by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Nov 17, 2017 | Health, Nutrition
If you are counting carbs to stabilize your blood sugar, lower inflammation, balance hormones, or lose weight, experts say looking at carbohydrate density is a more important strategy. Carbohydrate density measures how many carbohydrates are present per 100 grams of food. Low carb density foods don’t raise your risk of chronic disease.
Research shows eliminating dense carbohydrates from your diet improves health, prevents disease, and can even improve periodontal disease.
While many diets focus on how many calories or how many grams of carbohydrates you should eat per day, the carb density diet instead focuses on how many grams of carbohydrates are in a food once you subtract the fiber.
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Nov 10, 2017 | Health
A recent study showed what functional neurologists have long since observed — obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is linked to brain inflammation. Imaging showed brain inflammation was more than 30 percent higher in subjects with OCD compared to the control group.
The study also found the greater the inflammation the more severe the stress and anxiety around avoiding the compulsive and repetitive rituals that characterize OCD.
Inflammation in the brain is similar to inflammation in the body in that it’s necessary to respond to damage. However, unlike the body’s immune system, there is no “off” mechanism for inflammation in the brain. This means once triggered, brain inflammation can continue on unchecked long after the original insult.
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Nov 10, 2017 | Health
A recent study found regular use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux raises the risk of stomach cancer. PPI users (Prilosec, Prevacid) in the study had twice the risk for stomach cancer compared to those who used H2-receptor acid reducing drugs (Tagamet, Pepcid).
About 20 percent of Americans suffer with acid reflux and heartburn. Most people attribute acid reflux to excess stomach acid. However, the problem is too little stomach acid. How does low stomach acid cause acid reflux?
The stomach is highly acidic by design so that it can quickly break down foods and kill bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. Good stomach acidity also helps absorb minerals and signal the rest of the digestive tract to release the right hormones, enzymes, and emulsifiers. Sufficient stomach acid is an important first step in ensuring overall digestion runs smoothly and that you are less susceptible to heartburn, indigestion, belching, gas, food allergies, bacterial infection, and abdominal pain.
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Nov 8, 2017 | Health
People feel shame and guilt about their smartphone and digital addictions, but the truth is we are simply at the mercy of how profoundly technology shapes the human brain. It’s understandable why digital dementia” — the loss of cognitive function due to excessive digital use, and “digital ADD” are so common today.
As with many great inventions throughout human history, nobody could have predicted such pervasive neurological consequences of the internet, smartphones, video games, and social media. The human brain is so sensitive to manipulation by these tools that one study showed the mere presence of a smartphone impaired cognitive function in subjects, even though it was turned off!
How digital marketers trick the brain into addiction
Although the endless novelty of technology makes it easy for the stimulus-seeking brain to get hooked, digital addiction has also been engineered for commerce and profit.
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Nov 8, 2017 | Nutrition
When people are working to manage an autoimmune or chronic condition, they typically focus on an anti-inflammatory diet and protocol. However, one often overlooked dealbreaker to getting better is anemia. Anemia as is a deal breaker to recovery because it means your cells are not getting enough oxygen. Without oxygen, recovery and repair can’t happen.
Anemia typically causes fatigue, weakness, brain fog, depression, lightheadedness, dizziness, irregular heart beat, cold hands and feet, chest pain, headache, and pale skin.
There are several different causes and types of anemia. Not all anemia is iron-deficiency anemia. It’s important to know this because you don’t want to supplement with iron if you don’t need it. In excess, iron is more toxic than mercury, lead, or other heavy metals.
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Oct 27, 2017 | Chiropractic
THE CONNECTIONS OF HEALTH
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
To be healthy you must be connected… The goal of Chiropractic is to help you reconnect…
You are born to express radiant physical, mental, and spiritual health; to radiate vitality, harmony, peace, joy, optimism, strength, love and healing at any age. It is your natural state.
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Aug 4, 2016 | Health
Chiropractic and Neuro-Degenerative Diseases: The Concussion Story
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Jun 24, 2016 | Health
Pain reflects existence of a problem….
Opioids reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those areas of the brain that control emotion and diminish the effects of a painful stimulus….Medications that fall within this class include hydrocodone, (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), morphine, and codeine….
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Jan 6, 2016 | Nutrition
It’s cold and wet out there…..what a great day for a delicious and healthy soup to keep yourself warm! This one is sugar and dairy-free and very easy to make. #soupisgoodfood #healthyeating #wellness #chiropractic ptakfamilychiropractic.com
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by Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, DC, MA | Aug 7, 2015 | Nutrition
While coconut oil has dragged itself out of the muck of vast misrepresentation over the past few years, it still rarely gets the appreciation it truly deserves. Not just a “good” saturated fat, coconut oil is an exceptional healing agent as well, with loads of useful health applications.
Some examples of “good” saturated fat include
- Fat-burning: Ironic, isn’t it? A saturated fat which can accelerate the loss of midsection fat (the most dangerous kind). Well, there are now two solid, human studies showing just two tablespoons a day (30 ml), in both men and women, is capable of reducing belly fat within 1-3 months.
- Brain-Boosting: A now famous study, published in 2006 in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, showed that the administration of medium chain triglycerides (most plentifully found in coconut oil) in 20 subjects with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, resulted in significant increases in ketone bodies (within only 90 minutes after treatment) associated with measurable cognitive improvement in those with less severe cognitive dysfunction.[i]
- Clearing Head Lice: When combined with anise spray, coconut oil was found to be superior to the insecticide permethrin (.43%).[ii]
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