July 2009 Archives

I just read an article in the L.A. Times that is entitled:  "Tough love for fat people:  tax their food to pay for healthcare."  I'm sitting here unable to express the compassion for individuals struggling with weight issues and then rage I have at people's myopic view of what will "fix" our healthcare system. 

More taxes?  Are you kidding? 

Virtually every person I come across, obese, skinny, just right consumes junk food-blaming fat people for the healthcare crisis is ridiculous!  The increase in obesity is a symptom of the pathetic system we have in place.  The leaders of our healthcare system (medical doctors) are so overwhelmed with treating the conditions related to lifestyle that they don't have much time to talk about...lifestyle.  How are obese people completely to blame for this?  If you're going to lay blame let's pull the doctors, parents of the obese people, the teachers of the obese people, the grocery stores, the food producers, the makers of TV and video games into it as well.  Food is for profit and so is medicine. 

Let's stop laying blame and start taking responsibility for ourselves.  I will be presenting "Eat Well" on August 4th and 5th at our offices-it is a great talk-a "real eye opener" I've been told and has information the every person needs to hear about eating.  Check our website for more details and to sign up! 

Please before you panic...read Dr. Mercola's article on the swine flu and its origins and how staying healthy is your best medicine!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/28/Swine-Flu.aspx

I was talking with Fran yesterday.  She is a lovely person who was telling me about her grown children.  Clearly proud of her kids, I announced that they must have been good kids and have grown into adulthood with a loving sense of family and community.  Fran agreed wholeheartedly and said that her husband always said:  "We worked out a**es off to get such good kids!"

 

I couldn't have agreed more and it got me thinking. 

Our children are born and they are the apple of our eyes-cute, cuddly, their poop doesn't smell too awful, but then, somewhere around the age of 2 they learn the word "no", the don't listen as well to our warnings about outlets, and poop becomes art.  This is when the discipline begins and our firm, but loving adherence to it helps kids to blossom while at the same time making a family successful at enjoying the lives given to us.

Yes, it is work and there are many times when I am baffled at the amount of energy my children have.  Ah, to have the energy of a 3 year old with the brain of a 35 year old-can you imagine? 

The only way I have found to keep up with my kids is to firmly and lovingly work on the self discipline of self care.  Not so easy when considering the abrupt waking in eye glue hours of the morning and the flat out run for the next 12 hours that occurs.  Nonetheless self care is essential and something that every parent needs in order to keep up with their kids.

Take the kids on a walk.  Get everybody involved in healthy eating.  Give them a scheduled "rest time" everyday where Mom or Dad gets some downtime to read or pray or sleep (my favorite).

Think of self care as good parenting.  And remember the old do-as-I-say thing only works in church-they learn self care from how you do it, not how you say to do it!  If you're not in the habit, start today.

**Coming soon...listen to the docs of AAC Family Wellness Centers every Saturday morning at 9:30am on WDCD 1540am.   A little information and a whole lot of inspiration for staying on the path of health and wellness!

Just finished my Thai boxing class.  Most people are quite surprised that I take this class because it's, well, boxing...and I'm a female.  But, really, this is probably the best workout I've had in a month (since the last time I went) and I go to the gym at least 3 times per week.

My partner (a 40-something mother of 4) and I were laughing the whole way through, cheering each other on, getting competitive and having a sweaty blast.

You just can't get a workout like that, in the gym without a personal trainer.  In Thai boxing, there is learning along with the workout so your brain stays active.  I get a workout and I'm not thinking about my kids or the laundry or work...or the fact that I'm bored out of my mind with the treadmill.

Don't be afraid...try a class.  My recommendation:  Empire Martial Arts in Colonie.  Alan Condon is a great instructor and has a workout for everyone. 

Only one, but it takes 100 visits.

Haw!  So, can we get addicted to Chiropractic adjustments and why does it take so long?

 

Nope, you cannot become addicted to adjustments.  What does start to occur is that your body feels better after adjustments BECAUSE it is operating better.  Have you ever felt better after exercise?  Energetic, more flexible, happier?  The same physiologic processes occur with adjustments-our bodies are in the process of becoming healthy and functioning better.

Why does it take so long to get stabilized after an injury with Chiropractic?  Well, first of all, Chiropractic is not trying to overpower the body in any way with "distractors."  Your body knows how to heal itself.  Chiropractic is simply assisting the process to maximize healing. 

Consider this...the first 72 hours after an injury is when an injury is inflammed, but that inflammation is part of the healing process.  Over the next weeks and months, the body further repairs the area.  Up to ONE YEAR after the injury occurs, our bodies are still in the process of remodeling the injured area.  One year. Yet our current paradigm of healing tends to focus on whether there is pain or not-pain is often the last thing to show up and the first thing to go away with a problem-a poor indicator of healing and repair.

My family gets checked for subluxation every week.  Most of us get adjusted every week.  We will do this for the rest of our lives.  Not because we're hurting, but because we will be healthier. 

Wow...some new scary numbers.

The U.S. spent $2.2 trillion on healthcare in 2007; averaging $7,421 per person, 16.2% of GDP, and nearly twice the average of other developed nations. 

This most advanced and costly medical system in the world is the leading cause of death and injury to its citizens. 

 

Each year, some 2.2 million suffer from adverse drug reactions, 7.5 million undergo unnecessary medical and surgical procedures, and 8.9 million are unnecessarily hospitalized.

Deaths from medical system in 2001 over 750,000 while heart disease was 699,000 and cancer at 553,000.

That said:  It is far better to stay well than it is to try and get well!

 

When we see a pregnant woman in the office we spend a lot of time working on pelvic structures to prepare for the easiest possible labor, for the health of the Mom and for the health of the baby.  In recent years, I've found that many of the ladies just simply aren't being educated about the importance of diet.  Is it just that the doctors feel that most women are monitoring their own diets or that they don't have time to educate the woman?

 

I can't impress upon each woman of child bearing age, how important a good diet is to you, your unborn child and your future family.  Enough protein and enough water are the things I see overlooked the most.  Did you know that further on in your pregnancy your blood volume increases?  This needs to be hydrated!

Check out:  www.mothering.com for some good information on diet during the childbearing year.

Also, realize that any dietary changes made for the health of your child while pregnant should continue once they are born!  Your eating habits are what they learn. 

 

In a recent visit to my primary care physician for a yearly something or other, I was waiting in one exam room reading when I found that I could overhear part of the conversation going on in the next room between the doctor and one of his patients. 

Now, don't get worried...the reason I could hear it was because the doctor was getting quite animated while discussing this person's health with them and was getting exasperated by this person's stubborn refusal to truly hear what he was saying:  "The nerves are DYING-that is why your hands and feet are NUMB-you NEED to get your sugar under control!"  I love this doctor.  I love his passionate committment to his patients.  He resisted the urge to be polite.  He embraced his role as a person who is partially responsible for this public's health.  I wish every person would care this much.

Our healthcare system is a shambles.  We're sicker than ever.  We take the most drugs.  We die from medical intervention and negligence so frequently that it is now close to the number 1 killer of people in the country.  People are going bankrupt individually at a very high rate while trying to pay for medical care and it is clear that our country's healthcare system may be doing the same.  Individually we ignore the fundamental needs of our bodies to eat properly, exercise and manage stress and then expect the insurance companies and government to pay 100% for our neglect.  Medicine performs unnecessary surgeries to the tune of billions of dollars per year.  Drug companies make insane profits, but neglect true health.

Here's an idea.  Today, do something that you know will be healthier.  Sign up for a free yoga class or mindfulness class.  Partake in the multitude of wellness classes offered by CDPHP or the YMCA or senior centers.  Get your spine checked for subluxation.  If action is too much, omit something.  One less diet Pepsi.  One less teaspoon of sugar in your coffee.  One less minute sitting in an unnatural posture on the computer! 

We all need to partake in healthcare reform.  The Green movement has been so successful in helping us realize our impact on the earth.  Let today be the day you realize that no person, no organization, business or government is more responsible for your health than you!