Dr. Kenney’s 5 Spot
I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.
Are there ingredients in food you won’t eat? Yes. For space reasons I won’t go into the specifics of why today, but I will not eat any artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame-K, saccharine), hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (these are trans fats) or any artificial colors. These are all extremely toxic to the nervous system and body so they’re not worth it for me.
A piece of advice I give to my patients? Most people understand the importance of regular dental checkups. Checkups detect problems before they begin or get too far, and the regular cleanings help maintain the teeth to remain healthy and strong for longer. I recommend people follow the same principle with their spine and chiropractic care. You certainly don’t need to be adjusted every single week if you don’t wish but even somewhat regular “tune-ups” will go a long way. 90% of the worst conditions I see could have been prevented with basic preventative care.
Something I admire? Have you ever watched someone that’s excellent at what they do? I’m talking about someone that takes time to put all they have into what they do and how they do it. I call that being a “craftsman” and it’s something I really admire. Some recent examples of this that come to mind are a gentleman that selects and fits people for hats, a football coach, a waiter and a lawyer. I love to observe people like this and learn from them.
A lesson I believe in? As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I coach two football teams. One of the things I try to do with all my players is find something they do well. Some kids are very gifted and it’s easy. But others may not be and so with these kids I really search to find their “thing.” Once I find it, I over-emphasize it in practice, get them to take great pride in it and then allow them to utilize it in our games. What I’ve found is that once they can contribute what they do well, their confidence grows and I’m able to expand their roles and teach them more. There is a player I’ve had for 2 seasons. In his first, he struggled with everything but eventually I detected a strength. This season I got him in a position to utilize that strength and he blossomed. By season’s end he was one of our defensive MVP’s and went from a quiet kid to a vocal leader and great teammate. I believe that this lesson is true in life and sports: double down on your strengths and as your productivity and confidence grows, you can then begin to produce even more strengths.
A quote I love: “It’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate.” – Jocko Willink