Back on April 27, 2010, the Santa Clara County (California) Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance banning the use of toys to encourage children to eat unhealthy meals offered by restaurants.1 This was the first move by a government body to try to address the obesity epidemic that is plaguing America's children. Approximately 12.5 million children over 2 years of age are currently considered obese. That's 17 percent of our children or one out of every six kids.2
Shortly after the decision by the Santa Clara County board, Dynamic Chiropractic published an article focusing on the issue and asking DCs and their patients to contact McDonald's and encourage the fast-food chain to improve the meals it sells to children.3
Then on Nov. 2, 2010, also as reported in DC, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 to require that kids' meals meet certain nutritional standards before they can be sold with toys. This law sets the bar for healthy children's meals as those "that have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables, and include beverages without excessive fat or sugar."4-5
Apparently feeling the pressure from these and other government regulations, the McDonald's organization is beginning to make concessions. On July 26, 2011, it announced its "Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices."6 This announcement included the decision to do the following:
A review of the current McDonald's kids' meals menu7 reveals that of the current 24 meal combinations offered, five still exceed 600 calories; specifically some of the meals with cheeseburgers and a hamburger, fries and low-fat chocolate-milk meal. The nutritional information for the new menu that includes meals with apples and fewer fries is not out yet. But the company seems to be moving in the right direction. One source shows that the new Happy Meals will have 6 fewer grams of fat and between 110 and 120 fewer calories.8
It is no secret what a healthy meal should include. The high sugar content, lack of whole grains and lack of meaningful vegetables in kids' meals are still at issue. As a food source for millions of children, McDonald's cannot ignore its responsibility to offer healthier meals to children, regardless of what children will eat or parents will buy.
One can only hope that companies such as McDonald's will not only listen to the voice of the public (not to mention government regulations), but also consider carefully its role in good health. Our country is currently facing an epidemic, with almost 75 percent of our adults overweight, obese or extremely obese.9 What we as a country are eating plays a major role in this epidemic.
As a doctor of chiropractic, you are uniquely qualified to work with people to correct their eating habits, introduce them to the concept of solid nutrition (a concept that may be foreign to them), teach them about exercise and provide the necessary adjustments to help them achieve optimal health. As you educate and inform your patients, they will in turn make better choices, which will ultimately send a message to fast-food companies that they need to be more nutritionally aware.
References
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/wrblog/. You can also visit me on Facebook.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
