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This time of year people are usually thinking of the people or things they are thankful for. With Thanksgiving just a few days ago, I always like to remember what I am thankful for -- and it is how I start out each day yet often take for granted.

I am thankful for being able to hear the alarm clock go off, and am thankful to hear the birds outside my window -- as many people cannot hear.  I am thankful that when I look at the clock at that early hour, I can see what time it is -- as many people cannot see.  I am thankful I can walk to the bathroom -- as many people cannot walk.  You see, it is these things we take for granted that we should be thankful for. 

What if you didn't have your hearing or your sight or your abilty to walk?  How would you react?  Many of us have times that we cannot walk, or cannot walk very well due to some sort of injury. We hope those times are short lived (and hope that Chiropractic can help it), and that people are as healthy as they possibly can be.  I believe that regular Chiropractic adjustments contribute to better health and improved performance, and allows a person to be at their best potential. Make sure you make regular Chiropractic adjustments part of your healthy lifestyle today.

Today I drove up to the bank to make a deposit, and the woman inside noticed I had a child in my backseat and asked me if I wanted "one".  Being asked this question on prior trips, I knew she was talking about a lollipop, though it amused me she didn't even have to say the true description.  So I politely refused and she seemed shocked and disappointed.  "But it's Thanksgiving" she said to me.  I told her that he has never had a lollipop, doesn't know what he is missing, and he really doesn't need the sugar.  She said "oh well" and I drove off.

I mean, he's only 19 months old, does he really need lollipops?  I see so many kids in my office that are full of sugar energy and know that it isn't good for their health.  I certainly won't have control over this forever, but while I do have control over what he eats, he certainly isn't going to be eating candy. ADD/ADHD and obesity are increasing in our society because of the amount of sugars that kids consume. Asthma & allergies are certainly affected by what they eat (lack of fruits and vegetables), as well as many other illnesses and diseases.

It shocks me how many people chose to disregard their nutrition, and rely on drugs or excuses instead. I've heard many parents say "I have asthma" or "I have allergies" and feel that is why their son/daughter has it. Or they say because they have some disease or illness, they are going to take drugs instead of making nutritional changes. Are you really doing the best thing possible by avoiding making nutrional changes?

If this is you or someone you know, give us a call to ask about how chiropractic and nutrition can make a difference in your life. I've seen amazing results with ezcema, ADD/ADHD, allergies, high blood pressure, Chron's disease, and even cancer when someone adds chiropractic to their life and makes nutritional changes in their diet. I urge you not to blame it on genetics or make excuses, and start making holistic changes to improve your health.

I had the most honoring experience on Sunday as I was asked to check and adjust a one-day old newborn baby. This baby was brought into the world under the best of circumstances. A healthy mom who was adjusted her entire pregnancy and ate extremely well. She was calm and had a great attitude. It was a very fast labor (less than 5 hours) and a water birth at North Fulton Hospital. The midwife was there to help if necessary, but none was needed. The mom pushed the baby out on her own, with no doctor, nurse or midwife grabbing the newborns neck to pull her out. She truly "birthed" the baby.

The next day they were home and I was invited over. Checking a newborn is one of the best gifts I can give to a family. A chiropractic adjustment on a newborn is very light and gentle, and can remove any problems that occur from being curled up inside the womb for several months, as well as during the birth process itself. Clearing out any problems at one day of age will allow that baby to express her full potential.

As far as I'm concerned, that little girl is lucky her parents understand that and care enough about her to have her checked. Chiropractic care is for people of all ages, including one-day old babies, and can make a remarkable difference in your life!

These days, more and more people are asking me my thoughts on the swine flu and whether or not their child should get the vaccination. People are afraid their child may die from the swine flu, and sure, a person could potentially die from the swine flu, but they could also die from a reaction of the swine flu vaccination, from being in an auto accident or even some other accident. Don't let people tell you that the vaccination is safe, when they hardly have tested the vaccination in the way they should, so there really is no way to know.

Giving out the swine flu vaccine these days is like the big test, to see if people have any side effects to it. Every vaccine has a side effect of some sort, that we do know. Yes people are scared and the media tends to make it worse, however at the same time there are Pediatricians and other MD's telling people that they would not vaccinate their own child with the swine flu vaccine. Do a google search or look it up on You Tube, and you'll see. Here's a great place to start:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/21/Special-Swine-Flu-Update.aspx

Estimates are that over 5.7 million people have had the swine flu this year, yet the deaths from it are a fraction of that. It is a pandemic because it spreads easily, not because people die from it. It appears that it is a very mild form of the flu and estimates are that thousands of people have probably had the swine flu and don't even know it. Of the 36 children who have died from it between April and August, six had no chronic health conditions, yet they did have a co-occuring bacterial infection. Was that an underlying factor? Have these children been vaccinated prior? If so, how has that affected their immune system?

My stance on the swine flu is the same stance I have for any other disease out there. The strength of your immune system will determine how well you can fight it off. Was your child (or you) breastfed? Are you or they eating 3-5 servings of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables every day, (7-9 servings for adults), are you getting sufficient sleep, have you cut back or eliminated sugar, and are you/they getting adjusted, removing interference in the nervous system -- which controls the immune system?

These are questions you have to ask yourself. Don't make any decisions based on fear, as that isn't the best way to make any decision. How strong is your immune system? What are you doing to assure that your immune system is as strong as it possibly can be? Are you getting adjusted to help yourself? These are questions you have to address.

Personally, there is no way I am getting a swine flu vaccine nor am I giving it to my son. I have faith that the body can heal on its own and I do what I believe is crucial in giving my family the best opportunity to be healthy.

The other day I had a patient come back to the office, a woman who hadn't been in for two years. She had been under care for almost a year previously, and for whatever reason, stopped coming in yet decided to come back in this week.

When she walked into the office, I really didn't recognize her. The face and smile looked familiar, but I noticed her hair was different and she just really looked different. I couldn't really figure out why, as most people I remember. My student intern did the examination on her, and came out and told me the woman had lost 80 pounds. That was it! She was a whole new person!

When I sat down to talk with her, she told me that I helped to inspire her to lose the weight and get back in shape. She had taken up running and triathlons (my two passions), and said a lot of the reason she made the change is from what she learned by coming to my office. That is one of the BEST compliments I can receive and made me feel so good to hear that, knowing that her life is now better.

I love being able to change people's lives or at least make a difference in their lives. I know that by adjusting them that happens, but when a big shift like this occurs, it feels even better. Chiropractic care is so much about leading a healthy lifestyle and removing nerve interference so the body can function at its best. Exercise and nutrition are key components and it is nice to know that what we are doing in the office is inspiring others to get and stay healthy!