South Centre Chiropractic is giving the Gift of Health this Holiday Season!

We enjoy helping our patients achieve their Health goals!

During the month of December share your experience with a friend or Family member with a Gift of Health. 

A new Patient Exam for $75  (a $75 Value)

Ask for a Gift Card from your doctor or a staff member today at South Centre Chiropractic.

Amazing Apples!

Did you know there are over 7000 types of apples!  

Many types but they share one thing in common.  They are incredibly healthy!

For decades scientists have been trying to isolate the unique chemical that makes them so healthy but with no results.  It appears to be because of a powerful combination of phytochemicals that give apples their health benefits.

Phytochemicals reduce damaging free radicals from damaging our cells and sometimes causing cancer.

Apples with the skin on have been shown in tests to decrease colon cancer cells by 43%, liver cancer cells by 57%!  Researches in Helsinki found that apples decrease incidence of stroke.  Apples have also been found to cut cholesterol and decrease plaque formation on arterial walls.  This has implications for heart disease but as a number of lives saved by consuming apples, that remains to be calculated.  

The whole apple is better than juice in every study.  Apple juice did have some benefits so in a pinch it’s OK.  Stay away from juice “cocktails” which sometimes have as little as 10% actual juice.  The rest is just sugar, water and colour. 

How many?  It appears that 5 per week is the magic number.  

The top four killers in North America are Cancer, heart disease, medical error and stroke.  So if eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away all the better!

Yours in Health,

Dr. D

Can adjustments to the spine make you smarter?

Most people know by now that the reason chiropractors adjust the spine is to correct movement problems in the joints so that the spinal nerves can function better.  Of course, most people associate this with getting rid of pinched nerves that go to head and cause headaches or down the leg causing sciatica.

What about effects on the brain??  There is a growing pile of research to suggest that adjustments alter brain function in a positive way.  One study was done looking at the amount of brain power it took to do an algebra question.  The subjects were in a functional MRI machine while performing an algebra question.  Following an adjustment they were asked to do similar difficulty equations and the brain was much more efficient at doing the same level of question!

Reaction times in a post adjustment group improved almost 2 times better than the group that was not adjusted.  (JMPT, 2000)

Getting back to pain.  It was found that chronic pain shrinks the brain.  A study in the Journal of Neuroscience found that people living with chronic back pain (even mild) suffered brain loss or atrophy.  The scientists equated this chronic pain change to  being equivalent to 10-20 years of normal brain aging.  

In the journal “Pain”  they found a “significant decrease of grey matter in the brainstem and the somatosensory cortex”.  There were also changes in the brain where symptoms of dementia come from.

Good time for your Kids to get checked and perhaps the rest of us too!!

Yours in Health,

Dr. D

Younger Next Year? Then Kaizen it!!!

Younger Next Year?  Then Kaizen it!!!

Forget New Years!  It’s Spring that is the best time for brand new life changing habits!!

There are so many little things that can make a huge difference.  Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning change for the better, small or large but change.  If you want that change for the better write "Kaizen" on your fridge or every time you make a grocery list or plan your week.  

A little change for breakfast from something out of a box or package to something that is real.  A little change from a potato to an avocado. A walk instead of a sit-com.   A good news book instead of bad news media to cause a little change of attitude.  Sleep instead of screen time.  Chiropractic care for improving function or getting rid of a nagging ache that’s making life less enjoyable.

They are all little things that change a life when they are done with gusto and consistency!!

Remember that excellence lies in that last 10% that most people don’t do.  You deserve excellence, so do it!

Need help, need guidance?  Give us a call.  We change lives every day!!  

Get Well, Stay Well.

Dr. D

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a healthy joy filled Holiday Season, from all the staff at South Centre & Summerside Chiropractic Clinics. 

Come visit us at our new location in Summerside and now open Saturday's at South Centre!

Yours in Health,
Drs Darrell Morin, Jenna Ewasiuk & Scott Maybank

Do NOT have a Martha Stewart Christmas!

I watched her Christmas show many years ago (why I don’t know). It was, in my humble opinion, quite laughable. This perfection that she portrays puts the reality of relatives, budgets, and the work of it all completely out perspective.

If you enjoy cooking, cook. If you don’t do some simple things that will allow you and everyone else to just relax. The pressure to see everyone can also lead to guilt but give yourself the permission to just stay home if you want to. If you don’t have family around and may feel lonely one the best ways to lift your spirits and get into the holiday mood is to help others. Help out at one of the local charities is a wonderful way celebrate the true christmas feeling of giving.

Traditions are great but situations change. My wife Sarah and I loved having a elaborate fondu on Christmas eve. We were excited to include our children in this cool tradition and delicious food. What a disaster! It was so much work and needless to say kids and flames don’t mesh! The next year we simplified big time! Home made but pre made tortiere with a great salad was the new tradition that allowed us to relax and have room for some treats later on.

So this Christmas do not have a Martha Stewart Christmas, have your own imperfect Christmas. Plan ahead, drink water, don’t talk politics and focus on activities that give you the best emotional return. Remember even Martha’s life is far from perfect.

Yours in Health,

Dr. D

Welcome Dr. Maybank

Dr. Scott Maybank, B. Sc., D.C.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Dr. Scott Maybank studied sciences at MacEwan University before entering the kinesiology program at the University of Alberta. He completed his Chiropractic degree with the New Zealand College of Chiropractic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Before becoming a chiropractor, Dr. Maybank worked internationally as a professional dancer for ten years. During the challenges of performing, travelling and maintaining ones optimal health, Dr. Maybank experienced the powerful benefits of regular Chiropractic care. This experience allowed him to enjoy his performing career at the highest level and continues to drives his passion to inspire people to achieve their health goals.

Furthering his studies with functional movement, Dr. Maybank completed his Meyers Anatomy Trains and Lower Limb Active Release Therapy to better serve patients. Dr.Maybank encourages a balanced lifestyle of quality exercise, nutrition, rest and a healthy nervous system to embrace the amazing benefits of Chiropractic care.

Sunscreen Myths and Facts

First of all, misleading SPF labeling.

Did you know that SPF 55 is about 2% more protective than SPF 30?  Don't let the high number give you a false sense of security especially as some of the ingredients of that high SPF product can be harmful to you health in other ways.

Most sunscreens block UVB but not all block UVA rays which causes premature aging of the skin and is also linked to skin cancer.   SPF is related to UVB not UVA!!  That means that you may be preventing the burn but not the cancer with that high SPF sunscreen.

The following common sunscreen chemicals are known endocrine interrupters and some have been linked to certain cancers.
Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Phthalates
Parabens

So what do you do?  The sun has been around for some time folks and we can stand to get a little without sunscreen!  We have evolved with it.  Yes, some rays are getting through that we have not evolved with due to industrialization so if you have to be in the sun it's best use a physical blocker such as a hat and tightly woven clothes.  A rash guard for large areas of skin in order to limit the areas you have to slather on the skin is also a great idea.  When you use a sunscreen try to choose mineral based formulations such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Only put sunscreen on areas that are going to be exposed to limit how much you or your child is going to absorb into their skin.  Remember that the skin is an absorbing organ.  A lot of the substances above can be found in the urine later on from someone applying it to their skin.  It gets into your entire body!  Also, avoid inhalation of spray sunscreens.

Best Option:   A shirt, hat and use of a full spectrum (UVA and UVB) mineral based blocker.
Worst Option: A chemical based high SPF on the entire body.

You and your kids will look a little like ghosts with all that physical blocker but at least your not filling your system with chemicals!

Yours in Health,
Dr.D

Depression and anxiety are linked to what we eat according to new data.

Foods to include:
     -vegetables (esp. non-starchy)
     -fruits
     -whole grains
     -omega-3 (fish, olive oil, flax oil)
     -legumes
     -lean protein sources 
     -eggs

Foods to drop:
     -white flour and sugar
     -processed foods, fried food
     -alcohol (except moderate red wine)

Amazingly, people who followed the above diet were four times more likely to no longer be defined as depressed than the other group that received social support sessions! This was published in BMC Medicine.  Imagine if they combined some exercise in with that!  Previous studies have shown that exercise (4x's/week) also had a huge impact on mood.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Darrell

Have a HAPPY, HEALTHY Long Weekend.

Enjoy spending time with your family, friends and the Great Outdoors!

#WellnessDoc #healthylifestyle 

Bad Genes?  You can beat them!

I hear it a lot from patients, "The problem runs in my family so I can't do anything about it."  Not true I say!  An example is new evidence regarding heart disease is showing that even a family history of heart attack can be cut in half with exercise and a healthy diet.  If you have a family history of heart disease put this list on your fridge and live by it.

-3 non-starchy vegetable servings /day
-3 of fruit
-1/week of nuts
-3 of fish
-2 of dairy
-3 of whole grains
-no more than 1 serving red meat/week, and of course no trans fat, no sugar sweetened beverages, no more than 2 grams of salt daily

Also, you gotta exercise.  The study only looked at one bout of exercise per week showing a benefit but other studies have shown the best outcomes with 4 x's per week.  That will take the belt size down which is a big risk factor as well.

Back problems, bad knees, arthritis, weight loss issues, you name it.  I've heard it blamed on genes and yes they are a factor but you can minimize that factor.  That's what we do here at South Centre Clinic!  We look for the weak links in your health based on your current and past history, lifestyle and family history and we provide non-drug, non surgical ways to strengthen those weak links so you can be you healthful best!

Live better, live longer!  Yours in Health, Dr. Darrell

Foods to Soothe Digestion Problems

Bloating and gas can come from a variety of foods.   It can also change over a life-time.  Sensitivities change over time for a variety of reasons.  One common reason is changes in digestive enzymes.  Sometimes foods that you've consumed for a long time can become problematic to your digestive system.

I often recommend a high quality probiotic to see if a patient is missing some key gut flora before trying to eliminate foods.  If you've already tried a probiotic it's time to start eliminating foods that may be difficult for you to digest.  A place to start is dairy.  Lactose can become difficult to digest as you age.  Specifically cow milk and soft cheeses such as cottage cheese, ricotta etc.  Hard cheeses such as cheddar may still be OK.

Next you can try eliminating wheat, rye and barley.  If you notice a change there you may want to go through with a gluten elimination to see if there are any sensitivities related to this specific protein.  Remember though, just because it's gluten free does not mean it's healthier for you.  A lot of gluten free processed food is actually quite terrible from a nutritional perspective.  It's often high in corn meal, sugar etc which is not great for cattle or for you.
If the above does not help after a four week trial try eliminating, each group one by one, the following grouping of foods:

onion bulbs
broccoli, kidney beans, soybeans
apple, mango, watermelon
agave syrup, high fructose corn syrup (this should be eliminated from everyone's diet!), fruit juice concentrate
cherries, peach apricot, plum, sorbitol, erythritol

So many people pop pills and drink potions to counter these symptoms when the symptoms are simply your body talking to you.  It's your body saying, "I can't handle this!"

Listen to your body.  Dr. Darrell

Preventing Bone Loss the Right Way

Using Drugs for Osteoporosis makes your body keep low quality, low strength old bone.  It makes the next bone density test look good but does much less in terms of preventing fractures.  As with all drugs they also have side effects.
Dr. Genuis from the University of Alberta has some great ideas from his research.  I've combined his research with some of my own to come up with a better way for those who want to prevent bone loss.
It comes down to getting enough weight bearing exercise (sorry swimmers) and the right nutrition.

Yes you need calcium but you also need Vitamin D (supplement), strontium, vitamin K, and essential fatty acids.

The sun around here is not going to cut it for Vitamin D.  The wavelength of light we get is fine for giving you a burn but apparently is not great at converting to Vitamin D3.  This is one you will need to supplement.  I like the Vit D3 drops for convenience.

Strontium is found in spinach, whole grains, and seafood.

Vitamin K is in green leafy vegtables, broccoli, Kale, cabbage, asparagus and olive oil

Omega 3 fatty acids are good for so many things.  You can add bone strength to the list.  Fish or fish oils in supplement form are "essential!" Omega 6 will do the opposite so stay away from safflower oils, corn based chips and snacks, potato chips and pork.  Foods like nuts also have Omega 6 but they have off-setting benefits as well so go ahead and eat them in moderation.

Dr. Genuis has also come up with the heel drop exercise to stimulate bone strength.  You get up on your the balls of your feet and let your heels drop.  100 a day oughta shake a few fillings loose!
I prefer a run or weight training but in a pinch a few heel drop sets can fill the gap.

Get Strong!  Dr. D.

Morin's Morning Smoothie

A great protein and veggie hit to start your day!

1. 1/2 cup Frozen Berries 
2. 1/2 frozen Banana or preferable 1/2 of a Avocado
3. Bunch of organic Kale 
4. 2 Tbsp. Flax oil
5. Protein powder or Plain greek yogurt 
6. Almond milk (enough to make it smooth)

2017 is going to be Great! 

Your WellnessDoc team is here to Educate, Empower and Encourage you to achieve your Health & Wellness goals.  Lots of great information on getting active, healthy eating, chiropractic care, positive living & more on our WellnessDoc Pinterest page.

https://www.pinterest.com/wellnessdoc0944/

Bone Up!!

I've got a bone to pick with current management of osteoporosis! It's always a drug with medicine. For some reason, when you suggest something other than a drug or surgery for problems it's seen as primitive or un-sophisticated. Either that or the medics think that it's just too hard for someone to do. 

OK so drink milk right! Wrong. Large scale studies have shown that milk slightly increases osteoporosis! WOW, and how long did milk producers feed us that! It's white and looks like bone but it has omega 6 which increases bone resorption. Omega 3 on the other hand decreases bone resorption. Yes, fish oils which don't look at all like bone and have no calcium are better for you than milk for your bone density. The best thing in milk is the Vitamin D3 that they add to milk. You are better off just taking your own supplement instead. 

Drugs do a great job making your bone density tests look good but not as good a job actually preventing fractures. Your bones are always being replaced by new strong bone (slower as you get older) and removing old bone. Drugs work by reducing the rate at which your body removes the old bone. In other words, you get a build up of old bone which make the re-test of density look good but does little to prevent fracture risk. The old bone is brittle so it's acutally not great at preventing a fracture. Drugs also (and always) have side effects. Softening of the jaw bone, etc.

Next week I will go over how to prevent bone loss in a natural, effective way. 

Yours in Health, Dr. D., The Wellness Doc

Part 3 of 3: Emotional Stessors

It got darker quicker than you expected, you're in the woods. Now you feel like something is watching you. You whip your flashlight around to see if there's something behind you but nothing there. You start thinking, "I'm being childish, smarten up!" Suddenly a snarl, white eye's and the flash of teeth! Your hair is on end, your heart is thumping and you feel your legs flying under your body. You are running hard. You feel the branches whipping your face until you finally emerge onto the streetlights and finally the road and even houses. Yes! You're safe; out of breath, sweating but safe. 

Chiropractors and neurologists call this a sympathetic nervous system response. It's the fight or flight mechanism that we were born with. It's part of the limbic system in your brain. It's cortisol and adrenalin that shut down blood to the higher reasoning centres of the brain and open up blood to the heart and skeletal muscles so we can run away from the bear in the woods. It kept our ancestors alive when a bear or lion tried to eat them. It gave hunters more power and endurance to capture prey.

These days we don't get chased by lions and we don't do a lot of hunting with spears. However, we still get this kind of stress when we think we might get fired, when your computer does not work or your spouse and you are not getting along. Instead of an occasional lion it's constant mosquito's of life giving us the same fight or flight stress. The problem is that we are not running off that cortisol and nervous energy. The stress therefore stores in our nervous system and causes brain and spinal problems. Remember, if your higher reasoning centres are deprived of blood because your under stress all the time it's even more difficult to get out of those stess cycles.

One of the goals of our office is to not only release those stores of nervous system stress but also to help you get out of those cycles. We adjust the spine for the physical and also the attitude for the brain. Be grateful, get exercise and get adjusted regularly. Stress will always be there, it's our method of coping with it that counts. 

Put another way, it's not our situation that determines our outcomes how we react to that situation.

All the best, Dr. D.

Part 2 of 3: Physical Stressors

Genetics change over thousands of years. We adapt from generation to generation to our environment. The strong survive and reproduce. The weak have died before reproducing. It all goes back to Darwin and his book "Evolution of the Species". Obviously, our ancestors of the last several thousand years lived very differently than we do and adapted to the environment along the way over thousands of years. 

In the last couple hundred years our lifestyles have changed dramtically but our genetics have not caught up to the change (not even close). We are not designed to sit in front of computers, do such repetitive activities, and eat so many empty calories. That's the prime reason we are seeing the rise of so many chronic diseases. Keep in mind that the increased longevity we see in our population is largely due to decreased infant mortality as that makes the average lifespan increase. It's not due to the miracles of modern medicine as is often cited in the media but mostly attributed to simple hygine, i.e. hand washing.

So there are the dramatic causes of subluxation such as falls, car accidents and lifting incorrectly but this represents a mere fraction of the causes of subluxation. A vast majority of subluxations come from the stress of not living according to our genetics. We stress our bodies when we eat processed foods, sit for prolonged periods and do not exercise away our stress hormones.

What can you do? 

1. Move it, every day as if you are foraging for food or trying to catch it! 

2. Eat whole food. I'll make this simple; if it has a fine print label it's probably not a whole food. 

Yours in health, Dr. D.

(July22.2016)

Part 1 of 3: Food Stressors

1. High fructose corn syrup (HFC's), found in pop and lots of sweet processed foods. eg. BBQ sauce

2. Hydrogenated fats

3. Trans fats

4. MSG or anything with hydrolyzed...protein. It's a tricky way of hiding MSG

5. Aspartame

6. Food additives and colours

Some examples are fried foods like donuts, chips and white flour (the only grains should be whole oats or wild rice) sprayed early harvested fruit and vegtables, smoked or cured meat, farmed fish and pork fat. 

Avoid using non-stick pans, use stainless steel or cast iron. Too high of temperature frying with oils (see further down this page for the topic), gently steam vegtables or eat them raw. Avoid burning or at least cut off burnt parts of cooked meat (esp. chicken). 

Yours in Health, Dr. D.

(July 11, 2016)

Three Stressors that cause Subluxation

First of all, a subluxation is when a joint in the spine is not moving properly and effects the nerve that is exiting between the spinal bones. That's the basic way movement can effect nerve function. The bones of your back are like an armour for the very delicate nerves that exit between them. When the bones don't move properly they can irritate the nerves. A properly function nervous system is critical for health. Any type of stress can cause subluxations in the spine. The subluxation, in turn, causes health problems. That's one of the links between the stressor and the disease.

The three stessors are environmental stress, emotional stress and physical stress. Some common environmental stessors to avoid are:

Household: 

-vinyl (siding and windows)-chemical based paints
-perfumes/hair products

-antibacterial soap

-carpet

-particle board

-attached garages

-poor ventilation

-chemical deodorizers/cleaners

-pesticides/herbicides

-plastic food containers

-fire retradants

-tracking chemicals into your house on your shoes

Next week we'll talk about some better choices for your diet.

Yours in Health, Dr. D.

(June 30, 2016)