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Wellness
Care and Anti-Oxidants
There is a growing body of evidence that wellness care provided
by doctors of chiropractic may reduce health care costs, improve
health behaviors, and enhance patient perceived quality of life.
Until recently, however, little was know about how chiropractic
adjustments affected the chemistry of biological processes on a
cellular level.
In
a landmark study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research, chiropractors collaborating with researchers at the University
of Lund found that chiropractic care could influence basic physiological
processes affect oxidative stress and DNA repair. These findings
offer a scientific explanation for the positive health benefits
reported by patients receiving chiropractic care.
Long
term chiropractic care of two or more years was shown to increase
levels of serum thiols which serve as your body’s antioxidants.
This was independent of age, sex, or nutritional supplements. Symptom-free
or primary wellness subjects under chiropractic care demonstrated
higher thiol levels than patients with active disease, and produced
values that were higher than normal wellness values in non-chiropractic
subjects.
Serum
thiols are primary antioxidants, and serve as a measure of human
health status. The test provides an estimate of DNA repair enzyme
activity, which had been shown to correlate with lifespan and aging.
Going
through life, we experience physical, chemical, and emotional distress.
These stresses affect the function of the nervous system. The investigators
hypothesized that these disturbances in nerve function could affect
oxidative stress and DNA repair on a cellular level.
Chiropractors
apply spinal adjustments to correct disturbances of nerve function
caused by vertebral subluxations. Chiropractic care appears to improve
the ability of the body to adapt to stress. Further research is
planned to gain additional insights into mechanisms that will ultimately
lead to improved clinical outcomes.
In
my opinion, everyone would be better off with wellness chiropractic
care. I’ve been a patient for the past 26 years and have only
missed one sick day from the office.
Yours
in health,
Lynne
Sullivan D.C.
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