Ten Weeks to Wellness! - Your Introduction

 

 

This year, Rubin Family Chiropractic wants to help you kick off your New Year right! According to  Dr. Mark Hyman, the best way to achieve wellness goals is to have a group to which one is accountable.  Well with our Ten Weeks to Wellness, the office would like to be that group!  We have come up with 10 weeks' worth of simple activities to move towards wellness.  Every week you will be able to report your progress at the office along with checking in on Facebook, commenting on blog posts, and getting adjusted.  Each of these activities will give you tickets for entry in a final prize (we're still deciding on something that has a significance to match the magnitude of this commitment!) In addition to all your efforts at home, we will be having monthly events through the office like shopping trips to Whole Foods and a cooking class in order to help you make lasting changes! 

We are incredibly excited about our Ten Weeks of Wellness!  The interns are looking forward to participating as well, and we are all ready to answer your questions and support you along the way.  We will be accepting a limited number of participants for this activity, so sign up at the front desk as soon as possible!

What is a food allergy - and why do so many people have them?!

A conversation in the office this week got us thinking about the topic of food allergies (even more than usual): Why is it that all of a sudden it seems that every other child has a severe food allergy, to peanuts, dairy, or some other commonly-consumed food?  Many parents couldn't name a single one of their own peers with an allergy to sort sort of food, but know exactly what kid in their child's first grade classroom has to have a special snack prepared on birthdays.  What changed in this latest generation, and what should all parents be looking for when it comes to identifying a food?  Rubin Family Chiropractic went looking for answers.

What is a food allergy?
A food allergy, like any other allergy, results from an exaggerated response of the body's immune system to a perceived threat.  In layman's terms, it's as if rather than one officer coming to file a report on a fender bender, the entire state police, five fire trucks, and three ambulances plus a helicopter reported to the scene.  This over-reaction of a normally helpful system is observed by inflammation.  The degree to which this inflammation occurs determines the severity of the allergy.  In cases of anaphylaxis, the most severe type of allergic reaction, the throat may swell to a point that obstructs breathing, or inflammatory chemicals (like histamine) generated may lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

What are some signs of allergic reactions to food?

• Itchiness, rashes, or hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Abdominal cramping with or without nausea/vomitting
• Dizziness/Lightheadedness
• Low blood pressure
• Elevated pulse
• Any out of the ordinary behavior or signs, especially in children

What are some common foods that trigger allergic reactions?
The eight most common food allergens (accounting for about 90% of all food allergies) are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy.  Other allergic reactions may come from food additives such as preservatives (like MSG), dyes, and added flavors.

Why the sudden rise in allergies?
The most likely reason that children today are experiencing more allergies than ever before is due to the fact that almost every food they eat has come into contact with pesticides, or has been processed with additives, or may even be raised from genetically modified seeds..  The changes in the way plants and animals were raised on farms were not fully tested for their effects on the people who consume them, so many of the changes in health observed in the present day may likely be attributed to the less-than-natural state of our foods.  As Ann Wigmore said, "The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison."

What can I do about food allergies?
If you or child has an established food allergy, the best thing to do is avoid the allergen.  If you are trying to determine whether your child has a mild allergy, an elimination diet might be in order.  Take about three weeks away from the offending food or ingredient.  Then, reintroduce it to the diet and see if the child reacts physically or emotionally. To prevent allergies, eat organic whenever possible.  Make sure you know what your consuming! Read labels and educate yourself!  And always get adjusted - chiropractic does wonders for your immune system. We here at Rubin Family Chiropractic are here to help answer any questions - and, of course, provide those adjustments.  Look for our next blog post about food sensitivities and how you can not be allergic to something like diary or gluten but be quite sensitive to it!

Resources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001847/ - PubMed Health
http://www.foodallergy.org/section/common-food-allergens1 - Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/14/why-are-there-so-many-food-allergies-now.aspx - Mercola.com

Healthy Meals for Thanksgiving!

For many people, the holidays are an excuse to abandon diets and look the other way when the kids grab an extra cookie.  However, a hearty and home-cooked feast doesn't have to mean completely abandoning your healthy eating habits you've worked so hard to establish with your family all year! Below are several suggestions for sides to swap in and enticing entrees that are office-tested and approved!

Think about a turkey alternative:  Dr. Rubin's favorite is Field Roast's Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute.  It's "to die for" and can be found at your local Whole Foods market.

Try mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes! - If you need a starchy side but are looking to avoid the carbs, mashed cauliflower is the way to go.  The consistency is similar enough where you might not even notice the difference once you add Earth Balance (instead of butter) and garlic.

Skip the canned cranberry sauce! - Get the antioxidants without the preservatives by making cranberry sauce with actual cranberries.  You'll get all the flavor, plus the added benefit of fiber and less sugar than with the gelatinous in-a-can version.

I know Grandma's Green Bean Casserole is your favorite, but... Consider sauteing your vegetables in coconut or some other type of oil to cut down on the cream often found in most vegetable casseroles.  Add as many spices as you want to up the flavor and cut the guilt!

Round out the meal with a spinach salad with nuts, sunflower seeds, craisins, and sliced apples with a simple vinaigrette dressing.

For dessert, try a cashew-based pumpkin pie: With only five ingredients, this pie is dairy-free and packed with pumpkin flavor. Find the recipe at http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2010/09/5-ingredient-vegan-pumpkin-pie.html

We hope this sample menu give you a great starting point! Send us your healthy Thanksgiving suggestions at rubinchiropractic@gmail.com!

Before I die I want to...

How many of us have really taken the time to consider own own mortality? Have we honestly considered the impact that we will have on the world when our time is up on this earth?  Has it even occurred to us that we COULD have an impact?

In her brief but inspiring TED talk, Candy Chang relives her own struggle with filling in the blank at the end of the sentence "Before I die, I want to_____".  She explains how she felt the need to bring this idea to the forefront of the public's mind, and the steps she took to do just that in New Orleans. As you will see in the video below, this project was replicated throughout the world with amazing results. By painting a giant chalkboard on the side of an abandoned building, Chang allowed people to ponder the difference they desired to make, and the dreams they wished to fulfill.  Her talk recounts the sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching, always moving ways people are looking to affect the world.

We here at Rubin Family Chiropractic were so inspired by Chang's project that we decided to create our own "Before I die, I want to" wall.  So start thinking of your answer and be on the look out for one of the most moving pieces of interactive art you'll ever see!

Why are we rushing through life?

"Why are we rushing through life?" Great question my wife asked this morning, as we frantically tried to get our son back to school on time, plus the two of us out to work. It seems that the pace of life tends to get more and more rapid as the years pass. How many of us say around this time of year (New Year), "Where has the time gone?" or "Wasn't it just Thanksgiving?" or my favorite, "I can't believe it's the New Year already!"
What are we rushing for, or towards? Is there some goal or destination where we can finally rest on our laurels and say, "Whew! We have arrived. Now onto easy street!" Rather, once we scramble from one place to another, we end up bounding out of there on another blistering rampage to finally arrive at some new destination, breathless and our hearts pounding. Patients say that they can't wait to go on vacation, only to come home telling me things like, "Work is doubly hard now that it piled up while I was away" or worse: "This is the price you pay."
Is it? Should we be paying this kind of price for our lives? What can we do to slow down and smell the roses? Here's a few suggestions, taken from Louise Hay's incredible book, You Can Heal Your Life.
1. Take time to have fun. Make sure smiling, laughing, and enjoyment are top priorities.
2. Meditate. If not daily, then at least a few times per week. Sit with your intention of doing nothing but listening to your inner voice. Feel your breath go in and out...I mean really feel it, notice it, go back to it when your mind wanders. Do this for 5 to 20 minutes each sitting. Clean your mind like mental flossing.
3. Prayer. Use whatever method you like, but get in touch with your higher power and have gratitude for all that we have been blessed with.
4. Affirmations. Write them in the present tense and put them all over your house and place of work. I have (passed the test, gotten the promotion, made new friends, landed the new job) by (date). I feel healthy, happy and terrific. I live a great life. Aim for what you want and think about it in positive terms. Stop focusing on what you DON'T want. Affirm your desires.
5. Filter your life. Watch only what you want to watch, what will create a benefit in your life. Don't waste your time with news, bad movies, trash TV. Read what will inspire you. Listen to what makes you smile or dance.
6. Exercise, eat better, and get adjusted by a chiropractor. Your body needs deposits on a regular basis, just like your 401k does. Those 3 practices will give you more back than they 'cost.'
7. Stop rushing. Be where you are. Be present and enjoy each moment.
Questions? Comments? Send them to rubinchiropractic@gmail.com, or visit www.theadjustment.com