Some of you may know that my father is in the final process of dying of cancer and I have been going back and forth to Milwaukee to be with him.  There are, of course, all kinds of dismal and sad things to say about this experience, but that would not do justice to the more inspiring aspects of his life.  He is currently 84 years old. He was born in Hungary and was raised in a Jewish family, which has great relevance for the time and place.  He was educated through the 8th grade but then, not being a particularly good student, was sent to learn a trade.  He became an apprentice, then journeyman and eventually a master pastry chef in the finest of European tradition.  Though he was a very talented athlete and had great aspirations, all opportunity for participation and advancement was barred to him because he was Jewish.  Then came the war in Europe and because of his religious heritage he was forced into a Jewish labor camp, escaping boldly and luckily before the Nazi’s took over the Hungarian government in October, 1944, and set about to exterminate every Jew in Hungary.  The war was already all but lost for them, but they figured they would at least finish one job properly.  After his escape, he and his brother were hidden by a sympathetic acquaintance on the outskirts of Budapest.  He survived the Holocaust only to be swept up by the Soviet “liberators” and, once again, pressed into a labor battalion.  Through luck and boldness he and a few friends managed to escape the Russians too.

The war ended and he was smuggled out of Hungary as the Iron Curtain fell, first living as a Displaced Person in Linz, Austria, and eventually making his way to Canada by claiming that he was a skilled carpenter- he cannot pound a nail to save his life.  The Canadian government was looking for laborers to help with a hydroelectric project north of Thunder Bay, Ontario.  As so many like him, he came to North America with nothing and hardly spoke any English.  He settled in Montreal where he met my mother and fathered me.  Eventually we all emigrated to the US where he became a traveling salesman.  He drove 60,000 miles a year for 40 years or so and managed, through saving and investment, to amass a small fortune.  He survived the death of his wife and one of his daughters: my mom and sister. He met and fell in love with someone new and together they travelled the world.  He never lost his love of sport and up until last year we still skied together as a family in Colorado.  He played singles tennis and walked 18 holes of golf until just last year.  He ate what he wanted, never smoked, and drank only in moderation.  He never took vitamins and always made gentle fun of me for doing so and for all the other crazy “health nut” things that I have done over the years. 

I won’t catalog all the illnesses that he was afflicted with or the number of organs that he had removed- you wouldn’t believe it if I did.  Through it all he took great pride in the fact that he was never on any medication- he said that it shocked his doctors and I think that gave him some satisfaction.  As he became sicker and I implored him to take better care of himself by changing his diet and taking supplements he simply refused to change a thing.  His wife, Jennifer, summed it up best when I asked her if she thought he wanted to die.  She said, “No, I think he just wants to live the way he wants to live”.  Frustrating as that conclusion is, I think there is a lot to admire in it. 

Over the past months of watching this process with him, I have become more impressed  with the power of sheer persistence in the face of adversity.  I probably do not need to tell you that he is dying the same way he lived- his way.  I am also not going to tell you that throughout his life he was a rosy optimist or even that he had a positive outlook-far from it.   What I will tell you is that he just kept going and sometimes that is what it takes in life.  Having courage, being bold and making decisions even when there is much at stake, persisting on a given course and then being able to change when needed, being pragmatic and willing to bend the rules that thwart your survival- these are some of things that got the guy through.  Though he was not particularly joyous, he did find joy in family and close friends.  Even though he was quite frugal, he was very generous when it mattered. He valued education, travel, health and vigor.  All these qualities were tempered and refined by an often hard life, but they got him through and I am grateful that I had such a great and heroic example in my own life. 

One thing is clear to me in all of this: no matter the hand you are dealt, you can make something out of it.  The life you are living is yours to live.  Decide how you want it to be and then go out and make it happen.  You will encounter all kinds of difficulty because it is rare that things just fall into a person’s lap without effort and travail.  Just know that with persistence, courage, hard-won talent and a little bit of luck you can create what you want.  Finally, at the end of your life you can proudly show your battle scars and tell your children and grandchildren that you lived well in spite of everything.  That is how a warrior lives and that is how a warrior dies. 

 My wish for you is that no matter how you choose to live, that you are fulfilled and surrounded by people who love you.

 Dr. Tim Fargo

Those of us with fishermen in the family know that most fish stories consist of a lot of exaggeration with a little bit of truth.  Fishermen have the unique ability to transform an average sunfish into a record-breaking walleye, and it never fails that an extraordinary circumstance prevents any witnesses from verifying. There is also a mix of truth and fiction surrounding another type of fish story; the story of fish oil’s role in personal health. When used correctly fish oil can be a potent ally.

As the name implies, fish oil is fat.  However, despite the name, this is not the same fat associated with cardiovascular disease or poor fitting clothes. The fat contained in fish oil is unique in that it contains omega-3 fatty acids.  There are 3 different kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: EPA, DHA and ALA.  Fish oil contains EPA and DHA, while ALA is found in vegetarian sources like flaxseed oil.  The body can only use ALA if it converts it to EPA or DHA.  Most people will not get enough of  the recommended amount of omega-3 fatty acids through ALA consumption because the body can only convert 1-2% of it.

Many people have heard omega-3 fatty acids are important, but don’t understand why.  The human body is a collection 70 to 90 trillion tiny cells that we recognize, in aggregate,  as a person.  A cell’s health is dependent upon omega-3 fatty acids; they contribute to the cell membrane structure, fluidity and function.  Unfortunately, saturated fats consumed from animal foods replace the omega-3s on the cell membrane which decreases cell fluidity and function, contribute to superficial skin problems, inflammation and disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in preventive health and therapy due to their role in the human cell.  Omega-3s are used as an aid to prevent and treat:
 

· Coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke
· High blood pressure
· High blood lipids
· Bronchial asthma
· Diabetes
· Hyperactivity
· Obesity

· Alzheimer’s, Dementia
· Autoimmune, rheumatic, inflammatory disorders
· Migraine Headaches
· Osteoarthritis
· Cancer
· Skin disorders

 
Historically, humans have eaten cold water marine fish to get sufficient amounts of EPA and DHA in their diets. They have also gotten omega-3 fatty acids from eating land animals that ate grasses or animals who ate those grass eaters. However, with the rising amount of water pollution today fish contain toxins like Mercury, PCBs, dioxin and arsenic.  The FDA now recommends no more than 2 meals per week contain fish.  Fish that are lower on the food chain are generally lower in toxins.  These include small fish such as herring, anchovies, and some medium sized fish like salmon, and some tuna.  Conversely, fish higher on the food chain like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish are more toxic. As for meat from land animals, you are better off with grass fed meats and game such as venison, elk, bison.

To supplement deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids the recommended intake of EPA and DHA varies:
1. As a daily supplement in healthy people who rarely eat fish, used to maintain a balanced intake of fats, supplement dosages are usually in the range of 0.5-1.0g/day.
2. People with chronic ailments may benefit from increased omega-3 supplementing 2-4g/day.
3. Acute therapy for serious illness or recovery from injury or major surgery requires a high-dose of fish oil supplements in the range of 3-30g/day.

There are a few contraindications or side effects that may arise with the use of fish oil.  High-doses of omega-3 use can deplete the body of vitamin E and may require additional vitamin E supplementation.  At high-doses omega-3 supplementation also acts as a blood thinner and blood clotting should be monitored.  Individuals with bleeding disorders or taking anticoagulant medication should consult a doctor before supplementing with omega-3.  In diabetics high-doses of omega-3 can sometimes reduce insulin action and elevate blood sugar; a doctor should be consulted prior to use.

While omega-3 supplementation is not an excuse for poor diet or lack of exercise, it can be a great tool in improving individual health.  If you are not currently supplementing your diet with fish oil, take this information and ask your doctor if you can benefit from our underwater friends.

Happy Fishing,
Todd Seidl
Chiropractic Intern  

Thirst for Thought:

On Thursday of last week, journalists around the world were happily reporting on a 16-year-old Haitian girl who had survived many days under an immense pile of rubble created by the devastating January 12th earthquake. She had been isolated in the concrete cavity for 15 days. After being rescued, doctors reported that she was very happy but extremely dehydrated. The brave young woman certainly owes her life to the relentless rescue team. However, if it was not for the bath water that provided Darlene Etienne with a few small drinks, the story might have ended sadly.

The tragedy in Haiti is causing many people to evaluate their own mortality and be thankful for their health and safety. For the 16-year-old girl rescued from the rubble, the difference between life and death was a sip or two of dirty bath water. Most of us are aware of the nourishment that water provides to our bodies; it is the lifeblood that keeps our cells, organs and tissues functioning with success. Yet many of us take for granted the fact that a gulp of healthy, revitalizing water is as close as the nearest faucet. Instead, we choose to drink coffee in the morning, soda with lunch and milk with dinner. We even elect to give our children sippycups filled with sugary juices instead of pure and refreshing water.

Availability of drinkable water is actually a significant global issue.  While 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, only 3% is fresh water, and only 1% is considered drinkable.  Not only is water in shorter supply than we might think, but it also plays a significant role in human mortality each year.  A 2006 study indicated that approximately 1.1 billion people lack proper drinking water and that waterborne disease accounts for approximately 1.8 million deaths per year.  The leading cause of death among children is dehydration from diarrhea caused by waterborne disease.  We can be very thankful that we live in an area so blessed with abundant, drinkable water.

Our bodies crave water; at infancy our bodies are comprised of approximately 80% water and that percentage drops slightly to 70% when we reach adulthood. Scientific evidence regarding how much water we should be drinking is surprisingly sparse.  Human needs for water depend upon climate, activity and diet.  What is clear is that you should drink enough water so that you are urinating at least 4 times per day and the color of your urine should be light yellow.  For most adult males this amounts to 2-3 liters per day, and for women it amounts to 1-2 liters per day.  Many people have the misconception that when they drink beverages such as soda, tea and coffee, it counts towards their daily water quota. The truth is that, while these beverages do contain a lot of water, they also contain caffeine, which acts as a diuretic, causing the body to lose total body water and become dehydrated.

One of the reasons why water is so important to our bodies is that it can help reduce the concentration of toxins traveling around in the bloodstream. What happens when sensitive organs, such as your eyes, are exposed to a harmful chemical? The first thing you will do is to rinse your eyes out with water. Why is this? Because the solution to pollution is dilution! Toxins are pollutants in your body and have the capability of causing a lot of damage. When we drink proper amounts of water, we dilute the toxins in our bloodstream and help flush out the dangerous particles.      

A lot of people find water unappealing to the taste buds, and the fact that they have to consume so much (up to 100 oz of water per day depending on your weight) causes many to avoid the task altogether. Instead of ignoring our body’s request for a rinsing, there are things we can do to make drinking water easier and more appealing:

· Add lemon to the liquid for a refreshing citrus kick.
· Keep your water in a larger vessel so you do not have to go for a fill up so often.
· Write notes to remind yourself to refill your refreshment.
· Avoid other beverages options; do not even keep them in the house!

Drinking water is one of the easiest, cheapest and most important things we can do to better our health and function. The tragedy in Haiti reminds many of us of how fortunate we are to have easy access to clean and safe drinking water. So don’t waste any more time. Go to the faucet and pour yourself a cool glass of crisp, refreshing water and enjoy. Cheers!

Yours in Health,

Morgan Pink
Community Relations

As I near my graduation date, I am reminded of the importance of goal setting.  Goal setting has been an integral part of my life through all levels of studies and athletic endeavors, and as I have experienced life, the depth and breadth of my goals has changed dramatically.  As the quality and nature of my goals changed (winning first place at the conference track meet to creating study strategies for learning the nerves of the human body) I realized that they were really rungs on a ladder to my higher Purpose, the self I wanted to create and the world I wanted to influence around me. 

Goals and Purpose are not one and the same- your goals should reflect and strengthen your Purpose, and your Purpose should inspire your goals. If you are looking to define your life purpose to inspire your goals for success, start reading!  Albert E. N. Gray, who has passed away, served as an official of the Prudential Insurance Company of American and became an influential writer and speaker in the insurance world.  He has inspired and challenged me with his words and thoughts.  I wanted to share some of his insights on success, goals, and Purpose with you.

The secret of success of every man who has ever been successful—lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.  It is true, and just as simple as it sounds. This particular tenet, though not popular, particularly with people who are not succeeding as well as they would like, has stood the test of time and is almost universally true.

So what is it that failures don’t like to do?:  The same thing that successful men don’t like to do, but successful men do it anyway.  But if successful men don’t like to do these things, then why do they do them?  Because by doing the things they don’t like to do, they accomplish the things they want to accomplish.  Successful men are influenced by the desire for pleasing results.

Why are successful men able to do things they don’t like to do while failures are not?  Because successful men have a purpose strong enough to make them form the habit of doing things they don’t like to do in order to accomplish the Purpose they want to accomplish.

But what happens when I’m in a slump?  Even the most successful men get in a slump.  When it happens it simply means that he has reached a point at which, for the time being, the things he doesn’t like to do become more important than his Purpose.  Regroup, get centered, recall your Purpose and remember why your goals and hard work are important.

Before you decide to adopt these success habits, please strongly consider the importance of habit to your decision.  Any resolution or decision you make is simply a promise to yourself, which isn’t worth anything unless you have formed the habit of making it and keeping it.  Any resolution or decision you make today has to be made and kept again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next, and so on.

When habits are made you become the master of yourself and master of your likes and dislikes by surrendering to your Purpose in life.  That is why behind every success there must be a Purpose.  But as long as you live you will never succeed beyond the Purpose to which you are willing to surrender.

Live with Purpose--

Kristen Watts, Chiropractic Intern

To read media accounts relating to H1N1 and seasonal flu one would certainly come to the conclusion that we are under microbial attack.  It is implied in these accounts that if you are prudent you may somehow avoid exposure to the bulk of these disease-causing germs.  The truth is that germs are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Not only are they everywhere, but they are present in such large concentrations that to think that you can avoid them is about as foolish as thinking that if you run fast you can avoid being hit by rain drops in a torrential downpour- it is simply not possible. 

The good news is that germs are nothing new to us- they were some of the earliest inhabitants of earth and we grew up with them, in an evolutionary sense. They live on our skin and in our digestive tract.  It is estimated that in your gut alone there are over 100 trillion organisms. We are literally swimming in a sea of bacteria, fungi, and single-celled organisms, and yet we usually manage to get along with each other just fine, and even have a mutually beneficial relationship most of the time.  As with all ecosystems, our relationship with germs is a delicate balancing act- sometimes conditions favor certain of them and sometimes it favors us, the host.  What is important to understand is that we are part of the same ecosystem and depend on each other.  To think that we can eradicate them is utter folly, and is not in our long-term best interests anyway.

There are times when they get the upper hand and it is wonderful that we have such things as antibiotics to keep them from killing us outright.  However, to broaden this emergency measure and think that the solution to germs is to kill them all off, simply will not work.  Our feeble attempts to tilt the balance in our favor by wide-spread and excessive antibiotic and antiseptic use has mostly served to accelerate the evolution of these organisms and has made them much more powerful foes.  What we have to do is accept that we are linked through our evolutionary history and accept that, like living with your in-laws, sometimes you just have to make the best of it.  Your real job, especially during this time of year, is to make sure that your body is strong and balanced and thus a  poor breeding-ground for germs.

Here are some things that you can do during cold and flu season to keep your immune system strong:
1. Avoid sugar and processed foods-these things weaken your immune system.
2. Get plenty of rest.  A well-rested body is a strong body.
3. Find ways to reduce stress.  Chronic stress weakens cellular immunity.
4. Eat a balanced diet.  This is one of your most powerful weapons against disease and infection.
5. Exercise regularly.  Vigorous exercise has been shown to have a stimulating effect on the immune system.
6. Take vitamin D-3, especially if you are not getting any sun exposure during the winter.  D-3 has a very potent impact on immune function. Talk to your doctor on dosage.
7. Take probiotic supplements.  80% of your immune system surrounds your gut and caring for your gut ecology will help you fight disease-causing microbes.
8. Get adjusted regularly- chiropractic adjustments reduce stress and stimulate immune function.
9. Wash your hands, but use good, old-fashioned soap and warm water. It can’t hurt to limit exposure because maybe you aren’t perfect at all of the other measures above.

It is, of course, a tragedy when anyone succumbs to the flu or other infectious disease, but I think all of us should remain calm and simply do what we can to fortify ourselves from the inside.  That strategy has always been, and still is, our best assurance of staying healthy.  I am confident that when the dust settles on the H1N1 issue we will look back and find that it was scarcely more severe or virulent than the regular, seasonal flu.  Not that either flu strain should be taken lightly, but it is important to keep things in perspective, especially when the media is in the middle of a feeding frenzy and the pharmaceutical companies stand to make billions- something to ponder.

Be Healthy,

Tim Fargo D.C.