Simply Health and Wellness

This week we sat down with Dr. Guy Riekeman, former Chancellor of Life University and Palmer College of Chiropractic to discuss current health challenges within our society and MLiQ, an app to empower patients and providers in a holistic and vitalistic lifestyle approach. This is the first Remote Patient Management System (RPM) for doctors of chiropractic to manage lifestyle health behaviors with patients via the web through an app. Chiropractic begins with the ADJUSTMENT, but chiropractors have always struggled with answering the question: How do you help patients with lifestyle questions while providing health programs, patient education, and building a recurring new patient referral base without spending extra time and money in the office? Finally, we have an answer - MLiQ or my lifestyle iQ! This groundbreaking technology is the first of its kind. This RPM uses an app that allows the doctor access to critical clinical biomarkers, uncover the patient's real goals, and gather information on the effectiveness of Chiropractic care/lifestyle. The patient aspect of the app allows the patient, with the doctor's oversight, to develop activities that include better brain health, nutrition, exercise physiology, and mental/social well-being.For providers and patients who'd like to know more here is the MLiQ website: https://www.mylifestyleiq.comFor those who would like to schedule and appoitnmtnat at Mustard Seed Chiropractic in Marietta, GA, here is our website: https://www.mustardseedchiro.comCheck out our instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mustardseedchiro/Chekc out our facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MustardSeedChiropractic/?ref=pages_you_manage

In today's episode, we find out that exercise plays an important role in health (and weight) management. But instead of the calorie burner, we should think of exercise as a hormone manager.The importance of exercise is ingrained into our brains and neurology, and for good reasons: studies show the physical activity is health-protective, and we've already identified a wide range of mechanisms explaining why this is the case. Gentle regular moderate exercise decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, depression, and some cancers. In fact, the world health organization has identified a lack of physical activity as the fourth leading factor of mortality, being responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally per year!With such strong science supporting its role in our lives, physical activity is a clear tenet of the health and wellness lifestyle.

I will give you reasons to stay motivated on your health and wellness journey in today's episode. Then, I give you the meat and potatoes with nervous system communication with the immune system and why your nutrition is essential for creating neurotransmitters. Finally, we link everything back to your lifestyle choices. 

The nervous system is the network of nerve cells and fibers that carry messages from The BrainIn the brain and spinal cord two different parts of the body. it includes the central nervous system in the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the autonomic nervous system, which governs the nerves of the inner organs that we don't consciously control,  and the somatic nervous system, which picks up sensory information from distant organs and rapidly carries information back to the central nervous system.The communication between the digestive system in the brain is called the gut-brain connection or gut-brain axis, in problems in this link contribute to poor health. We also learn that stress, anxiety, depression, and strong negative emotions decrease brain activity, which decreases activation of the vagus nerve. This has a dramatic impact on digestion, including reduced stomach acid production, reduce pancreatic enzyme secretion, Poor gallbladder function, decreased gut motility, decreased intestinal blood flow, and suppression of the intestinal immune system. 

Today we talk will talk about the immune system and how it works via the coordinated efforts of cells, antibodies, proteins, and chemicals to protect our bodies from pathogens, foreign invaders like virus, bacteria and parasites that can make us sick. It can be divided into two subsystems: innate immune system (nonspecific immune system) and the adaptive immune system (specific or acquired immune system). Let's learn how these systems work. Then let's discuss inflammation in the body. The immune system's job is to defend us from infections that can make us sick. But when the immune system is not quite up to snuff, chronic inflammation can lead to diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. If we reduce inflammation in the body then we increase our bodies ability to fight via the immune system. 

Instead of a set of rules, the principles that Paleo is built upon are meant to liberate us, bringing us greater freedom from disease and closer to the health and wellness that we all deserve to experience. In that sense, the principles in this episode are more like stepping stones toward a better future. Let's summarize, the guiding principles of the Paleo framework.

The paleo template is a framework-rooted in science-for eating and living to support lifelong health. The dietary components of the paleo template is a set of nutritional principles complied with modern scientific health and nutrition research. At its core, the Paleo diet is a plant-based diet, with two-thirds or more of your plate covered with plant foods and only one-third with animal foods. While most of us intuitively understand that we should strive for work-life balance and get some exercise, the Paleo life- style goes beyond making New Year's resolutions to join a gym and instead integrates a focus on achievable healthy lifestyle choices. 

Many pregnant women are seeking ICPA doctors of chiropractic throughout their pregnancies to utilize the many additional benefits of the Webster technique. For every stage of pregnancy, this adjustment reduces interference to the nervous system—a vital benefit to improve physiology for both Mom and her baby. When Mom's physiological function is at its best, the baby's development is optimized. Balancing the pelvic bones, muscles, and ligaments and improving normal physiology sets the stage for a natural birth. 

Today's episode describes a complex process interfering with your body's ability to function at your optimal potential called a "vertebral subluxation." In less than 15 minutes, you can become more knowledgeable about how chiropractic works, vertebral subluxation, how chiropractors find it, and so much more. You even learn a little anatomy in the process. Whether you go to the chiropractor all the time or have never been before, this episode will give you the knowledge behind the adjustment in a digestible way. Sit back and relax; it won't be as bad as you may think. 

In this episode, we are talking about your health goals for 2021 and how we are going to accomplish our goals together. If 2020 has taught us anything, one of the takeaways should be that “ preparation for the unexpected is key.” We need to have a plan in the midst of unassured times. We need to be dynamic and adaptable in the midst of challenges.  Let's make a plan together!