ASPIRE. INSPIRE.

Why You Should Give Up Your Microwave for Lent (Or Forever)

2012-02-22T10:50:00.000-06:00

Ten Reasons to dispose of your Microwave Oven

From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, one can conclude this article with the following:

1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term – permanent – brain damage by ‘shorting out’ electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.

3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.

4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.

5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.

7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumours]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in UK and America .

8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

Is Your Light Shining Bright? (The Weekly Sticky)

2012-02-20T17:04:00.001-06:00

Ever have one of those days where you just don't feel as bright as you should? Your diet's good, you're getting enough exercise but for some reason you still feel drained and unproductive. Maybe it's time for a trip to the Chiropractor…
Think of your Nerve System as electrical wires and your body a 100 watt light bulb connected to it. When the wires are clear and electricity flows freely, your bulb glows to 100 watts. But if power is restricted in the wires, your bulb dims. Chiropractors call it being Subluxated or in a 'state of less light/less energy.' And the only thing that can 'light you up' again is a specific, loving Chiropractic Adjustment.
Eating properly and getting enough exercise is important, but you'll never shine to your full potential if you're Subluxated… and you can't afford that. The world needs you beaming at 100 watts. So don't wait until your light's completely out. Get adjusted and shine bright with regular Chiropractic care!

Antibiotics ineffective for most sinus infections

2012-02-15T15:25:00.000-06:00

Antibiotics ineffective for most sinus infections

Check the Eggs! (From the Weekly Sticky)

2012-02-13T09:43:00.002-06:00

How many times have you had a minor fender-bender, or a slip on the ice and never gave it a second thought? Maybe your ego was bruised, but you didn't notice any outward signs of injury. What happened to you on the inside could be a different story.

After a trauma, things may appear fine on the outside, but it doesn't mean they're OK on the inside. That's why we open egg cartons and check the contents for hidden damage before we buy them. The same goes for your spine after any jolt. What may seem like a minor bump from the outside, could actually create SUBLUXATIONS on the inside. (Misaligned vertebrae that interfere with nerve function, and silently diminish health)

The solution? Get your spine checked for SUBLUXATIONS after any trauma, no matter how big or small. If your kid takes a tumble down the stairs – get them checked. If your spouse backs the car into a fence post – get them checked. If you tripped over the dog on the way to the refrigerator last night – get yourself checked too. Life's tough enough without having to live it SUBLUXATED.

February is Have a Heart for Chiropractic Month!

2012-02-07T16:33:00.000-06:00

February is Have a Heart for Chiropractic Month at Aspire Chiropractic! We want to know why you get adjusted and who you get adjusted for.

Dr. Matt gets adjusted so he can turn the power on in his spine and have the power to treat all of the wonderful patients at Aspire!

Dr. Brenda gets adjusted so she can keep her nervous system working so her body can provide all the nutrition her new baby needs, and so she can keep going and save lives!

Andrea gets adjusted so she can keep her muscles working so she can deliver the best massage possible!

Everyone has a reason why they come to see us, what's yours? Want to keep your nervous system performing at it's peak so you can play with your kids? Do you get adjusted so you can stay healthy for your family? For yourself? Let us know your reason!

Dinner With the Docs!

2012-02-07T16:13:00.000-06:00

Aspire Chiropractic will be hosting a Dinner With the Docs on February 22nd! Join us at Dixie's on Grand on the 22nd for an evening of great food and informative talk on health care. The dinner is on us, so call now to reserve a spot for you and up to two guests at (651)294-2332. Spots are limited, so call now!

Heart Healthy Talk at Aspire Chiropractic

2012-02-07T16:11:00.000-06:00

Aspire Chiropractic will be hosting a heart healthy talk with Dr. Matt Gravel on February 15th at 6:15 PM. Dr. Matt will be covering a variety of topics including heart health, exercise, stress reduction, nerve system interference and why fat is not the enemy! Join us for this informative talk and learn the right way to keep your heart healthy and avoid the pitfalls of traditional medicine for cardiovascular care. Call (651)294-2332 to reserve your spot today.

The Top 12 Cancer Causing Products in the Average American Home

2012-01-23T10:49:00.000-06:00

Interesting list of common products that can lead to cancer. How many of them are in YOUR home?

Conservative Care Beats Medication for Neck Pain

2012-01-19T16:34:00.000-06:00

Conservative Care Beats Medication for Neck Pain

Study: Spinal manipulation and exercise are more effective than OTC pain relievers, narcotics and muscle relaxants.

By Peter W. Crownfield, Executive Editor

A study published in the Jan. 3, 2012 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine and widely reported by mainstream media suggests conservative care consisting of either spinal manipulation or home exercise is more effective than over-the-counter and prescription medication for relieving acute and subacute neck pain. Spinal manipulative therapy was more effective than medication in both the short and long term, as was home exercise in the form of self-mobilization of the neck and shoulder joints – a point media outlets were quick to emphasize in a classic attempt to downplay the value of the chiropractic intervention.

The study involved 272 adults ages 18-65 with nonspecific mechanical neck pain of two to 12 weeks' duration. Participants were recruited from a university research center and a pain management clinic in Minnesota. Other inclusion criteria included pain equivalent to grade I or grade II according to the Bone and Joint Decade's Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders; and neck pain score of 3 or greater on a 0-10 scale. Exclusion criteria included cervical spine instability, fracture, neck pain referred from peripheral joints or viscera, progressive neurologic deficits, diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis, inflammatory or destructive changes of the cervical spine, previous cervical spine surgery, and blood-clotting disorders, among other criteria.

Subjects were randomized at their second baseline appointment to one of three groups for 12 weeks:

A spinal manipulative therapy group, which received "manipulation of areas of the spine with segmental hypomobility by using diversified techniques, including low-amplitude spinal adjustments ... and mobilization." According to the study, six chiropractors, each with at least five years' experience, provided treatment, with the specific spinal level to be treated and the number of treatments rendered left to the discretion of the individual chiropractor.
A home exercise advice group, "with advice provided [by six therapists] in two 1-hour sessions one to two weeks apart. Recommended mobilization exercises included "neck retraction, extension, flexion, rotation, lateral bending motions, and scapular retraction, with no resistance." Participants received a booklet and laminated cards of prescribed exercises, and were advised to perform 5-10 repetitions of each exercise six to eight times daily.
A medication group monitored by a licensed medical physician, with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, or both serving as the first line of pharmacological therapy. With patients who did not respond to or could not tolerate these drugs, narcotic medications and muscle relaxants were prescribed. With each patient, the MD determined the type of medication administered and the number of patient visits.

Self-reported outcomes, including pain, were measured six times during the 12-week treatment period in all three groups: at both baseline appointments; two, four, eight and 12 weeks after randomization; and on two occasions post-treatment (weeks 26 and 52). Objective measures of cervical spine motion were measured at four and 12 weeks by seven trained examiners blinded to treatment assignment.

Of the 272 participants, essentially equally assigned to the three treatment groups (91 SMT, 91 home exercise and 90 medication), "improvement in participant-rated pain significantly differed with SMT compared with medication at 12 weeks ... and in longitudinal analyses that incorporated pain ratings every two weeks from baseline to 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, a significantly higher proportion of the SMT group experienced reductions of pain of at least 50% [compared to the medication group]. Differences in participant-related pain improvement between the SMT and [home exercise] groups were smaller and not statistically significant."

Specifically, at week 12, more than 82 percent of the SMT group reported a 50 percent or greater reduction in pain; 57 percent reported at least a 75 percent reduction and 32 percent reported a 100 percent reduction. By comparison, the home exercise group reported pain reductions of 77 percent, 48 percent and 30 percent, respectively, while the medication group reported reductions of only 69 percent, 33 percent and 13 percent.

In terms of long-term improvement, 75 percent of the SMT group reported at least a 50 percent reduction in pain after 26 weeks, while nearly 81 percent reported at least a 50 percent reduction at 52 weeks. At 26 and 52 weeks, 71 percent and 69 percent of the home exercise group, respectively, reported at least a 50 percent reduction in pain. In long-term follow-up, the medication group's improvement fluctuated from 59 percent reporting pain reduction of 50 percent or more at 26 weeks to 69 percent reporting the same reduction at 52 weeks.

"Spinal manipulation therapy and [home exercise advice] led to similar short- and long-term outcomes," stated the authors, "but participants who received medication seemed to fare worse, with a consistently higher use of pain medications for neck pain throughout the trial's observational period."

Are Antibiotics Killing Off Beneficial Bacteria Forever?

2012-01-16T11:01:00.000-06:00

Antibiotics: Killing Off Beneficial Bacteria…For Good?

From www.wired.com/superbugs

It’s an accepted concept by now that taking antibiotics in order to quell an infection disrupts the personal microbiome, the population of microorganisms that we all carry around in our guts, and which vastly outnumbers the cells that make up our bodies. That recognition supports our understanding of Clostridium difficile disease — killing the beneficial bacteria allows C. diff room to surge and produce an overload of toxins — as well as the intense interest in establishing a research program that could demonstrate experimentally whether the vast industry producing probiotic products is doing what it purports to do. But implicit in that concept is the expectation that, after a while — after a course of antibiotics ends — the gut flora repopulate and their natural balance returns.

What if that expectation were wrong? In a provocative editorial published this week in Nature, Martin Blaser of New York University’s Langone Medical Center argues that antibiotics’ impact on gut bacteria is permanent — and so serious in its long-term consequences that medicine should consider whether to restrict antibiotic prescribing to pregnant women and young children.

Early evidence from my lab and others hints that, sometimes, our friendly flora never fully recover. These long-term changes to the beneficial bacteria within people’s bodies may even increase our susceptibility to infections and disease. Overuse of antibiotics could be fuelling the dramatic increase in conditions such as obesity, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies and asthma, which have more than doubled in many populations.

Among the findings he cites in support: The population-level observation that the incidence of infection with H. pylori, the bacterial cause of gastric ulcers, has declined over decades just as the incidence of esophageal cancer has risen. In addition, he offers his own research group’s observation that children who don’t acquire H. pylori are at greater risk of developing allergy and asthma, and their findings that eradicating H. pylori affects the production of the two hormones, ghrelin and leptin, that play a role in weight gain.

Are antibiotics to blame for the decline in H.pylori? Blaser points out that the organism is vulnerable to the same antibiotics that are prescribed to children for ear infections and colds — and that children routinely receive up to 20 courses of antibiotics before they reach adulthood. In addition, he says, one-third to one-half of women in the industrialized world receive antibiotics during pregnancy. Couple that with the increasingly large percentage of children born by Caesarean section — who by skipping their trip through the birth canal miss their first exposure to friendly bacteria — and the result, he says, is that “each generation… could be beginning life with a smaller endowment of ancient microbes than the last.”

Finally, he points to evidence that antibiotic use permanently changes the composition of the gut microbiome, altering the balance of bacterial species and maintaining resistant bacteria in the gut.

Where the Body Finds Answers (The Weekly Sticky)

2012-01-16T09:43:00.000-06:00

How much stomach acid does it take to digest a cheeseburger? Or, how much calcium is
needed to heal a broken leg? How about a fever, how high should it reach to fight a common
cold? You don't need to surf Google for the answers, your INNATE search engine already knows.
If you doubt there's genius inside you, just consider this – the 50,000,000 cells in your body
that will die while you read this sentence… your innate intelligence knows how to replace every
single one of them. The trillions of mental impulses coursing through your Nerve System at this
moment… innate is moving them at speeds approaching 248 mile per hour. The number of
heartbeats you’ll get in your lifetime… innate reserved around 3 billion for you.
Google may be the web's leading source for information, but it's got nothing over your innate
intelligence when it comes to keeping you alive and well. Innate has solutions to just about any
health challenge you have. All you have to do is search within to find the answer.

Natural Cranberry Juice More Effective than Pills at Fighting Infection

2012-01-11T09:12:00.000-06:00

Natural Cranberry Juice More Effective than Pills at Fighting Infection

From Natural News

(NaturalNews) A new study from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts confirms that natural cranberry juice is more effective in fighting infections than pills containing concentrated doses of the flavonoids found in cranberries. The study published in the Food Science and Biotechnology journal was led by Dr. Terri Camesano, professor of chemical engineering.

The new paper adds to the highly positive conclusions previously published by professor Camesano on the health benefits of cranberries. Earlier WPI studies have shown that their juice can prevent infectious bacteria, specifically a virulent form of E. coli, from attaching to the wall of the urinary tract. This strain is covered with hair-like projections that help it hook onto urinary tract cells.

Exposure to bioactive elements in cranberries reduce the ability of the bacteria to adhere to healthy cells. As a result, the E. coli is unable to form a biofilm, which would allow the bacteria to grow and spread further. Eventually they are easily eliminated by the natural flow of urine.

The new experiments have focused on observing the difference between the use of pills containing cranberry flavonoids and the intake of natural juice. Until now, a group of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins, or PACs, were thought to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of cranberries. Based on this assumption, pharmacologists have tried to artificially replicate and increase the effects of this substance through the use of concentrated doses in pills.

The scientists' study proves these assumptions were wrong all along. Although at first they focused on the PACs themselves, the team's new experiments show that the natural remedy has greater effect than the isolated compound. "The data shows that they aren't the silver bullet, cranberry juice's ability to prevent biofilms is more complex than we may have originally thought," said Dr. Terri Camesano.

During the experiments, researchers incubated two different types of E. coli in the presence of two different mixtures of cranberry juice. At the same time, the bacteria was also incubated in the presence of a substance similar to the one found in cranberries. The results showed that in the presence of natural juice, the bacteria was completely unable to form a biofilm and create the conditions needed for an infection. The PACs, on the other hand, had a limited impact on the E. coli and only after a prolonged exposure. "This study shows that cranberry juice is better at inhibiting biofilm formation than isolated A-type cranberry flavonoids and PACs, although the reasons for this are not yet clear," the professor concluded.

"Cranberries have been recognized for their health benefits for a number of years," explained the professor. Besides their unmatched ability to fight urinary tract infections, they are a source of bioactive substances that can help maintain a vibrant health.

Raw cranberries have elevated antioxidant contents that help the immune and cardiovascular systems, as well as fight free radicals. Medical experts remind us that substances found in these fruits can help prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the formation of plaque. Moderate amounts of dietary fibers, vitamin C and various essential minerals can also be obtained from the regular consumption of cranberries.

Top Ten Most Modified Foods

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Most Modified Foods

from Healthy Child Healthy World

We often hear the question: “What foods should I avoid?” this is a great question, as many of our everyday foods are so genetically modified (GM) that they aren’t even close to the foods that originally developed over time on earth. So here is a list of the top ten most modified foods that you should try to avoid:

1) CORN – Our #1 agricultural commodity. In 2009, nearly 20 million acres of GM corn was planted and harvested in this country, including Bt and Roundup Ready corn varieties. Corn has leaked into almost every part of our daily life, from food to clothing to plastics, corn is everywhere!

2) SOY – The #2 agricultural commodity in our country. 60%(!) of processed food in this country contains some variation of soy in it, and over 80% of edible fats and oils in this country are soy based. Over half of the nearly 75 million acres of soy in this country are GM. Not to mention that Monsanto doesn’t allow farmers to clean their beans and re-plant them, you have to buy new seeds from them EVERY YEAR!

3) POTATO - Currently, the only GM potato is a Burbank Russet variety, marketed under the name NewLeaf. This Bt-producing plant is lethal to the Colorado potato beetle – and possibly to beneficial insects.

4) TOMATO - The first GM tomato, the Flavr Savr, was introduced commercially in 1994, but flopped because it proved tasteless. Since then, other varieties, including a cherry tomato, have been genetically engineered to delay ripening and extend shelf life.

5) CANOLA OIL - Of the 15 million acres of canola grown in the U.S. and Canada annually, 35% is GM, mostly for herbicide-resistance.

6) COTTONSEED OIL - In 2000, 61% of the 15.5 million acres of cotton grown in the U.S. was genetically modfied. Every year, half a million tons of cottonseed oil makes its way into salad dressings, baked goods and snack foods. About 1.4 million tons of cottonseed meal is fed to livestock annually. And as we eat those livestock, we also consume whatever they have consumed, so watch the meat you’re eating and make sure it is as green-fed as possible.

7) PAPAYA - More than one third of Hawaiian papayas have been genetically engineered to withstand the papaya ringspot virus. Organic papaya growers in Hawaii worry that the pollen from GM papaya trees will contaminate their crops.

8) RADDICHIO - Currently one variety of radicchio, called Seed Link, has been genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide glufosinate.

9) SQUASH - Several varieties of summer squash have been genetically engineered to resist mosaic viruses. Some scientists are concerned that resistance to the virus may spread to weedy relatives, such as gourds, found in the U.S., creating invasive superweeds.

10) SALMON - A company called Aqua Bounty has engineered a salmon with genes from two different fish species so that it grows much more quickly than non-GM salmon. The company now seeks FDA approval to market this fish for human consumption. Escaped into the environment, (which is inevitable on fish farms), the GM fish may be larger and more aggressive, eat more food, and mate more often, though their offspring are less fit to survive in the wild, raising the possibility of wild species extinction. Human health effects are also relatively unknown. Currently, research on transgenic strains of 35 fish species world-wide is underway.

Aspire is Back to Our Regular Schedule

2012-01-05T15:53:00.002-06:00

Now that the holidays are over, we are back to our regular schedule.

Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30-11:30, 3:15-6:15 (Max T3 training on Mondays at 6:15)

Tuesdays and Thrusdays 3:15-6:15 (Doctor's Report at 6:15)

Fridays 8:30-11:30

Saturdays 9:30-11:00

Know Anyone Who Has Been in an Accident?

2012-01-05T15:51:00.000-06:00

Have them call us first! Aspire is always accepting auto accident cases and we have a list of legal professionals who can assist you in handling everything for your case. Get quality care and heal faster with Aspire Chiropractic! All new patients can call (651)294-2332 for information and to schedule.

Eat This, Not That this Holiday Season (From Men's Health Magazine)

2011-12-16T10:42:00.001-06:00

Eat Healthy this Holiday Season

From Men’s Health Magazine

You’ve all heard it before; most people gain weight over the holiday season, and avoid those sugary and fatty foods at all costs if you don’t want to be making a new year’s resolution to lose weight. Well it’s true, the average person consume an extra 600 calories per day in the timeframe between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not only that, but due to the stresses of the holiday season and the hectic schedule, more people abandon their workout routine during this time, compounding the problem and adding to their weight gain. So when you’re making the decision about what you should or should not eat this year, here are a few better choices to make.

- Worst Holiday Beverage: Hands down it’s Egg Nog, with an average of 350 calories and 19 grams of fat per serving. Switch it out for some homemade hot chocolate and you can save yourself 15 grams of fat, and it tastes better too!

- Worst Holiday Appetizer: Crab Cakes. While certainly one of my favorites, these tasty bites pack a whopping 400 calories and 19 grams of fat per serving, and that’s before you add any sauces to the mix. Try a simple shrimp cocktail and save yourself over 200 calories and 18 grams of fat.

- Worst Holiday Party Snack: Spinach and Artichoke dip. Now I know what your thinking, spinach and artichokes=healthy. But this dip blows any health benefits from the vegetables out of the water, packing an artery clogging 11 grams of saturated fat per serving! Try wrapping melon in prosciutto (Italian cured ham) and save yourself nearly 200 calories and one triple bypass!

- Worst Holiday Side Dish: A baked potato with butter and sour cream. Depending on your portion size of butter and using full-fat sour cream, you could be looking at nearly 20 grams of fat almost all of which is saturated. Try chopping some red potatoes into ½ inch pieces, toss lightly in olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast them for 45 mins at 375 degrees. You’ll save nearly 300 calories and people will be amazed at your cooking skills!

- Worst Holiday Main Course: Prime Rib. I know this might seem like blasphemy to some of you, but the old standby is one of the worst offenders, coming in at 750 calories and 45(!) grams of fat per serving. Try a simple beef tenderloin (if you can afford it) or stick with the turkey and you’ll save yourself lots of time in the gym come the new year.

- Worst Holiday Dessert: Pecan Pie with Ice Cream. If you serve this, you might as well give out gym memberships for gifts, because at 65 grams of fat and 810 calories, you’d be better off eating the prime rib listed above. If you do need to have a dessert this holiday season, stick to fruit and maybe some frozen yogurt, your heart and your waistline will thank you.

A New Addition to the Aspire Family!

2011-12-07T15:37:00.000-06:00

There's a new member of the Aspire Chiropractic Family! At 3:15 on December 1st, Dr. Brenda gave birth to a healthy 7 lb baby boy! Please help us in welcoming Jameson Higgins. Dr. Brenda and the new baby are both healthy and happy as she was only in labor for four hours, and managed to deliver a healthy baby WITHOUT the use of drugs or being at a hospital, as Jameson was delivered with the help of a midwife. The first thing he received once he was out of the womb? Not a vaccination, but an adjustment to get his power turned on! Way to go Dr. Brenda and Jameson!

Looking for Gift Ideas?

2011-11-30T09:39:00.000-06:00

Purchase a Gift Certificate from Aspire!

Massage gift certificates are available for 30, 60 and 90 minute sessions with Andrea.

Purchase a gift certificate for First day services, First adjustment and a 30 minute massage.

Gift certificates for packages of adjustments are also available!

Give the gift of health with Aspire Chiropractic today.

Call (651)294-2332 for more details

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-23T16:05:00.000-06:00

Have a safe and healthy holiday from your friends here at Aspire Chiropractic! Make healthy choices when eating and make sure you get your SURGE training in as well to work off those excess calories.

Happy Thanksgiving from Dr. Brenda, Dr. Matt and Andrea

Testimony of the Week and Thought for the Day

2011-11-21T16:41:00.001-06:00

Grace, a 6 year-old female came to our office with bilateral earaches, pressure in both ears and a mild fever. She told us that her ears "feel funny" and it was hard to hear. She received one adjustment and her symptoms cleared up within one day!

Grace was exhibiting early symptoms of an ear infection, and had she visited her pediatrician, she would have likely received a course of antibiotics that may or may not have killed the bacteria causing her body to exhibit symptoms. She also would have most likely been prescribed a fever reducing medication, when fever is the exact thing your body should go through when fighting off an infection. So why in the world would you want to do these things to your child when a simple adjustment is enough to clear the infection? Because it's what we've been brainwashed to believe is the "only way". What's wrong with letting the body do what it is designed to do? Fight off the infection. Remember, your body needs no help, just NO INTERFERENCE!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

Kids and Chiropractic (One DC's Opinion)

2011-11-14T08:48:00.001-06:00

Kids and Chiropractic: Why Every Child Needs Adjustments

As you have probably heard in our office numerous times, we love adjusting kids and turning on their nervous systems, but many of you still wonder whether or not chiropractic care is beneficial for your kids. So let’s put this one to bed right now, IT IS! Just like you, your child needs no interference in their nervous system in order to promote optimum functioning of their nervous system and all associated organs (read: EVERYTHING ELSE IN THEIR BODY!) So how does a child get misalignment in their spine? Just like you, the everyday trauma of being a child can take quite a toll on a child’s body, and the constant tumbles and head bumps can lead to numerous misalignments and cause nerve damage. Left uncorrected, this nerve damage will cause the organs to function poorly and the body to develop disease. Just because your child “looks fine” or is not currently expressing symptoms is no measure of their true health. It’s how they are healing and functioning on the inside that counts, and the ONLY way to ensure that their body operates the correct way is to make sure their nervous system is free and clear of interference.

From birth to death, the power of the nervous system is the most vital component in keeping us healthy, so get yours “turned on” with Aspire Chiropractic today!

Aspire's Open House is this Wednesday, so get your new patient appointment scheduled today!

The Skinny on The Flu Shot

2011-11-07T16:05:00.000-06:00

A lot of information is floating around out there about whether or not you should get a flu shot, hopefully we can shed some light on what is the best choice for you to make. Today we're going to take a look at some of the research that's out there and hopefully provide you with a fair look at the flu shot debate!

As a chiropractic office, we tend to push people towards more natural care. That is, we would like to give the body a chance to do what it has evolved to do, which is use its own innate ability to fight off infection and build immunity as a defense against intruding pathogens. One of the ways the body does this is by exposure to offending viruses in a natural manner. We need to trust that our body has this ability and provide it with all the tools we can to make that battle as easy as possible. As you know the immune system, like every system in the body, is controlled by the nervous system (here is a basic article on the interaction of the two, from a neuroimmunological point of view), and any impact on it will have an effect on the body's ability to handle and fight off disease. So keeping the spine and nervous system free of interference and misalignment while reducing stress should be paramount in your seasonal battle with the flu.

But why should you avoid the flu shot? Doesn't it help your body fight off the flu?

The short answer is yes, the flu shot injects inactive (dead) viruses into your system, which your body will react to and produce antibodies towards. The long answer is much more complicated, as these things often tend to be. While they are injecting you with a virus, there is no clear indication that the virus you are receiving will be the major strain of virus during that year's flu season. The CDC bases their projections for that year's flu season on their best educated guesses by looking at prevalent strains in different areas of the world that have their flu season before the USA. So at best, it's a guess, and at worst, you're protected against a strain that won't be around that year. On top of that, the flu virus mutates so rapidly, and there are so many different varieties of it that any immunity you happen to build will be useless come the next flu season, which is why doctors insist on you receiving a flu shot every year. The only way to get natural AND PERMANENT immunity is to recover naturally from the flu. Also, to inactivate the virus, the manufacturers kill it with formaldehyde and preserve it with a mercury-based preservative known as thimerosal (although you can request thimerosal-free vaccines now).

Here is a link to a study on vaccination and pregnancy.
Here are the CDC guidelines and a Q & A on the flu shot

So what about the medical model? For those of you that choose to go this route, I encourage you to do all the research you can and not just blindly go with whatever your family doctor tells you to do, which applies to all people that choose to follow the natural route too! You have to make the best decision for your family and your body, and if that means you wish to have a vaccine then by all means do what you feel is right, just make the best decision you can and I'm sure it will be the right one for you.

NEW WINTER HOURS AT ASPIRE!

2011-10-31T10:55:00.000-05:00

Aspire Chiropractic has new winter hours:

Monday 8:30-11:30, 3:15-6:15
Tuesday 3:15-6:15, Doctor's Report @ 6:15
Wednesday 8:30-11:30, 3:15-6:15
Thursday 3:15-6:15, Doctor's Report @ 6:15
Friday 8:30-11:30
Saturday 9:30-11:00

Thanksgiving Hours:

Closed Thanksgiving Day
Friday November 25th 9:30-11:00
Saturday November 26th 9:30-11:00

Open House November 16th and JUST TRY IT, with Aspire Chiropractic!

2011-10-31T10:22:00.001-05:00

OPEN HOUSE WITH DR. MATT!

Aspire will be hosting an open house on Wednesday, November 6th during treatment hours (8:30-11:30 and 3:15-6:15). Bring your friends/family and let them see the office and meet Dr. Matt and Dr. Brenda. We will be having free refreshments and healthy foods for all during that time as well, so come out and see Aspire!

During the open house we will also be kicking off our year-end promotion: JUST TRY IT! For all of those people in your life who have ever been curious about chiropractic and what it could do for them, here's their chance to get their questions answered and learn more! For just a $45 donation to the Coach Freddie Weinke Youth Football Camp, all new patients will receive their first day services (Exam, x-rays, consultation and Doctor's Report) plus a FREE first adjustment! This offer is valid through 12/31/2011 and cards for this deal can be picked up starting November 1st, 2011 at our office.

Coach Weinke is currently the running backs coach at Division III nationally ranked St. Olaf College and has previously payed in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. His Youth Football Camp serves the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and provides instruction on football technique and drills to underprivileged youth. Aspire has been a sponsor of this camp in the past and is proud to be involved again this upcoming year!

For more information on the Open House and to get scheduled, call us at the office (651) 294-2332 or email us at aspirechiropractic@gmail.com

Testimonial of the Week 10/24

2011-10-24T10:02:00.001-05:00

Here is the Aspire Chiropractic Testimonial of the Week for October 24th-October 30th:

29 year old female that presented to the office with a chief complaint of neck and shoulder pain and tension related to chronic anxiety and stress. The patient was on a couple of different anti-anxiety medications and was having difficulty working due to the stress. After three months of care and removing the interference from her spine and nervous system, she was totally pain free! Under her doctor's advisement, she also began to wean herself off of the prescription medication for her anxiety and has since stopped taking it altogether. He was unable to offer any explanation as to why she was no longer suffering from the anxiety. Who do you know that needs this kind of help? Contact Aspire Chiropractic today!

Information on a single patient case of anxiety helped through chiropractic care.

Testimonials of the Week (10/10-10/17)

2011-10-17T08:47:00.000-05:00

Here are our testimonials of the week for the weeks beginning 10/10 and 10/17:

25 year-old female patient presented to our office with a chief complaint of right sided neck, shoulder and arm pain. During exam and consultation she revealed that she was suffering from painful menstruation and an irregular monthly cycle, and that in fact she had been worried as her current cycle was not on time and she was having pelvic pain. After receiving her first adjustment, she began her period, since that time, it has been very regular and has been pain free! She has also been able to resume her regular social activities as her neck and shoulder pain has subsided, and she has noted that she sleeps much better on days when she receives chiropractic care.
31 year-old mother of two (children 5 and 2 years old), and they all come in for weekly adjustments. Her children have never been vaccinated and they have had very little in terms of childhood illnesses outside of the normal sniffles and colds. Mom's back pain and chronic yeast infections are gone since beginning care. Any time the kids are demonstrating symptoms, mom brings them into the office for adjustments instead of to the pediatrician who would only prescribe drugs and recommend shots for the kids.

Who deserves to know these stories? Who can you share the power of chiropractic with today? Contact Aspire to learn more today!

Chiropractic Helps with Bedwetting

2011-10-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

Did you know that some children with Nocturnal Enuresis (Bedwetting) have been helped through the power of chiropractic care and getting their nervous systems turned on? Here are a few case reports on children that have been helped:

Case #0991: Five year old female who had been wetting her bed for six months. She was prescribed antibiotics for what MDs diagnosed as a bladder infection. After the second chiropractic adjustment, she stopped wetting her bed for three weeks. She had a bad fall and began to wet her bed again. After her next adjustment, she has remained dry.

Case #0419: Nine year old male who wet his bed almost every day of his life. After the first six months of chiropractic, he would be dry for the next day or two. A change in adjustments to the sacrum resulted in greater improvement. He is now dry for one-half to two-thirds of the nights between the adjustments.

Chiropractic adjustments: (Adjusted) C1 and C2 approximately three times/week. After two weeks of care the bed-wetting began to resolve and was completely resolved after six months. She was also leaving special education classes to enter regular fifth grade classes. Seizures were much milder and diminished to 8-10 per week after one year of care. Patient was also released from psychiatric care as "self managing." Her resistance to disease in-creased and she can now ride a bike, roller skate and ice skate like a normal child. After medical examinations, she is expected to be off all medication within a month.

How can the power of Chiropractic change your child's life?

Sources: Marko, RB Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol. 1 No. 1 April 1994
Langley C. Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol 1 No. 1, April, 1994.

Chiropractic and the Active Athlete: Why Should You Get Adjusted?

2011-10-11T17:58:00.001-05:00

Athletes in this country come in all shapes and sizes, from the 4 year old kicking her first soccer ball to the 85 year old grandfather throwing a strike at the bowling alley, all athletes put a tremendous amount of stress on their bodies. This stress can manifest itself in injuries of all sorts, from little aches, pains and post-competition soreness, all the way to ruptured ligaments and broken bones. So why should athletes of all ages consider chiropractic care? Here's a few reasons:

Faster Recovery Time: When used in conjunction with post-workout therapy, chiropractic may reduce recovery time and allow the athlete to return to the gym, field, etc, more quickly.
Better Posture: Chiropractic focuses on improving spinal position and posture which enables the athlete to be better aware of their body positioning during play, possibly giving them a competitive advantage over their opponents.
Injury Prevention: Athletes under chiropractic care have better joint flexibility and decreased pain in joints after athletic competition.
Improved Performance: A study published in Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation in 1991 showed an increase in performance of several aspects of athletic competition (kinesthetic perception, power, reaction time, agility and balance) showed an increase of 18% in these areas in athletes undergoing care after only 6 weeks of treatment. The non-treatment group showed an increase of only 1% over the same time frame.

Here is perennial NFL All-Pro and Hall of Fame member Jerry Rice giving his testimonial on how chiropractic has helped him and how it can help you!

From the seasoned athlete to the beginner, everyone can improve their performance through the POWER of chiropractic!

7 Benefits of Chiropractic for Seniors

2011-10-10T16:58:00.000-05:00

Many seniors are unaware of the outstanding benefits that are possible through regular chiropractic services. Here is a list of seven of the most frequent benefits that chiropractic services will provide for seniors.
1. Pain Relief
Chiropractic services is the most effective and safest forms of health care to treat pain due to spinal related conditions. Chiropractic is so effective because most causes of spinal disorders are related to abnormalities of the spine and the surrounding soft tissue structures. Anti inflammatory medication and pain relievers merely mask the symptoms and have many undesirable side effects.
2. Increased Range of Motion of the Spine and Extremities
Chiropractic services has been shown repeatedly to increase not only the range of motion of the spine but also in the extremities. Increasing a person’s range of motion can positively and drastically affect lives in many ways. In many cases, an increase in range of motion immediately follows chiropractic adjustments. This is one of the reasons why many top professional sporting teams have team chiropractors.
3. Increased Balance and Coordination
Many problems in balance and coordination in the aging population have been shown to come from injury or degenerative changes to the cervical spine (neck region). Studies have shown that chiropractic services can help restore balance and coordination by stimulating the joint receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the cervical spine. This stimulation is thought to restore or normalize joint receptor functioning which leads to improvements in balance and coordination.
4. Decreased Joint Degeneration
A subluxated (misaligned) spine is much like a misaligned wheel on an automobile. This misalignment will cause the spine (and the wheel) to wear out prematurely. Since all moving parts will eventually wear down over time, it is very important to get your spine aligned periodically. Chiropractic services decreases spinal degeneration and other arthritic changes by normalizing the spinal alignment and reducing spinal stress.
5. Increased Health and Well-Being
Chiropractic is far more than mere pain relief. Feeling good, staying healthy and doing the things that make us happy are what keeps us looking forward to each new day. Regular chiropractic care increases the quality of life and increases health and well being.
6. Decreased Incidence of Falling
Injuries due to falling are extremely common in the elderly population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are responsible for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures which occur annually among Americans past the age of 65. Chiropractors reduce the risk of falls by normalizing the mechanoreceptors of the cervical spine by administering chiropractic adjustments. They also prescribe stretching and exercise programs to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and coordination.
7. Keeps Seniors Out of Nursing Homes
While studying at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, I had the opportunity of meeting the president Dr. Ian Coulter. Dr. Coulter was involved with many research projects studying the benefits of chiropractic care and exercise. In 1996, he published an interesting study in the Journal, “Topics of Clinical Chiropractic” called “Chiropractic care for the Elderly.” The key points he noted in this study were:

44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 66% in the non-chiropractic care group
those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise
at three years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care lived in a nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic care did live in a nursing homeat three years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were hospitalized compared with 48% of those in the non-chiropractic group

There is no need for seniors to suffer needlessly. Chiropractic services provides amazing benefits and has an outstanding record of safety and effectiveness. Ask your family and friends for a chiropractor that they recommend. Take action now and make an appointment to see if chiropractic can help you!

Original article by Dr. Paul Zemella

Chiropractic Boosts Immunity

2011-10-10T10:03:00.002-05:00

Original Article by Dr. Paul Zemella

The nervous system and immune system are hardwired and work together to create optimal responses for the body to adapt and heal appropriately. Neural dysfunctions due to spinal misalignments are stressful to the body and cause abnormal changes that lead to a poorly coordinated immune response. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to boost the coordinated responses of the nervous system and immune system.
The autonomic nervous system is hardwired into the lymphoid organs such as the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow that produce the body’s immune response. Growing evidence is showing that immune function is regulated in part by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body. Subluxations are an example of physical nerve stress that affects neuronal control. According to researchers, such stressful conditions lead to altered measures of immune function & increased susceptibility to a variety of diseases.
Inflammatory based disease is influenced by both the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Nerve stimulation directly affects the growth and function of inflammatory cells. Researchers found that dysfunction in this pathway results in the development of various inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis and behavioral syndromes such as depression. Additionally, this dysfunctional neuro-endo-immune response plays a significant role in immune-compromised conditions such as chronic infections and cancer.
Wellness best chiropractor analyze the spine for subluxations and give corrective adjustments to reduce the stress on the nervous system. A 1992 research group found that when a thoracic adjustment was applied to a subluxated area the white blood cell (neutrophil) count collected rose significantly.
In 1975, Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute and professor in Environmental Health at New York University, began researching the most scientifically valid ways to estimate individual susceptibility to various chronic diseases. He has conducted a tremendous amount of research in this area that includes over 160 published reports in peer reviewed journals. Pero and his colleagues discovered that various DNA-repairing enzymes could be significantly altered following exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. He found strong evidence that an individual’s susceptibility to cancer could be determined by these enzymes. Lack of those enzymes, Pero said, ‘definitely limits not only your lifespan, but also your ability to resist serious disease consequences.’ To support this argument he found a substantial amount of literature linking various kinds of spinal cord injuries and cancer. Pero found that these injuries led to a very high rate of lymphomas and lymphatic leukemias. This understanding led Pero to consider best Chiropractor care as a means of reducing the risk of immune breakdown and disease.
Pero’s team measured 107 individuals who had received long-term Chiropractic care. The chiropractic patients were shown to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer or serious diseases. Interestingly, Pero found no decline with the various age groups in the study demonstrating that the DNA repairing enzymes were just as present in long-term chiropractic senior groups as they were in the younger groups.

Dr. Zemella's Website

9 Supermarket Strategies Designed to Make You Spend More (Link)

2011-10-07T09:59:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting article on how the supermarkets get you in the door, and get you to spend more than you intended.

Learn more about the right way to shop at this weekend's Total Food Makeover! Call (651)294-2332 for more details.

CANCER FEEDS OFF OF SUGAR

2011-10-05T09:04:00.000-05:00

It's as simple as that, cancer feeds and grows off of sugar and uses it as it's main food source in the body. This theory was developed back in 1924 by Dr. Otto Warburg, a Nobel Prize winning cell biologist, and published in his 1924 paper "On Metabolism of Tumors". In fact, some new/alternative therapies for treating cancer involve starving the body of all sugar and carbohydrates, then feeding the patient a "smartbomb" sort of cancer drug. This treatment is covered with a special coating that stays intact in the body until it reaches an area of no oxygen. Since cancer is an anaerobic (no oxygen) mass of cells, the oncologists were able to specifically target it through the use of this drug. Unfortunately, there has been little further research made available on this type of care, so we are left with our traditional types of chemotherapy, which are incredibly toxic and hard on the body.

So what should you do?

Be smart about your sugar and carbohydrate intake on a daily basis. While they do provide us with energy, sugar and carbs provide virtually no nutritive benefit, and processed sugars (HFCS, white sugar, etc.) are the worst offenders in this category. Natural sugars from fruits, vegetables, honey and molasses are a good part of a healthy diet and play an important role in providing us with the energy we need to get through the day, but we have to be thinking: ALL THINGS IN MODERATION! Sugar does not cause cancer, but if it enables it to grow, why would you give it the fuel it needs to proliferate? So if you are unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with cancer, you need to make the best decisions you can about what you feed your body, so do your research and give yourself the best chance you can to fight it off!

Learn More About This Topic at Aspire Chiropractic's TOTAL FOOD MAKEOVER on October 8th at the Danna Agency, call (651) 294-2332 to reserve your spot today!

Prescription Drugs now Responsible for more Deaths Annually than Auto Accidents

2011-09-21T17:04:00.002-05:00

Total Food Makeover with Aspire Chiropractic

2011-09-20T17:11:00.002-05:00

Take charge of your unhealthy eating habits with a TOTAL FOOD MAKEOVER through Aspire Chiropractic!
Featuring the best-selling Maximized Living Nutrition Plans the Total Food Makeover will teach you about:

Toxic Foods - How to identify and eliminate them from your shopping list, and replace them with healthy options you will LOVE!
Diet Myths - Fat does NOT make you fat, and high cholesterol does NOT cause heart disease...learn the truths!
Cravings - How to beat food addictions once and for all in 3 simple steps

PLUS - Learn to save hundreds of dollars every year at the grocery store - WITHOUT compromising your health

21st Century Foods-

Toxins exist in 3,000 food additives, preservatives and colorings for use in the food supply. The average person will ingest 140-150 pounds of additives and chemicals every year, creating a serious imbalance within the body. FAT is created by the body to safely store the toxins and protect your body. TOXIC CELLS block nutrients, rob your energy, contaminate your body, affect your moods and have been linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity.

So the big question is: "Can I rid my body of toxic chemicals and overcome modern diseases?"

YES! - our Advanced Nutrition Plan was designed to do just that, and there are only 3 simple rules to follow:

Detoxify your body
Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins
Reverse the true causes of disease to feel great about yourself

The Total Food Makeover will take place on October 8th from 10AM-1PM at the Danna Agency in St. Paul, located at 3629 White Bear Ave, 55110. This event has an attendance cost of only $40 and includes the Maximized Living Nutrition Plan book. Accountability partners may attend for $10. To pre-register for this event contact Aspire Chiropractic at (651)294-2332.

Maximized Oxygen & Lean Muscle

2011-09-08T09:31:00.005-05:00

The best method for intake, usage and storage of oxygen is through movement and the best method for movement is exercise. At Aspire Chiropractic we practice what we call the 5 Essentials of Maximized Living and we are really excited to launch our new MaxT3 / 6 minute work-out program focusing on Essential #4, Maximized Oxygen & Lean Muscle! You can get on track to better health and get in shape with Dr. Matt starting Monday, September 12th at 6:15pm and continuing every Monday evening until further notice. The more the merrier, so feel free to bring a friend if you'd like. We're on a mission to help as many people as possible live a longer, healthier life!

Exercise has many benefits. It helps control weight, it reduces stress and fatigue, and it combats health conditions and diseases such as depression, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon). A 2010 survey from the from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 24.8% of Minnesotans are obese. If you're concerned about your weight and want to know what a healthy weight for you would be, check out this BodyMass Index Table provided by the National Institutes of Health.

Sources: MN Dept of Health, Maximized Living, National Institutes of Health, CDC

Celebrate JazzFest with Aspire this weekend!

2011-09-06T08:25:00.000-05:00

If you're a fan of jazz, you won't want to miss the Selby Ave JazzFest this Saturday, September 10 from 11am-8pm. This celebration of music, art, and the community is free and open to the public; there will be wonderful music from a variety of jazz musicians, tons of vendors, art, and fun family activities. The Selby Ave JazzFest is an annual event that happens the second Saturday in September, it first took place back in 2002 and has drawn a crowd ever since. This year's musical line up will be Dick and Jane's Big Brass Band, The Lex-Ham Community Band, Walker West Music Academy, Salsa Del Soul, Jazz Heritage Showcase, and Gerald Albright. Be sure to stop by Aspire Chiropractic's booth if you make it out, we'll be there trying to get the word out in the community about chiropractic and the 5 Essentials of Maximized Living. Hope to see you there!

Free Radicals and the Power of Antioxidants

2011-08-31T09:47:00.002-05:00

In my re-cap of Aspire Chiropractic's workshop last week I mentioned how heating your food in a microwave can cause free radicals to form. So what are free radicals? Free radicals are the cause of the aging process. Free radicals steal electrons from molecules in your body and in turn, the molecule missing an electron becomes a free radical and steals an electron from another molecule causing a chain reaction to occur. Free radicals can cause damage to DNA, lipid components in blood, and proteins; damage to DNA can cause cancer, damage to lipids can cause heart disease, and damage to proteins can cause autoimmune disorders and Alzheimer's disease. The greater amount of free radicals in your body the more likely it is that they could cause serious damage.

So how can you stop free radicals from forming? You can't stop free radicals from forming as it's a part of living. Every living creature produces billions of free radicals every second. However, you can stop the chain reaction of free radicals with antioxidants; when a free radical steals an electron from an antioxidant the antioxidant becomes a free radical but it doesn't seek to find another electron, thus stopping the chain reaction. Note: an antioxidant molecule can only stop the chain reaction of a single free radical so it's important that you have a supply of antioxidants available to help reduce free radical activity. Visit your local Maximized Living doctor to find out how you can get the antioxidants needed to help fight the chain reaction of free radicals in your body.

Sources: A Legacy of Wellness, Maximized Living

Sustainable foods

2011-08-29T07:26:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to watch a documentary last night called Food Inc. For those of you who are on the fence about eating organic foods and grass fed meats this film does a good job of explaining why you should, but I do have to warn you that there may be some content that is not for the faint of heart. The film featured a farm in Virginia called Polyface Farms. I really enjoyed hearing about this farm and their environmentally-friendly farming practices. The owner, Joel Salatin, explains their farm a bit in the YouTube video below.

You can find sustainable, organic foods in your community by using the Eat Well Guide. This site gives you information on local farmers, farmers markets, co-ops, butchers, caterers, restaurants, and more.

Enjoying the Anytime Fitness 1st Annual Party in the Park!

2011-08-27T11:31:00.002-05:00

Anytime Fitness Hero!

5K and 10K Race to support Faith's Lodge

Aspire Chiropractic's Booth

Anytime Fitness 1st Annual Party in the Park

2011-08-25T15:42:00.001-05:00

Aspire Chiropractic is a proud sponsor of the Anytime Fitness 1st Annual Party in the Park, a 5 and 10k Race benefiting Faith's Lodge this Saturday, August 27th from 10am-2pm! Anytime Fitness will be giving each runner a gift bag, there will be live music, and their personal trainers will be doing a free bootcamp class, and stretching class. This will be a fun time supporting a great cause! Call anytime fitness at 651-292-1707 for more details or click here to register for the run. Here's a short article CBS did regarding the race "Charity Run to Rebuild Faith's Lodge...". Hope to see you there!

"Honey We're Killing the Kids" Workshop Recap

2011-08-24T14:11:00.003-05:00

The EPA estimates that our homes are five to ten times more toxic than the air outside. Toxicity is unavoidable but we can take some steps to make our home and our bodies less toxic. Dr. Brenda Kress talked about some toxins in our environment that we should be aware of and how to avoid them if at all possible during Aspire Chiropractic's monthly workshop last week.

One thing Dr. Kress talked about was the fact that the carpeting in our homes contains harmful chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. In addition, our carpeting collects dust mites, dirt, pesticides, and other toxins over time. These toxins can be reduced by using a quality air purifier in your home or getting rid of your carpeting all together.

Did you know that the cookware you're using could be toxic? Teflon or "non-stick" cookware emits toxic particles and gases when heated to a certain temperature and can be considered a cancer-causing substance. It is best to use steel or cast iron pans. Also, heating your food in a microwave is not recommended because it can cause free radicals to form but if you choose to use a microwave in your home be sure you use glass containers to heat your food. Heating your food in plastic will mess with your hormones. There are some plastics you should stay away from altogether, those plastics are #'s 3, 6, and 7.

A study by the Columbia School of Health found that 95% of all cancer is due to diet and the accumulation of toxins. Signs of toxicity are headaches, fatigue, depression, allergies or asthma, weight loss resistance, insomnia, hormonal imbalances, and thyroid problems. You can get rid of toxins in your body by getting adjusted regularly to remove any nerve interference along with using a detox kit. If you're interested in finding out more call Aspire Chiropractic at 651-294-2332.

Back to School Fundraiser August 22nd!

2011-08-21T16:58:00.003-05:00

Help kids and families in need this school year by participating in Aspire Chiropractic's 2nd Annual Back to School Fundraiser supporting the Wilder Foundation! When you donate a backpack and school supplies for the Wilder Foundation on August 22nd, you will receive a complimentary exam and x-rays worth $250. A small donation for a piece of healthcare!

Monday, August 22nd

8:00a -11:00a and 3:15p-6:15p

Monday's Workshop + Dr. Matt's Max Living Experience

2011-08-12T13:53:00.005-05:00

Monday's Max Living Workshop "Honey We're Killing the Kids"

Aspire Chiropractic will be hosting their monthly Maximized Living workshop on August 15th starting at 6:15pm. You won't want to miss this month's topic of "Fighting Toxicity in Our Body and Our Homes" covering the most common problems and their everyday solutions! Chemical pollutants are found in our food supply, water, household & personal care products, and medicines & vaccinations; learn what you can do to fight toxicity on Monday evening.

Did you know that everything we flush down the toilet or pour down the drain will end up in our community's sewage system, even if you have a septic system? (Eventually your septic system will be pumped and brought to the sewage treatment system.) Some compounds are biodegradable and will break down and become harmless during treatment, but others are non-biodegradable and can do damage by adding toxins to our environment.

Dr. Matt Gravel's Max Living Convention Experience

"Let's see, the seminar was a lot of fun and very informative. The things that stick out to me the most were the sessions on bringing the fire back to me about chiropractic; getting the idea that we have little understanding of the power we hold in our hands, the ability to change someone's life through the power of the chiropractic adjustment, and hearing stories about how doctors have helped patients completely revolutionize their lives."

"Funny story: On the second day of early morning workouts, the doctors put us through Max T3 training outside the hotel at 6AM. As I am just beginning on my road to a Maximized Life, I am a novice at the T3 training. Well, to motivate me, Dr. Ben Lerner, one of the founders of Maximized Living, placed himself directly to my left and as I was huffing and puffing, getting red-faced and sweaty, Dr. Lerner was doubling and tripling everything we were doing, so I had the founder of the company there to give me motivation!"

- Dr. Matt

Dr. Matt Gravel will be hosting weekly Surge Training sessions based on Maximized Living's Max T3 system beginning Monday, September 12th. It will consist of a 20min T3 training session followed by a surge up Ramsey Hill (weather permitting). Maximize your exercise with Aspire!

Max Living Convention

2011-08-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

Dr. Kress and Dr. Gravel went to the Maximized Living Convention last Thursday thru Saturday and are excited to share some pictures with you!


Getting energized!


Some great speakers!

Nice accomodations.

New Happenings

2011-07-14T17:02:00.000-05:00

We'd like to introduce all of you to the new Associate Doctor who has joined our team here at Aspire. His name is Dr. Matthew Gravel and he is a 2007 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport which happens to be the same college Dr. Brenda Kress graduated from a couple of years prior. Originally from Iowa, Dr. Gravel began his experience with chiropractic at age 13, after receiving his first adjustment to correct a misalignment in his pelvis which had been to limp for nearly two years. During graduate school, Dr. Gravel participated in community events to educate the public on the benefits of chiropractic care, including a mission trip to South America, where he provided free care to disadvantaged adults and children in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Dr. Gravel's focus is on spinal corrective care with an emphasis on sports/injury care and extremity adjusting. Prior to moving to the Twin Cities, Dr. Gravel practiced in St. Louis, Missouri for four years, where he focused on total body health care and and pediatric chiropractic. In his free time, he is an avid golfer and college football fan.

Here are some pictures of Dr. Matthew Gravel at the Dragon Festival at Lake Phalen last weekend.

Dr. Matt giving a presentation

Dr. Matt with Dr. Brenda

Welcome Dr. Matthew Gravel, we're glad you decided to join our team!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T11:42:00.000-05:00

Happy 4th of July!

Some exciting things have happened over the past couple of weeks for Aspire Chiropractic and myself. Dr. Kress threw the first pitch at the Saint Paul Saints game on Friday, June 24th.

I was asked to be "fan of the game" that same night...

And, Justina, our new Shiatsu Massage Therapist, joined our team. Below is a picture of Justina in action at the Honoring Women Worldwide event at Suffrage Garden on June 25th.

I've had a few friends comment on how I look over the past couple of weeks, they've told me it looks like I've lost some weight so I must be doing something right! Not only am I starting to feel better but I guess I'm starting to look better too. In addition to starting chiropractic care a few weeks ago, I've started implementing more healthy and organic foods into my diet, and I've started using household products that don't contain harmful toxins. I haven't totally changed my diet but I've started to gradually work my way to a healthier lifestyle and it seems to be paying off. Even if you aren't ready to jump into better health full swing, I'd suggest starting to make those baby steps, it will give you the push to keep moving forward.

Here's an interesting tip I learned from the Maximized Living Nutrition Book regarding what foods you should definitely buy organic. They call these foods the "dirty dozen".

Peaches
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)
Carrots
Pears

I hope you and yours have a safe and happy 4th!

Take care,

Stephanie

Aspire - Jeff B. Testimonial

2011-06-22T16:56:00.001-05:00

Community Outreach

2011-06-22T10:43:00.000-05:00

I would like to tell you a bit about Aspire Chiropractic and what makes them unique. Every month Aspire hosts workshops on how to live a more healthy life. They focus on what's called the 5 Essentials; maximized mind, maximized nerve supply, maximized quality nutrition, maximized oxygen & lean muscle, and minimized toxins. Dr. Kress also volunteers her time by offering free seminars to local businesses and organizations throughout the community as a part of her Maximized Living community outreach program. Some organizations are required to have people come in and talk on health & wellness, job safety, or stress management and pay quite a bit for the same kind of seminars that she offers free of charge.

This coming Monday, June 27th, Aspire is hosting a Community Appreciation event where guests are being offered $25 exam and x-rays that will go to support the Highland Friendship Club, a local organization that serves individuals with disabilities from teens through adulthood by providing a range of opportunities to develop lifelong skills, friendships and connections within their community. Dr. Kress has a brother with special needs and she is a part of the Autism Whisperers program so organizations like the Highland Friendship Club are very important to her both personally and professionally. Help Aspire make a difference in the lives of the people that matter most to you and the lives of those with special needs in our community!

- Stephanie

Aspire - Greg J. Testimonial

2011-06-17T10:51:00.017-05:00

I plan to post a patient testimonial each week in addition to sharing with you my journey to health and wellness. Here's a testimonial from Greg J.

Greg came into the office for chronic lower back pain and balance issues. He had these problems for years prior and also had some neck issues from a car accident and football injuries; when his issues were at their worst he was immobilized and on his back. He had tried stretching, exercise, and strength training prior to his treatment at Aspire Chiropractic. Greg found out about Aspire when Dr. Kress was featured on a TLC documentary called "My Strange Addiction".

When asked what results he has had, Greg said "FANTASTIC! I've had more energy, a better attitude; I'm stronger, and intellectually more fluent.” When asked his impression of chiropractic, Dr. Kress, and our team, he replied "This place has very positive energy. Beyond the doctor's ability which is so great, she extends a genuine love from her heart for her clients. She is a true blessing!”

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your testimonial with everyone Greg!

Wow, what a week!

2011-06-14T21:26:00.003-05:00

I just got adjusted for the first time last week. The x-ray of my neck showed that I have a -20 curve, which means my neck is curved the opposite way that it should be. It's going to take some time to get things back to normal but I'm confident that Dr. Brenda Kress of Aspire will get me back into shape!

We had a great talk at the office yesterday on how to "Live to 100". Proper nutrition is HUGE along with getting rid of toxins, exercise, and peace of mind.

A couple of fun facts from our talk:

- Did you know that you shouldn't eat before you exercise in the morning? If you do your body's energy will be focused on burning what you just ate.

- Volunteering in your community doesn't just feel and do good but it could help you live longer. Check out this video to see an inspirational CBS story about a man named Andy Mackie who quit taking his medications and started using that money to teach kids: "Harmonica Man" video.

Think on this... Your body is its own best doctor, if you eat well, exercise, give back, and take care of subluxation; your body has the capability of healing itself and to prevent disease. You are the one that can insure that you live a longer, healthier, happier life. I'm just starting to learn about the 5 Essentials (maximized mind, maximized nerve supply, maximized quality nutrition, maximized oxygen & lean muscle, and minimized toxins) and I'm excited to share this knowledge with you and inspire you to take care of yourself.

- Stephanie

Grand Old Day Promo

2011-06-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

My Journey to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life

2011-06-04T13:36:00.000-05:00

When you are young you don't really think about getting older and the effect of what you put in and on your body can have on you in the future. Recently I started to realize that if I don't start making some changes in my lifestyle now, in thirty years (if not sooner) I'll be suffering the consequences and won't be able to enjoy myself and live my life to it's fullest potential. I had this awakening after several loved ones, both friends and family, have fallen ill to cancer, victim to stroke, suffer from high blood pressure, and misc unexplainable illnesses.

I started searching for inspiration online and one day Dr. Brenda Kress followed me on Twitter. I went to her website to see what Aspire Chiropractic was all about and was intrigued... A Chiropractor who's also a certified Health Coach focusing on weight loss, detoxification, and nutrition, what's this all about? I don't know about you but I'm the kind of person who feels that everything happens for a reason. I've started to learn a lot about living a healthier lifestyle from Dr. Kress and I'm excited to share my journey to health and wellness with you.

If you're going to Grand Old Day this weekend, stop by the Maximized Living booth on Lexington and Grand and get your spine and nervous system checked for free. Also, Dr. Kress will be offering a great promotion to readers of this blog that I'll be posing here tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!