Chiropractic Doctor's Blog - Austin TX

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February 2nd, 2012   |   noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Gibson, DC)

A recent study published in The New York Times and Nature linked physical activity to intracellular "housecleaning" suggesting that exercise speeds the removal of garbage inside of the body's cells. The wear and tear of everyday living creates cellular waste like broken proteins and aged components that appear to be more efficiently removed through aerobic exercise. In healthy systems, specialized cells commit "autophagy", a process designed to sweep and clear debris away, break it apart and reuse the trash for energy. Without this system, cellular waste chokes the cell causing it to malfunction or die. These faulty mechanisms contribute to a range of diseases, including diabetes, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer's and cancer. Autophagy slows as we age and affects our metabolism. Exercise is the great buffer and, as Dr. Beth Levine, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at U.T. Southwestern is concerned, there is considerable overlap between the health benefits of exercise and autophagy. An increase in autophagy, prompted by exercise, seems to be a critical step in achieving maximal health benefits. Humans may be impacted by slowed or inefficient autophagy due to diet and other lifestyle factors. This study emphasizes the importance of staying active as we age. In Health, Amanda Gibson, DC

January 20th, 2012   |   noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Gibson, DC)

A lengthy article posted in The New York Times April 13, 2011 gives compelling evidence that sugar, specifically fructose (high fructose corn syrup) increases the likelihood of obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cancers in humans. In a viral YouTube Video Robert Lustig presents his case for chronic diseases and their link to overt sugar consumption in the United States and elsewhere. Dr. Lustig is a pediatric specialist and makes a persuasive case that sugar, specifically high-fructose corn syrup found in soda and fruit juice is a "toxin" or "poison". The number of American diabetic or obese --termed "diabesity"--has skyrocketed in the last 30 years and, if Lustig is right, it would mean under-exercising, overeating of all foods, and overt consumption of sugar is the likely dietary cause of several chronic ailments namely: heart disease, hypertension and many common cancers. 100 calories of glucose (from potato or bread or other starch) is metabolized differently than 100 calories of sugar (half glucose half fructose). The fructose component of sugar and high fructose corn syrup are metabolized primarily by the liver and glucose from sugar and starches is metabolized by every cell in the body. Consuming sugar (glucose and fructose) means more work for the liver than if you consumed the same number of calories of starch (glucose). In laboratory studies, it's clear that if fructose hits the liver at sufficient speed and quantity, the liver will convert much of it to fat, inducing a condition known as insulin resistance, considered to be a fundamental problem in diabetes, and may also be the underlying defect in many cancers. The Department of Agriculture analysts and the USDA estimates that consumption of these 'added sugars' has increased from 40 pounds per person per year (that's a can and a half of coca-cola per day of sugar) to 90 pounds per person per year. That's a lot of sugar! The consumption happens to coincide with current epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Maybe this is circumstantial evidence, but it's compelling nonetheless. Read the rest of the article for a complete explanation and many thought provoking arguments. In Health, Amanda Gibson, DC

January 17th, 2012   |   noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Gibson, DC)

This is a follow-up to a speaking engagement I did last week that I wanted to reflect upon. The first Austin Well-Net meeting of 2012 was a huge success. We met at Beets Café and had over 20 attendees. We began by introducing ourselves to the crowd and found a diverse group in the audience: chiropractors, massage therapists, nutritionists, pilates instructors, chefs, naturopaths, etc. I gave a speech on the journey that led me to chiropractic and how that ties in with what we do at Clear Point Wellness. It was important to distinguish ourselves from the rest by emphasizing that we are gentle, non-force. We see lots of clients here from sports injuries to pregnant moms. Everybody enters the practice with different needs. The second half of my talk focused on networking and how we should approach it. This is primarily done by creating value in your own life and the lives of others by continually improving on your skills, focusing on the client's wants and needs, and having an attitude of abundance. I was so blessed to give a talk to a crowd like this and I am excited to see how the Well-Net morphs in the future to create an even better referral network for our clientele. Find out more about Austin Wellspring Well-Net at Clear Point Wellness. In Health, Dr. Amanda Gibson

January 4th, 2012   |   noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Gibson, DC)

Hyperbaric Oxygen shown to improve PTSD Nearly 20% of servicemen and women returning from war-zones have been affected with symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury/post-concussive syndrome (TBI/PCS). A study performed in November of 2011 and available in the Journal of Neurotrama found that treatment with hyperbaric oxygen nearly three years after injury significantly improved veteran's quality of life. Post-treatment testing revealed improvements in cognitive testing, physical exam findings and quality of life measurements, along with a decrease in short-term memory problems, cognitive deficits and depression. Improvements were seen in irritability, balance, motor function, IQ, and blood flow to the brain. Dr. Paul Harch, the Medical Director of the LSU Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care Department concludes that "the study strongly suggests that both post-traumatic stress disorder and the post-concussion syndrome of mild traumatic brain injury are treatable nearly three years after injury. [And] the magnitude of improvements in memory, executive function, function brain imaging, and quality of life, as well as reduction in concussion and PTSD symptoms cannot be explained with a placebo effect." With our troops returning home, many will come back with PTSD, TBI/PCS or major depression, some with all three. Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy may be a reliable treatment instead of a prescription that to date has had minimal effectiveness for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-concussive syndrome. Source: Medical News Today

January 2nd, 2012   |   noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Gibson, DC)

Achieving your 2012 Resolutions may be easier than you think. A great website to help boost your know-how and keep you on track is livestrong.com. They supply a calorie counter, body fat calculator, exercise ideas, healthy recipe ideas, articles and a quit smoking challenge. Set your goals and use the tools available to make them happen.


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