Cedar Crest Chiropractic's online newsletter for December 2018
CEDAR CREST CHIROPRACTIC
Commitment to Family 1028 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103 • 610-776-2005 • www.CedarCrestChiropractic.com December 2018 Dr. Paul Braadt
A ll families have someone who runs the show. In my family, it was my mother, Elisabeth. Many of you remember her at the front desk. The Braadts grew up loving being on the water. We spent Wednesdays and every weekend on our family boat on the Susquehanna River in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She packed food for an army, which included the eight of us and any friends and family who we bumped into. She also orchestrated multiple trips to the New Jersey shore. This was before turnpikes. The eight hours were spent riding in a vehicle with all available space jammed with six kids, food, beach blankets, and my father. We were all crammed behind the wheel of the largest-production station wagon ever made: a 1961 Chrysler. “I learned from my mom the value of spending time in the company
For Sunday night dinners, she experimented on us with recipes from the “Life” cookbooks, making flaming cherries jubilee, baked Alaska (hard ice cream on a bed of sponge cake with meringue on top), a lot of veggie hors d’ oeuvres, salads, and protein. She would set the table with her fine china, and everyone had to be there, washed and ready. She would secretly invite a variety of family members, creating a large social affair, much to the dismay of my father, who preferred a calmer environment. My dad was an only child, and my mother was a social butterfly, but somehow, they worked it out. In addition to all that, she ran my dad’s chiropractic office as well, and my front desk for 13 years, from 1994–2007. Mom will celebrate her 90th birthday next May, and she’s still amazing!
it wasn’t easy. She was a great storyteller and a very kind person. Part of her family commitment included helping those in need. Her parents adopted a foster child at a very young age, despite having limited means. My maternal grandfather worked in a factory, and my grandmother worked in a laundromat. Later on, Grandfather changed jobs to be a custodian-sexton for a large cathedral that we all attended. They lived on church premises in a huge, three- story house. I grew up around the church, too, because my elementary school was on the same campus. As a kid, I helped my
My parents were children of the Great Depression. They were also part of the WWII generation. My father served in the Navy in the South Pacific — hence our love of water. My mother grew up with her older sister making her clothes and learned to be frugal to support the family. Everyone had an inside and outside job to contribute and earn money. I learned from my mom the value of spending time in the company of family and learning from each other, and sometimes
of family and learning from each other, and sometimes it wasn’t easy.”
Continued on page 2 ...
Safe, Effective Healthcare Without Drugs & Surgery
PAGE 1
... continued from cover
grandfather ring the bells in the bell tower, climbing up three stories through a hallway that was so narrow you had to turn sideways behind the organ in the choir loft
Handling Emotional Stress
Holiday Pressure Solutions
In the November newsletter, I discussed how stress takes various forms and can affect us all: the physical stress of pain, environmental stress from dangerous chemicals and toxins , and emotional stress of living . Holiday stress can be part of the emotional stress of living — you have presents to buy, your finances are stretched, there are family challenges, decorating needs to be done, and you have other holiday commitments that may be part of whatever traditions you follow. Regardless of the source of stress, which produces the hormone cortisol, the reaction in our bodies is the same. It’s like nearly getting hit by a car. Your muscles become tense, your teeth clench, and your blood pressure rises. Here are a few Holiday Stress Solutions , besides flying to the Caribbean for a week: Enjoy your holidays. Do something that you enjoy. Perhaps you can engage in some memorable family tradition or take time to read your favorite book. There’s a reason for the holidays; find something that gives you personal comfort. Move your body. Take a walk and look at the environment you’re in versus just listening to your mind rattle off your to-do list. L.V. Hospital has mapped an indoor walking trail, or you can check in with a nearby college, gym, or mall. California State University found that a 10-minute walk is enough to increase energy, alter mood, and effect a positive outlook for up to two hours. Laugh more, and listen to music. Watch a comedy. Research at Loma Linda University showed that comedy lowers the body’s level of stress, thereby reducing blood pressure and increasing white blood cells and your immunity. We recommend the movie “Elf” with Will Ferrell or “It’s a Wonderful Life” with James Stewart and Donna Reed. It isn’t a comedy, but it leaves my family and me feeling very appreciative of each other. Some of our favorite holiday music includes The Carpenters’ “Christmas Portrait” and “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky. Whatever your traditions, secure these pleasure moments amid the bustle. Get a chiropractic adjustment. This will reduce the stress on your nervous system. Stress causes tension to build up in the muscles and joints of your body. This tension causes alterations in the normal structural alignment of your spine. This tension build-up can cause greater irritation and heightened sensitivity of the nervous system. I know you’re busy, but create time for this important step — you’ll be happy you did. I’ll have more suggestions on what you can do to have more energy, attain your ideal weight, and create and maintain a healthy lifestyle so you can chase your dreams, big and small. Enjoy a stress-free holiday season, and get ready to launch a healthy, happy new year!
overlooking the church.
The bells were rung manually, so I had to jump up on the rope with all my body weight as my grandfather pulled the rope to ring the bells. I was pulled off the floor about five feet, and I loved it! We would stay overnight at their home while my parents followed the big bands and went dancing all night. Yet they were always ready to go the next morning no matter what — parental-necessity level!
From my mom’s example, I try to continue family traditions with my wife, Georgette, and our daughter, Michelle. We all are aware that family can also be very challenging. My mother worked through these challenges and still saw the glass as half full. Although I’m not quite as good as she is, I’ve learned to handle what
needs to be done and always expect things to work out. The three of us still enjoy Sunday dinners together and catch up with extended family in between. December holidays can be both joyful and stressful. I’m including a few tips to help you better navigate this time of year. Whether you celebrate with your original family members or your created family, we wish you a happy holiday season and a Merry Christmas! Again, thank you for your trust in me.
In knowledge and health,
–Dr. Paul Braadt
PAGE 2
610-776-2005
CedarCrestChiropractic.com
A HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE Dr. Braadt’s Nutrition Tips
The holiday season is here, bringing with it all the yummy holiday foods that make it challenging to eat healthy. Like many of you, I give in to my grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies that my sister makes and a few eggnogs with predictable results: bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, etc. I’ve learned that the best strategy is to pick your spots.
find your stomach upset, try Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar before your meal —mix a teaspoon with a little water or another beverage to acidify your stomach, aiding in digestion. After a big meal, a little whole-leaf aloe vera juice from a market or health food store will reduce the irritation associated with stomach alkalinity. Antacid drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors like Nexium and Prilosec, are being directly linked to Alzheimer’s, dementia, and cardiovascular disease. Substitute healthy fats for sugar. Think butter; I love unsalted Kerrygold butter, avocados, raw nuts like macadamia or Brazil, hormone-free meats, organic cheese, and organic eggs. These good fats won’t spike insulin like sugar does and are healthy and safe to eat. One of my wife’s sweet-tooth solutions is two small squares of Green & Black’s Organic 85 percent Cacao Bar , a tablespoon of organic unsweetened coconut flakes, and two organic raw almonds all in your mouth at once. Think of it as a healthy Almond Joy bar — very low in sugar and delicious!
Here’s my Holiday Nutrition Survival Guide for you to try:
Limit your eating to a maximum of three meals a day versus continuous grazing in between meals. Snacking all day, including drinking alcohol, spikes the hormone insulin and throws you out of fat-burning mode. This spike will also cause some of the physical complaints mentioned above. Include enough healthy fats like nuts, cheeses, and avocados, etc. with your main meals to help get you to your next meal without being hungry. Chew your food entirely without washing your meal down with fluids. This drinking dilutes digestive enzymes and stresses your stomach. Chew thoroughly for better digestion. Leave the antacids alone . The problem is not too much acid in your stomach but too little. Indigestion, bloating, and heartburn are the
I hope these healthy guidelines help you navigate the
holidays with less repair needed in the new year. More information on antacid drugs and foods that won’t spike insulin will be discussed in future articles. Stay tuned!
result of too little acid. We tend to overeat and ingest foods during the holidays that are richer as well as sweeter. If you
Roasted Delicata Squash With Almonds
SUDOKU
Ingredients
• 3 delicata squash (about 1 pound each), halved and seeded • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or smoked paprika 1. Heat an oven to 350 F. 2. On a workspace, brush cut sides of squash with olive oil and season cavity with salt, pepper, and Aleppo or paprika. 3. Place squash cut-side down on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes. Directions
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste • 1/4 cup roasted almonds, preferably Marcona, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar • Chopped fresh chives, to garnish
4. Remove squash from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, and top with crushed almonds, chives, and a drizzle of oil and agave nectar. 5. Serve immediately.
Safe, Effective Healthcare Without Drugs & Surgery
PAGE 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 1 Commitment to Family PAGE 2 How to Handle Emotional Stress During the Holidays PAGE 3 Dr. Braadt’s Holiday Nutrition Survival Guide PAGE 3 Roasted Delicata Squash With Almonds LOGO Cedar Crest Chiropractic Dr. Paul Braadt
1028 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103
Hours of Operation: Mon: 3–6:30 p.m. Tue–Thu: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Fri: Closed
Give Us A Call! 610-776-2005
PAGE 4 Hurricane Pet Hero
Hurricane Hero Tony Alsup
How One Man Rescued Hundreds of Animals
In the wake of destruction, it’s easy to focus on self-preservation. After all, fight- or-flight instincts are hard-wired into our brains so that we can survive dangerous situations. But while fear drives the actions of many in times of chaos, there are a few who find greater strength in compassion. Tony Alsup considered the potential devastation of Hurricane Florence as he sat comfortably in his home in Greeneville, Tennessee. Rather than sit back and watch, the truck driver by trade packed up an out-of-commission school bus he’d bought and set off to South Carolina with one goal in mind: to save as many animals as possible. Stopping by every shelter he found along the coast, Alsup rescued over 60 cats and dogs in both North and South Carolina and took them to Foley, Alabama. The heroic efforts of Alsup saved the lives of many animals, but it wasn’t the first time he’d rushed into danger for a good cause. He’d originally purchased the school bus, which he turned into Noah’s Ark last year, to save animals in Texas and Florida as Hurricane Harvey pounded the Gulf Coast. When he finished there, his mission shifted to helping animals in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island. It’s said that character is defined by the way someone acts when no one is watching. Many people heard of Alsup’s bravery after the devastation of
Florence, but as news stories turned to sports, politics, and business, America slowly moved on. Victims of the hurricane who lacked supplies received less national attention, but more than a month later, Alsup’s
commitment to the cause was as strong as ever. Living out of the back of the bus for weeks, he drove pets out of the persistent flooding and convoyed shipments of desperately needed supplies to the coastal Carolina towns. You can follow Tony’s commitment on Facebook. He’s not asking for money or fame; he’s just a person with a heart to serve, using social media to promote awareness about those who desperately need our help. If you’re wondering what drives such a person, you can find it written at the bottom of every update he posts: “Love y’all, mean it.”
PAGE 4
610-776-2005
CedarCrestChiropractic.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online