Magnesium has a large impact on maintaining overall health and well-being. As a matter of fact, after oxygen, water and basic food (which should contain magnesium if not processed out), magnesium may be the most important element your body needs. This mineral is involved in over 300 different biochemical reactions, all necessary for the body to function properly. Among these are digestion, energy production, muscle function, bone formation, creation of new cells, B-vitamin utilization, relaxation of muscles and heart, kidney and adrenal function, and the list goes on. Lack of magnesium can cause loss of sleep, anxiety, numbness, tingling, muscle tightness, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, and more.

According to the American Diabetes Association two recent studies suggest that an increased intake of magnesium could have a role in reducing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. And, this is just one of the diseases that can be helped by supplementing magnesium.

But why should I have to supplement my diet with magnesium?

There are three main reasons that most people do not get enough magnesium through their normal diets:

1. Low levels of magnesium in food. When food is processed magnesium is lost. Take for example wheat. When wheat is refined to white flour, 80% of magnesium in wheat is removed.
2. There is about four times more calcium than magnesium in our foods. Calcium has much greater emphasis in our society. Such a discrepancy reduces the absorption of magnesium.
3. Your kidneys recycle much of your magnesium. Consumption of too much sugar, sodium, calcium and alcohol can cause the kidneys to release magnesium.

On your next appointment ask Dr. Mattingly what you can do to get more magnesium.

It is estimated that one in three Americans have high blood pressure. To combat this problem many are put on medications. These medications are divided into three classes as follows:

• Diuretics: Rid the body of fluids and salt;
• Vasodialators: Relax the blood vessels so that the blood can flow easier through the vessels;
• A category of medications that causes the body to stop producing the enzyme that causes the blood vessels to constrict.

The side effects of the above medications include dizziness, fatigue, sleepiness, stroke, impotence, hair loss, depression, bleeding in the stomach or intestines, dry cough, dry mouth and throat and the list goes on.

Vasotensin is a natural product that provides specific nutrients that have been identified to lower Blood Pressure naturally. Vasotensin acts quickly, and may be used as a compliment to other heart support programs and it is available at Mattingly Chiropractic. Stop in and get your blood pressure checked and get started today!

A common element of good health is drinking water. Drinking water is vital to your health, with 75% of your body and 85% of your brain being made up of water. But what happens if you are making the correct effort to drink water but don’t experience the benefits you expected?

You may have heard of the various problems with water. I will go over a few of the common problems experienced.

Drinking tap water

Tap water can have the wrong pH balance, contain toxins and taste bad.

pH stands for "potential of hydrogen." It is a measure of how acidic (or non acidic) a substance is. The lower the number, the more acidic the substance is. It is a scale of 1 to 14. Pure water has a pH of 7.0, directly in the middle of the pH scale, which is considered neutral. However, due to pollution, tap water with a low pH (less than 6.5) is more common. Such water is acidic and corrosive. Therefore, the water will corrode metal particles from plumbing fixtures and pipes such as iron, manganese, copper, lead and zinc in toxic levels and have associated problems such as a metallic or sour taste. Additionally, tap water has Chlorine and Fluoride added with questionable health benefits. Go to www.mercola.com to learn more about these dangerous water additives.

So when you drink or are considering drinking tap water, know that too much of this water could affect the pH balance of your body, leading to many health risks such as parasites or yeast infections. Or even dehydration!

Drinking water from plastic bottles

Plastic has certain chemicals which disrupt the body's hormone system. Tiny amounts of the plastic chemicals can be absorbed into the water. Ingesting these tiny amounts daily for a long period of time can lead to long-term effects such as incorrect hormonal balances, low birth weight, miscarriage, infertility and cancer.

Distilled water - only for the short term

Drinking distilled water has its place when detoxifying the body but can only be used for the short-term. In the long-run it can pose health risks. To quote Dr. Zoltan Rona:

“Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapour condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and, because of this, has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Studies validate the benefits of drinking distilled water when one is seeking to cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks at a time). Fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.”

So are there any solutions?

Of course. If you suspect that your water is wrong for you here are some tips:

Drink filtered water, or spring water bottled in glass or polyethylene. Polyethylene bottles can be located at health focused stores such as Wild Oats or Whole Foods. Glass-bottled water is available for use with water coolers by delivery in some areas.

Iodine is a dark grey/purple-black colored chemical element found in seaweed such as kelp that is necessary for proper production of thyroid hormones (from the Greek iodes, meaning "violet"). Iodine helps keep both the brain and the spinal cord healthy. It is vital for the thyroid gland to function properly.

The thyroid is one of the larger glands in the body. It is located in the neck and produces hormones that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other systems in the body. These hormones are comprised in part by iodine and boost the rate at which the body's cells use oxygen and nutrients to produce energy and heat – in other words, they boost your metabolism.

The thyroid hormones directly affect the maturing and day-to-day well-being of both the skeletal and central nervous systems.

Get Tested!

A simple test can be done for Iodine deficiency. Iodine supplements, such as Prolamine Iodine, are available at the office.

Contact Us to find out more about the test and available supplements.

At some point in your life you have probably experienced back pain of some nature. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor's office. So the big question is, what is back pain and what exactly do you do to handle it and – ahem – keep it off your back?

Stop The Pain In Your Spine From Holding You Back

The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements, like picking up a pencil from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and stress can cause or complicate back pain.

Back injuries are a part of everyday life, and the spine is quite good at dealing with these often "pulled" muscles. These very minor injuries usually heal within 1 or 2 days. Some pain, however, continues. Reasons may include stress, mood changes, bad diet, lack of exercise and even the fear of further injury that may prevent you from being active. In addition, sometimes a painful injury or disease changes the way the pain signals are sent through your body, and, even after the problem has gone away or is inactive, the pain signals are still being sent.

Chiropractic adjustments would then assist in restoring proper communication by relieving irritation or choking of nerves caused by misalignment of the spinal joints.

What Can You Do to Prevent Long-Term Back Pain?

In addition to any other measure a chiropractic adjustment will give you relief. Together we can also work on reversing negative conditions to actually improve the condition, rather than just relieve it. Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that I can address.

Many chiropractic patients with relatively long-lasting or recurring back pain feel improvement shortly after starting Chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic spinal care is a safe and effective back pain treatment. It reduces pain, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.

How Can You Prevent Back Pain?

1. Don't lift by bending over. Instead, bend your hips and knees and then squat to pick up the object. Keep your back straight, and hold the object close to your body.
2. Don't twist your body while lifting.
3. Push, rather than pull, when you must move heavy objects.
4. If you must sit for long periods, take frequent breaks and stretch.
5. Wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels.
6. Exercise regularly. An inactive lifestyle contributes to lower-back pain.
7. Get your regular Chiropractic adjustment! Life happens, even when you take precautions. Your best defence against back pain is regular Chiropractic adjustments to keep your spine in line.

I’ll see you at the office for your next adjustment.

Did you know that most of the vitamins on the market today are synthetic? Take for example Vitamin B1. This vitamin is called either Thiamine Mononitrate or Thiamine HCL on most vitamin labels. This form of B1 is made from coal tar which is a compound made from processing coal. Look at the label on your vitamins. Chances are your vitamin has as one of its ingredients Thiamine Mononitrate or Thiamine HCL–Coal Tar! If so, get rid of the bottle and replace it with Catalyn, a whole food multi-vitamin from Standard Process. You will feel the difference! Contact Us to order.