There are three types of exercise:

• Strength/Resistance Training
• Cardio/Aerobic Training
• Flexibility/Stability

Strength/Resistance Training

The primary hormone response invoked by strength and resistance training is elevated levels of Human Growth Hormone. This hormone is essential for fat mobilization. It also signals fat burning enzymes and aids in muscle mass development. HGH levels are raised most during sleep, in direct proportion to exercise intensity during your workout.

Strength training will improve your glucose tolerance and increase insulin receptor sensitivity. This will help your body become a fat burner, rather than a sugar burner. This type of exercise also creates a bigger metabolic after burn than aerobic training, while also increasing fat free muscle, bone density and metabolism.

Cardio/Aerobic Training

There are many benefits associated with cardio and aerobic training, but also many negatives. Cardio training will lower your resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, keep your brain young by increasing circulation to the brain and aids in detoxification by stimulating the lymphatic system.

But long distance cardio training decreases testosterone levels, decreases the immune system post exercise, and raises stress hormone levels (cortisol). Increased levels of cortisol stimulate the appetite, will increase fat storing and slow down or inhibit exercise recovery.

So how do we get the benefits without the negatives? Burst train to burn fat.

What is Surge Training?

Surge training involves exercising at 90%-100% of your maximum effort for 30-60 seconds in order to burn your body’s stored sugar (glycogen), followed by 30-60 seconds of low impact for recovery. This causes your body to burn fat for the next 36 hours to replace your body’s vital energy (glycogen) stores.

You only need to do 4-6 sets of 30-60 second bursts 3 times a week to see marked changes and improvements. More is not always better–make sure you have days of rest.

The information comes from the Archives of Internal Medicine.

In one study, researchers found that people may be exposed to up to four times as much radiation as previously estimated by earlier studies.  They determined that a patient could get as much radiation as 74 mammograms, or 442 chest x-ray.  (That’s a lot of radiation).

Young people have the highest risk from excess radiation, partly because they have many years ahead of them in which cancers can develop.

However, not all doctors agree about the risks of CT scans. Scientists have not yet determined whether low doses of radiation actually increase cancer risk or whether the risk rises only after exposure levels reach a certain threshold, says James Thrall, chairman of the American College of Radiology.

He says it’s also tricky to compare cancer rates between people who have had CT scans with those who haven’t. People undergoing scans may have underlying health problems that predispose them to cancer, he says.

In many cases, CT scans can be lifesaving. In other cases, there’s no evidence a CT scan is really better than other approaches. It is estimated that up to one-third of all CT scans are unnecessary.

So what should you do if you or someone you know is considering a CT scan?

First, ask your doctor about alternative options that may be available to you.

Second, make sure you keep all of your medical records handy should you need to consult with another doctor.

Third, ask your doctor if the CT scan facility has been accredited by the American College of Radiology.

Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon,

Dr. Jason Gerard DC

A report was recently released that showed bans on smoking in public places really do work at reducing heart attacks from second hand smoke.  The major study by the U.S. Institute of Medicine showed that smoke free policies can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 47% and significantly reduce the likelihood of other heart problems.

Another interesting thing the study found was compelling evidence that even a brief exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger a heart attack.

The findings in the report show that implementing smoking bans in public areas like restaurants and bars significantly reduces the risk of acute coronary events.

The doctors who did the study said they did conclude a “cause and effect” relationship between heart disease, heart attacks, acute coronary events, and secondhand smoke exposure. 

This new study further proves that smoke-free laws result in fewer heart attacks.  Because of this new information, more states might pass smoke free legislation for public areas. 

Danny McGoldrick, the Vice President for research at Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said “If policy makers are paying attention to the science, and this is one more piece of evidence that says you can actually save people’s lives and save health care costs, then those states that have yet to act should do so.  How many dramatic findings do you need before you are finally going to act and protect everybody’s right to breathe clean air?” 

To read the article in its entirety, visit the link below at the US World and News website: 

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/10/15/smoking-bans-reduce-heart-attacks-study.html 

I don’t know about you, but I like the smoke free environment in restaurants and bars.  Not being exposed to the second hand smoke makes my evening much more enjoyable!

Dr. Jason Gerard, D.C.

The results showed that “hands on” treatments, led by chiropractic care, were the “top-rated” treatments for people suffering from back pain.  The massage survey also found that chiropractors were given the highest “satisfaction with care” ratings, well above those given to medical doctors who administered various forms of care to back pain sufferers.

The survey found that more than half of the respondents had pain that severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88% said it recurred throughout the year.  The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, the majority reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors.  Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received.  Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got the top honors.

Dr. Orly Avitzur, a medical neurologist, said, “The survey showed “hands-on” therapies, which include chiropractic care, are “very successful” and I almost always recommend them.”

This is exciting news because Consumer Reports has a great reputation.  What’s also nice is that the positive comments are coming from people just like you and I, so no one’s trying to scam or manipulate what’s being reported.

So if you know someone who could benefit from chiropractic care but is skeptical or unsure of whether or not chiropractic care could work for them, please share this information with them.

I’m sure you are like me and hate to see your friends and family suffer with pain, so let them know that chiropractic care is a proven option to restore their health and relieve their pain.

Dr. Jason Gerard, D.C.
Forest Lake Chiropractor

Now living in the USA all my life, I have just always assumed things are better, safer, and more technologically advanced here.  When it came to health, I assumed we were also the best, no questions asked.  That’s when I read this in the Journal of the American Medical Association : The US ranks as the 37th healthiest country in the world.  In fact, our health system lies between Costa Rica’s and Slovenia’s, and is just barely ahead of much poorer neighbors to the south, Cuba.  If “how could that be right” came to your mind, join the club.  But here are the facts…

1.  In the US :  we’re the most medicated country in the world, BY FAR.  We take 5x more Ritalin in this country for example than all the other countries in the world COMBINED!  The average retiree is on 5 or MORE meds everyday! 

2.  In the US : adverse reactions to PROPERLY prescribed meds kills 106,000 people/ year.  That is the equivalent to THREE jumbo jets crashing every TWO days!  Not only that, but routine medical errors account for another 100,000 deaths/yr!

3.  Our infant mortality rate is AT THE BOTTOM, compared to the thirteen other major industrialized countries of the world!

4.  That doesn’t even factor in the millions of unnecessary hospitalizations every year, antibiotics given, and surgical procedures performed. 

There’s another way… it comes from within your body!  Remember the body is self healing, and self regulating.  Get checked today, and unlock that POWER!

Note: all info comes from the article ”Death By Medicine”, with 80 plus references.

We  at Lakewoods want to be your health leaders, your health visionaries. You see, your body doesn’t care what the Dow says, what financial markets in China predict for the next day, when your house will go in foreclosure.  We have a saying here that says “The Power that Made your Body is the Power that Heals your Body”.  Unlocking that Power is not only the key to your health, but the key to your life!  Research scientifically and biblically has shown that we should live 80-120 years of GOOD health, not continual disease.

Three Ways How To Make 2009 A Health Triumphant One:

1. Get your spine checked 1x/week.

2. Get involved with our programs like The Extreme Body Makeover, Movie night 2009, The Extreme Lifestyle Makeover.

3. Tell others…