It started when I was 10 minutes in on Betty’s Branch, a tributary of the Savannah River in Augusta GA, competing in a stand up paddle board race. My board fin hit a sandbar and the way my body propelled forward seemed to have had most of the force go into my right big toe. I fell forward, got back up, and OUCH! My big toe was pointing out away from my foot to the side. My immediate thought was that my toe had dislocated. I had put joints back before, so here it goes - Snap! It went back in straight and I kept paddling. I learned pain like this is a good motivator. I’m assuming the adrenaline helped too.

I completed the race and came in second. The 40 seconds or so I spent during this episode may have cost me 1st place! Anyway, I wrapped up my toe and foot in KT tape and worked our DON SUP Paddle Co tent the rest of the day. Ice, Ice baby!

Still thinking my toe was just sore from the dislocation and possibly a severe sprain/strain, I actually kept walking on it and made my own makeshift splint. A couple weeks in, and ever so often a small pivot here, a bigger pivot here and I could hear and feel crunching. Yikes :/

I saw my good friend, paddler buddy and fellow chiropractor, Rob, to take x-rays about 20 days from the time of injury. Turns out I had been walking around on a spiral fracture. Oops.

Heidi, who always has good intentions for me and my health, finally got me to call and see a podiatrist. My initial thinking was that because I had a severe sprain/strain, movement would be key to healing it. Now that I saw that the toe was actually crushed, I took Heidi’s advice and saw the foot doc. He basically said I had to boot it for 6 weeks, and that “health care providers are the worst patients”. I agreed.

Well, I found out how bad of a patient I really was. I repeatedly took the boot off and would walk on it until the pain was too much. Another visit to the podiatrist and the doctor threatened to cast me. I wore the boot for a total of about 7 weeks.

I’m a huge stickler for big toe movement as I am aware of how important optimal and flexible movement of the first toe is, as it affects gait, performance and posture. So, you can imagine how freaked out I was to have broken my big toe! The couple of weeks leading up to, and right after removing the boot, I did alot of my own mobility work and acupuncture. I went down the rabbit hole on anything related to gait and foot performance.

I began to realize how amazing feet are and how bad our Western way of living is with regards to foot health. It turns out that we have an amazing built-in operating system for natural, optimal body movement. As we develop from crawling babies to walking/running/jumping adults some of us maintain these natural movement patterns, but most of us loose them. Its my belief that wearing stiff shoes when learning to walk and as kids, sitting for long periods since school, and the lack of routine bending, squatting and ground access (resting and doing stuff on the floor) contribute to the loss of our innate natural movement. The coolest thing I learned was that this natural pattern of movement is found in nature and is all around us. There is even math and geometry that helps explain it!

I signed up for a sprint biathalon about 6 weeks from the day I stopped wearing the boot. The race would be a 5K stand up paddle board race followed by a 5K run across a bridge. I figured if what I was learning was true, then I would test it myself. I vowed to train in zero drop minimalist sandals because I needed protect the skin of my feet but allow for maximal ground feeling and toe/foot movement. With the new awareness of natural movement and my own experience in physical medicine, I trained.

I won the sprint biathalon! I even ran it in my sandals while carrying my paddle. I was proud of myself and happy to experience the journey of healing and learning. Since then, I have helped others with their own body awareness and taught them about natural movement. Runners, walkers, and other active folks have reported better movement, performance and less aches and pains! Basically, it comes down to awareness and incorporating small lifestyle changes during rest, play, and work. If you want to learn more about how to incorporate natural movement into your lifestyle, please come see me!

See the pics below :)

Normal X ray of big toe (smooth lines).

X ray of my spiral fracture (jagged lines).

Das boot.

Me running with paddle.

Stopping because I forgot to put on my sandals for the bridge run.

Awards. Won a cool paddle for first place!

The idea of seed oils doesn’t seem that bad at first. I mean, the oil comes from plants. Unfortunately, a closer look at seed oils reveals a not-so-healthy picture.

So, what are “seed oils”?

Seed oils are oils extracted from the seeds of various plants, such as sunflower, soybean, corn, sesame, and safflower. These oils are commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, and industrial applications due to their high unsaturated fat content. They're also a popular choice in the food industry and skincare products.

Common seed oils:

1. Soybean oil

2. Sunflower oil

3. Canola oil (Rapeseed)

4. Corn oil

5. Sesame oil

6. Safflower oil

7. Cottonseed oil

8. Grape seed oil

9. Pumpkin seed oil

10. Flaxseed oil

Why are seed oils “bad”?

While seed oils can have some health benefits due to their unsaturated fat content, they can also pose potential health risks when consumed in excessive amounts. Here are some reasons why seed oils are sometimes considered less healthy:

1. High Omega-6 Fatty Acid Content

Many seed oils, such as soybean, corn, and sunflower oil, are high in omega-6 fatty acids. While omega-6 fatty acids are essential for health, excessive intake, especially in relation to omega-3 fatty acids, can contribute to inflammation and various chronic diseases. Interestingly, genetic factors may contribute to positive or negative effects of consuming Omega 6’s.

2. Processing Methods:

Seed oils are often refined using high heat, chemical solvents (e.g hexane), and deodorization processes, which can degrade the oil's nutritional quality and produce harmful compounds like trans fats and oxidation byproducts.

3. Imbalance in Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio:

The modern Western diet tends to be high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega-3 fatty acids. This imbalance can promote inflammation and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

4. Potential for Oxidation:

Seed oils, particularly those high in polyunsaturated fats, are prone to oxidation when exposed to heat, light, and air. Oxidized oils can generate harmful compounds that may contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.

5. Industrial Production:

The mass production of seed oils often involves the use of genetically modified seeds, pesticides, and other chemicals, which alone can have environmental and health implications.

Overall, while moderate consumption of unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils as part of a balanced diet can be beneficial, excessive intake of highly processed seed oils may contribute to health issues. Choosing oils with a healthier fatty acid profile, such as olive oil or avocado oil, and limiting the use of seed oils in favor of whole food sources of fats may be a better option for overall health.

Tips:

Read the labels

Take a look at the ingredients of the packaged foods you eat.

Ask Staff

When eating out, ask about what oils you are eating. You’ll be surprised by what you might find out. Some places you mignt have thought of as “healthy” may not use healthy oils and some places you might have assumed are not healthy might use healthier oil alternatives

Although each individual may have particular sensitivities, allergies or preferences regarding food choices, the more we know about our food supply, the better choices we can make. Many agree that the US food supply is of poor quality. The better choices we make at the grocery store and restaurant, then maybe the more impact this will have with food production as a whole.

What are other alternatives and suggestions?

1. Olive oil:

Extra virgin olive oil is a popular and healthy choice due to its high monounsaturated fat content and antioxidants.

2. Avocado oil:

Avocado oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and has a high smoke point, making it suitable for cooking at high temperatures.

3. Coconut oil:

Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and is suitable for cooking at moderate temperatures. It adds a unique flavor to dishes.

4. Ghee:

Ghee is clarified butter with the milk solids removed, making it suitable for high-heat cooking and imparting a rich flavor to dishes.

5. Butter:

While high in saturated fat, butter can be used in moderation for cooking and flavoring dishes.

6. Animal fats:

Lard, tallow, and duck fat are traditional fats that can be used for cooking. Look for high-quality, minimally processed options.

7. Nut oils:

Walnut oil, almond oil, and hazelnut oil can add flavor to dishes and are suitable for dressings and low-heat cooking.

8. Palm oil:

Red palm oil, when sustainably sourced, can be used for cooking and baking. It contains beneficial antioxidants and has a distinct flavor.

9. Macadamia nut oil:

This oil has a high smoke point and a buttery flavor, making it suitable for cooking and salad dressings.

10. Rice bran oil:

Rice bran oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, making it suitable for frying and stir-frying.

These alternatives offer a variety of flavors and nutritional profiles, allowing you to choose the best option based on your taste preferences and cooking needs.

Although the consumption of seed oils in small amounts might not be an issue, it is the sheer quantity that ends up in the foods we consume on a daily basis that is the issue. The mass production of seed oils os one factor in its availabilty and their lower costs. Should we be able to purchase and consume convenient, whole, natural foods that are affordable on a more regular basis, then seed oils would not be such a big concern. However, the over-consumption and constant trickle of poor quality, highly manufactured/processed, and inflammation-promoting oils in our food is a problem.

Tips:

Use technology to help you find healthier sources of food.

For example, Seed Oil Scout is an app that enables comsumers to rate and inform other users about the oils used at the restaurants they dine in.

Tip:

Join me in reporting on restaurants in your area on the Seed Oil Scout app. https://www.seedoilscout.com

Here is a link to an article published on the USA SUP website written by Dr. Tony

Breathing

Your body is the vehicle given to you when you became spirit + mind + body (i.e. human). As you develop, things can go wrong and things can go right. Most of us have the gift of a pretty good functioning body with all its limbs and organs intact and working. Some of us don’t. What would a person without hearing or vision do to hear a bird sing or see a colorful bird fly? Would a person born without working legs want to feel what its like to hike a mountain trail or walk along a sandy beach?

The point is - How we relate to the immediate world around us (reality) has a lot to do with how we move around in it. Some would argue that technology like augmented/virtual reality can give us experiences that can reproduce a reality like hiking Mount Everest or fighting monsters, but doubtedly the physical demands on the body do not even come close.

Treasure your body. Treat it kindly. Take care of it. The rewards may be worth it!

I made a list (See below) of people and techniques that have had some type of influence on me over the course of my 20 plus years of my Chiropractic career. It’s by no means an exhaustive list (I might have forgotten some and I am sure there will be more). Exposing my self (mind and/or body) to be open to another person’s ideas has been a gift for me. Each person on my list is just that - a person. A person with their own unique viewpoint and application to healing and/or improving function of the body Yes, there may be some motivated to expand and grow their viewpoints into a methodology and into an enterprise. But, who am I to judge them? I learn and use what makes sense to me. Besides, if it helps someone reduce their suffering and promote health, then good for them! What if these folks never thought (aka “thot”) outside the box?

When it comes to “health and wellness” we all have our unique perceptions, ideas, and experiences. What helps one might not help another, and even what might help someone at a particular time, might not help them at another time. The key is to be open. Regardless of what we think, the body strives for healing and better function when given a chance. One way I think about all of these techniques and applications is summed up in this word - Catalyst.

AUDE SAPERE! (Dare to taste, to experience, to understand)

- Samuel Hahneman, Father Of Homeopathy

I stepped back and contemplated all the knowledege and experiences that each person on my list must have gone through to share there unique perspectives with the world. Pretty amazing that the human body will take what it can and use it to heal and function better! In my opinion, the body doesn’t care what we call our techniques or our products, it just does what it wants to do naturally - function better and heal. Because the human body is matter and subject to external physical forces (Gravity for example and how it can influence negative forces on posture and instances of micro/macro trauma) and internal emotional stresses (like worry, fear and anxiety), it needs our own free will, choices and actions to resist and recover from these negative forces.

The Power that made the body heals the body.

- D.D. Palmer, Father of Chiropractic

My List

No particular order.

CHIROPRACTIC NAMES

Palmer

Smith

Gonstead

Fuhr

Harrison

Hoffman

Grostic

Anrig

Souza

Plaugher

Miller

Thompson

Koren

Goodman

Charrette

Cox

Nimmo

Logan

Pierce

Stillwagon

Pettibon

DeJarnett

Goodheart

Sweat

Webster

Spitler

MANUAL THERAPY TECHNIQUE AND NAMES

Barral

Smith

Still

Stecco

Rolf

Hammer

Lewitt

Lowen

Myers

Mitchell

Graston

Rossiter

Janda

Napravit

Tui Na

Tok Sen

Lomi Lomi

Strain-Counter Strain

Fascial Manipulation

Muscle Energy

Contractile Field Model

Direct/Indirect Fascial Creeping

Mobilization

Manual Mechanotherapy

Facilitated Positional Release

Visceral Manipulation

Dermoneuromodulationing

Balanced Ligamentous Tension Technique

OTHER NAMES/TECHNIQUES ASSOCIATED WITH POSTURE, RESEARCH, FITNESS AND THE LIKE.

McKenzie

McGill

Herzog

Beach

Egoscue

Chaitow

Pilates

Huff

Dvorak

Brady

Hightower

GOATA

Weck

Foundation Training

Functional Patterns

Dynamic Spinal Stabilization

Wim Hof

Naprapathy

Oakley Smith

Five Elements Chinese Acupuncture

S.O.T.

DNFT

Motion Palpation

Network Spinal Analysis

Catalyst System

CranioSacral

Reiki

Shanahan

Guyton

Hoppenfeld

Who is James Allen?

I’m a big fan of James Allen, a British philosophical writer that lived 1864 to 1912.

Here he starts an exerpt in a work called Bodily Conditions (From Man: king of mind, body, and circumstance.) It resonated with me.

“There are today scores of distinct schools devoted to the healing of the body; a fact which shows the great prevalence of physical suffering, as the hundreds of religions, devoted to the comforting of men’s minds prove the universality of mental suffering. Each of these schools has its place in so far as it is able to relieve suffering, even where it does not eradicate the evil; for with all these schools of healing, the facts of disease and pain remain with us, just as sin and sorrow remain despite of the many religions.”