Dr. Ryan J Mayeda DC RD

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Immune Support For The Flu Season

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The Flu Shot?

It seems that every time the flu season rolls around the flu shot keeps getting pushed more and more. But, why is this really? The shot is only for one specific strain of influenza which the medical community essentially guesses will be the most prevalent one, and more often than not they guess the wrong strain. Not only that, but even though the number of flu shots administered rise each year, the number of flu cases still fluctuate which indicates that the two are not related at all. The 2017-2018 flu season had the highest number of flu shots distributed than any previous year and had the highest number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths (according to data from the CDC) which again indicates the ineffectiveness of the flu shot.

Immune Support with Essential Oils

The immune system is your bodies defense system to fight foreign enemies, and the stronger it is the more it will be able to handle. Strengthening your immune system will help your body fight off disease and keep you healthy. A strong immune system will be able to handle disease in general and not just a specific strain of a certain disease. One way to help strengthen and support your immune system is to take essential oils. Below is a list of essential oils that will help fight disease and strengthen your immune system:

Cinnamon: Helps maintain immune system and can clean air when diffused

Clove: Antifungal and antiviral properties

Rosemary: Helps keep the air clean when diffused

Eucalyptus: Can fight viruses and reduce fevers

Peppermint: Can help clear sinuses and throat

Tea tree: Helps with infections and bad bacteria

Citrus oils: Helps fight bad bacteria and clean the air

DoTerra’s OnGuard essential oil is great to use for the flu season as it has Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Eucalyptus and others. OnGuard is on sale this month so pick some up on your next visit.

Screen Free Challenge!

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Screens are everywhere in our culture these days. It is difficult to find a restaurant that isn’t full of TV screens. Many homes even have them in their kitchen and bedrooms. Screens have expanded to phones, tablets, and portal computers, even watches! While technology does have many benefits, there is also a downside. Especially when it becomes an addiction, which we are seeing in much of America’s youth and young adults today. Dr. Victoria L. Dunckley M.D. describes what she calls “electronic screen syndrome” as “suffering from sensory overload, lack of restorative sleep, and a hyper-aroused nervous system” (1). These children often have difficulties focusing, are moody and impulsive. The effects of too much screen time affect the younger, growing brains of children the most.

Brain scan research has shown that internet/gaming addiction may cause shrinkage or loss of grey matter in the brain and loss of integrity of white matter in the brain (1). The most affected areas are the frontal lobe (planning, prioritizing, impulse control), striatum (suppression of unacceptable social actions), insula (empathy, compassion, emotional signaling), reduced communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain (2, 3). Dopamine is released during game time which can cause cravings and essentially brain changes similar to drug addiction (4).

As stated above, technology and screens do have their benefits! They allow for fast processing of many essential day to day activities. With anything, moderation is key. Many people need to use computers and other screened technology to work and provide for their family. Reducing the amount of recreational screen use is crucial for children and many adults. The American Academy Pediatric recommends no screen time for children under 24 months, 1 hour of screen time per day for children 2-5 years old, and 2 hours per day for school age children (5). In addition to these recommendations, here are a few ways to limit screen time without too much fuss:

  • Create screen free zones/times. For example, no screens at meal times and no screens in the bedroom.
  • Be consistent! Set clear expectations and boundaries to avoid frustration.
  • Be involved. If you choose to allow media at certain times, watch the show or movie with them so you can explain certain concepts and help children understand challenging topics.
  • Communication is always key! Communicate about safety and kindness online and offline. Explain to children why boundaries and limitations are necessary and involve them in the process.

Our challenge to you! Take one-week SCREEN FREE! Other than necessary phone calls or screen time for work or homework, no screens for one week! It may sound overbearing but it is amazing to see how children and even adults can transform the time used on the screen into family bonding, using the imagination, or learning a new skill. I encourage all families to take this challenge!

  1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-time-damages-the-brain
  2. https://www.ejradiology.com/article/S0720-048X%2809%2900589-0/abstract
  3. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0030253
  4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010440X10000374?via%3Dihub
  5. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Announces-New-Recommendations-for-Childrens-Media-Use.aspx

7 Ways to Add Nutrients to Your Food

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7 Ways to Add Nutrients in Your Food

Junk food and comfort food is appealing because it tastes good but lacks many nutrients our bodies need to function properly. Children can be especially picky when it comes to eating nutrient rich foods like green vegetables and whole proteins. Try these tips to boost nutrients in foods you already love!

  1. Add pureed butternut squash or pumpkin to pancake or waffle batter. Throw in an egg for extra protein.
  2. Add shredded zucchini or carrot to baked goods such as breads and muffins.
  3. Add chopped broccoli, kale, cauliflower, peppers, etc. to scrambled eggs.
  4. Add kale, spinach, or avocado to any fruit smoothie.
  5. Loads of vegetables can be added to pasta dishes (veggie mac & cheese anyone?), spaghetti sauce, soups, casseroles, and other sauces.
  6. Add various vegetables and beans to burger patties or meatloaf.
  7. Slice turnips, rutabaga, zucchini, carrot, or sweet potato into fries and bake for a healthy twist on French fries.

The more vegetables you can sneak into your food, the happier your body will be! Remember to refer to the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen to educate yourself on which produce should be bought organic. Have fun experimenting with sneaking nutrients into your favorite recipes!

Happy Spring, Healthy Dirt!

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Happy Spring, Healthy Dirt

It’s spring time! That means many showers, mud puddles, and gardening adventures. The benefits of enjoying dirt has become well known in recent years. Many recent studies and medical professionals have discovered the benefits of probiotics. You may have heard of them: the good bugs that live in your gut. They have so many purposes in regulating the immune system and play parts in many reactions within the body. Many of these beneficial probiotics are found in dirt! So maybe washing those farm fresh vegetables and insisting children wash and sanitize constantly isn’t so beneficial?

The increase in public sanitation has most definitely contributed to a decline in disease and illness. However, this has also reduced exposure to many beneficial bacteria that help develop immune systems especially in small children and babies. The introduction of the germ theory and introduction of antibacterial soaps, sprays, and sanitizers has exploded. Perhaps, too much of something isn’t a good thing? Anyone who has experienced a sugar or caffeine crash or hangover would agree! Some studies have even gone as far to suggest the overuse of these antibacterial products and the lack of “playing in the dirt” per se has lead to an increase in digestive issues and mood disturbances. Soil based organisms specifically contain stronger strains of probiotics. They can typically survive longer in the gut and survive the journey to the gut. Probiotic supplements and fermented foods have many major benefits and ensuring regular dirt exposure will increase those benefits. It has been discovered the microorganisms and even the worms in soil can benefit the immune system and even redirect the immune system that has gone awry in autoimmune disorders.

Babies particularly benefit from soil exposure not just because of the organisms but because of the iron present in the soil. Iron can be absorbed from the soil when babies are exposed to it. Allowing babies and young children to play in the dirt can help maintain their iron levels for a longer period as well.

How to get enough dirt!

Make an effort to come into contact with dirt and soil regularly. Allow your kids to play in the dirt ensuring it has not been sprayed with any chemicals and is safe of harmful debris.

  • Garden together with your bare hands
  • Come into contact with the ground with bare feet and allow babies to crawl around the dirt
  • Create a “dirt play area” similar to a sand box except with healthy dirt
  • If you or your children are playing in clean dirt, don’t wash hands before eating to encourage a small amount of the good bacteria to reach the digestive system

Get dirty, have fun, and stay healthy!

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html

http://www.healinglandscapes.org/blog/2011/01/its-in-the-dirt-bacteria-in-soil-makes-us-happier-smarter/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16117982

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Measurement+of+iron+absorption+from+meals+contaminated+with+iron.

 

Healthy Aging Month

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 What is your destination? Where are you going? Where do you want your destination to be?

Progress is defined as a forward or onward movement toward a destination. No matter how great or minor your goal or destination, it takes progress to get there. Even the smallest steps help us to reach our goals. Each day we have a choice to move forward and make progress. Big leaps or small steps – we have a choice!

September is Healthy Aging Month

Most people have a desire to be healthy, get healthy, and remain healthy. We want to age slowly, stay young longer, and avoid stress and ailments that could impact our lives negatively. We are all aging – it is part of life and something none of us can avoid. So, here are some tips for healthy aging!

  • Age is just a number – it does not need to define you. You don’t need to put yourself in a box and act or be a certain way based on your age. Stay positive and think positive and embrace your life.
  • Surround yourself with postive people, speak and think positively. Stress or negative thinking can significantly affect the aging process!
  • Walk vibrant, healthy, and stand up with confidence. Own the day.
  • SMILE! Research shows people who smile more are happier.
  • If you’re feeling lonely, take the steps to meet people or interact with people. Volunteer, call a friend, take a class, or invite someone to lunch.
  • Find your inner artist. Paint a picture, color a coloring book, play an instrument. It’s never too late to learn something new. 
  • Be Still! Find time to just rest and just be. Settle your mind, and just be.