What is it?

Vitamin D has become a well known and widely recommended vitamin and supplement.  Many people relate its name to the sun and to bone health. I have come across many people (patients included) who supplement their diets with this.  But did you know that it plays an important role in the immune system’s health? Let’s explore just another of the many functions of vitamin D. 

This vitamin is one of four fat soluble vitamins (along with vitamins A, E, and K). They are present in foods that contain fat – my food recommendations to obtain it will come later in this article. In order for the body to properly absorb and utilize it, it must be consumed with fat. Most people know that your body can synthesize vitamin D with proper sun exposure. This means exposing your skin and eyes to the sun daily without sunscreens or sunglasses.  The absolute best way to get this vitamin is from the sun. 

Why do we vitamin D?

It is now becoming clear that it has important roles when it comes to immunity. Research provides evidence that immune cells are host to receptor sites specific to it. Amazing observations of this active vitamin in these sites have taught us that it modulates the innate and adaptive immune system (the two components of immunology). Deficiency in this is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.

Perhaps even more relevant considering today’s front page news (covid-19), this vitamin is linked to lung health! A study carried out at the University of Western Australia, the Busselton Health Study and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has found vitamin D deficiency can contribute to poor respiratory function and health in middle-aged adults. The investigators found that low lung function directly correlated to deficiency.

What does this mean for those of us who are not cell biologists? It means that it’s not only critical for bone and joint health. Therefore it is necessary for robust and proper immune system function AND lung function. 

Does that mean you should run out and buy a vitamin D supplement?

Not exactly. In fact, taking a supplement for anything that your body naturally synthesizes actually interrupts your body’s natural ability to make it for you! Supplementing with the vitamin should never be a long term solution to ensuring that you have appropriate amounts for optimal health.  

Well then, what are the best sources of vitamin D so our bodies are supported and not enabled? 

First and foremost, direct sun exposure!  The sun has multiple incredible benefits for our health in addition to initiating the synthesis of this vitamin.  It is critically important to expose yourself to sunlight everyday! If it’s cloudy you can still get UVA, UVB and infrared light- which allow this process to occur (I’m talking go outside… not just standing in the window.) 

My favorite sources of dietary vitamin D are: fish oil, I recommend Rosita’s Cod Liver Oil, sardines, salmon (see a trend here… sea foods), egg yolks, and cheese.  Many foods are fortified with it which are less optimal options as this vitamin D is generally synthetic.  Remember that vitamin D should be consumed with fat! No wonder all those fatty foods are great sources of vitamin D.

Dr. Maggie McInnes DC

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Dear Practice Members,

I’ve decided to reach out and acknowledge each and everyone of you and your efforts to keep you and your families healthy.  I know that for all of you, health is an utmost priority and I want you to know that I am here to support you in whatever way I can. I want to ensure that you all stay well- physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally- during this obscure time.  

Until further notice, The Wellness Tribe will keep its doors open.  I am taking all precautions to maintain a disinfected and safe space for you and your loved ones to come and receive chiropractic care.  You can rest assured that the chiropractic tables and door handles will be regularly washed and disinfected. As tenants in building 1855 S. Pearl St, we have also received word that the building as a whole will be disinfected and cleaned with greater frequency. I will also be disinfecting and washing my hands between each visit. 

I want you to know that my family and I are personally limiting our social interactions so as to keep ourselves well, and to limit any possibility of spreading infection.  My priority aside from keeping my family safe and well, is to be of service to the community and keep the practice open unless otherwise mandated.   

I am extending my hours offering house calls for those who want to continue their chiropractic care, but feel more at ease staying in their home. I have opened Fridays for online booking and can open more hours if need be.  Home visit services will be available at an additional cost of $50 per household for homes within 15 miles of the practice and for $75 for homes further than 15 miles of the practice.  The fee is in place to account for travel time. 

I want to remind you all that chiropractic is a very safe and powerful way to boost the immune system.  After one adjustment the thymus can produce up to 40% more T-Cells than pre-adjustment. These are cells that make up a very active and important part of your immune system fighting against bacteria and viruses! Just imagine, each time you get an adjustment it is like taking an immune boosting vitamin! We have data and research that proves the immune system significantly benefits from spinal adjustments. (a.)

You cannot control the coronavirus COVID-19 (or the flu, common cold, or any infectious disease!)  but what you can control are the things you do to support your own health. There’s no new way to outsmart a virus, all you can do is go back to the basics to help you stay healthy. Eat well, sleep well, drink water, and get adjusted.

Supporting you health and wellness,

Love,

Dr. Maggie McInnes

1. Changes in biochemical markers following spinal manipulation-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskeletal Science and PracticeVolume 29, June 2017, Pages 120-131

Schedule Your Family’s Home Adjustment

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I wasn’t born bilingual, but I can’t imagine living any other way now. (Lea este artículo en español, aquí.)

Knowing and understanding two languages allows you in a way to “see” another color… one that wouldn’t be there without the other. 

As a bilingual individual (I speak Spanish), I think it’s important for me to touch this topic. Nowadays, I feel like the bilingual population is growing more and more, or is it just me? We are lucky. Our children are lucky, and I see it every day in my son when we speak to each other in both languages!

It got me to thinking it would be a great time to document a list of all the health advantages of being bilingual. So, here goes…

Creativity Increment

Our vocabulary helps us express our understanding of the world. There are different ways that other languages express concepts, using metaphors that just don’t translate from one to the other, making space in the brain for more creative ways to communicate. 

Better Memory

Study results from psychologists prove that knowing many languages improves episodic and semantic memory at all age levels. Boom.

Perspective

Your perspective expands when you learn or grow up with different languages. It brings you deeper into understanding cultures and traditions. Language is the most intimate and expressive product of cultures. It helps you understand and appreciate other points of view. In return, this helps you learn more about yourself too.

Social Exercise

It is also proven that your social skills grow from learning new languages. Why you may ask? You can’t learn the language without practicing it with other people. This gets you to crack your shell and branch off. So, get on out there and visit new places with new languages near and far. 

Speaking of…

Traveling

Bilingualism gets you out there! Traveling is very good for your health as it gets your mind active and expanded (yesssssss). Put your new language to use! Or, continue practicing one of your languages. You can “travel” locally too… it doesn’t have to be too far! 

Brain Aging

Practicing or learning two or more languages slows the aging of the brain. It doesn’t matter what age you startt. It’s never too late to begin!

Stress And Stroke Recovery

It can also save you from a stroke! The risk of reduced mental capacity is lowered after having a stroke because knowing two or more languages strengthens your interconnected brain.

Employment

It’s incredible how many jobs require bilingual employees. So if you want a better chance of getting the job and stop worrying about the bills, new languages can save you.

Critical Thinking

People relate learning a new language to cracking a code. Your brain begins to activate parts so that you can understand a strange message. The improvement of creativity to ‘crack the code’ helps you elsewhere in life too.

Disadvantages?

Yes, the disadvantages to being bilingual can be surprising. Sometimes it becomes trouble when we know a word in one language but we can’t think of it in the other and vise versa! This can cause people to mix the languages or even come up with words that don’t exist. Grammar, writing and speaking a new language can often be more difficult than reading, but just keep on practicing!

“To have another language is to possess a second soul.”

-Charlemagne

Resources & Studies:

https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-of-being-bilingual/

https://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/bilingualadvantages.htm

http://chiquisocial.com/benefits-of-being-billingual/

https://www.dana.org/article/the-cognitive-benefits-of-being-bilingual/

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vi·tal·ism

/ˈvīdlˌizəm/

“The theory that the origin and phenomena of life are dependent on a force or principle distinct from purely chemical or physical forces.”

Mechanism V. Vitalism (What Makes Vitalistic Chiropractic Different?)

Eastern and Western medicine are hemispheres apart. They are directly opposite each other. And, there are innate reasons why. Before we get into how they are different, how are they the same? Both seek to heal, it’s just the difference of when. Western medicine is described as largely mechanic. There are different parts of the body (nervous system, digestive system, respiratory system, etc.), and each is attended to by a specialist of those precise areas, called upon when the body is experiencing dis-ease. It is largely a reactive mode of medicine, and supremely necessary at times such as an appendectomy or injury. 

Eastern medicine, and correspondingly, Vitalistic Chiropractic, is a preventative type of medicine that seeks to heal the entire body by allowing the nervous system to communicate without disruption by removing blockages. Vitalistic Chiropractic specifically removes these blockages by adjusting the vertebrae to allow the body to heal itself and align. When the spine is out of alignment, we call it subluxation. This in turn reduces your nervous system’s capacity and diminishes your overall health potential. 

Our Bodies Can Heal Themselves With Help From Chiropractic Adjustments

It’s more than just “cracking your back.” Chiropractors who enable vitalistic techniques analyze the entire body and are able to pinpoint disruption. A Vitalistic Chiropractor helps you regain your energy flow. Subluxation, or misalignment, is often caused by toxins, stress, and trauma. Think about the times in your life when you felt the worst. (Don’t worry, we won’t be here long.) It was hard right? You probably weren’t sleeping well, or you may have just gone through a particularly difficult time in life. Maybe you weren’t eating nutritiously, but rather were ingesting food laced with chemical processing instead of natural, healthy ingredients. Life was out of alignment.

Now, think about the times when you felt amazing! You had great relationships with your friends, family and co-workers. And, you were exercising and eating nutritious foods. Maybe you were also partaking in self-care practices like meditation and yoga. In sum, your body was communicating within itself and the outside world, effectively. This is vitalism at its core: healthy communication. Vitalistic Chiropractic recognizes and aides this flow with targeted and intune adjustments to the spine and vertebrae to help every part of the body function in unison. It doesn’t compartmentalize. Nor, does it “fix” a problem. It helps your body solve its own dis-ease by facilitating its natural rhythm and healing abilities. 

Finding a Vitalistic Chiropractor in Denver (Meet The Wellness Tribe!)

There are many types of chiropractic clinics and offices in Denver, yet not every doctor practices Vitalistic Chiropractic. Many still treat sports injuries and chronic pain, or offer “affordable” solutions to quick fix you. Yet without the special adherence to vitalism, many standard chiropractic sessions will leave you healed only momentarily, with the pain returning in a matter of time.

A Vitalistic Chiropractor will help you get on a plan for long-term health and wellness through a series of sessions aimed at aligning the body to heal itself in between the times you see your Chiropractor, knowing that with proper alignment, you have the potential to heal yourself. Recognizing that energy flow through the physical plane of the nervous system is what separates Vitalistic Chiropractic from the rest.

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