Dr.Garber’s Blog

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“Work your core!” That’s been the mantra of trainers and instructors at gyms everywhere. The stronger your core, the more support to your low back. But what constitutes your core and how best to strengthen those core muscles is being questioned in light of new findings coming out of the top spine research labs.

Far too much attention has been given to the deep abdominal muscles as the key to core strength. Concentrating on these muscles can actually destabilize the spine, putting it risk for injury. The way we perform many of the exercises that target these muscles puts a tremendous load on the spine, especially the intervertebral discs which can lead to a herniation.

Below is a short video in which professor of spine biomechanics Stuart McGill explains how to properly and safely do a few exercises that will strengthen you core in a balanced way:

From The New York Times Magazine, June 21, 2009

Health care costs, and how to get them under control, is one of today’s most important issues. It is at the forefront of President Obama’s agenda, as well it should be. The big problem is that everyone has a different idea of how costs should be controlled, with each interested group trying desperately to protect their own turf, or rather, their own income stream.

An article in the current New Yorker’s Annals of Medicine column [I know, I know - as a line from a play I once saw went, "Life's too short for the New Yorker." but, if you're at all interested in the topic, this article is a must read] discusses one the key issues surrounding the debate, the profit motive. Now, although I am a proponent of a single-payer system, there is nothing inherently wrong with delivering health care for profit. Some have even called this immoral. What is immoral is when health care decisions are made solely for profit, at the patient’s expense. This problem is pervasive within the health care delivery system, and while much of it may be unconscious, much is not.

There are, of course, many other factors that contribute. A disproportionate amount of our health care dollars are spent on treating preventable conditions. This is a well documented fact. Diet and lifestyle changes (see my previous blog posts on cholesterol) should be at the top of every doctor’s list. But even when they are, many patients, if not most, are simply unwilling to take responsibility for their own health and make the changes that will save their lives.

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The AMA is opposed to President Obama’s plan for a government sponsored health insurance plan. And so am I! Who Me? On the same side as the AMA? Well, in this instance, yes. The AMA is opposed to the creation of a government sponsored health insurance plan, and so am I. But for very different reasons. The AMA opposes it because it will cut into doctors fees, also that of hospitals. On the other hand, I am against it because it circumvents the real issue. What we don’t need is more or different health insurance plans, government sponsored or otherwise. What we do need is a government sponsored health plan, sans the insurance part. The former still leaves us with all the pitfalls of the corporate profit motive behind medical decision making. At least the current health insurance policies, those that are coupled with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs,) which I have been a proponent of and have for my own family as the best current option, take the “Is it covered?” part out of the equation. I still remember so vividly, many years ago, a patient of mine asking after I enumerated for him his options for the treatment of his condition, which included surgery as well as a very effective non-invasive technique, what was covered by his insurance policy. When I explained to him that the non-invasive alternative to surgery was not a covered procedure, he said he would opt for the surgery, despite the risks. This blew my mind but at the same time I understood. I understood on a personal level what it meant to him financially but I also understood just how completely out of control our health care delivery system was. This man was willing to undergo a high risk surgical procedure, with an uncertain outcome, rather than elect to have a well documented, effective and relatively risk free non-surgical procedure performed, because one was covered by his health insurance plan and the other was not. It was truly a sad state of affairs. So now our country is on the verge of making a great leap towards rectifying this situation - or a great mistake. Pandering to the guise of the powers that be, rather than shooting for true reform in how health care is delivered in this country, will set us back decades. I am thrilled with the current administration’s agenda in most every arena but I fear that it’s push towards health care reform is going in the wrong direction.

Suicides are on the rise because of this economy. People are stalled in their lives due to fear and uncertainty. President Roosevelt was right when he said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Let’s turn that darkness into light.

HELP ME HELP THE WORLD!

My formulas for Sleep, Anxiety and Depression will help you, your friends and loved ones better deal with today’s unprecedented challenges. Without the harmful side effects of pharmaceuticals. They are safe and effective and have been prescribed successfully by doctors to thousands of patients over the years. Together we can help millions!

HELP ME HELP THE WORLD!

Because this is so important to me, and I know that money is tight for everyone, from now through Independence Day (July 4, 2009) you will be able to buy Dr. Garber’s Natural Solutions for Sleep, Anxiety and Depression at 50% off the retail price. Buy for yourself and for someone you know who could use a helping hand. To order, click on the following links: Sleep, Anxiety, Depression.

Together we can get through this and bring a sense of well being to everyone we know.

HELP ME HELP THE WORLD!

Thank you for your support.

Please forward this message to a friend.

Recently a friend heard that I thought ordering an egg- whites only omelette was not a good idea and asked for an explanation. She was under the impression, as many are, that this was the more preferable, healthier way to eat eggs. After all, It had all of the protein and none of the fat. Precisely why it is not healthy. There is not a single source of protein found in nature that is not accompanied by some fat. It is this protein/fat combination that allows both to be properly assimilated by the body, availing it of all the nutrients that each has to offer. Protein without it’s accompanying fat is acidifies the body, predisposing the body to many degenerative diseases, from arthritis to cancer. It’s yet another example of the synergy of whole foods. If you’re concerned about the fat, or the cholesterol, or the whatever - eat less of the thing - but eat it in the way nature intended it. You’ll get more out of it - more pleasure and more nutirition.

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