Ventura Spinal Care Center » age-related health issues

Purple Fruits Ward Off Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:08:31 +0000

Eating purple fruits, such as blueberries, can help ward off neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Drinking green tea can also have the same protective effect.
New research finds that the majority of debilitating illnesses are in part caused by poorly-bound iron. The iron causes the production of dangerous toxins, called hydroxyl radicals, that cause degenerative diseases of many kinds. Nutrients known as iron chelators, however, can bind the iron tightly.

Science Daily reports:
“Brightly-colored fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of chelators, as is green tea, with purple fruits considered to have the best chance of binding the iron effectively.”

Sources:
Science Daily December 8, 2010

Technorati Tags: alzheimers, Chiropractor Ventura, ms, parkinson's, purple fruits, Where:Ventura-CA

Ventura Chiropractor: Seniors Who Exercise Are Healthier Overall

Dr. Steven Alff — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:44:33 +0000

Well, here I go again, touting the benefits of exercise. But, I have to tell you that, as a chiropractor in Ventura, over the years I’ve adjusted the spines of people who exercise regularly and people who don’t. The differences in the strength, function, and overall health, not only of their musculoskeletal systems, but in the healthy function of all the systems of the body, is dramatic. For this reason, I’m passing along the results of yet another study on the benefits of exercise.

New research at Mid Sweden University and the Karolinska Institue found that the maximum capacity for oxygen uptake is twice as great among active senior men compared with men who do not exercise. (Twice as much oxygen intake!) “The high values for maximum oxygen-uptake capacity that we have measured have never been reported before in a population of men of advanced age,” says Per Tesch, professor of sports science who led the study of seniors who are still active skiers. (Some of Sweden’s skiing icons, some now more than 90 years old, took part!)

The conclusion of this study is that “humans have a great potential to maintain a high level of physical work capacity and, thereby, a better quality of life even at advanced ages.” The study is part of a larger collaborative project whose ultimate purpose is to study how musculature, the circulatory apparatus, and performance are affected by lifelong exercising well into senior years.

So, there you have it… One more good reason to get your body moving and to keep going no matter what your age!

Sources: Expertanswer, AlphaGalileo Foundation.

Technorati Tags: exercise, new research, senior health, Where:Ventura-CA

Ventura Chiropractor Advises Seniors: Get Tested for Balance, Grip Strength, and Walking Speed

Dr. Steven Alff — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:13:37 +0000

“Getting old takes courage,” right? If you are already a senior, you probably agree! The older we get, the more health risks, and even death risks, we incur. As a Ventura chiropractor I know from treating hundreds of patients through the years, that the aging process stresses the musculoskeletal system. Joints degenerate often due to poor posture, improper gait, and repetitive movement. In addition, the nervous system often becomes impaired causing balance problems. Falls are a major cause of injury and death among seniors. The good news is that there are screening tests available that can assess the physicl abilities of those who are middle-aged and above to help identify individuals who are at increased risk of accident, injury, and death, so that interventions such as strength training and balance issues can be made.

The tests involve simple physical activities that people perform on a regular basis. Grip strength, walking speed, rising from a chair, and balancing on one leg can reveal a person’s capacity to perform everyday tasks safely. To bring the point home, so to speak, in order to help people understand the importance of strength and balance, researchers at the University College London analyzed 33 studies that examined physical capabilities in people of any age and recorded subsequent deaths among the participants. Overall, those who had poorer results on physical function tests had a consistently higher risk of death.

What did the tests reveal specifically? Here are some of the test results:

In 14 studies that included a total of 53,476 people, the death rate was 1.67 times higher for people with the weakest grip strength than for those with the strongest grip.

Five studies that included a total of 14,692 people found that the death rate was 2.87 times higher for the slowest walkers than for the fastest walkers.

Five studies that included a total of 28,036 people found that the death rate was nearly twice as high for people who were slowest to rise from a chair than for those who were quickest at this task.

It is important to not that while most of the studies included older people, the association between grip strength and death risk was also found in younger adults. The study was published online Sept. 10 in the BMJ.

So, the good news is that such screenings are available. But, even better news is that your chiropractor can not only also assess your abilities in these areas, but can recommend individualized strength exercises and reassess your abilities. And, in addition, chiropractic care has been shown to be relieve balance problems such as vertigo and those relating to improper alignment and nervous system interference. So, if you’d like an evaluation of your risk potential, as well as help with lowering that risk, see your chiropractor in Ventura today!

For more information on seniors and exercise, go to: The U.S. National Institute on Aging

Technorati Tags: balance, chiropractic, grip strength, senior safety, walking speed, Where:Ventura-CA

Ventura Chiropractor Proposes a Playground For Adults Only

Dr. Steven Alff — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:09:03 +0000

Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that as your Ventura chiropractor I believe that exercise, at any age, is one of the main keys to good health and longevity. You’ve heard me say that “motion is life,” and it becomes all the more critical as people age. Movement slows down degenerative changes and often prevents many of them from occurring at all. In addition, movement enhances blood flow, respiration, and elimination, and keeps every organ stronger and healthier. So, you can imagine my excitement when I read about a “senior’s playground” that opened in London’s Hyde Park recently. The playground was the result of senior residents campaigning for more facilities to help older people to get fit. Brilliant! Talk about an idea whose time has come!

Organizers said that a large group of older people began lining up early in the morning to try the six low-impact fitness machines that included a cross-trainer, a stationary bicycle, and a sit-up bench.

The playground is aimed at people over 60, but the gentle exercise would also be beneficial for patients recovering from operations or injury. Similar play areas for the elderly are already availabe in other European countries. So, why not here in the U.S.? Older people need a “free” friendly outside exercise area where they not only won’t feel intimidated by younger people, but will be able to socialize as they improve their health.

So, got a pen and paper handy? How about a laptop? Even your cell phone will work! Start a campaign in your area for a “playground for seniors.” If you don’t personally need one today…you will sometime in the future!

Technorati Tags: age-related health issues, exercise, Where:Ventura-CA