Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: The simple diet change that can make you, and the planet, healthier
Vegetarian diets are not only healthy for people, but the environment as well.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians generally have lower risks of obesity and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Vegetarian diets also leave a lighter carbon footprint, as the components of a vegetarian diet require fewer resources such as land, water, fuel, and fertilizer compared with raising livestock. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, December 2016
Reduction of depression, insomnia, headaches, & pre-menstrual syndrome.
A 27-year-old female suffering from depression, insomnia, severe pre-menstrual syndrome, and headaches presented for chiropractic care. She was diagnosed with multiple incidents of joint dysfunction along the course of her spine. Following a 3-month course of care to restore proper function to the vertebral joints in her cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the patient reported a significant improvement in all her symptoms. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, November 2016
High blood pressure during midlife may hurt cognition in old age.
American Heart Association reports there is strong evidence that hypertension during midlife can increase one’s risk for developing cognitive impairments later in life. The organization adds, “Hypertension disrupts the structure and function of cerebral blood vessels, leads to ischemic damage of white matter regions critical for cognitive function, and may promote Alzheimer pathology.” Hypertension, December 2016
What is causing my neck pain?
Aching, throbbing, or shooting pain in your neck can be a result of several causes and conditions. The Mayo Clinic lists the following possible causes of neck pain: straining of neck muscles when using your computer, phone, or reading in bed; osteoarthritis of the neck; a compressed nerve; trauma, such as an injury resulting from a car accident; and conditions such as meningitis, cancer, or rheumatoid arthritis. Mayo Clinic, December 2016
Doctors still over-prescribing drugs.
Despite evidence that certain medications aren’t always necessary, medical physicians are still over-prescribing some forms of treatment. According to the findings in a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, antibiotics are by far the most frequently used medications in situations where they don’t provide any value. Other treatments that medical doctors use frequently despite their questionable value include aggressive treatments for terminally ill patients and medications prescribed for chronic pain. Dr. Amir Qaseem, vice president of clinical policy for the American College of Physicians concludes, “There is a lot of waste in our healthcare system, and we need to acknowledge that.” Annals of Internal Medicine, December 2016
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
