Happy Vaccine Awareness Week!

According to the National Vaccine Information Center, September 30th though October 6th is Vaccine Awareness Week!  We here at Rubin Family Chiropractic love to aid our patients in making informed decisions when choosing to vaccinate (or not vaccinate!) their children.  Below are some important websites, movies, and books parents may look to in order to make an educated decision about their child's healthcare.

Websites:
National Vaccine Information Center: http://www.nvic.org/

• This is THE source for vaccine information concerning exemptions, what to do if you believe you or your child has had a reaction, what's in the vaccine itself, and information in regards to adapting the vaccine schedule to suit your child.  It is not, as many believe, an "anti-vaccination" website, but rather attempts to remain neutral and report just the facts.

Mercola Health: http://www.mercola.com/

• This website is a conglomeration of many natural health articles, some of which concern vaccinations and alternatives for boosting the immune system

International Chiropractic Pediatric Association: icpa4kids.org

• This is the headquarters for all things chiropractic and pediatrics.  In addition, it contains several other articles concerning aspects of healthcare unique to children, such as vaccines, and taking an approach that compliments a parent's attempt to raise his or her child naturally.

Books:
Walene James - Immunization: The Reality Behind the Myth

•  This book (Dr. Rubin's favorite n the subject!) is told from a mother's point of view rather than a scientist's, making it approachable to parents and not just doctors.  An out-look changing read!

Barbara Lowe Fischer - Any of her books

• One of the most famous vaccine information advocates, she writes with an attempt to educate, not just influence the public.  As the mother of a child who had a vaccine reaction, she has made it her life's mission to make sure every parent is informed of his or her ability to choose what is believed to be healthiest for their child.

Neil Miller - Any of his books

Documentary:
 The Greater Good 

• An amazingly simple and powerful documentary that examines both sides of the issue and includes interviews with professionals in a variety of fields voicing their educated opinions about the state of the vaccination process and industry, and follows the lives of several families affected in some way by the vaccines.

These are our favorites - what are yours?

Hollywood Gets the Big Idea!

The media plays a big role in so many aspects of our daily lives. For this reason, a little bit of positive press goes a long way. I'm happy to say chiropractic has been riding a wave of good publicity on a national level lately. From being invited to adjust at the Olympics to Functional Neurology (a form of analysis used in chiropractic) being praised as facilitating Sidney Crosby's return to hockey - the profession is making it' way in to the public consciousness. But even with these feel-good stories, some people may still be unsure that chiropractic is for them.

Enter Doctored, a documentary poised to change the way the average person looks at healthcare.

The movie, by Bobby Sheehan and the award-winning produce of On Native Soil, aims to shed light on the chiropractic profession as an alternative to the increasingly corrupt world of pharmaceutical companies and the allopathic model.  It gives credibility to a profession that has often struggled against negative labels from those who don't understand the actual purpose of chiropractic care.  In a nation-wide release beginning this week, Doctored aims to open the eyes of those who have yet to look critically at their healthcare options and to provide reinforcement and background to those who have.  We here at Rubin Family Chiropractic are very excited about this new film and the potential it has to introduce people to the power of chiropractic.  Spread the word and check it out!

More information may be found at http://www.doctoredthemovie.com/

Blended Recipes for Better Health

We have been asked by many patients and students to give them some of our favorite healthy blended recipes. They are mostly raw and vegan. It (hopefully) goes without saying that all fruits and veges are washed before use, water is filtered, and all fruits and veges are organic if possible. On future posts we will include some other non-blended specialties.

Our latest favorite comes from Brain M. and it is a soup like no other you've had before...

Fruit Soup
1 pineapple
3 oranges
Handful of blueberries and cut strawberries
Cut and core the pineapple
Skin and cut the oranges
Place oranges and pineapple in a Vitamix or strong blender
Blend it on high until the pineapple/orange mix is smooth and liquidy
Pour over cleaned blueberries and strawberries.
YUM!

Green Smoothie
2 peeled carrots
2 stalks of celery
1 bunch of parsley
2 pieces of Bok choy
2 pieces of Kale
1 avocado
1 handful of spinach
1 apple (cored)
3 tablespoons of agave nectar
2 cups of water
Put water in Vitamix first, then add several veges/fruits at a time, blend,
and add more. When all ingredients are blended, blend a bit extra to smooth
it out. You may need more or less agave to taste, but this is a fabulously healthy
green blended drink.

Breakfast Smoothie
2 cups of water
1 whole banana
1/2 bag frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, or peaches)
1 handful of spinach
1-2 scoops protein powder of your choice
Put water in Vitamix first, then blend all ingredients together. Great way to
start the morning. Kids love it too.

Hope you enjoy these tasty treats. Please let us know via posts, feedback to rubinchiropractic@gmail.com, or visiting our website at www.theadjustment.com. Please share these with your friends AND send us your delicious favorites too.

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

The Importance of Fun

My wife said the other day a profound statement to me: "We aren't as fun as we used to be." She is right. We don't schedule fun the way we did when we first met while in college. Then fun was the priority after homework. Now, even though we have a priority 'hierarchy' that is: God, Family, Chiropractic, fun doesn't always make it to our to-do list.

Last year I read a book by Gretchen Rubin (no relation) called The Happiness Project (you can find it at: http://www.happiness-project.com/). It was an awesomely simple book explaining how to put more happiness back in your life. One thing she mentioned was, as crazy as it sounds, to schedule happiness or fun in your day to day and week to week calenders. We did that for a while but when obligations get in the way, we take fun off the list first, don't we?

As a chiropractor, I realized how important chiropractic adjustments are, in combination with a great exercise program, good foundational nutrition, and a positive mental attitude. I think I've got to add fun to that list as well. Chiropractic, exercise, diet, PMA, and scheduling fun. How does that fit for you?
Please let me know at rubinchiropractic@gmail.com.

The Fear Economy and Why You Don't Have To Participate

The other day while driving, I saw a homeless person holding a sign that said, "Will pour concrete for food." He was standing about a block away from a very large church parking lot, right at the time that the service had ended. The street was flooded with exiting vehicles. I took note that he didn't choose one of the smaller places of worship around here...he chose one of the biggest. Here is the question: If he is that bright that he could figure out all the details to be at the right place at the right time, then how come he doesn't use those skills to get a job?

It is easy to get caught up in the fear-mongering that is going on right now, as the stock market tumbles yet another day. In the example above, the homeless man was not toting a sign proclaiming, "The end of the world is near," but in essence, both signs were true. The end of the world was near, FOR THAT HOMELESS PERSON. And that is the lesson in all of this stock market crashing. It is NOT the END OF THE WORLD as we know it. It does not really matter IN THE LONG RUN whether the USA has a triple star rating or double plus star rating. It only matters IF YOU MAKE IT MATTER. What really matters in life is not what happens to us, but our reactions to what happens to us.

The law of attraction
There is a law that the universe operates by. If you have read any self-help books lately or saw the movie, The Secret, you have heard of the Law of Attraction. It basically states that, "What you think about, comes about." Or, my favorite way of saying it, "If you think about what you want, then you will attract more of what you want." However, the corollary is true: "If you think about what you DON'T WANT, then you will get more of what you DON'T WANT." Unfortunately, the law works BOTH WAYS.

During this time of financial change, let all the uproar occur around you. Divorce yourself from becoming attached to the news or the stock reports. Another great old saying applies: "This too shall pass." Let it pass. As it is written in the Bhagavad Gita, detaching from expectations is one of the keys to a happier life. Dr. Sid Williams always told us to: "Give for the sake of giving, love for the sake of loving, serve for the sake of serving, with NO EXPECTATIONS OF RETURN." Go out there and do whatever you do, no matter what job you have, and do it to the best of your ability, with no expectations of renumeration. You may argue and think, "Things like this shouldn't be happening." But as Byron Katie says, you cannot argue with reality. What is,is. Sure, things like this SHOULDN'T happen, but if they did, then apparently they were meant to happen.

The stock market always goes up and down. That's just what it does. Expect it. Yes, it is super volatile now, but if you can accept it, then you can move past the fear. Sure, there may be some people who were about to retire and lost a big chunk of their life savings. But even that is not the end of the world, UNLESS you make it that way. Think about what you want, NOT what you don't want. Don't be like the homeless guy who is smart enough to stake out the perfect parking lot, but isn't ready to commit to working the law of attraction in his favor.

Think about what you want. Over and over again. Focus on the good all around you. Believe you can do it, and you can. As FDR said, "The only thing to fear, is fear itself." Would love to see your comments. Email us at rubinchiropractic@gmail.com, or comment at www.theadjustment.com.

The New Drugless Revolution

There's a different way to live. You don't have to live the life of sickness but you do have to take proactive action steps toward health. Patients are coming to our chiropractic office stating "I don't want to be on these painkillers anymore", or "Johnny has had 4 rounds of antibiotics in the last 6 months and I HATE doing that to him." People are tired of relying on this pill or that pill for the quick fix. They are becoming patients not only to feel better in the short run but to LIVE BETTER in the long run. A 50 year old came in today and said, "I am proud that I am not taking any drugs at all at age 50." That's the way it SHOULD be. But we know the stats.
Our son has NEVER had any drugs in his body, not even a baby Tylenol. How many 16 year olds can say that? And my wife and I have not taken any drugs, whether prescribed or over the counter, since 1992. Almost 20 years drug free. Contrast that with these stats: almost 50% of Americans are taking at least 1 drug/day, and 25-30% of US children are taking drugs daily for chronic conditions. The cost to Americans per year is $300 billion, which is $3,000,000,000 (National Center for Health Statistics).
It's time to take a stand. Yes, drugs work great in emergencies and in chronic situations. But that's NOT what most drugs are being taken for. Top drugs such as cholesterol drugs (which may be diet related), antidepressants (which may be stress related), stomach drugs (which may be diet and stress related), and antibiotics (which may be diet and lifestyle related) can be reduced overnight if more people band together and just say no. We need to start a New Drugless Revolution. We need to take action steps so that a 50 year old not taking any drugs is normal not outstanding. Let us know what you think at rubinchiropractic@gmail.com.