This is a testimonial from one of my current patients and she asked me to share it with everybody.

I would like to tell my story and experience with Dr. Yaeger. I have been a diabetic for over 40 years. When I was younger, I was able to control it with diet and exercise. However, in my mid-to-late 40″s I needed to start taking oral medication. Three years ago, I had to begin taking insulin injections twice a day, and despite a healthy diet and active lifestyle, I have still not been able to get my sugars nor my weight under control. While researching my disease, I found that insulin has a tendency to put on weight. Along with the extra weight came an increased need for insulin. I felt like I was trapped in a vicious cycle.

I was referred to Dr. Yaeger by my daughter who was a patient of Dr. Yaeger’s and having good results.

During my first meeting with Dr. Yaeger, we discussed my goals for weight loss, lower blood sugars and my desire to stop taking insulin if possible. Dr. Yaeger asked me to start taking supplements, paying special attention to address concerns with my liver and pancreas. I was a bit skeptical of his findings, but was willing to participate in the program he prescribed. By the end of the program I was feeling much better, but saw little to no change in my weight and blood sugar levels. He reassured me this was normal.

Dr. Yaeger then asked if I would be willing to participate in a 21 day cleanse and start taking the supplement, Glysen to address my blood sugar concerns. I finished that program and the results are nothing short of AMAZING! I have lost 11 pounds, my blood sugar is lower and I am taking less insulin then before.

It is too early to have a blood test to see if my A1C levels have been lowered (this test is based on 3 month average, and is coming up soon). However, am inspired by the results and success I have experienced with Dr. Yaeger’s help, guidance and support. I am motivated to continue with my new ways and am confident that I will be off of insulin in the very near future.

I am blessed to have the best doctor in Walnut Creek caring for me.

Sincerely,
Judy Malone

Before I came to Yaeger Chiropractic for Nutrition Response Testing with Dr. Yaeger, my digestive system was majorly affecting my life. I had to quit my job because my nausea and vomiting was so unpredictable. Working out and hanging out with friends became harder as my stomach caused pain. I was constantly feeling like I had a cold, I felt moody, and generally I felt old. The scariest part was that my symptoms were getting worse, and I didn’t know how to feel better. I had heard about Nutrition Response testing from a friend. Since it was my digestive system that was causing me the most problems, I thought it couldn’t hurt to have Dr. Yaeger take a look. At first I was overwhelmed finding out that I had so many intolerances and allergies to food. What do I eat!!?? But I decided to trust him. At first, I slowly felt better. Now, I rarely have nausea–something I had daily for over a decade! What I didn’t expect through this whole process was that my symptoms related to moodiness, menstrual pain, body aches, sickness, etc. also went away. The staff at Yaeger Chiropractic is so welcoming, understanding, supportive, happy, and responsive. I tell everyone I know to try it out, whether you have digestive issues, aches and pains, or just want your body to feel its best. Take the time to call them. You will NOT be disappointed. Good luck!

There has been a lot of press and diagnosing of vitamin D deficiency recently (at least I have seen a steady increase in my office of patients being told by their M.D. that they are vitamin D deficient). So, what are some of the common symptoms, what is causing the steady increase and what is the best supplement/way to resolve the problem? As for the common symptoms there are a thousand web sites to give that info so I am going to just share the ones I think are most accurate and relevant.

Symptoms of Bone Pain and Muscle Weakness

Low blood levels of the vitamin have been associated with the following:

• Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive impairment in older adults
• Severe asthma in children
• Cancer
• depression
• chronic fatigue
• weight loss
• diabetes
• heart disease
• stroke
• osteoporosis

Some of the common causes of deficiency are:

• Limited exposure to sunlight can also be the cause. This is very easy to treat. Just go out more. Everyone lathers up the sun screen to the point that they aren’t getting enough sun.
• Your kidneys cannot change vitamin D into its active form. This comes with age. The older you get, the harder it becomes for your kidneys to do this process.
• You are overweight. Vitamin D is absorbed by fat cells which can lead to low levels of vitamin D in your body. Lose some weight, because if you don’t your bones will become more fragile.
• If you have dark skin, you should be aware that melanin in your skin reduces skin’s ability to produce vitamin D. Take a vitamin D supplement.

How to Get Vitamin D

As discussed earlier the SUN

Very few foods in nature contain vitamin D. The flesh of fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and fish liver oils are among the best sources [1,11]. Small amounts of vitamin D are found in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks. Vitamin D in these foods is primarily in the form of vitamin D₃ and its metabolite 25(OH)D₃ [12]. Some mushrooms provide vitamin D₂ in variable amounts.

Supplements, and not the kind you get at Costco as discussed in earlier blogs. Don’t get me wrong, I love Costco but not for your vitamins. There are numerous types and brands out there on the market. As always we recommend you get them from your doctor/chiropractor acupuncturist etc. In our office, we use a few different brands and which ever brand tests well for that patient is what we suggest. The dose again needs to be determined on an individual basis. In my office, we will dose out what the patient needs so they don’t get too much or too little.

I hope this helps clear up some of what you may be hearing in the media and from your M.D.

I have had a rush of questions lately about the risks and health benefits of Coconut Milk. A lot of people are concerned about the fat content. DON’T be! First, most people are too focused on the fat content when they should be more worried about the sugar content of things. Coconut milk, oil, etc., while high in fat, is 2/3 medium chain – which means it is pushed straight to the liver where it is readily used for immediate energy and doesn’t have a chance to be stored as fat. Bodybuilders have been using and looking for good sources of “medium chain” fats for years. I found a good description for you to read.

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Nearly 50% of the fatty acid in natural coconut oil is lauric acid, which converts to the fatty acid monolaurin in the body. Monolaurin has adverse effects on a variety of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. It [monolaurin] destroys the lipid membrane of such enveloped viruses as HIV, measles, Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), influenza and cytomegalovirus (CMV). The usefulness lauric acid/monolaurin in treating AIDS is currently under investigation. Lauric acid is a main component of human breast milk and helps protect children from illness during infancy.

Capric acid, which comprises another 7% of coconut oil fat content, also stimulates anti-microbial activity.

In other words: not only does coconut oil not cause heart problems, it is good for you. To quote Dr. Mary Enig: “The research over four decades concerning coconut oil in the diet and heart disease is quite clear: coconut oil has been shown to be beneficial.”(See endnote)

Coconut oil is a “functional food,” defined as a food that “provides a health benefit over and beyond the basic nutrients.”(See endnote) It is an immune-system enhancer.

For further reading: Mary G. Enig, Coconut: In Support of Good Health in the 21st Century. Also the Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc.

A personal note as a new parent: my son will be turning 1 on the 10th of August. Most sources of course now say you need to put them on Whole Milk. I don’t think so! Unless you are getting Raw Milk, which unfortunately, can be difficult to come by depending on where you live, but that is a topic for another day. We are going to be adding good healthy amounts of Coconut Milk to his diet.

Questions, concerns, comments? Feel free to email us.

It is by some sources the most common intestinal complaint for which people are referred to a gastroenterologist.

It is characterized by abdominal pain, gas, and bloating. Some people describe a full sensation even without eating too much. One of the main hallmark symptoms we see in our office are switching between constipation and diarrhea. The symptoms usually occur after meals, come and go and are temporarily reduced or relieved after a bowel movement. People with diarrhea will have frequent, loose, watery stools. They will often have an urgent need to have a bowel movement, which is difficult to control. Those with constipation will have difficulty passing stool, as well as less frequent bowel movements. They will often need to strain and will feel cramping with a bowel movement. Often, they do not eliminate any stool, or only a small amount.  Most people are diagnosed simply by their symptoms. Occasionally a doctor will run a few tests if there are other complicating factors to rule out things like Chron’s disease.

What causes it? UNKNOWN. Has been seen after an intestinal infection of some type, stress and appears to be more common in women. Something not seen in a lot of literature that we have seen a high correlation with in our office is women who are hypothyroid or pre-hypothyroid, meaning it appears to occur prior to a full blow case of hypothyroidism. There are associations with, as most things now: diet, alcohol, caffeine etc.

What to do about it? Medical approach is to simple attempt to relieve the symptoms and tell you that this may be a life long problem for you.

Current medications include:

• Anticholinergic medications (dicyclomine, propantheline, belladonna, and hyoscyamine) taken about a half-hour before eating to control colon muscle spasms
• Loperamide to treat diarrhea
• Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve intestinal pain
• Lubiprostone for constipation symptoms
• Medications that relax muscles in the intestines

According to Public Med Health, you can look the above up and ALL of them have side effects some worse then the problem itself. Which also seems to be a common theme among many of the medications for conditions like these.

What we have found in our office is if you help the person’s thyroid many of there IBS symptoms go away. My sister had IBS for 10 years once we helped her thyroid with natural supplements and a few diet changes of foods that she was sensitive to her symptoms where GONE. A natural product we use in office called Iodomere from Standard Process has really helped.

Are you suffering from a “True Sciatica Condition” or from what’s called a Piriformis Syndrome? A true sciatica condition can be due to a disc bulge or some degenerative changes to the lower lumbar spine usually in the L5/S1 vertebral levels. Where as a Piriformis syndrome occurs when you have irritation to the sciatic nerve as it passes the Piriformis muscle. Now both can and will give you pain into the “butt” with pain, burning or shooting sensations radiating into the leg, some time but not always going all the way to the foot. Usually a “Piriformis” problem will only be to 1 leg where as a disc can be to both or alternating between the two sides in some cases, depending on the location of the disc bulge. Now you may say if they both cause similar pain and “feel” the same what difference does it make. The treatment approach for the two conditions can vary greatly. First how do we tell which is which?

Sciatica from a disc or injury to the lowback can be determined by performing a few different orthopedic maneuvers. If you are in a seated position and raise the leg straight out and you get shooting pain think lowback/disc. If you are sitting or lying on your back and you bring the knee up straight to the same shoulder there should be no pain, but if you cross the knee to the opposite shoulder and get pain in the “butt” think Piriformis syndrome. The piriformis muscle assists in rotating the femur. Another way we check in the office is I have the patient in a standing position and put pressure at the lower lumbar joint. If that gives them pain – think sciatica. However, if I do that and they don’t get any or very little pain but when I apply digital pressure (take my finger and push) on the Piriformis muscle (which is located in the dimple of the butt) they have the pain shoot into the butt, leg etc. – think Piriformis. In my office more people come in with Piriformis injuries then actual disc/Sciatica injuries. You can try these simple checks at home but if you can’t figure it out you need to get it checked by a Chiropractor to see which one it is so you know what treatments and exercises to do to get it better.

Not only does it look bad it also has other health factors associated with it like rounding of the shoulders which can cause a 30% decrease in breathing capacity, headaches, problems with your nervous system, digestive system, hormone system and more.

According to www.NeckSolutions.com, for every inch that your head is held forward from perfect alignment, its weight on the neck increases ten pounds. That puts a lot of stress on your neck and facial muscles, which is transferred back to your head in the form of a headache or migraine as these muscles grow fatigued.  Read more:

What can cause poor posture? Injuries to the back that where never treated  or not treated properly. Sitting at the computer for hours on end (sound familiar) sitting there looking down and texting (for hours on end), lack of exercise, kids carrying to heavy of a back pack and not fitted to the properly, poor mattress or sleeping on your stomach, and the list goes on.

So what can you do about it? make sure your work station is set up properly for YOU, schedule stretch breaks when at the computer, start to exercise and strengthen the muscle in your upper back, neck and shoulders the right way. A really good website with stretches and exercises is www.straightenupamerica.org Go to a Chiropractor who can help restore the normal alignment to the spine while you are strengthening the surrounding musculature. There is even computerized programs out there like the one we use in our office called Posture Pro(tm) that allows use to measure your posture and monitor if it is getting better.

Nutritional deficiencies are a widespread, ‘epidemic” according to Sherry Rogers, MD. The question is why?

1)The soil food is grown in has been depleted to the point of providing far less nutritional value now compared to the past. Data collected by the U.S. government show that the nutritional content of America’s vegetables and fruits has declined during the past 50 years — in some cases dramatically.

Donald Davis, a biochemist at the University of Texas, said that of 13 major nutrients in fruits and vegetables tracked by the Agriculture Department from 1950 to 1999, six showed noticeable declines — protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin and vitamin C. The declines ranged from 6 percent for protein, 15 percent for iron, 20 percent for vitamin C, and 38 percent for riboflavin. Read more…

2) People are eating far more “non foods” which would be anything refined,processed genetically altered, GMO’s etc. and the list goes on and on.

So, what are people doing about it? Some are eating more organic foods which can be helpful but expensive and not enough on its own. Others are running down to Costco or the drug store and buying multi vitamins (10,000 per bottle for 10 dollars) Ok, I maybe exaggerating a little but not much. There are a thousand vitamin companies out there now a days and few regulations, so unless you are getting things from a reputable company like Standard Process, Apex, Systemic (to name a few) you just don’t know what you are getting or if you are taking the right supplement for what is bothering you. Bottom line before you go out and spend money on vitamins make sure you are getting something of quality.

Did you know that antacids can cause ulcers, chronic inflammation, leaky gut, food allergies, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease and more. Your stomach is a very acid environment with a pH at 2 or less – same as a car battery (7 is neutral.) This acid helps to destroy bacteria, yeasts, and parasites. It helps you to absorb Vitamin B12 and minerals that allow you to release hormones from the pancreas, without which can lead to development of diabetes and breakdown protein. When undigested proteins get to the intestines, inflammation begins leading to leaky gut syndrome, chronic allergies, chronic constipation and/or diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease.

The medical answer is not to treat the cause but treat the symptom by trying to kill the bacteria with things like Pepto Bismol and antibiotics. Acid blockers by definition make your stomach less acidic. So, this begs the question why would anyone take antacids? Billions of dollars are made by pharmaceutical companies each year, so that answer is clear. It is also worth noting that women suffer more then men.

There are many natural things you can do to as acid reflux remedies to bring back your system’s proper pH. You can take natural remedies, like Zypan from Standard Process and actively combine certain foods to help reduce the stress to your stomach. Both strategies should be monitored by a licensed nutritionist to ensure safety.

Just another reason why people should question what they are told by commercials and the pharmaceutical companies that produce them. Not only do the statin drugs prescribed to lower “bad” cholesterol have serious side effects, the drugs may only have an effect in 1 out of 100 users. It would be extremely interesting to see the double blind study on the short and long term health results of the 99 users that the drugs had no beneficial effect. The fact that drug companies are now targeting children with these same drugs is even more alarming.

Just another reason why people should question what they are told by commercials and the pharmaceutical companies that produce them. Not only do the statin drugs prescribed to lower “bad” cholesterol have serious side effects, the drugs may only have an effect in 1 out of 100 users.

It would be extremely interesting to see the double blind study on the short and long term health results of the 99 users that the drugs had no beneficial effect.

The fact that drug companies are now targeting children with these same drugs is even scarier.  Hopefully parents will wake up before it’s too late.