Do you sit too much?  The answer is YES!

The human body is designed for regular, varied movements.  However, as technological improvements lead to less manual jobs, we’ve created sedentary lifestyles built around a computer, TV, or other devices.  Unfortunately, the body doesn’t respond well to the lack of movement.

There’s an epidemic of “sleeping wrong” going on in our society, at least that’s what I hear from my patients. Most of my patients, at some point in their care, come in to the office after a sleep-induced aggravation of their aches and pains. Maybe you can relate…

Ever watch a movie or television show and see a little child ask their mom or dad to read a bed-time story? Turns out it’s not just a cute nod to suburban culture…reading bed time stories is good for kids and important for their development!

In the past several decades, we’ve noticed an alarming increase in certain health conditions. Some, like diabetes and heart disease, can be directly attributed to lifestyle factors. Others, like neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders in children, seem to baffle many health experts.

While more detailed definitions of the diseases, increased awareness, and improved diagnostics may be partly responsible for the change, researchers agree there are other factors – mainly chemical exposure.

For decades, expectant parents have been told that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy, despite study after study coming out to the contrary. Now a group of 13 international experts are calling for a comprehensive study to assess the impact of prenatal use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) on fetal development - including its contribution to neurodevelopmental (which we have posted on before), reproductive and urogenital disorders.

New research may change the way we think about birth, the use of epidurals, and medical intervention.

Births in a hospital are strictly regulated to meet certain standards. One of those standards is about the acceptable amount of time laboring women should be in the 2nd stage, or the “pushing” stage. If the 2nd stage is taking longer than the OB/GYN deems acceptable, further intervention is typically recommended. This may mean the use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or even a c-section if a woman isn’t progressing based on a one-size-fits-all schedule.

For 34 years Jack LaLanne entertained and inspired millions of Americans to adopt a healthier lifestyle through physical fitness, nutrition, and chiropractic (little known fact – he was a chiropractor himself)!

While many remember him from the days of black and white television, younger generations are probably more familiar with his “Power Juicer.”  It popularized his healthy habit and brought fresh fruits and vegetables into millions of households throughout the world.

A while ago a photo posted online caused quite the uproar.  The photo, a clearly pregnant woman participating in the intense exercise program Crossfit, raised concerns from doctors and criticism from other moms.  While most women are encouraged to be physically active during pregnancy, this woman attracted more criticism than congratulations.

According to research presented at a University of Notre Dame symposium, some of the social practices and cultural beliefs regarding modern parenting may hinder brain development in children.

More and more research is validating the importance of Vitamin D for our overall health.  Referred to as “the sunshine vitamin,” Vitamin D is unlike any other vitamin in that it can be produced by the body when exposed to sunlight!

A baby screaming for three hours a day, three days a week, for at least three weeks (the definition of colic) does not make for a happy new family.  A baby with colic is frustrating to say the least.  While most conventional medical treatment focus on the digestive system, new research shows colic might originate somewhere else.

Sometimes it’s not what you eat, but how you eat it…

When people were asked why they eat organic foods, the most common answers given were about improved health outcomes and the safety of foods.  Unfortunately, researchers are discovering that common cookware may be negating some of those benefits.

That is the question (this time of year)…

Besides cooler weather (except in Florida) and negative campaign ads (are you sick of them, too?), the fall brings the annual barrage of ads telling people to get the flu shot.  Have you seen them?  They’re on TV, radio, the internet, bus stops, and sandwich boards.  It’s hard to go anywhere without being told to get the flu shot.

So, the question many Americans struggle with is “Should I get one?”  I can’t answer that for you, but I do think you should know what those ads won’t tell you…

In an effort to increase revenue, food companies have been resorting to genetically modifying produce and animals.  These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are the result of a laboratory process that takes genes from one species and inserts them into another to obtain a desired trait or characteristic.

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S., claiming more than 616,000 lives each year.  Researchers have identified certain genes that make people more susceptible to developing heart disease.  Some people believe that a family history and genetic predisposition mean heart disease (or cancer) are a matter of “when”, not “if.”

We disinfect, we sanitize, we sterilize, we spray, we rub, and yes, we scrub.  All in the never-ending battle against germs – those yucky invisible things that cause all sorts of sickness and disease, right?

Maybe not so much, research has shown that years of sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing our world have not made us healthier.  In fact, it’s done the opposite!  Bacteria and germs are a necessary part of our internal ecosystem.  It’s the bacteria in our gut that help digestion, immune function, and overall health.  When we remove all those bacteria with antibiotics, Lysol, and Purell we end up destroying an essential part of our health.

Many people are confused about Organic produce, they just don’t understand why it costs more for fruit and vegetables that just don’t seem as “pretty”.  

Organic produce is grown without the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals that are absorbed into the fruit or vegetable.  Those pesticides and chemicals are rarely tested for human consumption, and have been implicated in a number of health conditions.

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics shines a light on the problem in using over-the-counter pain medication during pregnancy. Mothers who used Tylenol, also known as Acetaminophen, were more likely to have children with behavioral problems like ADHD.

It’s time to think about the way we change diapers. Too often parents and caregivers put unnecessary stress on the spine and hips, contributing to subluxations that lead to issues with coordination and digestion.

Infants are subjected to physical stress throughout their development. We often think about the big things like birth, falls, sports. However, we neglect the smaller, more frequent stresses – the most common of which is picking them up.