Powerful Produce

Throughout any given day we are exposed to a plethora of toxins which result in oxidative stress within the body and cause bad molecules, known as free radicals, to form. These free radicals go around attacking and attaching to healthy atoms, causing damage to cells, proteins, and DNA! While you probably arent’t looking for a chemistry lesson, I want to paint a picture of why it’s important that we do what we can to prevent and get rid of free radicals! This is where antioxidants enter the scene, preventing the free radicals from causing damage throughout the body.

So how do we get antioxidants? Antioxidants are not something that our bodies can make, but are found in a variety of foods!
A food that is seriously jam-packed with antioxidant power is turmeric! Widely known as an ingredient in Indian foods, turmeric is a root that looks similar to ginger but has a rich orange/yellow coloring to it. You can find turmeric in powder form in the spice aisle of your local grocery store or in whole-root form in the produce section of stores such as Whole Foods and Central Market.

The active compound found in turmeric is called curcumin. Curcumin is a very potent antioxidant that is extremely beneficial in preventing cellular damage as well as helping our bodies to detoxify. The only problem is that our bodies aren’t very good at absorbing curcumin by itself. Fortunately, adding a few ingredients to some turmeric and we’re able to enjoy ALL of the benefits of this antioxidant-rich root!

What are these three necessary ingredients? Great question! One of the elements necessary for us to absorb curcumin is called quercetin. Quercetin is a plant pigment found in red onions, capers, cranberries, kale, blueberries, romaine lettuce and apples (to list a few). Another element which increases the bioavailability of curcumin for our bodies is called piperine. Found in black pepper, piperine increases the bioavailability of curcumin (turmeric) by 2000%!! No that is not a typo, two thousand percent!! The final ingredient that is extremely helpful in our absorbing curcumin is a healthy fat. By consuming turmeric with a healthy fat we are able to absorb curcumin directly into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system, rather than it having to be filtered through the liver first!

These may sound like some random ingredients to throw together in order to have better health, but a little concoction called a Turmeric Tonic (see recipe) does just the trick! In the video below, I show you how to make a turmeric tonic and the benefits of each ingredient that goes into it!

Turmeric root in the produce section at Whole Foods

Turmeric Tonic Recipe:

• 2 cups of coconut water

• 2 inches of turmeric root

• 1 drop of food quality black pepper essential oil

• 1 inch of ginger root

• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon of local honey

• 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

• Juice of 1/2 lemmon

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until the consistency of a juice. Pour and enjoy! Makes 2 servings.

Making a recipe that calls for turmeric? Throw in a dash of black pepper and you’re automatically making your meal a natural detoxifier! What are your favorite ways to cook with turmeric? We would love to hear how you integrate this power-house antioxidant into your daily routine!

A Pediatrician Will Come to Me?!?

As I've talked about in previous videos and blog posts, picking a prenatal team is an extremely important part of pregnancy! In addition to prenatal professionals, a pediatrician is crucial to have on your team and ideally lined up before your newest family member is here! That is why this month I asked pediatrician, Dr. Andrea Wadley, to discuss the benefits of hiring a home-visit pediatrician, especially with a newborn. Here are Dr. Wadley's top 5 reasons home visits are great for a newborn:   

1. Less stress on mom and her healing body. The last thing you want to do after you have gotten home from the hospital or birthing center is to leave the house again. A pediatrician who comes to see your baby in the first few days of life allows mom to stay home in the comfort of her own environment and not have to worry about who will drive her to a doctor's appointment. 

2. Improves breastfeeding. The best place to receive help with breastfeeding is the comfort of your own home. This is the place where you will spend the most time breastfeeding. A home visit pediatrician with extra lactation training allows you to learn and practice this important skill in your quiet home environment. 

3. Shelters your baby from germs. Sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office with your newborn exposes them to sick children and their germs. Home visits allow you to keep your newborn protected. 

4. Allows the pediatrician to educate you on baby safety by examining your home environment. It's easier to discuss safe sleep when your pediatrician can see where your baby is actually sleeping. 

5. No waiting rooms. You spend time with your pediatrician instead of spending time waiting in the waiting room. Home visits provide more personalized and efficient care for your new baby. 

If you would like to have a pediatrician who comes to see your baby in your home, give Dr. Wadley a call at 817.476.0675 or email at DrWadley@127pediatrics.com. 

You can visit 127 Pediatric’s Website here.

Sharp Curve Ahead

This afternoon, my co-pilot pup, Rocky, and I went out for walk along the Trinity Trail. As we strolled along, we came across a sign that said “Sharp Curve Ahead”. I found myself thinking
”Wouldn’t it be nice if we had signs like that for life??” You know, signs that said “job loss ahead” or “cross-country move ahead” or even “illness ahead”. One of the biggest unexpected “sharp curves” that come up in life are health issues. I wonder if we knew ahead of time that a specific disease was headed our way, we would live our lives a little differently? Often times, we spend the first half of our lives chasing wealth to then spend the second half of our lives chasing health.

The good news is that while we may not have a sign telling us what lies ahead in regards to our health, we can make decisions on a daily basis to prolong our years with a healthier life! Here are five basics that we can all implement right away. While they may seem simple, I find myself needing reminders on all of these at some point throughout a given day, week or month.

1) Get sleep! Sleep is imperative for our brain and body to heal. It also greatly impacts our immune function and cognitive ability. 7 - 8 hours of sleep per night is a great goal!

2) Hydrate! Our bodies are over 55% water and we use it in every single cell, organ and tissue. It is essential for the regulation of all bodily functions. Aim for 50% of your body weight in ounces of water per day!

3) Taste the Rainbow! Getting a variety of fruits and veggies in our diet is essential. By including a “rainbow” of colors in produce on our plate, we are increasing the amount and variety of vitamins and minerals that we are consuming.

4) Stay Active! Maybe crushing a workout at the gym isn’t your thing, that’s ok! Whether it’s going for a 20 minute walk, going for a bike ride, taking the stairs, trying a pilates or barre class or simply letting loose and dancing, movement is the key!

5) Find Your Tribe! As humans, we were created to be social. I know some of the introverts may be cringing right now, but it’s true! Make sure you have one or two people who you can bounce things off of and just do life with! It doesn’t need to be a quest for popularity, just a few people to hold one another accountable and lift each other up in times of need.

While I didn’t include chiropractic care in the 5 basic tips, regular chiropractic adjustments are extremely beneficial in maintaining proper function of the spine and nervous system. Since this is what allows our brain to talk to our body and our body to talk to our brain, it’s kind of important! To schedule your next appointment with Dr. Nikki, click here and if you have any questions about any of the other tips for staying healthy, we would love to hear from you!

Conquering Candy

There’s something contagious about the excitement of kids during the month of October. The Fall weather, the Halloween costumes, and massive amounts of candy… oh the mounds of candy! While I’m not a parent and won’t even attempt to pretend I’m an expert on the topic of parenting, I do know that Halloween candy can be a big stressor for parents. Consuming processed sugars not only has an impact on a child’s behavior, appetite, sleep, and general health, but it also contributes to dental issues! With that being said, I made it my mission to come up with some tips to deal with the dreaded Halloween candy invasion that is coming soon to a home near you.

In my quest for tips, I reached out to local dentist, Dr. Pickett of Pickett Family Dental, to see what his suggestions were for dealing with Halloween candy. Here’s what I learned:

1. Pickett Family Dental offers a candy buy-back each year. You can contact them directly to learn how to participate!

2. Come to peace with the idea that you may not be able to stop all intake of sweets, but know that it’s better for their teeth to eat more at once instead of spreading consumption out throughout the day.

3. Rinse with water, but do not brush for 30 mins afterwards because candy-eating makes the enamel softer for that amount of time.  

4. Avoid sticky candy that’s acidic (sour). That’s the worse kind for decay. 

In life, we are constantly faced with making the healthiest decision we can in a given situation or circumstance. A Halloween candy buy-back provides kids an opportunity to experience healthy decision-making and to reap the benefits of making a healthier choice! To find a Halloween candy buy-back near you, click here.

This article is a part of our October Newsletter. To check out the entire newsletter, click here.

Picking Your Prenatal Team

Pregnancy is an absolutely life-altering season of life. While I haven’t experienced it myself, I have the continuous privilege of observing women during this season, as well as being a part of their pregnancy experience. When a woman finds out she’s expecting, it is a very exciting time, it also is an occasion where her and her family will be faced with numerous decisions!

Most of us have heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” and it’s absolutely true… starting while they’re still in the womb! One of the most important decisions a woman faces in pregnancy is the village of people who will be supporting her throughout pregnancy and birth. While this prenatal team will look different for each individual woman, there are three crucial components that I think should be considered.

The first member of the prenatal team is a midwife or OBGYN. While both professionals deliver your baby, the environment and approach will vary greatly! I discuss some of these differences in the video below. There’s no right or wrong decision, it just depends on what each individual woman needs and feels comfortable with.

The next member of the prenatal team is a doula. If you haven’t heard of a doula, definitely check out my video! I’m lucky enough to work with a number of doulas, with all different personalities and styles. If a woman knows that she needs someone to push her, there’s a doula for her! If a woman knows that she needs to be nurtured and mothered, there’s a doula for her too!

The third member of the team is the prenatal chiropractor. Did you know that there’s a group of us chiropractors who actually specialize in chiropractic care during pregnancy? We have completed additional training and certification through the ICPA in a technique called the Webster method and often times have the credentials FICPA or CACCP after our name. Chiropractic care is extremely helpful in maintaining proper function of the spine and nervous system throughout all stages of pregnancy. A woman’s body goes through a great deal of changes and it’s important that her body is able to adapt to these different stressors appropriately! Just a few of the benefits that research has shown include decreased back pain during pregnancy, decreased labor time, and decreased post-natal pain. I’ll be doing an entire video and post about this topic, so stay tuned!

With all of these professionals, we are dealing with a human to human interaction. I mention this to say that it’s really important that a woman jives and feels comfortable with the different people who she’s turning to for her prenatal care and advice. Tension, conflict, or a lack of trust can result in emotional stress as well as physical stress, and ain’t nobody got time for that, especially a hormonal pregnant woman! Asking for recommendations from friends and family members or looking for professionals who have great online reviews is a great place to start. From there, interviewing a few different people ensures that it’s a great fit for momma-to-be and her family!

If you’re looking for recommendations for members of your prenatal team, please don’t hesitate to ask! I would love to help you find your ideal team.

Transformation From the Ruins

Driving into the office this morning I was reflecting on a life-changing event that occurred one year ago today. As I reflected, I was reminded of my recent visit to Rome. I remember walking through the Roman Forum, which was once the heart of the city, and feeling truly humbled. I remember thinking about all of the powerful people and leaders who had walked down the Via Sacra that I was now placing foot on and seeing all of the grand architecture and intricate statues that had been built without computer systems, heavy machinery, or any other modern technologies. Where I was standing had once been the site of one of the largest and most powerful empires on the earth, but all that remains of it now is an intoxicating history and jaw-dropping ruins. The Roman Empire has influenced many aspects of today's society, such as democratic government practices, language, literature, art, infrastructure, city-planning, and the spread of Christianity. But we wouldn't be seeing any of these influences today if there hadn't been transformation from the ruins. 

A year ago today, after having had a record Saturday, I was told by my employer that I no longer had a job... I was fired. "Fired" is a tough word to swallow, it can bring about feelings of shame or embarrassment or being less-than, but here's what I know to be true. God will break us to promote us and to move us to our right place. And when He breaks us, He always does it with grace. Sometimes we wait for what feels like the "right time" to close a door and God has to intervene and close the door for us. Other times we are able to close the door ourselves, as I've observed multiple friends do with their jobs and situations this year. Regardless of how a season has come to an end for you, I just want you to know that you are celebrated! It's in the closing of doors and crashing of empires that we have the opportunity to transform from the ruins to the riches that God has called us to. Cheers to transformation!