Recipe Of The Month -

Healthy & Easy After School Snacks

Nut Butter

Option 1: Top pear slices with nut butter & granola.

Option 2: Top a rice cake with nut butter & blueberries.

Option 3: Use as dipping sauce for carrot sticks or sliced apples. (Bonus tip: try using cookie cutters to make fun shapes!)

Hummus

Option 1: Top a multigrain bagel with hummus & sliced tomato.
Option 2: Make a wrap with a whole-wheat tortilla, hummus, sliced cucumber, & crumbled Feta (optional).
Option 3: Serve with fresh cut veggies for dipping.

Granola, Yogurt and Berry Parfaits

Layer greek yogurt with fresh berries and organic granola in a tall glass.

Fruit Smoothies

Puree 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 banana and 1/4 cup filtered water or coconut water in a blender until smooth. (Add 1/2 cup of spinach or kale for extra credit.)

Say NO to Soda!

Did you know that according to new Dietary Guidelines, 1 can of coke exceeds the daily sugar intake amount? 

MSNBC article on Coca-Cola's misleading anti-obesity campaign targets kids

Infographic:  8 Ways That Soda Negatively Affects Your Health

Acupuncture & Weight Loss

Obesity has no singular cause. Genetic, age, lifestyle, constitution, emotion, and diet are all factors that contribute to the likelihood of obesity. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the foods we crave depend on the imbalances in our internal system. Unfortunately, eating unnatural foods, the wrong types of foods, or excessive quantities throws the entire system out of balance. 

Acupuncture can help normalize the system, and aid weight loss when accompanied by proper diet and exercise. In a Russian study of obese children it was found that regular Acupuncture treatments resulted in the normalization of blood and serum levels, decrease of overall body mass and fatty tissue content, and increased exercise performance abilities. In other studies, conclusive evidence was offered to show needling of auricular points helped to lower the appetite, increase satiety with less food, as well as lower insulin and lipid levels.

Study:  Acupuncture for the treatment of obesity: a review of the evidence (Int'l Journal of Obesity)

Dr. Oz:  Acupuncture: Magic Bullet for Weight Loss?

Learn more about how Acupuncture can benefit you and aid in weight management, by scheduling an  appointment with our Licensed Acupuncturist Monica!

Obesity & Back Pain

According to the American Obesity Association, musculoskeletal pain, specifically back pain, is common among Americans who are classified as obese.

Obesity, or being overweight, adds strain to the muscles and ligaments in the back as

Obesity & Back Pain.

to compensate for extra weight, the spine can become tilted and stressed unevenly. As a result, over time, an unnatural curvature of the spine may develop and present a lack of mobility.  Lower back pain is aggravated by obesity, especially for those people who carry excess weight in the abdomen which can pull the pelvis forward.

Being overweight or obese can also significantly contribute to symptoms associated with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), degenerative disc disease (DDD), spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.

Thankfully, Chiropractic Care can provide pain relief and correct musculoskeletal imbalances while patients are working toward their weight loss goals. For more information, please see Drs. Heidi or Neha!

Facts on Childhood Obesity

In observance of Childhood Obesity Month, we want to provide some facts to demonstrate how important it is that we help our children learn healthy habits. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. The percentage of U.S. obese children aged 6-11 years 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012.  Similarly, adolescents aged 12-19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. Long-term health effects of youth and adolescent obesity are: Higher risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and are more likely to be obese as adults. Increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to a 2014 Gallup Poll, the national incidence of obesity was 27.7 percent (up from 25.5 in 2008).  The trend is alarming and it's clear that this is a health issue that families need to tackle together.  Please read our other posts thi month to learn how obesity can affect your health and what you can do help optimize your health.

Focus on Childhood Obesity

This month we are bringing awareness to Childhood Obesity.  This preventable state of ill-health is rising steadily in the United States each year and I think it's important to speak of this topic and solutions for it without condemnation or judgment.  Society has become apathetic regarding this topic, naively feeding their children the heavily marketed Standard American Diet (S.A.D) full of sugar, preservatives, chemicals, allergens, and fat.  It is in fact "SAD" that our children are suffering. 

Dr. Heidi

What can we do? Be the example! That is the single best way to positively impact our children. Childhood obesity can develop into a lifelong struggle with weight and lead to serious health issues in adulthood. This is one of the biggest reasons InnerMovement has teamed up with Pacific Rejuvenation Medical to offer a comprehensive and holistic weight loss programs.  

Many of our patients struggle with their weight and we wanted to find a solution.  Thankfully there are now medically-safe ways to lose weight for those patients who require a clinical and structured approach to reach their goal weight!   And best of all, these programs work in concert with our holistic wellness treatments that aim to provide a pain-free and optimally healthy life!

Ask myself or a staff member about our new Medical Weight Loss Program on your next visit and take advantage of our Special $25 Metabolic Testing offer!  Until our next adjustment...

Yours in Health,

Dr. Heidi & The InnerMovement Wellness Team