DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Monday, November 25, 2013 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut

Mental Attitude: Einstein's Brain. The left and right hemispheres of Albert Einstein's brain were unusually well connected to one another, which may have contributed to his brilliance. This study is the first to detail Einstein's corpus callosum, the brain's largest bundle of fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication. Brain, October 2013

Health Alert: Death in Boom Times? Historically, when economies expand, death rates increase for both middle-aged and older people; however, when economies head for recession, the death rates among these groups decrease. For every 1% point increase in GDP, death rates appear to rise by 0.36% among older people, and by 0.38% among the middle-aged. Two popular explanations include: 1) During recessions, unemployed people reduce alcohol consumption, resulting in fewer road accidents. 2) Job stress and air pollution are known to increase when economies grow.  Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, October 2013

Diet: More Reasons to Eat Broccoli and Cauliflower! Sulforaphane (found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and collards) may help reduce the risk of respiratory inflammation that leads to chronic diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a study setting, researchers found that those who consumed 200 grams of broccoli had nearly three times as many antioxidant enzymes in their upper airway cells compared to baseline measurements. These protective antioxidant enzymes help fight against common environmental pollutants.  Clinical Immunology, March 2009

Exercise: Better Math, English, and Science Grades! Research on British school children has found a link between academic performance and daily exercise. English, math, and science scores went up as the number of minutes per day of exercise increased with the greatest gains in female science scores. With boys and girls only exercising 18-29 minutes per day on average, how much could grades improve if physical education hours were increased instead of cut back to save money?British Journal of Sports Medicine, October 2013

Chiropractic: Lack of Motion and the Heart and Lungs. The negative effects of immobilization (lack of proper motion) begin as soon as four hours after injury! The direct effects of deconditioning on the cardiopulmonary system (heart & lungs) include an increase of the maximal heart rate and a decrease in your maximal oxygen consumption potential.  Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1992

Wellness/Prevention: Kids Need Regular Bedtimes. A study of 10,000 children in the United Kingdom found that children with inconsistent bedtimes are more likely to suffer from behavioral and emotional problems than their peers who go to sleep at the same time every night. The good news is that the effects are reversible once children settle into a regular bedtime. Pediatrics, October 2013

(This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.)