Greens Powder – James Beuerlein, DC Student

The Supplement Scoop

Anyone who has eaten lunch with me, or even anywhere near me, on campus has probably noticed that part of my daily routine is to drink a mysterious, dark green liquid affectionately referred to by some as “swamp water.” In reality, what I’m drinking is a “greens powder.” It’s a green food supplement designed to augment my diet with boost of nutrients that may otherwise be lacking. Now, I eat pretty healthily, as you may gather, but let’s put this in perspective:

To quote from one manufacturer’s website, “Nearly every major health organization recommends eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day to maintain health. Yet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, less than nine percent of American adults consume the recommended number of servings.” To our further disadvantage, much of the produce we do consume has drastically reduced nutrient content, due to the depleted soils we farm and the chemicals we add to give produce a longer shelf-life. By the time we eat it, we get much less benefit than we would have 50 or 100 years ago.

A greens powder gives you those missing nutrients in the form of whole foods -vegetables, fruits, and proteins, which have been dehydrated, cold-pressed, or freeze-dried. They are made into a powder and also contain added enzymes, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. This powder is to be mixed with water and taken once a day. It’s also great to add to a smoothie for a meal or as a post-workout recovery drink, especially if you’re not fond of the taste.

In fact, here’s my recovery drink recipe: Two whole raw eggs, a serving of greens powder, 5-6 oz of coconut milk, 8 oz water, cinnamon to taste, and just a tiny sprinkle of cayenne pepper (sounds like an anti-hangover drink, right?) If I’m feeling feisty, I might throw in some almond butter, as well. Bam! You’re now turbo-charged with protein, healthy fats, antioxidants, and TONS of nutrients. Everything your body needs to refuel and rebuild.

There are several great brands of greens powders out there, including Garden of Life, New Chapter, and Barlean’s. Some key things to look for: You want it to be based on WHOLE FOODS, raw or minimally processed. Also, you want it to be free of any chemical additives, fillers, and/or sweeteners. Lastly, since there are typically so many different foods in the ingredients, if you have allergies, please read the label carefully to make sure that it contains nothing that will cause a reaction. Taste will vary from brand to brand, and many companies make a “Berry Greens” version of the powder with added fruit for taste and additional antioxidants. A few “lite green” drinks you may have seen before include “Green Machine” by Naked, and “Green Superfood” by Odwalla. These two are very tasty, although they do contain a higher sugar content than the powders mentioned above. Usually, added supplements will vary from brand to brand, and each  person can select brands based on his/her own known deficiencies. However, I recommend a greens powder for EVERYONE. The state of food in America simply doesn’t supply us with everything we need. Try one out today!

Squatter’s Rites – James Beuerlein, Senior Staff Writer

Or what i learned about myself in the bathroom

What I’m about to share may seem shocking or down-right abominable to readers in the United States, but is perfectly normal for 2/3 of the global population and EVERY human that has lived before 1850. Simply stated, we’ve been going to the bathroom the wrong way. I’m afraid I won’t be able to avoid certain indulgences in this article: The way your parents potty-trained you is a bunch of crap (pardon the pun). Humans are anatomically designed to defecate in the deep, squatting position – NOT in the chair position. In fact, there are some pretty serious consequences for ignoring this more natural position.

I have been thinking this over for a couple of years now, but I only recently decided to take action. I built my very own squatting platform to go over my toilet. The decision to build my own came after the rather frustrating discovery that no company in America sells a squat toilet or ‘squatty-potty.’ I did, however, manage to find one company (www.naturesplatform.com) that sells squatting platforms for existing toilets, and to that company I owe a great deal of my information on this subject.

Now for some anatomy.  Why is squatting better? Glad you asked. As it turns out, there are several reasons:

First, the puborectalis muscle, which enables us to maintain continence, is relaxed when we are in the squatting position, allowing the rectum to straighten, but it chokes the rectum when in a seated position, which is, after all, its job.  This causes us to strain and exert excessive pressure when defecating, which can cause many problems. Besides preventing undo strain, defecating with a relaxed puborectalis makes bowel movements faster, more efficient and more complete. This helps to prevent fecal stagnation, which is a prime factor in colon cancer, appendicitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Secondly, the squatting position allows for the complete closing of the ileocecal valve, between the colon and small intestine. When seated, this valve does not seal and can leak fecal matter, contaminating the small intestines.

The final major benefit of squatting is that it tends to provide relief from straining when defecating. Apart from the unpleasantness, straining during bowel movements is one of the primary causes of hemorrhoids, hernias, diverticulosis, pelvic organ prolapse, and bathroom heart attacks. (Yes, there is such a thing.) The strain accompanying sitting on the toilet can be deadly for those with already weakened cardio-vascular systems, causing them to be even more susceptible to acute coronary events. This is why patients admitted to hospitals for heart disease are given stool-softeners.

In addition to the disorders mentioned above, proponents of squatting (squatters?)  claim the posture can be effective in the prevention and/or treatment of many other disorders, and have studies to back them up. Check www.naturesplatform.com and http://www.toilet-related-ailments.com/index.html.

After building a squatting platform and using it for a month, I’ve found it thus far to be quite enjoyable, and (whether by placebo-effect or not) I feel it does make a difference. It was stated earlier, that two thirds of humanity is already using “squatting” as their main mode of defecation. To quote Jonathan Isbit, founder of Nature’s Platform, “In those cultures, appendicitis, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, colitis, prostate disorders, and colon cancer are virtually unknown.”

My challenge to you: First, research it for yourself, then get off your butt and squat!

The War on Funnel Cakes – Alexandra Gerdel, DC Student

The Lights of Life delicacy found guilty of causing serious IBS on campus

At Let’s Talk last quarter I heard Bill Jarr announce that funnel cakes would no longer be advertised at Lights of Life. I took the comment as a sign that the administration finally recognized the inconsistency of an institution committed to creating a paradigm shift in the arena of health and wellness serving fried dough smothered in powdered sugar and deep fried candy bars during the event that serves as our biggest contact with the outside community. I was so excited I even posted on FaceBook that words I’d written over a year ago about this very issue had been listened to and that changes were finally happening towards making our school a spitting image of what we preach: health and wellness.

Imagine my disappointment when a few days after I heard Mr. Jarr announce that funnel cakes would not be advertised, not only had the funnel cake stand taken up residence on our new green space, but in addition to the yellow monstrosity already advertising funnel cakes and deep fried candy bars, there was a new red and white banner tied to the chain link fence reading “FUNNEL CAKES.” Before I go on, let me clarify two things: one) this article is in no way intended to attack Mr. Jarr, I may have misheard or misunderstood what he said, I am merely stating how this occurred for me when what I “heard” turned out to be false from my perspective; two) I know many who will be upset at my attack on funnel cakes, I only ask that those of you already getting red in the face hear me out. My qualm isn’t with any one person or the fact that people love funnel cakes, my war declaration is a matter of integrity.

Life University has made a promise: “…Life University education will produce leaders who exemplify humanistic values and, in a world where change is constant, provide innovative approaches to direct that change to elevate society and evolve its health care system.” (www.life.edu/OurMission) The commitment of our school is to create transformational leaders ready to make an impact on the world, specifically in the arena of health and wellness. So the question stands, shouldn’t our campus and community set the tone for what that kind of transformation and impact looks like?

I return now to my issue with funnel cakes and the many other horrendously delicious and artery clogging foods served during our annual Lights of Life festival. Does it make sense that a community of future healthcare leaders and a school committed to elevating society and evolving its healthcare system throws that message out the window and supports the sales of some of the most unhealthy food imaginable for one month out of the year? This phenomenon represents IBS. For all my bodily function minded colleagues, my use of IBS here does not mean Irritable Bowel Syndrome, (though I’m sure funnel cakes are very capable of causing that). However, what I am referring to is something known as the Integrity Baseline Syndrome (this term was coined by Landmark Education).

We’re all familiar with integrity, one of our eight core proficiencies: doing what you say you’re going to do, by when you say you’re going to do it and having all your actions congruent with the words you speak. All of us have the potential to have 100% integrity in everything we do, but very few of us actually do. Every time you sell out on your word, your message or do something that isn’t congruent with you or what you stand for, your integrity baseline falls from 100%, to 95%, to 60% etc. Whether it’s for money, or because something is too hard, or because you’re embarrassed to admit something, or too scared to take a stand, the majority of people who claim to live with integrity live their lives with a percentage of integrity that is far less than 100%.

As a university, our integrity baseline is currently far below 100% when it comes to a commitment to create a paradigm shift in the worlds view of health and healthcare. As long as we continue to sell funnel cakes and fried candy, have vending machines on campus, serve soda in our cafe and allow companies like Papa Johns and QuikTrip to hand out free food on campus the shift we’re talking about will never be realized, because our words have no integrity or action to back them up. Would apartheid have been lifted if Nelson Mandela had sold out on his word or his message when he got into office? Would the Civil Rights movement ever have succeeded if Martin Luther King hadn’t stood for what he believed in at any cost?

To create a paradigm shift like the one we’ve started to envision on this campus, we must live and practice the type of integrity Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela possessed. With Lights of Life, we have the opportunity to begin making a stand in the transformation of one small part of our world—of our campus and of the community to which we belong. Would it not be more in line with the mission and promise mentioned earlier to utilize the event that brings more outside visitors to our campus than any other time of year, to educate them on how to eat well and feel well during the holidays? To provide them with recipes and samples of food that both tastes incredible AND is good for you?

A commitment to health isn’t a “whenever I feel like it” type of agreement. It’s full time, it doesn’t take a vacation, and it definitely doesn’t disband for the holidays. I like the direction Life University is heading. I like the promise. I like the mission. However, if we’re really going to create the kind of shift in thinking Life University claims to be committed to, it’s time to get our act together and raise our integrity baseline back up to 100%.

I want to be able to say I graduated from a school that said “screw you” to the high fructose corn syrup and aspartame ridden food and soft drinks of vending machines. I want to be able to reference the Life University community as one that has taken the world by storm and created the type of thinking that truly promotes health and wellness in all aspects. And most of all, when I walk across the stage in December to get my Doctor of Chiropractic degree, I want to do so knowing that the reign of funnel cakes and the promotion of unhealthy food on this campus has been squashed once and for all.

As Mahtmah Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Our university has a vision of a future for the world of health care. It is one I am inspired by and intend to carry with me out into the world when I leave. This vision is also the reason I’m calling our university out. In the immortal words of the movie Empire Records, “the time to hesitate is through.” I’m declaring war on funnel cakes, deep fried candy bars, vending machines and anything else incongruent with the image of health and wellness we claim to embody on this campus. As they say in another of the greatest movies of all time, Wedding Crashers, “Rule number 76: no excuses. Play like a champion.” Now, who’s with me? Please send any comments to submissions.vs@gmail.com or post them on our facebook page.

 

Where to Meditate in Atlanta – Carley Edwards, DC Student

Unwind, de-stress, and get away from it all

Most students are stressed out on a regular basis with tests, clinic, part-time jobs and family responsibilities. A breakdown is certain every quarter around weeks six and ten and break never seem to be long enough for full recovery. Practicing meditation has been shown to reduce stress and boost immunity. Studies have shown meditation can eliminate headaches, relieve hypertension, asthma, GI and skin disorders and reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms. A study done at Harvard Medical School used an MRI to visualize parts of the brain involved in memory and attention. After only 20 minutes of meditation, those areas of the brain became more active.

The Shambhala Meditation Center of Atlanta, located in Decatur, offers free meditation instruction. Shambhala is a Tibetan form of Buddhism. The center includes Shambhala training, yoga, and programs for family and children. The center offers meditation instruction every Sunday from 10 to 11:30 am followed by open discussion for 45 minutes, which is free of charge. There is also meditation instruction from 7 to 8 pm on Tuesday nights with open conversation until 9:30 pm also free of charge. One Saturday per month there is a three-hour class on how to meditate. The cost is $50 and includes a book. The next class will be held February 12. Childcare at the Shambhala Center is in the works and should be offered soon. For more information visit www.atlanta.shambhala.org

The Kadampa Meditation Center Georgia (KMC) in Sandy Springs offers lunchtime meditation every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12 pm. Tuesday is for advanced meditation and Wednesday and Thursday is for beginners.  Each class is $5. Kadampa is also a Tibetan form of Buddhism particularly famous for their practice in Dharma. A new class at KMC is called Prayers for World Peace, held every Sunday at 10 am.  Free meditation classes are offered every first Saturday of the month. A one-day class with American Kadampa Buddhist teacher Melanie Boyd will be held on Saturday February 12 from 11am to 4 pm. This class will contain a discussion on the benefits of cherishing others and how to solve life’s problems and increasing happiness. Its main focus will be the power of love. For more information visit www.meditationforeveryone.org.

Monday evenings at 7 pm, free Sahaja meditation is offered at the Mountain View Library in Marietta. Sahaja began only a few decades ago but is practiced in 90 different countries. It is based on self-realization and helps a person to become more moral and balanced.

Most yoga centers in the Atlanta area offer meditation classes and can easily be found online. No one has to be Buddhist or advanced in meditation to attend any of these centers. Anyone is welcome no matter which religion they follow, if any at all.

Please let Vital Source know where you mediate by commenting here or visiting our Facebook page.

Probiotics – James Beuerlein, DC Student

This issue’s supplement scoop

There are a lot of supplements and food products marketed to the health-conscious – touting their benefits because they contain probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics. So what are they? What do they do? What are they good for? Where can I find them?

According to the World Health Organization, PRObiotics are “Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” Most commonly these organisms are bacteria, though certain yeasts and bacilli are also utilized. In the diet, probiotics are often found in fermented foods to which live, active cultures have been added. Otherwise, they can be taken in supplement form.

Though the names can be confusing, PREbiotics actually refer to “non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system.” In other words, prebiotics are food that we can’t digest but GI-inhabiting flora can. On the other hand, SYNbiotics are nutritional supplements combining probiotics and prebiotics.

What do probiotics do? As a vital part of our symbiotic existence, humans play host to billions upon billions of microorganisms at different points along our digestive tract. Many are mutually beneficial, helping us digest things that our own enzymes cannot. Others can be pathogenic or produce harmful toxins. We maintain a delicate balance between the “good bacteria” and “bad bacteria.” When that balance is upset, probiotics may be used to help restore balance and assist digestion. Though they do not consist of the same bacterial strains already in our normal gut flora, they can reduce the effects of the harmful microorganisms through competitive inhibition and contributing to elevated immune function. This can be especially helpful after “good bacteria” have been wiped out by an administration of ANTIbiotics.

So, what are they good for? In addition to the benefits listed above, probiotics have been shown to aid digestion as well as contribute to the following functions: managing lactose intolerance, preventing colon cancer, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, improving immune function, preventing bacterial infections, reducing inflammation, improving mineral absorption, managing urogenital health, alleviating Helicobacter pylori infections (which can cause peptic ulcers,) Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea (AAD) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and colitis.

Sounds great, where can I get them? Probiotics can be found in supplement form from high-quality companies like PB8, Garden of Life, and Mercola, or they can be ingested through diet (though on a much less-potent dosage) from foods like goat’s milk yogurt, kefir, Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, and kombucha tea. Many probiotic supplements list their dosages in terms of “billions of microorganism” with pills containing anywhere from 2 to 20 billion. Consult your doctor before taking probiotics. Probiotics could have potentially negative effects on people who are severely immunocompromised.

Be A Raw-Foodie – James Beuerlein, Senior Staff Writer

I’m sure we all have friends or acquaintances who are either vegetarian, pescetarian, or even vegan, but taking it one more step to the extreme are the Raw Foodies. These health-nuts live on a diet of mostly, or sometimes exclusively, raw foods. In most cases this also includes vegetarianism or veganism, but some raw foodies actually eat raw meat, fish, or eggs. Primary food groups for raw cuisine include vegetables, beans, nuts, and fruits. They do this because of the added nutritional benefits of uncooked food, and some have startling results.

Recently, I was delighted to read an article about Bernando LaPallo, a 109-year-old African American who has lived on a diet of almost exclusively raw plant-based foods since he was 4 years old. That’s 105 years! What’s more: he’s still in amazing health! He wrote a book called Age Less, Live More. I highly recommend you check out the article and attached videos to see his powerful story: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/10/are-you-using-this-powerful-antiaging-secret.aspx

The reasons for following this raw food regimen are manifold. Firstly, if food is never heated many of the beneficial proteins and “live” enzymes (not denatured) are left intact, providing more useful fuel than cooked food. Secondly, any food cooked in water will inevitably lose some of its water-soluble vitamin and mineral content (boiling vegetables.) Additionally, heating some foods, especially in microwave ovens, can even create carcinogenic compounds which are consumed by the patron.

An indirect benefit to eating raw food is that it is inherently a commitment to eating high-quality food! Raw foodies are aware of the hygienic benefits of cooking – namely, destroying or killing harmful microorganisms – and therefore must be all the more diligent to ensure their food is fresh, clean, and free from pesticides or other contaminants. Not only do they consume added nutrients by not cooking their food, but they also get the best nutrient-rich, toxin-free foods to begin with.

One thing I really admire about Raw Foodies is that they’re so stinking creative when it comes to preparing their dishes. You would be amazed how many of your traditional favorites can be made raw.  For instance, the Chocolate Banana Nut Recipe in this issue is ALL RAW. As was the Raw Pumpkin Pie a few issues back. A personal favorite of mine is Raw Spaghetti. The noodles are simply made from spiralized zucchini, and the sauce is a raw sun-dried tomato and garlic sauce. Divine! I’ve also made a raw alfredo sauce to use instead of the tomato sauce.

There are a few restaurants nearby offering raw menu items. First and closest to campus is the Cafe at Life Grocery on Roswell Road. They have AMAZING sandwiches, which you can order served on raw onion bread. Don’t forget the raw smoothie! Another restaurant in Atlanta is R. Thomas. A terrific place open 24hrs. They’ve got lots of raw options on the menu, including a Raw Apple Pie for dessert.

So, what is the application here? Is it realistic to go all-raw cold-turkey? Probably not. What I recommend is to experiment with some raw recipes and find foods you really love. Check out these restaurants, buy a raw cookbook, or search online. Personally, I strive to eat about 50% raw. It doesn’t always happen, but I try…

Another great resource for all things raw is David Wolfe. You may have seen him in the documentary “Food Matters.” He’s got a great newsletter and even offers a certification course in Raw Nutrition. Buy his raw Sacred Chocolate. Trust me. One of the best decisions you’ll ever make. http://www.davidwolfe.com

Now stop killing your food, because it’s killing you! Eat raw!

Freedom for Family Wellness Summit – Carley Edwards, DC Student

A motivational weekend on vitalism and natural parenting

Last month, the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association put together the Freedom for Family Wellness Summit in Washington, D.C. from October 21-24. Bruce Lipton, Joe Dispenza, Joseph Mercola, Barbara Loe Fisher and many others took the stage to talk about vitalism, natural birthing and natural parenting.

Thursday evening began with Peggy O’Mara, publisher and editor of Mothering Magazine, followed by Dr. Riekeman, who spoke on vitalism. Author Suzanne Arms, midwife and author Ina May Gaskin, Marcy Axness and Dr. Jeanne Ohm all spoke the following day about conception, pregnancy, and birth from a vitalistic perspective. Dr. Ohm elaborated on how mothers can have a safer and easier birth. Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova showed a clip from her film “Birth As We Know It,” which revealed how pleasurable the birth experience can actually be, especially compared with the traumatic view of birth most people have.

After the almost half dozen powerful and inspirational women spoke, a man by the name of Patrick Houser took the stage. Houser is the author of the “Fathers-to-Be Handbook,” and is a parenting and childbirth professional educator. He lectured on the father’s role in birth and parenting. According to Houser, 90% of fathers today are present for the birth of their children. He showed a timeline of the amount of time fathers spend with their children. In 1975, it averaged 15 minutes per day, compared to two hours in 1995, and five hours in 2009!

Best selling author and educator Dr. Joseph Mercola, D.O., has one of the most popular natural health websites in the world. Mercola’s talk covered several aspects of health. He pointed out that nine billion prescriptions were written in 2009 in the United States alone, which is more than two prescriptions per month for every man, woman and child in the country. His main focus was on the dangers of fructose, which is found in several food items, including soda. Mercola stated that fructose is the number one source of calories, the number one cause of obesity, and the leading cause of a fatty liver. The average person in the United States drinks 56 gallons of soda a year and there is more fructose in a can of baby formula than a can of soda. Mercola also focused on the importance of vitamin D. He pointed out that, surprisingly, one possible source for Vitamin D was ‘safe’ (i.e. low electromagnetic radiation) tanning beds. He advised that after moderate sunbathing, showering should be avoided for 48 hours to allow the body to absorb the Vitamin D.  He finished off with a list of the supplements he takes on a daily basis.

Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center, began her talk with a heart-wrenching video of dozens of infants, children, and teenagers who have died after receiving vaccinations. Fisher stated that 90% of parents now put vaccine safety as one of their top health care concerns/priorities. Current recommendations call for a shocking 69 doses of 16 different vaccinations to be given children from infancy through  the age of 18 years old. Fisher said that doctors, in trying to enforce their “recommendations” are “trading in their white coats for military uniforms.”

John Breeding, Ph.D., author of “The Wildest Colts Make The Best Horses: What To Do When Your Child is Labeled a Problem By Schools,” spoke on the epidemic drugging of our children. Lauren Feder and Lawrence Palevsky, both medical doctors, spoke on holistic family care. Chiropractor Chris Kent also spoke on holistic care.

Bruce Lipton finished off the evening with a three-hour lecture on quantum physics and epigenetics. He compared the conscious and subconscious mind, discussed how people use their subconscious mind the majority of the time, often responding to beliefs (“old tapes”) that have been engrained in them from their upbringing. If people could learn to think with their conscious minds and get rid of those nasty habits they’ve been taught for so long, they could thrive in the ‘honeymoon’ stage of life forever.

A few other speakers included Howard Moody, Joseph Pearce, Michael Mendizza, and Cassandra Vieten. Neil Miller, author of the new Vaccine Safety Manual, informed everyone on how the medical community shapes public opinion and where to go for good information.

The final speaker of the weekend was chiropractor Joe Dispenza, author of “Evolve Your Brain.” Dispenza spoke on quantum physics. He talked about how our thoughts create our destinies and how we shouldn’t allow our environment to control our state of being. Dispenza pointed out that “you can’t go through the future with the emotions of the past.” He lectured on how the stress chemicals in the brain are addictive.  He showed a few videos of examples. One was of a teenage boy who was addicted to video games. The video showed the kind of withdrawal he would go through if his games were taken away from him. Dispenza talked about how children who play video games in which they are repeatedly killing things and blowing things up, will get bored playing with their toys or spending time with family. They become addicted to how the video games make them feel by way of the chemicals that are being released in their own brains.

For more information about the ICPA, visit www.icpa4kids.com.

For more information on the speakers from the summit:
www.icpa4kids.com
www.Fatherstobe.org
www.Birthintobeing.com
www.NVIC.org
www.Mercola.com
www.brucelipton.com
www.drjoedispenza.com

Pumpkin Blueberry Pancakes – James Beuerlein, D.C. Student

BREAKFAST HAS NEVER TASTED BETTER

This issue’s recipe is a phenomenal version of Pumpkin Blueberry Pancakes courtesy of Dr. Josh Axe (www.draxe.com). I have tweaked most of the recipes I post here, so I have not previously listed a source, but this one is too good! I haven’t been able to improve it!

This is a terrific gluten-free pancake recipe, low in sugar, high in antioxidants, and very healthy! There are plenty of other ‘toppings’ you can substitute here, but we’ll use Pumpkin Blueberry as our base for the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 c.    gluten-free pancake mix (Bob’s Red Mill)
2 ct.   organic, cage-free eggs
1/2 c. coconut milk
1/2 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. fresh or frozen organic blueberries
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Cook in coconut oil or organic butter – raw, if possible –  on a griddle or in a skillet. Top it off with some organic maple syrup, (Grade B is best, Grade A is good too,) or raw, local honey – these are going to have FAR less sugar than conventional, highly-processed syrups, and are plenty sweet.

Variations:
Substitute organic, unsweetened applesauce for the pumpkin and fresh raspberries for the blueberries. I also like to use the pumpkin with unsweetened dark chocolate chips. Yum! To be honest, my wife and I always double this recipe because it is so stinking good we can’t stop after just one batch!

Nutritional analysis:

Let’s take a look at some of the nutrient facts for this recipe:

• The organic, cage-free eggs are a terrific source of protein and contain lecithin, which will actually help balance your cholesterol.
• The coconut milk is a good fat, containing conjugated linoleic acid, which has been shown to burn fat in your body and help you lose weight.
• Pumpkin is a good source of beta-carotene – a great antioxidant – which protects against free-radical damage and is especially good for your eyes and skin.
• Blueberries are one of the best fruits: an amazing source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Pancake Mix is easier on the GI tract, since it doesn’t contain gluten; it’s also lower on the glycemic index. You should be able to find it in the organic section of just about any grocery store these days.
• Finally, the cinnamon is one of the most powerful antioxidants we know of.

Dr. Axe is an awesome source for super-healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle information. He recently came out with a new cookbook, which you can check out at www.draxe.com. You can even watch a how-to video for making these pancakes at http://www.draxe.com/video/pumpkin-blueberry-pancakes-ep-7/.

Healthy Holidays to You! – James Beuerlein, Senior Staff Writer

10 steps to avoiding the flu and to staying well over the holidays

The winter holidays are a peak time for disease and infirmity. More heart attacks occur during Christmas week than during any other week in the calendar year. It is estimated that one billion colds are contracted each year during winter in the US. That’s roughly three colds per person. How many would you like to get this year?

Several factors contribute to this rise in disease incidence, including poor diet, stress, more time spent indoors, and lack of sunlight. Here’s a list of ten things you can do to prepare your body and recover quickly if you do come down with a bug. I’ll focus on the areas of nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements. If you can nail these ten items, I DARE you to try to get sick this winter!

NUTRITION

1. Avoid sugar as much as possible! Eating sugar is a double-whammy when it comes to health: It immediately stunts the function of your immune system, and it provides nourishment for harmful bacteria. I know this can be tough, especially at large family meals (wink, wink) but here are a few tips to help out. If the meal is potluck, offer to make the dessert. There are plenty of alternative options for sweeteners, like stevia or raw local honey. Also, try to avoid the bread / stuffing at holiday meals. Highly processed grains are converted to sugar within seconds of entering your body. Watch out! High doses of sugar can also be found in things like ketchup, sauces, and pasteurized fruit juices.

2. Following #1, eat fresh, whole, real foods! Stay away from highly processed, pasteurized, homogenized, hydrogenated, and all other types of synthetically altered or fake foods. The closer you get to nature, the better off you’ll be. Following this principle will ensure that your body gets the proper nutrients to build health and fight disease.

3. Drink lots of pure water! This one is obvious I know, but keeping your water intake up will keep your GI tract ticking along and assist your body in detoxing. If you don’t own a water purifier – buy one! Reverse-osmosis is best. If you are out and about and have to buy the bottled stuff – go for the spring water.

LIFESTYLE

4. Get lots of good sleep! Lack of sleep or reduced sleep has been linked to weakened immune response, weight gain, and increased cellular toxicity. You should aim to hit somewhere between 7-9 hrs per night. This amount will get in sync with your natural circadian rhythm and give your body the rest and strength it needs to fight disease and detoxify. It will also help reduce stress.

5. Exercise is essential during the winter! Regular exercise will actually boost your immune system by providing increased circulation to components of the immune system, allowing for earlier detection of pathogens and faster response. Exercise will also help with weight loss, boost your energy, and fight the winter blues. I recommend short-duration / high-intensity workouts for maximum effectiveness, (sometimes called interval training, burst training, or surge training.)

6. Have fun! Doing things you enjoy, spending time with friends and family, and lots of laughter will keep you healthier. The scientific community has observed a huge link between stress and the onset of disease. One way of combating the stress in your life is to balance it out with fun. Dedicate some time DAILY to build joy, find your bliss, and get your mind off of the stresses in your life.

7. Keep it clean! While I don’t suffer from germophobia, simple things like washing your hands can reduce the number of pathogens you encounter being transferred to bodily orifices. I don’t recommend antibacterial soaps, however. Protecting yourself too much from bacteria can make you more susceptible to allergies and asthma; your body needs to build up immunity to the microbes you encounter – not to be kept in a bubble away from them.

SUPPLEMENTS

8. Vitamin D3 is essential to proper immune function. During the summer months, your body receives a lot of its Vitamin D from the sun, but we miss out on this great disease-fighting coenzyme during the winter. A healthy daily dosage is about 5,000 units. The brand I recommend is Garden of Life Raw D3 – made from whole foods.

9. Get protection from viruses, bacteria, fungus, vampires, and close-talking relatives from garlic. This super-food can be taken as a supplement or added into diet. The one thing you want to be sure of, however, is that you are getting the active ingredient: allicin. To do this, take garlic in its raw form and crush it before swallowing a clove whole. Alternatively you can juice it or chop it and add it raw to your favorite dish.

10. Lastly, stock up your nutrients with a multi-vitamin. Make sure it is a natural, whole-food based supplement. Centrum is mostly table chalk. Garden of Life also has a good option here (I know, I should get an endorsement, right?) – Vitamin Code Men’s/Women’s Multivitamin.

It is also VERY important to keep up with your spinal adjustments! Don’t slack off on chiropractic for the holidays. Interference won’t take a break, and neither should you! Oh… also, you’ll notice I didn’t suggest getting the flu vaccine…

The Next Generation of Chiropractors – Michael Schmidt, D.C. Student

A new perspective on how to create a health paradigm shift

Research tells us that the last thirty years has seen a subtle change in public opinion regarding health care. Whether due to the efforts of chiropractors and chiropractic advocates or other reasons, people are turning to “alternative medicine” and “complementary medicine” in lieu of traditional medicine; it has become apparent to them that medicine is not as reliable as they once believed. However, by calling their recent choices “medicine,” we learn why the growing support for extra-medical options is not enough to create the shift that proponents of chiropractic are aiming for—the paradigm is still disease-treatment. Maintaining the current emphasis on education regarding “wellness,” the “optimization of health,” and the “full expression of human potential” in addition to providing care in the next decade is a necessary foundation for maintaining the momentum of the shifting public consciousness.

The educational discussions regarding wellness-based care, however, also need to be supported by a shift in perspective regarding the doctor-patient relationship.  As students and Doctors of Chiropractic, there is much emphasis on the innate power of the body to heal itself, but less discussion revolves around the empowerment—and therefore responsibility—of the individual regarding his or her own health. Chiropractic care greatly contributes to health on many levels, but ultimate health lies in a person’s power to choose it. If people are taught that the only route to health is via the chiropractic adjustment, it reinforces the dependency on the heath care provider. This is the prevalent Medical Doctor-patient relationship and, therefore, it is difficult for people to appreciate the significant differences between Medical Doctors and Doctors of Chiropractic. Only by teaching people that they have the power to choose the quality of their own health—through a combination of wellness practices such as chiropractic adjustments, exercise, nutrition, meditation, and others—will they develop a sense of ownership and responsibility.

These are necessary precursors to the public’s desire for true health as long as symptom-masking drugs are still available. Additionally, patient empowerment is a macro-level application of the innate intelligence behind the principles of chiropractic. This congruency in education about chiropractic will boost the shift of public opinion of chiropractic, but only by way of their newfound value of their own health. Accordingly, the next decade of publicly influential chiropractors will be seen as coaches first, adjusters second.

Assessing the recent state of health care in the United States of America, the public is not satisfied and is demanding change. When the public demands a change, however, it always appeals to the same few entities. Whether the changes are in health insurance plans, governmental legislation, or American Medical Association policies, all of the practical health care changes have been enacted—or at least strongly influenced—by well-established institutions. This poses a logistical obstacle that must be overcome for chiropractic to be a focus in the public’s view of health care. In addition to their abundant financial resources, these institutions are always responsible for the changes because they already have public familiarity and general acceptance. This means that if the institutions’ efforts and values change, the public is more willing to align with this change than with a change proposed by an unfamiliar entity. This is true in interpersonal relationships as well: if a stranger offers clear evidence for how a particular product will greatly benefit you, you would be less likely to try it than if a family member without evidence suggests the same product. This is because you trust family. Throughout its history, chiropractors and advocates for chiropractic have taken the role of the “stranger.”  They have mainly tried to change public opinion in one of two ways: influencing governmental policies, or directly educating potential patients.

Although each method has celebrated enormous successes, the first one aims to ally with an institution that already has significant inertia against chiropractic, and the second does not involve an institution at all. Using these logistical strategies, influencing public opinion on a large scale has been, and will continue to be, arduous and inefficient. Intentionally developing partnerships with receptive institutions in the next decade will continually provide large, welcoming audiences for chiropractors and advocates to empower with the tools of health.

To develop a partnership, there must be interest on both sides. Chiropractic is broad enough to appeal to many different institutions as long as it is presented in a relevant manner. In other words, it must support the values and needs of the institution.

One example of partnering is with institutions of higher education. These institutions are actively struggling to discover a solution to the continual increases in students’ anxiety, mood disorders, and demand for counseling because they highly value student health.  Those who are familiar with the chiropractic technique of Network Spinal Analysis can attest to its unique ability to reduce anxiety and regulate moods of patients. Therefore, I am in the process of developing research that would formally test the validity of the anecdotal evidence. If the results are positive, then I would organize my findings and other relevant research and present the information at conferences of higher education.  To be effective, only one attendee needs to bring this idea back to his or her institution, and it would take no more than a couple of years to develop an internal system that promotes and offers chiropractic care to students. Ideally, it would result in a new salaried position, the College Chiropractor. This employee would not only provide care for students at no additional cost, but would be a part of the campus community and have regular opportunities to educate students about wellness, chiropractic, and responsibility for one’s own health. With the success of the program in one institution of higher education, others would look to adopt it, eventually changing the face of higher education across the nation.

A second example of how chiropractors and chiropractic advocates could earn well-established large audiences involves Parkinson’s Disease research. The Michael J. Fox Foundation thus far has funded $196 million to projects that would hasten the discovery and development of new drug treatments for Parkinson’s disease. The values of the foundation are realizing better therapies and possible cures for Parkinson’s Disease. Given the presence of both formal and informal evidence of chiropractic’s effectiveness at decreasing the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, presenting this information in a relevant manner to the Foundation would give chiropractic a partner that has much influence with the medical research community, Parkinson’s patients, and their families.

A third example of a partnership between chiropractic and an institution is already in place: since August 2009, a Life University student and her husband have led an ever-growing church that recognizes the inextricable link between spiritual and physical well-being. Churchgoers who attended for the spiritual message automatically became receptive audiences of the accompanying physical message. Additionally, every student of chiropractic can start empowering new audiences through churches and other community organizations by utilizing the tools of Straighten Up America. Straighten Up America is a national health promotion initiative that addresses “spinal health, well-being, and positive self-esteem,” and by establishing daily spinal hygiene in the USA.  There are many organizations that maintain community programming, and it is easy to lead an educational weekly program that reinforces spinal hygiene. Personally, I will soon begin hosting a weekly program at the local Salvation Army Church of Marietta. As the attendees begin feeling better physically and emotionally and the program becomes popular, other Salvation Army churches will become aware of it and recognize the benefits of starting classes in their communities.

Chiropractors already practice educating how chiropractic leads to true health, and this education is important. However, the majority of this population still has access to symptom-masking drugs. In order to demonstrate that true health is valuable, chiropractors and advocates must appeal to the underlying—and most devastating—deficiency of Americans: control over their own health. Once they feel they have control, they will get a sense of ownership and, therefore, responsibility. This sense of control and responsibility will tip the nation’s consciousness regarding what form of health care they actually want and need. Additionally, with the institutional inertia suppressing chiropractic from becoming well-known, it is critical that advocates focus less on competing with these powers and more on allying with more receptive institutions, allowing chiropractic to build its own momentum. Although the actual effectiveness of the cited examples is unknown, it is true that the quickest way to the heart of an institution is by strengthening its weakest link—not by exploiting it. As chiropractors and advocates continue to reach out to help these institutions, the institutions’ audiences will quickly become chiropractic’s audiences. As these receptive audiences continue to grow, the obstacles that chiropractic has always faced will eventually disappear.

Coaching for Success – James Williams, UG Student

Life coaching has come to Life University

Success is not a one-person job. We all need help in life, and smart people know when to ask for help.

Sometimes though it’s easy to think that we can do it all ourselves, because we’ve struggled through challenges before. Yet why struggle? There’s nothing noble in stressing yourself out when you can ask for help and make life a little easier.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with demands from school work, employment, and family time. Having an objective supporter to cheer us on, who helps us to simplify life, and create the success we’re working hard to achieve is a God-send. That supporter is a life coach.

Dr. Cherry Collier, a successful, practicing life coach, has developed a first-class life coaching program for Life University students. Last quarter, the first students graduated, ready and eager to help others with their new skills.

What is coaching?

A life coach is different from a consultant, mentor, counselor, or therapist. Coaching is a process that helps people to find solutions to their challenges. To make this happen, a life coach uses powerful questions and other change techniques. A life coach knows how to listen to others, and uses intuition to allow the conversation to flow in the direction of what will bring the client or patient success. For those of you who are more scientifically-minded, read the book Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People For Change, by William Miller Ph. D, and Stephen Rollnick Ph.D if you want to understand how powerful questioning gets results.

Compared with a life coach, a consultant tells you what to do, kind of like a sports coach or physician does. Coaching, however, is different from consulting. A life coach helps to motivate instead of removing personal power by telling people what to do. In other words, coaching enables people to find their own solutions. Motivational research also shows that when people have the autonomy to make a free choice, their willingness to act is boosted. So how is coaching useful to health, exercise, and business professionals?

As chiropractors, nutritionists, and sports and fitness coaches, we encourage our clients and patients to practice self-care between office visits and training sessions. We do this because it produces better results.

Acting like a consultant and telling patients, clients, and athletes what to do is less empowering and robs them of the will to act; the chances of them following through are reduced, which negatively affects the results they achieve. We don’t help people to achieve their best when we tell them what to do.

Coaching increases income

When our livelihood is dependent on getting excellent results for people, it pays to help clients find their own motivation to take care of themselves by using a coaching approach. In a nutshell, coaching teaches you how to speak with clients to encourage them to motivate themselves to engage in self care between sessions.

Coaching is also helpful outside of the health profession. Business majors also need to know coaching skills. High employee turn-over and employee performance problems are consistently resolved by coaching staff members instead of telling them what to do. Even though coaching is a separate program from the other majors offered at Life University, practicing coaching skills with patients, clients, and colleagues is integral to their success and yours.

Some of the key reasons that patients sue medical practitioners nowadays is because doctors use poor communication skills following a medical error. Taking the life coaching associates degree or certificate program is effective insurance against the hassle of malpractice lawsuits if you’re a chiropractor, or biopsychology major looking to go to medical school or become a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Life coaches are not therapists

Mental health professionals such as counselors and therapists focus on a person’s past as well as their emotional life. In contrast, life coaches focus on the now and the future because the now is where we all need to live if we want to achieve future success. Life coaching is positively focused and doesn’t require clients to recall their life story in order to create success. Saying that, life coaches don’t necessarily ignore emotions or their impact.

People often start coaching because they’re experiencing excessive levels of mental and emotional tension which they can’t cope with. Coaches help to make clients’ lives easier by focusing the conversation on the challenges which elicit the most tension. This approach enables the client to verbally explores the challenge and the solutions, clearing the way for future action and success. A coach considers their clients as creative, resourceful, and whole; their clients are not broken, don’t need to be fixed, and are 100 per cent responsible for their actions and their own life.

Viewing the patient this way frees the coach from being in an analytical or problem-solving mindset. They can be there right in the moment with the client, listening out for the verbal and behavioral cues the client offers. Observing and acting on these cues helps the coach to keep the conversation flowing. Somewhere in that flow, the clients finds their way to resolve their challenge by coming up with an appropriate goal they can take away and put into action.

Coaching is not just for executives

Even though the business world has embraced coaching for the past two decades, budding CEOs and busy students need coaching too. If your graduation is coming up and you need a coach to be accountable to as you plan your new chiropractic business, contact Dr. Cherry Collier (email: cherry.collier@life.edu)  to be put in contact with one of the pool of excellent life coaches here at Life.

If you’re a parent who is juggling school, work, and family commitments, it’s also easy to feel overwhelmed and in need of support. A life coach can assist you in streamlining your life, making it more simple and manageable, and show you how to feel in control of your life again. Contact Dr. Collier to find a coach. If you are interested in learning more about Life Coaching there is a Life Coaching Drop-In on November 9th, 16th, 30th in Annex B, room 114 from 5-6pm.

Life coaching is an exciting and highly practical program here at Life University which gives students skills that improve client retention and success. If you’re a student who needs the support of a life coach then contact Dr. Collier to find a coach.

Activator Club – Carley Edwards, D.C. Student

Learn how to give low-force chiropractic care

The Activator is the most widely used instrument for chiropractic care offering gentle, low-force adjustments. The Activator protocol uses leg length checks and neurological reflex tests to determine where subluxations are present. Activator Club Vice President Matt Griswold points out that the activator club is unlike other clubs because, “It’s a smaller club, and so you get more individual care – about five or six people to a table.”

Griswold also points out that being able to use an activator in your office is beneficial to both doctor and patient. It puts less stress on the doctor’s joints over time. For the patient, they are receiving the same adjustment from the doctor every time. “By six o’clock in the evening, a chiropractor is typically not giving the same quality of adjustments as they are in the morning. The Activator gives the same adjustment every time,” says Griswold. It also allows the doctor a wider variety of patients including infants and the elderly, where an activator is less forceful. It is also good for patients with osteoporosis or those who are afraid of the thrust of a typical manual adjustment.

The next Activator seminar in the Atlanta area will be April 9 and 10 at the Atlanta Marriott in Alpharetta. Activator club meets Tuesdays from 11-12pm in B108. Students do not need an activator of their own to attend club. For more information on Activator Methods, visit http://www.activator.com

Pumpkin Pie Triple-Threat – James Beuerlein, D.C. Student

This issue’s recipe is actually 3 different versions of pumpkin pie, which vary by taste and convenience. There’s a quick and delicious Coconut Pumpkin Pie, an Almond Milk Pumpkin Pie for those who don’t like coconut, and an outrageous Raw Pumpkin Pie. The crust recipe remains the same for all three. We ditched the condensed milk, traditional pie-crust, and the customary ⅔ cup of sugar, so that all three recipes are Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low in Sugar, and Scrumptious! Let’s get to it!

THE EASIEST PIE CRUST YOU’LL EVER MAKE
1 c       Pitted Dates
1½ c    Raw Walnuts

Simply throw them into a food processor or powerful blender (Vita-Mix or Blendtec.) Blend until uniform, smooth, and dark-colored. This may also work with a decent hand-mixer but I haven’t tried. When it’s done, just dump it in to a pie-tin and mold it into shape by hand.

COCONUT PUMPKIN PIE
1 can    Organic Pumpkin
¾ c      Coconut Milk (rec. Thai Spice brand for thickness)
2 ct      Organic Cage-Free Eggs (large)
½ c      Coconut Flakes
Spices: 1tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp ginger, 1 tsp allspice, 1½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla

Throw it all together in a bowl, mix well, and dump into the pie-tin. Baking instructions below.

ALMOND MILK PUMPKIN PIE
1 can    Organic Pumpkin
1 c       Almond Milk
½ ct     Avocado (for texture – you won’t taste it, trust me)
3 ct      Organic Cage-Free Eggs (large)
Spices: 1tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp ginger, 1 tsp allspice, 1½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla

Throw it all together in a blender, blend until uniform, and dump into the pie-tin (Be careful not to over-fill!).

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 425. Put pie in center rack and bake 10 min. Lower temperature to 350 and bake for an additional 40 min. Let cool completely before serving.

RAW PUMPKIN PIE
2 c       Shredded or Cubed Pumpkin (raw)
1 c       Pitted Dates (soaked in water for 1 hr, then drained)
¼ c      Almond Milk
1 tbsp  Coconut Oil (easiest if you melt on stove first)
Spices: 1tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp ginger, 1 tsp allspice, 1½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla

Throw it all into a food-processor or blender, blend until uniform, dump into the pie-tin and chill.

NUTRITION
Pumpkin – rich in vitamins and minerals, (including potassium and zinc,) fiber, antioxidants beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil – great sources of healthy saturated fat. Dates – good source of iron, fiber, potassium, and selenium, (also the principle source of sugar in the recipes, but not too bad.) Organic Cage-Free Eggs – terrific sources of protein and good fat. Almond milk and Walnuts – good sources of protein and good omega-6 fats. The spices are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin B3 (niacin,) selenium, phosphorus and copper.

No matter how you slice it, these pies are outstanding and very good for you. You could eat them on a regular basis and become healthier!

Lessons Beyond the Classroom – Melissa Bettess, D.C. Student

The story of Dr. Lydia Dever’s fight to return to her life after a horrific accident

Every once in a while a student will learn far more from their teacher than what is testable by means of paper and pencil. The teacher herself may not even be fully aware of all the extra valuable lessons she is impressing upon her students. Dr. Lydia Dever is one of those fine educators available here at Life University whose teaching extends far beyond the sometimes suffocating walls of the classroom.

The greatest lessons of life often follow tragedy. On Memorial Day weekend 2009, Dr. Dever was faced with a near-death experience. After a horrific motorcycle accident, Dr. Dever ended up under a heavy-duty pickup truck’s back tire. Though in critical condition, thankfully she was still alive. The accident left her with a long list of injuries: a pelvis broken in four places, a diagonal fracture from its base to S2, two damaged ligaments in her right knee, a broken middle finger, a fifth-degree separation of her right shoulder, four broken ribs on her left side, her clavicle had become hyper-mobile, moving in front of her sternum, and a lacerated bladder.

Coming back from such trauma was not an easy feat. Questions flew around campus wondering whether Dever would ever be strong enough to return to campus or her practice in Kennesaw. She was able to leave the hospital June 19th, ahead of all the doctors’ expectations, wearing a pelvis fixator, which resembled a towel rack.

Dr. Dever’s healing progressed quickly with support from the Life community, her family and friends, daily adjustments by practice partner, Dr. Tomasello, and physical therapists. Her recovery was difficult. It was easy to push herself physically too far and she would end up paying the price through increased pain and/or fatigue. Her strong will gave her the drive to persevere.

Dr. Dever returned to the classroom last October, a mere five months following her accident, with a modified schedule that allowed her a break after teaching a class.

In November, she sought out the expertise of DC student, Brandon Shriner, to help further with her recovery. Shriner is a personal trainer at the Wellness Center, and a TRX expert. (TRX is a suspension trainer developed by a Marine that is designed to be used anywhere there is a tree or tree-like structure). When Shriner started working with Dever, she could not even start on the TRX. She had to start with simple workouts that focused on core strengthening and stability and increasing range of motion. He took a neurological approach to her workouts, to get the brain-body connection balanced. He managed this task by using exercises that unveiled Dever’s weaknesses so she built up weaker muscles instead of overdeveloping stronger muscles thereby preventing her increasing the gap between stronger and weaker muscles. This helped reduce setbacks in her reconditioning. The exercises were analogous to a chiropractic adjustment – specific and precise.

While working out with Shriner once a week, Dr. Dever also had occupational therapy to increase her shoulder range of motion in order to help propel her workouts. She did cardio on her own, had soft tissue work done, and of course, adjustments.  Shriner concluded that, “All of the soft tissue work, adjustments, exercise, love and support, etc., created a body fit for healing so that God could do His work.”

A person’s true colors come out when forced to deal with adversary. Dr. Dever’s true colors have a lot to teach anyone who is blessed to come in contact with this fascinating woman. Shriner got to experience more of that than anyone. Shriner states that, “I learned more from her than she did from me.” He saw her fight harder than any other person in her sneakers would have, “I wasn’t going to let her quit. A lot of people would have thought, ‘It’s okay to quit because I’ve come this far.’” Dr. Dever’s drive to recover was not for self-seeking reasons. No. Her feisty desire was to be back in the trenches to serve chiropractic. Dever was anxious to get back to serving her patients. She had students waiting patiently for her return to the classroom. She is a great example for the school, her students, her patients, the chiropractic profession, and especially women chiropractors. Through her life story, she emanates what chiropractic stands upon, ‘To give. To do. To love. To serve.’

Junk Your Microwave – James Beuerlein, Senior Staff Writer

This issue’s challenge is to kick your microwave to the curb! Many studies have shown that microwave ovens pose significant dangers to your health, not only by severely reducing the nutritional value of foods cooked by them, but also by increasing exposure to significant levels of radiation, causing toxic chemicals from plastics to leach into foods, and causing carcinogenic compounds to form by distorting the structure of the chemical compounds found in certain foods. Additionally, there’s the highly controversial “microwave effect” (discussed later).