The smile of a child

                             

It’s beginning to be that time of year again!!  Here at The Chiropractic Villa we are collecting toys, which will benefit:

·The Family Place

·The Boys & Girls Club of North Central Texas

We were very pleased with the generous amount of donations we received last year and hope to collect even more this year! Of course all toys are greatly appreciated, but toys needed most are for the 10-14 age groups for both girls and boys. It’s easy and fun to buy for those little kids, and so we often forget about the pre-teens and early teens needing some Christmas cheer as well.  It’s heartbreaking to know that there are so many children, even in America, who have to worry about when their next meal will be. Giving them a toy for Christmas doesn’t begin to solve their problematic situations, but they are still children and deserve to experience times of joy, if even for a little bit.

Mission work is something very dear to both my and my mother’s hearts. I hope to have the opportunity of doing Chiropractic missions work in the future, but so far I have been fortunate enough to do a few things here and there. From when I was very young, I remember not only participating in things like the local Angel Tree opportunities and Operation Christmas Child, but we also went as a family to mission’s trips to Mexico with an eye Doctor friend of ours. There are always ways we can relate with others, no matter where they live and I remember having lots of fun as a five-year old playing with the children in Mexico and helping them choose sun glasses and understand how to use hygiene items like toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Because of my mom’s successful work with World Vision by getting many children sponsored, she has had the opportunity to go to Guatemala, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and I was able to join her on a trip to Haiti. World Vision is an excellent organization and we have been repeatedly impressed with how they differ from programs that just give handouts. World Vision is a child sponsorship program that provides the sponsored child things like clean drinking water, food, and education. My mom was amazed on one of her trips when there were several children in one particular family, but not all of the children were sponsored. When asked why the additional children were not sponsored yet they were told that they didn’t want to teach dependence on handouts, but instead wanted to teach self-sufficiency to the locals. What a concept!

What’s neat about World Vision is you can actually communicate through letters with the child you sponsor and you will receive pictures as they grow and information on their progress. If you want to personally send them some small gifts you can do that as well, which of course they love. Some people help their sponsored child’s family get things like goats or chickens, which further helps their self-sufficiency.

We aren’t all called into the mission’s field, but I think it is important for all of us to experience a small portion at least once. So many of us have truly no idea how blessed we are. We have never experienced what it feels like to have an actual hunger pain. We don’t have to walk barefoot hundreds of miles, while risking our life, just for water...that is dirty and most likely contaminated. My mom witnessed several times on her trips where small children, kindergarten age, would tuck away a portion of their already measly scrap of food into a pocket either to eat later or to give to a relative back home. No we shouldn’t feel guilty for our advantages and run off and sell everything, but putting things into perspective and not whining about things that really don’t matter in the grand scheme of things is my goal here.

There will always be a new version of the Iphone, a more supped-up car, and bigger and better houses. Our desires will almost never be met. But giving someone a chance to meet their daily needs when there may be no other opportunity for them, and giving a child something small to smile about is irreplaceable in both your heart and theirs.

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Celebrate!

I have gotten a little behind on my blogging and was given inspiration by a patient and fellow blogger www.quinnforaday.com to get back to it. So here we go.

This past Thursday (October 16th) we celebrated The Chiropractic Villa's two-year Anniversary. In a way, it seems like time has flown by, and in a way, it seems like we opened just yesterday. We have had quite a few challenges along the way. They say opening a business is hard. Well they were wrong. It's harder. Pretty much anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. There were days in the beginning where I wanted to throw in the towel, but then it became quite comical. Max Lucado in one of my many favorite books of his called "You'll get through this" helped change my attitude and showed me I was struggling for a reason. I actually began to awake each day looking forward to what problem I would experience that day. It's not that I'm a pessimist about things...I'm a realist actually. If it wasn't something breaking then it was a permit we had been unaware of needing or some other "state regulated" expense. And whoever came up with the term "being dollared to death" is sorely mistaken....it should be called "being thousanded to death" haha. I believe though that those of us who go through the biggest struggles, He has the biggest plans for. So I'm excited to see what He has in store.

I am so thankful and blessed to have the support of so many friends and family. I couldn't have done any of this without my mom and sister specifically. This has been a learning experience for all of us and I am happy to report that we made it through the toughest first two years and we all lived lol. It was touch and go there for a little while. You are forced to learn things you have no desire to learn while opening a new business, and working as a team, expressing a variety of strengths, has been a priceless blessing. I am also very thankful for all of the advice I have been given along the way by people who see my passion and drive and are wanting to help me be successful as quickly as possible. And on the other hand, I'm thankful that I stuck to my guns on some things because the result of my choices have been for the better. Cheaper things have never gotten me the best in my life, so why would I want to give less than the best to my patients?

Slow and steady wins the race...unless there is a time limit, which is why consistency and determination prove to be far more reliable.

Farewell Oscar...

I know this has nothing to do with the theme of my blog, but it is a part of my past that I can brag on.
Many moons ago i was a model. And during the beginning days of modeling, thanks to my mom and her motherly motivation to find every opportunity to help her daughters....... she found out about...and we crashed, an Oscar De La Renta fashion show at the downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus. No one ever knew that we didn't belong. We were in and out in less than 30 minutes. Enough time to chat with Oscar, snap a picture, and exit with him in the elevator.
Oscar was as kind as could be and I am so happy I had the chance to meet him. His classical style will forever be admired. Farewell Oscar.
......and yes, I am unfortunately a natural blonde.

How is your nutrition?

Do you know if you are meeting your daily requirements for nutrition? It is nearly impossible to get everything we need from our food because our sources are now so depleted. An example of this can be seen with something like an apple. The nutritional equivalent of one apple our grandparents ate is equal to about five apples that we have access to currently. And I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t want to sit around and munch on five apples! Are you sure of the quality of ingredients used in your large bottle of multivitamins you purchase at your local discount store? Most vitamins available can actually be causing more harm than good AND most of them cannot even be properly broken down and absorbed by your body, so you are actually just flushing money down the toilet…literally.

Do you even know what vitamins you should be taking? So we all hear we should take a multivitamin, maybe some vitamin D, Omega 3 fatty acids, and the list can go on, but how do we really know what we should be taking and how much we should be taking? Should a petite female take the same nutritional supplements as a male body-builder? Should someone who suffers from depression take the same things as someone who is bubbly and energetic?

Due to both my history of Lupus and going through Chiropractic school, I have a rather large base of knowledge on nutrition and like to carefully research products in order to better educate my patients. I am always very skeptical to all nutritional companies because they never end up being what they claim to be – “all natural, pure, organic, etc”. I have personally tested the majority of the most popular products out there and have continuously been disappointed. Until now. A pharmacist named Paul Sullivan developed the product I am completely impressed with. Paul Sullivan, who’s critically ill daughter inspired him to create these products for everyone, eventually developed a complex computer algorithm that combines each individuals personal health and lifestyle habits to devise a specific nutritional supplement regime based on your scientifically proven needs.

I love how this company shows their research of why you need certain nutrients so that you aren’t guessing which supplements you need. I especially love how this product truly is organic, non-GMO, soy free, gluten free, and casein free and they don’t try to hide any of their ingredients. This nutrition also comes in convenient packaging pre-sorted into AM and PM doses because some nutrients are proven to be better absorbed at certain times of the day. If you are already on a supplement regime, you will also find that these nutritional supplements are significantly less expensive than the high-quality ones you can currently purchase because you aren’t paying for all of those space-wasting bottles.

Although all of the products have impressed me, the one most impressive, by far, has been the Omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fatty acid is a vital nutrient that we should all be taking to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, protect your heart, ease joint pain, improve memory, and is excellent for reversing symptoms of both autism and head injuries. But unfortunately most sources are full of toxic mercury and by taking most store-bought omega-3 you can be defeating the whole purpose of the nutrient. This product has mercury free omega-3 fatty acid and is in one small gel capsule. The other trustworthy sources I am aware of are either in a nasty liquid form, or you have to take a large amount of huge capsules, which really starts to add up cost each month.

You may notice a variety of health improvements once your nutritional needs have been met. Some things I have witnessed so far include decrease cravings, decrease PMS symptoms, improved memory, healthier skin and hair, decreased digestive issues, better mood, less stress/anxiety, decrease in joint/muscle aches, weight loss, improved immune system, and more energy. IDLife also offers additional products for those specifically looking to sleep better, have more energy, and/or lose weight. Click the link below for the free assessment and see how IDLife can help you. This individualized assessment will tell you what you need personally and why. You must create a user name and password because it is HIPAA compliant. Click here to take assessment: IDLifeAssessment

Football injury prevention and recovery

The speed, forces, and regular occurring contact associated with football during both practice and within games, make some type of football-related injury almost unavoidable. Injury prevention and treatment for any athlete starts with optimal health in both nutrition and musculoskeletal alignment.

Chiropractic care focuses on the health and function of the entire body, with particular emphasis on the skeletal system, muscular system, and central nervous system. When the body’s central nervous system is optimized and 100% healthy, all systems within the body perform properly and at their full potential. When there are interferences (known as subluxations) within the central nervous system, the systems of the body are not able to function at peak levels, which leave them susceptible to illness and injury.

The majority of catastrophic football injuries occur secondary to axial (downward) compression of the cervical (neck) spine. This mechanism of injury occurs most often when a player drops their head down when tackling or blocking an opponent. This flexes the cervical spine, flattening the natural Lordotic curve, which bypasses the shock absorbing capacities of the spine and the associated muscles and ligaments. It is very important that these young athletes practice proper training from an early age to avoid initiating contact with their helmet.

Concussions have received an increasingly amount of attention in the press lately because we are all aware now of just how harmful they can be. If not dealt with properly, concussions can have lasting effects on the individual’s brain function. Concussions occur when there is a traumatic blow to the head, neck, or body. This trauma can cause a whiplash-type injury to the neck, which is a term used for the association of tearing of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This type of injury will result in loss of normal function in the spine immediately, and will progress even more in the future if not treated properly. Recent studies have found that the Chiropractic adjustments of the upper cervical spine, increases performance of the central nervous system due to the precise x-rays, gentle technique, and direct relationship on the central nervous system.

As much as we teach our youngsters principles like “no pain, no gain”, athletes, their trainers, and Doctors understand the consequences of disabling the pain mechanism and have come to realize the benefits of the Chiropractic perspective - treat the cause of the pain. It is also important to note that a misaligned spine does not always produce pain. Typically pain is one of the last symptoms to appear, which means that damage has been going on long before seeing a Chiropractor.

Dr. Catherine Kuiken with Andrew Kossack

Here at The Chiropractic Villa, we serve our patients and clients with whole-body health by utilizing upper cervical Chiropractic, massage, nutrition, acupuncture, and e-stim therapy. Make sure your child is properly prepared for a future in sports and stays as injury free as possible!

Kombucha - yea or nay?

What is that popular health drink that looks so much like your dirty dishwater? Is it just a new fad among health nuts? When I had my first sampling of Kombucha, I was not at all impressed. It reminded me a lot of Apple Cider vinegar. Not very appetizing, in my opinion. I kept hearing of this drink’s many health benefits, but wondered if the benefits were enough to overcompensate for the awful taste?

I had decided this was one health strategy that I would steer clear of. My sister had been drinking it every day for a while because she actually enjoys the taste. There was no way I could drink something, let alone enjoy something, that tasted like that…or so I thought. I was hit with both pneumonia and the flu this past winter. I tried everything I could think of and nothing would kick the horrible month-long cough that I had. Out of desperation, I finally forced myself to choke down a pint of Kombucha for two days in a row (which surprisingly tasted pretty good when I was that sick) and when I woke up the third day, I was amazed at how great I felt. I don’t know what happened with my taste buds, but ever since then, I crave the taste.

So what exactly is Kombucha? Kombucha is a raw, fermented drink made from sweetened black tea. Originating in China, in the early 1900s, Kombucha has become popularized by its immune-boosting and healing effects.

What all is Kombucha good for?

1. Immune system. Because Kombucha functions as a prebiotic, this causes an environment free from bacteria while providing growth to microorganisms. Yes, Kombucha can kill bacteria. Acetic acid, which is a bi-product of fermentation, creates a sterile environment, meaning it prevents and even kills infection. 

Prebiotic: Specialized form of dietary plant fiber, which are not affected by heat, cold, acid, or time. These have been medically proven to provide a wide range of health benefits as they nourish the good bacteria that everyone already has in their gut.

Probiotic: Live bacteria in dairy products and pills. There are hundreds of available probiotics available, but we do not yet know which are the best. These probiotics must be kept alive and can be killed by heat, stomach acid, and time. Health benefits of these are definitely suspected, but not yet proven and probiotics must also compete with over 1000 other bacteria species already in the gut.

2. Digestion. Your digestive system has a rough job, especially with all the toxic “food” we can’t seem to resist. Fermented foods are “pre-digested”, which provides a much-needed break to your pancreas, which normally has to secrete a lot digestive fluid. Furthermore, the prebiotics, yeasts, and enzymes in kombucha actually help to break down food and aid your body in absorption. Prebiotics also help balance the digestive system by helping to maintain a healthy PH balance. Because of all of this digestive relief, Kombucha helps alleviate conditions such as Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, Candida, IBS, and stomach ulcers.

3. Weight loss. A large number of people claim that kombucha helped to aid in weight loss by curbing their appetite. This is not assured in everyone though, just an added bonus for some.

4. Vitamins. Kombucha contains B and C vitamins. B vitamins are a favorite among many due to their sugar-craving reducing qualities. B vitamins also help to reduce stress, reduce the risk of heart disease, aid in PMS symptoms, and help to improve memory. Vitamin C helps us by acting as an antioxident, boosts our immune system, and functions as a natural antihistamine.

5. Gut. Yet another benefit of kombucha is that it contains Butyric acid. This acid strengthens the walls in our gut, kills parasites, and protects against yeast infections.

6. Stomach. Because of the natural acidity in Kombucha, whether you need more stomach or less stomach acid, Kombucha will help to balance this. This balance can aid in many uncomfortable digestive problems we often experience.

7. Detoxifying. Kombucha contains tons of antioxidants, which is good news for your liver and helps to prevent cancer.

8. Joints. Surprisingly, Kombucha naturally contains glucosamine. Glucosamine helps to keep your joints healthy and prevents arthritis.

9. Energy. Because of the many B vitamins, Kombucha makes a great energy drink substitution.

10. Delicious! Some of us have a palate for it and some of us have to acquire a palate for it. Due to its rather sweet, yet vinegary flavor, it may take some getting used to, but you can also flavor it with some fresh fruit juice for your taste. And added satisfaction is it’s naturally effervescent (carbonated), which is good for those of us who choose to avoid pop.  

Just like anything though, we are all different and the benefits of kombucha vary from person to person. Because of the benefits I have seen personally in myself, I have a serving almost every day. Some things I have personally experienced are increased energy, decreased craving for sweets, and the biggest change has been the boost in my immune system – has helped me both get over illness and prevent illness.

Here at The Chiropractic Villa, we offer kombucha for only $3.50 a pint. We encourage you to recycle your used jars back to us and we will refill them for only $3.00. Our kombucha is not flavored, but you may feel free to add a splash of your favorite fresh juice such as pomegranate, cherry, or strawberry.