Eating Makes Us Happier!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

      The title of this week's blog is true if you're willing to make some changes to what you're eating.  First, is that you have to stop or limit many of the foods that make you happy.  I know that sounds crazy since the title of the blog is "Eating Makes Us Happier!"  The foods that need to be stopped or limited are most of our comfort foods (which get that name because they tend to relieve stress and make you happy while you are eating them and for a short while after).  The comfort foods tend to be higher in Trans-Fat and Saturated Fat  (both of which have been linked to long term depression in the research).  Polyunsaturated Fats and Monounsaturated Fats such as olive oil, black current seed oil, flax oil, fish oil (and some others) are found in the research to prevent depression.  These oils are more seen in the Mediterranean diet (rich in legumes, fruits, vegetables, fish and cereals, but low in meat and dairy products).

Two points this week:
1)  stop or limit comfort food rich in trans-fat and saturated fat -- these foods will make you feel good while you are eating them but worse in the long term.
2)  replace those foods with more of a Mediterranean diet (rich in mono and poly-unsaturated fats) -- these foods prevent depression


Yours in Health,

Dr. Jeff
Bruce Chiropractic Center
856-547-6587 

Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression, Public Library of Science (PLoS), January 26, 2011; Vol. 6; No, 1; pp. e16268.



Any medical information provided in Doctor Jeff's Blog is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. Any information provided is not meant to diagnose, treat or manage any specific disease/condition.Doctor Jeff's Blog respects the confidentiality of individual patients and site visitors. All clinical anecdotes are compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Last Chance!!

Good Evening Everyone!

      Well here we are, with only a little over two months left in the year of 2011.  In the beginning of the year, I spoke of topics like "focus" and having "personal goals" for the new year.  I suspect that many people did set new personal goals for the new year, but I wonder how many have stayed focused and kept to their promises.
      This is a great time for everyone to stop and evaluate how they've done with staying focused on their goals this year.   If you've done well then I send you congratulations and encourage you to continue.  If you've fallen off course in reaching your goal, then this is a the perfect time to pick your self up and get back on track.  There's plenty of time before the end of the year to make some measurable progress towards your personal goal.  Trust me... If you get back on track and reach toward your goal(s) until the end of the year, you will be just as proud of yourself, as if you would be if you never fell off course!!
      So for those that have done well with their goals and for those that are going to re-focus on them;  Make sure that you finish the year strong!!  This will help you become even more excited to begin on new and bigger goals for the new year. 

Yours in Health,

Dr. Jeff
Bruce Chiropractic Center, LLC
856-547-6587  


Any medical information provided in Doctor Jeff's Blog is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. Any information provided is not meant to diagnose, treat or manage any specific disease/condition.Doctor Jeff's Blog respects the confidentiality of individual patients and site visitors. All clinical anecdotes are compliant with HIPAA regulations.

I'm a Calm Guy, But This Stuff Gets Me Fired Up!!!

Good Evening Everyone!

     I've heard that each year medicine gets better. This leads one to assume that if medicine was getting better we should be getting healthier and therefore need less medication.  I've recently reviewed a book that proves the opposite is happening.  Medicine is evolving and there are many new medications & surgeries available, but the American public is definitely not healthier and in turn is spending huge amounts on prescription drugs.  Here are some statistics to ponder:

• The average number of prescriptions per person annually in 1993 was 7
• The average number of prescriptions per person annually in 2000 was 11
• The average number of prescriptions per person annually in 2004 was 12
• The cost per year in 2005 for prescription medication was about $180 billion
• The cost per year in 2008 for prescription medication was about $234 billion
• The cost per year in 2010 for prescription medication was about $307 billion 

The purpose here is not only to point out a major problem, but also to hopefully get people to start taking their health into their own hands!  The stats above prove that we can't rely on medicine to do it for us.  We have to get back to the basics!!

• Eat Better (Real) Food (that is food from the Earth)! 
• Engage in moderate exercise if possible
• Drastically reduce sugar, desserts, and processed foods
• Avoid refined flour
• Drink water as your main beverage 

If you only do these 5 things, you will drastically reduce your chances of being on multiple medications.... Oh yeah, and YOU WILL FEEL BETTER!!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Jeff
Bruce Chiropractic Center, LLC
856-547-6587

Source:
Generation Rx: How Prescription Drugs Are Altering American Lives, Minds and Bodies.  Greg Critser, Houghton Mifflin Company 2005 Page 2.

Note:
I checked statistics online and they all checked out

   
Any medical information provided in Doctor Jeff's Blog is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. Any information provided is not meant to diagnose, treat or manage any specific disease/condition.Doctor Jeff's Blog respects the confidentiality of individual patients and site visitors. All clinical anecdotes are compliant with HIPAA regulations.