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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No nací bilingüe, pero no puedo imaginar vivir de otra manera ahora.

Conocer y comprender dos idiomas le permite de alguna manera “ver” otro color … uno que no estaría allí sin el otro. 

Como persona bilingüe (hablo español), creo que es importante para mí tocar este tema. Hoy en día, siento que la población bilingüe está creciendo cada vez más, ¿o soy solo yo? Somos suertudos. ¡Nuestros hijos tienen suerte y lo veo todos los días en mi hijo cuando nos hablamos en ambos idiomas!

Me hizo pensar que sería un buen momento para documentar una lista de todas las ventajas para la salud de ser bilingüe. Entonces, aquí va …

Incremento Creativo

Nuestro vocabulario nos ayuda a expresar nuestra comprensión del mundo. Hay otras formas en que otros lenguajes expresan conceptos, utilizando metáforas que simplemente no se traducen de uno a otro, haciendo espacio en el cerebro para formas más creativas de comunicarse. 

Buena Memoria

Los resultados deStudy de psicólogos demuestran que el conocimiento de muchos idiomas mejora la memoria episódica y semántica en todos los niveles de edad. Auge.

Perspectiva

Su perspectiva se expande cuando aprende o crece con diferentes idiomas. Te lleva a profundizar en la comprensión de las culturas y tradiciones. El lenguaje es el producto más íntimo y expresivo de las culturas. Le ayuda a comprender y apreciar otros puntos de vista. A cambio, esto te ayuda a aprender más sobre ti también.

Ejercicio Social

También está comprobado que tus habilidades sociales crecen al aprender nuevos idiomas. ¿Por qué puedes preguntar? No puedes aprender el idioma sin practicarlo con otras personas. Esto te hace romper tu caparazón y ramificarte. Entonces, sal y visita nuevos lugares con nuevos idiomas cerca y lejos. 

Hablando de … ¡

Viajar

¡El bilingüismo te ayuda explorar! Viajar es muy bueno para su salud, ya que hace que su mente sea activa y expandida (sí, sí). ¡Utiliza tu nuevo idioma! O continúa practicando uno de tus idiomas. También puedes “viajar” localmente … ¡no tiene que estar demasiado lejos! 

Envejez Del Cerebro

práctica o el aprendizaje de dos o más idiomas ralentiza el envejecimiento del cerebro. No importa a qué edad comiences. ¡Nunca es demasiado tarde para comenzar!

Estrés y Recuperamiento de un Accidente Cerebrovascular

También te puede salvar de algún accidente cerebrovascular! El riesgo de que baje la capacidad mental es reducido después de que pase esto porque al conocer dos o más idiomas, tu cerebro interconectado está más fortalecido.

Empleo

Es increíble cuántos trabajos requieren empleados bilingües. Entonces, si desea una mejor oportunidad de conseguir el trabajo y dejar de preocuparse por las facturas, los nuevos idiomas pueden salvarlo.

Pensamiento Crítico

personas relacionan el aprendizaje de un nuevo idioma con descifrar un código. Tu cerebro comienza a activar partes para que puedas entender un mensaje extraño. La mejora de la creatividad para ‘descifrar el código’ también te ayuda en otras partes de la vida.

¿Desventajas?

Sí, las desventajas de ser bilingüe pueden ser sorprendentes. ¡A veces se convierte en un problema cuando sabemos una palabra en un idioma pero no podemos pensar en el otro y viceversa! Esto puede hacer que las personas mezclen los idiomas o incluso inventen palabras que no existen. La gramática, escribir y hablar un nuevo idioma a menudo puede ser más difícil que leer, ¡pero sigue practicando!

“Tener otro idioma es poseer una segunda alma”.

-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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One of my new mama patients once laughed because she didn’t know what to put her baby in in winter. “What do babies wear?” She asked herself before diving into the world of furry bear and moose outfits as well as baby bunting outfits galore online… It was funny to her because she had planned all the way through her child’s birth on supplies, but somehow had forgotten this crucial piece of the puzzle. 

As parents, there’s always something new we didn’t expect. Sometimes it could have been “obvious,” but without the experience ourselves, we can do our best by following the advice of trusted professionals. I hope I can be one for you today in this article! 

Here are my best tips on how to keep your family healthy in Winter. 

Warm & Cozy Nutrition for Immunity

In Winter, your body loves to be warm. This goes for our diets too! Mmmmmm….. Get that soup, stew, and brothy yumminess of the season. And, spice it up! Warmth can be created by temperature or from spice. For a “softer” and sweeter spice, add cinnamon and nutmeg to your coffee, tea or latte. And, take your time, love. Enjoy yourself and the nourishment that you provide your body during the chilly months. For kiddos, try to make a spin off their favorite foods. Soups in thermoses can be an easy, clean mean too. 

For adults, you can also try to slip in some micro green powder shots to make sure you get nutrients from vegetables and greens. It’s nice especially when you think you might not make your veggie count for the day. For kiddos, sometimes you can slip some in a smoothie. They may or may not detect it, haha! Go slow on this addition… Cheers!

Minding Your Mental Health

As we all know nowadays, mental health is just as important as physical health. When one slips, the other is soon on it’s way! How can we protect our own mental health and our children’s? So many ways! Here is a collection of my favorite mental health tips, split between kiddos and adults (though many overlap!).

For Adults:

• Variety! Life is too short to live the same day twice. Take a new way home, try a new food spot. Do your hair different. Play!
• Journal (even just make a list of 5 things you’re grateful for)
• Go Outside (in any way, shape or form)
• Call a friend or family member
• Reset (taking a breath and saying ‘reset’ helps or 5 mins of meditation/breathing… we can ‘start over’ and reset any time we want to – even if we’ve just made a mistake, or several roadblocks have just set us back.)
• Chiropractic. (You know I had to get that in here somehow, I couldn’t recommend it enough, which is why it became my career and life calling. When the body can communicate with itself better and prioritize areas out of alignment, we trigger its biological self-healing response.)

For Children:

• (Same goes for the kids!) Variety! Mix it up. Play with different friends/babies. Or, go on an adventure!
• Art! Making or seeing it, it has a wonderfully positive effect on children of all ages.
• Music. Ditto.
• Om chanting. This!! When started young, it can be so soothing and help them drift into sleep or simply know it’s time for breathing and calm.
• Chiropractic. (Yes! It is helpful for humans of all ages.)

Herbs & Supplements

First of all, elderberry syrup for the win. This amazing syrup is a sort of health tonic and it tastes amazing! The whole family will love it. You can even make it yourself. Here’s a recipe. Plus, I love the creator’s style: “Try drizzling it over pancakes.” Yes. Elderberry has shown to be effective in boosting immunity as the berries are packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. Take it daily or when you feel the onset of a cold. 

Next up, Thieves oil. Legend has it that tomb robbers would protect themselves from the plague with this essential oil and it worked – they never got sick (according to historical accounts). The blend contains Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary, all which do their part in boosting our body’s immunity. For kiddos (and adults), you can (as long as you are fully aware of and have your pediatrician’s support for the use of oils), put a droplet on your child’s foot. Again, please, please make sure you are fully educated on herbs and supplements before using them with children. If you need advice, contact a Pediatric Naturopath for a consultation. My favorite is Dr. Meg Hammel at Children’s Naturopathic Center of Colorado. 

All in all… go with your gut on Winter protection for health and wellness (and interestingly… taking care of your gut will help too!) Probiotics should be on this list too!!). And if you’ve been wanting to try family chiropractic, click here to get scheduled! When the whole family feels good, the whole family is good.

The Wellness Tribe | Denver Family, Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic

Located on S Pearl St in Denver, Colorado, The Wellness Tribe is owned and founded by Dr. Maggie McInnes. As a vitalistic chiropractor for the whole family, Dr. Maggie  uses holistic training and a focus on total wellness in her chiropractic practice. She is also trained in the Webster Method for expecting Moms and can adjust infants, toddlers and big kids too. Learn more about Dr. Maggie here.

Resources:

Elderberry Recipe

https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2018/01/homemade-elderberry-syrup.html

Elderberry Health Properties

https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/elderberry

Thieves Oil History

https://myhealthessentials.ca/thieves-oil-history-blend-benefits/

Thieves Oil Info

https://www.allthingsmamma.com/50-ways-to-use-thieves-essential-oil/

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Chiropractic care varies from practitioner to practitioner. Dr. Maggie McInnes is a chiropractor for the entire family, from infants to seniors and every walk of life in between. 

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Chiropractic care is perfect for every age.

As a pediatric chiropractor, Dr. Maggie McInnes of The Wellness Tribe on South Pearl in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood (just south of Wash Park), helps make sure that our special little humans are balanced and well from the beginning. As a chiropractor for pregnant women, we employ the Webster Method to help turn breech and transverse babies so that moms can have the hope of a natural or unobstructed birth. 

And, as a chiropractor for adults, The Wellness Tribe seeks to help you get back in alignment from working desk jobs or from repetitive movements all day. Chiropractic can also help with chronic pain, hormones, allergies, neck and back issues, sciatica, and more.

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The body innately knows how to heal itself, but only when it is aligned.

Vitalistic chiropractic is a subset of chiropractic in that it uses gentle adjustments to heal subluxation (a type of disjointment), so that your body’s nervous system doesn’t have any disruption. This way, the body can communicate with itself better so that you can heal yourself. 

Sounds like magic, but it’s actually physics and biology. Which, is quite magical in itself! The human body is magnificent in all it can do. Yet, when one area of our body isn’t functioning as well, it can result in symptoms like pain (both physically and emotionally).

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When should I go to a Chiropractor?

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Well, if you’re reading this, you might be experiencing some of the common symptoms of subluxation. These can include:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Pain
• Swelling
• Trouble moving a certain part of your body or joint
• A breech, transverse, or sunny side up baby for pregnant women
• Trouble sleeping
• Uncomfortableness
• A feeling of being off-balance
• Depression and anxiety (please also consult with a mental health professional)

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How should I start Chiropractic Care?

Well, when we prioritize our health, we become well. It is a journey and the journey could start today if you want to! If you are vibe-ing with us here at The Wellness Tribe, simply click here to schedule your initial visit. Our Denver chiropractic clinic is located at 1855 S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210 (on South Pearl in Platt Park, just south of Wash Park). You can also reach us by phone at (720) 257-3122. You can find our prices for Chiropractic care right here. Come on in and begin your holistic chiropractic path toward wellness and harmony within your mind, body and soul.

“Maggie is a highly skilled chiropractic professional who brings as much knowledge about the human body as she does compassion and caring. Her true passion lies in improving the wellness of her patients and seeking an organic and holistic approach to healing and caring – which comes across immediately and genuinely. She has a lot of positive energy she imparts to her patients and is truly dedicated to their wellness. Her care goes well beyond being only a chiropractor, which is evident after even one visit/adjustment. Highly recommended!” – Leni K.

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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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