Holistic Health Tips from NYC Chiropractor Dr. Louis Granirer

Every one of us has genetic predispositions. In other words, we have genes that, when activated, increase the likelihood of developing a specific physical or emotional disease. What genes we inherit are specifically determined by our parents and are influenced mostly by our ancestors going back seven generations. What is Epigenetics? Epigenetics is the study of how our environment and how we live our lives influence our gene expression. Many people believe they are destined to have a disease because their mom or dad had it, and live in fear of the potential to develop a certain disease. Many studies have shown that we have much more control of how our genes are expressed than ever imagined. John Cairns, a British molecular biologist, did research with bacteria and discovered that bacteria responded to changes in their environment by altering its DNA. His research is just some of the compelling evidence that our genes are either turned on or off depending on our diet, emotional state,...

We've all had our moments of forgetfulness, brain fog, struggles to remember a word or a task. Many people say that they are feeling "their age" because they can't find the words, or are forgetful. They assume and accept that they will have cognitive decline as they age. There are many people that do, but there are ways to fight off cognitive decline and enhance brain function. We are bombarded by information and stimuli from our environments that our brains are constantly processing. We ask a lot of our brains. Our brains have about 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day, and on top of that, the brain is responsible for keeping our bodies running efficiently. These are some of the ways to keep our brains sharp and healthy. I will start with the simplest thing that everyone should be doing:   Exercise Exercise stimulates glial-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, both of which stimulate the formation of new brain cells. Many people stop ...

Exercise can relieve mental tension, promote emotional balance, and can be extremely beneficial to the immune system. However, If you overtrain, are under chronic stress, and are not supported nutritionally, this can have a deleterious effect on the body. Numerous studies have concluded that intensive exercise of a long duration (greater than 90 minutes) can have a depressive effect on the immune system. People that train for marathons are 50 percent more likely to have an upper respiratory infection or cold than the general population. Many marathon runners aren't supplementing with essential nutrients that help with the burden they are placing on their bodies. Long duration exercise increases the hormone cortisol, increases pro-inflammatory cytokines, promotes lactic and pyruvic acid builds up, ammonia buildup, hypoxia, and a change in the circulating immune cells. Here are some tips to counteract these side-effects for all fitness lovers and endurance athletes. Supporting you...

Collagen is the most plentiful protein in the human body, and the most common protein found in mammals. It is primarily composed of three amino acids: glycine, proline and lysine. There are over twenty different types of collagen found in the human body, but types 1, 2 and 3 comprise 80 to 90 percent of total collagen. Collagen is essential for the skin, ligaments, bone, blood vessels, eyes, heart (heart valves), organ encasements, gums, teeth, bladder, fascia, and tendons. Collagen is secreted by many types of cells including fibroblasts. Over 85 percent of the protein in the human body is collagen. The successful functioning of our bodies is dependent on adequate collagen synthesis. As we get older, collagen production declines. This shows up as wrinkles and changes in the structural integrity of the skin. Another area in the body that is indicative of decreased collagen production can be receding gums.  In order to make collagen, the body requires an adequate amount of t...

People are often heard saying the same thing, "I eat really healthy and don't understand why I am not feeling well." The truth is, there is no one diet or generalized way of eating that works for everyone. Some people do well with a vegetarian diet, and others don't feel well without animal protein in their diet. The bottom line with "healthy" eating is that we all have individual food requirements and sensitivities that are based on our genetics, the microbes in our gut, blood type, the amount of a particular food that we consume, our stress levels, toxin content in our foods and environment, etc. Certain so-called healthy foods may be causing inflammation, digestive disturbances, and contributing to systemic conditions and autoimmune disease in many people. Lectins are another piece in the complex food puzzle, and many people with chronic conditions and disease may need to limit them in their diet. Lectins are proteins found in plants that are basic...

The number-one cause of death globally has consistently been cardiovascular disease. Coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and stroke are the most prevalent forms of cardiovascular disease that lead to premature death. About 1-in-4 deaths is the result of heart disease. In the U.S., someone has a heart attack every 42 seconds, and cardiovascular disease-related deaths occur every 60 seconds. Geographically speaking, the southern United States has the highest incidence of heart disease, whereas the West has the lowest. Diet, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle are essential to supporting the heart and cardiovascular system. Here are some suggestions to help to support this vital system . 1. Inflammation and stress:   Inflammation is the heart's nemesis. Many factors cause inflammation in the body, such as toxicity, sugar, processed food, pollution, food sensitivities, microbial issues, chemicals, and prolonged stress. In fact, a recent study in Lancet (volume 389, no. 10071),...

When people think of testosterone, they generally think of men, but both men and women require proper levels of this vital hormone for sex drive, energy, red blood cells, bone health, mood, muscle development and cognitive ability. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands in women, and in the testicles and adrenal glands in men. It starts to decline when we get into our 30's and steadily declines with age. Testosterone is produced from cholesterol. If someone has very low levels of cholesterol, there is a good chance that they will have low testosterone. Unfortunately, many men that are on cholesterol lowering drugs like statins end up having sexual dysfunction issues because the body has less cholesterol to produce hormones like testosterone. Men that are overweight are more prone to lower testosterone levels because of an enzyme called aromatase, which is produced by fat cells. Aromatase converts testosterone into estradiol, which is ...

The greatest multitasker and the most active organ in the human body is probably the liver. Many of us know the main function of the liver is to filter out the bad stuff from our bodies, but the liver's functions are vast and go way beyond filtration. The liver filters chemicals, toxins, and biological compounds. It stores vitamins, glycogen (stored form of glucose), cholesterol, iron, copper, and fats. The liver synthesizes cholesterol, estrogen, proteins, bile (fat digestion aid), anti-clotting factors, hormones for bone growth and soft tissue growth, and is essential for thyroid hormone conversion. It controls homeostasis for glucose, proteins, fat, cholesterol, hormones, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). It excretes Immunoglobulins into the digestive tract (Kupfer cells), which are important for the health of the immune system. It regulates the blood supply by storing blood cells and breaking down blood cells for elimination. Even if a majority of the liver is damaged, ...

Everyone should add this test to their bloodwork. Homocysteine is an amino acid that has been gaining a lot of traction as an indicator and piece of the health puzzle. If levels of homocysteine are high in the body, people may be at much greater risk for heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, migraines, hearing loss, brain atrophy, eye problems, and other inflammatory conditions. Homocysteine is derived through the methylation process and another amino acid called methionine. Methionine is taken into our bodies through food like meat (especially beef and lamb), eggs, fish, dairy, seeds, nuts (Brazil nuts have the highest levels), and some vegetables (broccoli, mushroom, cauliflower). The methionine to homocysteine conversion and back to methionine is dependent on certain B vitamins, minerals, and trimethylglycine (extract from beetroot). 30 to 50 percent of the population has an MTHFR defect, and this limits the ability to methylate. Methylation is a vital process in the body tha...

The most common infectious agent in the U.S. is by far the common cold. Most people who get a cold will suffer for 7 to 10 days. Some people can suffer three weeks or longer if their immune systems are not functioning well. Colds are caused by viruses; they are not caused by bacteria. Antibiotics do not treat a cold because they are antibacterial and not anti-viral. If your doctor gives you an antibiotic for a cold, you might want to find a new doctor! So, how do you cut the duration of a cold from 10 days to 2 days? Here are my tips for zapping a cold. 1- Anti-viral herbs and supplements: One of the herbal complexes that I have used to help patients battle colds is a product by Standard Process called Andrographis Complex. It contains andrographis, holy basil and the root of Echinacea. It is successful in significantly reducing the duration of approximately 85 percent of common cold cases. Andrographis Complex is effective when 5 to 6 pills are taken per day spread out in four do...