Peace, Love & Retreat
The following blog is about our previous Women's Retreat and our vision behind its inception. If you're interested, stay tuned in your emails about any retreats in the near future!
Over the course of my almost 25-year wellness career I’ve worked with patients individually, I’ve led workshops of fifty and I’ve lectured to hundreds in a corporate setting. I’ve discussed health with toddlers (thanks to Parker’s preschool), taught stretching to the elderly and infirmed and even worked with attorneys looking to live healthier, happier lives. I have had the opportunity to work with clients from Chicagoland to Austria (unfortunately not in person - yet!). But something was missing…
For those of you that have had the chance to visit our clinic in the Chicago suburbs it was envisioned fifteen years ago while I was finishing up Chiropractic school. I wanted somewhere clients would feel comfortable. Somewhere that didn’t scream “doctors office”. If we were to be someone’s first introduction to...
Paleo Meatloaf Recipe
For those of you that live near our brick and mortar office, you’re spoiled and you have access to incredible pre-made paleo meals by Real Clean Paleo. This recipe is for the rest of you. Or for those of you that LOVE what RCP does and want a chance to expand the offerings for dinner at home.
What is Paleo? Essentially the “Paleo Diet” is one of the easiest to follow. If you picture what a hunter/gatherer population would eat - those are the foods allowed on a Paleo Diet.
Paleo is what existed before the agricultural way of eating came about. Prior to mass farming and the development of more processed foods, we ate very simply. Think fruits, vegetables, and meats/fish.Â
I made this recipe this week and everyone LOVED it! #MrParker was a huge fan and felt it paired well with corn on the cob and peas. (his personal favorite). I hope that my take on Paleo Italian Meatloaf is a win at hour house as well.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 lbs 85% lean grass-fed ground beefÂ
- 2 room temperature eggs ...
Brush Your Skin
Now that summer is wrapping up, lets talk exfoliation. Skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays an important role in elimination. Fall is a great time to set the refresh button and remove that dead skin, unblock pores due to sweating and sunscreen, and get in a little bit of self care.Â
The best way to start is with a good dry brushing session. The mechanical action of dry brushing is wonderful for exfoliating dry winter skin. It also helps detoxify by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow/drainage. Dry brushing unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. It also stimulates your nervous system, which can make you feel invigorated afterward.Â
The best way to dry brush is to always move upwards and in towards your heart. This shouldn’t take long, a few minutes max. That’s when we get to move on to the fun part. I love mixing up my own sugar/salt scrubs with some essential oils and coconut oil. Hop in the shower, give yourself a nice rubdown, inhale those o...
Vitamin D: Hormone Extraordinaire
Pop music is aspirin and the blues are vitamins. -Peter Tork
Vitamin D deficiency, hypovitaminosis D, is a very common disorder. Especially here in the Chicagoland area with our long winters spent indoors. We are meant to absorb Vitamin D from the sun but complications arise - either we don’t get to see the sun, we cover up when we’re in the sun or we use sunscreen to block the vitamin D from getting to our skin. 10-15 minutes/day in “bathing suit” attire will provide approximately 10,000IU of Vitamin D. If that’s not part of your regular routine read on to find out how and why to supplement!
Although usually found through a blood test, some symptoms of the deficiency include everything from aches and pains to depression and bone demineralization problems. Vitamin D is fundamentally important for the regulation of how your body functions. Over 200 genes in your body are controlled by Vitamin D. At least 35 different tissues in the body have Vitamin D receptors! For instance
...4 Functional Medicine Tests You Need
Working with a functional medicine professional can be exciting and rewarding. At the beginning of your journey, your doctor may start with a few simple tests to see what contributing factors are responsible for your current situation. Later on if you find that you have implemented lifestyle changes and you are not seeing the results your doctor expects, testing may be exactly just what the doctor orders!! Below are the four tests most frequently used by Dr. Jordan Leasure at her clinic in Illinois. If you’ve completed any of these please share your experiences below.
1. ORGANIC ACID TEST
This is one of Dr. Jordan’s favorite tests for a variety of reasons. It’s easy to complete - just pee in a cup at home! It gives a TON of information - Dr. Jordan calls it the “poop of the poop”. Essentially it measures metabolites - a fancy word for the end products of your metabolism - when you create energy and eliminate waste. It gives an overall look at your health. People with chronic illnesse...
10 Ways to Improve Your Financial Health
“Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it buys the kind if misery you may prefer”, is a quote often attributed to comedian Groucho Marx.  I would like to say that Groucho is wrong, BUT in my 25 years writing the consumer financial column, $uper $aver and another 23 as a mortgage banker the sad truth is that if you are experiencing money problems and are not “financially healthy” it negatively affects your “health” in other areas. No money for healthy groceries? There goes your physical health. No money for rent, electric bill, school fees? There goes your emotional health. No money for an emergency cushion? There goes your psychological health.  The bottom line is that your financial health is directly or indirectly tied to your physical, psychological and emotional health. So where to start?
My own financial health, while probably at any given time is not much different from your own, did not improve until I started to look at it more like a game than an unattainable project. Necessit
...Finding Balance
“A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.”
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I was reminded of balance today from the owner of The Dailey Method in Lake Forest where I work out. Â She was discussing the importance of finding the time for yourself, regardless of the obstacles and joys in your life. Â
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Balance has a different meaning for everyone, but I want to focus on the importance of health in your life and how that plays a huge role in feeling centered.  We’ve all been in a place where we ate whatever was convenient, didn’t have the time to work out and went to bed still answering emails. More than likely this caused a need for more coffee in the morning and the entire cycle started over.  Not only will this decrease your energy and your mental focus, but this will start to increase pain in your entire body.
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How do we find balance in a world where we are pulled in multiple directions everyday? Â It comes down to planning and making time for what is important to you. W...
Chronic Inflammation: A Silent Killer
Inflammation is a word that is used often, yet hard to define.  Most of us have a hard time separating inflammation from an ankle sprain vs. inflammation contributing to heart disease and arthritis.  In order to understand how to fight it, it’s important to understand how and why it occurs!
Inflammation is a very common and innate response to an injury, pain or stress. Â It is part of our bodies natural defense system to prevent something worse and/or speed up healing time.
Acute inflammation is the first response to an injury or pathogen.  It’s acute because it should only last several days or less.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT CAN CAUSE THIS:
- Illness (virus, bacteria)
- Trauma (punch, kick, sprain)
- Burn
- Frostbite
- Allergic Reaction
There are a lot of players involved in the inflammatory process, but the basics are: heat, redness, swelling, and pain. Â These four eventually lead to loss of function as a way to prevent future injury. Acute inflammation is an important part of healing. Â F
...All About Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a magical food that need their time in the spot light!  I’ve been using chia in my protein shakes for awhile now, knowing they were a super food, but never knowing ALL the benefits they possess.
Chia seeds originated in Mexico where they were viewed with such admiration they were even used as currency.  The Aztecs used chia to sustain their energy while running long distances or during battle. They would say a spoonful would give them enough endurance for 24 hours.  This all makes sense since In the Mayan language, chia means “strength”.
Chia seeds are filled with everything from Omega 3’s, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals AND antioxidants.  Due to their content, they have a vast array of health benefits.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHIA SEEDS
- Digestive Health – Due to the high amount of fiber alone, chia seeds will help with digestion.  The appropriate amount of fiber will help with regular bowel movements and help keep you full longer.
- Heart Health – Chia seeds have be ...
The Benefits of Colostrum
Colostrum is a supplement that has been around for a while, but new research is coming to light every day. Colostrum is the first milk produced by cows during the initial days after giving birth. This type is called bovine colostrum. This milk is very rich in immunoglobulins (proteins that help boost the immune system and fight germs). There are also other compounds not found in regular milk such as growth factors, cytokines, and nucleosides.
Enough with the science already, let's review what it can help with. Studies are showing supplementing with bovine colostrum can help improve: (1)
*Immune System Support
*Athletic Performance
*Gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, IBS, Leaky Gut etc.
*Fat Utilization
*Serotonin levels in the brain
*Improve skin tone and texture
*AND MORE!
Basically speaking, the immune factors in colostrum support the resistance to colds and the flu, to acute or chronic bacterial or fungal conditions. In turn, this will also help your gut repair an...
