Although I don't personally prescribe pharmaceutical drugs (nor would I want to) I still have to closely monitor what people are on and any interactions they may have. Hopefully the audience I am talking to is not on any or very few... however we all know people who are on a whole host of them. Medications are something not to take lightly and should be researched for their side effects and interactions.
This is such a great tool and website that anyone can use to check any interactions pharmaceutical medications have with each other. Not only do pharmaceutical drugs have side effects, they can also have interactions with each other which cause another set of issues. The website ranks the interactions as major, moderate, and minor. It is very imperative that a person check this if they are on two or more pharmaceutical drugs.
Go to http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html and click agree. From there you can enter in different medications and click check for interactions. It will create a list of interactions between the different meds. Even if you are not my patient please be educated about what you are taking. It is your health and life. Be informed.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Chocolate Pudding Recipe... Very Easy!
I have experimented with a couple different recipes for chocolate pudding and this is my favorite so far!
All you need is unsweetened cocoa, almond milk (I am sure you could use coconut milk too), xylitol (or honey) and chia seeds. I bought my chia seeds at Trader Joes. They are packed full of nutrients and healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
Instructions
Mix together 1 cup almond milk, 3 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons xylitol or honey. You may want to add more depending on how sweet you like it. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then enjoy!
When I first put all the ingredients together the cocoa sat at the top and didn't mix that well. After 5 minutes it started to settle in, especially after I stirred it. By the time 10 minutes was up and I did a final stirring everything was mixed together perfectly.
I loved it. Enjoy!
All you need is unsweetened cocoa, almond milk (I am sure you could use coconut milk too), xylitol (or honey) and chia seeds. I bought my chia seeds at Trader Joes. They are packed full of nutrients and healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
Instructions
Mix together 1 cup almond milk, 3 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons xylitol or honey. You may want to add more depending on how sweet you like it. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then enjoy!
When I first put all the ingredients together the cocoa sat at the top and didn't mix that well. After 5 minutes it started to settle in, especially after I stirred it. By the time 10 minutes was up and I did a final stirring everything was mixed together perfectly.
I loved it. Enjoy!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Body Odor? Try this!
Have you ever noticed that some people just tend to smell worse than others? It's kind of an awkward topic but it is just a fact of life. People who tend to have more odor than others (a polite way to say it) are much more toxic. Your body sweats and gets rid of toxins through the skin. When people are toxic the body will continuously try to pump these toxins out which in turn creates body odor which no deodorant can mask.
Another way to know if you are full of toxins is that your stool smells really bad. Yes all stool smells... I get that... however it should not smell really bad. I don't know how else to describe it. Sorry :) This is another simple indicator that your body is continually pumping out a lot of bad things.
A great product to start with or add into your daily routine is Chlorophyll ES. I have talked about it before but not in this fashion. Chlorophyll is a great all natural body odor neutralizer. It works to mildly detox as well as heal up the digestive system and other areas in the body. It's liquid and tastes like mint which makes it even better! You want to keep it in the fridge and take 1 teaspoon twice a day and for those who have never 'cleansed' the body bump it up to 1 tablespoon twice a day. Mix it with your water and drink up!
If you know someone who would benefit from chlorophyll just leave it at their desk. No explanation is needed :)
For those who order- the stock number is 1483-5. Make sure you get the new and improved Chlorophyll ES.
Another way to know if you are full of toxins is that your stool smells really bad. Yes all stool smells... I get that... however it should not smell really bad. I don't know how else to describe it. Sorry :) This is another simple indicator that your body is continually pumping out a lot of bad things.
A great product to start with or add into your daily routine is Chlorophyll ES. I have talked about it before but not in this fashion. Chlorophyll is a great all natural body odor neutralizer. It works to mildly detox as well as heal up the digestive system and other areas in the body. It's liquid and tastes like mint which makes it even better! You want to keep it in the fridge and take 1 teaspoon twice a day and for those who have never 'cleansed' the body bump it up to 1 tablespoon twice a day. Mix it with your water and drink up!
If you know someone who would benefit from chlorophyll just leave it at their desk. No explanation is needed :)
For those who order- the stock number is 1483-5. Make sure you get the new and improved Chlorophyll ES.
For those who do not order follow the instructions on the link http://www.drcarolynmaxfield.com/page/online-store.html.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Cold/Flu Season in Full Swing... 9 Things to Do
Cold/Flu/Strep and Flu Vaccine promoting season is in full swing. Does that mean you have to be one of those that are down for days with whatever new thing is going around? NO! There are obviously many things you can do to improve your immune system and prevent any sickness going around. And yes you may get sick here or there- I just was this past week (but guess what... I just had a little sore throat and congestion but my energy was great). Here are 9 simple things to do and I will keep thinking of more.
1) Drink LOTS and LOTS of water. Stay hydrated. Seems silly and obvious yet we continually drink much less water than our body needs. I am guilty of it too. Consciously drink a lot of water. Flush out those toxins and give your body the proper hydration to kill off any invaders.
2) Eat as much raw garlic as possible. Some people can chew it... and kudos to those out there who can. I cut a clove up into 1/4 pieces and swallow it. You can cut it up smaller or mince it and put in a little bit of water and drink it fast. Fresh garlic (not processed or refrigerated) has amazing antibacterial proprieties (and antifungal). When cooked the garlic looses many of its medicinal properties so its important that it is fresh especially when you are sick. Take as many as you can handle. Start with 1-2 a day and work up to 3-6 in times of sickness. I just took my clove right before doing this. If you just can't even think about doing that there are garlic supplements that we have available which you take instead.
NOTE: Not all garlic supplements are the same. The way the garlic is processed and handled is extremely important. Many companies loose the medicinal value in the processing because it is heated and not protected. Make sure you use a high quality supplement and if you need any ideas let me know. We have plenty at the office (and ones you won't burp up... which is a common complaint).
3) Wash your hands. Obvious- yet very important.
4) Take maintenance doses of elderberry (2-3/day). Most of you at my office know that the Nature Sunshine version is by far my favorite. Elderberry Defense has elderberry, olive leaf, and D3 in it. All of those are extremely beneficial to the immune system. Let me know if you need help ordering.
5) Drink hot water with lemon. I say this all the time to patients but it is great for so many things. It helps with digestion and has a mild cleansing action on the liver. Lemons are packed with vitamin C and also are anti-mucolytic (break down mucous). This helps tremendously during times of sickness. Drink at least 2 cups of hot water with 1/2 lemon in each.
6) Sleep! When you are tired it is for a reason. If you were sick and not tired you would keep going and going and going and your body would never get a chance to heal. You are tired for a reason. Pay attention and don't push it.
7) Get adjusted. This is something I haven't talked about much on here. Every single part of your body- every muscle, organ, tissue, gland- is controlled by your nervous system. The nervous system is our master control center and protected by your spine. When you are sick it is essential to get your nervous system checked and make sure it is properly functioning without any restrictions. There are certain areas in your spine that directly control the nervous system (any chiropractor should know where it is) and that should be specially worked on along with anything else that is restricted. If you have any questions or concerns let me know. I do light force adjusting with muscle work (very important!) to help relieve any issues you may have.
8) Don't drink cow's milk (unless its raw). Most of my patients (hopefully all) already avoid cows milk. It instantly creates a mucous producing response in the body. So when you are congested and stopped up... definitely avoid this and all dairy. You should be avoiding it anyway but that's for another day. Drink almond milk or coconut milk, but NOT soy.
9) If your sickness isn't going away... please come in and get checked. It takes me 1-2 minutes and I can see if you are fighting off a bacteria or virus and give you something that will knock it quickly. The sooner you come in when you are starting to feel sick the better.
1) Drink LOTS and LOTS of water. Stay hydrated. Seems silly and obvious yet we continually drink much less water than our body needs. I am guilty of it too. Consciously drink a lot of water. Flush out those toxins and give your body the proper hydration to kill off any invaders.
2) Eat as much raw garlic as possible. Some people can chew it... and kudos to those out there who can. I cut a clove up into 1/4 pieces and swallow it. You can cut it up smaller or mince it and put in a little bit of water and drink it fast. Fresh garlic (not processed or refrigerated) has amazing antibacterial proprieties (and antifungal). When cooked the garlic looses many of its medicinal properties so its important that it is fresh especially when you are sick. Take as many as you can handle. Start with 1-2 a day and work up to 3-6 in times of sickness. I just took my clove right before doing this. If you just can't even think about doing that there are garlic supplements that we have available which you take instead.
NOTE: Not all garlic supplements are the same. The way the garlic is processed and handled is extremely important. Many companies loose the medicinal value in the processing because it is heated and not protected. Make sure you use a high quality supplement and if you need any ideas let me know. We have plenty at the office (and ones you won't burp up... which is a common complaint).
3) Wash your hands. Obvious- yet very important.
4) Take maintenance doses of elderberry (2-3/day). Most of you at my office know that the Nature Sunshine version is by far my favorite. Elderberry Defense has elderberry, olive leaf, and D3 in it. All of those are extremely beneficial to the immune system. Let me know if you need help ordering.
5) Drink hot water with lemon. I say this all the time to patients but it is great for so many things. It helps with digestion and has a mild cleansing action on the liver. Lemons are packed with vitamin C and also are anti-mucolytic (break down mucous). This helps tremendously during times of sickness. Drink at least 2 cups of hot water with 1/2 lemon in each.
6) Sleep! When you are tired it is for a reason. If you were sick and not tired you would keep going and going and going and your body would never get a chance to heal. You are tired for a reason. Pay attention and don't push it.
7) Get adjusted. This is something I haven't talked about much on here. Every single part of your body- every muscle, organ, tissue, gland- is controlled by your nervous system. The nervous system is our master control center and protected by your spine. When you are sick it is essential to get your nervous system checked and make sure it is properly functioning without any restrictions. There are certain areas in your spine that directly control the nervous system (any chiropractor should know where it is) and that should be specially worked on along with anything else that is restricted. If you have any questions or concerns let me know. I do light force adjusting with muscle work (very important!) to help relieve any issues you may have.
8) Don't drink cow's milk (unless its raw). Most of my patients (hopefully all) already avoid cows milk. It instantly creates a mucous producing response in the body. So when you are congested and stopped up... definitely avoid this and all dairy. You should be avoiding it anyway but that's for another day. Drink almond milk or coconut milk, but NOT soy.
9) If your sickness isn't going away... please come in and get checked. It takes me 1-2 minutes and I can see if you are fighting off a bacteria or virus and give you something that will knock it quickly. The sooner you come in when you are starting to feel sick the better.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Sweet Potato Cakes
Easy great recipe! They make for great substitutes for breakfast with potato cakes or even dinner for something similar to tater tots. You only really need 4 things and very simple to make!
2 cups Grated Sweet Potato- This is the most time consuming part of it... maybe because I don't have the best grater.
2 Eggs
1 TBS Coconut Flour
1 TBS Coconut Oil
Sea Salt, Pepper
Optional: Add in any of your favorite spices (Rosemary or garlic would be good)
Mix all together and fry over medium heat in coconut oil. I cooked each side for about 3 or so minutes. I made 2 more crispy by leaving them on longer and liked those ones better. Experiment and see what you like best! They also would be good with some organic ketchup for breakfast :)
Recipe from: http://gabbysgfree.com/2013/03/paleo-shredded-sweet-potato-cakes/
2 cups Grated Sweet Potato- This is the most time consuming part of it... maybe because I don't have the best grater.
2 Eggs
1 TBS Coconut Flour
1 TBS Coconut Oil
Sea Salt, Pepper
Optional: Add in any of your favorite spices (Rosemary or garlic would be good)
Mix all together and fry over medium heat in coconut oil. I cooked each side for about 3 or so minutes. I made 2 more crispy by leaving them on longer and liked those ones better. Experiment and see what you like best! They also would be good with some organic ketchup for breakfast :)
Recipe from: http://gabbysgfree.com/2013/03/paleo-shredded-sweet-potato-cakes/
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Chemicals in your body... where do they come from?
At the office patients get tested for 'internal' stressors (aka immune challenges). These are things that should normally be eliminated or killed off by your immune system but for one reason or another linger around. The different things tested for (painlessly, quickly, and easily) are heavy metals, chemicals, bacterias, viruses, parasites and candida. If you show up with any one of those listed it can cause basically any type of sign or symptom... such as (but not limited to) fatigue, mental sluggishness, hives, asthma, acne, diarrhea or constipation, aches, pains, gas/bloating, headaches, weight gain/loss, styes, anxiety, depression, overall joints aches and pains, and the list goes on and on... It seems to simple right? Many times in our society we try to over complicate things when the answer isn't really that hard. Get rid of (detox out) the bad stuff and nourish your body with good things.
With this being said- why are things not getting eliminated like they should? One of the reasons (mainly for heavy metals and chemicals) is that our liver gets sluggish, tired and backed up... why? There are many reasons but I will touch on one.
The liver is our main detox center. We are constantly being exposed to different chemicals on a daily basis. Think of the air we breath in, lotions you put on, water you drink (fluoride, chlorine and other junk in it), fragrances you constantly breath in, put in your body or wash clothes with, plastics you store food in, cookware you use, cleaners you use at home, all the medications (prescription and non prescription) people put into their body, etc. This is not intended to scare you but instead make you think. Try changing just one thing, getting rid of one chemical or heavy metal (aluminum in deodorant) in your daily routine or home. Once you have done than move to another and then another. Baby steps in the right direction.
I want to leave you with some of the chemicals tested for in the office...
-Chlorine (really important to get a water filter to remove both chlorine and fluorine... more info to come)
-Dry cleaning chemicals
-Food colors (Look at your labels!)
-Fragrances (Think of everything this is in... soaps, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, air fresheners, makeup, cleaners, detergent, fabric softener, perfume, etc. Think of what sits at the base of the neck where people spray perfume. The thyroid!! Everything you put on your body gets absorbed. Use essential oils instead which are not toxic to the liver!)
-Medications (prescription and non prescription)
-Pesticides
-Plastics (Try to store and keep everything in glass... especially leftovers. Get a glass water bottle and reuse instead of buying bottled water. Go to TJ Maxx or Costco and get glass Pyrex containers to store food in for cheaper.)
-Preservatives (Really read your labels... the most common are nitrites/ates, sufites/ates)
Other chemicals are tested for in the office but those are the main ones. Yes we can get rid of many but clearly we can't get rid of them all in our environment. However by consciously removing them from your home and diet it will help your liver work better to detox the ones we can't remove. More info to come on water filters and great beauty products! If you need a good deodorant recipe click the link - http://drcarolynmaxfield.blogspot.com/2013/04/homemade-deodorant-that-works-i-promise.html
With this being said- why are things not getting eliminated like they should? One of the reasons (mainly for heavy metals and chemicals) is that our liver gets sluggish, tired and backed up... why? There are many reasons but I will touch on one.
The liver is our main detox center. We are constantly being exposed to different chemicals on a daily basis. Think of the air we breath in, lotions you put on, water you drink (fluoride, chlorine and other junk in it), fragrances you constantly breath in, put in your body or wash clothes with, plastics you store food in, cookware you use, cleaners you use at home, all the medications (prescription and non prescription) people put into their body, etc. This is not intended to scare you but instead make you think. Try changing just one thing, getting rid of one chemical or heavy metal (aluminum in deodorant) in your daily routine or home. Once you have done than move to another and then another. Baby steps in the right direction.
I want to leave you with some of the chemicals tested for in the office...
-Chlorine (really important to get a water filter to remove both chlorine and fluorine... more info to come)
-Dry cleaning chemicals
-Food colors (Look at your labels!)
-Fragrances (Think of everything this is in... soaps, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, air fresheners, makeup, cleaners, detergent, fabric softener, perfume, etc. Think of what sits at the base of the neck where people spray perfume. The thyroid!! Everything you put on your body gets absorbed. Use essential oils instead which are not toxic to the liver!)
-Medications (prescription and non prescription)
-Pesticides
-Plastics (Try to store and keep everything in glass... especially leftovers. Get a glass water bottle and reuse instead of buying bottled water. Go to TJ Maxx or Costco and get glass Pyrex containers to store food in for cheaper.)
-Preservatives (Really read your labels... the most common are nitrites/ates, sufites/ates)
Other chemicals are tested for in the office but those are the main ones. Yes we can get rid of many but clearly we can't get rid of them all in our environment. However by consciously removing them from your home and diet it will help your liver work better to detox the ones we can't remove. More info to come on water filters and great beauty products! If you need a good deodorant recipe click the link - http://drcarolynmaxfield.blogspot.com/2013/04/homemade-deodorant-that-works-i-promise.html
Monday, October 7, 2013
Hot Chocolate!!
It's back to cool fall weather which means it's time for warm fuzzy drinks! One of the classics and a personal favorite... Hot chocolate!! It's easy to make and you don't need the instant hot chocolate powder that is made up of all sorts of crazy unnatural things. Soooo here is a simple easy recipe! And super tasty too!
3 Cups (unsweetened) Almond Milk - my personal favorite is Whole Foods organic unsweetened almond milk. It seems much creamier and richer than all the other brands I have tried. They are usually available in 2 packs which saves a little money.
2 TBS Cacao powder or Cocoa - the difference between the 2 is that cacao powder is considered raw- meaning it is subjected to low amounts of heat which do not alter the presence of antioxidants (aka cold pressed). Cocoa on the other hand has been processed in heat. Cacao is very high in antioxidants and is considered a 'super food' for this reason- why it is much more expensive. Cocoa does not have as many antioxidants due to the heating process. With this being said, you are heating up your hot chocolate so the cacao does not remain in its raw state. So there really is no benefit to using the cacao over the cocoa in this recipe. If you were making a cold drink or not heating or cooking with it, cacao would be a much better option. For more info on cacao vs cocoa visit this link http://nourishmylife.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/raw-cacao-vs-cocoa/.
2 TBS Xylitol, Honey, or Pure 100% Maple Syrup (Aunt Jemima doesn't count)- I didn't have xylitol at home so I used maple syrup. For anyone using xylitol (people on Candida Clear or phase 1) it may need a little bit more. Just do a little taste test to try it out first.
1/4 TBS of Cinnamon
Over medium heat mix the almond milk and cocoa/cacao powder. Let it heat up but not boil. I probably kept mine on the stove for 10 min total and stirred occasional. After it's nice and warm take it off the burner and let it sit. Add in your cinnamon and sweetener (xylitol, honey, or maple syrup) at this time and stir. The clumps of cocoa will continue to dissolve at this time.
Let it sit for a couple minutes and stir occasionally. Then enjoy!!
Pure deliciousness.
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