Dr. Mark and Dr. Chip's Healthy Blogs

What is Lupus?             Lupus is a collection of conditions in which the immune system appears to react against tissues throughout the body. This leads to inflammation in these tissues which further leads to lack of function and integrity in these inflamed areas. The medical approach is to use drugs to suppress the immune system, leading to a whole new list of problems. In the natural health world, we look at the underlying causes of why this immune system is not working properly. These causes can include food allergies with leaky gut, heavy metal toxicity from many sources, chronic infection with concomitant overuse of antibiotics, EM F toxicity, and usually involve the spleen and liver. Genetic factors can be involved but the diet and lifestyle may be the driving issue behind the genetic factors. You’re looking at an immune system gone awry and for true health to be restored, the underlying causative factors must be disco...

What is normal Blood Pressure?             For all the years of my professional career, the normal blood pressure number that we’ve known about is 120/80. To be clear, this number was meant to be the average of the population. This means that some people’s normal blood pressure could be 150/90, and some people’s normal blood pressure could be 100/60. The thing to remember about blood pressure is that it is meant to be taken in a resting state. This means that you can’t rush into your doctor’s office after waiting for 2 hours in the waiting room, and being upset, have your blood pressure taken and it’s higher than 120/80, and then being told you have high blood pressure. A person needs to be in a resting position for at least 10 minutes without any stimulating stressors on the body, like coffee or caffeinated drinks or watching the news, and then have the blood pressure taken in both arms and see what the number is. Then do the...

15 Powerful Ways To Fight A Sugar Addiction   1.      Eliminate processed foods -Sugars are added to processed foods to enhance their flavor. Even the ones that you wouldn’t expect to be a sugar snack are often loaded with it. Make sure to read the labels and try to eliminate all processed and junk food from your diet.   2.      Eat regularly -If you wait too long in between meals your blood sugar drops and you are more likely to binge on sugary, fatty foods to satisfy your hunger. Opt for 3 healthy meals and 2 snacks or 5 smaller meals at regular time intervals. Choose fresh, whole foods high in protein and fiber like whole grains, seeds, nuts, fruit, and veggies.   3.      Fruit and Veggie Detox -When you feel up for it, do a whole food fruit and veggie detox. Eliminating all sugars for 5 to 10 days often decreases the need for sugar and will stop sugar cravings.   4. ...

What causes Hiccups? As you may or may not realize, hiccups are symptom due to a spasm in the diaphragm. In the world of natural healing, we feel that anything can cause anything.  There must be some trigger though, for that individual to have the hiccups. This could be due to food allergies, indigestion and bloating, excitement, stress or other emotions, and subluxation in the cervical spine. The nerves that come from the spine at the C4 spinal level innervate the diaphragm.  We have had very good success in stopping hiccups by adjusting the upper cervical spine, especially the C4 area if it is subluxated. The T6 spinal level is involved with digestion and adjusting this area can also alleviate digestive problems that can stop the hiccups.  We have also found that using nutritional supplements to help with digestion, i.e. enzymes and betaine hydrochloride, reduce the indigestion and bloating and help to alleviate the food allergies which could lead to the sympt...

Breakfast:   Start your day off with a good source of protein, such as, Eggs (organic or free range), Uncured Bacon, Sausage (with no sugar or MSG), and Nuts that are high in protein, such as, Macadamia, Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, and Cashews.   You could mix these nuts with some plain Greek Yogurt.   A protein powder shake is another good choice, make sure your powder is low in sugar, in your shake you can add a few blueberries, avocados, spinach, and kale.   To make it dairy free just use water or unsweetened Almond or Coconut milk.   Another idea is to have a no sugar nut butter on celery or cucumber slices. (great for lunch too) There are lots of great ways to fix Eggs, scrambled, boiled, over easy/hard, omelets with veggies. The day before or on the weekend to get ready for your busy week, make up an egg casserole with sausage and veggies, top with cheese if you can have dairy.   Cut in squares and baggie up squares for a ready to go breakfast in ...