Fatherhood May Alter the Brain

By Randy DotingaHealthDay ReporterThu Aug 24, 11:47 PM ET
THURSDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay) -- Does being a dad change a man's brain? The answer isn't clear in humans, but a study with tiny monkeys called marmosets suggests fatherhood may alter gray matter.
Researchers say the structure of the brain is different in marmoset dads vs. non-dads. They also found that the brains of fathers were more receptive to a hormone linked to learning.
The Princeton University study is "very exciting" because it's apparently the first to link paternal parenting to physical and chemical changes in the brain of any primate, said Jon E. Levine, a professor of neurobiology and physiology at Northwestern University who's familiar with this research.
"Marmoset fathers, unlike many other male mammals, are very involved in offspring care," noted study lead author Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, a graduate student in neuroscience at Princeton.
In humans, the prefrontal cortex is considered a center for emotion and higher thinking, including learning about the consequences of actions.
The researchers also found that the brains of marmoset fathers had more receptors for a hormone known as vasopressin, a neuropeptide. That means their brains could process more of this chemical than the brains of non-dads.
Vasopressin is strongly connected to parental behavior, the researchers added. In humans, the hormone -- produced in the pituitary gland -- is crucial for learning and memory.
In essence, then, "the experience of being a father dramatically alters brain regions important for cognition," Kozorovitskiy said.
According to Levine, it's not yet clear how these changes came about in the marmoset brains. "Do these changes mediate some aspect of paternal behavior, or are they secondary to physical or hormonal changes that may occur as a consequence of the behavior?" he asked. "Cause and effect still need to be explored."
And, of course, researchers would like to know if there are similar effects in human fathers. For now, though, "these are primates that exhibit paternal behavior, which is about as close to human relevance that you are going to get with an experimental animal," Levine said.
More information
For fatherhood facts, see the National Fatherhood Initiative.

Copyright © 2006 HealthDay. All rights reserved.The information contained above is intended for general reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment. Medical information changes rapidly and while Yahoo and its content providers make efforts to update the content on the site, some information may be out of date. No health information on Yahoo, including information about herbal therapies and other dietary supplements, is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.

Sleep Deprivation Linked to Weight Gain

Charlene Laino
Medscape Medical News 2006. © 2006 Medscape
May 24, 2006 (San Diego) — A new study presented here at the American Thoracic Society International Conference shows that middle-aged women who sleep 5 or fewer hours each night weigh an average of 2.5 kg more than those who sleep for at least 7 hours. "Sleep deprivation has important effects on a patient's health, so clinicians should really ask their patients about their sleep habits," said study presenter Sanjay Patel, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. "Getting a good's night sleep has already been shown to have effects on diabetes and heart disease and now we see it affects weight as well."Dr. Patel told Medscape that previous studies had already shown that women, men, and children who sleep less tend to weigh more than those who sleep more. But what had not been clear, he explained, is whether the loss of sleep caused the weight gain or vice versa. In addition to weighing more at baseline, the women who slept less tended to gain more weight over time, Dr. Patel reported. One of the most surprising findings, Dr. Patel said, was that the women who slept less actually ate less as well. .“The practicing physician really needs to stress to her patient that getting a good night’s sleep is not just a luxury,” Dr. Badr told Medscape. “It’s a mandatory way to improve your health.”ATS 2006 International Conference: Abstract C88. Presented May 23, 2006.Reviewed by Margaret Clark, RN, RRT-NPS

Most Americans don't get preventive healthcare

Mon May 22, 3:57 PM ET

Many Americans are failing to get the preventive medical care that could help them live longer, healthier lives, according to a new study.
Preventive measures, like a daily dose of aspirin, colon cancer screening and smoking-cessation therapy, are all effective ways to save lives and healthcare dollars, but fewer than half of Americans who need these services are getting them, the study found.
The findings, published online by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, are based on an analysis of more than 8,000 previously published studies. Researchers with the non-profit groups Partnership for Prevention and HealthPartners Research Foundation ranked 25 recommended preventive services according to their potential health benefits and medical-cost savings.

SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, online May 16, 2006.

Obesity + Diabetes=Diabesity

Obesity often is associated with a constellation of other conditions and diseases. Obese people suffer from high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, digestive problems, poor sleep, autoimmune disorders, pain, hormonal imbalances, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and frequently Type II Diabetes. The prevalence of the combination of obesity and diabetes has led doctors to coin a new phrase; diabesty. Dr. Val Jones, Founding Editor, Clinical Nutrition & Obesity, Medscape General Medicine; Instructor, Rehabilitation Medicine, New York Medical College, Saint Vincent's Hospital, New York, NY says that "America's diabesity problem is not about moral failure, laziness, or lack of effort." She recommends an integrative rehabilitative team approach to solving this problem that afflicts 1/3 of Americans.

The key to success lies not only within the team approach but with the patient's ability to change their way of thinking from quick fix to long term health. Dr. Diana Schwarzbein says that most people think of losing weight in order to become healthy when in fact it's the other way around. Healthy people lose weight. We can treat the obesity and the diabetes but the most effective treatment lies within the patient's attitude and the body's inherent ability to heal. This requires doctors to become better educated in an integrative health model and to educate our patients!

My weight loss protocol is customized for every patient according to what their issues are but there are certain core protocols that I follow. First I want to know how they are sleeping and what their stress levels are like! Does that sound strange? Let me explain. If stress is high and sleep is irregular or absent then it's likely that cortisol is high. When cortisol is high so is insulin. One action of insulin is to store fat. If we can normalize cortisol then we can normalize insulin. By doing this we achieve many great things; better sleep (and everything that goes along with that), fat loss, decreased incidence of diabetes, and a decreased chance of all the other diseases mentioned earlier in this article.

Good health is within your reach! The body wants and needs to function normally and even if polluted with toxins and excess fat it will respond to your efforts and reward you!

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Are Migraines Giving You a Headache?

About 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. Hippocrates described the symptoms as far back as 400 B.C.E. Migraine headaches tend to be one-sided, throbbing, with moderate or severe pain that is made worse by routine physical activities. During migraine attacks the blood vessels become inflamed and dilated. The pulsing or throbbing pain is triggered by the blood vessel being stretched every time the heart beats. Migraine attacks are always accompanied by something other than the pain; people may have nausea, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound or odors. 20 percent of people experience an aura, or visual display. Experts can’t predict who it will strike, although it does run in families. It even happens to kids who might have stomach pain with their headache. Migraines last from 4 to 72 hours. On average, untreated, they last 24 hours. With effective treatment they could last as little as ten minutes. On average, migraine attacks occur once or twice a month. Triggers are highly individual but can include dietary factors, stress, medications, hormonal or neurotransmitter imbalances, and changes in altitude. Doctors recommend keeping a headache diary in which the patient records when the headache began, how long it lasted, how they dealt with it, and whether treatment was effective. Once a trigger can be established then the appropriate treatment may prescribed. Many times there is a stress and nutritional component. Traditional treatment utilizes various drugs which have proven to be effective but also may have unwanted side effects. In some cases surgery is utilized to remove the muscles that are found to be in spasm.With this in mind Migravent has been developed to naturally and effectively prevent migraines without unwanted side effects. It can even be used in conjunction with your medications under your doctor’s supervision.David Steiner, M.D., Chief of Neurology at Peninsula Hospital, says, “There are many treatment options available for migraines and other headache disorders. Migravent's natural compounds represent a cutting edge herbal therapy that has been shown in studies to help serve as a prophylactic (used to prevent a migraine or other headache from ever starting in the first place) for migraines, without the need for traditional medication with all the known side effects that can accompany the use of pharmaceuticals. Many recent scientific studies have supported the use of the key ingredients in Migravent as a proven, useful therapy for migraines that is both all natural and effective in serving to treat and relieve the pain of migraine headaches.With the proper diet, nutrition, chiropractic care, and other forms of treatment migraines may be greatly alleviated or even eliminated.Find out if your headaches are migraines and how chiropractic and nutritional management can help.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Leaky Gut Syndrome & Dysbiosis

The healthy gut contains approximately 400 varieties of micro-organisms which contribute to digestion, immunity, and other functions. There are about 3 pounds of these organisms in the healthy gut and they outnumber all the cells of the body. Some of these organisms are beneficial and others are harmful. It is crucial to have a proper balance between these species. An imbalance is called dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis can be caused by antibiotics, candida yeast and parasites, steroid medication, cancer therapies, chronic stress (abnormal cortisol), toxic overload and environmental contaminants, and poor food choice s such as a diet low in fiber, high in processed foods, and high in sugar.

Alterations in the bowel flora and its activities are now believed to be contributing factors in many chronic and degenerative diseases. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and AS, have all been linked to alterations in the microflora. The intestinal dysbiosis hypothesis suggests a number of factors associated with modern western living have a detrimental impact on the GI tract. Factors such as antibiotics, physical and psychological stress, and dietary components have been found to contribute to intestinal dysbiosis. If these factors can be eliminated or at least attenuated then treatment aimed at manipulating the microflora may be successful.

We are finding many microbes that don’t belong in the digestive tract. These microbes often form chemicals that are poisonous to the cells around them and to the person they live in. A wide variety of substances are produced by harmful bacteria, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and others. These substances produced by the bacteria may hurt the intestinal lining directly by damaging the borders and become absorbed into the blood stream causing system wide effects. They cause chronic problems which go undiagnosed and becoming deep seated in a great majority of cases. Chronic dysbiosis can lead to an irritation of the lining of the gut. This is called Leaky Gut Syndrome and can include diarrhea and constipation, joint pain and swelling, chronic or frequent periods of fatigue, food allergies or sensitivities, sinus or nasal congestion, chronic or frequent inflammations throughout the body, eczema, skin rashes, hives, asthma, mental confusion, poor memory, mood swings, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease. Published research has listed dysbiosis as contributing cause in the following disorders: rheumatoid arthritis & all autoimmune illnesses, B12 deficiency, chronic fatigue, cystic acne, early stages of colon and breast cancer, eczema, food allergies, food sensitivities, IBD (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), IBS, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and fatty stools.

With a simple Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis we can ascertain exactly what is going on in your digestive tract. This will determine the levels of your bowel flora and whether leaky gut is causing any of your health problems. From there a personalized diet and nutrition program can be implemented to get you back on the road to vibrant health.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.
Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Manage Your Stress, Increase Your Longevity

Two issues back I wrote about the root cause of most illness and disease being the effects of chronic stress and the dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. Last issue focused on the effects of an excess of cortisol, which is a hormone produced in response to stress. Continuing in that vein the latest research to be reported is the scientific finding of how stress decreases our lifespan. In this study scientists determined that chronic stress, and the perception of life stress had a significant impact on three biological factors; the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase, and levels of oxidative stress in immune system cells in healthy premenopausal women.

Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes in our DNA and promote genetic stability. Each time a cell divides, a portion of telomeric DNA dwindles away, and after many rounds of cell division, so much telomeric DNA has diminished that the aged cell stops dividing. Thus, telomeres play a critical role in determining the number of times a cell divides, its health, and its life span. These factors, in turn, affect the health of the tissues that cells form. Telomerase is an enzyme that replenishes a portion of telomeres with each round of cell division, and protects telomeres. Oxidative stress, which causes DNA damage, has been shown to hasten the shortening of telomeres in cell culture. The telomeres of subjects with the highest perceived psychological stress had undergone the equivalent of approximately 10 years of additional aging, compared with those who had the lowest perception of being stressed. The highest-stress group also had significantly decreased telomerase activity and higher oxidative stress than the lowest-stress group.

This is a landmark study in that it clearly demonstrates scientifically what has always been perceived; stress can affect your health and shorten your life. Even positive events such as marriage, the birth of a child, or the purchase of a new home can cause stress. Some stress is good and even necessary to maintain good health. Unfortunately as a society we have way too much stress from various sources and it is literally burning out our DNA and shortening our lifespan. We have very important choices to make. We can continue to eat too much, sleep too little, get no exercise and continually “burn the candle at both ends”. Or we can make a decision to sit down with someone and discuss methods that will help to modify stressful habits. More importantly we can learn to manage stress that is unavoidable. Give your body and brain a chance to experience vibrant health. It can be done with a firm commitment to some simple changes.

My office offers lab tests that can determine your levels of stress hormones, your degree of oxidative stress and damage, and even a profile to determine your genetic predisposition to oxidative stress. These tests are simple and relatively inexpensive. In addition to a consult and exam, they provide a clear window into your function. Effective treatment is dependant upon the proper diagnosis.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.
Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Do You Know Your Cortisol Levels?

Everyone experiences stress. Stress is a normal part of everyday life and to a degree it’s even beneficial to our physiology and well-being, but chronic long term stress that goes untreated can be very unhealthy. The quantity and quality of stress we encounter, our ability to cope with it, and our genetic makeup all contribute to our overall health.

In a stressful event the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland secretes a hormone called ACTH. ACTH tells the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, to secrete a powerful glucocorticoid called cortisol. Cortisol has wide ranging effects on the body. It regulates carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, stimulates gluconeogenesis (the formation of carbohydrates from proteins in the liver), and modulates the inflammatory response, and thereby immune function, due to fever, injury, and allergies. Cortisol stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas and simultaneously decreases the cells’ ability to utilize glucose throughout the body. Excess insulin promotes fat deposition, especially in the belly, and can lead to diabetes melllitus. Cortisol helps the human body adapt to stress by rapidly mobilizing stored amino acids and fats to be used for energy and building other compounds.

In normal transitory stressful events these effects are very beneficial but in long term chronic stress the very same functions of cortisol can be damaging, laying a groundwork for many conditions and diseases, such as depression, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, diabetes, asthma, anxiety, allergies, obesity, impaired adrenal and hypothalamic function, hypothyroidism, loss of mental function, hypertension, increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, gastrointestinal disorders, poor wound healing, muscle loss and wasting, thin skin, sleep fragmentation and severe muscle weakness. Cortisol has significant interactions with certain neurotransmitters in the brain and these circuits are associated with depressive symptoms. For reasons that remain unknown the body’s cortisol regulation system can spin out of control as we age. Cortisol levels increase 5 fold even in healthy individuals when they are confronted with stressful events. Chronic stress can lead to adrenal burnout.

There are twenty signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue. If you experience five or more you may have adrenal fatigue.

1. Difficulty getting up in the morning.
2. Continuing fatigue not relieved by sleep.
3. Craving for salt or salty foods and sugar.
4. Lethargy
5. Increased effort to do ordinary tasks.
6. Decreased libido.
7. Decreased ability to handle stress.
8. Increased time to recover from illness, injury or trauma.
9. Light-headed when standing up quickly.
10. Mild depression.
11. Less enjoyment or happiness with life.
12. Increased PMS.
13. Symptoms increase if meals skipped or inadequate.
14. Thoughts less focused.
15. Memory less accurate.
16. Decreased tolerance.
17. Decreased productivity.
18. Muscle weakness.
19. Irregular heartbeat.
20. Increased thirst.

Typical Pattern

1. A.M .Fatigue - Can't wake until 10!
2. Afternoon low between 3 and 4 PM.
3. Feel better after evening meal.
Cortisol is normally secreted in a circadian pattern, rising to a high of 20 ug/dl in the early morning and hitting its low range of 5 ug/dl in the late evening. When we take salivary samples at 6AM, Noon, 4PM, and Midnight we look to see if cortisol is in a normal range. You must know your cortisol all four times and treat it at the time it’s abnormal. As cortisol levels distort high or low this can have a negative effect on insulin and DHEA. Testing is recommended at least once a year. Find out if your cortisol is too high and how to normalize it safely and effectively.

If you are suffering from chronic stress and your cortisol levels are too high you must find ways to start either coping with your stressful situation or changing that situation. If you are not sleeping properly for 7-8 hours per night, you must establish a regular sleeping pattern. This will help to normalize cortisol secretions at the proper times. Effective treatments for high stress and cortisol can include biofeedback, deep breathing, Pilates, meditation and prayer, and exercise. Nutritionally we can use B vitamins, ashwaganda, licorice root, vitamin C, phosphatidylserine, adrenal concentrates, and pantothenic acid. These nutrients do a very fine job of normalizing the stress response in a safe and effective manner. Amino acids may also be utilized to help with the secretion of natural growth hormone, which increases muscle mass, regulates blood sugar, and promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Dietary recommendations are specific to each person but in general we want to increase lean proteins and fresh vegetables and eliminate processed foods such as white flour, rice, and sugar. It’s important to eat specific foods according the results of your test. 64-80 oz of water per day is necessary.
info@DrRosenberg.net

© Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.
Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

The Root of All Disease

What is the root cause of disease and chronic illness? Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases have two core targeted starting points. One is the inability to handle chronic stress and the second is impaired digestion.

Improper digestion of your food leads to toxicity. Undigested food may stay in the bowels for many days. That food ferments, putrefies, and gives off acids and gasses, becoming a fertile lab dish for bacteria, candida yeast, and parasites. The imbalanced gut is a haven for pathologic organisms which then crowd out beneficial organisms. That leads to further incomplete digestion of food and can lead to the ultimate and dramatic irritation of the lining of the GI tract, which destroys the selective barrier of the gut. Then we can begin leaking into our body all this undigested food, candida, bacteria, and parasites. At the intestinal barrier we see the beginning of chronic disease. The liver is also overwhelmed by this flood of internal junk. Coupled with high stress we have the foundation of chronic disease. It can take decades for a problem to develop but when we reach our 40’s and 50’s the accumulation and chronicity of the problem can manifest as the onset of adult diabetes, the tremor of Parkinson’s disease, the confusion and disorientation of early Alzheimer’s, arrhythmias, heart disease, and the onset of cancers. This is a flow chart to summarize the progression of the problem:

Impaired digestion......intestinal toxemia......growth of candida and parasites........imbalance of gut flora........leaky gut syndrome......spilling of junk into our body.......chronic illness

The good news is that there is a six step program I have developed based on the latest research to manage stress and normalize digestive function. Keep in mind that the GI tract is responsible for about 80% of the body’s immunity. On the other side of this healing process is vibrant health! Don’t you deserve it? The first 10 callers will be offered a free initial 15 minute consult. Feel free to email me any questions or to set an appointment.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.
Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Osteoarthritis

The natural design of your joints allows frictionless movement over two bony structures due to the smooth lubricated cartilage. In osteoarthritis (OA) joint damage involves injury to this shock distributing cartilage. In many cases breakdown of the cartilage may be due to a number of factors besides trauma such as genetic abnormalities, immune response, allergies, etc.

Research done at the University of Nottingham & NYU Hospital for Joint Disease was published in a recent issue of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, titled Inflammation May be Culprit in OA.

Scientists found that nearly 1/3 of patients ready to undergo joint replacement surgery for OA have severe inflammation in the synovial fluid that surrounds and protects the joints. This inflammation, already known to cause rheumatoid arthritis (RA), could be a contributing factor in OA as well. Five to ten years ago OA was thought to be due to the degeneration of cartilage due to wear and tear. A number of studies have found that inflammatory mediators promote a more rapid progression of cartilage to be degraded and destroyed. Inflammation leads to degradation of tissue, whether it is joint tissue, free radical damage of the brain in Alzheimer's and dementia, Parkinson’s, in the liver causing hepatitis, or even in the detox systems in the body. 20 million Americans suffer from OA and by the year 2030 about 70 million people in this country will have OA. Also called Degenerative Joint Disease, OA causes the erosion of cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joints leaving the bones to rub together which causes pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.

How should a joint function? Take 2 ice cubes, wet them, and then rub them against each other. How slippery is that? Now realize that a normal joint is 80 times more slippery than those 2 wet ice cubes!

In OA there is a drying up of the synovial fluid and the cartilage begins to dehydrate and crack, leading up to bone rubbing on bone. And of course there is inflammation in the joint.

There are 4 aspects to the management of this disease. One thing to keep in mind is that the joint structure should be normal. If that joint is not normal, if there is any kind of misalignment and there is dysfunctional movement in that joint, no matter what treatment you get, whether it be nutritional or medical, is not going to be successful. Dysfunctional movement of a joint will not allow it to heal regardless of the therapy, whether it is surgical, medical, or nutritional. Chiropractic, physical therapy, or osteopathic therapy is needed to diagnose and correct any misalignment.

Summary of Goals

1.Reduce inflammation

Soaks
Nutritional anti-inflammatories
Fish oils
Sea cucumber
Bromelain
Quercitin ascorbate

2. Detoxify the joint

Glutathione rids the joint of nitric oxide free radicals
Niacinamide & B6
Greens to alkalize acid joints

3. Rebuild the joint

Collagen
Perna (New Zealand green lipped mussel)
MSM powder

4. Restore normal range of motion. This will maintain the circulation and allow that joint to be fed

All of this will only work if you normalize the structural integrity and dysfunction of that joint. Management of arthritis without medicine or surgery is wonderful and brilliant. There are absolutely no side effects. These 4 steps are a great way to manage arthritis, whether due to trauma, genetic predispositions, or allergies.

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

(C) Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.

Disclaimer: Statements made pertaining to the properties and/or functions of nutritional products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these materials and products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never discontinue medical prescriptions without the consent of your physician.

Health as More Than the Absence of Disease

Have you ever contemplated the meaning of health? Is it understood and accepted that as we age we are destined to come down with illness and disease? Or is it possible to live to an advanced age in good health and go out at the end like a light bulb? What about nature versus nurture? Do our genes determine our destiny? Or can we have a measure of control in their expression? Do our thoughts affect our physical health and vice versa? Do religion and prayer have an affect on our well-being? Can relatively simple measures, such as drinking an adequate amount of water, increase not only the quantity but more importantly the quality of our lives?

The goal of this column is to present you with the information you need to achieve optimal health. All of the news will be drawn from the most recent cutting edge medical research from the top institutions and minds in the world. The focus will be primarily nutrition as a condition specific application and chiropractic neurology, an exciting emerging field, as a method of evoking positive change in the brain and body without pharmaceuticals or surgery. It will present scientifically sound principles as an alternate or as a complement to medicine and surgery.

We will discuss neurological concepts that will increase our awareness of brain based function. We will learn together how the body is simultaneously simple yet complex beyond our understanding. And we will come to see how nutrition and neurology are the foundation of our physical and mental health. Best of all we will get to apply these concepts clinically in the office in order to improve our lives.

Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines health as the state of "optimal mental, physical and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmities." I will be using this definition as a guiding principle in this column and will explore the many ways we can apply this to our everyday lives.

As stated my goal is to give you the tools you need to add years to your life and life to your years!

DrReuvenRosenberg@yahoo.com

(c) Reuven M. Rosenberg, D.C.