Holistic Health Tips from Brooklyn Chiropractor Dr. Donna Sergi

The heart is a muscle and is the only muscle that works 24 hours a day. It beats approximately 72 beats per minute, which equates to 100,000 beats per day and 38 million beats per year. Thus, it requires a tremendous amount of fuel in order to work. With all that work the heart must heal and repair quickly. We spend the most of any country in the world on healthcare, yet 50% of all American will die of heart disease. With all the medications, treatments, physicians and education, how is this possible? It is due to the perpetual myths and dogma surrounding heart attacks, high cholesterol, stroke, high blood pressure and heart arrhythmia. What is Heart Disease? Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, describes a range of conditions that affect the heart. This includes coronary artery disease which involves narrowing or constricting of blood vessels that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and chest pain (angina). Other forms of heart disease are heart arrhythmia and defects....

Obesity is a major problem in our nation. Over half of the popular is currently over-weight. This means you aren't alone if you're trying to slim down and lead a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, a great deal of the information out there about weight loss is inaccurate and can even be dangerous.  There are so many diet plans and weight loss drugs that it can be both confusing and overwhelming for anyone. How do you know what is right for you? Many people will try a bunch of different approaches only to find that none of them work and that they simply don't get the results they were hoping for. Why You Might Be Struggling To Lose Weight If you've honestly tried to lose weight in the past, but just can't seem to then there are several factors that could be in play. Hormone Imbalance - If your weight gain is around your hips, waist and abdomen then this is usually an indicator of a hormone imbalance. Your hormones actually play a major role in fat st...

Did you know? We all know that the immune system can help to protect us from viruses, germs and a multitude of chronic illnesses, but did you know that your diet and lifestyle can play a significant role in its ability to do so? There are a host of factors that play a significant role in the performance of your immune system. Get Plenty of Sleep You might have noticed that you seem more susceptible to catching colds or developing other infections when you haven't been getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can not only lead to increased levels of the stress hormone, which is known to suppress the immune system, but it can cause inflammation throughout your body as well. Research suggests that seven to nine hours of sleep each night is an optimal amount for the average adult. Exercise Regularly Not only does regular exercise improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure and help you to maintain a healthy body weight, but it helps to protect you against a variety ...

Did you know? You have likely heard all of the claims about how juicing is an excellent choice for cleansing or detoxing, but did you know that consuming seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day can have a significant effect on your lifespan? For those of you who don't feel like munching on broccoli all day every day just to reach your quota, juicing can be a welcome alternative. In the juicing world, it seems that many people tend to focus on potential benefits like body cleansing and losing a few unwanted pounds, but in addition to providing possible weight loss and detoxification advantages, juicing offers a multitude of other health benefits as well. Lowered Risk of Heart Disease, Cancer and Stroke: Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the three leading causes of death. Studies have shown that diets high in raw fruits and vegetables help to lower the risk of developing all three. Give Your Immune System a Boost: Slurping down the juice from a variety of fr...

Did you know? Are you aware that your total suggested daily intake of calories can be consumed in just one snack? So it is important to choose your snack options wisely. Healthy snacks can provide you with the energy you need to get through the day, help keep you fuller longer and aid in weight loss . Healthy Snacks Helps Sustain Energy Levels After you consume a snack high in sugar, your blood sugar levels rise then drop, which can lead to an energy crash and make you feel tired between meals. Healthy snacks, such as a small apple with peanut butter, promote sustained blood and energy levels. The high fiber, high protein combination digests slower in your bloodstream, so your sugar levels don't fluctuate as much. Helps Eliminate Binge Eating Your blood sugar dips within 3 to 5 hours after you eat. Dietitians recommend consuming small, healthy meals every 3 to 5 hours to help stabilize your blood sugar and keep your metabolism revved up, so you don't go into starvat...

When summer turns into fall, it's a great time to take advantage of some delicious and healthy seasonal foods. The first fall food that comes to mind is probably pumpkins. Pumpkins are versatile and have become an autumn staple in both culinary dishes and in home decor, but there are many other vegetables and fruits that are harvested and ready to eat as the weather gets cooler. Don't forget your seasonal seafood either. The following foods are some of the healthiest options this season: Sweet Potatoes There are many root vegetables that are harvested in the fall, and the most healthy of them all are sweet potatoes. They are fat- and sodium-free and full of vitamin A, fiber and micronutrients. They are actually very distantly related to potatoes and are instead in the nightshade family, but they can be prepared in essentially all the same ways as familiar Idaho or Russet potatoes. Parsnips Parsnips are another fall root vegetable, and they are related to carrots. ...

Allergies come in all shapes and sizes. They can manifest as slight nasal congestion to not being able to breathe at all with anaphylaxis. Allergies are caused by the body's immune system being hypersensitive to what is normally an innocuous substance such as pet dander, tree pollen or a type of food like seafood. Food and insect bite allergies often cause a different response in the body than allergies such as hay fever. All of the responses are caused by white blood cells reacting to an allergen. Most allergies appear to have a genetic component. Allergies commonly run in families and relatives are likely to share the same allergies. Exposure to common antigens when young seem to also play a role in the development of allergies. Another pattern that has recently emerged regarding allergies is that they are more prevalent in industrialized parts of the world. Different Types of Allergies Many different foods can cause allergic reactions in people. Most all food allergies ...