DUNEDIN, Fla., Oct. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Dunedin chiropractic clinic is giving area residents a chance to learn more about their current state of wellness, thanks to antioxidant scanning. According to Dr. Paul Raveling of Raveling Chiropractic Center, the clinic uses a Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner to detect levels of a particular group of antioxidants essential to human health, thus allowing the chiropractor to evaluate the effectiveness of his patients' current diet and nutrition supplementation program. "These screenings give us a clear picture of what adjustments our patients need to make in order to enjoy better overall wellness," says Dr. Raveling.
The practitioner explains that antioxidants are chemical compounds typically found in foods that play a critical role in numerous biological functions, most notably those involved in cell growth and repair. "One group of such compounds, carotenoids, includes alpha carotene, beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and other antioxidants. All of these substances benefit human health by helping the body make Vitamin A," says Dr. Raveling. He adds that while carotenoids occur naturally in sweet potatoes, carrots, and other dark green, red, orange or yellow foods, even people who do not regularly consume these foods can get essential carotenoids through proper nutritional supplementation. The problem, he notes, lies in ascertaining the current level of antioxidants to determine how much of which substances to boost.
Dr. Raveling and his team claim to have solved that challenge through the adoption of the Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner, which according to the device's manufacturer is the first non-invasive technology capable of measuring carotenoid antioxidant levels in the tissues of living beings.
"The patient places his hand on the machine, and a harmless laser reads the antioxidant levels right through the skin, providing us with the patient's Skin Carotenoid Score," says Dr. Raveling.
Based on these numbers, the chiropractor is able to recommend adjustments to the patient's diet, supplementation routine and lifestyle to help improve antioxidant levels. These recommendations take the form of a detailed nutritional assessment and personalized wellness plan, presenting the patient with an easy-to-understand strategy toward the goal of improved health.
Dr. Raveling emphasizes that the technology behind the Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner is the result of eight years of scientific research and development by physicists and doctors, with a Nobel Prize awarded for the spectroscopy technique the machine employs. "The scan is safe, easy, and remarkably quick," he adds, noting that patients can fit the procedure into to their lunch break or on the way to or from work. The clinic currently offers its antioxidant screening service every Friday; its office hours on that day extend from 8 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm.
In addition to antioxidant screening, Raveling Chiropractic Center provides chiropractic adjustment, massage therapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation, weight loss and pain management services for the Dunedin area.