The following was sent by Todd M. Narson, DC Questions or Comments can be directed to: Todd M. Narson, DC 915 Alton Road Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: 305.672.2225 Email: beachdoc@mindspring.com CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY & NUTRITION Todd M. Narson, DC Abstract: Many in the chiropractic profession feel that innate can; by itself, provide all that is necessary to heal from within if no interferences are present. This paper briefly explores the role proper nutrition from ‡whole food supplementationÖ plays in the bodyès ability to heal itself from within by providing the biochemical building blocks at the cellular level. Together, the chiropractic adjustment and proper whole food supplementation provide a truly holistic means of healing from within, allowing innate to work as intended. As chiropractors, we know that the brain controls the function of every organ, tissue and cell in the body. That of course is basic. Furthermore, we realize if there are any interferences in the brain's ability to communicate with the body due to subluxation and nerve interference, then the end result is a decrease in the ability of that organ, tissue,and Or cell to function at some level. Eventually, leading to the beginnings of the disease process. Therefore, as chiropractors, we adjust the spine to reduce the subluxation, reduce the nerve interference and allow the brain; the organs, the tissues, and the cells to communicate with each other so the body can properly heal itself from within. However, there is one more piece to this puzzle that must be considered. As chiropractors, our patients entrust us to help guide them and their families in their quest for optimal health, and a life free of disease, drugs and surgery. So, as chiropractors, we adjust to reduce nerve pressure so that the brain, organs, tissues and cells can properly and therefore heal from within. We have all heard this same scenario time and time again. However, there is one very important thing missing.....Proper Nutrition. So we remove the nerve interference. The brain is communicating perfectly with all of the organs, tissues and cells. Now consider that 91% of the American population fails to eat even the minimum required amount of fresh raw fruits and vegetables everyday, and therefore the body does not have the proper biochemical components to remanufacture and reproduce healthy cells and tissues. In order for the adjustment to work as intended, we must find a way to get our patients to provide their bodies the nutrients necessary for proper cell replication. Otherwise, we can adjust our patients all daylong, without the proper nutritional building blocks to rebuild themselves at the cellular level, the adjustments alone cannot possibly slowdown or reverse the disease process to the extent we originally intended. The answer is absolutely not multivitamins, minerals or antioxidant supplements. The answer, quite simply, is whole foods. Why whole foods? First of all, as chiropractors we all have a problem with man altering nature. Has man ever been ever to replicate nature perfectly? No. That's why vitamin, mineral and antioxidant supplements don't work. Man does not know all of the pieces to the puzzle yet when it comes to nutrients. Do not get me wrong, I do believe vitamins, minerals and antioxidant are very useful to the body, however not when they are removed from their natural environments and taken out of their natural state and proportions. If you believe that man is better, or even just equal at reproducing nutrients than "mother nature", then I am sure you will continue to feel comfortable with typical vitamin and mineral supplements. However, it is very well known nowadays that any given vegetable or fruit has 10,000+ phytonutrients (a phytonutrient is a nutrient from a plant. These include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and other scientifically unclassified "nutrients"). Considering that there are 10,000+ phytonutrients in our fruits and vegetables, then why are there only 150 or so nutrients in a typical vitamin, mineral and antioxidant supplements? Even if thee were 500 or 1000, the vitamin pill would still be severely lacking. Do we believe that just because our current science does not have the technology to Understand and appreciate the other 9,900+ phytonutrients that occur in fruits and vegetables, that our bodies donèt need these nutrients? That is nonsense. Should we wait until science discovers and understands each and every phytonutrient before taking them? No. We need them in our bodies now. We need fruits and vegetables. The problem is that it is virtually impossible in our society to eat 5-9 servings of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables that are herbicide and pesticide free. Especially when the produce in our supermarkets is picked long before they are ripe, making them nutritionally deplete to begin with. Then they are usually cooked. And the few nutrients that are left Are destroyed in the cooking process. So now we eat fruits and vegetables with tiny amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and no enzymes to help break down and help digest the food. This results in poor absorption of the few nutrients that are present. It is no wonder that we have so many cravings. We eat, yet we are not nutritionally satisfied. Therefore we crave. If you can afford to go to a "whole foods" market and purchase organic produced for yourself and your spouse, do you think you will be able to get your patients, or even your children to eat this way everyday? It is very unlikely. So what's the solution? There is a product I have been recommending to my patients for about 8 months now. I will not mention the name of it because I do nott want this to seem like an advertisement, or like I am trying to sell you something. What it is, is literally 17 whole, fresh, raw fruits and vegetables that have had the water, sugar and salt removed and then the fruits and vegetables are put into capsule form. Each batch is tested twice and certified to be herbicide and pesticide free and completely safe at any given dosage. Due to the different enzymes involved in digesting fruits and adjust vegetables, the particular supplement I provide for my patients fruit capsules and vegetable capsules are taken separately (Two fruit capsules in the morning, two vegetable capsules in the afternoon). Independent scientific research has shown that not only do the nutrients in this whole food supplement get absorbed, but the research has shown significantly increased amounts of circulating antioxidants in the bloodstream (1, 2) which absolutely shows it is being absorbed and utilized. Additionally, these nutrients have been shown to effectively repair damaged DNA (3). Additionally, FDA approved quantitative analysis showed higher nutrient levels from this whole food concentrate than in fresh squeezed juice. Ultimately, it has been shown to effectively strengthen the immune system (2). All studies have shown these effects occurring in as little as 28-40 days (1,2,3). Why is this whole food supplement so effective? Because the natural state of the nutrients has not been altered! Only the water, sugar and salt have been removed. Every nutrient remains in its natural state and in the natural balance and ratios that occur in nature. The way we were intended to have them. The way we should have them. In closing, it is this author's personal and professional opinion that whole food supplementation using fruit and vegetable concentrates is well within the scope of principled chiropractic philosophy. Ultimately, these fruit and vegetable concentrates complete the scope of the chiropractic adjustment at the cellular level in allowing the body to fully heal itself from within. Furthermore, I feel the chiropractic profession should embrace whole food supplementation as the biochemical adjustment for a severe nutritional subluxation. Given in combination with the vertebral adjustment, a truly optimal - holistic state of health and healing can be reached. Please feel free to call me with any questions regarding whole food supplementation as outlined above. References: 1. Wise, John A.; Morin, Robert J.;Sanderson, Roger; Blum, Keneth. Changes in Plasma Carotenoid, Alpha-Tocopheral, and Lipid Peroxidase Levels In Response To Supplementation With Concentrated Fruit And Extract: A Pilot Study. Current Therapeutic Research, Vol. 57, No.6, pp. 445-461 June 1996. 2. Paula F. Inserra, PhD et al. Immune Function In Elderly Smokers And Non Smokers Improves During Supplementation With Fruit And Vegetable Extracts; Integrative Medicine, Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp3-10, 1999. 3. Smith BS, Inserra PhD, Watson PhD, et. al.; Supplementation With Fruit And Vegetable Extracts May Decrease DNA Damage In The Peripheral Lymphocytes Of An Elderly Population , Nutrition Research, Vol 19, No. 10, pp. 1507-1518, Oct. 1999.