Pay Attention To Your Brain. It Can't Wait.

B.F.A. Brain First Always

The Brain Makes the Body. You Make Your Life.

THE BRAIN CAN'T WAIT.  LOVE YOUR BRAIN TODAY.

The unpleasant, annoying signs of a stressed brain need your attention. 

Silent Inflammation (We all have early stages of inflammation)                           → Is it Business as Usual, Have you evaluated your BFA Habits?

How should you respond to health concerns?

Stiffness, Sore muscles → Often it is Dehydration, Mineral loss / deficiency, blood sugar may be unstable yet, your lab work looks normal, blood pressure keeps creeping up

Digestive trouble

Fatigue,Daily discomfort 

Weight gain → The brain is struggling with inflammation, doing its best to maintain homeostasis

Chronic Issues

Joint pain, Walking difficulties

Pre-diabetes, Diabetes
High Blood Pressure, High Triglycerides, 
No success with weight loss, memory problems,
Poor concentration, multiple sensitivities→ Brain impairment due to toxic burden from the environment as well as toxins formed internally from cellular metabolism and inflammation

3 Steps:  Move, Feed, and Talk to Your Brain

Move your brain with chiropractic adjustments, to reset the brain's executive function and calm overactive brain waves

Feed your brain with the keto diet, intermittent fasting, standing process supplement (because our food supply is lacking no matter how well you eat), and do an annual nutritional detox.

Talk to your brain with S.T.A.R. Sessions, and check out my reading list of my favorite stress management books. 

Learn more at your next appointment.

See you at the table,
the adjusting table.

Dr. Lisa
--Your Health Freedom Advocate

The Healing Path Not Taken: It's Time to Take It

Brain Inflammation Part 3

(image: westuchurch.com)
Nearly every day I am challenged to try to help people who don't know what kind of help they need. 

They are stuck.

  They think they are doing everything available to them and yet, they are still stuck.  And this is very frustrating for these folks. 

When you're stuck long enough you tell yourself this is your normal, this is your "set point," this is what you should expect at your age.

This scrambles my brains !!!  I mean, really, it makes me sad.  

When people don't have the mental energy to think beyond their current situation, this is a huge problem in our culture. 

Your brains are scrambled and you can't help it.

You will not make a healthy decision while you are suffering from brain inflammation. 

We're always told not to make any drastic life changes soon after a stressful event.  We're advised to take our time before adding more stress on top of stress.  

Some examples: We do a lot of unexpected things after the death of a loved one.  Some people suddenly quit a job for what seems to be a good reason, without evaluating the consequences.  Marriages and divorces may happen for the wrong reasons because of a rash decision.  

In the reverse, we will let our health suffer by not making appropriate life style changes with a sense of urgency.  Why? Because  brain inflammation reduces blood flow to the frontal part of the brain which is the part of the brain that is responsible for evaluating and problem solving.  

So, if we are in a constant stressful situation, how do we make a needed change to help ourselves?  We can't.  We're stuck and sick.  

Brain inflammation may not appear to be a health crisis, unless the media is referring spefically to Alzheimer's disease, but brain inflammation is a major barrier to health in all of us.

When I mention to people:  It benefits you to do ______ instead of ________, they respond with a questioning rebuttal or a disbelieving rebuttal.  Why?  Because the information can't enter the brain and work through the proper thought analysis.  

Much like a drowsy person poorly judging how to drive on a wet road or tricky curve, a person with an inflamed, stressed brain poorly judges new information and decides not to make a change, especially when other demands compete for full concentration.  

When previous information stored in the brain doesn't match the new information, the inflamed brain will not have the energy to comprehend and evaluate the value of the new information. 

Remember back in the day when you looked at a long chapter in your text book for homework.  You shuddered at how many pages had to be read.  That was when you were an immature kid with less neurons.  Today, your adult brain tries to comprehend, but typically it is overwhelmed if it is inflammed from poor diet, lacking sleep, worrying, etc. 

How do we promote a healthy brain so new thoughts are welcomed with excitement?  

First we calm down the hyperactive brain waves with chiropractic adjustments,  good sleep, brain boosting nutrients and a keto diet with intermittent fasting sprinkled in.  Many will hesitate at these suggestions.  The inflamed brain wants to fight it and look for the easy way out... perhaps a sugared coffee drink instead......(sound familiar?)

The brain cannot quickly become un-inflamed. An anti-inflammatory pain reliever does not turn off inflammation.  Current drugs block the expression of inflammation, but the source or cause is still pumping it out.  

Inflammation that has reached pain status is only the tip of the iceberg.  Asymptomatic (non-pain) inflammation is still attacking tissues and organs. 

Why do I take this so seriously?  Because  it is the crux of the problem.  All other attempts (symptom focused) make you feel as if you are inviting change, but they are not specific enough.    Here's a prime example: Why do people who get stents end up re-clogging their arteries?  Stents are a temporary aid.  The do, however, allow someone time, a second chance,  to incorporate real change. 

Un-inflaming the brain requires an intentional process of detoxing and eliminating harmful chemicals.  The second step is to avoid ingesting new chemicals, as much as possible. 

It's not difficult, but it can be challenging.  Make sense?  It seems difficult when it is a new practice but consistent practice pays off.  The challenging part is receiving support from your closest social circles.  

The Brain First Always protocol helps you accomplish it with a specific focus on balancing the parts of the brain that fight you.  Learn more at your next appointment and this is exciting!!!!!

See you at the table.....the adjusting table.

Dr. Lisa
---Your Health Freedom Advocate




       
       

Anxiety: Everyone Has a Poisoned Brain

Brain Inflammation Part 2

Everyone has anxiety.  Ask your friends.  Many will admit to it.  Some won't but will display some glimpses of it with quirks or unusual habits in order to cope. Others will openly talk about their fear, panic, or irritability desiring to not have these insistent feelings.

Is anxiety on the rise or is life more stressful.  Toss a coin; it does not matter.  Life will always have challenges.  How will you participate?

No matter what happens, your brain interprets things and creates a cascade of chemical responses. And, if you have brain inflammation, you're not going to like how your body reacts to stress.

Inflammation consists of poisons that harm the body.  An inflamed brain will hold you down, prevent you from being a go-getter, shut down your ambition and vision, make you feel a little paranoid.

All the therapy in the world won't help you.  You can't talk yourself out of a panicked mood.  You have to clear the poison out of your brain.  

Inflammation sneaks up on us.  Your cells slowly and gradually get coated with it.

Next time you're in the office, you'll have the chance to learn more about my Brain First Always program.  I look forward to sharing it with you.

---See you at the table.  The adjusting table.

--Dr. Lisa
--Your Health Freedom Advocate

Got Toxins?  Take This Quiz


Do You Have Unwanted Brain Learning?

How to Improve Nursing Homes: Close Them Down

Brain Inflammation Part 1

Wouldn't it be wonderful if nursing homes were out of business? Wouldn't it be wonderful if people weren't in the dire situation where they have to be isolated in a 24 hour facility?

You've visited relatives in nursing homes.  No one really likes to be there more than twenty minutes.  It's not a pleasant place.  Staff always look stressed.  Your relative is sad and difficult to communicate with.  Residents seem to decline rather quickly once they move in.  

What if we could skip all that?  What if we took brain health seriously?  What if we all started when we were younger?  What if we start today?  What if we help our older family members improve their brain function?

I see too many folks joking about their poor memories.  I'm not laughing.  Laughing just means you accept it rather than face it.  I know people 20 -25 years older than me who have recently begun slowing down,  It's disconcerting because they were very active and it almost seems like an overnight change.  I see people my age struggling and limiting their favorite activities.  

I don't want to give up that easy.  I want to fight.

Brain inflammation and brain aging are not mysterious, but the attitude is to push it to the back burner is not useful.  

The first symptoms of brain impairment are:
- poor concentration
- fatigue
- poor digestion and elimination
-anxiety, depression

These problems can be addressed.  They don't have to be the start of decline.  

Get the information you need with the Brain First Always Program.  Start the New Year with New Information!!!

See You Soon.
--Dr. Lisa
--Your Health Freedom Advocate

Compelling Changes with Specific Keto

Keto is not about weight loss.  It is about brain health.  

Turning around the brain will be miraculous for many.

(image: myvmc.com)

Many of the folks at the office know I am touting the benefits of a ketogenic diet. Even though I have been low carb for eight years, I didn't get to the level I call “Serious Keto” for one very simple reason: I didn't think I needed to do that. But Wow! I am pretty happy with the outcome.

I first did low carb after reading Dr. Wolfgang Lutz' book: Life Without Bread. I followed his 72 gram plan. I soon discovered I felt very good when I averaged 50 – 60 grams of carbs a day. People noticed the weight loss and I believe I was at good place as long as I kept track of my carbs each day.

I didn't concentrate on increasing my fat intake. I figured that would happen naturally with the food choices I was making. My fat level was around 80% if I was concentrating on it and recording what I ate. Increasing your fat intake is not that easy. Even 80/20 ground beef is low in fat. And forget chicken. Hardly any fat in it at all.

Now, I stumbled across Dr. Darren Schmit's YouTube Channel and learned about the Keto ratios and why you have to be more specific with keto. I learned about the different ratios from his channel and also looked up information at The Charlie Foundation. I decided to try a 2:1 keto ratio and surprisingly, I lost more weight and had a flatter stomach. That was exciting but even better was the realization that I could fast 16-18 and hours a day and not worry about blood sugar drops. This was a huge benefit because I often was late getting to eat lunch at work and I developed a frustrated mood of overwhelm and anger. I was an angry maniac if I missed or delayed my lunch.

I feel sorry for anybody who is at the mercy of a strict eating schedule because they are hungry in a few short hours. I can only imagine how kids feel when they are in school not feeling well and being criticized by adults. I think this a sure fire way for kids to create a low opinion of themselves and underachieve.

I'm pleased to know I am more sure that I have reduced my body's inflammation levels and feel a greater sense of calm. Let me describe some more interesting changes I have experienced since going specific keto late in August of this year.

No more protein powders

I used to enjoy a chocolate protein powder break during the day and purchased many different brands. But now, I have no interest in them. They too easily throw off my keto balance. And we know those powders lack fat so I would have to bump up my fat eating something else. In reality, I don't miss it. I especially don't miss the high price tags. Since I am fasting sometime during the day, it was unnecessary to shorten the fast with a protein drink. Looking back, I used to be ravishingly hungry very soon after drinking a so-called meal replacement shake. They just didn't live up to the name. While, there are some low carb meal replacements made with pea protein, I'm just so fatigued by the vegan craze. They are still missing fat. It's not worth it to throw off my keto count for a food that is still  highly processed. You many have a different experience with drink powders, but I am better off without them.

No squash

It's hard to believe, but I avoided all squash until Thanksgiving. I  didn't want it. The carb count is too high.  I easily crave high carb foods with just the smallest, teeniest taste. I did enjoy them over the Thanksgiving weekend (and the cravings crept in), but now I pass them by when I walk through the produce section. The same goes for sweet potatoes. Yes, they are a favorite of the paleo crowd, but the carb count is just too high to manage the specific keto numbers that have given me great results. I also agree with Dr. Georgia Edes that eating plant foods is more problematic than eating animal foods. We already know grains and legumes are major inflammation sources and must be avoided, but each of us has to figure out individually what plant foods don't serve us well. For me that's squash and sweet potatoes. (Dr. Georgia Edes also has great lectures on YouTube.)

No more hot bar at Wegmans

Another crazy notion coming from me, but when you feel good you want to stay that way. I used to pay $9 a pound for the creamy soups and chicken salads because they were low carb. But, the fat counts were too low and it's all made with soybean oil (No thanks). It's nice to have an instant meal and Wegmans makes it very convenient, but it's just as easy to go home and whip up a keto salad and save a lot of money.

No eating out

I have no interest going out to restaurants. I used to hate waiting for my food to be ready (remember that was my hypoglycemic red flag). Now I don't want to eat cheap ingredients such as grains, soybean oil, fake butter, corn products. I'd rather not eat the foods that create the oxygen depriving toxins of inflammation when I can make the foods I prefer at home.

No more meal obsession

As strange as it sounds, I'm not bored with the same old leftovers at home. For one, I'm not thinking about food all day long. I used to make my breakfast, pack a lunch, and plan my dinner as soon as lunch was barely down my esophagus. Does this sound familiar to anyone?  Planning your next meal when you just ate takes away so much time from doing other enjoyable activities. We were told ages ago to eat three meals a day and add in some snacks just in case we needed them. Dr. Eric Berg said it best in his videos: with that much frequent eating, the pancreas never gets to rest. It is squirting out insulin nonstop. Now that I'm living the opposite experience, what possessed us to become such slaves to meal timing? Yet, we swallowed it hook, line and sinker. (And our chronic sickness proves it.) Some of you reading this are wondering what has come over me. The meal timing paranoia with snack obsessions is a true ball and chain. This is a great new freedom. I would call it food independence.

I don't spike up with frantic feelings

The sudden mood swings and brain fog when your blood sugar drops is so unwelcomed. It is oh so wonderful when that feeling is gone. If you've gone into panic mode because your low blood sugar has triggered you into sprinting to the nearest coffee house or vending machine you know what I mean. When you feel the whole world is attacking you and there's a reflexive urge to fight back with insults, sarcasm and meanness, you have the hypoglycemic episodes that are leading down the path of Type II Diabetes with heart disease. Now, when something blows up in my schedule and changes my plans, I say, “Hey, no problem.” And I mean it. I'm not freaking out with weakness in my legs or the feeling that I am going to faint. I'm actually more efficient with my time because my brain has its preferred fuel: fat and ketones.  I also wonder how many relationships can be saved with keto brain healing?  Stress tears families apart and ruins marriages, but healthy brains can face it better. (Future blog)

The constant urge to pee is gone

Ladies, you know what I mean. Carbs make you pee. This is a nice change.  I mentioned the ball and chain earlier.  Keeping track of bathrooms is another ball and chain. 

Lost my taste for dark chocolate

The ultimate paleo treat is dark chocolate but I don't care for it anymore.

If you want to learn more, ask me about the Keto Krunch Club.

--Dr. Lisa

--Your Health Freedom Advocate

Old Injuries Gave You Arthritis -- Big Deal !!

Disclaimer here:  I'm not very sympathetic.  I don't want anyone to settle.  Giving up or "living with it" is not in my book. I see no reason to slow down and limit your life.  But, you need to take care of yourself in ways most of society doesn't want to do.  

What side of stubborn are you willing to stand on?

Have you been told you have "bone on bone" arthritis?
     So what?  I say, "Big deal."

Anyway, we shouldn't use the term "normal" (as in this labeled X-ray over on the left).  Who has the authority to define normal?  Striving for "normal" will just promote depression. Forget endlessly comparing yourself to other people.  Let's use the word "function" or "functional," instead. 

We are made to feel that arthritic wear and tear on the joints is something sad, and we should feel sorry for someone who is given this kind of diagnosis.

No.  That is not the case. 
People in pain can have normal X-rays and MRIs.  People who are pain free can have the worst X-rays and MRIs on the planet.  There is no clear correlation between pain and how your bones look on imaging.  Also, slipped discs can go back into place given enough time.  

If you had a traumatic injury decades ago, and now you have chronic pain, should you blame your past and then get comfortable in your rocking chair?  No.  You can do so much for yourself.  

When do I feel bad for people?  When they didn't receive an important message about healing at the time of their accident or injury decades ago. The incident was not the problem.  The true problem was the lack of essential care to promote adequate healing. This is a terrible shame and I need people to know this before they smash up their car, or play contact sports. 

If you let inflammation eat away at your bones and organs for most of your life, you will have pain.  It doesn't matter how many times you fell down a steep hill on your favorite hiking trail. Poorly managed (or ignored) inflammation was your Achilles' heel. 

I heard a medical doctor who is an expert on ketogenic dieting for weight loss talk about an orthopedic surgeon who opened a diet center next to his surgical suite.  As you know, someone who is overweight faces too many risks under the knife and losing weight is a prerequisite for surgery.  This doctor wanted to make it convenient for his patients to access a reliable weight loss program.  He discovered that 1/3 of his patients cancelled their surgeries.  They were out of pain and were no longer candidates for surgery.

Even the folks with bone on bone arthritis were out of pain!!

I am also aware of people who have used simple psychological exercises who no longer needed surgery.  When you come in to the office I'll give you my reading list of favorite health techniques so you can check it out yourself.

Let's change the conversation to the epidemic of inflammation so more effective solutions can be utilized. 

Find out how chiropractic squelches inflammation.
Get the truth about diet induced inflammation. 
Learn how emotional stress initiates inflammation so you can take better control of your life style. 

I'm not a fan of invasive options that are promoted with a mind-set that life style is not a factor.  Most people who opt for quick fixes don't see improvement because they continue with bad lifestyle habits that inflame their bodies.  

If your mind-set is on healing.  Let's dive in together. 

--Dr. Lisa
--Your Health Freedom Advocate

Stop Trying to Lose Weight - Lose Something Else (Keto Corner)

(Photo: courtesy of Smash the Scale Facebook Page)

This Keto Corner post has come about as a result of the topics we talk about at the Keto Krunch Club.  Check out our Facebook page for the philosophy and goings on.

Keto Krunch Club Facebook Page

People want to lose weight for various reasons.  Most often they want to look good when they stare at the mirror. They want to wear nicer clothes rather than hide under larger sizes. Many want to sit, walk, and exercise comfortably.

I've spoken with numerous folks over the years who want to see the numbers on the scale go down. Their self worth is dictated by the number bouncing back and forth on the scale. But digital scales are now popular so that leaves you with the ugly digits just staring back at you. I like the spring loaded ones that wobble back and forth like a clown face laughing back at you.

The Weight Loss War seems to be a losing battle because of the erroneous information people continue to follow about calories, exercise, and macronutrient misunderstandings. Please don't say cholesterol in front of me. I will tell you that you are living in a fantasy world.

Often when people lose weight, they lose muscle. They may even lose their energy. They may lose their resolve because weight loss is so frustrating.

It's time to forget about weight loss. Do me one favor. Quit the focus on losing weight. It's time to lose the inflammation.

Inflammation is the real reason you can't change your body shape. You want to be slimmer with more muscle tone. You need to be healthy. You want to reduce the inflammation in your body.

One of my mentors mentioned that 1/2 of a person's adipose tissue (body fat) consists of white blood cells. That is inflammation. (I'll bet the other half is mostly trapped toxins.)

We know inflammation is the baseline cause of all disease. (Think cancer, Alzheimer's, heart damage.) Inflammation leads to DNA damage which is the key to premature aging.

If you decide to rid your body of excess inflammation, you may have a better outcome and feel better about yourself.

Why? Because most people attribute weight gain to personal failure. But knowledge of inflammation removes the stigma of failure and replaces it with an inspiration that focuses on real results.

Inflammation is non-negotiable - You're either putting it into your body or you're getting rid of it.

For your homework assignment: Learn about inflammation.

Read:

Weight loss secrets you need to know: Why your brain, body physiology, emotions, and primordial drives want you fat and what you can do about it, by David Seaman

It's only 99 cents on kindle!!!

And, The DeFlame Diet, also by David Seaman.

You will look at food differently.

Get involved with the Keto Krunch Club. Contact me at the office so I can give you all the details.