The ads claiming high fructose corn syrup is as natural as sugar are misleading. The US corn industry is on the defensive because the word is out–high fructose corn syrup is not handled the same way by the body as glucose, it does cause greater weight gain and it is associated with metabolic syndrome. While it is true that Americans eat too many calories from concentrated sugars and starches, metabolically fructose is more problematic than sucrose. It can hardly be called “natural” either because to change corn starch to high fructose corn syrup requires chemical processing. See greenmedinfo.com and search “high fructose corn syrup” for the latest research and for more information.
Safe Way to Test Bone Health at Home
A relatively new clinical lab test, the bone resorption assay, is one of the tools we use to assess osteoporosis risk in peri-menopausal and menopausal women. The good news is that all it involves is a single urine collection at home and it is relatively inexpensive. The tests measures compounds in the urine that accurately indicate whether bone break-down is occurring faster than bone re-building. Also, it is an easy way to follow one’s response to nutrition therapy aimed at preventing further bone loss, because unlike bone density tests it can be repeated every few months. If you would like to learn more, call out office.
Blueberry Squares
When you want something sweet, make it yourself but be sure to use the best quality ingredients. The cost and the time involved may deter you from having desserts more than once or twice a week, which is a good thing!
The Roanoke Natural Foods Coop is where we buy good eggs and other organic foods–especially bulk grains, beans, and herbs. As for blueberries, we keep them in the freezer all year–we pick enough locally in early August to have them last all year long and they are easy to freeze. This recipe has blueberries, rolled oats, arrowroot, and walnuts–all excellent ingredients.
1 cup organic rolled oats
3 Tbsp. organic butter (organic coconut oil may be substituted)
1 egg, organic and from pasture-raised chickens
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
Place the oats in a food processor and process into a coarse flour. Cut butter into 1/2 inch pieces and blend into oats until mixture is homogeneous. Add egg, honey, vanilla, and baking powder and blend well. Add arrowroot flour and blend again. Hand stir the walnuts into this mixture and spread into a pyrex baking dish (10-inch diameter or 8-inch square). Spread the blueberries evenly on top and press them down into the batter–it’s ok if they are frozen but it may take a little longer to bake. Bake for about 15 minutes in a pre-heated 325 degree F. oven until just golden and a knife poked in the center comes out clean. Do not overbake or the squares will be dry. Let cool and cut into squares. Serves 4.
Honeyed Parsnips
As a gardening side note, we let the parsnips we planted last year in the garden overwinter so that they would be ready to dig once the ground thawed in the Spring. It’s nice to have something to harvest this early in the year and it is said that the winter freezing sweetens them. Leeks overwinter well also. I mention this because many gardeners don’t take advantage of Fall gardening and they are missing out on so much!
This recipe is a delicious way to enjoy an unusual root vegetable.
Honeyed Parsnips
2 parsnips (1 medium sized parsnip per serving)
2 Tbsp. organic butter
2 tsp. honey
cinnamon or cardamon (optional)
Wash the parsnips well and peel if skins are tough or they are difficult to clean. Slice them into thin rounds no more than 1/8 inch thick. Melt butter in a skillet on medium-low heat. Do not burn—add the parsnips as soon as the butter melts and stir well to coat with butter. Cover the pan and let the parsnips brown for a few minutes. Use a spatula to loosen and flip them every 3-4 minutes, keeping them covered in between flipping. Again, do not let them burn. They should be tender in the middle, lightly browned and slightly crispy in about 15 minutes. Serve immediately. Place on serving dishes and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with spice of your choice if desired.
Low Back Pain and Knee Stiffness
“My husband injured his back December 2010. A friend of mine recommended you all. I was really surprised that you were able to get my husband in the next day! He showed improvement after the first visit. He is doing great now. I’ve had knee replacement surgery and was experiencing stiffness in both knees and low back pain. My husband said I should give you all a try. I made the appointment and have been coming ever since. Knees don’t bother me as much. Low back is a lot better. Even my feet don’t bother me as much. I sleep better at night.”~48 year-old female
Stop Mandatory Vaccination
Have you heard that the Supreme Court has granted vaccine manufacturers immunity from liability for vaccine-related injuries? Learn more at the National Vaccine Information Center’s site . NVIC has been advocating for informed choice regarding vaccination for decades and they need our help. Please consider contributing to them and spread the word to friends and family. We must not allow mandatory vaccination of any kind. Thank you for your support.
Help for Aging Eyes
For several years now we have been recommending to our patients vision programs from the Cambridge Institute for Better Vision. Their program for presbyopia is especially effective, easy, and improvement is often immediate–it’s possible to avoid needing reading glasses. Eyes can get “stuck” in dysfunction just like joints. While chiropractic works to improve joint function, these simple eye exercises work to improve eye function. The eyes need nutritional support also; we recommend nutritional supplements and changes in diet based on an individual’s history and lab tests–taking a separate eye supplement is generally not necessary.
5-yr. old w/ Earaches
“Our son was getting sick pretty often. Ear aches and common cold symptoms. After quite a few different doctors and no luck we brought him in to Dr. Burgoon. It turns out that we found out he had a dairy allergy. Thanks to Dr Burgoon. He adjusted him a few times and corrected his diet. We have had a great response. No more ear aches and no more being sick, aside from the common cold once in a great while. Very happy with Dr. Burgoon and his care.”~Dad of 5 year-old boy
Watch Out for Iron Deficiency
A very common finding for women who have been experiencing heavier than usual periods is iron deficiency. Our blood panel includes a test for ferritin, an iron storage protein, which is useful for checking the body’s iron stores. Very often this number is low for peri-menopausal and menopausal women who come to our clinic. Low iron can cause headaches, fatigue, restless legs, dizziness, hair loss–the list goes on. Iron deficiency should never be missed but it is. Call our office to schedule a nutrition consultation if you suspect you need a ferritin test and help with diet and supplements for addressing low iron.
Our Family Cook Book
Monica and her siblings have recently published a charming volume called Our Family Cook Book. Dedicated to their parents, it contains an excellent variety of recipes submitted by Monica and her sisters and brothers. Special holiday recipes, modern healthy supper ideas, and old family favorites are included as well as interesting personal comments regarding the origin and history of some of the recipes. There is something to please everyone in this cook book!
Come by the office and take a look. We will have additional copies printed if enough people are interested, so please let us know if you would like to be added to the waiting list.
Submitted by Sandy Taylor
