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Integrative Health Blog

 Love Your Heart: A Guide to Heart Health for Men and Women

February is not just Valentine’s Month — it’s also American Heart Health Month. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, but an estimated 80% of heart disease can be prevented through lifestyle and diet changes.(PubMed) This is...
25% of Teenagers are Doing What?!

25% of Teenagers are Doing What?!

It’s common knowledge that adolescence is characterized by risk-taking behaviors and experimentation. As a parent, you try your best to warn your adolescent children about the dangers they may face, especially regarding drug and alcohol abuse.  One type of drug use that is less commonly recognized is prescription drug abuse. In fact, after marijuana, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused drug by teenagers. Nearly 50% of Americans take at least one prescription medication, and the sale of prescription painkillers quadrupled from 1999 to 2010.  Therefore, prescription medications are readily accessible by children and teens. It’s estimated that 25% of teenagers has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime. One disturbing risk taking trend in regard to prescription drug abuse is for teens to gather for what’s called pill parties, or “skittling.”  In these settings, kids are encouraged to bring any pills they can find, and then the pills are dumped into a bowl for them to sample.  The risks are very high, given that the child may be taking a very dangerous medication, and is also mixing medications together.  These types of gathering have resulted in significant illness and even death for some teens.

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Go Back to the Basics with Chiropractic Care

Go Back to the Basics with Chiropractic Care

As a physical medicine doctor of 15 years I have seen a lot of patients that have presented with  various levels of pain and musculoskeletal problems.  Some as simple as low back pain as the result of shoveling snow, to as complicated as having Lyme disease/low thyroid/ chronic inflammation/ shoulder pain all layered on each other, never knowing what is the real cause of their physical pain. Somehow, in any of these cases, there needs to be a point where the basics of physical health are incorporated into daily living. Along with proper treatment, this will set the foundation for healing and get a patient back to a better state of health from when they first came in. In sports, when a team is doing poorly many times the coach will take the team back to  drills they learned as a kid to reinforce the basics of the sport.  This allows the team to return to “the basics” of being successful and winning games.  The same thing has to happen when restoring the physical body to the way it is supposed to move and feel. 

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Are You D-ficient?

Are You D-ficient?

Winter season is an important time to think about your (and your child’s) vitamin D levels because vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent during this time of the year. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk for cancer, asthma, autoimmune diseases and more.

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient for your health at every age.  In fact, the illnesses associated with vitamin D deficiency are numerous.  Consider the following recent studies: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with greater cancer risk. Vitamin D has been shown to be an effective treatment for psoriasis. Vitamin D supplementation reduces incidence of autoimmune diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes (when taken during infancy). Vitamin D deficiency  is associated with increased incidence and severity of asthma and wheezing disorders. Vitamin D enhances the immune response and provides protection against upper respiratory infections, influenza, and middle ear infections. Vitamin D deficiency affects the cardiovascular system. Deficiency of vitamin D increases the risk for heart attack, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.

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Cut the Carbs and Lose the Weight

Cut the Carbs and Lose the Weight

Have you been enjoying the hustle and bustle, the parties and leisure time spent eating and drinking with family and friends this holiday season? Are you ready to start the new year with healthy habits as your main focus? Many people tell me that the extra weight they carry around is their main concern – they want to look better and feel better. As a nurse and a health coach I understand that what’s at stake isn’t just how our reflection looks in the mirror, it’s how our future health will be 5 or 10 years down the line. The connection between the foods we eat and the health we get to enjoy is very real. Every time that we eat or drink something it affects our internal biology for better or for worse. During the holidays we get our fill of sweets, Xmas cookies, cakes, breads, chocolates, alcohol, cheese, crackers, candies, you name it!

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What is Reiki?

What is Reiki?

Reiki is an ancient healing tradition brought to light in the early 1900s by Mikao Usui of Japan.  The word “Reiki” has deep meanings, which can be summed up most simply by the concept “universal life force.”  Everyone benefits from being alive with energy – that is...

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Three Reasons to Avoid Excessive Media Exposure for Children

Three Reasons to Avoid Excessive Media Exposure for Children

Media exposure for children has begun to cause a myriad of problems including obesity, attention problems and behavioral changes. “Literally, the average child now spends more time watching TV than attending school.  This kind of electronic engagement has had a profound effect on kids’ behavior and the development of their brains.” Dr. Scott Shannon. The above quote by Dr. Shannon

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Is It a Big Deal That My Child is Overweight?

Is It a Big Deal That My Child is Overweight?

One in three American children are overweight or obese. It’s now common knowledge that childhood obesity has become an epidemic in our country. One in every three children is overweight or obese.  While this issue has been getting less media attention recently, we don’t want to underestimate the looming health crisis that will result from such large numbers of children being overweight.   We have already been seeing a staggering increase in common childhood illnesses, such as asthma and allergies, because of the increasing toxicity of our environment.  Overweight and obesity add yet another burden to our children’s stressed systems. 

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Good Sleep is Essential to Brain Health

Good Sleep is Essential to Brain Health

In a previous blog, Seven Ways that Exercise Helps Maintain a Healthy Brain,  we outlined the importance of exercise for brain health. Now on the flip side of that is the importance of sleep for brain health. Lack of sleep is so significant to brain function that 24 hours without sleep or a week of sleeping four or five hours a night induces an impairment equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.1%. important sleep is to brain health, try these strategies to encourage good sleep hygiene.

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Have You Heard the Diet News Today?

Have You Heard the Diet News Today?

Some GREAT news just came out in the medical and scientific community, which has been widely reported by many mainstream publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazineand NPR. A new randomized controlled clinical study was published in the Sept. 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine looking at the effects of a low carb vs. a low fat diet. I have copied the results here: Conclusion: The low-carbohydrate diet was more effective for weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor reduction than the low-fat diet. Restricting carbohydrate may be an option for persons seeking to lose weight and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

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Holistic Dentistry: 5 Tips to Avoid Acid Erosion of Your Teeth

Holistic Dentistry: 5 Tips to Avoid Acid Erosion of Your Teeth

Having a diet that is highly acidic can be detrimental to your teeth and consuming acidic foods and drinks throughout the day makes the problem worse. Erosion of the teeth is a type of decay that occurs when the tooth structure is lost due to chemical dissolution by acids. Erosion will start in the enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth, but can spread to the dentin underneath if left unchecked.

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Why Choose a Biological Dentist?

Why Choose a Biological Dentist?

The factors in the mouth which affect overall health are:

Infections of the teeth,  gums, jaw bone and tonsils
Toxicity or incompatibility of dental materials placed in the mouth
The physical orientation and contact of the jaws and teeth.

The effects of these three factors affect the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, the blood,  lymphatics, immune system, our sensory organs and more.

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What is Colonic Therapy?

Colonic therapy goes by many names, such as: colon hydrotherapy, colonics, colon cleansing, colon indignation, high enemas, and colon therapy. A toxic bowel is the source of many health problems. Colonics rejuvenate every cell of the body. Colonic sessions hydrate and cleanse the colon, exercise the colon muscles,  and stimulate reflex points. In addition, colonic therapy helps cleanse the blood, release toxins, build up the immune system, and rehydrate the whole body.

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Methylation 102: A Deeper Look at the MTHFR Gene

Methylation 102: A Deeper Look at the MTHFR Gene

Given the exuberant response to the article Methylation 101: What it Means for Your Health, I have been encouraged to write a second article to continue the discussion.  In the first article, I introduced the idea that those with “methylation defects” are relatively less capable of methylating away the fight/flight neurotransmitter noradrenalin and are thus likely to incur a more heightened and sustained stress response from stressors of any cause. Having a heightened tendency to be motivated by extra stress, the up-side of having methylation defects can compel such people to have increased drive to succeed and be more productive!

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Gluten-free Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Gluten-free Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

A dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free family favorite! Everyone loves sweet potatoes. They are a great alternative to regular, starchy white potatoes. Sweet potatoes are packed with fiber to help with digestion and contain beta-carotene, which is a potent anti-oxidant. Sweet potatoes are typically used in casseroles or topped with butter or sugar. This healthier mashed sweet potato recipe uses the good fat of coconut milk and the sweetness of cinnamon and ginger to make a healthy meal or side dish for your family.

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Understanding pH and Why Alkalinity is Important to Health

The alkalinity level of your body will affect your overall health. What is the ideal level?
To understand alkalinity it is important to have an understanding of pH. pH is an acronym for “potential of hydrogen,” a value that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid.  The measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in a liquid determines the pH value.  Every liquid has a pH value, which falls on a scale between 0 and 14, with 7 being neutral.  A pH value less than 7 is acidic: values greater than 7 indicate alkalinity. Your body also has a pH value.   Ideally, your blood’s pH should be between 7.3 and 7.5.

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Asthma: A Holistic Approach

Asthma: A Holistic Approach

While spring is a welcome relief from the cold and dreary winter for many of us, it can be a time of misery for children suffering with asthma.  The blooming of trees with the accompanying pollen trigger wheezing, coughing, and other unwelcome symptoms for a rising number of children with asthma. Asthma now affects 1 in 11 children. The incidence has been rising over the past few decades,

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Holistic Dentistry’s Top 5 Tips for Kids Dental Health

Holistic Dentistry’s Top 5 Tips for Kids Dental Health

Starting your child out with good habits and dental care will help to ensure that they have the best chance for a healthy mouth that will last a lifetime. Baby teeth have an important role and beginning to care for your child’s teeth before they erupt should not be overlooked.  The first tooth may appear at around 6 months and as soon as it starts to erupt it is at risk for decay. 

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Herbal Teas for Respiratory Health

Herbal Teas for Respiratory Health

It seems to be an especially brutal flu season this year. Deep, bronchial coughs echo through the aisles of the grocery store, Snuffaluffagus is answering the phone at the bank and sneezes flutter over cubicle walls with hot zone wings.  If you or one of your beloveds is suffering from respiratory congestion it is a good time to start thinking of a steaming mug of medicinal tea, ideally full of honey and steeped with love.  While there are plenty of great teas on the market – Breathe Easy or Throat Coast by Traditional

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Herbals & Techniques for Promoting Dental Health

Herbals & Techniques for Promoting Dental Health

As part of the holistic and biological dentistry approach to dental care, there are herbals which are useful to promote good dental health. Most of us have experienced the cleansing of a salt water rinse after a dental appointment or during times of mouth pain.  The gentle swishing of the water and the abrasiveness of the salt cleanse and promote healing. 

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Do the Holidays Make You Sick?

Do the Holidays Make You Sick?

Yes, for most people they do. If they don’t get you with all of the sugary desserts, exposure to the germs of your friends and family, and the cold weather, they’ll get you with the stress of planning and traveling! Not to mention the financial stress many people face at this time of year. While the promise of a new year offers some people hope and inspiration, it offers some an excuse to drink too much, a reason to feel lonely and a pass for gluttony. No, the Grinch is not writing this article – but I offer some advice on how to make this year’s festivities come without consequence.

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Why I Love Being a Colon Hydrotherapist

Patients ask me all the time, “Sharon, why do you do THIS?  How did you get into THIS?” I always know THIS means COLON HYDROTHERAPY.  Patients wonder why I’m so excited and intrigued by, as one patient says, “watching people poop all day.”  One patient lovingly calls me the “Poop Lady.”   When people ask my 40 year-old daughter what I do for a living her response is, “my Mom helps people get the mess out of their lives.”  Yes, she’s a comedienne; the woman definitely has jokes.    Needless to say, my chosen career is the butt of many jokes (pun intended)!

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Should You Be Concerned About BPA in Plastics?

BPA or Bisphenol A is a chemical that has been used since 1960’s in certain resins and plastics. It is a common ingredient in many plastics, including water bottles, cups, children’s toys, plastic containers, cash receipts and paper currency. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are a common ingredient in containers that store food and beverages

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Natural Remedies for Common Ailments

Natural Remedies for Common Ailments

Many people are looking for healthier options to common problems that may be as as effective as pharmaceuticals but not have side effects, and may resolve the underlying cause of the health challenge. The following natural remedies are what I use in my naturopathic practice at National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) with great success. While these are generally very safe in small dosages, as with any herbal or homeopathic or medication you should first consult your naturopathic physician before using these recommendations. While natural medicine’s efficacy lends itself to both the expertise of the doctor and the commitment of the patient to take care of themselves, many natural remedies are quite effective in time of acute need.

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You Need This for a Healthy Mouth

You Need This for a Healthy Mouth

In order for us to have a healthy mouth we need to have healthy saliva. Saliva helps us to chew, taste and swallow.  It keeps our mouths moist, fights bacteria and helps to prevent bad breath, gum disease and decay. If your salivary glands are healthy, your body could make up to two to four pints of saliva per day.  Most of your saliva is made during the day.  At night our mouths tend to be more dry. 

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Symptoms of Constipation

In my article last week, The Truth About Constipation, you discovered a new definition for constipation. In summary, you discovered if you’re not experiencing a one to one ratio between the meals you’re taking in and the waste that’s coming out, you’re probably constipated. Now, let’s talk about some of the symptoms of constipation.  And, this is an extremely limited representation of the many symptoms you suffer daily as the result of a constipated/toxic colon.

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The Truth About Constipation

The Truth About Constipation

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, “Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement less than THREE times a week.” Well, I’d like to modify that definition because it doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of what it means to be constipated. This is what I think: If you eat at least THREE meals per day, which equals TWENTY ONE meals per week, and you are having less than THREE bowel movements per week, you are EXTREMELY constipated. You see, you were created to operate the way you did when you were a baby; one meal in and one load of waste out. Constipation begins when the body is not releasing the waste from every meal consumed.

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Anxiety Free Dentistry Without Drugs or Without Going to Sleep

When it comes to sitting in the dental chair anxiety takes many forms- sweating, a queezy stomach or worse.   Yet most people have some form of dental anxiety when it comes to dental appointments. Unfortunately, many people take the easy way out by avoiding the dentist altogether.  Severe dental infections, great pain, severe tooth, gum or jaw bone damage can result from avoiding your dental health problems.

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