Win A FitBit Aria Scale

Would you like an easier way to keep track of your weight loss and weight loss goals? If the answer to that is yes, then Rehabilitation & Spinal Care of Rockford is giving away a chance to do just that. The FitBit Aria weight loss scale" tracks your weight, body fat percentage, and BMI, painting a picture of your long-term progress. It wirelessly syncs your stats with online graph and mobile tools that help you stay motivated and on track."

In order to be entered to win, you have 2 months to refer as many new patients to RASC Rockford as you can. For each patient that is entered your chances of winning increase. At the end of March a winner will be drawn and awarded the scale. These are the same scales used at Rehabilitation & Spinal Care of Rockford and are extremely simple to navigate and use.

Conditions include:
- Winner may choose black or white model.
- Only one model will be given away.
- No purchase necessary
- Referral must show up for entry to be valid.
- Prize is limited to FitBit Aria Scale only, wireless service not provided.

GMO: What Is The Truth

 We've all heard the rumors about GMO, or genetically modified organisms, and how they affect the diet of every American. But what exactly is GMO, why is it important and what are the implications with regard to health? Dr. Donohue will explain all these questions to you so you can make more informed decisions.

- What is GMO?
GMO means Genetically Modified Organisms. Genetically Modified Organisms are plants or animals created through gene splicing techniques of biotechnology. This "experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plants, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding." 

- What should I look for?
High-Risk Crops include:
 - Alfalfa
 - Canola (~90% of US crop)
 - Corn (~88% of US crop)
 - Cotton (~90% US crop)
 - Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop)
 - Soy (~94% of US crop)
 - Sugar Beets (~95% of US crop)
 - Zucchini & Yellow Squash (~25,000 acres)

- Are your kids eating genetically modified foods?
According to the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to revealing the truths about GMOs, "many of the foods that are most popular with children contain GMOs...cereals, snack bars, snack boxes, cookies, processed lunch meats and crackers all contain large amounts of high risk food ingredients. In North America, over 80% of our food contains GMOs." 

- What If I buy only organic?
Unfortunately, "organic certification does not require GMO testing."

- What are the most common GMO's?
The most common GMOs are soy, cotton, canola, corn, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, alfalfa and squash. They can also be hidden in "common processed food ingredients such as: Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Flavorings, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Lactic Acid" and many more.

For more information on GMO, please refer to the website, www.nongmoproject.org.

What's Better For Me, Fish Or Fish Oil?

 The general population is well aware of the benefits associated with regular intake of omega-3 fats, either in supplement or dietary forms. These benefits extend to the immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems to name a few, with research ongoing. 

 With regard to the debate as to whether it is more beneficial to obtain those omega-3 fats through diet or supplementation, evidence is piling up in favor of the dietary route.

 Earlier this year in March evidence was presented that indicated the dietary form of omega-3 was more beneficial than supplementation to control for blood pressure. The reason is based in the notion that the dietary form assists in the vasodilation of the smooth muscle that comprises the blood vessel walls.

 We have to remember that blood vessels are simple pipes with many layers. The smooth muscle that envelops the vessels relax (dilate) and contract based upon a number of factors, none of which are voluntary. While you can make your bicep muscle contract and relax, you cannot make your blood vessels contract and relax. Whole fish assists in the relaxation of those blood vessels, this in turn helps to lower blood pressure.

What's Healthier For Me, Almond Milk Or Soy Milk?

 For a number of years, soy milk was extremely popular as a non-dairy alternative to cow's milk. This is especially true for the population who is lactose intolerant or simply has a sensitive gastrointestinal tract. In recent years, the trend has moved towards a different alternative milk source, that of almond milk. So, the question remains, which is the best choice for you?

 Let's start off with why soy milk has fallen out of favor. Typical soy milk has two things going against it, chiefly that it is unfermented and that it is largely produced from GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds. Unfermented soy milk is an endocrine disruptor, meaning that when consumed it can disrupt normal hormonal processes. This is true for both men and women. 

 Prevention magazine has laid out a simple diagram that can provide answers to the question posed above. Check it out to see which one is better for you...

Sugar In Your Joints, Not Your Stomach?

Prolotherapy is a relatively non-traditional procedure that can possibly help with a variety of musculoskeletal injuries, including, but not limited to osteoarthritis of the knees, low back pain and tennis elbow. Prolotherapy is also known as proliferation therapy and involves the injection of a sugar solution into the affected region, particularly the tendons and/or ligaments with the purposes of stimulating an immune response at the site and strengthening collagen fibers.

The reason this is in the news is due to a recent study that found prolotherapy beneficial for patients with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is commonly referred to as degenerative joint disease and affects a large segment of the population, especially the elderly. Typical treatments include steroid injections, physical therapy and even surgery. What's interesting about those treatments is that recent evidence has found that steroid injections increase bone fragility in the elderly, so prolotherapy should be viewed as a viable alternative.

The study found that patients who underwent the dextrose-based injection procedure had a 24% increase in a knee-specific quality of life survey one year after having the procedure performed. 

Epidural Injections For Low Back & Neck Pain May Increase Fracture Risk

A retrospective analysis recently performed, and published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, has found that, in older patients the risk of vertebral fracture is increased following epidural steroid injections.

The results were confirmed in a second analysis and the researchers used the records of more than 3000 patients who were 50 years or older and who had received at least one steroid injection for compressive neuropathic pain.

While this is a preliminary study and did not control for a number of other cofactors that influence bone stability and increase fracture risk such as smoking and higher BMIs, it is important to consider when referring patients for lumbar steroid injections.

11 Healthiest Foods

This is a pretty cool series on 11 healthy foods that has a few ones that are a little off the beaten path...

http://www.rodalenews.com/worlds-healthiest-foods?page=11