The most common condition associated with the intake of dairy is Lactose Intolerance, which is the lack of enough lactase in the body to properly break down the lactose (sugar) contained in milk. Most of the world’s population has this condition, except for many of the Northern European and Northern Indian populations who’ve been consuming large amounts of dairy for millennia[5]. Most of these people become intolerant to dairy as they get older however… Another condition that can result from consuming dairy products is a serious reaction to casein and whey[5].

Dairy products, including milk, cheese, ice cream, butter and yogurt contribute to significant amounts of cholesterol and fat to the diet[1]. Diets high in fat and saturated fat can increase the risk of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.  Clinical research shows that dairy products have no effect on preventing osteoporosis, in a Harvard Nurses’ Health Study[1]. Increased intake of calcium from dairy products was associated with a higher risk of fracture in an Australian study[2].

Several cancers have been linked to the consumption of dairy products, such as Ovarian cancer[2].  According to a study by Daniel Cramer, M.D., and his colleagues at Havard, when dairy product consumption exceeds the enzymes’ capacity to break down galactose, it can build up in the blood stream and it may affect woman’s ovaries[1].  Breast and prostate cancers have also been linked to the consumption of dairy products[2].

Synthetic hormones such as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are commonly used in dairy cows to increase the production of milk[3]. Mastitis can result due to an over-production of milk thus antibiotics are used and there have been traces found in samples of milk and other dairy products[3].

Eating dairy can cause the following symptoms: puffy face and eyes, sinus headaches, stuffy head,  watery eyes, itchiness, sneezing, insomnia, phlegm, clogged ears, sore throat, foggy head, indigestion, eczema and skin problems, and weight gain[3].

Does your stomach churn after you eat cheese/yogurt/milk…and do you have bowel issues shortly afterwards? This may be a sign that you’re lactose Intolerant!  The National Institution of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) estimates that 30 to 50 million Americans are Lactose Intolerante[6].  Gas, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and diarrhea are other symptoms that dairy consumption can cause!

There are mainly delicious alternatives to dairy products. Almond milk has gotten more popular over the last few years, as it is dairy-free and delicious..great in smoothies and in your coffee/tea.  You will also find that natural foods stores, Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage, Sunflower, and even Costco now carry Almond milk!  I prefer to make almond milk at home with my Vitamix Blender .  Grocery stores also carry dairy-free cheeses that are actually quite tasty and they melt!! Great for pizza !

I will be having a workshop at Higher Health Chiropractic bimonthly, and will be showing those who attend how to make various nut milks and dairy-free cheeses! If you have interest in attending one of our workshops please call the office at (303) 925-0808 and schedule with Bobbie!

Parents are furious as they demand more funding towards the school cafeterias. In the latest CNN article

“Schools struggle to feed kids healthy food”, it states that “in the school cafeteria you could buy soda, potoato chips,snack cakes, corndogs, French fries, apple turnovers, icecream–you know, carnival food” and the “No 1 meal servedto children in the U.S. schools is chicken fingers and French fries.” Processed food is cheaper to serve than fresh produce.  A 2009 study published in the Journal of the American Diabetic Association found that 94 percent of school lunches failed to meet the U.S Agriculture Department’s regulatory standards.

Whole Foods is currently taking donations– to put salad bars in the local Colorado schools!  As you spend 30-50 dollars on your lunch you might as well throw in a few dollars for a great cause!

Parents: please prepare your childs lunches– healthy, unprocessed foods that will maintain your childs energy levels so that he/she is able to concentrate and learn without crashing mid day due to high sugarm salty, processed trans-fatty foods provided in the cafeteria. Healthy snacks, fresh organic fruits and vegetables, no white bread, healthy grains as dark/red wild rice will help sustain blood sugar levels. Children are our future.

Summer vacation is partly to blame. After a couple months off of school, students often don’t prepare adequately for the fall sports season, returning too rapidly to their sport. Because children’s bodies are still developing, their muscles, bones and ligaments aren’t as stable as the same in an adult, thus upping the ante for injuries to occur.

Sometimes youths tough out their injuries and put themselves at risk. Or sometimes the injury and the resulting symptoms don’t seem to add up.

Higher Health Chiropractic treats youngsters to seniors. Call our office if you’re experiencing symptoms from aches and pains to headaches and stress. We’ll evaluate your condition and make recommendations for treatment or refer you to one of the several physician/surgeons we work with ongoing.

If chiropractic care is valuable for you, imagine how valuable it is for your children. Kids are natural explorers – they run, jump, climb things, fall down, and bounce around. ¹ And, kids are resilient – this ability to recover quickly is one of the great benefits of being very young. Occasionally, one of these activity-related injuries impacts a child’s spine. Nothing obvious has happened and nothing hurts. But there may be subtle injuries to spinal muscles and spinal ligaments that have a long-term effect on spinal nerve function.^2,3

Good Nutrition and Lots of Exercise for Healthy Kids

We’re in the middle of a raging epidemic affecting America’s youth – the obesity epidemic. The number of American adolescents who are obese increased 300% in the last 40 years.

This is a problem that can potentially affect every family. The good news is that in almost all cases, obesity is a lifestyle disorder. In other words, children become obese because of behaviors learned from their friends and their parents.

Healthy eating and regular exercise are the two critically important steps to take to help ensure your child retains an appropriate weight. With respect to healthy eating -

• Eliminate all trans fats from your children’s diet – this includes almost all fast foods
• Cut down on sugary drinks
• Serve at least five portions of fresh fruits and vegetables every day
• Serve complex carbohydrates such as whole grains
• Serve lean meat, fish, and poultry
• Count calories!

Children need at least an hour of physical activity every day. This includes outdoor play, sports, and calisthenics. Make sure your kids are getting enough exercise!

Spinal nerve function depends on mechanical integrity of the spine itself. If spinal muscles and ligaments are inflamed or irritated, spinal nerve function is compromised to a greater or lesser extent. In a child, the short- and long-term results may include muscle pain and stiffness, loss of full range of motion in the neck or lower back, frequent colds, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, allergies, and asthma. Of course, when it comes to good health for you and your family, preventing a problem is much easier than treating a problem. In the long run, prevention also costs much less. We all want our kids to be healthy and well. We want them to play full-out, to engage in all kinds of sports, and to have a lot of fun. In order for children to continue to enjoy optimal health, regular spinal check-ups are as important as an annual physical exam. Your local chiropractor is the spinal health expert in your community. She will be glad to help you ensure your child’s continued good health.

¹Barkley JE, et al: Reinforcing value of interval and continuous physical activities in children. Physiol Behav April 16, 2009
²Fecteau D, et al: The effect of concentrating periods of physical activity on the risk of injury in organized sports in a pediatric population. Clin J Sport Med 18(5):410-414, 2008
³Spinks AB, McClure RJ: Quantifying the risk of sports injury: a systematic review of activity-specific rates for children under 16 years of age. Br J Sports Med 41(9):548-557, 2007