The spring season not only starts to bring warm weather- but for over 20% of people, it also brings allergies!

Are allergies a sign of a weak immune system?

No, quite the opposite.  Allergies are a common overreaction of the immune system to a natural substance. Every day you come into contact with dust, mold, or pollen. Allergies occur if your body and immune system overreact and over produce antibodies to attack the material. This overreaction of the immune system is what we call allergies. The sneezing, wheezing, itching, runny nose, and watery eyes are all signs that your immune system has overreacted to a perceived threat.

Why it Matters:

When your immune system is working correctly, it should react appropriately to the dust, mold, or pollen. Each day we all encounter millions of potential allergens. The handles on the door to your office, your countertops, your keychain- the list goes on and on. Most of the time your immune system coordinates the response to these allergens, and you move along in our day not aware that your immune system is taking care of business. It is only when your immune system overreacts and creates a body signal, such as a runny nose or itchy eyes, do you stop and take notice.

– Allergies are the body signal of an overactive immune system

– Sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, and red eyes are frequent symptoms associated with seasonal allergies

– Reducing stress through exercise, diet, and adjustments has the potential to improve your seasonal allergies

Next Steps:

It’s not possible (or healthy) to avoid all forms of allergens, and besides – that would be no fun!  Just like muscles, your immune system gets stronger as it’s challenged.

You can help your immune system stay as strong and balanced as possible by reducing stress, getting daily exercise, regular chiropractic adjustments, and eating right!

Join us April 17th at 6:15pm for our “End Asthma and Allergies” workshop

Register here

Science Source: Allergies and the Immune System. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2018

February brings snowstorms, wind that cuts right through your coat, and a lack of available sunlight.

Ah, the joys of winter!

For many of us, winter means more time indoors, and a higher likelihood that we gather indoors.  When people are sick, that means that germs may circulate that could cause us to become sick.

When your ill, food is the last thing on your mind. Everything seems unappetizing when your nose is clogged, and

Rest and fluids are critical when you’re ill

you can’t taste a thing. But, by making healthy food choices, you can become stronger and speed up your recovery. Also, by maintaining a healthy diet, you can strengthen your immune system and perhaps even get sick less often.

Eating the right foods when you have a cold can make big difference in reducing how long the cold lasts and the symptoms you experience.

You’ve heard it before, but it’s true. Food is the fuel for your body. You wouldn’t imagine putting diesel fuel into a Ferrari, so let’s dial down our nutrition and give your digestive system a break.  Be sure to eat easily digestible, nutrition-dense foods like lots of vegetables, low-moderate amounts of fruit and lean meats. It will help your immune system stay strong.

Here are a few other ideas to get started:

– Bone broth contains minerals that can boost your immune system.  Most butcher shops sell bones for making your own bone broth.

– Probiotics found in yogurt can improve your sleep, digestion, and immunity.  Choose unflavored/unsweetened plain greek style yogurt and add your own fruit.

– Lean meats, especially those with omega-3 fatty acids, can reduce inflammation.  Fish, grass-fed beef and free range poultry are best.

Don’t get left stranded on the road or when you’re held up at the office and getting home late.  A little planning can go a long way. Most of the time, we make poor choices when we are in a rush, or unprepared. And this often results in stopping by a restaurant or taking out food on the run.

Create a simple calendar highlighting your meals for the week. Healthy home-cooked meals will not only strengthen your immune system, but it can also help you save money!  Another great suggestion – cook once and eat twice.  Cook yourself extra food so you can take leftovers for lunch the next day.

Supplementation

Lots of people reach for some good old vitamin C when they have a cold.  It helps a lot, but it’s important to the get the right kind.  Your best source is from fruits and vegetables.  But when it comes to supplements, buffered Vitamin C is what you want.  Buffered Vitamin C is easy on your stomach and is absorbed well by the body.

Vitamin D is an absolute must.  Besides taking it regularly, you want to make sure you get the D3 version.  It is readily absorbed and acts like a turbocharger for your immune system.

Zinc is another great immune system helper.  Lots of great sources include seafood, red meat and nuts/seeds.

Science Source:

Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. Chest. Oct 2000
Probiotics and immune health. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. Oct 2011
Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Dec 2002

Dr. Craig Hazel’s mission is to help families THRIVE. After graduating from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, he went on to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy from Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas Texas. He is passionate about seeing children and families in his private practice at Synergy Chiropractic in Kanata Ontario. A sought after speaker, he has been featured regularly on TSN Team 1200, CTV and Rogers TV. He is also the Chairman of the Alliance for Chiropractic of Ontario.

Prolonged stress, long travel and maybe just one too many fruitcakes can all contribute to the dreaded holiday hangover.

Most of us have been there.  I find it odd that I can actually feel hungry the next day after binging on turkey dinner the night before.

How about you?

Well, with the New Year comes a new opportunity to get healthier, lose those extra pounds, and overcome the holiday hangover.  How we eat plays a huge role in our weight and our energy levels. When you have a low energy level, it’s difficult to get the motivation to stay active and exercise. However, when you give your body the proper nutrition, you can have more energy, lose more weight, and stay more active. So instead of focusing on the foods, you shouldn’t eat, let’s highlight a few foods and supplements that can help you stay active, energize, and get ready to shed those pounds.

Why it Matters:

For healthy foods to give you an energy boost, it’s all about eating the right ones at the right time. Eating small meals and snacking throughout the day is a great way to keep your body fueled and your energy levels high.

Eating well is critical to getting rid of the holiday hangover

• Here are a few high energy foods (without that sugar crash):  blueberries, strawberries, salmon, lean meats, nuts, whole grains, vegetables.
• Supplements such as fish oil and probiotics can help you reduce inflammation and keep your gut healthy and happy.
• Focus on having protein at every meal.
• Stop mixing fats and carbs or protein and carbs.  Fats and proteins.  Carbs on their own.
• Eat a handful of nuts once a day.

Next Steps – Hangover Cure:

Start by eating a few small meals per day and snacking every few hours in-between. This will help keep your energy up throughout the day. You’ll feel better, think better, and be more motivated to stick with your exercise routine. The New Year is a great time to improve your health, get a little extra motivation and even lose a few pounds in the process!

Science Source:

Harvard Health Publishing. 2017

Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev NeuroSci. 2008

Dr. Craig Hazel’s mission is to help families THRIVE. After graduating from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, he went on to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy from Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas Texas. He is passionate about seeing children and families in his private practice at Synergy Chiropractic in Kanata Ontario. A sought after speaker, he has been featured regularly on TSN Team 1200, CTV and Rogers TV. He is also the Chairman of the Alliance for Chiropractic of Ontario.

I wrote this blog 4 years ago on the one year anniversary of losing my dad to cancer. On the eve of the 5 year anniversary, I share it with you again with some parts added but the message remaining the same. As we enter Father’s Day weekend, I urge you to think about your Dad or your kids, as their father, and remember that everything you do in life is important, that it matters, and that it has influence on those closest to us. Take care of yourself so your family gets the best side of you. If I could have him back, I would in a heartbeat, but I know he is in a good place and that he is always with me.

My Dad