Integrative Health Blog

Lisa Wilson CHC

Did you know that 70 -80 % of your immune system is in or around the digestive tract?

It’s true. Now consider what would happen to your health if the digestive tract were compromised.

Malnutrition and lowered immunity would become a real health concern.

There are several things that can compromise the bowel including:

• Parasites ( bacteria,  fungi, viruses, multiple cell organisms such  as pinworms)
• Food allergies-inappropriate immune response to foods causing inflammation
• Diverticula - herniations or pouches in the walls of the intestines that can trap foods and bacteria causing inflammation / infection of the bowel wall.
• Antibiotics- while they can clear infections, they also kill good bacteria necessary for the health of the gut
• Constipation- slow transit due to poor peristaltic motion can cause  the  bowel to become toxic due to bacterial overgrowth as well as tears in the walls of the intestines that easily become infected.

How many parties or holiday events are you attending this season?

Do you have a plan for what to do when you are faced with a plethora of sweet treats and drinks?

In the spirit of good health habits, here are some tips on navigating the holidays so you enter the new year without the guilt (and extra weight).

Parties and Events

-  Plan to ask for water first thing - there are so many ways in which we dehydrate ourselves from soda to alcohol, so water is an excellent way to start the evening.

-  Eat a small snack before you go out to a party or event to prevent over indulging (and make sure you have these healthy snacks at home). Avocado, thin slices of turkey or chicken, and nuts are good choices.

We’ve all heard it before.......breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I agree with that , IF your breakfast fuels you and doesn’t fool you.

The word breakfast comes from “breaking the fast”. We fast all night long while we sleep (at least I hope we all do!) and in the morning we need to give our bodies fuel for the day. Foods that fuel us give us energy to keep us going until lunch time. Foods that fool us give us an initial energy surge only to leave us hungry and looking for food an hour or two later.

Try eating different foods for breakfast and see which ones leave you feeling good and energized throughout the morning. Don’t forget those leftovers from last night’s dinner! Nobody says that you can’t eat dinner for breakfast!

Dr. Coy Roskosky  provides comprehensive chiropractic care using joint manipulation, soft tissue therapies, functional and sports enhancing techniques. As a Doctor of Chiropractic he treats and balances the nervous and musculoskeletal systems to help the body function at it's highest level.