Yesterday we had our first "Lunch & Learn Workshop," in which we discussed hormone imbalance and breast cancer. The experience was so wonderful that I have to share some information with you all on this blog! It's our goal at Active Community Chiropractic to empower you to take control of your own health. With this in mind, we put together some information that will allow you to evaluate certain environmental factors in your life and figure out how to change them for the good of your health.

For the past 25 years, the month of October has been recognized as "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month." Since so many of us are directly affected by this problem, we decided we need to educate our practice members about the various ways you can actually help prevent it from ever occurring. But first, let's discuss a little bit of history...This awareness all began when the drug company, AstraZeneca, decided that the key to managing breast cancer is early detection, and the best way to do this is through yearly mammography studies. They succeeded in spreading this message quickly. A few years later, Estee Lauder (a cosmetic company), created a campaign for this awareness. The idea was sparked by a little pink ribbon, and, as we all know now, that campaign is the official color for breast cancer awareness. Today, there are so many pink items sold, walks/runs are held, and various opportunities have been created all in the name of breast cancer research. To most this seems like a wonderful thing. We are so good at early detection that we now have a 90% survival rate. That's wonderful! However, there are critics...

The first criticism comes from the fact that AstraZeneca, a drug company that makes breast cancer therapy drugs, does not really want this month of awareness to become a month of prevention, but rather early detection so that they can sell more therapeutic drugs. Quite frankly, that's a fair point. The second criticism comes from the fact that Estee Lauder, the company who has worked so hard to spread the pink campaign, refuses to remove known cancer-causing additives from their cosmetic line. Again, that's a reasonable critique. One other argument comes from the fact that very little of the proceeds made from the pink campaign actually goes to breast cancer research. In fact, it's less than 5%, and again, it's really only going to pharmaceutical companies to make more drugs.

So, with this history and criticism in mind, we decided it was time to empower our practice members and help them learn how to change certain habits that might be contributing to our breast cancer epidemic.

First of all, we need to be educated on what actually causes breast cancer. We've all heard of the genetic component, but less than 30% of individuals have this component. Most of our research states that there are key factors in the development of breast cancer such as never having been pregnant or early menopause. Again, only a small percentage of women with breast cancer fit in this category. We also know that there is a direct link from radiation (x-rays, for example) and cancer. Plus, we know of a variety of carcinogens linked in foods, cosmetics, and house-hold products. With all of this in mind, do we still know what really causes it? One of the main reasons is a hormone imbalance -- too much estrogen, to be exact. With an increase of estrogen in the body, many disease processes can occur.

Our goal for this workshop was to teach women how to avoid certain environmental factors that increase estrogen within the body. For the purposes of this blog, I'm just going to list the items for you. It's up to you to decide what you can live without or change in order to take one step closer to arming yourself with good health and preventing the possibility of breast cancer.

Items that increase estrogen levels in your body:

1. Cosmetics containing "parabens" -- look for them in lotions, make-up, shampoos, etc.

2. Foods that contain pesticides -- the following foods should only be ingested if they are organic, as they retain pesticides easily: strawberries, raspberries, apples, peppers, peaches, nectarines, pears, cherries, grapes, spinach, celery, and potatoes

3. High insulin levels -- limit your intake of sugar

4. Painkillers -- avoid daily use of drugs when possible

5. Plastics -- avoid reusing plastic water bottles or heating plastic in a microwave

6. Water Supply -- concern yourself with the quality of your water -- try distilled water

7. Prolonged Stress -- find out how to reduce your daily stress in order to balance hormones

Obviously there are many factors that play a role in your health; however, you have the ability to take control of most of them. There are many things you could avoid that may be linked to breast cancer and other diseases, especially those things listed above. At the same time, there are many things you could add to your lifestyle to help ensure that you will live a happy, healthy life.

Things to add to your daily routine:

1. Chiropractic care -- you cannot function without a properly functioning nervous system. Your chiropractor will help you with that.

2. Nutrition -- eat good, locally grown, living whole foods.

3. Exercise -- get adequate amounts of exercise to build up your energy levels and balance your hormones (especially estrogen) naturally.

4. Water -- drink half your body weight in ounces daily.

5. De-stress -- find activities that help you manage stress.

6. Pay attention to your body -- learn how to read and listen to you body, as it will tell you what it needs.

One other thing I'd like to mention is the idea that mammography is a device that uses radiation to detect anatomical changes (i.e., tumors). While mammography is great for detecting breast cancer, it could also be argued that it causes breast cancer. There is a device known as digital infrared imaging, or thermography, that simply uses your body's temperature as a means of detecting physiological changes. This imaging is safe and just as effective as mammography for detecting breast cancer. I would urge you to look into imaging centers in your area to see if they offer digital infrared imaging.

There are so many topics related to increased estrogen and breast cancer. These are just a few things you could change in your life to balance your hormones and decrease your chances of getting breast cancer. It's up to you to educate yourself, take control of your own health, and change that which hinders your quality of life. It's my goal to help you embrace your life and live it well. Cheers!

For more information, visit:

http://www.activecommunitychiropractic.com/

http://www.bcaction.org/

http://www.breastthermography.com/

Here are some great quotes from celebrities who receive chiropractic care regularly. You, too, can feel great with chiropractic care! It's a vital component to a healthy lifestyle. At Active Community Chiropractic, we make sure your entire family receives the care they need!

"I believe in chiropractic, and I know that it works.  You probably know about my long and successful career in football.  I'm flattered by the testimonials to my durability.  Football is a very rough and vigorous sport...Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game." ~ Jerry Rice

"The team wasn`t just riders.  It was the mechanics, masseurs, chefs, soigneurs, and doctors.  But the most important man on the team may have been the chiropractor." ~ Lance Armstrong

"… as long as I see the chiropractor, I feel like I`m one step ahead of the game." ~ Tom Brady

"...lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I've been going to chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing.”  ~Tiger Woods

"Without chiropractic, I wouldn’t be able to play consistently throughout the season.” ~ Johnny Damon New York Yankees

"You obviously can't compete at your fullest if you're not in alignment.  And your body can't heal if your back is not in alignment...Every track and field athlete that I have ever met has seen a chiropractor at one time or another.  In track and field, it is absolutely essential. Chiropractic care is one of the things I think that no one has denied or refuted." ~ Dan O'Brien, Olympic Gold Medalist

"I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring.  I do believe in chiropractic.  I found that going to a chiropractor three times a week helps my performance.  The majority of boxers go to get that edge." ~ Evander Holyfield

Most people are surprised when I tell them that half of our practice members are children. They ask me questions like, “Isn’t chiropractic too forceful for kids?” or “Do you just take care of children who’ve had some sort of accident?” These are valid questions. So, for the next few paragraphs, I’d like to tell you about some of my experiences with children who receive chiropractic care.

First of all, let me start by answering the two questions from above. No, chiropractic care is not too forceful for kids. In fact, it is very gentle. Children are not adjusted the same way that adults are adjusted. Our adult adjustments are also extremely gentle. Also, we do take care of children who have had accidents; however, most of our pediatric practice members are simply taking part in a lifetime of health and wellness. There have been many other questions asked, but those two seem to be asked most frequently.

I simply love adjusting children. They respond immediately. Many of our pediatric practice members have had a history of ear infections or persistent colds. All of their parents have told me that these problems do not occur anymore. Some of our children have had difficulty crawling or walking due to developmental delays. All of their parents have informed me that with chiropractic care their children have become stronger. One of our kids was starting to show signs of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I have seen her blossom into a vibrant human being with wonderful social skills and a limitless ability to learn. Simply put, all of these children now live a healthier life than before.

Chiropractic care is a necessity for children. With chiropractic care, their bodies are able to adapt to everyday stress. Their nervous systems work at full capacity, and the right messages get sent between the brain and the body because there is no interference. Without chiropractic care, children will not function at 100% due to the stress placed upon the nervous system, and we may start to see symptoms such as those listed above.

We advocate for children to be under chiropractic care so that they can grow up healthy and happy. Do you know any kids who could benefit from care?