Column

Next stop, 15,000? As the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled at a new all-time high of 14,253.77 on March 5, the psychological lift on Wall Street was undeniable – the market was finally back to where it was in 2007. Or was it?1

For many Americans, the Dow equals the stock market, and the stock market is a direct product of the economy. It doesn’t quite work that way, of course. Right now, it is worth examining some of the factors that have driven the Dow to its series of record closes. Does the Dow’s impressive winter rally signal anything more than unbridled bullish enthusiasm?

The small picture. Investors should remember that the Dow Jones Industrial Average includes just 30 stocks – 30 closely watched stocks, to be sure, but still just 30 of roughly 2,800 companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The S&P 500, with its 500 components, is considered a better measure of the market. When you hear or read that “stocks advanced today” or “stocks retreated this afternoon”, the reference is to the S&P. As the Dow kept settling at all-time peaks in early March, the S&P was consistently wrapping up trading days at 5-year highs but still remained about 2% off its 2007 record close.2,3

You could argue that the Dow is even less representative of the broad stock market than it once was. In 2007, Kraft, Citigroup and General Motors were among the blue chips; since then, they’ve been tossed out and the index has gotten a little more tech-heavy.1The DJIA isn’t indexed to inflation, so hitting 14,167 in 2013 isn’t quite like hitting 14,167 in 2007. It is a price-weighted index as well (i.e., each Dow component represents a fraction of the index proportional to its price), which also makes a comparison between 2007 and 2013 a bit hazy.1

The big picture. The Dow surpassed its old record thanks to many factors – the resurgent housing market, the Institute for Supply Management’s February purchasing managers indices showing stronger expansion in the manufacturing and service sectors, an encouraging ADP employment report, and of course earnings. Perhaps the most influential factor, however, is central bank policy. The Federal Reserve’s ongoing bond-buying has stimulated the real estate industry, the market and the overall economy, and fueled the DJIA’s ascent. The parallel, open-ended effort of the European Central Bank has diminished some of the anxiety over the future of the euro.3So basically two perceptions are moving the market higher. One is the conclusive belief that the recession is over. The other is the assumption that the Fed will keep easing for a year or more. Pair those thoughts together, and you have grounds for sustained bullish sentiment.

How high could the Dow go? Any time the Dow flirts with or reaches a new record high, bears caution that a pullback is next. Though many analysts feel stocks are fairly valued at the moment, a combination of headlines could inspire a retreat – but not necessarily a correction, or a replay of the last bear market. While the market has soared in the first quarter, the economy grew just 0.1% in the fourth quarter by the federal government’s most recent estimate. That may have given some investors pause: the Investment Company Institute said that $1.13 billion left U.S. stock funds in the week of February 25-March 1, which either amounts to bad timing, an aberration (as it was the first outflow ICI recorded this year), profit-taking or skittishness.4If the Dow hits 14,500 or 15,000, that won’t confirm that the economy has fully healed or that the current bull market will last X number of years longer. It will be good for Wall Street’s morale, however, and Main Street certainly takes note of that.

1. business.time.com/2013/03/06/dow-jones-closes-at-record-high-so-what/ [3/6/13]
2. www.nyse.com/content/faqs/1050241764950.html [3/7/13]
3. money.cnn.com/2013/03/07/investing/stocks-markets [3/7/13]
4. www.cnbc.com/id/100533269 [3/7/13]

Damien helps individuals invest and manage risk. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and a principal of Walnut Creek Wealth Management. These are the views of Damien Couture, CFP® and not intended as investment advice. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Your comments are welcome. Damien can be reached at 925-280-1800 x101 or Damien@WalnutCreekWealth.com.

When your first child eats dirt you rush him to the hospital. When your second child eats dirt you flush their mouth out. When your third child eats dirt you wonder, “Do I really need to feed him lunch?”

Six months ago my wife and I came into possession of our first little bundle and yes he is our Faberge egg. With a modest amount of the “rush to the hospital” mentality paired with my wife’sprevious triumph over gestational diabetes, we are very concerned with what our little one considers food, and so much so that our own dietshave changed dramatically in the seven months of diabetes taming and the six months of breastfeeding. Throw the movies “Food Inc.” and “Forks Over Knives” on the education pile and we inadvertently built an atomic organic bomb. The nicest thing about waking up in this new food conscious world is we are not alone. We have Jules!

The irony to the beginning of this article, and becoming food conscious, is we are actually trying to get closer to the dirt. But what about burgers, chips, sodas, and PIZZA? They can’t take my pizza! Easy chicken little; there is a local answer for your pizza quandary.

Ten years ago, local talent Heather and Jeff Clapp and friends/Pennsylvania residents Jen and Jeff Ordway were in sitting in a local eatery in Rockridge, pontificating the need for farm fresh food. After much research and deliberation they had created the foundation that would become Jules Thin Crust Pizza and eight years ago the very first restaurant would open in Doylestown Pennsylvania.

Five years would pass before Heather and husband Jeff, after raising a brood of their own, would discover the overwhelming need for Jules to come out west. With permission from the Ordway’s, they began shopping cities, and happily landed in the Livery Shopping Center in Danville (and soon to be Rockridge where the seed was planted.)

Long before my wife and I were paying such acute attention to our own perception of food, we wandered in out of sheer desire to add a new pizza regime to our repertoire. We were bowled over by every nuance from the clean “California Concept” décor to the oddly shaped pies.

Leaving no stone unturned the research for the business model included trips to NY and Italy to perfect the vision. The Skateboard shaped pies that result in square pieces of pizza are derivative from Italy where every bite has the same amount of toppings as the last.

Then the attention was promptly swung in the direction of the cornerstone of the business model, the local farmer! Organic doesn’t do the description justice. The owners of Jules Pizza care about the mom and pop farms putting their hearts into the soil so they can provide food for our tables. They follow a 100-150 mile maximum for delivery of their ingredients, and every given Saturday you can find the Clapps at our local farmers market finding out what the next weeks specials are going to be. Heather and Jeff have an outstanding relationship with Farmer Shawn of Terra Bella Farms in Pleasanton and Happy Boy Farms near Santa Cruz. Some show stoppers are: Every topping is Gluten Free, Zero nitrates, Gluten Free crusts available, and the “by-the-slice” options are ridiculous!

Baseball Card Stats aside, here is how I feel about this place. When you eat here, you feel better. You feel better about your health, the example you’re setting for your kids, the energy you get from that “healthy full,” and better about helping farmers. But here’s the kick—you taste buds don’t know any better. There is no doubt that this is just good pizza…period. We went into Jules looking for a local pizzeria, and left feeling like we took a small trip to Italy while helping a local farmer sustain their business. There are many reasons to love Jules.

820 Sycamore Valley Rd W  Danville
(925) 743-2790

 

Unveiling the trends of spring is like Dorothy opening her farmhouse door in Oz, and gazing with delight at a wonderful world of color, and then stepping into that rainbow. Welcome to the hottest looks for 2013!

Photo 1: The color palette for your spring wardrobe essentials. Try something new this season!

Photo 2: Go bold combining orange with hot pink, cobalt or gold accents. Too much color for you? Try an accessory instead.

Photo 3: Bold black and white stripes are inspired by the mod looks of the 60’s.

Photo 4: Worn with neutral or metallic shoes, lace works for both day and night.

Photo 5: A metallic cap toe gives a sleek white pump a modern and sexy look.

For style tips and trends, subscribe to Carolyn’s blog at C2style.com/blog.

It just doesn’t happen to be that girls have perfect brows. It takes a true professional with years of mastering the art of balance and framing to accomplish this specialized art. Eyebrow shaping is an art all in itself and should be treated as such. When shaping eyebrows, the professional needs to see the person’s face shape eye to eye and take into consideration the natural arch in order to determine the correct shape of the brow. Eyebrows shaped correctly can give you an updated look, the illusion of an eyelift and an all-around youthful appearance. It’s amazing how just the right brow style can change the way you look! Everyone is so different and what shape works on one person may not work on the next. It’s very hard to go by what magazines say as a guide to perfect brows, because no two women are the same.

When shaping eyebrows, never have them shaped lying down; (position for facials), it’s the biggest mistake. The professional cannot see your natural arch, or your face shape. It’s no wonder we get so many girls in here with ruined brows. You should never add a real dark color to the brows; it brings too much attention to that area and looks harsh.  You don’t want your brows to walk into the room before you do. I have seen many girls with these wildly, burly, darkened highly arched eyebrows, it is so unbalanced and unattractive, also it takes away from your beautiful eyes. Girls think this looks glamorous but it just isn’t. Brows should gently frame the eyes delicately and naturally. If you have sparse brows and need to add color, apply a brow pencil that is waterproof and that is one shade lighter. Your eyebrow will look thicker, beautiful, refined and the color won’t come off during the day.

Unkempt eyebrows can make you look angry, older than you are, and often make you look tired. A little trimming and taming will get them back into shape. I love fuller brows and I love shaping them. It is a gift to have them, so for girls with full brows, I suggest shaping them with a slight arch to open the eye and wax them to make them symmetrical and nicely groomed.

Eyebrow BEWARE

BEWARE of nail salons that offer brow shaping; they may not have a license nor the experience or the understanding of this specialized art.  DO NOT bleach your brows. It does not look natural and can turn orange in a couple of weeks. Using eyebrow tints are highly recommended if white hairs are popping up or if the color is fading. Caution: Only use specific eyebrow tints on brows. Hair color will ruin brows, dry the hairs, turn orange, and cause them to fall out.

Love Your Brows

At The Rouge we specialize in expert eyebrow shaping. Love your brows and get them professionally done, treat them with special care and with caution. Your brows are the ultimate compliment to your beautiful eyes as in a masterpiece; they should balance your face shape and have their own style.

Please see my blog at probeautysecrets.com.

 

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve — the nerve in the wrist that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. It can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers. The median nerve provides feeling and movement to the “thumb side” of the hand (the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger). The area in your wrist where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal tunnel. This tunnel is normally narrow, so any swelling can pinch the nerve and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome.

Causes and risk factors
Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and wrist. Typing on a computer keyboard and using a mouse are the most common causes of carpal tunnel. Other causes include:

• Driving
• Assembly line work
• Painting
• Writing
• Use of tools (especially hand tools or tools that vibrate)
• Sports such as racquetball or handball
• Playing some musical instruments

A number of medical conditions are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

• Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
• Bone fractures and arthritis of the wrist
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Hypothyroidism
• Menopause, PMS and Pregnancy
• Infections
• Obesity

Symptoms:

• Numbness or tingling in the thumb and next two or three fingers of one or both hands
• Numbness or tingling in the palm of the hand
• Pain extending from the elbow
• Pain in wrist or hand in one or both hands
• Problems with fine finger movements (coordination) in one or both hands
• Wasting away of the muscle under the thumb (in advanced or long-term cases)
• Weak grip or difficulty carrying bags or opening a jar (a common complaint)
• Weakness in one or both hands

Class IV Laser Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Up until recently the most common treatment for Carpal Tunnel has been the use of anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, wrist splinting and surgery. These treatments do not treat the cause but the symptoms only and are not always effective long-term.

Now, however, we have a powerful, effective, non-invasive solution to reverse the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ending the symptoms caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome requires stopping the cycle of inflammation at its source. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser 1200 a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. Therefore, laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function and strength are restored and pain is relieved.

Relief is Possible!
At Align Healing Center we are having great success treating carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, tendonitis, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even if it’s long-term residual pain. Arthritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

The Giants get a lot of attention around here for winning two World Series in the past three years, and rightfully so. It’s an amazing accomplishment.

What few seem to remember is that 40 years ago another Bay Area team, the Oakland A’s or The Swingin’ A’s if you prefer, won three consecutive World Championships and five consecutive division crowns.

That team is commemorated in a recently released book, Swingin’ 73: Baseball’s Wildest Season. This is the eleventh book by noted baseball author Matthew Silverman, and his first that primarily covers a California team.

“One of the aims for this book is to shed positive light on both the A’s and the landmark season that marks its 40th anniversary this year,” said Silverman. “It was a significant year in a memorable era that also saw one of the great comebacks to that point in history by Oakland’s World Series opponent, the Mets; the end of the original Yankee Stadium after 50 years; the owner as celebrity antagonist in Charlie Finley and the new guy on the block, George Steinbrenner.”

According to Silverman, the three straight World Series championships gives the A’s a special place in baseball history. “It’s a unique number when it comes to baseball champions. No franchise other than the Yankees has ever won three straight titles, and the Yankees (1998-2000) are the only team to do so since the 1972-74 Oakland A’s.”

Silverman went on to say that it’s unfair that many people remember the A’s more for what went on around them than their unique accomplishment. “As it is, history remembers the yellow uniforms, the mustaches, and the mule more than the championship club built from scratch and kept together on the cheap.”

Finley was known for his shoestring organization. He usually had fewer then ten front-office employees; there were times when the A’s games were broadcast by the UC Berkeley campus radio station, and the World Series championship rings presented to the players in 1973 and 1974 are the only ones bereft of diamonds since the advent of such awards in 1922.

That core group of players won another division title in 1975 and then was broken up when baseball’s free agency period began and the stars who made all those titles possible left for teams willing to pay them what they were worth.

“Oakland challenged the status quo and thought outside the box with an innovative — if meddlesome—owner,” Silverman said. “They also had a manager who supported his players to the hilt but always let them know who was in charge. When (Hall of Fame manager) Dick Williams left, (after a series of events that culminated in Finley attempting to fraudulently change the A’s World Series roster) even the players he feuded with were heartbroken they couldn’t follow him.”

Swingin’73: Baseball’s Wildest Season is published by Lyons Press and is available at Amazon.com and several Bay Area outlets. At 272 pages it is a fun and engaging book that takes readers back to a time when player and fans could more easily relate to one another and before the players had all the rights they enjoy today.

Silverman has done a terrific job capturing the era and those great Oakland teams. Anyone who grew up with those A’s or enjoys reading about baseball history or the 1970s in general should buy a copy.

If you are one of the many that jump on the latest diet craze, then eventually give up, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Ninety percent of Americans who go on any diet plan end up gaining the weight back and more. It is a vicious cycle that brings nothing but frustration to individuals seeking to become healthy.

Thankfully, this is a problem that Koko FitClub has solved with its new, revolutionary nutrition program called Koko Fuel. It works because it is NOT a diet. Koko Fuel is made up of unique, fully customized meal plans developed by the country’s leading experts in health, fitness and nutrition. It is designed to provide Koko FitClub members a variety of simple, healthy meal plans complete with tasty recipes that can be customized and incorporated into a member’s specific fitness goals.

“The customization begins by calculating a member’s Koko Metabolic Rate, Koko FitClub’s proprietary measurement of the approximate number of calories an individual’s body burns in a 24 hour period. That, along with their fitness goal, determines the Koko Fuel plan that meets our member’s specific goals,” said Michael Wood, Koko FitClub’s Chief Fitness Officer.

What makes Koko FitClub’s approach to exercise and nutrition different than others is its level of integration and customization to the individual. Many gyms, fitness DVDs and weight-loss plans tout the importance of combining exercise and diet, but in reality what they offer is a “one size fits all” solution. Koko Fuel is tailored to each person’s metabolism and fitness goals.

Koko Fuel enhances the simplified, personalized and intelligent workout approach that members have come to love at Koko FitClub. It perfectly complements the strength and cardio sessions that members have become accustomed to as part of their personalized workout programs that they monitor online. Koko Fuel meal plans are integrated with members’ workout programs and personal mykokofitclub.com website making it easy for them to track their individual progress.

When Koko FitClub decided to create and incorporate a nutrition program to its Smartraining System, it assembled a team of renowned experts with diverse professional backgrounds to ensure that the concept stays true to Koko FitClub’s mission to simplify the way people get and stay healthy. Linda Boardman, whose experience as a senior-level executive at Whole Foods Market and president of Applegate Farms, brought a unique perspective to the development of Koko Fuel, which she believes is a major breakthrough in the world of health and fitness.

Koko Fuel is separated into three categories: Koko Fuel Focus, Koko Fuel School and Koko Boosters. These three categories allow members to choose which program best suits their needs and personal goals. “Our approach to nutrition is the same as our approach to fitness,” said Wood, “It’s all about Build, Burn and Protect. Koko Fuel is designed to support and enhance members’ workout plans so they can build and protect lean muscle, burn body fat and maintain their healthy lifestyle,” emphasized Wood.

Koko FitClub Danville is owned and operated by Val and Mike Rogers, local Danville residents. Koko FitClub is conveniently located in downtown Danville at the Iron Horse Trail Crossing.

Having fooled with this nonsense for 40 some years, both competitively and non-competitively, I have been asked for the best Trivia questions I have ever heard. Some are easy and some are provocative, but usually there is interest in the answer. Let’s try a few.

1. Who played Audrey Hepburn’s husband in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”?
2. Tinker, Evers and Chance were the famous double play combination of the early 20th century. Who played third base on that team?
3. Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics to the score for “Show Boat,” except for the famous song “Bill.” Who wrote the lyrics for that song and what famous character was he famous for in a popular series of books?
4. Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind,” based Rhett Butler on a distant relative of hers who was famous in the Old West. Who was he?
5. One of the most famous scenes in movie history occurs in the back seat of a cab in “On The Waterfront” between Marlo Brando and Rod Steiger. The cab driver is seen only briefly, but became a popular character actor. Who was he?
6. Mel Torme originally was a boy drummer as a teenager. For whose band did he perform?

March 2013 Answers

1. Frederic March
2. Ted Lyons
3. Charles Lamb
4. Wimoweh
5. The March of Time
6. The March of the Wooden Soldiers

OUR MARCH WINNER IS:
Mr. Nobody

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez!
Entries must be received by April 20, 2013. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

An important and vibrant part of the early American Yiddish musical and theatrical productions was virtually forgotten until recently brought to life by none other than the eminent maestro of the San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas.

Tilson Thomas, the award-winning conductor, is also the primary researcher and conservator of his famous grandparents, Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky’s memorablia.

The Thomashefskys were prominent leaders of the American Yiddish Theater in the lower east side of New York City during the last of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

As a young boy growing up in Los Angeles, Tilson Thomas listened to his grandmother, Bessie, relate stories and sing Yiddish songs from her days as a prominent star in the Yiddish Theater. He was intrigued by these early beginnings and what was to become an important element in early musical and theatrical productions.  Years later Tilson Thomas, as a tribute to his grandparents, produced The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater. 

The Ukrainian-born Boris Thomashefsky (1868-1939; there is some disagreement that it was either 1866 or 1868) was a Jewish singer and actor who immigrated to America when he was 12 years old. As a young teenager, he almost immediately made a name for himself and was credited with one of the first performances of Yiddish theater in New York City. He was a pioneer of “Borscht Belt” entertainment.

“Bessie (aka Bessie Baumfeld-Kaufman) Thomashefsky, (1873-1962) was a turn-of-the-century superstar,” said Dan Pine, a staff writer for J Weekly. “With her husband, Boris, the Jewish immigrants were the Richard Burton and Liz Taylor of the lower east side, pioneers of a tradition that helped evolve into the Boardway musical.”

The Thomashefskys did much to shape the world of modern theater from the follies to Broadway and gave a start to many actors, composers and producers who then went on to start and own theaters and movie studios. Even the Gershwin brothers had their start with the Thomashefskys.

Boris and Bessie met in 1887. She was enthralled with the handsome 19-year-old Boris whom she saw in a Baltimore production of a Yiddish touring company. Bessie soon ran away from home to join Boris’ company. Sparks flew between the two and they married in 1891. They made a team that was virtually unmatched in Yiddish theatrical and musical productions. It should be noted that they were not the only producers of Yiddish Theater but certainly the most noted and famous. “The Thomashefskys were, without a doubt, among the most important producers of popular Yiddish culture in North America,” said Steven Zipperstein, History professor at Stanford University.

“The music of the Tilson Thomas production is captivating, warm, beautiful … is not simple music, but so well composed,” said Israeli-born soprano, Ronit Widmann-Levy. “The texts are about love, waiting for love and looking for love. The possibilities are limitless,” said singer/actor, Shuler Hensley. “It is part of New York history, not just Jewish history and the music is so outstanding and was lost for so long.”

The music was reconstructed by Tilson Thomas and it is an orchestral sound not heard in New York for many years. Older repertoire represented in the production is about 120 years old. The newest music is from circa 1920.

At the turn of the 20^th century and beyond, the Thomashefskys gave to New York and the burgeoning Jewish immigrant population, a Yiddish music and theater scene unheard of before their influence. This segment of the population was starved for entertainment and the Thomashefskys filled that need and then some.

To great acclaim, they staged original drama, comedies, their own Yiddish translations of Ibsen and Shakespeare and above all, music. So pliant was his (Boris) voice, sometimes he played women’s roles and  Bessie, also was known for doing “trouser-roles” – women playing young men, according to Dan Pine.

This dramatically shows the great versatility and wealth of talent of Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky. The Tilson Thomas production recreates the rich heritage, both music and drama of a ground-breaking couple that helps to restore them as progenitors of an art form so important in early 20^th century America.

 

Don’t forget the Danville Community Band’s annual Blackhawk Museum Concert “Americana” Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Free concert with museum entrance fee. Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

Have you ever had a pain in your upper abdomen and chest but really knew that it was your stomach talking? You’ve probably had the pain before and might have even taken Tums or Over-The-Counter medicine for a little help. When that stopped working you made your way to your doctor who gave you stronger medicine, but unfortunately the symptoms continued. Now you’ve got to take the drug all the time. Certainly, your stomach is not your friend.

This is a very common scenario. Unfortunately, it is much worse than it seems. While heartburn (acid reflux – or GERD) is no fun, the most common treatment–acid lowering drugs—actually make the problem even worse in the long run. The products used now days are drugs that neutralize the acid (antacids) or just stop it from forming in the first place (proton pump inhibitors). We’re told every day on the radio and TV that increased stomach acid is the cause of our pain. As it turns out, it is actually low stomach acid that is the real culprit.

The real reason we have heartburn, especially as we age, is because the acid will extend up into the esophagus instead of staying in the stomach. The true cause of heartburn is a faulty upper stomach sphincter that can’t properly prevent acid from entering the esophagus. Low stomach acid will increase bacterial overgrowth, which increases pressure to funnel the acid into the esophagus. In addition, under digested carbohydrates (from decreased pancreatic enzymes, creating gas) will increase this pressure with bloating driving the pressure out of the stomach.

We need stomach acid, and as we age the level of acid in the stomach decreases markedly. According to Dr. Jonathan Wright, by the time we are 45 our stomach acid had decreased a full 50%. Does that sound like we need to decrease our stomach acid? And it’s no surprise that heartburn increases as we age as well.

Forcibly decreasing the acid in the stomach with anti-acid drugs will drastically reduce the stomach’s ability to digest protein and will decrease the ability to control bacterial pathogens leading to increased infections. At least eight essential nutrients are dependent on adequate stomach acid in order to be properly digested, meaning that lowered acid can cause malnutrition even when eating a healthy diet. Low acid causes less absorption of antioxidant vitamins and activation of enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters as well. This imbalance of acid also causes changes the lower digestive tract, contributing to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, now the second-leading cause of missed work, behind only the common cold. The drug rationale is to lower the acid in the stomach so when it gets to the esophagus it causes less irritation and pain. It’s too bad that this treatment causes additional problems and a return of symptoms.

Acid-lowering drugs may temporarily decrease the pain of esophagus irritation, but they do nothing to fix the underlying cause of low stomach acid. Taking them actually saddles the patient with a lifetime of use once you start. In fact, in America, we spend more than 13 million dollars for these acid -stopping medications each year.

When we cure a disease, by definition, the cause has been eliminated and the symptoms don’t return. But for the drugs used in treating heart burn and GERD, the symptoms return when the drug is stopped and many times they are worse than before treatment.

There are several tests we can use to test your normal amount of stomach acid but the best approach is to use a trial of stomach enzymes to find out your particular optimal level of acid. When this is done, the pain decreases, flatulence and bloating abates, proper absorption of nutrients occurs and you feel good again. This approach, along with a complete evaluation of small intestine and large intestine health, is necessary to fully bring the gastrointestinal system back on line.

Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL). Visit us at WalnutCreekHealth.com