Not only is our practice getting bigger and happier by the day, but so am I! In case you haven’t noticed, I am expecting my first child this October and I wanted to fill all of you in on my plans for maternity coverage.

I am planning on being away from the practice for a minimal amount of time (approximately 4 weeks) and have arranged coverage with two very awesome and trustworthy doctors who I know you will love as much as I do!

Dr. Lisa D’Eramo is a fellow graduate in Advanced Clinical Training and will handle all our nutrition cases, and Dr. William Tortoriello, a former classmate of mine from National, will be taking care of the Chiropractic side of things. They will take the best care of you so I expect all of you to keep all your appointments and stay on your schedule of care towards that optimal goal of HEALTH!

Use those homegrown tomatoes to make this delicious salsa—great in salads, over grilled chicken or with chips!

Pico De Gallo Salsa

Ingredients:
4 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
½ cup finely chopped red onion
½ cup black beans drained and rinsed
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, mild or hot, seeded and finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 clove minced garlic
salt and pepper, to taste

Let’s face it: weight loss is a multibillion dollar industry and if you look around, the success rate is not all that promising. Americans are more overweight than ever and these issues are affecting both children and adults alike—increasing the prevalence of heath conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and arthritis. And it is not a lack of knowledge, we’ve all heard that all we have to do is eat less and move more—right?

Truthfully, it is not that simple. In our practice we have found that there is no cookie cutter diet that magically sheds weight. Each person—each body has it’s own challenges, different cravings and metabolic insufficiencies. We have found that when we handle the above issues you can eliminate cravings, improve digestion and increase energy—all of which help your body normalize weight. Could any of the following be the reasons you are holding on to excess weight?

• Poor digestion—The standard American diet constantly challenges our digestive abilities— highly processed foods, white flours and sugars deplete our naturally occurring enzymes that are designed to efficiently break down foods so that our bodies can use them as fuel. Constipation is also a result of sluggish digestive system
  and can lead to abdominal bloating, discomfort and weight gain.
• Sluggish metabolism—the thyroid is the master control gland of fat burning and there are many factors that affect the ability of the thyroid to control your metabolism efficiently. A lack of B vitamins, amino acids and certain toxicities can stress your thyroid and affect your metabolism as well as energy levels. We often see patients with “normal” thyroid blood tests that benefit from nutritional supplements and a few dietary changes.
• Food cravings—we’ve all given in to these, only to realize it can set up a chain reaction of junk food cravings! Any eating plan that fails to address these cravings is bound to fail. Cravings can be the result of high stress hormones, low blood sugars, lack of protein and good fats in the diet and too much time in between meals. Unfortunately most people crave the very foods they are trying to avoid in order to lose weight. (sugar and carbohydrates).

Using Nutrition Response Testing we are able to address the above factors AND support your body nutritionally to achieve optimal metabolism. Call the office today to set up your appointment for a Custom Designed Clinical Nutrition program today! 708-636-5555.

Super Broccoli Salad

1 bunch broccoli rinsed and cut into bite size florets
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 can of quartered artichokes
1 can of garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
1/2 c. pine nuts

Super Dressing

2/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/3 c. red wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic minced
2 tsp sea salt
6-8 basil leaves torn

Whisk together ingredients until blended well.
Mix all ingredients in large glass bowl, pour dressing
over and refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Great Grilled Chicken

Make this marinade the day before and let the
chicken sit overnight for super flavor!

4 boneless chicken breasts
2/3 c. olive oil
1/3 c. Balsamic vinegar
2 cloves of garlic sliced
4-6 basil leaves torn
sea salt and fresh black pepper

Whisk all ingredients together, pour over chicken
and marinate 2 hours-overnight
Grill chicken on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes
per side or until no longer pink in the center. We like
to add a slice of tomato and fresh mozzarella cheese
on top during the last minute of cooking.

Your body can live longer without food than it can without sleep. Though vital to the health of your body, sleep can be terribly elusive. Getting enough sleep is vital to achieving your goals but it needs to happen when you need it to happen. On demand, so to speak.

While there might not be much you can do to prevent the occasional sleepless night, a good mattress and pillow, as well as a few simple lifestyle and nutritional changes, can work wonders when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.

Key to handling the inability to sleep is to get your nutrition checked so your supplements are exactly right for you, because you are an individual. What might make one person fall asleep may wake you up.

If you experience pain and discomfort at night or have difficulty falling asleep, come in for a spinal adjustment. Chiropractors can treat the aches and pains that can interfere with a restful night’s sleep. We can also offer specific advice that will help you get a good night’s sleep.

When choosing a mattress, look for one that is comfortably supportive. Although the very firm mattress used to be in fashion, the new industry trend is toward “selective support” that allows you to press down one area of a mattress, leaving other areas unaffected.

Be selective when choosing a pillow. When lying on your side, your head and neck should remain level with your mid and lower spine. When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine.

Try to limit your intake of caffeinated beverages such as coffee, colas and tea. If you do drink caffeinated beverages, try not to drink them late in the day or close to bedtime.

A regular exercise program can help you sleep more soundly at night. Exercising in the mornings is best, but if you must exercise in the evenings, do so at least two hours before bedtime. Otherwise your increased heart rate can interfere with your sleep.

Try to eat an early dinner. Eating after 6 p.m. may interfere with sleep as your body works to digest the food you’ve eaten.

Always drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. If you have trouble sleeping, drink tap water at room temperature.

In addition, for each cup of caffeinated beverages you drink each day, drink an equal amount of water - above and beyond the eight 8-ounce glasses of water you should drink each day anyway.

An imbalance in the nervous system is often the cause of poor or interrupted sleep. If your body is not able to “wind down” after a busy day, it is likely you are not getting the restorative sleep your body needs to repair your cells and rejuvenate for the following day. We can check to see if some nervous system support in the form of minerals (Min Chex) or omega 3 fatty acids (Tuna Oil) can help you get into a more restful state of sleep without feeling drowsy the next day!

And most importantly, don’t forget to come in for regular adjustments!