Ventura Spine & Nerve Center September 2018

(805) 648-7987 | www.venturaspineandnerve.com The Vertebral Column Health Transformations Without Toxic Medications

SEPTEMBER 2018

CELEBRATING 123 YEARS OF PRACTICE The Same Philosophy Is Still Fundamental to Your Health

When a vertebra is out of alignment in your spine, it’s a condition that interferes with the function of your nervous system. This can happen from an injury during the

What difference was there in these two persons that caused one to have various diseases, while his partner escaped?” This question is easily answered today as we recognize the toxicity in the air, food, and water we consume. Chemtrails mark the skies, genetically modified foods are sold in our stores, and the quality of our water supply is so poor that the bottled water industry generates $11 billion a year. In 1895, Dr. Palmer was troubled that our environment would reach this level of toxicity. In today’s toxic era, it’s more crucial than ever for me to do all I can to help my each of my patients improve their physical and emotional health and their quality of life again. How resistant are you to all of these toxins in the environment? How capable is your body of resisting the stress from the negative forces that surround us? What is the answer to D.D. Palmer’s question? Without a doubt, an essential part of the answer is that your body must adapt in a healthy way to your surroundings. The system within your body that controls and coordinates every function and adapts you to your environment is your nervous system. Healthy nerve supply is essential for a healthy life. What D.D. Palmer discovered back in 1895 was that the human nervous system controls every function of your body. It’s the communication highway that your body relies on for optimum health. Any interference to your nervous system caused by physical, chemical, or emotional stress will result in suboptimal health.

I realize now that my whole life has been structured around becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic and teaching the Chiropractic philosophy to others. From my school years as a competitive athlete and my days working in a veteran’s hospital as an exercise therapist with a specialty in spinal-cord injuries to becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic, I believe nothing happens by accident. And now, 36 years later, I also realize how significant the discovery of chiropractic was 123 years ago. On Sept. 18, Chiropractic celebrates another birthday since its founding in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, DC. Each September, I go back and study the basic tenets of the Chiropractic philosophy. I also look back in gratitude for the early Chiropractors who were sent to jail because they were falsely accused of “practicing medicine without a license.” The reason they didn’t simply pay the fine and chose instead to go to jail, was because of their firm belief and application in being drugless practitioners. They wanted nothing to do with the practice of medicine and were willing to go to jail for it. Over 100 years ago, Palmer asked this important question that sparked a new profession: “I desired to know why one person was ailing and his associate, eating at the same table, working in the same shop, at the same bench, was not. Why?

–Dr. Steven Alff, D.C. Make good choices across the board, live the 123-year lifestyle, and enjoy a sensational century. Isn’t it time that you make the health of your spine and nervous system a priority and schedule your next Chiropractic checkup? birth process, childhood falls, accidents, or stress of any kind. Because your natural IT system can be affected by this condition, it can result in immediate symptoms and mimic any diagnosis, or it can lie dormant and asymptomatic for decades, which can lead to many types of health problems in the future. If you truly want to strengthen your body’s ability to adapt, you must make the correction and elimination of this condition a priority, before it leads to complications. Choosing to eat healthy, nontoxic food is an important choice. Exercising to keep your body fit and strong will build your confidence, increase your resistance, and help prevent some health issues. However, without a healthy spine and nervous system, the food and the fitness cannot be assimilated properly. Dr. Palmer was correct, and the profession he founded has lived on for over 100 years and counting.

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A Guide to Picking a Post - Career Hobby NEW AND REDISCOVERED PASSIONS IN LATER LIFE

are three questions to help you discover a hobby that’s right for you. Do you have a dormant passion? Work has a tendency to put our other interests on the back burner. Maybe you painted for pleasure during college but put the canvas away to focus on your career. Perhaps you were once a chess fanatic, and today you find your board gathering dust from lack of use. Now is the perfect time to rediscover those once-beloved activities. What have you always wanted to do? Discovering new hobbies is just as rewarding as rekindling old ones. Have you ever heard about a pastime and thought, “I’d love to do that, if only I had the time”? Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe opened a winery after retiring from football. While you probably don’t have the

financial resources of a professional athlete, there’s nothing stopping you from pursuing a newfound passion at the same velocity as the footballs Bledsoe threw. Is there a cause you want to support? Volunteer work can be incredibly fulfilling, especially when you have the time and energy to devote to it. Many older adults find that giving back to the community adds meaning and purpose to their lives. The best way to figure out how to donate your time is to think about a cause dear to your heart. From there, find a reputable organization that supports said cause, and see what you can do to help. Retirement is the perfect opportunity to throw yourself head-first into something you’re passionate about. So what are you waiting for?

Aside from financial concerns,

the No. 1 question that most impending and recent retirees struggle to answer is how they will fill up all their time. While spending time with family and relaxing are priorities for most folks entering the post-career chapter of their lives, these aren’t enough to fill up the bulk of your newly acquired free time. Cultivating a hobby is a great use of your time at any age, but especially during retirement. As Dick Van Dyke once said, “To me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing.” Here

MY PAIN IS DOWN AND MY ENERGY IS UP AFTER COMPLETING DR. ALFF’S 90-DAY NEUROPATHY PROGRAM What Our Patients Say

out with a positive attitude but I have never experienced ANYTHING like his Neuropathy Program before. Three months later, my pain level is almost gone — it’s now very low and manageable. Also, my stamina is greatly improved. Before the program, my energy would be gone and my day would be done by 7 p.m., but now I can keep going. Dr. Alff’s Neuropathy Program lasts for 90 days, but it’s actually more than that. It’s a lifestyle change, and if you do everything he says, you will get results.

I started having neuropathy symptoms 10–12 years ago. I went to all the technicians, doctors, and neurologists; had a full evaluation by a neurosurgeon; and even had injections in my back. I was really at the end of my road. The doctor gave me the medication Gabapentin and told me to go home ... that was all they could do for me. Well, I found out about Dr. Alff, attended his Peripheral Neuropathy seminar, and signed up for his Neuropathy Program. When I started, my symptoms were unbearable ... so I was ready. I started

Your energy will go up and your pain levels will go down. I highly recommend Dr. Alff, and his staff is amazing! That’s my story and I am sticking to it! Sincerely, –Gideon Giroux Ojai

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‘BEST CHIROPRACTORS OF VENTURA COUNTY’ Voted Once Again One of the

the doctor can detect the problem areas on each and every visit. By applying the instrument’s forces precisely to the affected areas, you

a Chiropractor before. If they say no, they often tell us it’s because they are fearful they are going to be cracked, popped, or twisted into a pretzel, which people sometimes assume is the typical type of adjusting that chiropractors perform. Besides our amazing team, one of the reasons we are continually chosen as one of the best Chiropractic centers in Ventura County is because when you receive a spinal or extremity adjustment in our office, there is no cracking, popping, or twisting you into a pretzel. We are the only Chiropractor center in Ventura County that uses the Sigma Computerized Adjusting System. We have always prided ourselves on offering the most cutting-edge technology at our office, and the Sigma Instrument is one example of that. The Sigma Adjusting Computerized System can isolate a problem area faster and more accurately than manual procedures. Once pinpointed, the instrument is then charted geographically on a computer monitor, so

After 36 years of helping Ventura County residents restore their health, we are pleased to announce that we have once again been named one of the top Chiropractic offices in Ventura County! There are hundreds of chiropractors in Ventura County, so we know it is a BIG honor to be selected as one of the best there is by county residents. Thank you to all who voted for us in the V.C. Reporter Reader’s Poll! We appreciate you! Chiropractic has earned its place as the largest drugless and nonsurgical health care profession in the United States. Imbalance or physical, chemical, or emotional traumas and everyday stresses affect the nervous system and, within this system, impair normal function and lower resistance to illness and further injury.

will receive gentle, effective treatment at that specific area, thereby relieving pressure on the nerve. This will allow the nerve to heal and restore its ability to transmit signals to and from the brain more freely. Most importantly, it will relieve the pain. This cutting-edge technology puts spinal adjusting on a whole new level for our patients and is safe, even if you have had spinal surgery! We are proud to offer this 21st century health care so you can live a life free from dangerous medications, toxic shots, and risky, unnecessary surgery. Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if your condition can be helped.

Still, only 6 percent of the population sees a Chiropractor. When a person comes to our office for the first time, we ask if they have seen

TAKE A BREAK

BRAISED SWISS

Chard

This recipe from chef Mehmet Gürs of Mikla Restaurant in Istanbul combines hearty greens with the bright flavor of tomatoes to a delicious effect. You can substitute bok choy or kale if you can’t find Swiss chard.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes • Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

• 1 1/4 pound (2 bunches) Swiss chard, trimmed and halved crosswise • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large shallots, peeled and chopped • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium. 2. Once heated, add Swiss chard and sprinkle with carrots and shallots. Put canned tomatoes over chard and season with salt and pepper. 3. Add 1/2 cup water, bring to a simmer. 4. Partially cover skillet and cook until liquid is nearly evaporated, about 15–20 minutes. 5. Transfer to a large platter and serve. Inspired by Saveur magazine

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Happy Birthday, Chiropractic! What Have You Always Wanted to Do? Hear From Our Patients! Voted Once Again One of the ‘Best Chiropractors of Ventura County’ Braised Swiss Chard The Best and Worst Foods for Inflammation

Foods That Cause and Reduce Inflammation FIND THE RIGHT FOOD BALANCE

harder for the liver to pump out the toxins in your body. When it can’t do its job properly, the result is inflammation. Now, for the good stuff. Eat these foods to reduce inflammation: Blueberries: Many studies call blueberries one of the best fruits you can eat to ease symptoms of inflammation. These blue orbs of goodness are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, polyphenols, and so much more. Eat a handful every day! Wild-Caught Salmon: As a source of healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is one of the best protein choices for people with inflammatory conditions, or for those who want to keep inflammation at bay. Broccoli: One of the most nutritious and easily accessible vegetables around, the little green buds that cover the tops of broccoli are loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds.

Sugar: One of the biggest culprits behind inflammation, sugar is far worse than eating fatty foods. It’s best to skip foods that have added sugar (and this includes sugar of any kind, including corn syrup, fructose, and sucrose). Many manufacturers now label food with more specific kinds of sugar to hide the fact that they added sugar to their product. Be sure to read labels carefully! Refined carbs: Basically anything made from white flour falls into this category, including bread, pasta, baked goods, and cereals. Research suggests that refined carbs may be a bigger contributing factor than fat in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Alcohol: Too much alcohol puts a burden on your liver, an organ that helps flush toxins out of the body. You know all of those detox diets? They don’t work. In fact, the only way to detox is to let your liver do its job. When you consume alcohol, it’s

The food you eat plays a major role in how your body functions on the cellular level. Some foods can wreak havoc on your body, while others can make you feel great. This is especially true when it comes to that all-too- common ailment, inflammation. Here are a few examples of foods that lead to inflammation:

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BODY SIGNALS WORKSHOP SERIES

" I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T H E K E T O G E N I C D I E T A R Y L I F E S T Y L E " WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR BODY AFFECTS YOU EVERY DAY ! Get Healthy to Avoid: High Blood Pressure, Mood Disorders, Cognitive Disorders, Vision Problems, Fatigue, Sleep Apnea, Fatty Liver, Belly Fat, Heart Attack, Stroke, Diabetes, Cancer, Inflammation Tuesday, September 25 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Ventura Spine & Nerve Center 1590 E. Main Street, Ventura

Presented By Dr. Steven Alff, D.C.

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