Making sense of proper diet and nutrition

Here is a great article on both the Vegan and Paleo approaches - read the comments too. My comments are below:
http://experiencelife.com/article/paleo-vs-vegan/


The bottom line is both Paleo and Vegan groups are passionate about healthy eating habits. My personal bias is Paleo because of my autoimmune disease called Achalasia. Since my esophagectomy in October 2010, I have been full on Paleo with incredible success.
A few comments:
1. Vegetarians and Vegans (at least those making up my patient base over the last 26 years) eat WAY too many grains and not nearly enough vegetables. As a Paleo proponent, I eat more veggies than most of my vegetarian/vegan patients.
2. Paleo does not have to be low carb. If you are working out with any intensity at all (more than just taking a walk daily) you will most likely need more carbs than what veggies can supply. I choose not to eat grains of any type (I can eat rice once a week) as I have experimented on myself and just don't do well with grains. I choose sweet potato, yams, turnips, parsnips. The harder I train, the more I need these foods to recover.
3. Paleo does not have to be super high protein. If you are training hard, I would argue that you will benefit from higher protein (good sources of course as per the article) and I do benefit myself. Read this post by Nora Gedgaudas about protein and Paleo
4. Here is a great article with a menu plan from the different Paleo/primal approaches
5. Most Vegans/Vegetarians are going to be nutrient deficient. These deficiencies (Mg; Zn; Vitamin D; Omega 3's - sorry, flax seeds, etc. do not convert efficiently to DHA; B12) can take time to show up.
6. Everyone owes it to themselves to do a bit of personal experimentation. Discover what works for you and get healthy!

Sports Injury Care = Sports Injury Prevention = Sports Performance

Chiropractor and strength & conditioning trainer says injury treatment and prevention holds key to improved athletic performance. http://ow.ly/aaBUv

Chiropractors and the United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Program

U.S. Olympic Committee Medical Director: a chiropractor
http://www.teamusa.org/news/article/902

Medical Director, Sports Medicine Clinics: a chiropractor
http://www.teamusa.org/resources/usoc-sport-performance/sports-medicine/clinics-staff

Nuf Said!

Functional Movement Screen

Protect your child and yourselves!

Read about the Functional Movement Screen and why EVERY ATHLETE must have this done - click here.

Great Used Weightlifting/Powerlifting Equipment

I met Jim Gross yesterday from Sterling, VA and picked up a great set of weight plates. The money Jim makes goes to Meridians Recovery for those recovering from substance abuse. To contact Jim:
jim@meridiansrecovery.org
703-434-9009

ACL SURGERY - YES OR NO?

I was listening to this podcast today - 
Return to exercise after ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury, with Dr Richard Frobell 

- and I was blown away by this question and answer exchange:

Interviewer to Dr. Frobell: "You are now not so young anymore. So if you had your ACL torn in Alpine Skiing in Sweden, what would you do with it?"

Dr. Frobell: "I would most definitely wait with an ACL reconstruction. I would try rehabilitation at first [my emphasis]. If I still would experience instability because I am an active guy, I like to do sports, and if that would decrease my ability to do sports I would seriously consider a reconstruction. But I would never perform that at first. [my emphasis]"

WOW! What a change in thought. And what a concept.....rehab first! 

Injury care = rehab = sports performance. I have been saying this for decades! Surgery is always an option.... but as a last resort if all else fails.

Technique - It has always been and always will be about technique

Listen to Dr. Anthony Beutler talking about ACL Injury Prevention at the British Journal of Sports Medicine's podcast page - The JUMP-ACL study with Anthony Beutler

"There is no magic in the exercises....What really seems to be magic is the coaching [my emphasis]. Is actually getting people to change the way they perform these tasks, so that they do them in a more biomechanically sound [manner] with a movement pattern that is less risky for injury puts them at less risk for injury. That really seems to be the key so we emphasize good form, your knees need to be in line with your hips, your knees need to be in line with your toes, your toes need to be pointed straight forward and that you land softly."

Like I said, it always has been and always will be about technique.

EVERYONE NEEDS A KNOWLEDGEABLE COACH!