by Kenna Vaughn | Chiropractic, Functional Medicine, Health, Health Coaching, Holistic Medicine, Natural Health
Elderberry is an ancient plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. In today’s world of medicine, Elderberry is most commonly used to treat cold and flu symptoms. However, Elderberry can also help to reduce headaches, inflammation, and even sciatica.
What Is Elderberry?
Elderberry is a genus of flowering plants. The most common is a tree. All parts of the tree can be consumed and used for health benefits. The flowers are typically white or cream-colored and can be eaten raw or cooked.
The berries have a tendency to be tart and are safest to consume when cooked. The tree bark has also been used as a diuretic.
Do You Have These Symptoms?
- Inflammation?
- Shaky, agitated, have tremors?
- Suffering from flu and cold-like symptoms?
- Abdominal swelling?
- Immune problems?
How Can EdlerBerry Help?
Not feeling well is one of every individual’s least favorite things. It can range from coming down with a cold or flu, inflammation, or simply just a headache. All in all, when one these strikes, the first questions we ask ourselves is, “What I can take to relieve this?”.
Elderberries have been used to give the body extra immunity due to their health-promoting properties. Just like any other berry, Elderberries are high in antioxidants. The antioxidant properties Elderberry contains is what gives it most of its power.
Humans develop oxidative stress, and when the oxidative stress levels become elevated, the chances for developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes increase. Elderberry can help to reduce the levels of oxidative stress in the body.
Another great quality of Elderberries’ antioxidant power is the reduction of inflammation. There was a study done that showed after consumption of elderberry juice, the inflammation and oxidative tissue damage became reduced.
In addition to their high antioxidant value, they contain 60% of the daily recommended intake for Vitamin C.
Elderberry also contains polyphenols, which have been shown to help increase white blood cell count, thus supporting the immune system!
Benefits
There are many products that contain Elderberry to help individuals suffering from headaches, inflammation, and cold and flu symptoms. The company Xymogen makes products that are all-natural, vegan, and free of dairy, soy, and wheat. They have a product containing Elderberry that when taken at the first sign of a cold, can help reduce symptoms and the length of the cold. We are happy to have this amazing product and to be able to provide it to patients.
In total, Elderberries are an all-natural way to overcome not only the cold and flu season but to boose immunity all around. They can also be taken as a preventative measure to help with inflammation.
Elderberry is a great product! It is more of a holistic product and can be used to help patients feel better and recover from inflammation as well as cold and flu symptoms faster.� I personally love the fact that is all-natural because the fewer chemicals that enter the body the better.� In addition to it being all-natural, I also give elderberry to my young son to help him through cold and flu season and love the fact that I know the ingredients his medicine contains is not harmful. – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach�
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.�
References:
�Elderberries, Raw Nutrition Facts & Calories.� Nutrition Data Know What You Eat., nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1883/2.
Jimenez, Alex. �Why The Immune System Needs Elderberry.� El Paso, TX Doctor Of Chiropractic, 21 Dec. 2019, www.dralexjimenez.com/why-the-immune-system-needs-elderberry/.
Mandl, Elise. �Elderberry: Benefits and Dangers.� Healthline, 8 Mar. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/elderberry.
Tiralongo, Evelin, et al. �Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.� Nutrients, MDPI, 24 Mar. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/.
by Kenna Vaughn | Chiropractic, Functional Medicine, Gastro Intestinal Health, Gut and Intestinal Health, Health, Health Coaching, Ketogenic Diet Explained, Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrition, Wellness
Metabolic syndrome is caused by having more than one condition. Metabolic syndrome often leaves individuals with headaches, joint pain, fatigue, and more! Metabolic syndrome is an epidemic all over the world, but in the US, we are seeing this condition all too often.
Metabolic Syndrome can be defined as having two or more of the conditions listed below:
- Women with abdominal fat or a waistline greater than 35
- Men with abdominal fat or a waistline greater than 40
- Individuals with high blood pressure ( 130/85 or higher)
- Patients with triglycerides higher than 150
- A fasting glucose of 100 or greater
- Low HDL ( good cholesterol ) less than 40 in men and 50 for women
These symptoms are often associated with inflammation. Many people believe inflammation is just something that occurs in the joints and on the skin, but inflammation can occur to the organs inside the body and create havoc.
Metabolic syndrome does not target a specific population but can affect anyone who has an overlap of the factors listed above. Those who have an “apple” or “pear” body shape, are likely to have higher abdominal fat, and therefore are more at risk.
As individuals age, their chances of developing metabolic syndrome increases. On top of age, previously having or having a history of diabetes in one’s family also increases their risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
Speaking from personal experience, and having Type 1 Diabetes myself, I can say that metabolic syndrome really takes a toll on one’s body. With experiencing these symptoms first hand, it can leave your body feeling exhausted. When the blood glucose level in the body rises, it causes the blood to become thick due to the excess sugar in the blood. This then causes the heart to work harder and raise the body’s blood pressure due to the effort needed to pump. From here, the body responds with a hard and heavy headache, nausea, occasional vomiting, increased thirst, increased urination, and blurred vision. Recovering from a day of high blood sugars can leave you feeling defeated and similar to feeling like you are recovering from the flu.
One of the things that occur within the body when an individual has metabolic syndrome is their insulin sensitivity decreases. Insulin is the hormone produced that helps to turn the food you eat into fuel for the body or store it as fat. When the insulin sensitivity becomes decreased, it means not enough glucose in the body is being absorbed.� Leading to high blood glucose levels and increases the risk for Type 2 Diabetes.
For those who are suffering from metabolic syndrome, or have one or more of the above risk factors there are ways to take charge. The benefits of taking charge and preventing metabolic syndrome from getting worse or returning means getting back the energy you thought was lost. By decreasing your symptoms and increasing your energy, you could be feeling better than you remembered.
The best diet to quickly gain control of blood sugars and raise HDL is the ketogenic diet. This diet works by eating low carb, high-fat foods. In turn, this makes the body burn fat as fuel rather than carbohydrates. It starts by burning the fat around the pancreas and liver and then starts to burn the intramuscular fat ( excess abdominal weight ). By eliminating most carbs and increasing water intake, individuals can see a decrease in depression, brain fog, their risk of stroke, and blood pressure. All while seeing an increase in sleep and energy.
One of the best ways to reach your goals and stay healthy is to work with a team who understands them and is willing to educate you. We provide 1:1 coaching, scales to track weight that also reports the water weight and BMI of the individual, wrist bands to track caloric activity, and education. The education will help you understand why you are following a specific diet or food guidelines, how that food is breaking down to help you, and what foods to avoid. We will never leave a patient confused or with unanswered questions.
Speaking from personal experience, it is best to get a handle on these symptoms before they cause permanent damage. There are ways and things to do to help reduce your risk. I highly recommend seeing us, or a local doctor to start to build your plan. We can create personalized plans that will help you reach your goals, lower your risk, and work with your lifestyle. Take it from me, you do not want to be stuck feeling the side effects metabolic syndrome comes with.� -Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
References:
by Kenna Vaughn | Chiropractic, Functional Medicine, Gut and Intestinal Health, Health, Health Coaching, Integrative Medicine
Gut health is more important than most realize. The gut has been connected to multiple symptoms including but not limited to; joint pain, inflammation, headaches, digestive problems, and even brain fog.
Due to the American Diet, gut health has been lacking. We are seeing an increase in starches consumed rather than fermented foods and dark leafy greens. There are certain foods that many people refer to as “Super Foods”. Within this group, there are Super Foods for your gut! These foods will help to optimize gut health and can even help in gut repair.
Fermented Foods
Fermented foods are great as they support a healthy microbiome. The microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms. The microbiome consists of good and bad bacteria, including the organisms that make up probiotics.
Some of the best fermented foods that help support these bacterias are Kefir, yogurt, and sauerkraut. Kefir has about 27.7 billion colony forming units per one cup. These foods help to collect bacteria, yeast, and viruses that not only live in your gut but also on your skin!
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats are important to have in the diet. They ensure the body is getting Omega-3s which are polyunsaturated fats. These fats help the brain and nervous system function properly. They also reduce inflammation in the body caused by a leaky gut and can help lower cholesterol.� Two great examples of healthy fats that fall into the superfood category are avocados and salmon.
Dark Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens provide an immense amount of nutrients to the body and the gut. Not only are these low in calories and carbohydrates, but they contain essential minerals and vitamins. These foods contain fiber, folate, vitamins K and C, and minerals like iron and calcium. These foods will help to heal and seal the gut. Some great superfoods that fall under this category are kale and seaweed.
It can be hard to get enough dark leafy greens into your diet. A great way to do this is to mix them into a smoothie in the morning! It can add a refreshing taste as well as provide your body with another serving of nutrients!
There are so many foods one can eat to help boost their gut health. The Gut is often overlooked as many people are not fully aware of how much control it has over the body. By increasing or adding some of these foods into your diet daily, the healthy bacteria in your gut will become more nourished.
Increasing fiber, healthy fats, dark leafy greens, and fermented foods will not only provide your gut with healthy bacteria, but it will also keep the bacteria in the gut “full” and not die off from lack of nutrition. Another word for this is prebiotics. Essentially, the food that feeds the probiotics. In addition to these foods, a probiotic supplement will also aid in optimal gut health. Gut health is so important and should never be overlooked. It’s never too late to start paying attention to your gut! – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.�
References:
Hill, Ansley. �16 Superfoods That Are Worthy of the Title.� Healthline, 9 July 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/true-superfoods.
Lee, Linda. �5 Foods to Improve Your Digestion.� Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2019, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-foods-to-improve-your-digestion.
Link, Rachael. �8 Fermented Foods to Boost Digestion and Health.� Healthline, 18 Oct. 2017, www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-fermented-foods.
by Kenna Vaughn | Chiropractic, Functional Medicine, Headaches & Treatments, Health, Health Coaching
Detailed lab testing is becoming more and more essential as integrative medicine is on the rise. Detailed lab testing goes more in-depth than the traditional blood levels usually taken. This allows physicians to understand more of the underlying issues that are causing the patients headaches, inflammation, pain, or overall discomfort.
There are multiple lab companies that utilize top of the line technology in order to obtain the best results for the patient. By running a detailed test, it allows more data to be collected and the physician to get a deeper look at what the patient might be lacking.
SpectraCell
One test that is extremely detailed and allows an abundance of information is the Micronutrient test from SpectraCell. Micronutrients are essential for the body to function properly. The body requires macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are those obtained through the diet, such as protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that the body needs to achieve proper nutrition.
The Micronutrient test came from Dr. William Shive who was a biochemist that realized many serum (blood tests) do not adequately show the number of vitamins and minerals in an individual. In turn, the labs are not a true number of the patients health.
The Micronutrient test from Spectracell is unique because it is the only test on the market that obtains a history of 4-6 months from inside the cells. Thus, allowing practitioners and patients to see if their cells are truly healthy and what they are lacking in.
Who Should Be Tested?
Micronutrients are needed to perform almost all metabolic processes in the body. When these essential vitamins and minerals are lacking, the body is more prone to degenerative processes like arthritis.
Getting tested can provide an inside look at what is actually happening in your body. This can shine some light and possibly even explain some health symptoms you’ve been struggling with. Due to the fact that micronutrients are needed in the body and not having them does affect your health, getting tested could help prevent a compromised immune system.
Applications
As mentioned earlier, this test measures micronutrients, which are essential vitamins and minerals in the body. But, what else can this test really tell an individual besides the fact that they’re lacking in vitamin D?� This test can help provide measures for:
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s
Mood Disorders
Osteoporosis
Fatigue
Sports Performance Optimization
SpectraCell is all about giving their patients high-end results that lead to real solutions. By creating a test that captures the functional level and the actual capability of the nutrients present in the white blood cells, it allows physicians to see a patient’s metabolism from a different standpoint. Getting tested could be the first step towards a healthier future.
SpectraCell is an amazing company, which is why we use them! This test is very detailed and provides us with a great deal of information. The science behind this test not only allows our patients to feel better by getting on the correct vitamin regimen for their body but also by allowing us to treat patients on an individualized level without the guesswork. – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach
*All information for this article was found onSpectraCell.com and is properly cited below
References :
SpectraCell. �Menu.� Search Tests, spectracell.sitewrench.com/search-tests.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request.�
