Holistic Health Tips from Brooklyn Chiropractor Dr. Donna Sergi

The holiday season is upon us and along with it comes celebratory foods. Cookies suddenly appear in the break room at work and parties with ample foods become your routine. Most Americans will gain two to eight pounds during the holiday season. While that may not seem like much, studies also show that Americans don't lose the extra weight they gain over the holidays. It makes sense that your goal should be to gain as little extra weight as possible during the holidays, you could even gain no extra weight with some simple tips and habits. By following these few simple ideas, you can ring in the new year in your skinny jeans. Never Arrive At A Party Hungry Parties, whether at a home or in a restaurant, will have plenty of foods for you to choose from. Most of these party foods are quite yummy but loaded with fat and calories. A good idea is to have a healthy snack at home before you arrive. Soups are a great low-calorie option, not only will they fill you up but they can be health...

Dieting is much more than slimming down; it is the implementation of a healthier lifestyle. Changing the way you eat, however; can be a difficult thing to do so here are a few things that you should know before you begin your journey to a healthier you. 1. You Do Not Need To Skip the Drive-Through Fast food has become more than processed cheeseburgers and fries.  They now offer healthy baked chicken sandwiches, salads and even fruit, so you do not need to have a long, sit-down lunch to stick to your diet. 2. It is OK to Cheat, A Little Ok, one candy bar will not kill you, and it will not add 100 pounds to you either. It is alright to cheat and have yourself a little treat occasionally as long as it is not overdone. The trick? Set a goal for yourself and when you hit your goal, give yourself a treat. This gives you motivation and will help ease the crankiness that most people experience while dieting. 3. It is Not About Weight Dieting is rarely actually about weight. The truth is,...

It's time for school again, and you know what that means. It's also time for colds, coughs and other maladies to start. Because kids are now in an enclosed space in close proximity to one another, germs have a much easier time finding their way from one person to the next. The start of the year is usually marked by a sharp increase in illness in students. This is also because their immune systems are not as strong as adults. But, of course, you want to know - how can I prevent my child from becoming sick, or at least, spreading it to other students? Hand Washing For children, it seems, it's one of the hardest things to remember, and yet it's probably the easiest way to stay healthy. When should a child wash their hands? After using the bathroom Before eating After blowing their nose After playing outside A good rule of thumb is to soap up the hands and the wrists with warm to hot water for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song two times over. Th...

Junk food is popular in America. It's so popular that about 25% of Americans eat in a fast-food restaurant every day. Fast-food restaurants aren't the only source of junk food. At the grocery store and convenience store, people stock up on foods that contain virtually nothing beyond empty fat and calories.  Despite the omnipresence of junk food, there are many things that people don't know about it. Here are ten of those things, and most of them are probably going to be a surprise. 1. Junk Food Is Relatively New Processed foods first appeared in the marketplace after World War I. Technological innovations during the war contributed to better methods of preservation. This caused housewives to move away from time-intensive, made from scratch cooking and toward foods that were ready to eat.  Along with better preservation, methods came an increase in the consumption of sugar. However, it was the economic boom after World War II that really contributed towards the rise of...

Spring into action...with a fresh new attitude for spring. Each new season brings with it, a fresh start. And with spring being the start of warmer weather, what better way to bring it in than by changing your eating habits, so you can be fit for the summer. Here are five healthy foods to add to your diet to help get you started towards your spring goals. Arugula Arugula is a peppery, leafy green that is high in vitamin K, which is good for maintaining brain and bone health. It is also rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, which provides cancer fighting benefits. Try arugula mixed with your usual salad greens or add it to a smoothie. It can also be sauteed and added to pasta, beans or eggs. It's also a great topping for flatbread pizza. Once your pizza is cooked, simply top it with a few arugula leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and enjoy. Artichokes Artichokes are a great source of vitamin C and folate, and they are also high in fiber. They also contain potassium, magnesium ...

Did you know that there is a link between your intestines and your body's immunity? In fact, your entire digestive system plays a vital role in your general health. A healthy digestive tract directly correlates with a healthier body and mind. More Than Absorbing Nutrients When you think of your digestive system, the first thing that comes to mind is likely its role in absorbing nutrients. It's true that this is one of its primary functions and a very important one. After retrieving energy and nutrients from the foods we consume, it also gets rid of waste, of course, which is also important. But along with these digestion-related jobs, it is also home to 70% of your immune system. Your digestive tract is basically the front line when it comes to fending off diseases. Another interesting role of the digestive system is as a complex communication center that relays vital information about your body to your brain and vice versa. Another little known function of the gut is in the ...

What are the pros and cons of dieting to lose weight? The biggest myth about dieting is the belief that if the amount of calories you consume equals the amount of calories that you burn then you will not gain weight. The belief is that if you decrease the amount of calories you consume then you will lose weight. This is partially true.  Yes! You will lose weight.  But you will pay for it later. After about four weeks your weight loss will stop or lessen or you might actually begin to gain the weight that you lost. Why?  Due to the severe decrease in calories your body thinks it is starving and will begin to slow down its metabolism. In other words you will begin to burn less calories. In some cases you will feel fatigued, have difficulty thinking and stop losing weight.  Your weight becomes a yo-yo, up and down.  I always say to my patients that the first three letters of diet is DIE.   When you diet or severely decrease your calories you are disru...

Talk of the health benefits of fermented foods has been making headlines in recent months, as though the concept is something new in the world of food. However, did you know that numerous cultures were consuming fermented foods long before probiotics became the magnificent stars they are today? The concept of food fermentation actually began centuries ago as a way to preserve foods. As people began to experience the assortment of unique flavors that accompanied food fermentation, however, the process became popular as a way to add variety to one's diet. In recent years, fermentation enthusiasts have begun to bring new life to the ancient world of food fermentation with their recent discoveries of the health benefits that accompany fermented foods. Probiotics Studies have shown that eating fermented foods actually introduces probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, into your digestive system. This increases digestibility, improves bowel health and reduces inflammation in your gut. An...

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....