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VALLEY — Dr. Brenton Jones of West Point Family Chiropractic was the guest speaker at Wednesday’s noon hour meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Valley. It was something of a show-and-tell demonstration. He brought with him a scale model of the human spine and a large, framed illustration of how having a good posture promotes good health.

“I encourage you to be curious about your health,” he said. “Just because something is common, it doesn’t mean it’s normal. No one can promise you more years in your life, but you can have more life in your years.”

The framed illustration he had showed how a healthy person with an erect posture as a young adult can “de-evolve” over time. “Aging and degenerative (arthritic) changes are not synonymous” it asserts. “When will you finally take action? Like it or not, the daily effects of stress and trauma do add up!”

As much as 90 percent of the stimulation and nutrition of the brain is generated by the movement of the spine. People tend to slump forward as they age. Studies indicate that for every inch a person deviates from an erect posture it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds. This is called anterior head syndrome (AHS), a condition that can lead to long-term muscle strain. disc herniation, arthritis and pinched nerves.

Studies also indicate that deviations from the body’s center of gravity causes poor posture. This, in turn, can result in intestinal problems, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, osteoporosis, hip and foot deformations, poor health, a decreased quality of life and a shortened life span.

“Most people have never been taught to take care of their spine,” Dr. Jones said. “It’s a good idea to be curious about your spine and your health. Proper biomechanics can make you healthier. The more you lean forward the more weight you put on your spine and the more pressure you have on it. It’s good to have an erect posture.”

“I want you to be interested in what’s good for your health,” he added. “Each person needs to take care of their health and to take care of their spine.”

People with health issues can have teeth, knees, hips and shoulders replaced and can get prosthetic devices should they lost a foot, hand or arm. The human spine is part of the body that cannot be replaced. It’s important to take care of it over one’s lifetime.

“The goal of chiropractic care is for you to have better health,” Dr. Jones said. “You can put pressure on your nerves with just a little twitch. The weight of something as small as s dime on a spinal nerve can decrease functioning up to 60 percent, and it can compound over time.”

Jones said he struck up a conversation with an elderly woman at the annual Rockingfest in downtown LaFayette back in November. “She told me she was 93 years old, was a retired nurse and had not taken much medicine in her lifetime,” he said. “That may be why she has lived so long. Taking a lot of medicine may not be a good thing. More medicine does not necessarily mean better health.”

Jones encourages everyone to be focused on having good health. “Have a conversation with yourself.” he said. “Ask yourself how you would like to be living five years from now. How would you like to be functioning? Would you like to lie in bed all day long? For me, I wouldn’t want to live in a hospital bed because I have good insurance. Thank you for inviting me to speak here today. I like to talk to groups of people and to encourage them to have a conversation with themselves about their health. You should know the importance of taking care of your spine.”

Taking vitamins, he said, is something that promotes good health but people need to be careful with the right dosage and its form. “Is it synthetic or natural?” he said. “In some cases, it could be better for you to eat the bottle than to take the pills. The right kind of vitamins can be the building blocks to a better quality of life.”

Those building blocks, he said, should include proper nutrition, exercise, adequate rest, good mental health, and of course, proper spinal care. “They are all important,” he said. “Be curious about your health and making it better. Chiropractic is the art of making things natural. It’s not a religion, but the two go together.”

Club member Yvette Bourke, who was the program chair for the day, said that she sees Dr. Jones on a monthly basis for adjustments. “I feel so much better after seeing him,” she said.