Running

I must admit I really don't like running long distances. Running around Reeds Lake here in East Grand Rapids is pleasant enough. Now that the weather is cooling off, it has truly been ideal (when it's not raining).

Being a Chiropractor, I can't help but analyze gait patterns in my fellow runners (occupational hazard). It comes as no surprise to me that more 50% of all runners are injured at any given time. Low arches, high arches, and internal or external rotation of the foot, ankle and hip can transfer their poor biomechanics up the lower body chain to the pelvis and spine and create low back pain, sacroliac pain, sciatica, and even upper back and neck pain. This is not new information for the seasoned runner. Many physical therapists and shoe stores offer gait analysis, often for free. What often is lacking however, is a postural analysis.

Yes, posture is even more important when you are running. Who knows about good posture? I can tell you from experience that the average person is so far off, that they could not attain good posture if you asked them to. Standing up straight is not enough. How do you know if you are straight enough? How far does your head protrude out from over your shoulder? Are your shoulders aligned in front of or in back of your pelvis? How much is your pelvis tilted? Do you have too much curve, or maybe not enough curve in your low back? Most Chiropractors can give you this information with a simple postural analysis.

If you have had physical therapy and still have low back pain, or the back pain has been on and off for years, or you even have had spinal surgery and the pain has come back, a Chiropractor usually can help.

That's my two cents for today. Now it's off to see patients. Have a great day!

Anticancer tip #4 Tumeric

Anticancer Tip #4: Tumeric is the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory food known to man today. It helps stimulate apoptosis (self destruction) in cancer cells and inhibits angiogenesis (tumor growth). Recent studies suggest that it can also enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Assimilation into the human body is best when combines with black pepper. Mix ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder with a generous pinch of black pepper into a little olive oil for an anticancer dressing for salad or basmati rice.
Research such as this is far too uncommon today. You can’t patent turmeric, so there is little financial incentive to perform scientific studies on it. Please consider pledging money for my first marathon run to raise funds and awareness for Anticancer.

AntiCancer Tip #3

Eat more omega 3 fatty acids. A lack of this essential nutrient has been associated with increased inflammatory reactions in the body. Recent studies suggest that cancer thrives and tumor growth is promoted under these conditions. Good sources of omega 3 fatty acids are salmon, flaxseed oil, and free range chicken eggs.

Studies such as these are few and far between. You can't patent flaxseed oil or salmon, so there is little financial incentive to research them. To help ensure studies such as these continue, please consider donating to the Anticancer Fund. Dr. Schafer is running his first marathon taking pledges to keep the research going.

Anticancer Tip #2

Avoid high glycemic index foods. Mostly this means no sugar, white bread, white rice, and white potatoes. These can be replaced with agave nectar, white grain bread, basmati or brown rice, and sweet potatoes/yams respectively. Recent studies suggest that cancerous tumors feed on high blood sugar levels, such as those seen in people with diabetes. More on this topic can be found in, Anticancer: A New Way Of Life by Dr. David Servan-Schreider MD, PHD.

Studies such as these are few and far between. Research for cancer is predominantly driven by sales of pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Youcan’t patent sweet potatoes, so there is little financial incentive to

research them.

Please consider donating by pledging money to Dr. Schafer’s first marathon run, held on October 16th. All money will be forwarded to the Anticancer Fund, to ensure more studies like this will be done.

For more information on the Anticancer Fund, see
http://www.anticancerbook.com/fund.html

Anticancer Tip #1

“Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries contain ellagic acid and a large number of polyphenols. They stimulate the mechanisms of elimination of carcinogenic substances and inhibit angiogenesis. Anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins also promote apoptosis in cancer cells.”
-Dr. David Servan-Schrieber, MD, PhD, from the book “Anticancer, a New Way of Life”.
Studies such as these are few and far between because research for Cancer is predominantly driven by sales of pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Blueberries have little chance of getting notice because you can’t patent fruits and vegetables. Therefore there is little incentive for anyone to study them.
This is why the Anticancer Fund is so important. Please consider donating by pledging money to Dr. Schafer’s first marathon run. All money will be forwarded to the Anticancer Fund, to ensure more studies likes this will be done.
An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Organic Produce

Hello all,

After visiting the Fulton Street Market recently, I noticed there were no organice strawberries. In fact, there was very little certified organic produce there at all. Feeling deprived, I sent out to find what organic growers exist near Grand Rapids. This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you know of an organic farmer or distributer not on this list, please e-mail me at drs@grchirospa.com, and I will gladly to add it to the list. Now I'm ready for some blueberries!

Local organic produce

Kismet farms Fennville
1776 Blue Star Highway

Irvine blueberries Hudsonville
616-895-4538
8172 66th Ave
Hudsonville, MI 49426

Burnette Foods Inc, Hartford
87171 C.R. 687, Hartford, MI 49057 •
269.621.3181

CJ Veggies Zeeland
found at Holland Farmers market
http://www.hollandfarmersmarket.com/vendordetails/?id=119

Nourish organic market
634 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Nourishorganicmarket.com

West Michigan Cooperative
(616) 951-3287
1111 Godfrey SW, Ste. S250
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(not all produce is organic)

marathon training

Hello all, I'm in marathon training mode right now and running 12 miles on my Saturday long runs. 12 miles takes some time when your're a "clydesdale". For any non-runners out there, if you're over 200 lbs than you're put in the "clydesdale division" for races like this. I am starting to really enjoy the shorter runs during the week, however. Reed's Lake trail at 5:30 am usually has more rabbits than people and the sunrise on Reeds Lake starts your day with a colorful welcome.
The whole reason for doing this however, is to raise money for the Anticancer Fund. You might be thinking : "I've donated money for cancer research already". The truth is, if you have given to the Americian Cancer Society, the majority of that money goes to finding a cure for cancer, and for technology to detect it. I firmly beleive that these are good causes and I am happy that so many runners already raised money for this. But with 90% of cancers being environmental (smoking, diet, air and water quality, etc), it makes more sense to find what is causing the tremendous increase in cancer rates, than to find the magic pill to cure it.
Why are there so few studies to find the cause? Follow the money. Finding out the cause of cancer means that there is no pill or technology that the company can patent and make money on. What company will invest money in this? Like it or not, our health care system is commercially based, and that is not likely to change. There are already tremendous financial incentives for companies to find the next drug, chemotherapy, or radiological advancement to help outcomes of those who have cancer. I hope they continue to do so.
But let's not forget that knowledge is power. If we know what types of lifestyle and environment is more likely to cause cancer, it will empower us to take our health into our own hands.
Please consider a pledge of a dollar or more per mile. Call us at (616) 301-3000. I will be running 26 miles. Money will be collected after I run. This will ensure that I do my part and complete the marathon. Thank you for your time and have a great day.