rawesome Foods, a natural food store in Venice, California, was the target of a police raid that confiscated over $10,000 worth of raw dairy products. Is raw dairy a do or a don’t? Check out both sides of the argument and give us your opinion on this dairy dilemma.
Do: Raw food enthusiasts believe that raw milk contains important bacteria that build up the immune system and prevent allergies as well as lactose intolerance. Since raw milk is banned in many states, people will drive for hours to buy raw milk from farms in neighboring states. Those who support raw milk believe that pasteurization kills not only the dangerous bacteria, which may or may not be harmful, but also the important nutrients that are in the milk in its purest form. They consider it a superfood full of nutrients and beneficial enzymes.
Don’t: Others are happy to stick with the milk that is readily available at grocery stores throughout the country. The dangers are very real, they believe, and it is not worth the risk to drink milk raw. Bacteria found in raw milk such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria can make people sick or even be lethal.
What do you think? Should pasteurization be legally necessary for all milk products? Should the bans on raw milk in some states be lifted?
You can listen to the story on NPR’s All things Considered here.
Obesity: The Greatest Threat to Public Health in This Century?
As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the vital issue of excess weight and how it negatively affects every part of the human body. I explain the health challenges to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.”
We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”
The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-
Your Cincinnati Chiropractor Can Help You Avoid Work Injuries
At my Cincinnati Chiropractic Clinic I treat plenty of older adults who are challenged by balance problems. In fact, 9% of adults, aged 65 and over, are affected by dizziness, “wooziness,” and other balance-related problems. Good balance is crucial, of course, in aiding elders in continuing to be independent and to avoid falling down and sustaining injuries that are frequently extremely serious or even fatal. But, what you may not know is that falls produce a large percentage of work-related injuries for workers under 65 years of age, including those in their twenties and thirties. That’s right! Balance problems can take place at any age. That is why those who work in”precarious locations” like construction workers, roofers, oil platform employees, windows cleaners, or anywhere else where a ladder is required are in danger of serious injury if their balance isn’t good.
The principal function of good balance is to assist us in managing and maintaining our body position, whether standing still or moving, and whether on the ground or high up on a platform. Good balance helps us to walk without stumbling, arise from a sitting position without swaying, and to climb stairs without slipping. To sum it up, then, good balance is vital to our health and well-being.
What is commonly surprising to some young adults, in particular is that they could have a balance dysfunction without any idea of how threatening it is. Sometimes a person can “shake off” a dizzy feeling and the sensation may not come back for a while. But, when unexpected dizziness comes about at a critical moment, it is too late to shake it off and a fall is usually certain.
Vertigo is the medical term for the sensation that you, or things around you, are spinning. Nearly 40% of people in the U.S. will have at least one episode of dizziness that is distressing enough to seek out help from a health professional, such as your Chiropractor at Cincinnati Chiropractic. That said, if you work at any of the jobs listed above, it is an excellent idea for you to see a chiropractor to have your balance checked prior to an unexpected episode of dizziness, rather than as a response to such an episode. Why? Because as a chiropractor, I can not only check your balance, and make corrections if necessary, but can aid you in maintaining good balance in the future. And, naturally, having good balance will likely save you from serious injury or worse.
Balance disorders are serious at any age. If you think that you might have a possible balance disorder, it is crucial for you to be evaluated and treated without delay. To help to make your decision easier if you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, even if the experience is seldom or infrequent, it is highly recommended that you discuss the symptom(s) with a chiropractor as soon as possible:
• Have you experienced a feeling of being “unsteady?”
• Has the room seemed to spin around you?
• Has there ever a time when you felt as if you were moving when you knew you were standing still?
• Have you lost your balance and/or fallen down?
• Have you ever felt as if you were falling?
• Has your vision ever become “blurred?”
• Have you ever felt disoriented, or lost a sense of time, place or identity?
Remember: Balance problems are not specific to a particular age group. From the time we learn to walk until we take our final step, our falling down is an ever-present possibility. All the more reason to have your balance checked if you work in a job that makes your falling down a “critical” issue. Don’t wait until you sustain a work injury! Call a Chiropractor today, and if you’re in the Cincinnati area, I’d love to be your Cincinnati Chiropractor!
Chiropractic Internet Marketing Strategy: Do it Yourself or Outsource?
Here’s an interesting question for you to consider: Do you want to keep your chiropractic internet marketing in-house or do you want to hire a professional? There are pros and cons to both, and the answer lies in your particular situation. Let’s check out the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Advantages of in-house chiropractic internet marketing
- There is a lower monthly cost involved in using someone already employed by you.
- The staff knows your practice intimately. Your staff has a good understanding of your clinic’s particular services and, therefore, is able to describe your specialties easier than those who don’t know the specifics of your particular practice.
- You can communicate anytime. Being in-house it is easier to set up times to have meetings or just to chat about situations on the fly.
Disadvantages of in-house chiropractic website marketing
- The staff may not be fully aware of what SEO (search engine optimization) is, let alone how to accomplish it. In that case, a lot of education and training will be needed to make sure SEO gets done right.
- The staff may be overworked. Sometimes the time it takes to do SEO can be underestimated. It is an ongoing process that can actually be a full-time job. If a marketing manager has been told to do SEO as well as his or her full time job, obviously that person will be overworked and feel overwhelmed.
- Attention needs to be paid to detail. This goes together with Point #2. If the staff is overworked, they have no time to check out search engine news and keep up-to-date on how the search engines have changed the game each week and what needs to be done to implement those changes to keep your clinic internet presence up in the rankings.
Advantages of using an outside professional
- Chiropractic marketing companies are specialists in the field. They have experience in working on numerous clinics and their websites and optimizing them for SEO. They know, first hand, what works effectively and what doesn’t.
- There is a dedicated team at the company who will be working on your site and can give it the attention it requires.
- The company has a specific plan and won’t be just jumping around, going from short term tactic to short term tactic with no organized strategy and no clear way to reach your desired goals. In other words, they have an “integrated” internet marketing strategy.
Disadvantages of a chiropractic internet marketing company
- Let’s face it, it can get expensive, but costs vary widely from company to company. Some companies out there are charging $600-$700 a month for their services. It is definitely worth your while to shop around and research before you buy.
- There is usually a commitment. Most chiropractic internet marketing companies will want you to sign up for at least six months to a year.
- Account management can be a problem. With high turnover rates at many companies, especially the big ones, there may be a chance that you’ll get handed from account manager to account manager just when you were building a relationship of trust. You may have to start over again, maybe even have to redesign and reiterate your strategy with the new manager.
Now that you’ve taken a moment to look at the pros and cons of both keeping your internet marketing in-house or hiring a professional, the solution to SEO and your internet marketing strategy will depend on the size of your practice, the time and staffing you can devote to it, and your overall long-term goals.
Now, of course, we are a chiropractic internet marketing company that specializes in helping chiropractors with their internet presence. So, I will admit that I am a bit biased on the side of your hiring an expert to do it right. If you are thinking of hiring a company to develop and implement your internet marketing strategy, it is tremendously important for you to hire one that specializes in chiropractic clinics. Why? Because we understand the chiropractic profession intimately. Therefore, in the long run it will save you both time and money not having to explain what chiropractic is about to some general SEO company. There are several of us out there.
If you are going to go with an outside company, be sure to read the fine print. Look at the bottom of their page for a disclaimer. If they have one, read about their “typical” results. You don’t want to be fooled by outrageous claims even though such hype can be enticing. Remember, your internet marketing strategy is just one stream of new patient leads. Even though chiropractic internet marketing is fast becoming a great source for new patient leads, and even though internet marketing gets more important with every passing day, and even though it is a crucial area in which to generate new patient leads, it is still not the only source of marketing you will need to succeed in your practice.
Whether you choose to keep your internet marketing in-house or to hire a professional, you want to be sure that the time and money you spend on SEO gets you where you want to go. A member of your staff that does your internet marketing for “free,” while squeezing those efforts in-between other tasks, may “cost” you in the long run. A professional whose sole focus is internet marketing, won’t lose sight of your goals. Internet marketing is essential to your practice, so choose your chiropractic internet path wisely.
Helpful Practices That May Help You Avoid Hip Fractures From Falls
It isn’t news to anyone that elderly people are more prone to bone fractures, especially of the hip. Fortunately, there are a number of preventative measures that older adults can take to help avoid bone fractures, especially from falls. As a chiropractor, I recommend a number of preventative measures to my older patients, not the least of which is for them to have regular chiropractic treatment to help to improve and maintain balance and to keep their body in good alignment. As far as I’m concerned, in addition to balance challenges and poor muscle strength, an aging body that is out of alignment is a hip condition waiting to fracture.
According to a new study by Dr. Marian Hannan, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical school and co-director of the Musculoskeletal Research Program at the Institute for Aging Research, elderly people who eat more protein are less likely to suffer hip fractures. Why? Because consuming proteins such as meat, eggs, fish or cheese helps to build stronger muscles in the legs, which, in turn can reduce an older individual’s chances of falling. In addition to helping to build stronger muscles, other studies have shown that protein intake can increase bone density. For more on protein study go to: dailymail.co.ukNot All Carbohydrates Are Equal
As a chiropractor who works with athletes, both young and old, and one who preaches a healthy diet in addition to regular chiropractic care, I am often asked by my more active patients about “fuel foods,” especially before a big high school football game or prior to a weekend warrior event. The most frequently asked question is: Are carbohydrates the best source to “fuel my sport”? And, my answer is “yes and no.” If you play sports, it’s important for you to know that even though carbohydrates burn off quickly, and are generally the best source of energy (and I recommend them highly), other factors come into play when the body is under the “stress” of the game. And, while pasta, energy bars, fruits, breads, yogurt, potatoes, cereals, and milk may all be great energy foods to eat before your sport, you should also include high sources of protein, including meat and peanut butter. Why? Because even though carbohydrates give you energy, proteins rebuild your cells and help you to maintain your muscle mass.
Another important thing to remember is that not all carbohydrates are equal. And while healthy fats can be an excellent source of energy during your sport, it isn’t wise before the game to eat fats that digest too slowly, like the fats contained in potato chips, fried foods, doughnuts, candy bars, and other sugary foods. Not only can hard-to-digest fats cause stomach cramping, but these types of fats are hard on the body systems for many reasons.
Maintaining an active lifestyle is important to overall health. But, doing it right and not overdoing it will make a big difference in how well you perform.
Santa Barbara Chiropractor: ChiropracticTreatment Can Ease the Pain of Spinal Osteoarthritis (Spondylosis)
You know what they say, “Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” But, if the aging process is causing you pain, you are painfully aware that aging is no joke! As a chiropractor in Santa Barbara, when it comes to musculoskeletal challenges, I see too many age-related breakdowns that probably would not have taken place if the original cause had been addressed earlier. Poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive overuse commonly create needless stress in the back, neck, hip, knees, and even the feet that can create painful conditions over time. If we only aware years ago how our aging body would feel today, eh? However, as they say, “hindsight is 20-20.”
Back pain is at the top of the list as the most prevalent musculoskeletal problem to take place as we age. Back pain that is age-related is generally caused by spine osteoarthritis, or Spondylosis, a degenerative disorder.
Spinal osteoarthritis is caused by advanced erosion and weight-bearing pressure on the spine that, over the years, damages discs, joints, and surrounding ligaments. The location and degree of the degenerative process of spondylosis is individual, varying from person to person. It may affect the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), or lumbar (low back) regions of the spine. Spondylosisi symptoms very from person to person and depend on the severity of the degeneration, and can extend from negligible pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy.
Calcium is deposited in the tissues around the vertebrae due to repetitive stresses that negatively affect the cartilage around the joints Adjacent nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue can be constricted by these calcific deposits, also called bone spurs. This particular of compression is at the root of Spondylosis.
Regular chiropractic treatment and overall chiropractic management is beneficial in significantly slowing age-related degeneration of the spine whether or not you are suffering from spondylosis. No, “you can’t un-ring a bell” or “turn back the hands of time,” but it’s never too late to give your spine the attention it deserves. Chiropractors are experts when it comes to treatment of the spine. See your Santa Barbara Chiropractor today, for the health of your spine.
Corona Chiropractor Explains How Chiropractic Management Can Eliminate Hip Pain
Your Corona Chiropractor provides a potent non-surgical, drug-free approach to easing hip pain and frequently eliminating it altogether. As most of us know, surgery should be a last resort whenever possible. Therefore, before you schedule a surgery to replace that hip, consider the following questions: Is it impossible for you to get a good night’s sleep because your hip pain wakes you up in the night? When you get out of bed in the morning, and/or when you step out of your car, are you stiff and do you find it difficult at first to get your legs moving properly? Do you feel pain in one or both hips when you cross your legs or rotate or twist your hips? If these symptoms sound familiar, it is likely that you have asymmetries and alignment problems in your lower extremities that, in addition to causing your hip pain, can eventually lead to degenerative joint disease in your hips if not treated. The good news is that whether or not degenerative changes have already started, chiropractic treatment can help!
It may be true that you’re getting older and your hip joints just aren’t what they used to be. Nonetheless, are you aware that your hip pain and related problems, which are thought to be age-related degenerative conditions, may not actually be produced by osteoarthritis? That’s right. In fact, rather than being the root cause of your problem, osteoarthritis of the hip joint is typically the outcome of a previous injury (or injuries) to your hips.
Hip problems oftentimes have to do with asymmetry or imbalance when you are in motion, like walking for instance. If you “pronate” when you walk, with your toes pointing away from your body (like a duck), eventually you will feel pain in your hips from the asymmetrical pressure on your hip joints as your body attempts to compensate. Thankfully, you can make changes in your gait pattern at any age, and your chiropractor in Corona can show you how to do it.
Additionally, you may have developed gait changes because of an ankle sprain or knee strain, and since “the knee bone’s connected to the hip bone,” these biomechanical accommodations generate hip pain. Naturally, if not treated, your hip joints will suffer further consequences, namely, the wear and tear that produces degenerative changes.
Other activities that can sometimes injure the hip joints are starting a new job or beginning a new sport that requires you to move your body in atypical ways. Also, transporting a child (or grandchild) on one hip can generate hip pain. Even the way you sit or driving for extended periods of time on a routine basis can cause hip injury and pain.
So you can see that not every pain is caused by “old age,” although we may experience more pain due to the progressive nature of untreated injuries.
Your chiropractor in Corona will treat our hip problem directly, and as part of your chiropractic management will provide appropriate rehabilitative exercises that include gentle muscle stretching and strengthening, and will also study your gait and may offer simple pattern changes.
Your hip pain won’t vanish by itself. Hip pain means that there’s an injury that needs treatment. If left untreated, there is a good possibility that you will eventually require that hip replacement surgery. Remember the old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Your Corona Chiropractor can relieve your hip pain, get your body back into balance, and help you get to back to enjoying your life again!
If You’re a Woman, Take a Walk!
So ladies, take a walk! Do it for your health's sake! For more information on this interesting story, click the link provided above.
How Important is Social Media Marketing to Your Clinic?
Social Media is the “hottest” topic on the Internet today. If you’ve been giving some thought to getting on board, but you’re not sure where the platform is, let’s talk a little about the “Who, What, When, Where, and How” of social media and you, that’s “Who.” Then you can decide if you want to add Social Media to your chiropractic marketing strategy.
Social media marketing could possibly be very much like, and entirely unlike, any chiropractic marketing strategy you’ve thought about. In the “very much like” category, you’d never consider trying any kind of marketing plan without making an effort to understand what you’re doing and what you want to get from it. What are your goals? Once you’re clear about what you want, you’ll be more capable of using social media to your biggest advantage.
When you are ready to begin your social media effort, but before you start, it will be crucial for you to make sure that you “own your name” on all the social media outlets, i.e., be certain that your name or the name of your clinic is attainable so that you can use precisely same name on all of the social channels you desire to use. When you’re ready, there’s a service, which is absolutely free, that can help you with your search. Knowem.com is the who to go to. Knowem.com will research where your name is and/or if it’s attainable or not on a sufficient number of social media sites.
The next step, once you have all your social media accounts “locked up”, is to decide where you ought to be active. Because you have a clinic to run and patients to see, starting with only a few social media sites will benefit you most and may end up being all you’ll need. That way you won’t get caught up in too many channels. How do decide which sites are best for you? The big ones (where most of the action is) are facebook, twitter, linkedin, and Youtube.
What your social media activity goal should be is to build a genuine presence in your community. What is definitely a no-no is for you to try to “sell” on your social media sites, in other words don’t sell your chiropractic services, don’t sell products, don’t sell anything! The benefit of social media is for you to have an addition channel through which to network with the community. Sure, inform them about what you do, but do it by becoming a participant. Social media works the same way as social networking offline. People on social media sites don’t want to be sold to, plain and simply. What might be helpful to think of social media sites like a neighborhood backyard barbecue. People are standing around chatting about who they are and what they do, and then someone asks you what you do. Or, perhaps you start the conversation by simply stating, “Hello, I’m Dr. ____. With social media marketing, the same dynamics apply. Social media sites should be handled the same way you’d “work” offline networking opportunities to promote yourself, i.e., answer the questions and concerns that let people know who you are and gets them interested in the who that’s you!