DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Saturday, December 21, 2013 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

"There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them… A man must constantly exceed his level." ~ Bruce Lee

Mental Attitude: Contact Sports and Impaired Brain Function. According to new research, damage to sensitive brain tissue in contact sports is not limited to just concussions. Using an MRI machine and standardized learning and memory tests following the conclusion of the sporting season, researchers discovered that individuals who engaged in contact sports showed measurable changes in their brain’s white matter and had reduced cognitive function compared with their non-contact athlete counterparts. The researchers excluded any athletes who sustained concussions during the study. Indiana University, December 2013

Health Alert: Sushi Risks. A recent study suggests that regular sushi consumption can significantly increase an individual's exposure to mercury. Mercury exposure from excessive fish consumption can result in neurodevelopment deficits, poor cognition, and even cardiovascular disease. The study showed that tuna sashimi contains the highest levels of methylmercury.  Journal of Risk Research, November 2013

Diet: Black Tea Protects the Heart from Fatty Meals. An Italian study found that drinking a cup of black tea following a high-fat meal helps to counteract any negative effects the food may have on blood pressure and arterial blood flow. According to the study's author, Dr. Caludio Ferri, "Our studies build on previous work to clearly show that drinking as little as one cup of tea per day supports healthy arterial function and blood pressure. These results suggest that on a population scale, drinking tea could help significantly reduce the incidence of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2013

Exercise: Eat Before a Workout? Recent research has found that exercisers who ate breakfast before using a treadmill for 36 minutes had higher fat-burning rates during the following 24 hours than exercisers who ate after the workout, even though they both ate the same amount of calories. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, December 2012

Chiropractic: Positive Side Effects of Adjustments. A minority of chiropractic patients report positive non-musculoskeletal reactions after chiropractic adjustments. In a self-reported study involving 87 chiropractors, 26% of patients reported improved breathing, 26% reported improved digestion, 14% reported improved vision, and 14% noted improved circulation. The number of spinal regions treated was positively associated with the number of reactions. Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, November 1999

Wellness/Prevention: Slash Obesity-Related Heart Attack Risk in Half. An analysis of 97 studies reveals that obese or overweight individuals can cut their risk of heart disease in half by simply lowering their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Each year, approximately 3.4 million people worldwide die as a result of being overweight or obese.  Harvard School of Public Health, November 2013

For More Information on Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Whiplash, and To Sign Up For Our Daily Health Update Emails, Go To: www.DrJeffAllynBlog.com

(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.)