Dr. Sarah: August 2009 Archives

Remember when Mom used to say:  "Sit up, you're slouching!" ?

I read, yesterday, about a little device (called the iPosture) that vibrates when it feels you slouch for more than 60 seconds.  The author gave this hysterical account of getting zapped in the middle of meetings and snapping to attention several times.  At $65 per device, I have a better, healthier way.

Go here to the homepage and scroll down to where it says:  "Remember to do your YWTLs."  Click on it and see the "easiest exercises in the world" for spinal hygiene.  Not only are they easy, but they feel good and will give your brain and body a boost in energy and concentration-NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED!

We have practice members who collectively do these exercises while playing "YMCA" by the Village People at work during their breaks.  Fantastic!

The sales have begun!  The supply lists have been delivered!  Kids are starting to groan at the mere thought of "BACK to SCHOOL."  Parents rejoice.

 

My kids and I are all starting to look forward to the new school year-we all love to have a crazy, vacation schedule for a bit, but eventually like to get back into the school routine.  I'm blessed to have children who love school and a school that loves children. 

Still I have my concerns.

With school brings many opportunities to expose my children to things that may challenge their health leaving us with many a day on the "sicky couch" as we call it in our house.  Some may be nodding along saying:  "Oh, yeah, all those little kids and their GERMS!"

It's not what you think.

My concern is that my children will be forced to use toxic antibacterial soaps to wash their hands.  My fear is that every child's birthday will be celebrated with massive consumption of candy and sugar.  That rewards will be given in the form of a piece of candy.  That a school lunch will consist entirely of processed food products.

You see the health of the human body is what keeps a kid from getting sick.  Kids get sick when their bodies' are overwhelmed by stressors-physical, chemical and emotional.  Minimize the stressors and you strengthen the body!

Here are Dr. Sarah's tips for healthy kids:
     1)  Keep your kids on a routine that gets them plenty of sleep
     2)  Feed your kids fruits and veggies-the minimum is 5-8 servings per day
     3)  Minimize sugar consumption-this is essential!
     4)  Stay well adjusted-visit your chiropractor on a regular basis.
     5)  Supplement with a multivitamin, omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics
     6)  Exercise with your kids at least 4 times per week-a family walk, Wii fit, walk the dog...
     7)  Have some regular "family time."  Reading before bed, playing a board game, break out the popcorn and have a family movie nite


*This and every Saturday morning at 9:30am listen to the docs of AAC Family Wellness Centers on 1540am the Life.  More tips, lots of talk and an opportunity to speak to us, ask us questions, make comments to help improve the lives of others! 
 

Did you know that there is more to your brain's impact on your health than just conscious knowledge?

Chiropractors call it "innate intelligence."  That life force within your body that makes you animate, that coordinates your bodily functions, that heals you.  This intelligence surpasses intellect by a significant measure.  It explains how we can heal, digest, breathe, pump blood, secrete hormones without a single conscious thought.  Our innate intelligence is coordinated by the nervous sytem-our brain, spinal cord and nerves.

What happens when there is distored communication between your brain and your body?

On one end of the spectrum, distorted communication can lead to paralysis even death.  This would be someone who suffers brain injury, spinal cord injury or nerve injury.  But just like a person can be suffering from heart disease or cancer and not feel it, the nervous system can be suffering from interference without you having any knowledge or symptoms. 

Yet damage is being done! 

Lack of complete communication between the brain and body leads to decreased function.  This results in muscle weakenesses that are often most witnessed in the person's posture; general fatigue; headaches; stiffness; decreased immune function; feelings of being "stressed" among many, many others.  Decreasing your quality of life and taking it away minute by minute.

The thing is...we've been trained to ignore these little warning signs until there is a major problem! 

Ignorance is not bliss in this situation and our paradigm of sick care as health care leads to our current state of decreased health and increased drug consumption.  We are quite a sick society considering the fact that we spend the most on "health" care!

Wellness Chiropractors have the answer.

Spinal adjustments have the sole purpose of aligning the spine to remove interference from the spine so that the innate intelligence can operate the body optimally, maximizing function.  In addition to maximizing the body's innate intelligence, wellness chiropractors teach you how to eat, how to exercise and how to manage stress with the most cutting edge research in these areas.

Now more than ever we need to step up our self care.

Nobody has more control over your health than you!

Here is an fascinating article published in today's Times Union about medical errors.  I, like many, had no idea the scope.

Of course, there is no simple solution, but awareness and consumer pressure is so very important for changing the statistics.  Let's spend less time blaming and more time fixing!

A great way is to be very involved in your healthcare and read up on how to protect yourself.  Try reading this for starters-http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm.

From a wellness standpoint, the best medicine is to avoid it at all costs to begin with!  Should you have a medical emergency, though, we want to make sure that the system in place can handle it with as little error as possible.