Health Made Easy

Tips for Balancing brain chemicals with supplements and vitamins- Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor

Do you often feel kind of “off” or struggle with your mood? If you answered “YES,” then your brain chemicals may just be out of balance and need a tune up.

Your brain is the powerhouse that runs your life. When the function of your brain is intact, you tend to be energetic, thoughtful, and creative, but when it is out of balance, you may suffer serious problems with your mood, memory, relationship, anger, and work performance.  

There are billions of cells in your body connected one to another. These cells communicate through chemical signals or neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA.

The balance of these brain chemicals is important for your mental, emotional, and overall wellbeing. Hence, there are some supplements and vitamins that contributes largely to the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Here are some natural supplements and vitamins that increases the brain’s supply of neurotransmitters as well as support brain balance:

Vitamin B6

This is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential in the production and function of neurotransmitters. This vitamin is essential for early brain development, and it is needed by over 100 enzymes that are involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acid.

It is the co-factor for enzymes responsible for converting L-tyrosine to norepinephrine and tryptophan to serotonin.

GABA (Gamma- Aminobutyric Acid)

This amino acid is often considered as the brain’s main “calming” chemical that helps to regulate the excitability of nerves in the brain. It has a muscle relaxer-like effect and it is mainly involved in the production of melatonin.

L-thyrosine

This supplement is essential for the production of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, dopamine, and norepinephrine. It is used up by the cells in the adrenal glands responsible for the production of these brain chemicals.

The adrenal gland work hand-in-hand with the brain to manage stress and improve mental and emotional health.

Your brain needs a good supply of this amino acid to promote mental clarity, especially in times when you’re highly stressed.

Vitamin C

This vitamin is a required co-factor for production of the brain chemical serotonin. It supports the conversion of 5—HTP to serotonin and prevent this conversion from happening in the GI tract.

L-Taurine

This is an important amino acid supplement that serves several regulatory roles in the brain. It stabilizes the electrical activity of nerve cells, and protect again calcium overload that is capable of killing brain cells.

Taurine mainly promotes the optimal performance of GABA and the glutamate transmitter systems.

 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

This supplement has been widely shown to studies to increase serotonin production in the brain, thereby reducing the risk of depression and anxiety. More so, it can improve your sleep/wake cycle.

You can add this supplement to your diet to maintain mental and emotional wellbeing, support behavioral self-control, and promote calm and relaxation.

5-HTP is also a powerful brain antioxidant.

Maintaining a balanced level of brain transmitters helps you feel happier, think clearly, and experience overall wellbeing. You can include these supplements and vitamins highlighted above in your diet to balance your brain chemicals, reduce stress, improve your mood, and better your mental health.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn more about some natural supplements and vitamins that can help you maintain a balance in the amount of neurotransmitters in your brain.

Stress, the body's response and the adrenal glands- Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor

Stress is one of the big problems facing our society today.  Oftentimes, most of us feel a level of stress or try to relieve it, or both.

What is Stress?

In simple words, stress is a physical and mental reaction to a potential threat. When you are faced with a potential danger, your body triggers the fight-or-flight response, and this helps to prepare you to deal with the danger.

For example, when attacked by a ferocious animal that’s trying to devour you, your body produces stress hormones that helps you deal with the danger.

This stress hormone is what triggers the fight or flight response. You breath faster, your heart races and your muscles are ready to take action. This stress response is designed to prepare your body to react quickly to an emergency. It is often beneficial for immediate, short-term situations.

But note that when your stress response keeps firing every day, it can take a toll on your health. Some symptoms of chronic stress include:

• anxiety
• depression
• headaches
• irritability
• insomnia

The adrenal glands and stress

You can’t talk about stress without mentioning the adrenal glands. Some people refer to these glands as “the party hats of the kidneys,” and that’s because these pointy shape glands sit atop each kidney.

Each adrenal gland has two parts: the internal medulla and the outer cortex. The medulla is made up of nervous tissues, while the cortex is composed of glandular epithelial tissue.

Different parts of the cortex produce different hormones, including cortisol, which is released during the late phase of stress response.

The medulla also produce hormones, including the epinephrine/adrenaline, which interacts with the nervous system in the initial phase of the fight-or-flight response.

So how does the adrenal gland support acute stress response? When you perceive a threat or danger, a part of the limbic system called amygdala sounds the first alarm which is perceived by the hypothalamus.

Then the sympathetic nervous system becomes activated, which signals the adrenal gland to secrete epinephrine into the bloodstream. This helps the body to respond to danger in different ways.

At this point, your lungs expand and the rate of respiration increases, allowing for more oxygen intake. Your heart beats faster, and this often leads to increase in blood pressure. All of these reactions is so your brain and muscles get all the needed blood to function optimally.

Some other physiological changes that takes place during the fight-or-flight response are increased tension in the muscles and dilation of the pupils. Your reproductive and digestive functions are suppressed at this stage.

If the threat or stressful situation persist after the first rush of epinephrine, a system known as the HPA Axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands) kicks in to help prepare the body for action.

The hypothalamus acts by releasing a hormone called CHR (corticotropin-releasing hormone), which signals the pituitary gland to release another hormone called ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone).

This ACTH travels through the blood stream and signal the adrenal glands to release cortisol, known as the “stress hormone.” When cortisol is released, it helps to give the body the needed energy to stay at alert and it signals several organs in the body to make changes.

So how do you recover after the flight-or-flight response? Usually after the threat has passed, your body starts to calm down. Recovery from an acute stress response usually takes about 20 – 30 minutes. At this point, the cortisol level drops and the nervous system dials down its activity.

But if the body is not able to recover, it will eventually lead to depression, fatigue, and anxiety, which are chronic forms of stress.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn more about stressful conditions and the role of the adrenal glands.

4 Things You Need to know about Brain chemistry as it relates to mental & emotional stress- Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor

Mental and emotional stress are often expressed in form of depression, anxiety, worries, guilt, frustration, and moodiness, and these conditions are linked to an abnormal brain chemistry.

It is normal for you to feel stressed or depressed when you encounter a traumatic event in your life, such as loss of a loved one. But sometimes, you may not even know why you’re having mental or emotional stress, and it can be a function of the brain chemistry.

The amount of certain substances in the brain called “neurotransmitters” have a large influence on your mental and emotional stress levels.

What are neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that carries messages in the brain. The nerve cells of the brain communicate with each other using neurotransmitters. The messages these chemicals carry play a role in mental and emotional stress regulation.

The key brain chemicals or neurotransmitters include:

• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• Epinephrine
• Nor-epinephrine

Restoring the balance of these neurotransmitters have been widely shown to help alleviate symptoms of mental and emotional stress.

Other neurotransmitters that can send messages in the brain include GABA, glutamate, and acetylcholine.

Dopamine

Dopamine is commonly known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter.” It helps create a positive feeling that motivates us to continue with an activity or task.

The level of dopamine in your brain can affect your mental and emotional state. Little wonder medications that affect dopamine system are often administered to people suffering from depression after other treatment options have failed.

Serotonin

Serotonin is another neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. It is also a “feel good” chemical that is responsible for your feeling of happiness.

So when you are suffering from mental and emotional stress, serotonin is one chemical that is released to help you feel calm and emotionally stable. It also influences your sleep cycle and regulate your appetite.

However, low levels of this brain chemical can cause you to experience the following symptoms:

• Feeling bad about yourself
• Problems sleeping
• Feeling low
• Craving for sweet foods
• Memory problems
• Decrease in sexual desire

You may also suffer depression when you have low levels of serotonin. Hence, to improve your mental and emotional health, it is important to boost your serotonin levels. You can achieve this through natural methods like:

• Engaging in plenty of exercise
• Getting more exposure to sunlight
• Meditation and counselling

Epinephrine

Epinephrine or adrenaline is released by the medulla of the adrenal glands when you’re faced with a threat. It provokes stress response and triggers emotions like anger, fear, or amusement.

Too little amount of epinephrine has been associated with symptoms of mental and emotional stress, including depression, anxiety, and worries. Excessive amount can also lead to mood disorders like schizophrenia. So it is important to have a regulated amount of this hormone.

Nor-epinephrine

Nor-epinephrine acts as both a brain chemical and a hormone. It is mainly involved in the arousal system of the brain, and controls the respiratory rate, breathing and increase in blood pressure.

However, this brain chemical is mainly targeted at your body’s stress response. It helps to create the “fight-or-flight” feeling by working with the hormone adrenaline.

The imbalance in these four basic neurotransmitters or brain chemicals contributes to mental and emotional stress and it can lead to many conditions, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and autism.

Hence, if you want to enjoy improvement in your mental and emotional state, it is important to maintain a balance in these brain chemicals. You can achieve this through some methods, including exercise, diet, good relationship, etc.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn more about the brain chemistry and how to boost your level of neurotransmitters naturally to improve your mental and emotional health, as well as your overall wellbeing

Mental & emotional stress + 5 Things You Can Do About It – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City, NC, Chiropractor

In today’s fast paced world, we are often overwhelmed with mental & emotional stress. You often get to think of how to manage your finances, watch over your kids, get busy at work, and cope with challenging relationships.

Stress is everywhere, and you’re not alone. It is actually okay if it is not too much, but when stress becomes chronic, it can wear you down and affect you both mentally and emotionally. You tend to experience the following symptoms:

• Agitation, frustration, and moodiness
• Difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind
• Feeling bad about yourself, worthless, lonely, and depressed
• Feeling like you’re losing control or need to take control
• Avoiding others
• Forgetfulness and disorganization
• Poor judgment
• Inability to focus
• Constant worrying
• Being pessimistic

When you get stressed always like many of us in today’s busy world, your body tend to get into a heightened state of stress all the time, and that can trigger serious health problems.

Apart from the mental and emotional consequence, stress can disrupt nearly every system in your body. It can upset your digestive and reproductive system, suppress your immune system, and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Besides, it speeds up your aging process.

Stress and Depression

When too much stress hormones are released in your body system, the byproducts can act as a sedative and contribute to a sustained feeling of low energy and depression.

Nurturing negative thoughts like you’re incapable of managing stress can increase your chance of becoming stressed.

While it is normal to face a range of moods in everyday life, it becomes a problem when depressing feelings linger for too long. It begins to interfere with your daily activities and ability to enjoy successful interpersonal relationships.

When depression persist for too long, it become major and you can begin to notice symptoms like self-hate, inability to concentrate, guilt, restlessness, and hopelessness.

You can also face depression as a result of suicidal thinking and actions, and this can make you vulnerable to developing mental disorders.

Stress and Anxiety

Being stressed may also lead to some outward signs of anxiety, such as tapping your feet, fidgeting, biting your finger nails, etc. When the stress hormones are activated for too long, it can contribute to severe feelings such as nausea, racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, etc.

Anxiety that persists for too long can also cause you to worry too much about upcoming events or situations, and that can lead to avoidance.

Stress and worry

When your mind is constantly dwelling on negative thoughts and uncertain issues, you tend to become stressed out.

For example, worries about being unable to pay your rent or performing poorly on an exam tends to stimulate your brain to think of a solution, but when you get stuck thinking about the problem, you become deeply stressed and worry stops being functional.

How to handle stressful conditions

For you to improve your ability to handle stress to protect your mental and emotional health, you need to:

• Get moving by improving on your activity level.
• Connect to others
• Eat a healthy diet
• Learn to relax
• Get your rest

Always remember that stress is a part of life and what matters is how you handle it. Know your stress symptoms and talk to your doctor about it.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn more about mental and emotional stress, how to evaluate your symptoms and the best way to better handle your stress.

12 Herbs and supplements to reduce inflammation- Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City, NC, Chiropractor

Inflammation can be triggered by unhealthy habits and unhealthy foods, and it can in response to stress, trauma, and illness.

However, you can reduce inflammation by managing stress effectively, exercising, and add a lot of anti-inflammatory foods to your diet.

You can also get additional supports from herbs and supplements to reduce or prevent inflammation in your body.

Quickly, let’s take a look at the best-known anti-inflammatory herbs and supplements:

Curcumin

Curcumin is contained in turmeric and it provides several health benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Alpha-Lipoic acid

Alpha-lipoic acid plays a key role in metabolism and energy production. It also functions as an antioxidant protecting your cells from oxidative damage.

Many studies show that alpha-lipoic acid reduces inflammation linked to heart disease, insulin resistance, liver disease, cancer, and other diseases.

More so, this supplement helps to restore levels of other antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E.

White Willow Bark

White willow tree bark has been used as an effective treatment for inflammation and pain since ancient Roman and Egyptian times. This herb has a comparable effect to aspirin but does not have side effects common with aspirin.

The recommended dose for white willow bark is 240 mg per day. And herbal blends containing this plant bark can be used to treat acute conditions, such as headaches.

Fish Oil

Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps to decrease inflammation linked with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other chronic conditions.

The omega-3s- docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have anti-inflammatory effects that reduce the level of cytokines in the body, thereby promoting gut health. These fatty acids also reduce the risk of muscle damage that may arise after exercise.

Ginger

Ginger is the grounded powder derived from the fresh or dried root of the ginger plant. It offers strong anti-inflammatory properties that are quite similar to some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

This supplement contains two major compounds- gingerol and zingerone, which reduces inflammation that is linked to kidney damage, colitis, breast cancer, and diabetes.

Some studies also show that ginger supplements help decrease inflammation and muscle soreness after much strenuous exercise.

The recommended dosage is 1 gram daily. However, you can break your dosage into three divisions to make 1 gram per day.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant found in blueberries, grapes, and other fruits having purple skin. This supplement has been studied to help reduce inflammation in individuals with insulin resistance, heart disease, ulcerative colitis, gastritis, and other conditions.

Resveratrol supplements have also been shown to lower inflammatory markers, blood sugar, and triglycerides in people with obesity.

The recommended amount of resveratrol is 150-500 mg per day.

Flax

The seeds of the flax plant contain both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Some of the fats in these seeds converts to EPA and DHA, which offers anti-inflammatory properties.

You can get flaxseed in form of capsules, ground meals, oil, or flour. The capsules are available in dosages of 1000 to 1300 mg. However, you can incorporate about 2-3 tablespoons of the ground or milled flaxseed into your food daily.

Other herbs and supplements that help to reduce inflammation include:

• Quercetin
• Spirulina
• MSM
• Devil’s Claw
• Chondroitin

Make sure you buy supplements from trusted manufacturers and follow the dosage instructions. You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC, to learn more about herbs and supplements that can help bring things back to balance, in case of excessive or chronic inflammation.

Why seed oils/manufactured oils drive inflammation and what oils you can use instead – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City, NC, Chiropractor

You might have seen some posts warning people about the dangers of seed oils. Well, Millions of people today consume seeds oils in their diets. But these seeds oils, such as canola, soybean, and corn oil have been studied to cause a lot of damages to our bodies.

In fact, they’ve been confirmed by research to drive inflammation, which triggers a lot of chronic health ailments.

Basically, industrial seed oils or manufactured oils are extracted from corn, soybeans, cottonseed, rapeseed, and safflower seeds and refined, bleached, and deodorized to get the final product.

Seeds Oils and Inflammation

The rise of seed oils have caused a dramatic change in the diet of most Americans, but the bad part is that these oils contain a high amount of a type of fat called Omega-6 PUFA.

Although we need a small out of these fats to live, we don’t need nearly as much of them as is contained in the manufactured oils.

We also know of the importance of omega-3 fats, as they are essential to our health, but the Standard American Diet contains more of the omega-6s than the omega-3s and this distorts the ideal ratio, which is 1:1.

More so, several kinds of research have shown that PUFAs cause inflammation which is responsible for many chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and obesity.

Not only that, but PUFAs contain GMOs and toxic chemicals that should never be consumed.

An imbalance in the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fats in seed oils has been linked with inflammation, which leads to the development of several health ailments, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, cognitive decline, and inflammatory bowel disease.

More so, the polyunsaturated fatty acids in seed oils or manufactured oils are highly unstable and they oxidize upon exposure to light, heat, and chemical inputs.

Two harmful substances, namely: lipid peroxides and trans fats, are produced when seed oils are exposed to these factors. Trans fats lead to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, while lipid peroxides damage DNA and membrane lipids throughout the body.

Essential oils that prevent inflammation

Essential oils can be used in several ways with inflammatory conditions. Some may be best to diffuse, while others may be used in a massage oil for inflamed joints or muscles. 

Ginger

Ginger is known as an immune booster and it offers a lot of anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds present in ginger help to reduce both chronic and acute forms of inflammation.

This oil is mainly used in several formulations to reduce joint and muscle pain.

Chamomile

Chamomile is well known to help treat several digestive problems, or anxiety and stress. But it is also one of the best essential oils you can use for inflammation.

It is believed to be useful for most skin issues because it contains compounds that are naturally calming.

Thyme

Thyme has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. It carries therapeutic properties, which are beneficial for dealing with pain and several types of illness.

This oil also contains potent compounds that help to deal with a variety of health conditions, including inflammation.

Other essential oils for inflammation include:

• Eucalyptus
• Turmeric
• Helichrysum
• Clove
• Lavender

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at Our Chiropractic Office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn more about healthy oils that you can use for inflammation, thereby preventing chronic diseases and improving your overall health.

Best/Worst foods to eat that drive inflammation – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City, Chiropractor

Inflammation is one of the ways your body protects itself from foreign invaders. More so, it helps defend the body from illness. But, sometimes, you may experience inflammation even without a foreign invader, and that’s when it is linked to an increased risk of diseases like heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity. So you can easily say, inflammation can be both good and bad, depending on the situation.

However, one interesting thing is that your diet influences inflammation in your body. Some foods have anti-inflammatory effects and you can add them to your diet to reduce your risk of illness. But some other types of food can trigger and worsen inflammation.

Hence, it is important to note these different types of food so you can combat inflammation effectively, especially when it persists day in and day out.

Best foods to fight inflammation

Here are some anti-inflammatory foods you can add to your diet:

Berries

Berries are loaded with minerals, vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants called anthocyanins. These antioxidants help fight inflammation and reduce your risk of developing diseases.

Some common types of berries you can add to your diet include strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a highly nutritious vegetable that contains antioxidants like sulforaphane, which offer anti-inflammatory effects.

Several studies have shown that eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli have been associated with a reduced risk of cancer and heart diseases.

Fatty fish

Fatty fish contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which helps to reduce inflammation that can lead to heart disease, metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Basically, your body metabolizes the omega-3 fatty acids to yield protectins and resolvins, and these compounds have been studied to show anti-inflammatory effects.

Other good foods that fight inflammation include:

• Green tea
• Avocados
• Mushroom
• Peppers
• Turmeric
• Grape
• Dark chocolate and cocoa
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Cherries
• Tomatoes

Worst foods to eat that drive inflammation

In addition to eating nutritious anti-inflammatory foods, it is also important to avoid or limit the consumption of foods that promote inflammation, including:

Added sugar

Added sugar is one of the major contributors to inflammation. It increases your risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

You can find these sugars in sneaky places like salad dressings, soft drinks, cookies, cakes, chocolate, sweet pastries, candy, and savory snack foods.

Refined carbohydrates

Refined carbs have a low amount of fiber due to processing, and they have been studied to elicit a quicker and greater effect on blood sugar.

Basically, the fiber in carbs helps improve blood sugar control, promote fullness, and feed the beneficial gut bacteria.

But eating foods that are primarily composed of refined grains or flour, including pasta, bread, and white rice, can put trigger inflammation and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

Other worst foods that drive inflammation include:

• Red meat (steaks, burgers) and processed meat (sausage, hot dogs)
• Trans fats, such as margarine, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
• Fried foods, such as fried chicken, donuts, French fries, egg rolls, mozzarella sticks

Do your best to keep a check on your diet to prevent diseases associated with inflammation. Eat more anti-inflammatory foods to support your health. You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office in Elizabeth City, NC to learn more about anti-inflammatory foods to add to your diet.

Common blood tests for inflammation – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City, NC, Chiropractor

At our Chiropractic Office at Elizabeth City, NC, we see a lot of people come in every week with chronic inflammation. Most cases of internal inflammation are often associated with a high level of stress, lack of proper nutrition, and chronic diseases such as heart disease, digestive problems, and cancer.

Inflammation has also been implicated in many autoimmune diseases. In this case, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response that attacks the body like it’s an enemy.

So the question, how do you detect these silent forms of inflammations in specific targets as well as monitor progress? The best approach has been the use of blood tests.

Here are some blood tests or markers used to determine or detect chronic forms of inflammation:

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)

HbA1C is a blood test that measures the amount of glucose in the blood over the past three months. It is a major test to look at a person’s inflammation.

The result is often recorded in a percentage, and higher percentages signify higher blood glucose levels.

The Hemoglobin A1C is used often used on diabetic persons to detect diabetes and monitor blood sugar levels. A high HbA1C means there is a high blood glucose level and this can cause damage to body organs.

Fasting Insulin

Fasting insulin is another blood test for inflammation. The insulin hormone is produced in the pancreas, and it helps the cells get glucose from the blood. These hormones are often released when your body detects a rise in blood sugar.

The body needs constant circulation of insulin, but when it becomes too high or too low, it becomes a problem. An excess amount of insulin in the body can be a sign of insulin resistance, which means your body does not respond well to insulin, thereby making more, and that increases the risk of inflammation in the body.

Serum Ferritin

Serum ferritin is a blood test that measures the amount of ferritin (blood cell protein that stores iron) in the body.

When you have a low level of ferritin, it indicates that are deficient in iron, and that causes anemia.

A high level of ferritin, on the other hand, can indicate inflammation, liver disease, autoimmune disease, chronic infection, and some type of cancer.

Serum ferritin decreases or increases based on inflammation, making it a useful marker for detecting chronic diseases.

C-reactive Protein (CRP)

C-reactive protein is a protein in the liver that increases when inflammation increases and decreases when inflammation decreases.

This test is useful in diagnosing and monitoring chronic inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diseases, and psychological issues.

Red blood cell width (RDW)

This test measures the differences in the size of the red blood cells. And it is an excellent way to detect inflammation and oxidative stress.

The red blood cells usually start out large, but they decrease in width as they mature. So how large the cells are will determine how much nutrient and oxygen they can deliver.

Basically, an elevated RDW is linked with many diseases including macrocytic anemia and cardiovascular events.

So there you have it, the best blood tests for inflammation. You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our Chiropractic Office in Elizabeth City NC, to learn more about inflammation and the blood tests that help to detect what is happening in your body.

How to use healthy blood sugar levels to help you burn fat for energy – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor

You’ve probably heard of blood sugar a couple of times, but do you know that a healthy level of it can help to burn fat for energy production? Yeah, apart from energy production, balancing your blood sugar also helps in maintaining a healthy weight.

Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, and it dictates how energetic or hungry we feel. When you eat carbs, blood sugar is released into the bloodstream. However, for you to burn fat healthily, you need a healthy balance of blood sugar: not too high and not too low.

That’s more reason you should eat the right amount of fat, protein, and fiber at each meal. This way, you can stabilize your blood sugar level to burn fat and get a consistent energy supply throughout the day.

More so, a healthy blood sugar level prevent any form of insulin spike.

The normal range for blood sugar is between 70 mg/ml and 110 mg/ml. Insulin works on these sugars and transfer it from the blood stream to the cells. This helps to keep the blood sugar level within the normal range.

High blood sugar

If you eat too many carbs that are quickly processed into blood sugar, the pancreas produces the needed insulin that tells the body that there is enough energy available, and that it should store fat instead of burning it for energy.

Low blood sugar

When too much insulin is released into the blood, it causes too much blood sugar to be moved out, causing a feeling of tiredness, weakness, hunger, and lightheadedness. At this point, you tend to crave sugar and carbohydrates, in an attempt to gain more energy.

But in reality, what you get is a repeated cycle and your body converts and stores more glucose as fat.

How do you burn fat for energy?

When you have a healthy blood sugar level and no excess insulin, you burn fat between meals and energy is produced.

You can achieve a healthy blood sugar level by avoiding hidden sugar and simple carbohydrates.

Hidden sugars are found in processed foods, fat-free foods, beverages, and juices. While simple carbohydrates include sucrose, lactose, fructose, and glucose.

Instead of taking these forms of sugars, eat meals rich in protein, fat, and fiber. And one more thing- don’t starve yourself. When you do, it results in low blood sugars, which causes your body to burn muscle, lowering your metabolism. More so, it causes the production of stress hormone like cortisol, which prevents fat burning.

Eating fat helps you to avoid glucose spikes. Eating a moderate amount of protein helps to keep your blood sugar levels steady. Eating fiber slows the absorption of nutrients, such as glucose.

You don’t have to starve yourself; eat healthily and maintain a healthy blood sugar level. This way, you can burn fat in a healthy manner to derive more energy.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office at Elizabeth City, NC, to learn more about maintaining a healthy blood sugar level for energy production.

What is insulin resistance and what are the signs and symptoms – Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor

Insulin resistance is estimated to affect one in three Americans, including people above age 60. This silent blood sugar problem increases the risk for having prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as other serious health ailments, such as cancer, stroke, and heart attack.

What is insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance occurs when the muscle cells, liver, and body fat don’t respond well to insulin due to excess amount of glucose in the bloodstream. This reduces the ability of the cells to absorb and use glucose as a source of energy.

However, if the pancreas can produce a high amount of insulin that can overcome the low rate of absorption, your blood glucose will remain within a healthy range, and you’ll be less likely to develop diabetes.

Common signs and symptoms of insulin resistance

You may not notice any symptom of insulin resistance until diabetes develops. Research shows that 90% of people living with prediabetes do not know they have the condition.

That’s why you’ll need to take a blood test to determine your blood sugar levels. More so, you may not know you’re suffering from other conditions associated with insulin resistance, including low “good” cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides, without seeing your doctor.

However, some common signs of insulin resistance include:

• Blood pressure readings of 130/80 or higher
• A fasting triglyceride level over 100 mg/dl
• A waistline over 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men
• A HDL cholesterol level under 50 mg/dl in women and 40 mg/dl in men
• A fasting glucose level over 100 mg/dl
• Patches of dark, velvety skin known as acanthosis nigricans
• Skin tags

Insulin resistance can also worsen symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can include infertility, irregular menstrual cycle, and periods that comes with chronic pains.

Doctors also record that a high level of insulin in the blood is often associated with increased risk of vascular or heart diseases, even when you don’t have diabetes.

What are the risk factors for insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes are often associated with the following risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity or being overweight, especially when you have extra weight around your midriff
• Sleep issues
• Lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking

Some risk factors are common for diabetes, heart diseases, and some cerebrovascular health issues, such as stroke.

However, some lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of developing some of these conditions, such as obesity.

How to prevent insulin resistance

You may not be able to influence some risk factors for insulin resistance, such as genetic makeup and family history. However, you can take some measures to reduce your chances of becoming insulin resistant.

One good measure is following an active, healthy lifestyle. Your muscles become more sensitive to insulin when you exercise.

So try to increase your physical activities gradually, and eat a healthful, low-carbohydrate meal.

You can consult Dr. Jason Jones at our chiropractic office at Elizabeth City, NC, to learn more about insulin resistance, signs and symptoms to watch out for, and preventive measures you can take.