Pharmaceutical Giant Fined…Natural/Organic Foods Becoming Mainstream

Two contrasting stories, both from highly credible publications, illustrate the intense tug of war that is transpiring between mainstream and progressive health forces, each pointing out the paradigm shift that is manifesting before our eyes.

First, the Wall Street Journal reported that Big Pharma got their knuckles rapped again – this time, GlaxoSmithKline is being reprimanded for aggressively marketing drugs to nursing homes and other health care consumers for disorders that were never researched properly, leading to a $3 billion dollar penalty, the largest ever of its kind.

In comparison, USA Today says that natural and organic foods are grabbing a larger share of the consumer food market, with major chains increasing their focus on whole and unprocessed foods in response to burgeoning public demand.

Nationwide sales of natural and organic foods grew 8% in 2010, compared to 1% growth of the food industry overall. To capitalize on this growing desire, major chains like Kroger and Target have concentrated their buying power on such cultural trends. In fact, conventional retailers have surpassed specialty stores in sales of organic foods.  Just go to your local supermarket and notice the selection of organic products from fruits to vegetables to packaged goods.

Big Pharma’s lies and deception interferes with our citizens’ ability to accurately assess their options.  That’s why the government tried to stop them by slapping a huge fine on them, but sadly, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the windfall return they have enjoyed on these dangerous drugs, making even a $3 billion fine a cost of doing business they will just build into the price of their next medicine.

But the movement toward natural eating foretells unrest among our people, a resistance to settling for the status quo, and a powerful intentional move toward things natural. Doctors of chiropractic have established a prominent leadership role in supporting this eating lifestyle for over a century.  The populace is willing to spend a little more on better food with no toxins used in their processing. 

Our office has always been a significant voice of reason and a trusted heath advisor when it comes to dietary recommendations.  Are you ready to begin eating healthier?  Are you willing to change your eating habits to more natural and organic food choices?  We will always be available for you should you need any advice or have any questions.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Winer

Sweet Poison

So, today I walked into our local supermarket to pick up a few household staple items. I was greeted by the usual auto-sliding door and proceeded down one of the isles, knowingly moving in the direction of my item to be purchased. As I stepped hastily down the aisle I couldn't help noticing the items for sale on the racks. Now I was in the flour/cake mix/sugar aisle on the right and the plastic wraps etc. on the left (Plastics!! We will save that for another time) when it hit me. Except for the fresh food items like meats and produce, this store is filled with a bunch of CRAP. If you look at the ingredients in the boxed/canned food items you will find sugar or even worse high fructose corn sweetener in most everything. No wonder we have health problems related to obesity in this country. We are poisoning ourselves on a daily basis and most people are totally clueless as to what they are putting into their bodies.

And to add insult to injury, while checking out, there is a sign on the cash register that says, "if your checker doesn't ask you for a donation, let him/her know and you will be 'rewarded' with a liter bottle of a soft drink (a picture of Dr Pepper or Coca Cola was on the message)".

So I said to the cashier, " So if you don't ask me for a donation, you are going to poison me by giving me a large bottle of a soft drink". At first he didn't get it. Then he just grinned and took my money with indignation.

So now we are badgered and made to feel guilty at the cash register of most supermarkets for donations and if the cashier forgets to even ask we are "rewarded" with a product that is contributing to the demise of our health in this country.

Go figure.

Health Care Reform? What's the solution?

Well, it's been a while since posting anything on my blog...so here goes.

With Health Care Reform so prominently covered in the media, I'd like to give you my take on the issues.

First of all, and I may be proven wrong, I don't believe that any meaningful heath care reform will be done in the near future, certainly not within President Obama's timeline of having something on his desk this fall.

The problem with health care in this country runs very deep and there is no easy solution. In order for meaningful change to take place, I believe the following items must be addressed:

1. Hospital's must return to being non profit entities. There is too much incentive for corporate profits within these hospital corporations. Returning to non profit as they were years ago only makes sense in controlling skyrocketing hospital costs.

2. Health insurance companies also need to return to non profit status. Again the temptation to drive company profits also drives premiums. Insurance companies also must remove the middle man in their system of managed care. They can control doctor costs by putting limits or caps on many types of care without employing all the personnel in the middle. All that has been done with this approach is shift the revenue from the doctor's pocket and into the pocket of these middle managers. The doctors will be happier without the extra paperwork and hiring of their own personnel and the insurance companies would simply cut staff and also be able to save money.

3. Pharmaceutical companies need new regulations to control the marketing of their products. We need to go back to when advertisements were not allowed on television and in print. These ads create unnecessary demand and drive up the costs of health care. Just ask any person over 65 how many medications they are on and I'm sure you will be shocked. Many seniors are sedentary and watch hours of TV every day, constantly being bombarded with pharmaceutical ads telling them to "ask their doctor".

4. More emphasis need to be placed on wellness care and prevention. I'm not talking about more vaccines (which by the way also drive up the costs of health care and in most cases are unnecessary). I'm referring to creating incentives for people to change their lifestyles, from exercising more, to eating better quality food, to getting enough rest and to reducing stress in their lives.

5. There needs to be some kind of tort reform. Many doctors are being driven out of their specialties because of high liability insurance...and while medical mistakes are common and should be compensated, the frivolous law suits must be dealt with as well. I'm not sure exactly what the solution is, however, I do know that this is an area that needs to be addressed.

If we added these areas to the discussion in health care reform and acted upon them, we could solve most of the issues facing health care reform today.

Food for Thought

Why should we eat Organic Foods?

Our current system of food production and distribution in the United States as well as large scale food sources from other countries unfortunately rely very heavily on chemicals. These chemicals begin with the fertilizers turned into the ground before planting. Then crops are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides...and have you ever tasted one of those tomatoes that can withstand the pressure of thousands above it as they are transported in huge elongated dump trucks? You and I couldn't survive the pressure under all of those tomatoes...and they have zero taste. But they are firm and last longer to market. Something is wrong here.

And how about our meat products including beef, pork and chicken. Gorged on corn based feed laden with antibiotics and pesticides, these animals are usually restricted to very little movement in pens so that they can fatten quicker and be sold to market sooner.

Does this even sound appealing? Welcome to organically grown vegetables and fruits and animals raised on organic feed in a non-restricted environment...yes it's a little more expensive but the price is well worth it in terms of your overall health and the health of your family.

Sleep Choices that Make Sense

As a practicing chiropractor I'm often asked by my patients about sleeping. Questions include bed type, pillow choices, sleeping positions and sleep aids. Let's cover these topics briefly one at a time.

There are many choices when it comes to purchasing a bed. Most of the top of the line bed manufacturers produce quality beds that will work just fine for most people. My rule of thumb is this: Choose a bed that is firm, doesn't sag in the middle and has a pillow top or foam/feather overlay to soften the top of the bed only and be more compliant to the curves and bony points on the body.

You should sleep on your back with your feet slightly elevated or on your side in the fetal position (legs bent about halfway up to the chest). While lying on your back, put a pillow or a triangular foam wedge pillow under your knees. If you are a side sleeper, put a pillow between your legs to keep the legs and knees parallel to the hips (knees apart several inches) to take the stress off the hip joints.

I only recommend 2 pillows: A down pillow or a Tempurpedic memory foam pillow.
A down pillow gives just the right amount of loft while also being compliant enough to allow your head and neck to mold around it as you sleep. Choose a medium to full fill. If you are allergic to down or simply want to use a different pillow, the Tempurpedic pillow is a real winner. Don't buy any imitation memory foam pillow. They are not the same quality and from the ones that I have tested, can actually hurt your neck while you sleep.

If you have problems getting to sleep or wake up during the night and can't get back to sleep, I have found that Valerian root supplements work great. They come in liquid, capsules and tablets depending on the manufacturer. My family and I have been using this supplement for years and I always highly recommend it to my patients should they need a sleep aid. There are no side effects and it is perfectly safe.

If you have any questions, just contact me at kwiner@winerchiropractic.com.