Monday May 16 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday May 18 at 12:30 p.m.
Monday May 23 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday May 25 at 12:30 p.m.

At our New Office 14520 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, OH

This is a gear up for our Boot Camp to start June 6th! Come learn more about how to lose weight, get detoxed, and start a healthier way of living. Friends welcome!

Magnesium is a “macromineral” which means we must get hundreds of milligrams daily from our foods or whole food supplementation. I like to use the “greens,” “seeds,” and “beans” method of remembering which
foods have magnesium. High sources are found in spinach and Swiss chard; pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds; soy, green, black and navy beans; broccoli, and even blackstrap molasses.

Magnesium is often classified as the anti-stress mineral because it calms the nervous system and can relieve fatigue when the balance of this mineral is restored. It is involved with many functions along with Calcium (bone structure, heart health, muscle usage), Vitamin C (memory loss help), and Potassium (digestion, kidney function). Even though it is rare to be truly deficient in magnesium you can become quickly temporarily deficient following illnesses involving vomiting and diarrhea and traumas to the body including whiplash or other extreme stress. It is difficult to ingest a toxic level of magnesium, but people with kidney or heart conditions should be very careful with this mineral. As always no vitamin or mineral should be taken without
consulting your doctor about your specific needs.

In my office I regularly observe patients experiencing muscle cramps and spasms. For many, Magnesium can offer a low cost, low risk option for battling symptoms. I recommend it often following car accidents, falls, sports injuries, and often chronic conditions. I encourage people to evaluate their Magnesium intake either by food or supplementation and to consider using Epsom salts for bathing when faced with many of these ailments. If you think some of this could benefit you, talk to your doctor today about an evaluation!

People, most often children, diagnosed as Autistic have symptoms ranging from speech impairments to emotional relating difficulties. The debate on the cause of Autism continues as our world sifts through the genetic, environmental, and nutritional possibilities. Though the cause may continue to be unknown the treatment approaches can almost always include a well rounded methodology of traditional medicine, occupational therapies, and nutritional intervention.

One of the lesser understood treatment options are the nutritional solutions. There is a close relationship between the blood/brain barrier and blood/intestinal lining barrier. Due to this, when our intestinal tract is not healthy we are at risk for toxins reaching our brains. Since Autism involves the nervous system it is helpful to check the integrity of the patient’s intestines. Identifying potential problems from food allergies, food sensitivities, and toxic overloads from diet or other environmental exposure is the first step in supporting this system. Supplementing with whole food digestive enzymes and probiotics can repair the gut and therefore improve the protection of the brain. A June 2010 article in New Scientist discusses these correlative moments and their impact in children with Autism.

Another nutritional area science is beginning to expose as connected to the nervous system is the relationship between B vitamins, minerals, and omega oils. B vitamins and minerals are great for overall health balance. Omega oils found in fish such as mackerel, herring, tuna, and salmon are great food for the brain — and a healthy brain is going to lesson the severity of Autistic symptoms. All of this can be found in and should be consumed from food sources but when that is not possible a good quality supplement can be beneficial.

Lastly, sugar balancing is key for the health of children, especially those with Autism. People process sugar through their pancreas but when it is overloaded with too much sugar the pancreas cannot handle the amount and asks the liver for help. If this occurs too often the pancreas becomes ill. In time our bodies will react poorly to any sugar introduced in the body and can have hypoglycemic fluctuations. These fluctuations lead to erratic behavior that will impede social integration and learning. While this process affects all children, it is highly problematic for those with Autism and their increased mental sensitivity.

If you are newly processing a diagnosis or know someone who is, be prudent in your research and remember that each person is an individual and has unique needs in regards to their health care. Consider making sound nutritional choices and seek out those professionals who can help you create a comprehensive treatment plan.

The human body needs water to survive. So how do we ensure we are getting the best quality product? It has become big business in recent years to sell “safe” water. There are whole house filtration systems, faucet systems, home delivery options, and also you can buy water from certain local suppliers filled in safe for storage containers. It seems to me when this information is evalutated thoroughly any filter is going to be better than no filter. Natural spring water is going to be the best choice in drinking water and by natural I am referring to “from the source” spring water. If you have this opportunity you will not regret cashing in on it. The water is like no other. Next in line would be a reverse osmosis home system. Some of the home delivery options can also provide spring water and/or reverse osmosis water. These would be great options as well. If none of those options are possible for you there are many out there that will quickly and inexpensively filter tap water.  With these less expensive options take caution to store them in non-plastic containers so as to avoid contaminents in plastic. Glass and Stainless Steel are great options for storage and drinking of water.

Like many options available to become healthy, sift through the information, talk to people who have used a variety of the products and trust how you feel! Water is important for our vitality as humans. It hydrates our skin, organs, and muscle/connective tissue. Water helps to thin mucus secretions during a cold and can help with constipation and/or diarrhea. It is important to also remember some things that are purposely put into our water supply to help keep us healthy. For instance, Fluoride is added and in recent news has been controversial but does help prevent cavity formation in the population as a whole. If we can stay informed about the safety of our local water supply we can continue to feel confident in “drinking up”! Your body will thank you for it.

If you are interested or know someone who is please stop in to: get your blood pressure taken, learn more about heart health, have a tasty heart healthy treat, and see the office!

1. Keep walking. That’s it, just walk… one foot in front of the other, rinse and repeat. This might seem like some extra work, but often it’s not — think of the time you’ll save looking for the closer parking spot, or the stress of rush hour traffic. Plus you cannot deny the benefits of a slimmer waistline and more vitamin D.?
2. Embrace Family Time. Some families are large, some small, either way reconnect with them. Play games, take a walk (hey #1), cook together. Reconnect with the people that make you feel good. If your family doesn’t do this for you, redefine your family to include people that do make you feel awesome!
3. Look Local. Don’t look past the great things nearby, if you give up the hunt for the greatest deal or the latest craze you might find the best eats, healthier foods, and perfect gifts. This helps create a greater sense of community and can even improve your physical health if you include shopping farmers markets and other local food eateries.
4. Go Ahead and Toss It. Our lives are busy and contain many useful amenities, but sometimes things meant for good just become clutter. Healthy choices can’t be made in places we find to be uncomfortable or messy. Next time you think you might need to hold on to something think about how much you need it or love it. If it’s non-essential then get rid of it. Don’t forget a well timed donation can also make you feel good too.
5. Listen to Your Body. Sometimes it is that easy to have a healthier life. All too often we ignore the signs our bodies give us to tell us something might be awry. That lingering pain, nights of troubled sleep, or the headaches that come back over and over. An ounce of prevention here can potentially save you years of substandard living and dollars in health costs down the road.

(as posted in L.O. 1/12/10)

From morning sickness to swollen ankles, pregnancy gives many women a run for their money. There are many simple things to consider in having a healthy, easier pregnancy!

Morning Sickness –

We have all known someone to suffer from this. What causes it? Simply, it is the vast hormone changes occurring in the body all at one time. There does not seem to be a rhyme or reason why one person gets affected more so than others, but there is a relationship once you have had it that you are likely to have it in subsequent pregnancies. Oh joy. Many women find help in eating small, protein dense snacks frequently to combat the queasy feeling. Others find sour things such as lemons, lemonade, or sour candies to be helpful. Vitamin B6 can help as well, but should only be used if under the help of a medical practitioner. Lastly, ginger (candied, cooked, or in tea) helps many women.

Sciatica and Round Ligament Pain –

There is a lot this that is normal within this category of discomfort. Your pelvis experiences a lot of change during pregnancy, especially towards the latter half. Chiropractic, regular stretching, walking, massage, yoga, and a variety of other manual therapies can be very helpful. If you are not familiar with some of these and suffer from aches, get informed! You might be suffering more than is necessary.

Carpal Tunnel –

It is very normal for ligaments to become strained and looser while pregnant. We have a hormone called relaxin that pumps through our body, preparing our bodies for labor. In some women this effects them more negatively than others. Once again, a variety of stretching, manual therapies, and even bracing can be helpful. Try some things to help this ache!

Swollen Ankles -

While this can be a first sign of high blood pressure or dangerous water retention, this can also be very normal towards the end of pregnancy. Try an epsom salt foot soak or even reflexology from a licensed professional. Yoga and stretching can also be very helpful.

Insomnia and Leg Cramping -

I have personally suffered from these two. How awful! You want desperately to sleep and you just can’t. What helped me? Magnesium/calcium supplements. Once again, consult with your doctor, but these vitamins can be essential in getting and staying to sleep comfortably. Many of my patients sleep like a baby after their adjustments. I know I always did for a few nights in a row! How wonderful.

There are so many aches, pains, and discomforts of pregnancy but it is worth it in the end to hold that snuggly baby. Working through some of these problems naturally can make the wait even easier! Happy Spring!

(as posted in L.O. 3/9/10)

Children are amazingly adaptable. They fall down and scrape their knee. There are tears shed but typically a band-aid and a kiss and they are magically healed. It really is often that simple. But what happened to their body when they took that fall? The body is amazing and will simply absorb those little bumps and bruises. It isn’t until many bumps and bruises have occurred that the body starts to fail in adapting and aches and pains begin to set in. For most of us this does not occur until much later in life.

Chiropractic care in children helps children adapt even better to those bumps and bruises and takes them into adulthood with better body awareness and many tools to address issues sooner rather than later if needed. Adjustments affect the nervous system which coordinates with the immune system within the body. When a subluxation - what a chiropractor adjusts - is present, the nervous system and immune system work less efficiently and effectively. Removing these subluxations allows for proper nervous system functioning, a boost in immune system response, muscle flexibility, improved joint mobility, and overall feeling good. Adjustments on a young person can also help with ear infections, reflux, colic, eating issues, constipation, scoliosis, birth trauma, bed-wetting, and growing pains, to name a few. Parents often get to the end of their rope managing and treating some of the above issues and chiropractic can be an affordable, non-invasive, easy solution for many people.

So, is it safe? Absolutely. I recommend taking a pediatric patient to a chiropractor who is either specially trained in working with infants and children or to one who has a lot of experience and is comfortable treating infants and children. I have worked on my own children and many of my patients’ children since the beginning of my practice. Their spines move and function in the same way as an adults but their bones are spongier. An adult has clear delineations between bone, muscle and soft tissue textures in their body, whereas a child’s body all feels pretty similar until they are weight bearing. Once they begin walking their bodies slowly begin changing into more of an adult body - their bones get harder, their muscles get bulkier, and their ligaments get stronger.

When I work with a young patient it often appears that I am not doing much other than holding them and talking to them. The pressure is light and the adjustment is quick. I check their hips, mid-back, upper neck, and arms and legs. I make sure they do not have any tight spots in their muscles and that they are generally moving all their body parts the way they should. Then I teach the parents a few things to do at home that are pertinent to each patient. The parents are with the child more than I can be so it is important they are part of the treatment plan.

The best part of working with the younger population is they get better so quickly! Little bodies love to feel good and they do it well most of the time.

(as posted in L.O. 5/4/10)