Are Your Feet the SOURCE of Your Pain?

Your feet are the foundation of your body, your spine, and your gait. They act as shock absorbers and

levers to propel you forward while walking, running, and jumping. However when there is a breakdown in structure of your foot, like flat feet or ankle collapse, it can contribute to a number of different issues including arthritis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, knee pain, hip or groin pain, and even low back pain.

Check out the picture to the right, this shows the left ankle and foot collapsing inward, this motion is known as pronation or hyperpronatin in this case. This pronation of the foot and ankle can cause twisting of the bones that make up the knee to lead to arthritis, cartilage wearing, and increased stress on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in the knee. Repetitive pronation especially when under high forces of running or sudden movements while playing sports can actually weaken those ligaments until they tear completely which is an immediate need for surgery!

In addition, the loss of shock absorbing power in the foot due to this pronation can also increase the shock that the knee, hip, and spine have to absorb which can lead to degeneration in the spine and lower extremity.

How do you know if you have an issue?

1) You may have an issue if you have a history of health conditions such as plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, shin splints, bunions, hammer toes, knee or ankle pain or injury, degeneration or arthritis in the spine or legs, or a history of disc herniation or degenerative disc disease.

2) Stand on your feet and have someone look at your feet and ankles. Do they bow inward or does the achilles tendon bow rather than staying straight up and down? (Reference the picture above for what bowing looks like.)

3) Perform a navicular drop test at home. To do this you'll need an index card and a pen. Sit down and use the pen to draw a dot on the hard bone on the middle of your foot. Place the index card on the inside of your foot and draw a line on the card next to the dot you made on the foot. Stand up and then draw another line where the dot has dropped. If the lines are more than 8mm apart, you have an issue. (check the picture below for what this should look like.)

If you do have an issue, there are a number of great options to help correct pronation and help to reduce your risk of injury or arthritis. In many cases a home exercise and stretching program can strengthen and balance muscles to get rid of pronation all together, however some folks will need additional help with an orthotic to support their arch. Depending on your daily activities and how your body responds to the exercise program, you may need additional support from a custom fitted orthotic that is designed specifically for you. In my office, we have many styles available including orthotics that can be worn in high heels or dress shoes and heavy duty orthotics for those that are on their feet or support additional weight from work equipment (such as firemen or police officers) or from lifting.

If you'd like more information or would like to setup a free consultation, please call my office at 309-689-6200 today.

Top 3 Most Dangerous Pain Relievers

Over the counter pain medications are frequently used in the United States. In fact, there was $1,750,600,000 spent on over the counter prescription medication last year. (1)

The fact that these pain relievers are common does not make them safe. Every year more than 100,000 Americans are hospitalized due to OTC complications with 16,000 deaths annually as a result of these medications.

So What are the Top 3 Most Dangerous Ones?

1) Acetaminophen (aka tylenol)
This medication can cause liver, brain and kidney damage when taken in staggered overdose by taking more than recommended overtime. In addition, prolonged use is responsible for 50% of ALL cases of acute liver failure.

2) Non-steriodal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs aka advil, aleve, ibuprofen, naproxen)
Long term use of these medications can cause gastrointestinal disorders including severe and often fatal gastric bleeding, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure. In addition, taking these with alcohol can increase your risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding and perforated ulcers.

3) Aspirin or acetylsalicylate (also considered an NSAID)
This medication is actually an NSAID and long term use, even the buffered or coated variety, can increase your risk factors of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. Aspirin also has serious side effects for young children and even young adults including swelling of the brain and liver which is called Reye's Syndrome. This syndrome can lead to death.

Be careful not to overdose and don't underestimate the danger of OTCs, because when you combine tylenol with acetominophen and have a prescription with NSAIDs you can have TOXIC levels of pain relievers that can cause lasting damage and possibly even cause an overdose that can lead to death.

If you want safe alternatives, call my office to setup a free consultation (we also provide phone consultations) to talk more about safe pain management. AlignLife of Peoria can be reached at 309-689-6200 or peoria@alignlife.com.

Resources

(1)Annual Sales of the leading OTC pain relief products in the US in JUly 2014 in million US dollars. http://www.statista.com/statistics/322991/sales-of-otc-pain-relief-products-in-the-us/

RECIPE: A Slice Different than Plain ol Pancakes

I just have to share this recipe because YUM it was awesome and toddler approved!

Apple Ring Pancakes (taken from Family Fun Sept 2014 edition)

Ingredients:

2 large apples (cored and thinly sliced)

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp cinnamon

7 ½ tsp sugar

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

1 cup flour (coconut or almond meal can be used instead of white or wheat flour)

¼ tsp salt

1 egg

2 tbsp butter (melted)

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

½ tsp lemon zest

Directions:

1. Toss apple slices in lemon juice and then sprinkle with 3 tsp sugar and ½ tsp cinnamon.
2. Whisk remaining sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, flour, and salt.
3. Whisk together remaining ingredients in separate bowl and add flour mixture.
4. Assemble “pancake” by spooning batter over apple slice and letting remainder drop back into bowl.
5. Place into buttered pan and cook “pancakes” 5 minutes per side.
6. Enjoy!

7 Foods to Reduce Mucus During Allergy Season

Allergy season has sprung back to life! Want to reduce your symptoms without medication? Try out these 7 REAL foods with mucus fighting powers.

#1 Pineapple
Pineapple contains bromelain which reduces mucus and phlegm production and aids in allowing mucus to move through the sinuses and other areas of the body easier.

#2 Celery
Celery is a natural antioxidant that contains Vitamin A and beta-carotene plus a number of other vitamins and minerals. In addition, the lutein and zea-xanthin levels in celery are a powerful immune system booster.

#3 Papaya
Papaya contains an important enzyme called papain with anti-inflammatory properties and thins out mucus.

#4 Carrots
Carrots contain phyto-nutrients that are powerful immune system boosters. In addition, they contain silicon which help strengthen connective tissues and aid in calcium absorption.

#5 Radish
Radish contains enzymes that can literally dissolve mucus in our bodies and help fight allergies with anti inflammatory properties

#6 Garlic
Garlic also contains enzymes that can dissolve mucus in our bodies but this fighter is also a natural antibiotic that can be used not only in food but also in ear oils and sprays to help fight ear infections and sore throats.

#7 Apple Cider Vinegar
This powerhouse can not only fight mucus but can also alkalize your gut and boost your immune system. ACV can also help to thin and break up mucus making it easier to clear from the body. I'd recommend 1 tbsp with a full glass of water per day when you're having symptoms.


For more information or natural help with your allergies call 689-6200 to schedule your consultation at my office.

3 Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Spring is finally here and with it comes allergy season! Have you been sneezing up a storm or hacking and coughing from the pressure? Time to get relief the natural way without the dry itch or drowsiness.

Allergies are caused by the over-response of your body's immune system to common things in your environment. If your body is reacting to multiple things at one time it can increase your immune response by ten fold, this means if you have more than one allergy you are seriously suffering from some allergy effects. So what can you do to reduce your symptoms?

Step #1: Determine what you're allergic to

Step #2 Find out where you're getting exposed to it.

Step #3 Reduce your exposure or reduce your allergy response.

#1 Determining what you're allergic to may be as simple as keeping a food diary or just looking at the seasonal calendar. Skin scratch tests can be unreliable and even give false positives whereas most blood testing will only tell you your allergy markers are elevated. If you truly need help with determining what you're allergic to, an lymphocyte reactive assay (LRA test) is the most effective because it will test your white blood cells (your immune responders) against different antigens to see if they react and how serious of a reaction your body has. We do perform this testing in my office, however insurance coverage varies depending on your plan so you may have to pay out of pocket for this test. The good news is that once you know what you're allergic to you can avoid it to facilitate healing and even getting rid of your allergy for good.

#2 can be quite tough especially if you have allergies from food additives and the change of season at the same time. The best thing to do is to start by reducing common food allergens (gluten from wheat and cow's milk) to reduce the amount of inflammation and mucus your body is producing. If you're not sure what you're allergic too it's time to start a food diary or tracking allergies with the calendar. Many allergens today are found with food chemicals and preservatives which are very hard to avoid today.

#3 If you know what you're allergic to then simply reduce your exposure or avoid the allergen in food as much as possible, however if there's no possible way to avoid it then you need to find another solution. Many over the counter medications cause drowsiness, painful dry itch in the sinus cavity, and possibly even cause serious side effects to you (including weakening your immune system and putting yourself at risk for further sickness). A natural option that can be very effective is a product I carry in my office called Aller-aid. This product works by stopping your body from having an allergy response in the first place which will reduce all the inflammatory chemicals rather than waiting for you to have an allergy response like with most over the counters.

If you need more help, call 689-6200 to schedule a consultation to discuss natural ways of beating your allergies!

Iodine Deficiency linked with Hypothyroidism and Heart Health

Iodine deficiency has increased nearly 4x in the past 40 years and according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition 74% of Americans are deficient in iodine. Iodine deficiency can cause direct issues with the thyroid gland but can also severely effect ovarian, heart, and immune health as well. In fact, the ovaries hold the 2nd highest concentration of iodine in the body after the thyroid gland.

Iodine used to be used in bread products however due to national laws, bread companies have been required to use bromine instead of iodine in bread. Bromine is supposed to assist yeast in allowing bread to rise, however it is highly toxic to your body and can actually interfere with iodine absorption in the body and lead to thyroid issues. Iodine deficiency has been linked to a number of health conditions including hypothyroidism, goiter, atrial fibrillation of the heart, mercury toxicity of the heart leading to heart disease, insulin resistance associated with diabetes, prediabetics, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Traditional medicine often uses sythetic thyroid hormones that already have iodine bound to them to treat hypothyroidism. For treatment of atrial fibrillation, many doctors utilize the medication Amiodarone which is a toxic sustained release form of iodine that can stabilize the heartbeat after 1500mg of iodine has been released by the medication with dangerous long term effects with continued use.

According to Dr. Michael Donaldson, "Iodine stabilizes the heart rhythm, lowers serum cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and is known to make the blood thinner as well, judging by longer clotting times seen by clinicians. Iodine is not only good for the cardiovascular system, it is vital." 

What are the symptoms of iodine deficiency?

Moderate to high deficiency: brittle nails and thinning hair, cold hands and feet, depression, difficulty swallowing, dry skin or hair loss, fatigue, hoarseness, lethargy, menstrual irregularities, poor memory or concentration, slower heartbeat, throat pain, or weight gain. Children can also exhibit signs of mental retardation, developmental delays, and even some complications of Down's Syndrome.

Severe deficiency: infertility, thyroid dysfunction, fibrocystic breast disease or breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, 

How can you be tested?

AlignLife offers a simple skin test to check for rapid iodine deficiency through the skin and also offers laboratory testing for hormone and thyroid imbalances and panels for heart, liver, and cholesterol dysfunction. If you'd like to setup a free consultation with Dr. Andrea Schnowske to find out if iodine is contributing or causing your health issues, call AlignLife today at 689-6200.

Constipation: An Epidemic with Deeper Issues and Effects

Constipation is the most common digestive complaint in the United States and affects women three times more than men. Chronic constipation is a serious health issue that can not only cause pain but also contribute to other health conditions including headaches, migraines, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. To understand the deeper issues associated with constipation let us take a closer look at the digestive system and how it works.

When food is initially eaten it passes down the esophagus and into the stomach. The stomach has a thick mucus layer that produces digestive juices and protects the stomach lining from irritation. As we age this layer produces less gastric acid which means it will take longer for us to digest the same meals we ate when we were younger. (YES it is normal for us to produce less stomach acid as we age, NOT MORE as many people that have been incorrectly diagnosed with acid reflux and GERD believe.) Ideally food will only stay in the stomach for about 30-45 minutes before passing through the next stop in the digestive system, however due to less acid being produced sometimes food can take hours to empty the stomach which can cause lack of appetite, belching, and other reflux-like symptoms due to food putrefying within the stomach. In this case a natural supplement such as Gastro Plus can assist with increasing acid production in the stomach. In some folks this mucus layer can also thin due to nutrient deficiencies and poor diet which can lead to stomach pain after a meal or after eating certain foods. This mucus layer and the acid it produces can be regrown and healed when our body has the proper nerve function from the spine to direct healing and the proper nutrition from a natural supplement such as Gastro Guard that can assist in the healing process.

From the stomach, food will pass into the small intestine where further breakdown and all of our nutrient absorption takes place. The small intestine also has a protective layer secreted by the beneficial bacteria in our gut to protect the intestinal lining from irritation. If the pH of the intestine is too low (acidic) it can lead to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria such as yeast and gas producing bacteria. For probiotic support of these beneficial bacteria you can try Ultrabiotic or our children's line of Pedia Biotic. If this delicate balance of bacteria and pH is altered it can cause abdominal pain or gas, nutritional deficiencies, gut inflammation, allergies, auto immune diseases, and also alter mood due to hormone disruption. In addition, when our hormone balance is altered we can have delayed motility of the intestine due to hormone deficiencies such as progesterone deficiency. Dietary habits (fiber from fruits and vegetables mainly) also have a direct impact on how food moves through the intestine and  how much cholesterol we absorb from our food.

Once nutrients have been absorbed, the food will pass into the large intestine where the body will attempt to conserve water and salt from fecal matter before being passed through to the last stop on your digestive train... the toilet. Dietary habits play a huge factor in how fecal matter moves through the system which is why it is so important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily. If our large intestine has altered nerve function from nerve irritation in the lumbar spine this can also contribute to the time fecal matter spends in the intestine. When waste does not pass through the digestive system in a timely manner fecal matter can become hard and can stick to the wall of the intestine and cause further digestive issues. This stagnant waste can also build up toxins that can be reabsorbed into the body to cause chronic headaches, weight gain, and fatigue.

So what can you do to keep your digestive system health?

1) Drink plenty of water. This will keep your joints and muscle hydrated and assist in letting things slide on through the digestive system without issue.

2) Eat at least 7 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Vegetables are the most important as they provide the alkalizing benefits to keep your beneficial bacteria strong and the most nutrients out of any food you can eat!

3) If you are having issues with constipation or having a bowel movement less than once a day, it is time to talk to your doctor. Most doctors will discuss changing your dietary habits to get the most benefits and healing properties out of your food. If changing your diet doesn't yield the results you need it would be a wise idea to get your nervous system and your hormone balance checked for issues. AlignLife offers free consultations in the office or via phone to discuss your health concerns and non invasive salivary hormone testing to check for underlying issues.

4) If you've been dealing with stomach or abdominal pain or have been diagnosed with acid reflux or GERD and aren't getting results with your current treatment, give AlignLife a call to setup a free health consultation to discuss your specific case and get advice on natural treatment options that would be available to you.

To schedule an appointment at our Peoria AlignLife office on Sheridan Rd, call 309-689-6200 or visit our website online www.AlignLife.com/Peoria. If you don't live in Peoria but would like to find an AlignLife near you, visit www.AlignLife.com and select "Find A Clinic".