Exercise Extends Life

By On · Add Comment · In exercise, Exercise Testing and Research Lab, exercising, fitness, fitness scores, Jim Fixx, live, longer, physically fit, quality of life, running
Breaking News: People who are physically fit live longer than those who are not. Does this seem obvious? Maybe not. How many times have I heard, “Jim Fixx (the Godfather of running for fitness) died of a heart attack, so fitness can’t really matter all that much.” Well, now we have evidence to prove otherwise.

A new study lasting for over 20 years and following 15,000 U.S. military veterans showed that men who exercised regularly and were “highly fit” died at half the rate of men categorized as having “low fitness”. And men who were considered “very highly fit” had a 70% lower risk of death than those who had lower fitness scores. Furthermore, going from low fitness to high fitness is not that hard, either. According to Peter Kokkinos, director of the Exercise Testing and Research Lab at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, and lead author of the study, “All you need is between two and three hours of brisk walking a week. You can spread that out between four and six days a week.” He goes on to explain that by simply walking briskly for 30 minutes, 5-6 days a week would be enough to push an older or middle-aged man from the “low fit” to the “very highly fit” category in a matter of months.

One of the more interesting finding of the study was that this health benefit was independent of race or income, an idea that I push heavily on this post as well as in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health. In fact, this is the first major study that looked at both black and white men equally. Participants in the study were between 50-70 years old and were encouraged to exercise until they were tired. They were monitored for an average of 7.5 years. The study was controlled for factors of income and access to health care.

OK, I know this doesn’t seem surprising to some of you. Exercise is good for your health–we all know that. But now we know for sure that it not only improves the quality of life–through less pain, increased energy, heightened stamina, better sleep patterns, more stable moods, better sex drive and increased endurance–but also prolongs the amount of time one gets to enjoy that improved life. In other words, by simply exercising, you can not only feel great more often, but you can play harder and longer. Now isn’t that what life should be about?

A Mournful Tragedy

By On · Add Comment · In Ambien, anaphylaxis, dead, drug, Heath Ledger, overdose, pneumonia, premature death, prescription, respiratory, sedative, side effects, sleeping, sleepng pills

Academy-award nominated actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment this afternoon, the apparent victim of a drug overdose. Although the exact cause of death is as of yet unknown, prescription sleeping pills were found strewn around his bed, recent reports disclose. Ledger apparently had some trouble sleeping recently and told the New York Times in November that he was taking Ambien. He also was reported to be suffering from pneumonia.

This a very sad and tragic story and my heart goes out to Heath Ledger’s family. Although there is no way, yet, to know what happened exactly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the combination of pneumonia (hacking, phlegmy congestion) and sleeping pills did him in. Ambien, in particular, can close off the airway and cause breathing difficulties. Add to that a sedative effect, and it may be a recipe for disaster. Ambien can also cause anaphylaxis–an acute and severe allergic reaction that can lead to death within minutes.

Let me say it loud and clear: Ambien is bad stuff! Don’t take it. I’ve reported the dangers of this drug extensively on the Dr. Nick Show (Episode 3–Lifestyle Drugs). It has side effects (read them here–this stuff is no joke). According to the Mayo clinic, you don’t want to take Ambien if you are suffering from respiratory conditions. Duh! YOU HAVE GOT TO READ THE LABELS! Period. Just because a drug is doctor prescribed doesn’t mean diddly. It’s everyone’s responsibility to know exactly what they are taking and what the dangers are at all times.

Google Ambien and pick an information site. Pick one–any one. The side effects are there. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Heath Ledger was only 28 years old. He was young and vibrant and healthy. It could happen to anyone. Please, read the instructions, and if you’re not sure–don’t take it!

Rest in Peace Good Soul.

Heath Ledger 1979-2008.

The New Wellness Industry–Good Health or Great Marketing?

By On · Add Comment · In anti-aging, celebrities, Dr. Nick Show, HRT, wellness, wellness industry

This month on the Dr. Nick Show (Episode 6) I discuss the boom in the wellness industry. Wellness as a concept–and as a way of life–is a good thing right? Yes, of course, but you’ve got to watch out for for the snake oil salesmen or the pretenders. Listen to this month’s episode for a better idea of where they’re trying to get you–and it may not be wellness at all; just a good ol’ jump on the bandwagon.

Here is a quick list of celebrities who are attaching themselves to the wellness industry:

A well-known television psych dabbling in the weight-loss game.

A mega-millionaire motivational guru who pushes all wellness, all the time.

A convicted conman whose made millions with the best selling health book of all time.

A former prime-time diva whose now pushing anti-aging and HRT.

Hey, maybe this stuff is your thing. Cool! Just beware. The term wellness increases the price tag significantly, so buyer beware.

Here are a few celebrity-endorsed products I’m waiting for:

  • 50 Cent’s 9 Bullets Liquid Diet.
  • Lindsey Lohan’s Hollywood Diet….snorrrt!
  • Roger Clemens’ Three Shots in the Ass (but thought it was B12) Workout.
  • Eddie Murphy’s new book on sexual wellness: Screw Anything that Moves.

Now that I’d like to see.

Montel Williams and Chiropractic

By On · Add Comment · In brain, chiropractic, chiropractic adjustment, chronic pain, demyelination, inflammatory disease, Montel Williams, multiple sclerosis (MS), myelin sheath, nerve cells, spinal cord, white matter


Television talk show host Montel Williams praised chiropractic on his show aired December 18, 2007. Montel, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), said of chiropractic, “It’s the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me!”

Multiple sclerosis or MS is a painful, chronic, inflammatory disease that causes demyelination of the nerve cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Demyelination is the thinning or complete loss of the fatty layer–the myelin sheath–of the nerve cells, which is responsible for the conduction of electrical impulses down those cells. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the scars (scleroses–better known as plaques or lesions) in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. MS has many symptoms, one of which is chronic pain. Montel Williams is no stranger to chronic pain.

According to the well-known talk show MC, he is in pain “24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year”; yet within just two weeks of chiropractic care he can “stand up straight without pain for the first time in over 5 years”. However, it did not take two weeks for Montel to get relief. He says that he experienced almost instantaneous relief from his first chiropractic adjustment. Booyah!

Says Montel, “There is not a person who knows me that will not confirm this…I am walking differently; my pain is less; I have already regained strength in my left leg; my left leg has dropped back down–I found out that my pelvis was tilted–[my legs] are now the same length.”

This is another huge plug for chiropractic. As my illustrious profession gets its fair share of knocks, it’s wonderful to see superstar athletes like Johnny Damon, Tom Brady (read about him and Joe Montana, here) and Lance Armstrong (read the interview with his chiropractor) and well-known celebrities, like Madonna (scroll down for the picture of her getting adjusted in the film, Truth or Dare), Dr. Phil and now Montel Williams endorse chiropractic by telling their incredible success stories.

Bravo, bravo. More people need to experience the miraculous healing power of chiropractic care. And only when highly-regarded public figures stand up to tell their success stories will the masses follow. Thank you Montel for sharing your chiropractic story with the world.

Questionable Science

By On · Add Comment · In antidepressants, chemical imbalance, depression, drug studies, Pfizer, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil

Yet another shameful mark against the manufacturers of chemical antidepressants, and another knock against the fallacy that is the chemical imbalance theory of depression. New reports disclose that almost one third of antidepressant drug studies are never published in the medical literature, and that virtually all of those that are hidden happen to show the drug being tested did not work.

The scandal doesn’t stop there. In some of the studies that were published “unfavorable results have been recast to make the medicine appear more effective than it really is”, says the study’s lead researcher Erick Turner of the Oregon Health & Science University (see the full study, here).

Nice job. Way to do what it takes to dupe the world into buying a faulty theory and a whole bunch of worthless drugs. There’s a term for this type of dirty science: It’s called “selective publication”. Selective publication is printing only the result that fit the theory or the desired outcome of the research team. It’s without an inkling of a doubt the most unethical practice that can happen in science; it’s right up there with “cooking the books”–the practice of changing data so that the desired outcome appears to occur. Sham science. Garbage. Despicable. And the makers of our favorite zombie drugs–Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil–are guilty of both. According to Turner, “It tells you where they placed their bets before they saw the data.”

He goes on to say, “Not only were positive results more likely to be published, but studies that were not positive, in our opinion, were often published in a way that conveyed a positive outcome.” As an example, of five studies relating to Pfizer’s Zoloft, three showing the drug to be ineffective were never published. And according to the report, “A fourth study, ruled questionable by the FDA, was written and published to make it appear that the drug worked.” Purely scandalous!

I spend a lot of ink on the fallacy of the biochemical theory of depression in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health. Even without this new information I pretty much dismantle the rationale and the practice of widespread antidepressant use in our society. I truly feel this is the number one public health danger of our generation. A lot of people have a lot of emotion attached to this issue. Sorry folks, the science is just not there, no matter what the popular information machine and the so-called authorities have been telling us–and this new report proves it, plain and simple. Expect much more truth about popular (and dangerous) antidepressant drugs to be uncovered in the near future. Sure looks like this deception is swaying on a house of cards.

Another Sexual Health Warning

By On · Add Comment · In antibiotic resistant, antibiotics, gay men, gonorrhea, illicit drug use, infection, Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA), penicillin, Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), staph aureus, syphilis

Heed the warning, readers: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise, and some pretty nasty ones are out there to get you. You already know from an earlier post that syphilis is back with a vengeance, but you can add to that rectal gonorrhea and new HIV infections for the unwise. Rounding out the mix is the antibiotic resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus, which researchers think is being transmitted among gay men during sex.

A new study appearing in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports that methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) is showing up outside of hospitals in San Francisco, Boston, New York and Los Angeles. It states that gay men are 13 times more likely to get infected than heterosexual men. Researchers believe that the infection is being spread through sexual activity, and that illicit drug use and increased risky sexual behavior is fueling the transmission. Because Staph aureus can, and in some people does, colonize around the anus, those having sex which might break the skin are at a greater risk of infection.

I don’t have to tell you how dangerous MRSA is. It’s resistant to penicillins, a common class of antibiotics, and is therefore difficult to treat, often requiring intravenous antibiotic drug therapy…which ain’t cheap. If the infection gets bad enough it can lead to death–approximately 19,000 people were killed by MRSA (mostly in hospitals) in 2005.

So what’s the advice? C’mon people: Use protection without exception! Safe sex is still in. It better be, because the alternative just isn’t worth it. And not to sound like a Moral Majorist here, but…keep the number of sexual partners to a reasonably modest amount, sheesh. Hey, I’m not knocking a good orgy; heavens no. But the days of wine and roses are over–they ended in the 70s. Free love costs beaucoup bucks now. So be smart. No glove, no love. Simple as that.

Self Healing Body

By On · Add Comment · In brain, brain cells, central nervous system (CNS), healing, health, injuries, mind-body, nerve cells, nerve pathways, nerves, paralysis, repair, self-healing, self-regulating, spinal cord

Check this tripper: Scientist say that the central nervous system (CNS) can rewire itself to bypass damaged nerves that cause paralysis. Tiny nerves in the brain and spinal cord can actually crisscross creating new nerve pathways between brain cells and nerve cells that control movement. Injuries once thought to be irreversible now seem to show hope of recovery.

The study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles looked at mice whose long axon nerve fibers were blocked causing paralysis of their hind legs. However, researchers left the core of the mice’s spinal cords, which contained short nerve fibers, intact. Within eight weeks the mice regained movement in their hind legs, astonishing researchers. The scientists then blocked the short nerve fibers, once again, causing hind leg paralysis. This showed that the short nerve fibers, which had reconnected, were responsible for the regain in hind leg movement.

Wow! Imagine that. Nerve cells repairing themselves and creating new connections in a self-healing, self-regulating repair process. I find this new discovery absolutely fascinating, although I’m not exactly surprised by it. I would expect this type of self-repair to be inherent in living organisms, especially one as complex as Homo sapien. And I’m certain we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. I still contend that the greatest gains in human health and healing will be realized in the realm of mind-body dynamics in the future–and perhaps not as far in the future as one might think.

The implications go way beyond reversing paralysis, in my mind. I think that all healing probably follows this type of mechanism in one way or another. There is so much about the human body and it’s physiology that we do not know, especially on the molecular (and smaller) level. I’m excited to see where science will lead us tomorrow. The human mind and body are truly magnificent, and we have yet to realize their full potential. Truth is, we probably haven’t even seen the half of it.

Gastroenteritis–My Bout With Stomach Flu

By On · Add Comment · In cramping, cramps, gastroenteritis, medications, Motrin, spasms, stomach flu, toxins, viral, virus

Well, 2008 has started with a bang! Just not the one I’d been hoping for. As I was shaking off the blow of a serious tooth infection, and a subsequent root canal, I got nailed with the stomach flu–gastroenteritis to be exact–and I’m only just starting to feel my old raucous self today.

Gastroenteritis is often called the stomach flu, although it’s nothing like the regular flu–no fever, no body aches or pains, none of that stuff. What is was, however, was a lot of stomach ache–cramping, crippling spasms that had me boweled over in pain for about 48 hours. Many things can cause gastroenteritis–bacteria, viruses, toxins, medications, some other things. I think mine was probably viral, but it could have also been from taking Motrin; I was taking 2,400 mg a day for the toothache I was enjoying.

Either way, I stopped taking the meds on Friday, immediately following my first hit of flu. I also stopped drinking coffee and pretty much eating all together. If, in spite of my haze, I am remembering all the details correctly, I think I couldn’t even stomach water; I was helpless. But did it ever make me find religion. Please Oh Mighty Isis. Make it stop, please. Nicky be good boy. Nicky be good boy…

Once again I have to say, being sick is a part of life. You can get depressed about it (it’s easy, really), or you can just see it as a time to take care of yourself–rest, relax, catch up on paperwork, and even on those missed episodes of Real Housewives of Orange County (right PB?). There’s no such thing as 100% health, 100% of the time; and living in that illusion is the quickest way to frustration and/or depression. We all get sick. Bless it, use it to your advantage, and rest up. There’s plenty of life to be lived tomorrow.

Warning: Antibiotic May Cause Tendon Rupture

By On · Add Comment · In antibiotic, black box warning, Cipro, fluoroquinolones, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tendons

If you’re currently taking the antibiotic Cipro, here’s something you might want to know: it can cause tendons to rupture. So says a consumer group called Public Citizen that wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add a “black box” warning to the antibiotic.

Cipro is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, and as of 1997, the FDA has received 336 reports of tendon rupture in patients treated with these compounds. Public Citizen claims that the numbers might actually be higher since not all side effects are reported to the FDA. Cipro is often prescribed for gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract infections. It also was brought to the surface of American consciousness during the anthrax scare of the early part of the decade. Cipro can also cause liver damage, kidney damage and rhabdomyolysis (muscle wasting and pain), so it’s not something to be taken lightly.

Well…tendon ruptures suck–they’re horrible; some of the hardest things to recover from. I’ve referred patients with this condition orthopedists, and when the tendons are frayed like string cheese, they are very difficult to reattach. The weaker the tendon, the more likely it will be torn during a routine activity, like running for the bus, or stepping off of a chair–something simple. I guess if you’re exposed to anthrax, then you’ll need a bunch; but if there is an alternative–and you’d be wise to ask your doctor–I’d consider it.

Humble Pie

By On · Add Comment · In extraction, healing, health, illness, infection, medicine, Motrin, pain, pain medication, perfect health, root canal, tooth ache

I’d like to share a story to ring in the new year. This story will have several lessons in it, and will also illustrate a few key principles. We’ll call it a modern-day health parable.

Last Saturday, just as I was bragging about my recent blood work and stellar chem panel, I started to notice a wee bit of tooth ache. Yes, wee bit; that would be the last time I’d remember life as I once knew it.

By Sunday, my tooth really started to ache, and by New Year’s Eve–forget about it–I was dying. This little conundrum I found myself in illustrates a few very important principles. First, the minute you get too elated about anything, expect something to come along and balance it out. Bragging about my health was sure to lead to a pedestal collapse. As it turns out, I cracked my tooth. Ouch! And it got infected. Double ouch!

The second principle, and one which I discuss in depth in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health, is that there is no such thing as perfect health. We actually cycle between health and illness all the time. That’s normal and, in fact, it is healthy. This does not make it futile to focus on health–no indeed–but to become attached to the concept of constant health is both futile and foolish. I’ll let you read about it further in my book (it’s coming, I swear!)

So, as I said, by New Year’s Eve the pain was pretty excruciating. No dentist to be found, so I had to rely on over-the-counter Motrin. All I can say is thank God for modern medicine.

But wait Campos, you’re always dissing medicine.

No, I’m not. In fact my message is, and always has been, that medicine is very valuable in times of crisis; and I was in the most pulsating, hammer and chisel to the head crisis I’ve ever been in. So I say once again–THANK GOD FOR MODERN MEDICINE!

Saw a dentist on Wednesday night and found out then about the cracked tooth and infection. I also found out that I’d need a root canal, and maybe even an extraction. Wah! Whatever, Doc. Pull it; do something, anything…please! He set me up for the root canal on Friday and gave me some better drugs. Have I said this yet: Thank God for modern pharmaceuticals, too. Man, they were the only things that got me through this mess. You guys know, some of you saw me, because I went to work anyway. I was a pathetic sight, that’s for sure.

Anyway, I had the root canal and the pain didn’t just go away. No problem, I expected that, because I know that the healing process takes time, so I certainly didn’t expect an overnight miracle. The bottom line is this: Pain medication is sometimes necessary; it can help you get over a very difficult hump. But when one looks to medicine as the answer, they are playing with fire. Use the meds while you work on fixing the problem, then wean off of them.

I’m weaning now. I’ve cut the dosage in half, and by mid-week, I anticipate I’ll be drug free. Cool. And the moral of the story is this: When you want to puff-up your plumage and show-off to the world, make sure you don’t bite down too hard on anything you eat, otherwise, you might just spend the next two weeks feasting on humble pie.

2007 Health News Recap

By On · Add Comment · In health, health news, health story

To begin I want to thank all the readers of this blog for tuning in. I’m excited to keep this little quip going in 2008. Here are some of 2007s notables:

  • Most hysterical: Instructions for weight-loss drug Alli suggest wearing dark clothing in case of bowel accident–yeccch! From Dr. Nick Show, Episode 3 on Lifestyle Drugs

To know what topics I found most important, just look at the number of times I mentioned each:

  1. Chiropractic (eight times)
  2. Exercise, sleep and yoga (six times each)
  3. Children and vaccine (four times each)
  4. Cholesterol, essential fatty acids, flu, flu vaccine, health, immune system, immunity and LDL (three times each)

Keep checking in in 2008 for more health news and information…with a twist. See you then.

One Fish Oil Capsule a Day

By On · Add Comment · In cholesterol, essential fatty acids, exercise, heart attack, omega 3s, triglyceride

Have I told you how stellar my blood panel was? Not to brag, but…

I did have exceptional cholesterol and triglyceride levels–you know, the stuff that’s supposed to predict the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. But how can that be? I salt everything; I eat red meat three time a week. Shouldn’t I be the MI poster-boy?

Not necessarily. I exercise regularly and take lots of essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are essential nutrients–that is, they are not produced in the body–so they must be obtained in the diet, or through a supplement. There are two classes of EFAs–omega 3s and omega 6s. We get plenty of omega 6 fatty acids in the typical Western diet. It’s the omega 3 variety that most of us are lacking. You’ll find omega 3 fatty acids, naturally, in fish; but you can also get them from a good EFA supplement (ask me, I carry the best).

Without going into the long list of benefits (you can catch them, here, in the following article), EFAs are important for cells, blood vessels, the brain, the skin, and many, many other tissues, organs, and processes. I’ve been pushing these babies for years. And I’ll keep pushing them here: If you aren’t taking omega 3 fatty acids regularly, what the heck are you waiting for?

Listen to this: According to this recent study, fish oil capsules do an equally good job of enriching the blood and other body tissues with healthy omega 3 fatty acids as fresh fish does. Wow! Get it? You can do just as well with fish oil capsules as you can with gulping down the fishy stuff. Not a big deal for sushi lovers; but for someone like me, who can’t stomach the taste of fish…well, it’s nothing short of extraordinary.

Let me reiterate. You’ve gotta get proper amounts of omega three fatty acids in your body. By doing so, you will do wonders in reducing your risk of heart disease. Trust me, it’ll show in your chem panel over time. However, exercise plays a big part, too; so you’d better get the fever for it, real soon. Omega three fatty acids plus exercise equals good heart health–enough to give you bragging rights.

Yoga, dude…

By On · Add Comment · In breathing, HDL cholesterol, mental conditioning, metabolic syndrome, The Sutras, well-being, yoga

What is 7,000 years old and promulgated in the Sutras? would be the Jeopardy question. Recent studies show that yoga has multiple benefits, some that go well beyond getting in shape. Things like a greater sense of well-being and reversing the biochemical changes associated with metabolic syndrome (a combination of obesity and diabetes) have been observed in people doing regular yoga.

What’s Dr. Campos’ hands down (and feet up) favorite form of exercise?

Yoga combines physical exertion with mental conditioning–the perfect challenge for mind and body. Many people go into yoga thinking that they’ll relax, they’ll go Zen. Uh, not. Yoga is grueling if you’re a newcomer, or haven’t done it in a while. True, some classes will go easy on you if you’re new to the practice; but the sheer act of doing asanas (postures) is a challenge to beginners and veterans alike. It’s supposed to be. It’s yoga, dude…

What reduces waist circumference; lowers blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglycerides; and raises levels of “good” HDL cholesterol levels?

Yoga is not just the physical aspect of doing postures but also has a breathing component and a meditation component. When researchers looked at these two aspects of yoga, they found that people who practiced yoga for six weeks showed lowered stress levels, lowered feelings of anxiety and depression. Whoa! But we knew that, right?

Listen, try yoga. It’s incredible. Give it six weeks–no! six months. I guarantee that if you commit to it for this stretch of time, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Happy twisting.

New Use for Flu Vaccine

By On · Add Comment · In bird flu, fear, flu, flu vaccine, H5N1, immunity, influenza virus, inoculated, pandemic, vaccine

At the dawn of a looming bird flu pandemic, researchers say they have found a new use for the standard flu vaccine. Scientists at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome, have found that some volunteers inoculated against the seasonal influenza virus showed antibody protection from the bird flu. Although preliminary, experts are using these results as a way to step-up yearly influenza vaccinations.

It’s no secret how I feel about the flu vaccine–pretty useless as far as I’m concerned; but I will not discount the possibility of cross-over immunity. If, indeed, the annual flu vaccine provides a progressive tolerance to a more virulent viral strain like H5N1 (the nefarious bird flu virus) the more often it is used, then it would certainly warrant mass use. But what I can’t ignore is the convenient opportunity to use fear as a foolproof method of mass marketing.

As I point out in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health, public fear is often exploited as a way to pass legislation or sell product. The greater the threat, the more insidious the exploitation. Remember when North Korea had a nuclear bomb pointed at the West Coast? In L.A. it was used to scare locals into buying duct tape, plastic sheeting and other survival gear in the event of a nuclear blast. Now we’d better prepare for–gulp–the bird flu!

No doubt, an infectious pandemic is long overdo; the world hasn’t seen a bona fide one since 1968. But didn’t we hear the same things about e-bola, hanta virus, and the West Nile virus too? Just think about how many threats we’d have to protect ourselves against every year if we were to allow our fears to get the best of us. We might have to sit through a few more Dustin Hoffman duds at the very least. So why is this one any different?

The truth is that, just as experts believe that each successive flu inoculation adds strength to the vaccinated person’s growing immunity, wouldn’t it be just a likely that catching the flu every year or so would also add to one’s protection? Uh, now let’s just think about that for a minute.

One of my strongest arguments in The Six Keys to Optimal Health is to focus on strengthening our internal defenses–the immune system among other things. Only in this way can we increase our chance of surviving any catastrophe. It almost seems counterproductive to rely on the supply of vaccine and antidote for our continued survival; however, I guess it could happen. But I need way more, by way of information, than what we’ve got now to jump on that train. Until we know more–like does the annual flu vaccine provide protection for a large percentage of people, and can one develop an equal amount of immunity, naturally, through routine exposure and fighting off illness every year–then I’ll avoid the flu vaccine for now. Prove its need beyond a reasonable doubt, and you might just see me standing in the flu-line one day, after all.

Final Fitness Update…Ever

By On · Add Comment · In blood test, body fat, bodywork, chiropractic, cholesterol, energy, exercise, fitness, handstands, HDL, LDL, optimal health, posture, shoulders, sleep, stretching, triglycerides, weight loss, yoga
OK, this is it; my final fitness update. It couldn’t come at a more opportune time as I have just turned 40 today. Woohoo! As my brother told me, I have officially entered an age where each year will seem to pass in six month increments. Woosh…

I made my proclamation to become Fit in 90 Days on September 5th, so officially, my run should have ended December 5th. I was vacationing in Palm Beach at that time, so I actually needed another 14 days; which is probably the amount of time throughout the whole endeavor that I did nothing. No worries, 90 days, 100 days, it’s all the same.

As I’ve been reporting, I tried to exercise (gym) three times a week. I did several private yoga sessions with an instructor, and fined tuned my practice, which I carried out faithfully every day (OK, nearly every day). That was huge. I resolved some fairly irritating muscular imbalances that were causing low back discomfort, and I also did quite a bit of work on my shoulders. My new yoga routine improved my posture. I feel the difference.

I kept a regular chiropractic regimen–very important with all the moving and stretching and lifting and hiking. A combination of yoga and chiropractic is powerful, indeed.

I followed a pretty solid nutritional program–ate more fresh fruits and vegetables, drank lots of water, and took my daily vitamins. As usual, I was diligent about taking my essential fatty acids and alpha lipoic acid, the powerful anti-oxidant.

I think the most profound health habit I adopted through all of this, though, was seriously minimizing my consumption of refined sugar (started November 8th). As I described in an earlier post, I had a brief roller coaster ride with regard to my energy levels, but that evened out. Once I got over that withdrawal stage, my energy skyrocketed. And I lost weight as a result. Before “no sugar,” I lost four pounds (to 163 lbs.); afterward, eight pounds (to 155 lbs.). Nice. So in total, I’ve lost twelve pounds. Twelve pounds in twelve weeks. Very healthy.

Let’s review my goals: I wanted to lower my weight by seven pounds–I beat that. I wanted to lower my body fat. Oops, forgot to check it for this update. Sorry. I wanted to do unassisted handstands–didn’t do it (remember what the Yogi said?) Wanted to run Runyon Canyon. Nope, didn’t do that either.

So, you might wonder, what did I accomplish then? In my mind, I just made my routine a regular habit; I really am happy with that. It’s not a cop out. What I want from a health regimen is improved or maintained health. What I really want is optimal health. Without a doubt, I’ve accomplished that. I know with complete certainty that by putting this kind of consistent and careful attention into my body, there is no other possible outcome to be had. But as serendipity has it, I happened to take a blood test as a part of a life insurance policy I was pursuing, and they were kind enough to send me the results. I normally don’t put too much stock into these tests, because, as I’ve said, I know that if I do the right things, I’ll have a good functioning and healthy body. But hey, I was happy to check it out; I mean, it is my physiology. Here are the results:

  • Cholesterol–217 mg/dl. Between 200-239 is considered borderline high.
  • Triglycerides–58 mg/dl. Anything under 150 is normal. Hmmm.
  • HDLs–68 mg/dl. Anything above 40 is desirable, above 60, very good.
  • LDLs–137 mg/dl. Should be under 160 if have only zero or one risk factors.
  • Chol/HDL ratio–3.20. A desirable ratio is under 5; optimum under 3.5. Booyah.

Remember, the amount of cholesterol is not nearly as important as the amount of HDLs in your blood, and even less important than the cholesterol/HDL ratio (read the post, here). So, as to not bore you, all the other test were good to optimal too. Yes, I love tests, especially when they work in my favor.

So what did I accomplish? I motivated myself to exercise, eat well, get regular bodywork, sleep, and focus on my health in a proactive manner. I feel better, have more energy, feel more rested, look better, and have less physical discomfort all around. And, hopefully, I’ve shown you that with a little planning, and a large commitment, you can create a better place for yourself physically. You can achieve optimal health if you want it.

Fluoridated Water–Los Angeles Resident Beware

By On · Add Comment · In American Dental Association, cavities, dental caries, fluoridation, fluoride, fluorosilicic acid, good, Martin Sheen, skeletal fluorosis, tooth decay, water, water supply

I know nobody in L.A. drinks tap water–it’s bottled water for everyone. However, all Los Angeles residents need to be aware that the Metropolitan Water District is adding fluoride–a known toxin–into the city’s water supply. Water fluoridation has been a topic of controversy for decades, and L.A. water has gone unadulterated for years, but not any longer.

As of last month, fluorosilicic acid has been added to L.A.’s water supply in an attempt to decrease dental caries (cavities). Fluorosilicic acid is a known poison, even in small amounts. Proponents–the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–believe that minute amounts help in fighting cavities. But fluorosilicic acid is highly unstable; that means it dissociates in water. It is potentially linked to skeletal fluorosis (check out some gnarly pictures, here), bone cancer, thyroid disease and other diseases. It is so toxic that an accidental spill of fluorosilicic acid on a Florida interstate a few years ago sent more than 50 people to hospitals. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Drinking an ounce would probably kill a person.” Yet, we are being fed this stuff by health organizations and government as a health remedy. Doh!

I spend quite a bit of ink on this topic in my upcoming book, The Six Keys To Optimal Health, collaborating with an expert in the area to get much of my information. No surprises how I feel about it. Despite the purported benefits, many European countries have bypassed the practice and continue to have low rates of tooth decay anyway.

If you don’t mind having a known toxin added to your drinking water, or you think it’s a good thing, then do nothing–ignore this post and move on. But if you think like Martin Sheen that “We are not lab rats and reject any attempt to be treated as such,” then you might want to keep informed and do what you can to stop the practice. That’s all I’ve got to say…for now.

Check out 50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation.

Delilah Expressing Optimal Motor Function

By On · Add Comment · In adjust, chiropractic, digestion, environment, immune function, information, motor movements, nervous system, optimum, processing, respiration, response, subluxation, survival, survive

Like I’ve told you a million times: Chiropractic maintains the integrity of the nervous system by removing subluxations. The nervous system, when free of subluxations, works at an optimum level, allowing the body to operate the way it’s supposed to–by taking in information from one’s surroundings, processing it, and delivering a response–giving human beings the ability to survive in an often challenging and unforgiving environment.

We rely on our nervous system for every body process–digestion, immune function, respiration, everything–as well as every action needed for survival–like movement, communication, learning. When our nervous system is hampered by subluxations, necessary process are also hampered and the body starts to become out-of-sync. When subluxation free, we have a greater ability to move, to communicate, to learn.

I adjust my daughter Delilah to guarantee that her developing nervous system functions at its highest level. All children should be checked for subluxations and receive chiropractic care when appropriate. I adjust Delilah because I know how much it means to her health.

Check out this video showing my daughter’s incredible ability to control her fine motor movements:

Keep your nervous system–and your children’s–functioning optimally at all times with safe, natural chiropractic care.

A Fad You Don’t Want to Follow

By On · Add Comment · In HIV, safe sex, syphilis, unprotected sex
Guess what’s “in” for 2008. Give up?–a fresh bout of syphilis, that’s what. Yup, you heard right. Ol’ Treponema pallidum, that crazy spirochete of yesteryear, is back in fashion, especially in Europe. Whether in London, Amsterdam, Paris or Berlin, if you’re looking for a good heapin’ helpin’ of this bad boy, just have some wild, unprotected sex. It’s there for the taking, baby. Just make sure you’ve got lots of penicillin, cuz this is one infection you’ll not want to ignore.

Syphilis comes in three flavors–primary, secondary, and tertiary. Whatever your speed, syphilis has got the complication for you. Unsightly and painless* chancre your thing? Then you’ll want to try primary syphilis. Don’t worry, you can have it on any location, even on your finger; very becoming, I might say.

Maybe you like to live on the edge. Maybe you’d prefer a full body rash, or white, flaky crust on your head. How about fever, sore throat, malaise, weight loss, headache, meningismus, and enlarged lymph nodes? Then you’ll want to ignore that bout of primary syphilis, and go for the secondary version. Nice. You’ve got balls, man. But not for long…

If you just don’t have the patience for the two more mild forms of the syph, then you’ve absolutely got to try tertiary syphilis. WooBoy! Ain’t nothing like it! Gummas, chronic inflammation, neuropathies, aortic aneurysm, heart failure, blindness, dementia, memory loss, insanity, death–you get it all with this one.

Seems like people are tired of safe sex. I know, I know–boring! So they’re doin’ it without protection. It seems like the biggest adventurers are HIV+ men (but everyone’s doing it–straight, gay, no matter–it’s the thing). According to experts, HIV+ men are seeking each other out on the Internet specifically to have unprotected sex. They figure: Hey, I’ve got the virus, you’ve got the virus–let’s party. I understand the concept. But what they might not count on is syphilis. Seriously, syphilis scares me a hell of a lot more than HIV does. But that’s just me. I’m definitely boring.

Listen, if syphilis or gonorrhea or chlamydia ain’t your thing, then don’t stop using rubbers–it’s simply foolish. I know that it may sound like fun at the time, but just ask anybody who’s ever had any of these infections if the 2.5 minutes was worth it. I’ll bet a million dollars they’ll say, “Hell no!” C’mon, let’s all chant together now: No glove, no love, no glove, no love, no glove, no love…

*thanks Anon.

Creativity and Children’s Toys

By On · Add Comment · In blocks, Chicken Dance Elmo, child, children, creativity, imagination, mental development, motor development, toys, video games

Flap your arms like a chicken, flap your arms like a chicken
bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk
 Make a sound like a chicken, make a sound like a chicken
bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk

How would you like to have that lyrical prose running through your head day and night?

Elmo wants to be a chicken, Elmo wants to be a duck
bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk

Pure genius. OK, you must know I’m being facetious here. Our daughter was given the Chicken Dance Elmo doll by some very well-meaning, and quick-thinking loved ones (quick enough to get rid of this toy, fast). Let just me say this now: Chicken Dance Elmo is about one of the most mind-numbing toys you can ever get your kid (see it in action, here). There I’ve said it. Flap your arms like a chicken, indeed.

When choosing toys for your children, you should pick ones that stimulate mental and motor development and reinforce personal relationships, experts say. Toys should stimulate creativity, imagination, and change…hmmm…yes! things that serve any human being regardless of age. Picking toys that are simply the latest fad may not only submerge your child in banality, but might also hamper necessary developmental skills so crucial for young ones.

Toys that stimulate important mental and physical skills include blocks, video games, dolls or any other toy that forces a child to create scenarios. Unless your child is creative enough to devise an end to Chicken Dance Elmo–with a sledge hammer, perhaps–then this toy probably isn’t it. According to Paula Kramer, chair and professor of occupational therapy at the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, “Parents often feel like they have to rush out and get ‘the toy of the moment’; these toys may be interesting, unique and novel, but they’re not always the best thing for the child or the toy with the longest life.”

I can vouch for that. My daughter definitely finds Chicken Dance Elmo a novelty…for now; but I can’t imagine any kid finding it interesting beyond a couple of months. Maybe, just maybe, if mechanical engineering is their thing; but outside of that, I doubt it.

Experts also say that any toy which promotes interaction with parents, siblings, or playmates is a big plus. So if your child asks you to color with him–color. If he asks you to play video games–play. The time and energy spent is well worth it; and Junior will benefit from the exchange. The only thing I can’t recommend is flapping your arms like chicken. Ever.

More on choosing toys, here.

Mandatory Flu Vaccinations

By On · Add Comment · In chicken pox, children, flu shot, flu vaccine, herd immunity, Hib vaccine, immune system, immunity, vaccine, virus

Jawohl! You’ve got it–National Socialism is alive and well in the good ol’ US of A. Seems like one state is making flu vaccination mandatory for preschoolers. New Jersey State Health Commissioner Dr. Fred M. Jacobs has approved the requirement that all children attending preschool or licensed day care centers will need to get an annual flu shot. Heil, Herr Commandant!

You all know my feelings on mandatory vaccinations in general, and you definitely know how I feel about the flu shot–it’s pure bunkum! I get the concept of public health; but the flu shot hasn’t been proven to protect anybody, except maybe the manufacturers of the vaccine.

According to recent reports, preschool children are “being targeted because their developing immune systems make them as susceptible to flu complications as senior citizens, and because they are more likely than older kids to spread the virus.” Uh, let me see here….don’t we need to encounter microorganisms to develop immunity? There is no long lasting immunity derived from the flu vaccine anyway, since the virus mutates rapidly and new strains pop up every year. So why force it upon the public? Isn’t it better for kids to contract the flu and strengthen their systems? I just don’t get it.

One thing I do get is the concept of herd immunity. Herd immunity is the protection of non-vaccinated individuals by the large number of vaccinated people in a population. The idea is that an illness has less of an opportunity to spread as there are not enough links in the chain (non-vaccinated people) to create a full blown epidemic. So if people want to vaccinate (and, of course, many will) then, by the process of herd immunity, the population as whole will be safe. Go ahead, give ’em out like candy. There’ll be plenty of takers. There is enough fear of illness to make the flu vaccine business boom. Why make it mandatory for everyone to subject their children to a questionable substance?

I wouldn’t want to give my child the flu vaccine (and believe me, our pediatrician tries; oh boy, does she try). Thank goodness California isn’t yet a part of the Third Reich. Put simply–the flu just isn’t a menacing enough illness for me to go there. What’s next? Chicken Pox. Oh, they try that one too. Haven’t most adults alive today had the chicken pox? But the powers that be are trying to sell us on that nonsense as well. Can’t wait till they come up with the vaccination for stupidity.

And to top it all off, that glorious Reichian state New Jersey has recently had a recall on one of its most common children vaccines. Ah very good, you guessed it, the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. Granted this is the vaccine for the bacterial flu strain and not the viral one, but it’s still a recall. Appears that 14 million doses of the vaccine produced by Merck (them again?) were contaminated. Contaminated? Scary, man. According to the report, “It was unclear how many of the 1.2 million doses [that got out] were administered to children.” Yikes!

The report goes on to say, “Should the vaccine later prove contaminated, health officials believe most children will experience, at worst, skin irritation around the shot site. Problems could be worse for children with weakened immune systems (emphasis mine).” Isn’t that the group they are supposedly protecting? That really scares heck out of me.

Here’s my advice: Stay up on this story, and any story like it; do whatever you can to prevent its passage in your state. And if you live in New Jersey, get out as fast as you can. Heil Hib-ler!

Copyright © 2013 Dr. Nick Campos - All Rights Reserved.