By J. J. Gregor

Do you suffer from a skin condition?  Have a mental imbalance (anything from ADD to Dementia to Depression)?  Have an irritable bowl with diarrhea, constipation, or even both?  Suffering from chronic fatigue?  Or do you suffer from allergies?  If you've answered 'yes' to any of these, hold off on your next run to the local pharmacy where you'll grab a quick fix.  In fact, a fix may come from your diet.  Chances are you're suffering, on some level, from a corn sensitivity. You might be trying to think back to the last time you had some corn on the cob.  Shockingly enough, you're getting corn in your system from many other sources.  It's a staple food source, often part of three to four meals a day!  If it comes in a package, corn is most likely an ingredient.   Why?  Well, high Fructose Corn Syrup is the go-to sweetener in this country.  Most of the cattle in this country are fed corn to fatten them before slaughter.  Even some beers use corn as their grain of choice.  ...

Primal Meal - Grass Fed Ribeye and Prosciutto Brussels Sprouts in Heavy Cream
By J. J. Gregor

This is a great primal meal! I have to admit that before I found this recipe, I hated Brussels Sprouts.  I thought the only thing they were good for was sling shot ammo.  This recipe is not perfectly paleo because of the cream, but if you use heavy cream, the fat will help diminish food allergies associated with the dairy.  If you are dairy sensitive, you can substitute coconut milk.
Ingredients:

• 12 - 16 oz. Grass Fed Ribeyes
• 2 T. olive oil
• 1 tsp. each salt and pepper
• 4 - 6 oz. prosciutto
• 2 lbs. Brussels Sprouts
• 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
• 2 T. grass-fed butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Wash the Brussels Sprouts removing any wilted outer leaves.  Cut off the stem ends and slice them in half lengthwise. Pan fry the prosciutto on medium low heat.  Wait for the fat to sweat out and the prosciutto to crisp up.  Place the prosciutto on a paper towel.  Dice when cooled. On...

Wheat – What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing!

The smell of homemade bread on Sunday mornings. Wholesome. Comforting. Safe.

Except it's not.

Every time you eat bread, pasta, crackers, or any product made from wheat, you're triggering inflammatory processes that damage your gut lining, dysregulate your immune system, and contribute to chronic disease.

Heart disease. Autoimmune conditions. Brain disorders. Joint pain. Fibromyalgia. Depression and anxiety. Chronic fatigue. MS. ALS.

Wheat doesn't cause all of these conditions. But it plays a significant role in most of them—either as a primary trigger or as an aggravating factor that prevents healing.

Here's why wheat is a problem and what you need to know about gluten, celiac disease, and gluten sensitivity.

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. The name comes from Greek and Latin, meaning "glue"—it's the protein that holds dough together and gives bread its chewy texture.

High-gluten flours...

Food Allergy 101: Understanding Food Reactions

Constant fatigue. Waking up exhausted even after a full night's sleep. Brain fog that won't lift. Digestive issues that come and go without any obvious pattern. Skin problems that don't respond to treatment. Anxiety or depression that seems to appear from nowhere.

These symptoms don't seem related to food. But they often are.

Food allergies and sensitivities are one of the most underdiagnosed contributors to chronic health problems. Not because they're rare. Quite the opposite. Because they're so common and so varied in their symptoms that most people and most doctors miss them entirely.

Understanding how food reactions work is essential for understanding why you feel the way you do and what you can do about it.

Two Types of Food Reactions

Food reactions fall into two fundamentally different categories, and understanding this distinction is critical.

Type 1: Immediate Reactions (True Allergies)

These are what most people think of w...

What Causes Food Allergies? It All Starts in Your Gut

Food allergies (or more accurately, food sensitivities) are everywhere these days. One person can't handle dairy, another gets brain fog from wheat, someone else's skin breaks out from eggs. Reactions range from mildly annoying to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Here's what most people don't understand: food allergies aren't caused by the food itself.

Your body isn't supposed to react to salmon or almonds or tomatoes. These are perfectly good foods that humans have eaten for millennia. The real problem is what's happening in your digestive system when these foods arrive.

About 80% of your immune system lives in your gut. When that system starts treating food like an invader, something has gone wrong with the barrier between your intestinal contents and your bloodstream.

That "something" is called leaky gut. And understanding how it works is the key to understanding why you suddenly can't eat foods you've been eating your whole li...

What are allergies?
By J. J. Gregor DC, DIBAK, DCCN

It's allergy season again here in North Texas.  I’ve been told since I moved here 14 years ago that there are two types of people here: those who have allergies and those who will get allergies.   

Growing up in West Virginia, I experienced horrible sniffling, sneezing, sinus headaches, you name it, for a week every spring and every fall.  What's crazy is that when I moved to Dallas, all my allergies 'went away'.  So, why when I moved to one of the worst allergy prone places in the US, I suddenly felt my best? 

Allergies are an immune response or reaction to specific substances.  Allergens are all around us and are particularly problematic in the spring with trees budding out, flowers blooming, grass being cut and tons of pollen flying through the air.  And in Fall, it's the budding of other seasonal plants and the sap moving in trees. 

Conservatively 10 to 20% of the population of the U.S. suffer from some seasonal allergy at var...

The Side effects of Epidurals on babies
By Dr.  J. J. Gregor DC, DIBAK, DCCN

We talked yesterday about how epidurals affect the mother, and now I'd like to focus on the side effects of epidurals on babies.  It's easy to see that the epidural can give instant relief to the mother.  However, what may not be so obvious, is what an epidural can do to your baby. 

First, when a drug is administered to mom, keep in mind the baby is still getting everything that she is.  When mom gets a dose of the narcotic and opioid (epidural), Magnesium or any other drug for that matter, the baby gets equal or even higher dose per weight.  The problem is that the baby doesn’t have the ability to metabolize these drugs as well as an adult, and they may be present in the fetal blood for up to 36 hours after the spinal anesthesia is administered. 

Second, studies have shown that some of the local anesthetics used with the epidural may have an adverse effect on the baby’s immune system, and can cause fetal b...

Balsamic Chicken and Proscuitto-Wrapped Asparagus

By J. J. Gregor

Another paleo and gluten-free meal of Balsamic Chicken and Asparagus.  For a change, we wrapped the asparagus spears in prosciutto.  It added a great salty flavor to the dish.   This is super easy, and your family won't even know it's healthy. Ingredients: (serves 6)

• ½ cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 T extra virgin olive oil (divided)
• dash of salt and pepper
• 6-6oz boneless and skinless chicken breasts
• 2 bunches of asparagus, trimmed
• 2 T minced garlic
• 6 large slices of Proscuitto

Directions:

For the Chicken:  Combine the balsamic vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper in a small bowl.  Brush the mixture over the chicken.  Let this stand for 30 minutes.  When ready, grill the chicken over high heat, 6 minutes per side or until done.

For the Asparagus: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine asparagus, oil, and garlic in a large bowl.  Dividing the asparagus into 6 bunches, wrap each bunch with prosciutto.  Bake for 15 min...

The Effects and Side Effects of Epidurals

By Dr. J. J. Gregor DC, DIBAK, DCCN

Potential Side effects of epidurals

Having seen the birth of both of my children, I will never be too arrogant to tell any person going through one of life’s most excruciatingly painful experiences to not take advantage of modern pharmaceuticals. I myself haven’t taken a prescription or over the counter drug for about 15 years, but if I was in as much pain as Erin during TJ’s birth I would have been first in line for drugs!

This is a very delicate topic , but I am going to present the potential downsides of the epidural by providing information so every woman can make an informed decision.

First, let’s talk about what an epidural really is.

Considered the most popular pain relief during labor, epi is defined as above in latin/greek, and the dura is the covering of the central nervous system (CNS). An epidural is an injection of a drug into your spine above the sack that covers your CNS. It is usually a ...

Cesarean deliveries pose many risks for babies

By Dr. J. J. Gregor DC, DIBAK, DCCN

Although it's been discussed that cesarean births are much less traumatic for the babies than vaginal births, I tend to disagree. In fact, I think cesarean’s are possibly more traumatic, just in a different fashion.

During a vaginal delivery, there is a tremendous amount of pressure placed on the baby, which makes sense because you're basically squeezing something the size of a cantaloupe through a lemon sized hole. However, this pressure is essential, as it ensures the baby’s lungs clear with their first breath. This would also explain why there is a huge increase in asthma and other respiratory disorders in c-section babies.

There are strong correlations from both Osteopathic and Chiropractic professions that the pressure and trauma from birth may be necessary and induces proper cranial motion. If this cranial motion doesn’t happen properly it Cesareans can lead to increased incidents of:

Colic du...