Happy Valentines!

I hope that each of you are enjoying the start of a New Year.  January has come and gone like a lamb, but I don't think that Minnesota will get off this easy all winter!

This issue was a fun one to write.  I did sort of stick with a Valentines Day theme for as much of it as I could, but I did have to share some new research as well.

Recent studies are delving more into brain function as it relates to behavior.  This type of research is not "How does it make you feel?" type of work, but rather what does stimuli make us do!  This entails personal emotional behavior, as well as who we choose to spend our life with and why.  This is quite revolutionary research.

I did revisit the topic of 'higher protein and lower carbohydrate eating'.  New research continues to support the health benefits of having a dominance of protein in our diet, rather than a diet dominated by bread and grains.  This is not just about losing weight and maintaining the loss, but what might be the healthiest way for us to eat!

Eileen brings you something yummy this month, and having sampled it, I can state that it is too simple to be this good!

Finally, I reveal a recent study which shows that many Americans still don't know what to do for pain.  They either have ignored recommendations of how to get rid of their pain or someone is not telling them the truth!  I think that if this study truly is indicative of the American population, we need to take more responsibility for our own outcomes in life.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of ENews.  As always, you may call or email me with any questions that you may have.

Take care,

Dr. Frisch

p.s. You may have noticed that I removed the relaxation video from the site.  It has served its purpose over the last 5 years.  In its place I will be incorporating a full exercise page during the coming month.

Are You Emotional?

The emotions that each of us experience on a daily basis may seem to be personal, private, and sometimes confusing.  There are times that we may feel like no one understands us or cares if we exist.  Other times, we may be happy, humorous, and want to share ourselves with the world.  What is this all about and why can't we seem to control emotions and feel what we want, when we want it?

First, let me state that emotions are subjectively stimulated.  By this, I mean that a set of stimulating events, words or interactions must initiate the emotional response to begin with.  For example, suppose that you really do not like someone and each time that you see or meet this person, you feel uncomfortable and irritable.  That person is the stimulus to begin an emotional reaction.  Your physical reaction to the emotion, however, is not generated by the offending person, but rather, it is generated by your own brain.

There are regions of your brain that respond to emotionally charged stimulation.  We used to call it the Limbic system because so many areas were likely involved.  Science has now afforded us the ability to actually locate the brain areas involved and track their stimulation in sequences.

We like to think that our emotional thoughts and 'hang ups' are personal to us and only we experience what we feel.  This may not be totally accurate.  When I am yelled at by a rude driver in traffic, my brain will likely process the same emotional stimuli in the same sequence as when you are yelled at by a different driver in traffic.  The emotional 'brain' response may be set to process by rules not yet discovered.  How we 'objectively' react to that 'subjective' stimulation, however, may vary based on a lifetime of behavior patterns and learned responses that we, ourselves, reinforce over time.

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology agrees in part with my idea.¹  They found that without differentiating between positive or negative stimuli, subjects ..."elicited a distinct brain response compared to neutral stimuli, with a uniform pattern across subjects."

A second study² found significant response in 56 neurons of the pre-frontal cortex of 4 subject's brains, 16 of them were specific for 'negative' stimulation.  This means that negative stimuli may be processed distinctly different than positive stimuli by our brains.  By determining this, at some point in the future, medication may target these nuclei.

I project that if this type of research continues to hold true over time, people will need to realize and be held accountable for their actions. It is easy to blame someone else for the way you feel, but if everyone feels the same way when given the same stimuli, only the resulting actions taken will matter.  That is called personal responsibility!  WOW! Could  neurophysiology research actually prove beneficial in evolving human behavior?  That may be wishful thinking, but it certainly does shed some light on how and why we do the things that we do!

¹Ofek, E., Pratt, H. 2005. Neurophysiological correlates of subjective significance. Clinical Neurophysiology. October; 116(10): 2354-62.

² Kawasaki, H., Adolphs, R., Ova, H., Kovach, C., Damasio, H., Kaufman, O., Howard, M III. 2005. Analysis of single-unit responses to emotional scenes in human ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. October; 17(10): 1509-18.

Romantic Love vs Chemical Love

It has been said that the only true love that you will ever experience is your first love.  All other loves will be a comparison to that first experience of the heart.  Hormones always got blamed for the rash and sometimes unwise choices made by two people in love.

Recent research, however, has shown that your heart has little to do with who you choose to love and hormones take a back seat as well.  The regulator of love appears to be something called the 'Attraction System' in your brain!

The Attraction System is actually a reward-based system that functions through the stimulation and release of Dopamine.  Dopamine is a brain chemical that stimulates 'arousal' of the central nervous system.  The synthesis of Dopamine leads to Norepinephrine, which also 'alerts' the nervous system.

A study performed at Rutgers University used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to evaluate 17 subjects who were determined to be intensely "in love" according to prior medical research protocol¹. Two distinct areas of the brain were aroused when activated with specific information about their beloved.  The areas were the right ventral tegmentum, and the right caudate nucleus.  These are both dopamine-rich areas in a mammalian brain, which are activated by reward and motivation.

A unique finding about this study was that they were not talking about sexual arousal.  Sexual drive is an emotional response based on stimuli, but it is distinctly different from romantic love.  They were determining physical reaction to romantic love.  Romantic love evolves and changes with time.  It does not lessen or wane because of boredom or conquest, if anything it strengthens with time.  Any happily married couple will know exactly what I am talking about.  It is the "IT" in a long-term, successful marriage.

This was unique and credible research that does reveal some insight into why we may have chosen a specific love, over all others.  A reward system is used to drive a series of brain chemical reactions that are predictable and reproducible among mating mammals  The motivation and reward of being with that person has nothing to do with sex, and everything to do with a long-term choice of mates!

(Pretty Cool, Huh?)

¹ Fisher, H, Aron, A, Brown, LL. 2005. Romantic love: an fMRI study of a neural mechanism for mate choice. J Comp Neurol. December, 493(1): 58-62.

How Attractive is the Tire Around My Waist?

I know that it isn't fair to follow the last article with this one, especially, if you know that she loves you anyway, but let's be realistic. If we put more in the tube than we burn each day we will get fat!

The debate continues over what type of weight loss program is the most effective.  All one has to do is watch an evening of television to realize that what we are being sold is a projected lifestyle and image, rather than health.  What people fail to remember is that if they do lose the weight with one of the many programs out there, they are still going to be the same person that they were before they lost the weight.  If you don't like yourself when you are heavy, you still won't like yourself when you are thinner.  

A successful weight loss program must include both cognitive (thought) and behavioral measures to be successful long-term.  That is why I created the 3-Day Lifestyle Program for my clinic.  It is not designed to be a stand alone weight loss program, but it does incorporate cognitive and behavioral treatment to improve a dieter's chance for long-term success.  People going through the program understand the who, what, why and how of weight loss.  That being said, let's move on to some new research in the area of weight loss!

Those of your who have read my ENews on a regular basis do know of my fondness for a higher protein and lower carbohydrate 'dominance' of eating.  I do not like the word 'diet' because it implies giving something up, and who wants to do that? 

Eating higher protein and lower carbs will lower circulating insulin levels, increase circulating levels of fatty acids for oxidation, and fat stores are burned for energy at a higher rate.¹  It is that simple.  As long as protein is being eaten, the person does not have to worry about losing lean muscle mass because protein builds muscle!  If someone just reduces carbohydrates and doesn't increase protein, they will lose muscle mass.  That is the rap against low carb eating, they forget the other needed component...protein!

Additional research has been done on this method of eating (Notice I didn't say dieting?).  The University of Illinois, Division of Nutritional Sciences recently published the results of a study that describes how high protein, low carbohydrate eating chemically works in our bodies². 

The amino acid Leucine is produced by breaking down protein.  It is responsible for nitrogen balance in adults.  Leucine also reacts with the insulin pathway to control protein use and retain muscle protein during periods of low carbohydrate (energy) intake.  With Leucine activity, skeletal muscle glucose is conserved and fat stores are more widely used.  Hence, weight loss by fat loss!

Higher protein and lower carbohydrate eating is not that hard to do.  We just need to remember to focus on eating protein first, limiting carbohydrate intake second, and remembering to ingest fats as well because your body needs fats too!

¹ Adam-Perrot, A., Clifton, P., Brouns, F. 2006. Low-carbohydrate diets: nutritional and physiological aspects. Obesity Review. February; 7(1): 49-58.

² Layman, DK., Walker, DA., 2006. Potential importance of leucine in treatment of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Journal of Nutrition. January; 136(1): 319S-23S.

Eileen's Corner

Happy Valentines Day!

Instead of having some long or complicated recipe this month I decide that the men need to make reservations and us women need to go out! (Just kidding)

I decided this month to keep things simple and fabulous. Combinations work when the ingredients compliment one another.  I think that you will all like this 'Adult Dessert'!

Chocolate Chip, Caramel & Bailey's Ice Cream

Ingredients:

EDY'S Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

1 Jar of Caramel Sauce

Bailey's Irish Cream

In a large parfait glass, place two generous scoops of ice cream or until it reaches about 3/4 of the way to the top of the glass.  Depending on the size of the glass, it may be one large scoop.

Next, place 1-2 tablespoons of caramel sauce over the chocolate chip ice cream.  If you like more caramel than that, add more!

On top of the caramel, place another scoop of ice cream.  If you want to save the dessert for later, at this point, cover the ice cream with clear wrap and place it in the freezer.  Take it out right before you are going to serve it.  The ice cream should be firm for the next step.

Finally, pour a liberal amount of Irish Cream over the ice cream and serve. 

Note: 

Don't drench the ice cream in a lake of Bailey's.  Irish Cream does have alcohol in it, which will soften the ice cream.  If you like it that way, however, who am I to say you're wrong!!! 

Enjoy!

Eileen

Pain Affects Relationships

Pain is a common occurrence in our society.  People talk about pain, they talk about other people's pain, and pain is often a complete conversation topic in coffee shops and restaurants.

Pain is everywhere, but the definition and credibility that we often give to pain is unwarranted.  Pain is only a symptom that something in the body is not right.  Pain in itself is not a problem.  Too often, our society only treats the symptoms of pain.  When and if the pain wanes, we think that we are better and that a problem is gone.  Not so!

Pain is the last thing to show with a problem and the first symptom to let up with a problem.  Not the other way around.

The pain of a problem, once established, can and often does begin to limit aspects of our lives.  We restrict our physical activity because.."I can't do that anymore" or "I'm too old for that".  Unfortunately, we allow pain to age us long before the body is ready to get old!

Additionally, pain can begin to deteriorate our work and recreational activities, as well as our personal and intimate relationships.  To a certain extent, we allow pain to run us, rather than controlling it!  This sense of not being able to control pain often leads to feelings of helplessness and fear, which can and does increase pain levels.  I have talked about this topic in previous ENewsletters.

I have seen countless chronic pain patients over the years who have regained their health with chiropractic care.  Chiropractic  focuses on the 'structure and function' aspect of the body, which is what most problems are.  The transformation that a patient with chronic pain makes is enjoyable and rewarding to watch.  They usually start their sentences with "I never knew that Chiropractic could....".

If you thought that you were alone with your pain, you would be wrong.  A recently published study in the Journal of Mississippi State Medical Association¹ reported that over 1/3 of the State's residents are affected by pain on a monthly basis!  That's right....1/3 of the population.  Surprisingly though, 52% of the study population reported pain on a daily basis!

Of those reporting pain, back pain was most often noted (49%), with leg and knee pain (41%) and shoulder and arm pain (20%) following behind.  In addition to pain location, facets of everyday life were also evaluated.  The ability to sleep (84%), recreational/leisure activities (78%), ability to work (68%), sexual relations (43%), and relationships with others (36%) were all significantly impaired as a direct result of suffering with pain.  Mental health issues of depression (63%), anxiety (66%), and loneliness (46%) were also determined to be a direct result of suffering with pain.

The findings of this study are somewhat disturbing.  I have been treating patients for 20 years and preaching the benefits of chiropractic care on a daily basis.  It seems to me that, at least, 30% of the people aren't listening!

Let's start this new year right!  If you or someone that you know is suffering with chronic pain, take the bull by the horns and make a change!  Pain is bigger that 'just where it hurts'.  Pain, and especially chronic pain, touches too many aspects of life to ignore! 

1. Cosby, AG, et al. 2005. Profiles of pain in Mississippi: results from the Southern Pain Prevalence Study. J Miss State Med Assoc. Oct; 46(10): 301-309.

I hope that each of you have a great and healthy month!

Dr. Frisch