Studies have shown that hand-washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. But only if you wash properly. Here’s how:
1.) Wash for 20 seconds and then use a towel. This gets rid of surface skin cells that harbor the bacteria and viruses.
2.) Don’t worry about the temperature. Washing your hands with water that’s at 40 degrees F removes the same as water at 120 degrees F.
3.) Use a nail brush. Clean out the pathogens under the nail.
4.) Don’t use antibacterial hand soap or dish detergent. These products use a chemical called triclosan. First, this chemical is under consideration by the FDA to be labled as harmful because it may affect the body’s regulation of hormones and make bacteria resistant to antibiotics. And the studies researching it show it is ineffective–it only works if you’ve rubbed your hands’ surface for more than 20 seconds as we’ve already discussed. Thus, it’s the success of the hand washing, not the chemical.
Helping To Keep Your Hands Clean,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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A recent survey found that two-thirds of people use sight and smell to detect a refrigerated-food they should or shouldn’t eat. And the “sell by”, “best if used by” and “use by” dates on foods only show a food’s period of peak quality, not whether the food is safe. Here are six ways to make sure your food is safe:
1.) Avoid moldy foods. The mold is also likely below the surface unless it is a very hard non-porous food like carrots, bell pepper or hard salami/cheese.
2.) Follow food recalls from the FDA. Their list of recalls is present at:
Food Recalls.
3.) Know what to do when the power goes out: keep the freezer and fridge closed. A full freezer’s food lasts 2 days while a half filled one lasts 1 day. Meat, poultry and seafood can be refrozen if they still contain ice crystals. An unopened refrigerator’s food lasts about 2 hours. Discard perishables after 4 hours of no power.
4.) Prevent cross-contamination. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from other foods (separate cutting boards and utensils between them and other foods).
5.) Ignore the five-second rule. Food picks up pathogens immediately upon contact.
6.) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has further help. Help.
Helping To Keep Your Food Safe,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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There are many reasons to be germ-conscious in the kitchen, especially if you have vulnerable people living with you. Below are the most germy locations of the kitchen and how to prevent germ build-up:
1.) Sponges and Dish Cloths: These have lots of nooks and crannies, are moist and come in contact with food residues. Solve this by either microwaving them for a minute or running them through the dishwasher
2.) Countertops: Our dirty fingers and dirty sponges/dishcloths come in contact with it. Simply washing it with soap and water removes most bacteria/viruses/parasites but the immunocompromised should also use disinfectants.
3.) Sinks: Sink drains are dirty places. Use a separate bowl to fill up to wash veggies or use a soapy solution to clean the drain.
4.) Cutting Boards: Both wood and plastic boards harbor pathogens in the grooves after cuts have been made into them. Anti-microbial boards only kill the pathogens they come in contact with, while most pathogens are in the fat and food stuck to the board. Solve this by dishwashing your boards or simply buying a new one.
5.) Refrigerators: Your fridge can multiply pathogens if the temperature is not under 40 degrees F. Put a thermometer on the middle shelf to gauge this and wash out all spilled material from foods. Eat hot dogs and luncheon meats quickly to avoid the bacterial growth that happens even below 40 degrees F.
6.) Freezers: Food needs to be kept at 0 degrees F to prevent pathogen growth.
7.) Microwave: Microwaving food cooks it unevenly based on food thickness. Microwave the food for the proper length of time to heat it and then let it set out to allow the heat to spread through the food evenly through convection.
8.) Dishwashers: Dishwashers use a detergent and a high heat to kill pathogens. Use the hot-water and heat cycle. Try to wash off the plates and utencils soon after use so that the food/pathogens don’t harden on them…especially forks.
Hoping your kitchen stays germ-safe,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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A Psychology Today article by Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz lists the following seven recommendations to keep the stress out of the holiday season:
1. Appreciate the traditions within your family and your spouse’s family. Blend them together in a way that both you and your spouse will cherish and make new memories together.
2. Money is not the solution to a great holiday season - especially in these tough economic times.
3. Talk about what you are going to do for the season - what are you and your spouse’s highest priorities?
4. Take a moment in the midst of the chaos and pressure of the holidays to focus on what really matters.
5. When holiday problems arise - as they always do - an open discussion with your spouse needs to happen as soon as possible with agreement to solve the problem together.
6. As the stress rises, so does the opportunity for argument and disagreement.
7. The holiday doesn’t have to be perfect!
Preventing Holiday Stress,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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Chiropractic can also be an effective tool to help cancer patients cope with side effects of treatment and any underlying discomfort due to musculoskeletal issues says research author Diana Price based on her work with chiropractors Drs. Sklar and McMichael. “There are many benefits for cancer patients who receive chiropractic care,” Dr. Sklar says. “Very often the stress of the diagnosis of cancer alone is powerful enough to cause muscle tightness that creates pain and decreases spinal motion.” In addition, he says, side effects from chemotherapy, such as neuropathy, headaches, nausea, joint stiffness, muscle aches, and painful changes in muscle tissue from radiation therapy, can also be managed by chiropractic. Like many complementary modalities, chiropractic ideally functions as part of an integrated care plan designed to support a patient’s wellness so that he or she can receive optimal treatment results.
“Doctors of chiropractic don’t treat the cancer,” Dr. McMichael says. “They help patients be as strong as they can be to respond to specific oncology treatments, and they help patients reduce pain and improve function so that their body responds as strongly as possible.” To ensure that chiropractic care is integrated in an overall care plan in a safe and effective manner, both Dr. Sklar and Dr. McMichael stress the importance of communication between the DC and the other members of the patient’s health care team. At their clinic, for instance, Dr. Sklar says, “the chiropractic department works with each oncologist’s team and meets with team members regularly to ensure that the physician has seen the most recent reports on every patient under
chiropractic care.” Communication among team members Dr. McMichael says that chiropractic
has a strong tradition of putting patients’ needs first. “Something chiropractic patients
have historically said is that we listen to them; we keep them in the center; we treat them as a person, not as a number or condition.” For this reason chiropractic can be an ideal component
of an integrated, whole-person approach to cancer treatment.
Looking To Ease Cancer Treatment-Related Symptoms,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barely, and rye. It has been blamed for the rising incidence of stomach pain, diarrhea and weight loss seen in some people that consume it–due to their heightened autoimmune response to this protein, commonly called Celiac Disease. Below is gastroenterologist Joseph Murray’s advice on Celiacs Disease.
It is believed that the rate of Celiac Disease is rising–now up to 1% of the US population has it. The rise is being blamed on the newer ways we grow, process and eat wheat. Higher gluten breads are increasing on store shelves due to gluten’s ability to make the bread “spongey” and due to the fact it makes the bread more disease resistant.
Some people’s digestive proteins mistakenly convert part of gluten to a protein that their immune system recognizes as a danger and, therefore, goes on the attack mode to get rid of it. This creates an inflammatory condition in the gut. If this goes on for long enough, the lining of the intestine stays permanently inflammed and loses parts of its ability to absorb nutrients. There are different levels of intolerance to gluten—a spectrum of symptoms presents between those with the disease.
There is currently a blood test that is fairly sensitive for detecting the disease. But research still hasn’t indicated if it is cost-effective to screen everyone. So, medical experts recommend only screening those with Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel and Chrons in the family. A positive finding indicates a gluten-free diet might be best for you.
Looking To Help Ease Gluten Sensitivity,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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National Food Day will be October 24-in 2011 and in years to come. Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life-parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes-to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. Sponsored by the Center for Science In The Public Interest, the day is intended to foster working with people around the country to create thousands of events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals that address these goals:
1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
2. Support sustainable farms & limit subsidies to big agribusiness
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
4. Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms
5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
6. Support fair conditions for food and farm workers
Enjoy these links to useful National Food Day Information…
National Food Day Website: Food Day
National Food Day Recipes: Recipes
National Food Day Events: Events
National Food Day Photos: Photos
National Food Day Youtube Videos: Videos
Have fun participating and learning how we can revolutionize our food production and consumption!
Happy National Food Day!
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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Happy National Chiropractic Month!
In honor of National Chiropractic Health Month this October, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is bringing attention to the rise in musculoskeletal injuries caused by excessive use of mobile devices, computers and other technologies. While they may offer convenience in our work and private lives, these devices also can lead to neck, back, wrist and even thumb pain, in addition to other musculoskeletal injuries. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) have a conservative, whole-body approach to health and wellness, with particular expertise to the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and injuries. During National Chiropractic Health Month, Dr. Kotzan is sharing ergonomic and other injury-prevention tips that will keep people connected-and healthy!
Cheers to Chiropractic!
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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LOOK around, they’re everywhere: hunched shoulders, angled necks and wrists, hands twisted like claws. As people harness their bodies to use more electronic devices in more places, they may unknowingly be putting themselves at a greater risk of injury.
Things were much simpler 20 years ago when employees worked mainly on desktop computers that could be adjusted for maximum comfort. Now people have added laptops, smartphones and tablets to their arsenals, and they’re using - or perhaps misusing - them at work, at home and in trains, planes, hotels and coffeehouses.
Consult with Dr. Kotzan to see what options you have available to make best use of your office products and office procedures to best suit your ergonomic needs. Countless research articles now indicate that chiropractic and Active Release Technique are the best modalities for eliminating work-related musculo-skeletal symptoms.
Just recently the workman’s compensation study “Health Maintenance Care in Work-Related Low Back Pain and Its Association with Disability Recurrence,” (appears in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, April 2011). administered by medical and healthcare professionals outside the chiropractic profession concluded that chiropractic care had more effectiveness for common work related low back pain in comparison to treatments by physicians or physical therapists. In total chiropractic patients demonstrated lower medical expenses, less disability recurrences and shorter initial periods of disabilities. Debbie Nicholson details this further in the Detroit Alternative Medicine Examiner article viewable at Examiner.com.
Looking forward to working with your work-related injuries,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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The tabloid Heart has kept tabs on Victoria Beckham since her pregnancy just a short while back. Victoria was seen out in Los Angeles for the first time over the weekend, since giving birth in July to baby Harper Seven. Posh was looking tired and wearing flat shoes instead of her usual six inches Louboutin shoes.
It was revealed last week that the mum of four had been suffering with a slipped disc and was seeing chiropractors to ease the pain. Victoria took to her Twitter to thank fans for their support, writing “Thank u (sic) for your kind messages. I’m feeling much better and enjoying every precious minute with baby Harper, I’m so in love. X VB” Ask Dr. Kotzan for treatment options for herniated/bulging discs. Chiropractic and Active Release Technique are fantastic treatment options for this disorder.
AND not a tabloid around has failed to saturate our news with gossip about the not-so-newsworthy wedding celebration of reality TV show celebrity Kim Kardashian two weeks ago. BUT what they didn’t mention was that Kim later tweeted that what fully relaxed and prepared her for her wedding was her chiropractic appointment a few days before the celebration.”Just had the best chiropractor appointment, then massage and Korean spa scrub! I feel sooo relaxed. I really needed this!” tweeted Kim.
What Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham do, so should you. Ha.
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
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