Harriott Chiropractic

01/18/2025

Things that make you go "hmmmm"...

Have you ever wondered if dogs need vitamin C?

No. They don't. They make vitamin C in their liver.

You know who doesn't make vitamin C?

Primates. Great apes, gorillas, chimpanzees, and, yes, humans.

I wonder why...

Hmmmmm...

01/05/2025

Proposed changes to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) are reviewing proposed updates to the guidelines that would prioritize plant-based proteins over animal-based ones. The new guidelines would recommend eating more beans, peas, and lentils, and less red and processed meats. The protein food group would be reorganized to list plant-based foods first, followed by seafood, then meats, poultry, and eggs. [2, 3]
Health benefits of plant-based diets
Plant-based diets can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and many cancers. Plant-based foods are lower in saturated fat than meat, eggs, and seafood, and they contain fiber. [1, 4]
Other considerations
Other reasons to consider a plant-based diet include environmental conservation, sustainability, ethical concerns regarding the treatment of animals, and religious influences. [4]
[1] https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/dietary-guidelines-for-americans-poised-for-bold-plant-based-shift/
[2] https://www.today.com/health/news/2025-us-dietary-guidelines-plant-based-foods-rcna183797
[3] https://vegconomist.com/health/proposed-us-dietary-guidelines-prioritize-plant-proteins-over-meat-first-time/
[4] https://www.kirtland.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/2348713/transitioning-to-plant-based-eating/

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are set to prioritize plant-based protein over meat, eggs, and seafood. Learn more here.

10/15/2024

Do you have a hard time losing weight? Do you have higher than ideal blood pressure? Here's something to check on... Are you drinking enough water?

Turns out that dehydration reduces the volume of blood and triggers the kidneys to release a hormone called angiotensin. That hormone does a few things:

1. Triggers thirst
2. Causes arteries to constrict to accommodate the lower blood volume in circulation
3. Increases fat storage in fat cells.

When your "taste for water" drops off habitually, this results in less sensitivity to thirst signals and triggers chronic low level dehydration. That causes slow weight gain over time and chronically higher blood pressure.

FWIW, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables (with or without any animal products) helps support hydration, but it is still important to cultivate your thirst sensation and to restore your taste for fresh clean water.

07/11/2024

Quick reminder to eat your garlic!

It has many benefits:
-lowers blood pressure
-regulates cholesterol
-boosts protective immunity and
-suppresses inflammation

Raw garlic retains the highest levels of the beneficial component, called allicin and alters gene expression increasing anti-cancer immunity within hours. Roasting retains the next most allicin with boiling, simmering and stir-frying each leading to substantial decreases in this magic constituent.

02/24/2024

Be well today

02/22/2024

Quote of the day from Moliere.

Now, he died in 1673, so the quote is dated, for sure. But I offer it because the underlying concept is still relevant, if in all fairness, not still entirely true today...

"Doctors pour drugs, of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, into patients of whom they know nothing."

12/02/2023

29% of seniors in North America are taking Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) according to this new study. That is a big chunk of real people. PIM's are those that may do more harm than good. And the incidence increases with age and with the number of prescriptions.

Just pointing out that if you are caring for an elder, you should be scrutinizing/reviewing the appropriateness of their medications with their doctor. At least challenge the doctor to explain the decision making process, the clinical objective, the potential alternatives, the potential interaction complications, etc. You know, the appropriateness.

This systematic review with meta-analysis examines the worldwide prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use among older outpatients.

11/20/2023

OK, for those chocolate banana smoothie lovers who are interested in nutrition, Dr. Michael Gregor just shared research about those fruits and veggies that turn brown and their effect on flavanols which are beneficial nutrients in berries, cherries, plums apples, coffee, tea and cocoa. These flavanols aren't critical nutrition, but they do have beneficial effects such as lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar regulation... The best source is green or black tea, but they are present in other fresh foods also.

It turns out that the browning action of, say, bananas, avocado, mushrooms, etc. is a result of an enzyme, polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Flavanoids are a subset of polyphenols and unfortunately, PPO essentially destroys flavanols, rendering them inactive.

OK, I'm going to jump to the bottom line...

Remember how you add lemon juice to guacamole or fruit salad to prevent browning? Well, it turns out that the citric acid in lemon juice is inhibiting the PPO, which is a good thing as it can preserve up to 50% of the flavanols. Heating to 160F also destroys the PPO enzyme. Having noted that, the better rule of thumb is:

1. Don't add banana to your smoothie as it will reduce the polyphenols of all the other goodies by at least 35% (and more if you don't drink it immediately).

2. If you want to add apples or bananas to oatmeal, cook them in with the oats.

3. If you want fresh bananas, they are best eaten alone. And if you are mashing up avocado with sprouts on toast, you might want to add a sprinkle of lemon juice to neutralize the PPO. Or just not worry about it and enjoy the avocado. Your choice.