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CEDAR CREST CHIROPRACTIC
March/April 2024
Dr. Paul Braadt
1028 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown, PA 18103 • 610-776-2005 • CedarCrestChiropractic.com
I’ve spoken to you in the past about my two main patient goals of getting you out of pain and then educating you on how to create a healthy lifestyle so you can focus on chasing your dreams as you move through your life. Part of creating a healthy lifestyle is taking action to increase your happiness and longevity. I’ve observed many elderly people throughout my life, and those who were the happiest and lived the longest communicated with others to minimize loneliness; they actively participated in living. My wife and I were watching a program on CBS called “Sunday Morning” where a new “epidemic” was described. The former surgeon general of the U.S. under President Obama stated that loneliness affects your health as much as 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness contributes to a predisposition for all diseases. The British Government has established a “Loneliness Secretary” in response to this problem. Like many of you, I grew up with holiday traditions. On Easter Sunday, we all dressed in our finest, went to church, and then came home to a personalized Easter basket for my five siblings and me. My favorite was a huge chocolate egg with my name on it filled with coconut including a yellow yolk and a chocolate bunny that I loved biting off the ears. My parents were prepared for the resulting “sugar high” as they watched us run around the house. They also helped us keep focused on our visiting family and friends arriving to participate in an Easter feast that my mother prepared. I grew up in a 16-room, three-story, 100-year old home in Williamsport, PA. I was the oldest of six children, with live-in grandparents as well as uncles and aunts always stopping by to visit. Needless to say, I was rarely alone and never felt lonely. I grew to learn that I was lucky to have such an involved family, despite the fact that, as a teen, I would lock myself in my room since it was my only available hiding space. My wife, daughter, and I try to keep holiday traditions alive by including family and friends. I realize not everyone has had a positive family experience, but regardless of your family situation, I think you can agree it’s hard to be HOW TO INCREASE YOUR HAPPINESS AND LONGEVITY
lonely when you invest time in creating some future activity you can look forward to enjoying.
On this same “Sunday Morning” episode, they profiled a man who, at age 27, retreated into the woods and never spoke to anyone for 17 long years. During this time, he came to the conclusion that he needed to be in communication with others. So, he decided to do something about it: He found a wife and together they created a family. If we want to increase our happiness and longevity, we need to be in communication with others. Maybe join a group doing an activity you enjoy, like a church or a gym. Communities need volunteers. Maybe invite a neighbor or friend over for dinner. Think about how you can increase your communication with others aside from texting and online platforms. Have you been meaning to call someone or meet in person but just haven’t taken the time to schedule it? So have I. Whatever action you decide to take, hopefully it will help increase your communication and minimize loneliness for yourself or another and increase your happiness and longevity. Have fun chasing your dreams!
In knowledge and health,
–Dr. Paul Braadt
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WHEN IS IT TIME TO SEE A ‘SPINE SPECIALIST’? DR. BRAADT’S WELLNESS COLUMN
I was at a social event recently and was approached by a woman who knew I was a chiropractor. She told me she was seeing a “spine specialist” for her long-standing back and leg pain. I asked her how that was going. “You know,” she said, “I have stenosis, too.” I asked her again how that was going. “Well, I’ve had X-rays, three MRIs over the past several years, several drugs that keep changing, several months of PT exercises, and I’ve just had my third epidural injection this year, and my next step is probably surgery,” she replied. So, I asked her again how that was going. “Oh, I’m in pain all the time,” she admitted. I suggested that it might be a good idea to get a chiropractic opinion. “Oh no,” she replied. “It’s too late for me, and besides, I really like my ‘spine specialist.’” Over the past 40 years, I’ve heard some incredible stories of the different ways people have tried to get rid of their pain. I’m happy to say I’ve helped thousands of people get out of pain, some with up to four failed surgeries, chronic drug dependence, multiple injections, disability, and multiple attempts to get well. So, when is it time to see a spine specialist? First, here’s a little history on our health care system. Most Americans have been conditioned to see their family doctor when they have back pain. Drug therapy is the first option. If that fails, they are then referred to physical medicine or orthopedics. That means X-rays, physical therapy exercises, MRIs, injections to the spine, and eventual surgery. Historically, chiropractic care has been outside this health care model. Have you ever recommended chiropractic care to someone and got a negative response? Here’s why. In the 1960s, the AMA (American Medical Association) tried to absorb all therapies not related to drugs and surgery, like DOs (osteopathic doctors), or eradicate them, like chiropractic. For nearly a century, they launched a relentless plan of containment and elimination against chiropractic. It was a trade war based on decreasing competition for financial reasons rather than to protect
the public from unethical practitioners. Later, federal courts in Chicago stopped this campaign and found the AMA guilty of the most flagrant antitrust violations ever seen. However, some of this bad press stuck. Today, chiropractic is the third largest health care profession in the country behind medicine and dentistry. The AMA printed in its journal that chiropractic is probably the best initial treatment for spinal pain. It’s been proven to be less expensive, safer, and more effective, with a higher degree of patient satisfaction than other therapies. Hospitals are now opening chiropractic departments. Most spinal pain is MECHANICAL in nature, not CHEMICAL. Look at people. They limp. They’re crooked. They can’t bend. They can’t get out of bed in the morning. They’ve stopped doing what they like because they can’t move like they used to. They feel old. This is not due to a lack of drugs in their blood stream; it’s “bones out of place” (subluxation) affecting their spine, hips, knees, shoulders, wrists, feet, etc. Unless the mechanics are corrected, how can they get well? When is it time to see a chiropractic spine specialist? FIRST! Please share your story with your family, friends, and coworkers and refer them to our office for help. They need to know what to do before it’s “too late.” Thank you for trusting me with your care and following my recommended course of treatment. My first goal is to relieve your pain, correct your condition, and then maintain your health into the future. My second goal is to address other health problems you may have such as digestive issues, difficulty sleeping, etc. And my third goal is to help you create a healthy lifestyle through education so you’re not setting yourself up for the last part of your life in pain or disabled. It’s a partnership, and I’m always happy to help as needed. –Dr. Paul Braadt
CedarCrestChiropractic.com
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610-776-2005
Tex-Mex Pulled Chicken Soup
Inspired by DietDoctor.com
INGREDIENTS
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1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
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3/4 lb boneless chicken thighs 2 cups water or chicken broth 1 yellow onion, chopped 3 tbsp Tex-Mex seasoning 1 3/4 cups coconut cream 2/3 lb rutabaga, diced 2 tbsp coconut oil
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1 tsp paprika powder
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4 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
Sometimes, heroes come sans cape but with fur, paws, and a keen sense of smell. We’ve heard the stories of police dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and the German shepherd Trakr, who found the last survivor on 9/11. But even untrained pets and strays can be heroic. Meet Jack, a stray dog in New York City known for scavenging through dumpsters. One early morning, his routine search for food took a life-saving turn. Behind one of these dumpsters was a baby, wrapped in a blanket, vulnerable and alone. Instinctively and with remarkable gentleness, Jack picked up the baby in the blanket with his teeth. Whether guided by fate, an extraordinary sense of purpose, or just because it was the closest open business, Jack took the baby to the hospital. The nurses tried to shoo him away when he first ran through the sliding doors. One nurse, noticing the bundle in the dog’s mouth, was able to get close enough to retrieve the baby. Thanks to Jack, the baby received life-saving medical attention. In the 1920s, the remote town of Nome, Alaska, grappled with a deadly diphtheria epidemic. Children were dying, and the icebound city was inaccessible by plane or boat in the winter. The only way to deliver the needed antitoxins was by dog sled on the Iditarod Trail. Balto, a Siberian husky, received most of the fame, but Togo, another husky, led the team across the most treacherous part of the journey. These dogs delivered life-saving medicine in time and saved many of Nome’s children. Cats can be heroes, too, as proved by a calico cat who lived up to his name in the most unexpected way. One night in Mississippi, intruders were trying to break into a home. The house cat, Bandit, sensed the danger and sprang into action. The cat’s relentless scratching and tugging at its owner’s blanket finally woke him. Then Bandit led his human downstairs to discover the attempted break-in, which also scared away the intruders. Bandit proved that size and species don’t matter in heroism. In moments of crisis, these four-legged heroes rose to the occasion, not for glory or reward but out of pure love and loyalty. They are potent reminders of the courage and selflessness that animals are capable of. 3 Furry Heroes Jack, Togo, and Bandit Went Above and Beyond
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Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
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Fresh cilantro (optional)
1/2 lb carrots, coarsely grated
DIRECTIONS
1. In a pot, cook the chicken thighs in lightly salted water or chicken broth for 30 minutes or until you can easily pull the meat apart with 2 forks. Remove the meat and save the broth. 2. Heat coconut oil in a saucepan. Add chopped onion and Tex- Mex seasoning. Stir continuously and fry until the onion gets soft and translucent. Stir in the broth and coconut cream. 3. Add the diced rutabaga and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the coarsely grated carrots and cook for 5 more minutes. 4. Mix with an immersion blender or hand blender. Add salt and pepper. Add more water or broth until you reach desired consistency. 5. Top the soup with chicken, roasted pumpkin seeds, paprika powder, freshly squeezed lime juice, and fresh cilantro.
SUDOKU
Safe, Effective Health Care Without Drugs & Surgery
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 1 How to Increase Your Happiness and Longevity LOGO CEDAR CREST CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Paul Braadt
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
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 2 When Is It Time to See a ‘Spine Specialist’?
PAGE 3 3 Pet Hero Stories
Tex-Mex Pulled Chicken Soup
Take a Break
PAGE 4 Embrace Your Sleep Cycle
Unlocking the Secrets of Natural Rest TUNE IN TO YOUR BODY’S CLOCK
When we lie down and settle into sleep, our brain starts descending from the conscious realm into the soothing arms of slumber. As you drift off, your brain activity decelerates, your body temperature dips, and muscles relax. This phase, known as light sleep, makes up about half of our total sleep time. As the night progresses, we enter the deep sleep stage. Here, our body’s muscle tone and heartbeat find their calmest rhythm while the brain’s activity shifts to delta waves. It’s like a restorative elixir flowing through you, bolstering your immune system and mending the day’s wear and tear. Deep sleep is pivotal in cementing memories and contributes to creativity and insightful thinking. Then, we enter the famous REM sleep, when our brain activity escalates. It is the stage responsible for our most vivid dreams and a fountain of learning and creativity. To enter REM sleep, we must be asleep for at least 90 minutes to cycle through light to deep sleep. Once we are in it, REM can last for about 90 minutes. If we wake up naturally from the light sleep stage, we feel refreshed and rejuvenated. A clock alarm, though, doesn’t know which sleep stage we
are in, so it may wake us when we are in the deep sleep stage. Being abruptly awoken in this state leaves us disoriented and groggy. It creates sleep inertia, an uncomfortable stage that can put us in a bad mood when we first wake up.
Our bodies are not designed to wake up during deep sleep. Cortisol, our natural energy hormone, is like a slow-release pill crafted by nature. Levels decrease as we get ready to go to bed and rise when it is time to wake up. If the alarm disrupts the natural sleep cycle, waking us before the cortisol surge, we feel out of sorts. Our brains and bodies are designed to balance our well-being. When we respect its natural rhythms, we enhance our mood, boost our cognitive abilities, and nurture our overall health. Each night is a new opportunity to reconnect with your body’s innate wisdom and wake up to a more vibrant and harmonious life. So tonight, when you lay your head on the pillow, listen to the whisper of your internal clock and embrace your natural sleep patterns. Sweet dreams and sweeter morning awakenings are ahead if you do.
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610-776-2005
CedarCrestChiropractic.com
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