LifeWorks Integrative Health to Host Food Drive!

We are very excited to announce are latest promotion. LifeWorks Integrative Health is very excited to announce our November Food Drive!

With your help, the LifeWorks Integrative Health community wants to make the holiday season a little brighter for Kansas City-area families in need this year. Simply bring in a non-perishable food donation to the LifeWorks Integrative Health food drive and we’ll get you scheduled for a free consultation.

 

LifeWorks Integrative Health is excited to share the gift of health and wellness with you as you help to make sure that no one goes hungry in our area. All donations will be given to Harvesters, whose mission is feed hungry people today and end hunger tomorrow. With your help, Harvesters is able to feed 141,500 families, seniors and children each month.

Your donation can go along ways in the fight against hunger. To show our appreciation for your acts of kindness, LifeWorks will be offering free consultations to all those who donate. Do something great for your community and yourself this holiday season; stop in and visit us at:

22742 Midland Drive

Shawnee, KS 66226

Our food drive will run the entire month of November. Let’s work together and make this food drive a success! We know we can make a difference in our community.

LifeWorks Integrative Health to Host Food Drive!

Halloween Safety Tips in Kansas City, KS

From costumes to parties to treats, Halloween can be a fun-filled time for the youngest to the oldest members of your family. However, Halloween-time can pose dangers. To help make this year’s Halloween activities safe and fun, follow our simple Halloween safety tips in Kansas City, KS for a fun and enjoyable night of trick or treating.

Halloween Safety Tips in Kansas City, KS: Dressing the Part:

• Choose a light-colored costume for you, your children or anyone that will be out trick or treating with you. Light-colored costumes are easily seen at night. To make your costumes even more noticeable, add reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark tape to the front and back of all members of your trick or treating group’s costumes. You can also add this tape to your trick or treating bags.


• Purchase costumes that are flame-retardant. All costumes that are flame-retardant will be labeled as such. This means that the materials won’t burn. If you will be making costumes on your own, use nylon or polyester; both of these materials are flame-retardant.


• Avoid purchasing wigs and beards that cover your children’s eyes, mouths and noses.


• Children should avoid wearing masks. Masks are often not made to fit children’s faces appropriately; this can make it difficult for them to see and breathe. Instead, opt for non-toxic face paint and make-up. Before using any face paint or make-up, be sure to test the paint on your child’s arm or hand to make sure it is not going to irritate their skin.


• Say no to colored or decorative contact lenses; unless they are prescribed by your child’s optometrist.


• Be sure to attach a name tag — that includes your phone number — to your child’s costume. This is important in the event you become separated.


• Avoid oversized costumes and high-heels. This can make it difficult for your child to walk. Avoid tripping by making sure your child’s costumes fit well.


• If possible, avoid props. If you child must carry a wand or sword, make sure the prop is short and flexible.

Halloween Safety Tips in Kansas City, KS: Pumpkin Carving

• Avoid letting children use knives. Have children draw their designs on a pumpkin with a marker. Have a parent, older sibling or another adult do the carving.


• Make sure your children keep a safe distance from you while you are carving. This will help ensure they do not distract you or accidentally get in the way of a sharp object.


• You do not need to use a knife to remove the insides of a pumpkin. If your child asks to remove the pumpkin guts, allow them to get a little messy with their hands. You can finish up with a knife after they have their fun.


• Clean up the mess immediately. Pieces of pumpkin that end up on the floor can quickly cause a floor to become slippery. To help contain the mess, lay newspapers out before you start.


• Avoid candles. Candles can lead to fires. Instead, opt for a glow stick or a battery operated candle to illuminate your pumpkin.

Halloween Safety Tips in Kansas City, KS: Trick or Treating Without Trouble

• Always accompany children under the age of 12 as they trick or treat. Make sure they know how to call 911 if they get lost and make sure they know their home phone number.


• For older kids, who will be trick or treating with friends, make sure you know where they will be and who they are with. Encourage older children to stay in groups, walk on sidewalks with lit streets and to carry a cell phone if possible.


• Always bring a flashlight. For added visibility, kids may also enjoy wearing glow stick necklaces and bracelets.


• Limit trick or treating to neighborhoods you are familiar with.


• When your children arrive home, inspect all candy to ensure that it is sealed. Throw out homemade treats (if you do not know who made them), spoiled items and items in torn packages.


• Do not allow young children to consume gum or hard candy — this could lead to choking.

Halloween Safety Tips in Kansas City, KS: Avoid Eating Too Many Goodies

• To avoid your children consuming all of their goodies as they receive them, feed your kids a healthy and filling meals before it’s time to trick or treat.


• Remember, you do not have to give out candy on Halloween. Consider raisins, dried fruits, stickers, coloring books and more.


• Know how much candy your children have and store it somewhere that you can regulate how much of it they are eating. Consider being lenient on Halloween and rationing treats later on. You can also consider giving some treats away.

Halloween Safety Tips in Kansas City, KS

Fun Alternatives to Halloween Candy

It’s getting close to Halloween night. If you have children (or will simply just be passing out a treat to the neighborhood kids), school parties and trick or treating are likely in your very near future. If you are trying to encourage a healthier lifestyle for your family and are tired of sugar-loaded treats, you may want to consider handing out non-candy goodies. Non-candy goodies can still be a lot of fun. With non-candy goodies, you also do not have to worry about allergens in the classroom. Here are a list of fun alternatives to Halloween candy. These fun alternatives to Halloween candy are likely to have the neighborhood kids eager to return to your house year after year.

Affordable, Fun Alternatives to Halloween Candy:

• Stickers


• Fake tattoos


• Bubbles


• Pencils


• Glow sticks


• Pencils


• Fake or plastic bugs for the boys


• Character Bandaids


• Mini crayon packs


• Erasers


• Bouncy balls


• Spider rings


• Vampire fangs

Slightly More Expensive Alternatives to Halloween Candy:

• Play-Doh


• Hair accessories for girls


• Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars for boys


• Mini slinkies


• Mini nail polish


• Mini rubber stamps


• Costume jewelry for girls


• Mini water guns


• Coloring books

Food and Beverage Alternatives to Halloween Candy:

• Bottled water


• Organic juice boxes


• Dried fruit


• Raisins

Fun Alternatives to Halloween Candy

Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disease

Chances are you have heard of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type-1 diabetes, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. These are all common autoimmune diseases. However, there are many more autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases can affect the joints, muscles, skin, nervous system, endocrine gland and even the heart. In fact, autoimmune diseases are continuing to become more and more prevalent; with nearly 24 million Americans suffering from autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune diseases are more common in women than heart disease and breast cancer combined. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues opposed to attacking foreign invaders in the body — such as bacteria or a virus. There are number of causes of autoimmune diseases; including environmental toxins. Fortunately, functional medicine and autoimmune disease can go hand-in-hand. Continue reading to learn how functional medicine can be beneficial to those suffering from autoimmune diseases.

Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disease: Environmental Toxins:

Since the 1900 hundreds, humans have been introduced to over 80,000 different chemicals. While this may not be a huge surprise, did you know that only 550 of these chemicals have been tests for safety? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA) indicates that nearly 2.5 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released each year from industrial facilities. In addition to this large number of toxic chemicals, 6 million pounds of mercury are leaked into our air each and every year. In test of umbilical blood of newborns, researchers found 287 industrial chemicals — including flame-retardants, Teflon, pesticides, dioxins and mercury. Fetuses have been exposed to environmental toxins before they even enter this world. In addition to toxins released by industrial plants, there are toxins found in our foods and throughout our homes. Think of the products you use daily to clean your house. All of the products add to the toxic load in our bodies.

At this point, you may be thinking — how can so many toxins be in our bodies and why are we allowed to purchase these products with toxins in them? In the United States, products are placed on the shelves before being tested for safety. Products have to be proven harmful before they are removed from the shelves. In Europe, products have to be proven safe before they are even placed on the shelves.

With so many toxins in our environment, there is no doubt that autoimmune diseases are on the rise. With exposure to all of these environmental toxins, we are without a doubt increasing our risk of developing an autoimmune disease.

While it is very clear that environmental toxins are a major cause of autoimmune disease, conventional medicine rarely takes into account the environment when treating autoimmune conditions. Conventional medicine attempts to shut down the patient’s immune system response through use of powerful medications. These medications can include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aleve. They may also include steroids, such as prednisone or anti-cancer medications — including methotrexate. Your doctor may also prescribe more recent medications like Enbrel or Remicade. These medicines block the effects of a powerful inflammatory molecule known as TNF alpha. These drugs are likely to provide you with partial relief. Additionally, they often have side effects and have a negative effect on the immune system. The effects of these drugs can be so powerful that they increase your risk of cancer and other life-threatening infections. These drugs may bring short term relief. However, they do not address the root cause of your illness.

Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disease: Treating the Causes of Your Disease

By using a functional medicine and autoimmune disease approach, many patients are able to successfully turn their health around. This is because we are able to address the underlying causes of their autoimmune disease — such as allergens, toxins, infections, poor diet and/or stress. Patients, with conditions including chronic fatigue, arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis, have been able to find relief from their symptoms because functional medicine aims to find the root cause of an illness or disease.

By designing a healthy lifestyle program, patients are able to get their lives back on track and a lead much healthier lifestyle. A healthier lifestyle allows their bodies to be in an optimal state of health. With clean food, essential nutrients, exercise, clean water and oxygen, stress management and emotional support, functional medicine makes an optimal state of health possible for patients.

Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disease: Recommendations

If you are suffering from an autoimmune disease, consider:

• Testing for mercury and other heavy metals in the body.


• Testing for celiac disease.


• Identify your sources of inflammation and treat them.


• Test and eliminate inflammatory (or allergenic) foods from your diet.


• Practice stress management techniques.


• Improve your immune system by opting for a plant-based diet.


• Use supplements including vitamin D, Omega-3 fats and probiotics.


• Improve your body’s own detoxification system.

Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disease

Are Diabetes and Insulin Resistance Reversible?

Chances are you have been told at one point of another that diabetes is not reversible. You may have even consulted multiple physicians only to find out that the only thing you can do about your diabetes is control your blood sugar levels with medications or insulin. Chances are your doctor has told you that drugs and insulin are what will protect you from organ damage and ultimately a premature death. However, medications and insulin can actually increase your risk of a heart attack as well as increase your risk of a premature death.

The epidemic of diabetes has been accelerated by the obesity epidemic. However, what you are not being told is how you can treat it without the need for medications and insulin. There is another way to help reverse this epidemic. Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult onset diabetes, is a huge concern. With over 100 million people in the world and over 20 million Americans suffering from diabetes, the end of the diabetes epidemic appears to be nowhere in site. What is even more alarming is the increase of type 2 diabetes in children. Previously, type 2 diabetes was never considered a childhood illness. One in three children born today will face diabetes during their lifetime.

The scary thing is that diabetes is an entirely preventable lifestyle disease. A report in The New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrates that 91 percent of all type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented through improvements in lifestyle and diet.

The Makings of a Diabetic Starts Early

For most people, diabetes often goes without diagnosis until its later stages. Insulin resistance, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin, is the primary reason many individuals will develop diabetes.

If your diet is full of empty calories, an abundance of quickly absorbed sugars and carbohydrates (such as bread, rice and pasta), the body will slowly become more and more resistant to the effects of insulin. As a result, your body will need more and more to do the same job of maintaining your blood sugar levels. If you are experiencing high insulin levels, this is the first sign that you may be heading down the road to diabetes. High insulin leads to an increased appetite. This will lead to an increase in weight gain in the abdominal region. High insulin levels serve as a warning sign, they precede type 2 diabetes by decades.

Insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome associated with insulin resistance are often accompanied by an increase in abdominal fat, fatigue after eating, sugar cravings, high blood pressure, low HDL, high triglycerides, problems with blood clotting as well as increased inflammation throughout the body.

These are clues and symptoms that are often picked up decades before an individual is actually diagnosed with diabetes. In fact, picking up on these clues may help you to prevent diabetes entirely.

If you have a family history of diabetes, obesity, heart disease and even dementia, you are much more likely to experience problems with insulin resistance.

Early Diagnosis is Key in Leading a Life Without Diabetes

Pre-diabetes as well as diabetes ARE reversible. Science shows that reversal of diabetes is very possible through an aggressive approach. This aggressive approach includes changes in diet, nutritional support and occasionally medications.

It is important to diagnose type 2 diabetes as early as possible. However, the reality of type 2 diabetes, is that it is often diagnosed very late. In fact, all doctors should aggressively diagnose pre-diabetes decades before a patient actually becomes a diabetic. By doing so, damage to the body can be prevented. Damage begins with even the smallest changes in insulin and blood sugar levels.

It is unfortunate that there is a continuum of risk from slightly abnormal insulin and blood sugar levels to being diagnosed an actual diabetic. This needs to be addressed as early as possible in order to prevent an individual from becoming a full blown diabetic.

One study found that anyone with a fasting blood sugar level of 87 is at increased risk of diabetes. The lowest risk group is any individual with a fasting blood sugar level of less than 81. However, most doctors are not concerned with blood sugar until it is over 110. Keep in mind that over 126 is concerned diabetic.

As a result, early testing is a must! Early testing is especially important for anyone with a family history of type 2 diabetes, central abdominal weight gain or abnormal cholesterol levels.

Do not wait until your sugar level is high; it will be too late!

Get Tested Before It’s Too Late

Below is a list of tests recommended for insulin resistance as well as diabetes. These are tests that any doctor can perform.

• Insulin Glucose Challenge Test


• Hemoglobin A1C Test


• Lipids Profile


• NMR Lipid Profile


• High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Test


• Homocysteine Test


• Fibrinogen Test


• Ferritin Levels


• Uric Acid Test


• Liver Function Tests

Are Diabetes and Insulin Resistance Reversible?

Spinal Curves in Shawnee, KS: Are They Harming Your Health?

Since 1895, chiropractic care has been helping individuals around the world who suffer from a variety of health concerns. Did you know chiropractic care was founded after the hearing was restored in a patient following a spinal adjustment to the upper portion of the spine? Since then, chiropractic care continues to evolve. Additionally, more and more research has been conducted to help determine why spinal adjustments work so well. Posture, bone alignments and spinal curves in Shawnee, KS have long been evaluated in patients with a number of musculoskeletal complaints.

Many health conditions have been studied as well as their physiological responses to spinal adjustments — including hormone levels, circulation changes, blood pressure changes and a large number of other health parameters. However, one major question remains: how important are spinal curves in Shawnee, KS in the overall health picture of an individual? Can alterations in the “normal” curve lead to a troublesome future or be the cause of a current condition?

With medicine, both traditional and alternative, constantly evolving, there is constantly new research being conducted and researchers are finding new and cutting-edge means of treating a variety of health conditions.

A recent study in the chiropractic field reported results after conducting a systematic critical literature review. This literature review gathered 54 published studies between 1942 and 2008. The content of these published studies was reviewed for quality and content. The studies used during this literature review followed more than 20,000 patients combined and reported the association between the sagittal curve and a number of different health conditions. When it comes to spinal curves in Shawnee, KS, the sagittal curve is the curve you can see when looking at an individual from the side.

Included in this review of research on spinal curves was a number of different types of studies and methods that were used to evaluate the sagittal curves of the lumbar spine (or lower back), thoracic spine (or mid back) and the cervical spine (or neck). Thirty eight studies examined the lower back. Thirty four studies examined the middle back. Six studies conducted research on the neck.

These studies used the following methods to obtain data:

• 25 studies used plain x-rays


• 1 study used MRI


• 3 studies conducted by visual analysis or by the eye.


• 21 studies used a variety of instruments to collect data.

Findings:

A strong association was reported in five of the studies when it comes to an increased angle in the thoracic spine (referred to as kyphosis or “humpback”) with lung disorders that can lead to difficulty breathing. Poor physical function and pelvic organ prolapse were also associated with spinal curves of the middle back.

One of the spinal curves in Shawnee, KS called kyphosis

Researchers found that when the curve of the lower back was reduced (lordosis), subjects in these studies experienced lower back pain.

One of a few different spinal curves in Shawnee, KS known as lordosis

Similarly, osteoporotic compression fractures of the thoracic spine were moderately associated with kyphosis.

Kyphosis is also moderately associated with uterine prolapse, heavy household activities and even death in three of the studies that researchers looked at.

It is also important to note that many of these studies found no association with spinal curves and health conditions.

It is clear that more research needs to be conducted in order to determine if there is a connection between various spinal curves and a number of different health conditions.

If you are experiencing neck or back pain or suspect spinal curves in Shawnee, KS, a chiropractor may be able to help you. Give LifeWorks Integrative Health at call at 913-730-5838 today.

Spinal Curves in Shawnee, KS: Are They Harming Your Health?

How Big of an Epidemic is Diabesity?

What life-threatening, energy-robbing, life-shortening condition affects one in two Americans, including 80 percent of overweight individuals and up to 40 percent of individuals who are at an average weight? What condition is responsible for more deaths than cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and dementia? What condition accounts for over 70 percent of our $2.4 trillion annual heathcare bill and will make up a majority of the $47 trillion spent globally over the next two decades as we deal with chronic disease? What condition is responsible for nearly twice as many deaths each years as infectious diseases cause? Do you know what condition is not even diagnosed in more than 90 percent of individuals suffering from it? This condition is known as diabesity. Have you heard of diabesity?

What is Diabesity?

Diabesity is the largest health concern facing us as individuals, as families, as a nation and as a global community. Diabesity of the continuation of metabolic disturbances from minimal blood sugar as well as insulin imbalances to pre-diabetic to those with actual type 2 diabetes. This condition occurs at an alarming rate. If you think you are safe because you are at a “skinny” or “average” weight, guess again. This condition affects nearly 40 percent of individuals who appear to be at a healthy size. Fact: individuals may look thin but can be metabolically fat. When this occurs you have all the same risk factors for chronic disease and even death that those who are overweight do. Diabesity occurs in 80 percent of individuals who are overweight.

Diabesity acts as a slippery slope of health problems; one health problem leading to another. High blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels and cholesterol problems can all pile on top of one another. This can easily lead to a decline in one’s health.

Can Diabesity be Reversed?

While diabesity may seem like nothing but bad news, there is good news when it comes to this condition. The good news is that diabesity can be reversed. For anyone who is willing to implement good lifestyle choices as well as a healthy, well-balanced diet, diabesity can be reversed! Health concerns including diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are all the result of problems in our diets and lifestyle as well as environmental toxins.

By eliminating these concerns that are causing an individual’s body to be out of balance, individuals may be able to reverse the effects of diabesity and lead the way to a much healthier and happier lifestyle. Interventions with your doctor as well as basic lifestyle changes can help a patient to lose weight, make the necessary lifestyle changes and get their body back into balance.

What Do You Need to Do to Avoid Becoming a Diabesity Statistic? Fortunately diabesity does not have to be a sentence to an early death or a lifetime full of doctor visits and just not feeling good.

Testing. Testing if the first step that should be taken in order to make a recovery for the diabesity epidemic. Often times, diabesity may go unnoticed because many doctors are focused on testing fasting blood sugar levels. Your fasting blood sugar level is an ineffective test for diabesity. Ask your doctor for an insulin response test. This test is believed to be much more effective when it comes to diagnosing diabesity.

Diet. Choosing a healthy, well-balanced diet can much more challenging than it actually sounds. There is so much nutritional information out there. Much of the nutritional information out there contradicts itself. Fortunately, there are a few basic nutritional guidelines that everyone should follow whether you are looking to avoid diabesity of reverse diabesity. You should be eliminating sugars as well as processed carbohydrates from your diet. Those looking to reverse diabesity should consume whole foods including lean protein, vegetables, seeds and nuts.

Exercise. Exercise is going to play a huge role in your recovery from diabesity. Walking as well as other low-impact exercises (think swimming, cycling or using an elliptical machine) can help to balance your blood sugar levels as well as boost your metabolism. Start by exercising for 30 minutes each day. You should eventually be able to work yourself up to 60 minutes workout sessions, four to six days per week.

Reduce Your Stress Levels. Stress-reduction is very important in reversing diabesity. Stress plays a major component in diabesity as well as a number of other conditions. However, stress is often overlooked. Sure, small amount of stress are normal. However, being stressed out for an extended prior of time can increase insulin resistance as well as blood sugar imbalances. Yoga, meditation and visualization play a very important role in reversing diabesity.

Detoxification. Environmental toxins can have a huge impact on diabesity. For this reason, it is very important for patients to work to removal environmental toxins from their lives. Green cleaning products, filtered water and using glass containers instead of plastic containers can help to move you in the right direction.

Before beginning a new diet, lifestyle and exercise plan, you should always consult your doctor. By following these steps, patients of all ages and physical conditions should be able to take action against insulin resistance. You can get your life back and you can reverse diabesity.

How Big of an Epidemic is Diabesity?