Healthy Life Newsletter, July 2025
Patient of the Month: Angel Jacobo
I had problems with lower back pain which resulted in frequent visits to the emergency room. All they did for me was to give me pain medication. I knew the emergency room doctors could not help me, so I decided to try chiropractic. My wife did some research and found Khalsa Chiropractic.
I had never been to a chiropractor before. I was not certain it would help my back condition. But it did!
I first came to the office to meet and greet. I was greeted well and was shown a video explaining chiropractic treatment. Dr. Mha Atma suggested I come in every two weeks, so I started treatment. I still come about once every month and I’ve been coming for 12 years.
Chiropractic has been a blessing to me because my pain (from my very 1st visit) has been healing and chiropractic has given my life good health. I stand tall and straight without any more back pain and I can go about my normal life.
When I come across anyone with back pain I tell them about chiropractic care. If chiropractic treatment has helped me, then I believe it will help others. I tell people who start chiropractic care to have faith and continue the treatment—don’t give up.
Chiropractic treatment allows me to do my work and earn a living. And the staff here feels like family because they really care about me.
A Better Life with Chiropractic
Why take your kids to the chiropractor? For many of the same reasons every adult should be visiting a chiropractor on a regular basis. Plain and simple, your quality of life improves with chiropractic care.
Look no further than a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, which evaluated nearly 900 children ages 8-17 who received chiropractic spinal adjustments and related therapies commonly provided by DCs.
Quality of life, measured in terms of depression, anxiety and interference with daily activities due to pain as part of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-25 assessment tool, was significantly higher in children under the care of a chiropractor. Specifically, children were significantly less likely to report any symptoms of depression, anxiety or pain interference following a trial of chiropractic care. The researchers also accounted for variables that could have influenced the outcomes, such as number of visits, pain level, motivation for care, etc.
Give your children (and yourself) a better life with chiropractic. The sooner your kids experience the health and wellness benefits of regular chiropractic care, the better. After all, what parent doesn’t want their children to grow up with as little depression, anxiety and pain as possible? Talk to your chiropractor for more information. To learn more about chiropractic for kids, including additional research documenting the safety and health benefits of pediatric chiropractic, visit the website (icpa4kids.com) of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).
Reducing Fall Risk with Exercise
A fall isn’t pleasant at any age, but when you’re older, it can be significantly more dangerous – particularly if you’re a senior who may be experiencing declining bone health and/or suffering from one or more health issues that compromise balance.
That’s the risk; here’s the risk reducer: exercise. According to recent research, senior women with health issues requiring multiple medications (known as polypharmacy; in this case, four or more meds) benefit from an exercise program – tai chi and circuit training, one day each per week.
In the study, the lowest fall risk following the 12-month intervention (six months on the above program, followed by six months of unrestricted access to city recreational facilities) was among women who exercised.
The risk reduction was significant: Fall risk among women who exercised was 29% lower than women in the control group, who were using 0-1 medications and did not participate in the exercise intervention. Falls were monitored for approximately two years to assess the success of the exercise program.
If you or a loved one are worried about fall risk, ask your / their doctor to help outline an easy exercise program to reduce the risk, and improve overall physical and mental health. An added bonus: Exercise could even eliminate the need to take medication, particularly if they’re designed to treat health issues related to weight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions proven to be improved by exercise.
Blueberries!
Blueberries don’t just taste great; they’re great for your heart. With heart disease currently the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. (nearly 25 percent of all deaths), it’s gratifying to know doing something as simple as eating a fruit could reduce your risk.
How do blueberries help your heart? Several mechanisms may be responsible. First, blueberries are high in antioxidants that help reduce low-density lipoprotein (“bad”) cholesterol. LDL buildup on artery walls contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Second, these antioxidants also help neutralize free radicals - harmful byproducts of metabolism that can raise the risk of cancer and other diseases. Third, research suggests blueberry consumption may increase production of galactosaminoglycans, a specific molecule on blood vessel walls that appears to make them more resistant to oxidative stress. The less stress, the more protection against cardiovascular disease.
These aren’t the only reasons blueberries promote heart health, and it’s important to note that other berries provide similar benefits. One thing is sure: including berries in your daily diet is an essential component of anti-aging, anti-disease health and wellness nutrition!
Note from Dr. Mha Atma: Extra yummy blueberries are now available at my local farmer’s market and will be all summer. You can buy blueberries in the winter but they are usually flown in from South America. Now is the time for blueberries!
Body and Brain
Body and brain – the two are intimately connected, which means taking care of one requires taking care of the other. Case in point: research that suggests people with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop early-onset dementia.
Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors that increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, type 2 diabetes – and early-onset dementia. Per the Mayo Clinic, the risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat (high waist circumference), and high cholesterol or triglycerides. The more risk factors, the higher the risk of the above complications.
In the study, researchers evaluated health insurance data for almost 2 million middle-aged adults (ages 40-60) that included data on a health check-up, with measurements of all five metabolic syndrome risk factors recorded. Over an eight-year follow-up period, people with metabolic syndrome at baselines were more likely to develop dementia compared to people without metabolic syndrome.
Overall, having metabolic syndrome was associated with a 24% higher risk of early-onset dementia, including a 12% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and 21% increased risk of vascular dementia – even after accounting for other potential factors including physical activity, depression and stroke. What’s more, each metabolic syndrome risk factor increased the risk of dementia; people with all five risk factors had a 70% increased risk of early-onset dementia.
Body and brain – take care of both with a sensible diet, consistent exercise and other lifestyle habits that reduce or altogether eliminate your risk of metabolic syndrome.
Concussion Relief with Chiropractic?
Post-concussion syndrome is characterized by persistent symptoms that last longer than three months following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating and memory issues. Can chiropractic help? Yes, suggests a recent study.
Researchers randomized patients (ages 18-35 with self-reported long-term post-concussion symptoms / syndrome) into a chiropractic group and a control group. The chiropractic group received spinal adjustments, while the control group received passive and active head, spine and body movements, but without any chiropractic adjustments. All participants underwent pre- and post-intervention testing to assess changes in visual and cognitive symptoms.
Findings “support the idea that vision-based mTBI symptoms involve some abnormal spinal or proprioceptive input, and that interventions aimed at reducing spinal dysfunction may potentially have some benefit in the management of mTBI.” If you’ve suffered a concussion and have symptoms that don’t seem to go away, give chiropractic a try and see if it helps – not just your concussion symptoms, but also your overall health and wellness!
Which Protein for Muscle Growth?
With protein all the rage, it begs the question: Which type of protein is best for muscle growth? The answer is particularly relevant for vegans, who shun animal products – the most common sources of protein, and often considered the highest quality when it comes to building muscle. A new study provides insight into whether one is actually better than the other – plant vs. animal protein.
Researchers recruited healthy, active 20-40-year-old adults and randomized them to an omnivore or vegan diet. Omnivores got most of their daily protein during the study period from beef, pork, chicken, dairy and eggs; while vegans consumed complete plant proteins by balancing the amino-acid content of their meals.
Results showed that muscle protein synthesis did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting that protein source does not play a dramatic role in muscle growth. In addition, the study also found that the timing of protein intake (distribution throughout the day or at just a few meals) did not affect protein synthesis.
The takeaway: Whatever protein you eat, it will help build muscle; and as long as you’re getting enough, it doesn’t matter when you eat it. The key is to exercise consistently and consume enough protein (1.1-1.7 grams per kilogram of body weight, depending on your exercise habits, according to the Mayo Clinic).
A Laugh a Day Keeps the Stress Away
It’s often said laughter is the universal medicine. Certainly a good chuckle can cheer us up when we’re feeling blue. Now, researchers have shown that even anticipating a laugh helps reduce stress.
A group of researchers found that anticipating laughter releases two specific hormones: beta-endorphins (the family of chemicals that alleviates depression) and human growth hormone (which helps with immunity). These two hormones increased by 27 percent and 87 percent, respectively, in a group of volunteers who anticipated getting to watch a humorous film. No increase in these hormone levels was seen among volunteers who did not anticipate getting to watch the film.
In a similar study, the same researchers found there was a significant reduction in three stress hormones: cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline) and dopac (a brain chemical that helps produce epinephrine). Levels of these hormones decreased by 39 percent, 70 percent and 38 percent, respectively, among those who thought a belly laugh was imminent.
According to Dr. Lee Berk, the study team’s lead researcher, “Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out positive experiences that make us laugh, we can do a lot with our physiology to stay well.”
So go ahead and guffaw - it’ll do you a world of good!
MORE on Exercise and the Brain
This isn’t the first time we’ve elucidated the brain benefits of staying physically fit, particularly cardio fit, and we doubt it will be the last. According to a growing body of research, exercise promotes healthy aging – of body and mind. The latest: a review that highlights the neuroprotective mechanisms involved in endurance exercise.
Among the brain benefits associated with such exercise, according to the researchers: improved cerebral blood flow, reduced inflammation and enhanced neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to “rewire” itself – adapt and change, allowing for both the creation of new neural connections and recovery from injury). All three – blood flow, inflammation and neuroplasticity – are affected by age and thus affect brain aging.
But keep in mind that it’s not specifically endurance exercise that benefits the brain; according to the researchers, “Emerging evidence suggests that sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles accelerate brain ageing, while regular physical activity, high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), or a combination of both, can mitigate cognitive impairment and reduce dementia risk.”
In other words, consistent exercise is the key. If you’ve been struggling to stick to a workout routine or just want to ramp yours up to maximize your body/brain fitness, talk to your doctor.
Move More! Avoiding the Health Dangers of Inactivity
By Malik Slosberg, DC, MS
In addition to the well-documented and alarming increase in obesity, recent studies have also documented the startling lack of physical activity in our society. Researchers have found that physical activity declines dramatically across age groups between childhood and adolescence and continues to decline with age.
Among children, 42 percent obtain the recommended 60 minutes per day of physical activity, but only 8 percent of adolescents achieve this goal. Among adults, adherence to the recommendation to obtain 30 minutes day of physical activity is less than 5 percent!
This reduced physical activity results in numerous changes commonly referred to as the deconditioning syndrome. In an excellent 2011 review paper on the dangers of inactivity, the authors describe deconditioning as the physiologic response of the body when there is a reduction in energy use or exercise levels; that is, with bed rest, prolonged sitting or in living a very sedentary lifestyle. Major changes included in this syndrome are:
Decreased joint mobilization
Wasting of trunk muscles
Decreased muscular strength and endurance
Reduced cardiovascular fitness
Stiffness of ligaments and joints
Reduced metabolic activity
Increased susceptibility to sprains, strains and muscle spasms
These damaging effects of muscle and joint disuse provoke symptoms, causing greater avoidance of activity, resulting in a cyclical pattern of pain and avoidance of activity / deconditioning / more pain, and is considered a defining characteristic of chronic low back pain patients.
Studies published from several different countries show that the majority of adult waking hours (>90 percent) are spent either in sedentary or in light-intensity activity. A number of studies, using both subjective and objective measures of physical activity, suggest that prolonged bouts of sitting time are strongly associated with chronic disease including: obesity, abnormal glucose metabolism, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease risk and cancer, independent of whether adults meet physical activity guidelines.
So, what’s the bottom line? Move more! And keep in mind that your chiropractor is your partner in the battle against obesity and related health conditions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their weight and/or living a sedentary lifestyle, ask for help. Your chiropractor can help develop a strategy to improve your/their health via exercise, diet and other methods.
Profound Benefits of Omega-3 Supplementation
A new study found that in subjects with high blood LDL (“bad” cholesterol), adipose (fat) tissue inflammation was associated with abnormalities in carbohydrate (sugar) and fat metabolism that increase the risk for Type 2 diabetes
The study revealed that fish-oil omega-3 supplementation was effective in inhibiting the effects of LDL on adipose tissue inflammation and its association to risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease; omega-3 supplementation also improved the anomalies in carbohydrate and fat metabolism in all subjects
Supplementing with EPA and DHA eliminated the link between adipose tissue inflammation induced by LDL, or other metabolic and microbial inflammatory triggers, with several risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases – in fact, the higher the levels of EPA and DHA in the blood were, the better was the treatment of the cardiometabolic risk factors.
More details about this important study at grassrootshealth.net.