5 Best Ways to Fight Our Failing Food Supply #3

It is becoming more and more apparent that our food today has fewer nutrients and more toxins than the food consumed several decades ago. And I'm not just talking about the processed food we typically try to avoid.

Because of this notable decline in our food supply, and in honor of National Nutrition Month let's go over the 5 Best Ways to Fight Our Failing Food Supply:

#3 Liven Your Liver with Water

All of the steps that we are considering to fight our failing food supply fall into two categories. One is reducing the number of toxins that we are putting into our bodies. Two is helping the body become more efficient at eliminating the toxins that we encounter.

The liver is our body’s filter, which naturally detoxifies the blood (the primary transport of nutrients and waste). On average we have about 5 liters of blood pumping throughout our entire body every minute of our lives. And this circulation of blood can be increased as much as 10 times during intense exercise!

Have you ever wondered about the composition of your blood? It is primarily WATER! Not soda, nor tea, nor coffee, nor alcohol, nor energy drinks; your blood is primarily water!

I always find it amusing that I have people who complain that they cannot drink water because of the lack of taste or they just don’t like it. Your body loves water. In fact, after oxygen, water is the most important nutrient of life.

Think about this, most people do not like to sit in a smoke-filled restaurant because it deprives our lungs of an oxygen rich environment. But when we consume soda, energy drinks, and coffee as our primary source of fluids, we are depriving our body of a water-enriched environment.

Consuming 60-100 ounces of water will provide your body with an essential nutrient of health and assist our liver in filtering out many of the other toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis. When we encounter toxins in our food - pesticides, preservatives, dyes, food additives - it is best to be prepared. If we give our liver the water it needs to funnel those toxins out, we are taking the right steps to better our health.

Our food supply just isn't what it used to be. Knowing this and taking steps to fight its failures is the best way to meet your nutritional needs. This is Tip #3 of 5. Check back soon for the next installment!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

5 Best Ways to Fight Our Failing Food Supply #2

It is becoming more and more apparent that our food today has fewer nutrients and more toxins than the food consumed several decades ago. And I'm not just talking about the processed food we typically try to avoid.

Because of this notable decline in our food supply, and in honor of National Nutrition Month let's go over the 5 Best Ways to Fight Our Failing Food Supply:

#2:  Be Choosy with Your Meat

When it comes to the process of how animals are raised, breed, slaughtered, and prepared for consumption, the best documentary that I have seen and strongly recommend is “Food Inc.”. The documentary is not for the faint of heart nor stomach. However, it will open your eyes to where our food sources (especially our meat sources) are coming from. I am a big proponent of understanding the origin of our food. The more information we have about our food sources, the more we understand their influence on our health. 

Grass Fed, No Hormone Added, Antibiotic Free, Free Range - What do they all mean?

 

Grass Fed – Many conventional farm-raised animals have been transitioned to a primarily grain and corn diet because it is cheaper and increases the mass of the animals, thus more product. Unfortunately, corn and grain fed animals are showing much greater signs of disease compared to those animals that are fed the grass that cattle are genetically designed to graze on. When cattle have the opportunity to eat grass diets, the meat is leaner, healthier and in my opinion much tastier than grain/corn fed beef. The image to the right illustrates that point. 

And it's not just farm-raised land animals either - farm raised fish, like salmon, are sustained on a grain-based diet. (Gross fact: When salmon eat grain, their flesh is lighter in color. To get the pretty pink of wild caught salmon, farmed salmon are typically fed dye pellets. Wonder what's in those...)

No Hormones Added – Of course all living animals have natural hormones as part of their healthy lifestyle. However, conventionally raised animals are given growth hormone and testosterone injections to increase muscle mass and decrease timeline for the animals to reach maturity. Well it does not take a brain surgeon to realize that those injected hormones end up in our diet when we consume those meat sources. Is it any wonder why there are a plethora of drugs out there to treat hormone derived health challenges nowadays? Birth control, synthroid, premarin, testosterone, and insulin are just a few examples. If you are on one of the above medications, you should to speak to a health professional that can address this issue as a possible cause. Changing your diet appropriately could eliminate the need for medication.

Antibiotic Free – Food Inc. does an excellent job portraying the poor living conditions of these conventionally raised and mass produced animals. These animals are packed like sardines into closed living quarters and diseases, especially infections, run rampant. What is the solution? Add antibiotics prophylactically in order to keep infections at bay. Where do you think those antibiotics end up? That’s right, on your plate once again. Any idea why we are seeing a large population of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the last few decades? Hmmm…

Free Range – This is exactly what it states. Rather than animals being raised in cages, they have the ability to move around in their environment. Animals need exercise, just like humans. An animal with the access to exercise will be healthier for himself and for your consumption. I love Whole Foods' Animal Welfare Rating System as a resource (Check it out here). Free Range meat (like grass fed) is typically more nutritious, more filling, contains less toxins, and is tastier!

As always, reading (and understanding) the label is your best bet to improving the quality of what goes in your grocery cart. Small changes can make a world of difference in your health!

Our food supply just isn't what it used to be. Knowing this and taking steps to fight its failures is the best way to meet your nutritional needs. This is Tip #2 of 5. Check back soon for the next installment!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

5 Best Ways to Fight Our Failing Food Supply #1

It is becoming more and more apparent that our food today has fewer nutrients and more toxins than the food consumed several decades ago. And I'm not just talking about the processed food we typically try to avoid.

Our plant sources are decreasing in value.  There are several factors at play here: the over production of crops in fields without adequate time for re-mineralization of the soil, the use of genetically modified (GMO) plants, the ever expanding use of fertilizers to keep insects away and the pesticides leached into plants in order to produce more "viable" product.

It's not just our fruit and vegetables that are decreasing in nutritional value. Look at our meat sources. There has been a dramatic increase in the use of antibiotics, hormones and grain/corn feed. This is completely counter intuitive for the health of the animals that eventually make it to our plate. Using the old adage "You are what you eat", that doesn't bode will for our health either.

Because of this notable decline in our food supply, and in honor of National Nutrition Month let's go over the 5 Best Ways to Fight Our Failing Food Supply:

#1: Eat Organic As Much As Possible or Eat Local

Let's start at the beginning - What exactly is Organic?

“USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.” (Organic 101 here)

The basic understanding:“organic” simply means that farmers are doing everything possible to raise crops and animals as healthy as possible according to how they are genetically designed. Because plants and animals are living organisms, like us, the healthier they are at the time of consumption, the healthier they will be FOR US.

By avoiding chemical fertilizers, hormones, and antibiotics, we establish a more pure source of food. The fewer toxins that we consume through our diet, the easier it is for our body to maintain a high level of health. Do you experience weight challenges (including weight gain or difficulty losing weight), daily fatigue, feelings of depression/lack of motivation, daily headaches, joint pain, digestive distress (including acid reflux or bloating). These are all challenges that I have seen improve with consumption of  a better food source such as organic.

Typically, the largest objection to eating organic is the price. There is a list of foods that I spoke about in a prior blog called the “Dirty Dozen” (see picture on right), which are absolutely essential to purchase organic. These are the fruits and vegetables that have been found to retain the largest amount of chemicals used in conventional production.

Another option is to shop local.  Speak to local farmers regarding their farming practices. Although they may not have the certified “USDA Organic” label (because there is an excessive cost associated with that label), they may use many of the good farming practices that are considered organic. Not to mention you will be supporting local business, which I am a huge fan of! 

If you're in the Pittsburgh area, we have a few favor local farms: 

Soergel's Orchard 

Kaelin's Farm Market

Dilners Farm CSA

(A CSA is a great option for consistent fruit and veggie bundles throughout the spring - early fall)

Sewickley Farm's Market

Our food supply just isn't what it used to be. Knowing this and taking steps to fight its failures is the best way to meet your nutritional needs. This is Tip #1 of 5. Check back soon for the next installment!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

5 Questions Healthy Parents Are Asking #5

So where do we start? The following 5 questions are often asked by parents looking to improve or maintain their children’s health. My answers are my professional opinion as a health care practitioner*, and my personal opinion as a father. 

#5: Am I Doing Everything I Can to Support My Child's Health?

I saved this question for last because the answer is perhaps the simplest concept but often the hardest to taken in. Are the choices that we make for our children leading them towards health or disease? What about the choices we are making for ourselves?

Starting at the Beginning

Your body has to be intelligent beyond our comprehension to go from two cells to one trillion cells in a matter of nine months. This innate intelligence builds a fully functioning brain, hundreds of thousands of miles of blood vessels with a pump to move blood through to carry oxygen from two lungs and nutrients from the digestive tract.  Two arms, two legs, ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, two ears, a nose and beautiful skin to fit perfectly over everything are not a random chance, but an intelligent design that is made to continually develop, regulate, and heal for well over 100 years.

This is the most fundamental point on which my wife and I base all our family’s health decisions. We are programmed for health. We have to be. If not, the human species would not have survived past the first generation. We have an incredible ability to adapt to our environment through temperature changes, exposure to toxins, digestion of food, bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes.  We are meant to be healthy.

Healthy Choices and Following Through

Let's start with two different scenarios. Scenario A: You had a long day at work. You come home, sit down in a recliner. Opening a bag of chips, you turn on the television to a loud, violent program (a movie or maybe the news). Scenario B: You had a long day at work. You come home, change, and take your dog for a walk. You sit down at the table with your family for a healthy dinner. Then you read a book (by yourself or with your kids).

Which scenario do you think is a healthier choice? Scenario B, of course. 

Health and Death are on opposite ends of the same spectrum. When you make a decision, any decision, you are either moving yourself (or your family) a step towards health or a step in the other direction.  Healthy choices are easy to spot, but they aren't always the easiest to follow through with. That's why it's our job as parents to make it a priority. Decide to be healthy and make the decisions to support that choice.

It's not enough to say that we should eat more fruits and vegetables or exercise every day. We have to actually DO these things to see the benefits. Once we make healthy choices a habit, we make healtha  way of life.

What is the Best Way to Nurture Health in Our Children?

Here are 4 ways to help nurture health in our children.  These aren't the only ways, but four that I have personal found to work best for my son and family.

1) Give them what they need to grow in health

This one seems like a no-brainer, but it is something that we must make a conscious effort of each day. Fueling them with the proper nutrition and supplementation when needed is a big step in the direction of health.  Water intake is also important - not just for little ones but for parents as well.  A well hydrated and nourished child is better equipped to be healthy than one bogged down with sugar and other food additives.

But it doesn't stop there. We must make sure that our children are getting everything they need - enough sleep, positive encouragement, mental stimulation, affection, and the opportunity to make healthy decisions on there own. As parents, we must supply their needs so that they are empowered to choose health too.

2) Build their immune system the "old-fashion way"

In Question #3 we touched on the difference between acquiring immunity natural and depending on artificial immunities.  One of the easiest ways to build a child's immunity is let them be a kid. Let them explore their environment through touch without following them with a lysol wipe. Let them eat dirt. Watch an infant explore the world. Everything goes in their mouth. That's more than just a random act - that's their innate way of building immunity while still under the immunity of their mother.  So what should we do as parents? Let them! Let them get messy. Let them enjoy it. The more they come in contact with now, the stronger their immune systems will be later.

Another suggestion is to limit the number of anti-bacterial/anti-viral products you use with you kids. We touched on antibiotic-resistance in Question #4, but there's another challenge we are creating. Disinfecting every inch of our children removes those small moments of contact with bacteria and viruses that build their natural immunity. There are, of course, limits to what I'd like my son to put his hands on, but overall letting him have free reign to investigate has built a strong immune system.

3) Lead by example

Children are sponges. They soak in everything we do, good or bad, right or wrong, and do their best to emulate it.  So let's make our actions purposeful. When we choose to be healthy, we are giving our children the opportunity to follow in our footsteps in the direction of health.

4) Remove interference

From newborn to the elderly, there is a simple truth that each body shares: Every function of the body - every body and any body - is controlled by the nervous system.  When that nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and nerves) is free of interference, the body has the power to heal and maintain health. An interference, called a subluxation, hinders the ability of the nervous system to function.  When your nervous system isn't functioning at 100%, you are not as healthy as you could be. You are taking a step in the other direction.

How do we make sure that our nervous systems and our children's nervous systems are functioning at 100%? We ask our chiropractor! A chiropractor's sole purpose is to locate and remove subluxations (those interferences that keep us from health) through specific chiropractic adjustments. And the people that respond the quickest? You guessed it, children! 

Chiropractic is gentle and safe. I adjust newborns with about as much pressure as you would use to pick fruit in the produce department. Often children only need the most minor adjustments to notice a big difference.  People have asked why a toddler would need an adjustment? I suggest watching a toddler (or 7 year old, or teenager) for 15 minutes and, odds are, you'll have your answer! Having their spine checked for subluxation is a non-invasive check-up of the nervous system.  And that little bit of time can prevent so much!

I adjusted our son when he was less than a day old. He was a natural, vaginal birth (birth is tough on little ones, no matter how it happens - that's a lot of pushing on a tiny frame) and would only nurse on one side. I cradled him in my arms and just applied a small amount of pressure. His nursing troubles were gone.  He's now 2 1/2 years old and has only been adjusted a handful of times - usually following a tumble of some kind. He loves to climb up on the table to be checked and giggles after his adjustments. 

How do we as parents provide the best opportunity for health in our children? Ask questions. Understand the answers. Make the decisions that are right for you and your family. In the end, the best advice that can be given is to lead by example. Strive for health in your life; in turn, they will learn by example. Give them the opportunity to grow in health!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

* The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Dan and his community. Dr. Dan encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you would like a personal consultation with Dr. Dan, please contact our office at 412-369-0400 or info@turofamilychiropractic.com. We are always happy to answer questions.