By Dr. Brandon Roberts

The lifestyle choices that you make for yourself and your family can literally change the course of your history. It used to be thought that if you had a family history of heart disease or cancer then it was your destiny to get these conditions too because they were “in your genes.” Through the science of epi-genetics we are learning that nothing can be further from the truth.

Epi-genetics, which means ‘around the gene’, has shown that your lifestyle choices, both positive and negative, can influence the expression of your genes, turning them on and off like a light switch.

A recent report in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA found the activity of more than 500 genes in the normal tissue of thirty men with low-risk prostate cancer changed after the patients began eating diets higher in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and lower in red meats and fats while also implementing an exercise and stress reducing regimen.

After three months the men had changes in the activity of about 500 genes including 48 disease preventing genes that were turned on and 453 disease promoting genes that were turned off.

In the largest nature/nurture study that was ever done, on 44,000 pairs of twins, it was found that the primary determinates in most cases of cancer were environmental or lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet and exercise habits rather than the inherited disposition of their family history.

So here is a very important message if you want to live an active, healthy, quality of life for 80, 90, 100 years and beyond…stop blaming your genes. Too many people rationalize unhealthy choices with words like, “Why bother, it’s in my genes.” You can’t get away with this anymore.

Adjust Your Lifestyle

Changing the course of your history is not rocket science. Eating a diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats will keep you lean and healthy and they will activate healthy genes. Exercise, as a part of a lifestyle, reduces stress, strengthens your heart and muscles and has been shown to reduce the risk of nearly every disease.

Optimistic thinking has been shown to keep people motivated to make healthy lifestyle choices regardless of their circumstances. In addition, chiropractic care as a part of a healthy lifestyle, Lifestyle Care, keeps your spine and nervous system aligned, balanced and healthy and free from deterioration, this ensures that the vital messages between the brain and the body are optimized. Reducing stress is also important as stress has been shown to shorten the telomeres, or caps on the genes, which can reduce the life expectancy of your cells.

One of the life-changing principles of The 100 Year Lifestyle is “Change is easy, thinking about change is hard.” It is much easier to eat healthy and exercise regularly as a part of your lifestyle than it is to be on a weight gain, weight loss rollercoaster or to chronically have to deal with being sick or injured.

Chiropractic care as a part of a lifestyle is a much better option than the crisis to crisis suffering that comes with an unhealthy spine and nervous system. Bringing these values into your home can literally change the course of your history and ensure a healthy future for you and your loved ones.

Please take advantage of the resources our office is providing this month to help you and your loved ones rewrite your history and a healthy future will be yours for decades.

Dr. Brandon Roberts, DC of Deer Valley Chiropractic is a 100 Year Lifestyle Affiliate Office. This column is reprinted with permission of The Family Practice, Inc.

WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for the next phase of the State Route 4 widening through Pittsburg and Antioch in the area of the Somersville Road interchange. Construction on the project began in March. The prime contractor for the project is R&L Brosamer.

WHEN: Friday, April 8, 2011, at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Southwest corner of the State Route 4 Somersville Road Interchange, next to the Denny’s restaurant at 2006 Somersville Road, Antioch Ca.

SPEAKERS: John Garamendi, Representative, 10th Congressional District; Mark DeSaulnier, Senator, California Senate 7th District; Cindy McKim, Director, California Department of Transportation; Randell Iwasaki, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA); Federal Glover, Supervisor, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors; James Davis, Mayor, City of Antioch; David Durant, Board Chair, CCTA; Joel Keller, District 2 Director, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART).

INVITED: Susan Bonilla, Assemblywoman, California 11th District Mary Piepho, Supervisor, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

WHY: This is the second of five projects planned for the corridor that will widen the freeway from two lanes to three mixed flow lanes and one HOV lane in each direction. The project will also widen the median to accommodate the eBART extension to Antioch.

Saturday April 9, 2011  8:00 pm Tribute to the Music of John Denver Starring Jim Curry 

The music of the late John Denver is like an old friend, outlasting trends and standing the test of time.  Join acclaimed performer Jim Curry for this tribute to the music of one of the most beloved singer/songwriters ever to grace the stage.

Tribute artist Jim Curry, who’s voice was heard in the CBS-TV movie Take Me Home: The John Denver Story, has performed Denver’s music in sold out shows throughout the country and has emerged as today’s top performer of Denver’s vast legacy of multi-platinum hits.

Jim’s uncanny ability to mirror John’s voice and clean-cut look takes you back to the time when “Rocky Mountain High” “Sunshine”“Calypso” and “Annie’s Song” topped the charts, and his popular music had the heartfelt message of caring for the earth and caring for each other. 

Adults: $ 25   Seniors (62 and Older): $ 22  Youth (17 & Under): $ 10
Gold Circle (1st 3 rows): $ 35

Sunday April 10, 2010   4:00 pm The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the  venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz.

Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, for British Royalty or the King of Thailand, this music embodies a joyful, timeless spirit. Under the auspices of current director, Ben Jaffe, the son of founders Allan and Sandra, Preservation Hall continues with a deep reverence and consciousness of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue, band, and record label.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which in its 49 years has built a global reputation for presenting the traditional New Orleans sound, is taking a more contemporary approach these days — recruiting younger players, expanding its repertoire and allowing surrealist elements to creep into its performances.

But even as it modernizes its approach, the band, which comes to El Campanil Theatre on April 10, is keeping the old-time faith — hiring musicians whose strong links to the pioneers of jazz assure the music’s authenticity.

The combination makes for a multigenerational mix with appeal to a range of musical constituencies, not just aficionados of traditional jazz.

“Preservation Hall is not a museum piece,” said Benjamin Jaffe, 39 the band’s director and the son of its founder, Allan Jaffe. “We’re not recreating something that existed a hundred years ago.”

Adults: $ 28  Seniors (62 and Older): $ 25    Youth (17 & Under): $ 15
Gold Circle (1st 3 rows): $ 40

Box Information:   (925) 757-9500 www.ElCampanilTheatre.com   Theatre Address: 602 W. Second Street, Antioch

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (February 2011 revise), California has more residents and public school students than any other state, e.g. 1.7 million more students than Texas. California also has the highest percentage of English learners in the nation (about 25 percent), most of which (85 percent) speak Spanish.

Educating children of illegal aliens is the single largest cost to taxpayers, approximately $52 billion annually, with the majority of cost falling on state and local governments. California also allows undocumented students to pay the lower, in-state tuition rate at public colleges.

Although California spending on corrections, police, fire, health and hospitals has consistently been well above the national average, public welfare and higher education spending was close to the U.S. average and highway expenditure below average every year.

California’s unadjusted per pupil expenditure had been below the national average. In 1989-99 spending was 89 percent of the average and ranking 33rd. rising to 25th by 2001-02. Since then, on a per capita basis, the state spending on K-12 education has been slightly above the national average.

About two-thirds of spending goes toward instruction (salaries and benefits for teachers and instructional aides), which is a little more than the national average (67 versus 65.8 percent). California spends a larger proportion (11.8 percent) on administration than the national average, which is 10.8 percent.

California teachers make relatively high salaries, ranking first with a average salary of $65,808 in 2007-2008. However, the cost of living here is higher than elsewhere. Teachers are also responsible for instructing considerably more students than their counterparts in most states. California falls below the national average in spending on operations, e.g. counselors, librarians, clerical staff, custodians, principals, facility maintenance, energy bills, food services, student transportation, etc.

The bad news is that, according to former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, the dropout rate is unacceptably high, especially for African American students (34.7 percent in 2007 – 2008) and Hispanic students (25.5 in 2007- 2008), compared to a white dropout rate for the same period of 12.2 percent and an Asian dropout rate of 8.4 percent.

Antioch Riverview Garden Club had their plant sale on Saturday, April 2nd at the Antioch Library on 18th St.

Antioch Little League Vice President Dennis Felix, with scissors, is joined in cutting the ribbon on the refurbished ball field by representatives of those who helped with the effort, including Former 49er Brent Jones of TLC for Kids Sports, KNBR Morning Show Host Brian Murphy, O.C. Jones, Antioch Sports Legends, Delta Antioch Rotary, as well as 2008 Olympic Softball Silver Medalist Vicky Galindo and Congressman Garamendi's office.

More information will be posted later.

Plus A’s & Giants Baseball, Followed By Live Music, Tonight!

By Terry Karp, Proprietor

It’s Final Four Saturday, VCU vs. Butler at 3PM, followed by UConn vs. Kentucky at approx. 5:45pm. Come see if the controversial live mascot, Butler’s Bulldog, “Blue II,” bites anybody or intentionally leaves a puddle on the hardwood in attempt to make the VCU players slip!

After the game at about 9PM, it’s another live entertainment night by the popular band, MamaLuke! We have plenty of TV’s to show all the baseball games too! This should be another great night, so come out to Bases Loaded and catch all the fun! 400 G St., Downtown Rivertown Antioch!

The Antioch Riverview Garden Club will be having a plant sale at the Antioch Library at 501 W. 18th St. on Saturday, April 2nd between the hours of 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM. There will be a large variety of plants to choose from so come early for the best selection. Everyone is welcome.

The Antioch Riverview Garden Club meets monthly and we maintain many properties throughout Antioch.  For more information on helping us keep Antioch a beautiful place, please stop by and say “Hi.”