Why Use Probiotics?

"The intestinal tract can thus be considered the most extensive disturbance field for the regulatory system. As such it stresses the matrix system through toxins and mineral deficiencies, since it is in the abdomen that this tissue is most abundant and in its purest form."* Antibiotics, environmental toxins, processed food, gluten intolerance all contribute to damaging or destroying the intestinal flora that resides in the small and large intestine. Even small disturbances to the flora causes stress to the entire body. This stress shows up in damage to immune system, hormone system, neurological system, enzyme production and in tissue healing rates. Vitamins, trace elements (especially zinc and iron) and minerals start absorbing at a lower rates causing these systems to break down. As zinc levels fall the body loses its ability to detoxify heavy metals (i.e. mercury). Iron levels fall causing decreased hematocit levels and any endurance athlete knows the meaning of that, less oxygen available for muscles and decrease in performance. 

It is paramount to preserve or restore the flora of the intestine if one is to not only attain optimum performance but also optimum health. Using probiotics will restore this balance and coupling with a quality mutivitamin/multimineral will ease the stress put onto the body.  

*The Extracellular Matrix and Ground Regulation. Basis for Holistic and Biological Medicine. Alfred Pischinger, 2004 pp162.

Why Whey? For Better Performance and Faster Recovery!

I am often asked "what protein powder should I use?" Personal preferences aside whey powder is certainly a great choice. Whey powder has the ability to reduce recovery time by stimulating muscle protein synthesis, provide amino acid building blocks, has anti-inflammatory effects (which I am ALWAYS looking for ways to reduce inflammation), boosts the immune system and reduces toxins. Wow, this stuff is pretty good! Taking it to the next level though occurs when using UNDENATURED Whey.


Undenatured Whey has all the benefits of denatured whey but with addition of raising the levels of glutathione in the body. Glutathione is the most powerful anti-oxidant known in the body. During training and exercise through oxidative processes cell-damaging free radicals are increasing in the body. Raising glutathione levels in the body can have the following effects:

• Reduce the free radicals that lead to muscle inflammation and damage
• Reduce muscle fatigue/delayed onset muscle soreness
• Decrease recovery time from training
• Increase strength and endurance
• Improve ability to endure exhaustive exercise
• Increase peak power and work capacity
• Shift metabolism from fat production to muscular development
• Maintain white blood cell counts that normally fall during intense training sessions
• Prevent over training symptoms
• Improve performance
• Increase resistance to illness
• Detoxify foreign substances

That is an impressive list to say the least and are the reasons I have been recommending Undenatured Whey to those who do not have a whey sensitivity. 


Here is a simple recipe to follow.
1 cup filtered water
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
3/4 cup whole oats
Blend then add 1 scoop of Undenatured Whey and stir in until it is homogenized. Important: do not blend in Undenatured Whey with blender this will potentially denature the whey. 


Let me know how this works out and if there is anything I can add or answer for you.


Information from Nutri-Notes/ ed. Dr. Lynn Toohey. Vol 10, #4

Energy Bar Recipe

So for the last couple of months I have been experimenting with energy bar recipes. The ingredients are focused around keeping inflammation down. I use pastured eggs which are high in Omega 3. Hens fed a grain diet produce eggs which are high in Omega 6 and too much Omega 6 in the diet produced inflammation. I use Sea Salt to get trace minerals which are perfect for your adrenals among other functions...like keeping the muscles from cramping. I use Coconut Oil because it is a medium chain triglyceride which absorbs rather quickly for a fat. Nuts are a good option but I have a small allergy to them so in keeping the inflammation down I don't use nuts. I get the protein from the eggs.


Cook 2 cups of Sweet Brown Rice in 4 cups of water.
When rice is finished cooking preheat oven to 375 F.
In a bowl mix 6 eggs
6-9 Figs diced
1 cup raisins
3 Tablespoons Molasses
1 Tablespoon Sea Salt
6 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
nuts are optional...or whatever else you want


Now mix cooked rice into egg mixture then pour into a 9x13 pan and bake for about 40-45 mins uncovered until top starts to brown. After cooling for 30 minutes they are ready to eat. Let cool COMPLETELY prior to putting into refrigerator.


Cut them into approx. 2x2 inch squares and wrap in parchment paper then place into plastic bag to put into your jersey or wherever you carry your food.


Experiment and if you trip onto something better send me a note so I can try it.

Interesting takes from various studies

Dr. Dan Murphy put together this review from various studies. Some fascinating information in this review.

Spinal stiffness was linked to visceral pathology with nearly 100% accuracy based upon sympathetic innervation.
(Medical Times, 1921)

1,000 capsules of Tylenol in a lifetime doubles the risk of end stage renal disease. (New England Journal of Medicine, 1994)

The average time for a whiplash-injured patient to achieve maximum improvement is 7 months 1 week. (Spine, 1994)

93% of patients with chronic whiplash pain who have failed medical and physical therapy care improve with chiropractic adjustments. (Injury, 1996)

Taking the correct drug for the correct diagnoses in the correct dose will kill about 106,000 Americans per year, making it the 4th most common cause of death in the US. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1998)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid and/or osteoarthritis conservatively cause 16,500 Americans to bleed to death each year, making that the 15th most common cause of death in the US. (New England Journal of Medicine, 1999)

Glutamate and aspartame can cause chronic pain sensitization, and removing them from the diet for 4 consecutive months can eliminate all chronic pain symptoms. (Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2002)

Chiropractic spinal adjusting has been shown to be better than 5 times more effective than the NSAIDs pain drugs Celebrex and Vioxx in the treatment of chronic neck and low back pain. (Spine, 2003)

In patients suffering from chronic pain subsequent to degenerative spinal disease, 59% can eliminate the need for pain drugs by consuming adequate levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids. (Surgical Neurology, 2006)

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to significantly lower blood pressure. (Journal of Human Hypertension, 2007)
The estimated incidence of chronic pain from whiplash trauma is 15-40%. (Jour of the Am Academy of Ortho Surg, 2007)

Meniere’s Disease has been linked to a disorder of the upper cervical spine facet joints. (International Tinnitus Jour, 2007)

Supplementing with vitamin D3 has the potential to reduce cancer deaths in America by 75%. (Ann of Epidemiology, 2009)

Potentially, the largest exposure of Americans to the neurotoxin mercury is through the consumption of products containing High Fructose Corn Syrup. (Environmental Health, 2009)

Those who consumed the highest amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain drugs increased their risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s dementia, by 66%. (Neurology, 2009)

The newest estimate for the incidence of autism is 1 in 91 US children. (Pediatrics, 2009)

Sponsorship of the Fanatik Bike Team

2010 is starting off really well. At the end 2009 I got the opportunity to join forces with the Fanatik Bike Team and I could not be more excited. As some of you know I am a huge fan of the bike and cycling has been a life long passion...both racing and riding. Just after signing on with Fanatik, Stewart Bowmer went to the Bare Bones Track race in Canada taking 1st in the Keirin, 2nd in the Match Sprints and top 10 overall for the series meeting his goals for the season. Congratulations! Here is to more success for the riders on the Fanatik Bike Team for the 2010 season.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010! I am really excited about the new year and am anticipating it being a great one. I recently got signed on with the Hagens Berman Elite Cycling Team out of Seattle to work with these up and coming riders. I will be travelling with the team to some of the big National Racing Calendar races to support the guys and give treatments to keep them racing at their optimum level. Super excited about this opportunity as I believe it will help take my treatments to another level as I constantly try to find the edge to help the rider reach a higher level.

I am also working 2 professional riders from the United Healthcare Professional Cycling Team. This occurred over the last 2 months. It will be exciting to see these 2 riders reach another level in their game. I am confident that treating their weaknesses and keeping the body towards a more optimized state will result in bigger results this season for them. I will keep you posted.

Finally a congratulations goes out to Steve Fisher. He is a rider I have been working with for the last 3 months. He rides for the WWU Cycling Team, Rad Racing and Hagens Berman. He just got back from European Cyclocross Camp in Belgium where he did 8 races over 17 days racing against the best in the world. He achieved his goals and remained 100% healthy the entire time...tough to do in a foreign country while sharing a house with 15-20 other guys.

Exciting year ahead for the Western Washington University Cycling Team. This is my fourth season working with the team and this season's road team on the Men's side looks to be super strong and they will undoubtedly be challenging for the National Championship again. The strength of the women's team is unknown but there is a good group of ladies who I am sure will rise to the challenge and perform nicely.

I hope everyone had a great holiday. Good luck in 2010!

Vitamin D3 Health Benefits

This information was obtained from Dr. Dan Murphy.

Epidemiology and Infection October 2007, Vol 135, No. 7, pp. 1095-1098 "There is an epidemic of vitamin D insufficiency in the United States, the public health impact on this observation could be great." "Over a 3 year period, taking 800 IU (per day) of vitamin D3 reduced the incidence of colds and flus by 70%. Taking 2000 IU (per day)of vitamin D3 reduced the incidence of colds and flus to nearly zero (only one case out of 104 users)."

Vitamin D Supplementation and Total Mortality A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Archives of Internal Medicine September 10, 2007;167:1730-173 "Low Vitamin D status could be associated with higher mortality from life-threatening conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus that account for 60% to 70% of total mortality in high-income countries." "Vitamin D influences both incidence and survival of cancer."

Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis NEUROLOGY, January 13, 2004;62:60-65 "Taking vitamin D supplements for more than 10 years lowered the risk of developing MS by 59%." Vitamin D supplements in the first year of life reduces the risk of Type-1 Diabetes." "Vitamin D has strong immunoregulatory effects." "There is no reduced risk of MS with increased Vitamin D intake from food. It had to be in the form of supplements."

And Finally...Vitamin D for Cancer Prevention: Global Perspective Annals of Epidemiology Volume 19, Issue 7, July 2009, pp 468-483 "Vitamin D3 serum levels of 40 to 60 ng/mL would prevent three fourths of deaths from breast and colorectal cancer in the US and Canada." "Raising Vitamin D3 level 40 to 60 ng/ml would require supplementation with about 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. "There is no reasonable risks from intake of 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D3.""

Vitamin D3 is a must take supplement. The positive effects on the immune system are nothing short of stunning. Vitamin D2 is not the same as Vitamin D3 so be sure you are purchasing Vitamin D3.