Stern Chiropractic

Plastic Water Bottles Being Banned, A Step in the Right Direction

docstern — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:34:12 +0000

When I was growing up, water was not for sale in bottles, it was free everywhere you looked in public water fountains. As pollution became a bigger concern and pharmaceuticals (from human excretion and disposal of prescriptions medications down the drain) filled our water supply, a decision point arose: Do we build better public water purification systems or do we find another way to get people clean water. From this decision point, the multi-billion dollar bottle water industry arose using water that is no better than that which we already get out of the tap.

When you look at this decision, it looks like many other government decisions – forgo the long term benefit of the people and the earth in exchange for minimizing short term expenditures (updating the purification plants) and turn a public service into a privatized cash cow.

In today’s Chicago Tribune there was the following article:

Loyola to ban sale of bottled water on campus

Environmental, fair-access concerns are cited

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-loyola-bottled-water-ban-20120508,0,193174.story

I applaud Loyola’s decision and that of the other institutions who have already taken similar actions.

We are toxifying our inner and outer ecosystems in exchange for an on-the-go fast food lifestyle.

Why haven’t we been collecting from these corporations that are making all the profit, funds to improve municipal water purification systems and clean up the environmental hazards caused by all these empty water bottles. Having profited so greatly, shouldn’t they be giving something back?

Let’s take control back over our own health and our earth. Start making healthier, more natural choices that you know are “right” not just “easy.”

May 2012 – Get Up and Get Active

docstern — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:00:37 +0000

Hi All,

May is here and it’s time again to celebrate those wonderful women in our lives. Thank You and Lots of Love to all you MOM’S. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! (Make sure to check out our INCREDIBLE Mother’s Day SPECIALS!)

Let us not forget that May also honors all those wonderful men and women who have served our country so valiantly – Happy Armed Forces & Memorial Day! (Stern Chiropractic continues to support our returning vets with our ongoing Military Care Program – call for more details).

Get Up and Get Active

As our weather improves, the time has come to get up off that couch, walk away from the computer, set down your smart phone and GET ACTIVE!

One of the three main stressors to our health is physical stress. Many would perceive this to be falls, traumas, accidents and injuries but that is not correct. Our bodies were made to be active yet all day long we sit, sit and sit some more. Lack of activity and poor posture is our biggest physical stress and it produces what I have termed “White Collar Syndrome.”

Our bodies aren’t wearing out, they are rusting out. Lack of regular movement and good posture has brought about the detrimental posture of our head and shoulders being forward and has lead to all types of issues including:

Neck Pain
Back Pain
Early Onset Degenerative Disc and Joint Disease
Headaches
Obesity
Diabetes
and more …

How Can You Reverse The Effects of White Collar Syndrome?

White Collar Syndrome is due to deconditioning of the postural muscles and interference in the communication pathways of your body that control your health, the nerve system. Trying to correct this problem by going out and exercising hard will only lead to injury and more problems. The steps to correcting this problem are:

Restore healthy Nerve System Function – get to the chiropractor for a check-up. Your chiropractor will be able to locate where there is nerve system interference (subluxation) and set-up a plan to resolve this problem.
Evaluate your activities – where in your day could you make a little time to exercise. We all have very busy days and unless good health is a priority, it may be difficult to “find the time.” When you make good health a priority, you will create the opportunities to be active.
Get-Up and Get-Out – set-up a plan for an progressively increasing exercise program where you start out slowly and build your way up. If you cannot do this yourself, ask your chiropractor or utilize a personal trainer.
Have FUN – make sure to choose activities you enjoy and do them with people you enjoy spending time with.

Healthy Cooking Oil

Are you using corn or canola oil when you cook because you think they are a healthy choice? Are there healthier options, Click here for your Healthy Cooking Oils Chart.

Mother’s Day Specials

What does every mom want? GOOD HEALTH & RELAXATION!

Click on the links below to see our INCREDIBLE Mother’s Day Specials

Good Health Relaxation

Our expertise will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

Like Stern Chiropractic on Facebook and see health and wellness articles posted on a regular basis.

April 2012 – Change is Good

docstern — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:00:06 +0000

Hi All,

Spring is here and the seasons are changing.

Do you Welcome change and the great potential it brings or do you fear change and the upheaval it brings?

One of my absolute Favorite quotes is:

Be the change you want to see in this world!

- Mahatma Gandhi

The only thing certain in this world is change.

“Those who fear change will live a life in fear. Those who welcome change will always be in their comfort zone and experience a life of endless opportunity.”

- Gregg Stern D.C., DACCP

We try to create stability in our lives to maintain our sanity but as soon as things appear to be stable and comfortable, something happens to shake things up and cause change.

“When we find our core certainty within, then we no longer look for certainty outside. The unfathomable nature of the ever-changing world ceases to be a source of anxiety and instead is a source of joy and adventure.”

~Deepak Chopra

For many, including myself, resistance to change is the 1st response. We perceive the change as ”bad” because it altered our plans and maybe we did not get what we think we wanted out of that situation.

But, always remember: EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

In hindsight we can see that many of the changes we initially perceived as bad ended up producing exactly what we needed.

“Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be unlocked from the inside.”

— Marilyn Ferguson

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

John F Kennedy, 35^th US President

How Do You Manage Change?

“The most effective way to manage change is to create it.”

– Peter Drucker, management advisor

Change is best managed in small bites. For example, when I provide a report of my findings to a new practice member, initially I tell them everything I found and my suggestions on how to address the problems. This is not an effective way to make positive change because it is an immense amount of information and can be overwhelming but it is effective in helping them to understand the big picture of what is going on with their health and how it may be addressed.

The REAL CHANGE happens on a visit by visit basis as we address the problems and solutions piece by piece in small bites. Small changes are much easier to handle and implement than large changes and tend to produce positive, long lasting results.

Don’t fear change. When change happens, take a step back and a deep breath before passing judgement on what has happened. This will help you to respond effectively vs react to the situation. Even if it seems as though the change is “bad”, try to remember that everything happens for a reason and whatever just happened served a purpose. You may see that purpose immediately i.e. the traffic light changed to red when you were in a hurry but being stopped at the light helped you avoid an accident that happened just past the intersection or it may take a long time i.e. why didn’t I get that job and later you find that this was the motivator for you to follow your dreams to doing something you love.

There are things we can control and things we cannot control, focus on the things you can control and embrace change.

Change a moment and it will change a day. Change a day and it will change a year. Change a year and it will change a life. Every time we put positive energy into action we not only change our lives for the better but help positively impact the lives of everyone we come into contact with.

- Dr. Gregg Stern

Let Stern Chiropractic Bring Positive Change into Your Life and the Lives of Your Loved Ones!

Our expertise will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

Like Stern Chiropractic on Facebook and see health and wellness articles posted on a regular basis.

March 2012 – Better Health & Higher Performance

docstern — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:00:57 +0000

Hi All,

March is here and we are almost 25% into 2012. Are you at your PEAK function? Are you ready for all that life brings you? Have you prepared yourself for your BEST YEAR EVER?

If you are to be performing at your highest levels and have your BEST YEAR EVER, you are going to have to have a Master Control System that is functioning at its optimal levels.

Your nerve system is the master control system of your body. In the same way that sugar causes decay in your teeth, STRESS (Chemical, Physical and Mental/Emotional) cause decay in your nerve system.

Your Information Superhighway

Your nerve system is the “Information Super Highway” of your body and STRESS causes Road Construction. If communication is blocked from passing back and forth between the brain and the body, your body won’t work properly i.e.

- If the blocked nerves are in your neck, you may experience headaches, neck pain, arm pain, allergies, asthma, ADD/ADHD, memory issues, brain fog, vertigo, hearing issues, visual problems …

- If the blocked nerves are in you upper and mid-back – you may experience pain between the shoulder blades, poor posture, digestive issues like gassiness, bloating, indigestion, heart burn, reflux, respiratory issues, poor immunity …

- If the blocked nerves are in your low back you may experience low back pain, hip pain, constipation, diarrhea, menstrual issues, PMS, prostate problems, sexual dysfunction, infertility …

The health issues you may experience are directly related to the body parts and organ systems whose communication connection has been cut off. Click on this TTAT Brochure to see a self assessment worksheet where you can relate any symptoms you may have to the areas of the nerve system that control them.

Are You Blowing Fuses?

Your nerve system acts like the fuse box at your house. When there is a storm and a surge comes in to your home, a fuse will “blow” and the lights and electricity will go out. This blown fuse is not a bad thing, even though the lights temporarily go out, it protects your home from a potentially deadly or damaging electrical surge.

In your body, the storm is the accumulation of chemical, physical & mental/emotional stressors and when they become overwhelming, your nerve system will blow a fuse. We call this blown fuse SUBLUXATION. On one hand, this subluxation is not bad because it is protecting your body from greater damage from ongoing STRESS. But, if left unaddressed, this subluxation can lead to ongoing blockage of communication to the areas of the body that those nerves serve leading to degenerative disease in the spine and potentially severe health problems in the areas that are not receiving proper communication from these blocked nerves.

How Do You Address SUBLUXATION?

The only way to get rid of subluxation is with a thorough chiropractic assessment (to determine where you are subluxated) and a specific chiropractic adjustment (to remove the subluxation). A chiropractic adjustment will flip your fuses back on, turning your power on and allowing your body to communicate, heal and function the way it was designed to.

Once I Have Been Adjusted, Is the Problem Fixed?

Similar to the way your teeth require regular brushing, flossing and regular check-ups to stay healthy, your nerve system requires regular chiropractic care. As stated above, subluxation comes from excessive lifestyle stressors that have become more than your body can handle. The adjustment turns you power back on but if you continue to have the same lifestyle stressors, you will continue to blow fuses.

The CAUSE of the problem is your LIFESTYLE!

Getting to the Cause

Dr. Stern is a Board Certified Diplomate in Chiropractic Pediatric, Maternity and Family Wellness Care. His specialty is Wellness care for infants through seniors. In addition to performing a detailed evaluation of your health, your problems and your lifestyle using the latest technology in computerized nerve system evaluation tools, Dr. Stern will determine exactly what needs to be done not only to address your current “problem” but will also provide natural lifestyle solutions on how to STOP RECREATING THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN!

At least treat the Master Control System of your body as well as you do your teeth.

Schedule a Nerve System Check-Up for your family TODAY!

Our expertise will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

LIKE Stern Chiropractic on Facebook and see health and wellness articles posted on a regular basis.

NE Patriots and NY Giants: The Essential Role of Chiropractic Care to Super Bowl XLVI

docstern — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:36:34 +0000

The Foundation For Chiropractic Progress released a press release yesterday highlighting the the role that chiropractic has played for the two teams that will be involved in Super Bowl XLVI:

CARMICHAEL, Calif. – Feb. 1, 2012 – As the New England Patriots and New York Giants prepare to play on the biggest stage of all for football fans – the XLVI Super Bowl, February 5, 2012, Indianapolis, Ind. — the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, points to the role of the team Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) in optimizing functionality, endurance and overall conditioning. Dr. Michael Miller of the Patriots and Dr. Robert DeStefano of the Giants explain that chiropractic is fundamental to the consequences of jarring impacts, enhancing body mechanics and joint motion while improving structural balance vital to preventing and addressing many common injuries.

“Professional athletes rely greatly on the coordinated efforts of the entire healthcare team, comprised of athletic trainers, rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, orthopedists and chiropractors,” says Dr. DeStefano. “With the exception of 24/7 availability, preparing for Super Bowl is no different than the regular season. As injuries present themselves, we work systematically to provide the athlete with the care needed. In the end, we hope for quick recovery and high-level performance.”

Dr. Miller, who notes that the Patriots have dedicated their season and championship wins to Myra Kraft, the late wife of the team’s owner Robert Kraft, adds, “Most of our players will get adjusted prior to games to adequately prepare their bodies for battle. Several times during the playoffs, incidents occurred that required chiropractic care and, subsequent to sideline treatment, players were able to return to action the following play. We expect to have the same efficiency going into and during the Super Bowl.”

Viewed by both teams as a valuable healthcare component, chiropractic care is commonly used to address neuromusculoskeletal strain injuries, including neck pain, low back pain, strains to the hamstring and quadriceps, and certain whiplash injuries. Additionally, it provides treatment for other extremity problems, such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), carpal and tarsal tunnel misalignments, and shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle tribulations.

Being involved with the Patriots for over 30 years, Dr. Miller knows first-hand that the players appreciate the service he provides, and he is excited to enter another Super Bowl together, sharing, “As we get closer, I’m reminded of a mantra from head coach Bill Belichick who says, „Do your job. If done well, it will reap rewards.‟ I wish both teams health through this next game and may the best team WIN!”

To learn more about professional football and chiropractic, visit the Professional Football Chiropractic Society, an organization that encompasses chiropractors from all 32 NFL teams, including Dr. Miller and Dr. DeStefano, which provide the highest quality chiropractic to the elite athletes.

Note: Dr. Stern is a board certified Diplomate in Chiropractic Pediatric, Maternity & Family Wellness Care and is the premier Wellness Lifestyle Specialist in the Chicagoland area.

February 2012 – Tips for Surviving and Thriving this Winter Season

docstern — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:00:19 +0000

Hi All,

Welcome to Winter 2012. There are those who love winter and those who hate it but no matter which one you are, you can not only survive the winter, you can thrive.

I tend to view health and well-being as an ongoing opportunity to continually improve because who wants to stay the same or get worse?

Health is a process and you are either moving upward and getting healthier or sliding downward and getting sicker. You have the choice! Read More … Your lifestyle determines your health. The study of epigenetics reveals that genetic expression is only 25% predetermined by your genes and 75% determined by your lifestyle. So what does this mean? This means you are determining your current and future health with every decision you make.

Healthy lifestyle choices such as eating healthy, taking the appropriate supplementation, exercising regularly, getting enough quality sleep and managing your mental/emotional stress, are the things that will keep you moving in a positive direction toward greater levels of health and wellness and a higher quality of life.

Improve Your Health This Winter

Keeping safe, avoiding injury and improving your health is not that hard. The following are some simple tips to help you and your family have their BEST WINTER EVER!

Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

I encourage everyone to use a snow blower, plow service … Avoid shoveling if you can, but if you must shovel: Read More …

Wake-up early and give yourself enough time to shovel before work – don’t rush, this is how you get hurt
Layer clothing to keep your muscles warm and flexible and avoid exposure issues
Shoveling can strain “de-conditioned” muscles between your shoulders, in your upper back, lower back, buttocks and legs. So, do some warm-up stretching before your grab that shovel.
When you do shovel, push the snow straight ahead; don’t try to throw it. Walk it to the snow bank, Avoid sudden twisting and turning motions.
Bend your knees to lift when shoveling. Do not bend forward at the waist. Let the muscles of your legs and arms do the work, not your back.
Take frequent rest breaks to take the strain off your muscles. Injuries happen when you are fatigued.
Stop if you feel chest pain, or get really tired or have shortness of breath. You may need immediate medical care.

Winter Wellness Tips for Your Family

Does the winter weather get you sick, literally? Do you suffer from colds & flu like symptoms, sinus congestion, feeling cold all the time? If so, consider the following: Read More …

Treat your nerve system, the master control system of your body, at least as well as you do your teeth. If your information super highway is under major construction, your body will not be able to use all the other positive lifestyle efforts you are making. When your nerve system is clear and functioning well (the only doctor trained to check for this is a chiropractor) your body will use all of your positive efforts to their fullest extent and will provide you with your Highest Level of Health and Greatest Quality of Life. Get regular nerve system check-ups at Stern Chiropractic.
Eat Well – Think about your food choices. Most things are okay in moderation but:- Make sure to get colorful vegetables and fruits in your diet daily.- Drink at least ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day.- Take a high quality multi vitamin, fish oil, Vitamin D3 & Probiotic each day
Move Well – Get off the couch and away from the screens. In warm or cold weather, make sure to get outside, run around and have FUN
- Sedentary lifestyles and too much screen time deteriorates your brain and your health
Think Well – Positive affirmations performed out loud daily and a process of ongoing goal setting will change the way you see things, provide you with a more positive outlook on life and move you toward the life of your dreams.
Get enough Restorative Rest each day – if you are tired in the morning and having trouble getting out of bed, you are not getting enough sleep or the quality of your sleep is challenged. Sleep is a time of rest and healing. If you are not getting enough restorative rest your body will not have the capacity to function properly, heal and thrive.

Our expertise will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

Like Stern Chiropractic on Facebook and see health and wellness articles posted on a
regular basis.

January 2012 – Clean Slate

docstern — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:00:01 +0000

Hi All,

I wish you all a HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

The New Year brings with it the perception of a clean slate, an opportunity to re-start your life with a completely fresh perspective. Actually, I try to practice forgiveness every day by allowing the events of the past to be in the past (it is joyous and freeing when I am actually able to do it) so that each new day or even each new moment brings with it a clean slate.

Our thoughts and beliefs are what mold our destiny. To achieve our greatest potential, our thoughts, actions, visions, missions and purposes must be congruent with our conscious and unconscious beliefs. When you travel through your life unconsciously with no congruency of purpose, mission, vision, thought and action it always seems as though the world is “doing it to you” and the external environment (economic, social or even the weather) controls what happens to you. But when you live life with a clear purpose, mission and vision and you focus your efforts on having thoughts and actions that are congruent with this, now you have the ABSOLUTE ABILITY TO MANIFEST YOUR OWN DESTINY in the way you want it to be.

Every day I see my children and the children in my practice smile, giggle and laugh for no other reason than their hearts are filled with joy and they have no “baggage” to muddy their life experience. My wish for all of you this new year is that: Every day brings you a fresh new star; You see the world through the eyes of a child reveling in the glory of the simplest of things; You share this joy and love with everyone you meet; and You make this a better world, 1 smile, 1 hug, 1 kind word and 1 selfless action at a time.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

- Marcel Proust

Change your life situation by changing your mind and the way you see/experience the world. If you are waiting for things to get better, you will live a lifetime spent waiting. If you see those people that challenge you most as your greatest teachers and those “bad” things that happen as the challenges sent to you to help you grow into the glorious being you truly are, all of the sudden life takes on a completely different hue.

These are not easy thing to do but DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. Take baby steps and do one thing at a time. There is no past or future, just the present, Live it and enjoy it.

In the final analysis, the great seekers of wisdom found that it is not what you know, but how you live that counts. So live as if every moment was your last and as if you would be remembered in perpetuity by the way you acted just a moment ago.

LIVE MORE, LOVE MORE, BE MORE!

I hope the glow in my heart when writing this shines upon you as you read it.

I Love You for being you now I hope you will share your love with someone else.

I have enclosed some wonderful words of wisdom that I compiled from a presentation I attended by Deepak Chopra. Message of Wisdom for the New Year from Stern Chiropractic.

I hope you enjoy these thoughts and more importantly I hope this helps you have your BEST YEAR EVER!

Our expertise will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

LIKE Stern Chiropractic on Facebook and see health and wellness articles posted on a regular basis.

December 2011 – 30 Tips to Optimal Enjoyment of Life

docstern — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:00:24 +0000

Hi All,

December is here, filled with good cheer and Stern Chiropractic is wishing you a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and New Year!

Are you on a path toward great health and well-being, more joy and happiness and a Higher Quality of Life? Did you have your BEST YEAR EVER? Would you like 2012 to be even better?

Dr. Stern Specializes in Wellness Lifestyle Coaching for family members of ALL AGES and can help your family MAXIMIZE their ENJOYMENT OF LIFE!

Click HERE to Contact us TODAY to find out more.

Helping Those In Need This Holiday Season

From December 1^st – 22^nd Stern Chiropractic will be collecting non-perishable food for the Vernon Township Food Pantry. You can drop your food donations off at our office.

Be thankful for what you have, help those in need.

Click HERE to see a list of food items needed.

30 Happiness Tips: Program Your Life for Optimum Enjoyment

For many of us, the goal of life isn’t ultimate wealth, a massive amount of stuff, or the perfect car. It’s happiness, plain and simple.

Some people may be created happier than others, with enjoyment of life programmed into their hardwiring. For others, getting to happiness isn’t always that simple.

But like any programming, yours can be changed. Rewrite your life program to include as many of the following tips as appeal to you, and the ultimate goal of happiness can be yours. If you’ve already achieved complete happiness, well done!

1. Experiment to find out what makes you happy. Different things make different people happy. If you aren’t sure what your hot spots are, experiment. Try different things out. Find out what you enjoy most. The answers just might surprise you. Try a few of the following for starters.

2. Surround yourself with others who are happy. If you are around angry, depressed or sad people, it will transfer to you. You can’t help it. But if you’re around people who are happy, that will also transfer to you. You’ll also learn their habits, and learn to react the way they do when something bad happens. Slowly weed out the negative influences on your life and replace them with positive ones.

3. Count your blessings. When something bad happens to you, try not to focus on it. Instead, take a minute to count your blessings. Everyone has good things in their lives, whether it is health or loved ones or whatever.

4. Gratitude sessions. Along those lines, it is a good practice to have a daily gratitude session. Think about what you have to be thankful for, and silently thank those who have done something good for you in some way. If you have time, take the time to call them or email them to thank them.

5. Think solutions. Instead of thinking about problems, move to the next step: how to solve it. When someone says to me, “Oh, this is so hard,” or “Oh, I can’t seem to do this,” or “Man, we don’t have any more of that,” I just ask them, “Well, what’s the solution?” If
you develop solution-oriented thinking, you’ll be much happier.

6. Connect with others. As much as possible, spend time with those you love, and with others who you enjoy. It could be a simple phone call, or a short visit. Or take a day with the person or people you’d like to spend time with. Have a conversation, do things together, be intimate.

7. Accept things. We are often unaware of it, but we usually want things or people or ourselves to change. And that’s a sure way to lead to unhappiness, because we cannot control the world. We have to accept things as they are, try to understand them, even love them. Including and most especially ourselves: accept who you are, allow yourself to be yourself, try to understand and love yourself. Then do the same with the others in your life.

8. Take time to savor life. Instead of rushing from one thing to another, resolve to have less to do each day, less appointments and fewer tasks. Then do each thing slowly, with mindfulness and ease, and try to be present in the moment. And truly enjoy whatever it is you do, from talking to eating to walking to just sitting.

9. Notice small things. Along the same lines, try to notice when you feel good, or you’re not suffering, or you are tasting something really delicious, or you feel something cold or hot, anything. Noticing the little things will help keep you focused on the present.

10. Treat yourself. Take a few minutes each day to give yourself a little treat, whether that’s something like chocolate or berries, or a bubble bath, or walking barefoot in the grass, or taking a nap. Whatever it is, treat yourself. You deserve it.

11. This shall pass. When bad things happen, and you’re having trouble accepting it, think to yourself the same thing the ancients did: “This, too, shall pass.” And it will. And you’ll survive.

12. Volunteer. When you give to others, whether that’s money or the stuff you no longer need or your time and love, you become happier. It’s true. Take 5 minutes today to call a charity and volunteer to donate some time sometime this month. It will make a big difference in your life.

13. Follow your passions. If you do what you love to do, especially for a living, you will be extremely happy. This is one of the best things you can do. If it seems impossible, don’t give up. Others have done it and you can too.

14. Look at your achievements. Instead of looking at what you haven’t done, or what you’ve failed at, think about what you have done. Many times that’s much more than we realize.

15. Laugh. Just the simple act of laughing can make you happier. Watch a funny movie, tell jokes, read a book by Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett, go to humor sites on the Internet. And laugh your head off.

16. Realize that you deserve it. You deserve happiness. That simple statement is actually profound for many people, as they don’t believe they really deserve to be happy. It’s often unconscious. If you feel that within yourself, you need to first realize that you deserve happiness. Repeat it if necessary.

17. Get into the flow. There is a state of doing known as Flow, which is when you completely lose yourself in a task and forget about the world around you. It leads to happiness, and productivity. Set yourself up for it by clearing distractions, giving yourself a challenging (but accomplishable) task, and making it something that you like doing. Then try to lose yourself in that task.

18. Have a goal. Too many goals will lead to ineffectiveness. Try to choose one goal and really focus on it. And work to accomplish it. Goals lead to happiness, if you make progress on them.

19. Get inspired. Take time to read blogs or books or magazine articles about success stories related to what you want to do. It will get you energized.

20. Celebrate. When you do something right, when you accomplish something, when you feel like it, reward yourself. Celebrate. Have fun, and pat yourself on the back.

21. Autonomy. Try to have at least one area in your life where you have autonomy. It’s best if this is at work, but if not, find another place, such as a hobby or civic activity. You need to be in control of what you do to be happy.

22. Spend time doing something you love. Make room in your life by eliminating some of the commitments you don’t really like doing, and replacing them with something you truly love.

23. Show little acts of kindness. Each day, try to be kind to others in little ways, opening doors, smiling, giving up your place in line.

24. Exercise. Just a short walk or run could lift your spirits and reduce stress. Nothing difficult. Just get outside and move.

25. Catch negative thoughts. Monitor your thoughts. When you catch negative ones, try to think of something good instead. Corny, but it helps.

26. Jealousy doesn’t help. Many people obsess about others who are successful or happy. That gets you nowhere, fast. Instead, be happy for them. Then focus on yourself, and what you do right.

27. Stop watching and reading news. Sure, this sounds like a head-in-the-sand suggestion. But really, if you give this a try, you won’t miss a thing. And instead, you can focus on reading books and listening to music that lifts you up.

28. Learn something new. It’s strange how many of us are afraid to try new things, or admit we don’t know something. But learning new skills or new information is one of the most fun things there is to do. Give it a try.

29. Check out nature. Go and watch a sunrise or sunset. Watch the water, whether that’s a river or ocean or lake. Watch the stars, or the clouds. Watch animals. Watch people. Watch children. And be inspired by it all.

30. Laugh some more. When you are in the middle of a bad situation, look around you, realize the absurdity of the situation, and just laugh. In a year, no one will care. In two years, you’ll be laughing at this anyway. So laugh now, and be happy now.

Written for Dumb Little Man by Leo Babuata

Our expertise will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

November 2011 – Vitamins – What Do I Need to Know?

docstern — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:00:23 +0000

Hi All,

November is here and as we approach the holiday season you must ask yourself, am I happy with my current level of health? If not, there is no better time than the present to make the necessary changes that could improve your QUALITY of LIFE!

One area to evaluate is nutrition. Previously, I addressed your diet (September 2011 Newsletter http://sternchiro.com/2011/09/september-2011-healthy-diet-simple/). This month I will address Vitamins and Supplementation.

Vitamins and Supplements – Do You Need Them?

A Recent study in the popular press has tried to scare people into believing that vitamins are not good for you but it turns out this conclusion was inacurate on many levels and the the main body of current research suggests:

Our body needs essential nutrients to keep healthy and to function properly.
Most people are not eating enough vegetables and fruit to get all of the essential nutrients through their diet.
Many foods we eat are nutrient deficient, both due to overprocessing of foods and farming practices.
High quality supplementation provides the missing nutrients we need.

Conclusion: Almost everyone needs to supplement their diet with high quality vitamins and supplements.

Vitamins and Supplements – What Should You Be Taking

There is a great deal to know about vitamins and supplements in regards to their quality, safety and efficacy and While everyone’s nutritional and supplement needs vary based on their diet, age, health concerns, etc. … most people should be taking what I have dubbed “The Fabulous 4”.

The Fabulous 4

1. Multivitamin - The foundation of proper supplementation

As indicated above, most people are not eating enough vegetables and fruit to get all of the essential nutrients through their diet. Many foods we eat are nutrient deficient, both due to overprocessing and farming practices. Because of this, almost all of us need a HIGH QUALITY low dose multivitain to provide the extra nutrients needed, in addition to a healthy diet, for our bodies to function properly.

Quality if Vital! The Centrums, One A Day’s and many of the other brands found in the stores are mostly passing through whole.

The multivitamin sold at Stern Chiropractic is a high quality well absorbed multiple vitamin and mineral supplement which supplies unique forms of important micro-nutrients to support good health and healing.

Also available in:

Liquid form for children and those who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Special Formulation for Peri & Menopausal Women

2. Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) are fats that your body requires but cannot produce itself. Now that much of our fish population is farm raised and/or toxic we need a clean, safe alternative source of these vital fats. For this reason, supplementation with a high quality fish oil is vitable for good Heart Health, Bone Health, Nerve System Health and to Reduce
Inflammation. Along with that, when properly doesed and monitored it can help with issues such as heart disease, arthritis, ADD, depression, stroke, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, eczema, learning and cognitive development problems, and Alzheimer’s. DHA has also been shown to be VITAL for pre-natal supplement by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

The products sold at Stern Chiropractic are purified in a non-chemical molecular distillation process that removes all trace amounts of heavy metals, PCBs, organochlorides, and organophosphate pesticides resulting in the safest, purest source of EPA/DHA fish oil possible.

Available in liquid and capsule forms

3. Vitamin D3

An abundance of recent reseach supports the fact that many people have low levels of Vit D and this can lead to a multitude of health issues. The highest quality Vitamin D3 product at proper dosing is vital for good health. Research support Vitamin D3 supplementation for bone, breast, prostate, cardiovascular, colon and immune health and we supply it in an easy to use liquid form that provides a higher rate of absorption than a capsule or tablet.

4. Probiotics

Probiotics are the natural flora of your gut that keeps your digestion good, elimination regular and supports your immune system. Whenever you take an antibiotic, eat unhealthy foods including genetically modified foods or allow you body to get sick, your gut flora is negatively impacticed. Daily replenishment of this natural gut flora with a high quality probiotic will do wonders for any digestion and elimination issues you may be having as well as boost the health of your immune system.

The proiotics sold at Stern Chiropractic include a scientific blend of the 7 most important organisms supported by research along with a prebiotic to maintain their viability and is designed to replenish and maintain the healthy gut flora.

Are All Vitamin Brands Created Equal

Absolutely NOT!

Don’t WASTE YOUR MONEY on commercial brands. Many of them are not providing what you think you are getting.

The Centrums, One A Day’s, Walgreens A-Z … are not well absorbed and may be passing through whole.
A lawsuite last year demonstrated that most store bought fish oil supplements were over allowable PCB levels and TOXIC!

Stern Chiropractic carries only the highest quality vitamins and supplements that meet stringent quality guidelines, are well absorbed and have independent lab testing of each run to substantiate the quality of the ingredients and that what is on the lable is in the bottle.

Do You Need Proper Guidance to Get the Appropriate Vitamins/Supplements for Your Family?

Would you like to keep your family healthy with the least possible investment of time, effort and money? While some health food store employees can offer good advice to point you in the right direction, most don’t know any more than you and they don’t have the level of expertise you need to make the proper choices.

Countless numbers of people have accumulated cabinets full of vitamins based on recommendations from friends, family, co-workers, athletic trainers, etc… Of these vitamins and supplements, some of poor quality, some are duplicating what you already have and some you should not be taking at all. Vitamins and supplements are designed to help you get healthier but when taking improperly and without the proper monitoring they could be dangerous (i.e. taking to much fish oil when on blood thinners could lead to bleeding problems.) There is a lot to know when determining what vitamins and supplements you should be taking.

Shopping for vitamins and supplements without good advice and quality you can trust can be a waste of time and money and potentially dangerous.

Dr. Stern offers FREE nutritional consultations so you will only take what you need and be assured that you are taking only the BEST quality vitamins and supplements!

CALL today for your FREE CONSULTATION and receive a SPECIAL OFFER on your first purchase of the FABOULOUS 4 (listed above)!

Click here to see our SPECIAL OFFER!

Our expertise and high-quality products will improve your family’s Quality of Life!

Call Stern Chiropractic to schedule your family’s health evaluation TODAY!

I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. If you know someone this may help, please share it. This small act of sharing can have profound effects for generations to come.

Like Stern Chiropractic on Facebook and see health and wellness articles posted on a regular basis.

October 2011 – Meditation – Connecting to the World Around You

docstern — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:00:04 +0000

Hi All,

It is already October and that is a little SCARY! This year has really gone by fast, but it is not over yet. There is still plenty of time to make 2011 your BEST YEAR EVER!

Fall is here and what a WONDERFUL time of year. With the beautiful falling leaves comes a little drop in the temperature and a great opportunity to take time by yourself or with your loved ones to get outside, take walks and connect with nature.

As demonstrated in the movie Avatar, our energy and our lives are directly connected to the world we live in and as we form deeper connections to the world around us we sync-up with the energetic flow of the universe creating great ABUNDANCE in our lives.

Similar to when you are playing a sport, there are times where you are “in the ZONE” and times when you just can’t do anything right.

Being “in the zone” is an example of when you have connected with the energetic forces of the universe and everything you do is relaxed, easy and right on!

The question is, how can you be “in the zone” more often?

Meditation is one of the primary methods of getting out of your head and connecting to the energetic flow of the world around you. Our brain is always trying to be involved in everything we do, but as most of us know, when you are “in the zone”, you are not thinking about anything, you are just feeling and flowing.

Defenitions of Meditation include:

Development of the mind leading to awareness, tranquility and wisdom.
To contemplate or reflect in a state of relaxed focus.
a state of relaxed concentration on the reality of the present moment.
a state that is experienced when the mind dissolves and is free of all thoughts.

The Health Benefits of Meditation

Re-balances hemispheres of brain & increases brain activity
Calms & stabilizes nervous system
Reduces stress (cortisol)
Reduces muscle tension
Reduces serum cholesterol
Normalizes Blood Pressure
Strengthens immune function
Restores normal sleep cycle
Reverses cardiovascular dz
Provides energy
Increases Happiness (Serotonin)
Clears the mind and helps bring it to a more restful state

There are many types of meditation but don’t worry about that for now. The key is that meditation is much easier then you “think” and “thinking” is the main obstacle to overcome. Once you have started meditating, you can explore and research all the different types and choose what is most appealing to you or mix and match to create your own meditation style.

Simple tips to help you start your meditation practice:

Set aside a block of time – 2 min, 10 min, 30 min, an hour…

Start small and work your way up to a time that is good for you
Don’t try to squeeze it in or you will feel rushed

Create a space

Comfortable – you can sit in a chair, on a pillow …
Quite or with relaxing music (instrumentals – no lyrics)
No distractions
Lighting should be low
Relaxing aromas are a nice touch

Mentally Prepare – no pressure, no problem and no rush
Get comfortable
Turn your attention inward
Choose something to focus on

Breathing (Prana) – focus on rise & fall of abdomen
Visualization – thoughts flowing out
Mantra/Sound/Chanting

It is normal to feel restless, agitated or bored when you first begin to meditate
Don’t Try to meditate just relax and set yourself free

Keeping Halloween Healthy

Most things in moderation are fine but are there healthy options for the holiday of candy and sweets?

Halloween is a lot of fun but not when it makes you sick. As we all know, candy is not good for you and in addition to causing tummy aches the sugar is bad for your teeth, cause inflammation and stress in your body, causes weight gain and weakens your immune system. The key is to have fun just don’t over-do-it.

Tips for Avoiding Eating Too Much Candy

Eat a healthy meal before going out trick-or-treating
Set a limit for how much candy your children can eat while they are trick-or-treating
If someone is offering a healthier option take it, this will be a rarity
Make a plan in advance with your children to keep a portion of their candy and give the rest away.

Interesting Notes about Healthy Eating and Pumpkins

Pumpkin seeds offer an abundance of omega 9 fatty acids and are a very healthy snack
Baked pumpkin is delicious and offers wonderful vitamins and antioxidants

I wish you all a Healthy, Happy and Safe Halloween!

Upcoming Events

School District 96 – D96 Dash 5K Run/Walk – Sunday 10/2/11

Stern Chiropractic is a proud sponsor of this event and Dr. Stern will be at the event providing FREE Health & Stress Screenings including hands on evaluations and an incredible EVENT DAY DEAL! Stop by our table at the event for a FREE screening and an OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE!

Halloween

Stop by our office on Halloween for a Healthy Treat and check out Dr. Stern’s AWESOME costume!