Holistic Health Tips from Brooklyn Chiropractor Dr. Donna Sergi

E ating healthy sounds like a noble idea, but for some, it can be a task that's easier said than done. When it comes to eating healthy, it is important to understand the elements of healthy eating in order to truly appreciate it and incorporate it into your lifestyle. Long-term healthy eating helps contribute to a healthy weight, which can decrease the risk of developing certain diseases, including diabetes , cancer, and cardiovascular disease, and increase your self-esteem. These ten important tips on eating right will assist you with making the best food selections, so you get the most from your foods. Before you know it, you'll be an expert, teaching your friends and co-workers how to eat right, as well! 1. Eat a Variety of Foods - There are more than 50 varieties of healthy foods, each with their beneficial nutrient content, so there's no need to stick with just one or two. Instead, incorporate a variety of healthy foods into your diet, which will help ensure you r...

As we grow, our bodies succumb to natural changes, which can cause our hormones to become imbalanced. Certain lifestyle factors can also contribute to hormone imbalances . Hormones have a powerful effect on your health, and when imbalanced, can contribute to many negative factors, including digestion issues, increased blood sugar, unexplained weight gain, fatigue , depression , and menstrual cycle difficulties. 6 Major Hormones That Affect Your Health There are six major hormones that affect your health, which include: Estrogen Commonly known as the female hormone, males have a small amount present in their bodies as well. At regular levels, estrogen helps to regulate female reproductive cycles. It also impacts how fat is stored in the body in both females and males. Testosterone Testosterone is most commonly related to men; however, women carry small traces of the hormone as well. Though it is stored in the body differently, at balanced levels, testosterone helps increase muscle...

Problems with hormone imbalances exist in many people worldwide. Such problems can lead to a whole host of other health problems, as the body's many systems are controlled by these same hormones. Hormones are simply chemicals that instruct and regulate various parts of the body. When this regulation system fails, other body systems misfire as well. What are some symptoms of hormonal imbalance? Sleep Difficulties One human function often compromised by hormonal imbalance is that of sleep . When you go to sleep, your body's various chemical systems cue your body and brain to rest and recharge. This is in a normal system at least. With hormonal imbalances, one may struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep. They may also experience profound dreams as the body's chemical system struggles with its own improper alignment. Anxiety Another difficulty often suffered by those with hormone imbalances is anxiety. Anxiety is the feeling of stress , restlessness, and worry. It i...

Recent years have brought along a decrease in deaths from heart disease, although it remains the number one killer of Americans. Research shows how we can improve our heart health and reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease. A significant factor in this is the foods that we eat. Eating a heart-healthy diet can benefit your health in the long run by reducing your chance of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases. Here are some of the best foods for your heart health. Oatmeal Oatmeal has a high soluble fiber content, which lowers cholesterol. Soluble fiber soaks up cholesterol in the digestive tract, so it is excreted from the body rather than absorbed. While instant oatmeal often contains excess sugar and should be avoided, old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats are very heart-healthy. Salmon Being a fatty fish, salmon is a very heart-healthy food. Salmon is dense in omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have shown to lower the risk of several heart ailments such as arrhy...

Under-eye bags and circles are common, especially as we age. They can make you look tired or sad even when you're not, and they definitely add years to the appearance. Bags under the eyes are an annoyance for many. They can also be difficult to get rid of or to camouflage. If you're dealing with dark circles under your eyes, keep reading to learn about their cause and how to get rid of them. "Under-Eye Bags" -  What Are They? Over time, the supportive tissues beneath and around the eyes begin to weaken. Even the muscles that support the eyelids can become weak. Fat supporting the eyelids then shifts position, coming to rest in the lower eyelid area. It is this deposit of fat that we classify as under-eye bags. Adding even more puffiness is fluid that can accumulate between the eyes. Symptoms of this bothersome issue include loose skin, swelling and the appearance of dark circles beneath the eyes. This is a natural occurrence and usually nothing to be concerned about...

GMO foods, short for "genetically modified organisms," are foods containing living organisms that have been through an artificial manipulation process in a lab to alter their genetic material with genetic engineering. This process creates combinations of animal, plant, viral, and bacterial genes that are unstable and do not traditionally happen in nature. These genetically modified organisms are created with the ability to survive, despite the use of chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides. While GMO foods do not offer farmers increased yield or drought tolerance, and do not offer the consumer increased nutrition, there is evidence supporting the fact that GMOs not only lead to health problems, but to environmental damage as well. Controversy surrounds GMOs in the food industry, as a high percent of the population believes that non-GMO foods should be labeled as such, but food companies do not necessarily want to provide that information to consumers. While many food...

Food labels are meant to provide the consumer with all of the information about the product, including nutrition, ingredients, and possible allergens. However, food labels have some wiggle room when it comes to providing the whole truth. The more you know about what is and is not included on food labels, the easier it will be to make educated decisions when it comes to what you eat. Reading a Food Label A food label usually lists ingredients and information required by law on the back of products, while putting the brand name and marketing information on the front. Typically, there are buzzwords included in the marketing information, such as gluten-free, natural, organic, or low fat. These are written to hook the growing number of consumers who are health conscious. Are Food Labels Trustworthy? Although it may seem that government officials require food labels to be completely honest, food manufacturers actually only have three primary goals: Sell the product in high quantities Pr...

A person's allergies change several times over the course of their life. This is caused by natural shifts and modifications in the body's internal chemistry. Most mainstream allergy treatments only serve to alleviate the allergy symptoms and not treat the actual allergy. It is possible to determine the source of your allergies, including environmental allergies , to change your body chemistry. This is a natural and safe way to get relief from your symptoms instead of turning to many of today's traditional pharmaceutical remedies. Experiencing allergy symptoms is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong. Just treating the symptoms alone does not fix the problem. The body's chemistry can become easily imbalanced, and your allergies can worsen, or you can develop allergies to things you were never allergic to before. There are some different ways to restore balance and help to alleviate allergy symptoms non-evasively as well as effectively. What Are Env...

Many people enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. Did you know about the organic coffee option? There are many artificially flavored coffee options that may not necessarily provide you with any nutritional benefits. The organic coffee connoisseur has some good news for you; there are many benefits to drinking organic coffee. The first item that may surprise you to know, organic coffee can fit into your budget. Your wallet will appreciate the organic coffee choice, and you will appreciate the many benefits that organic coffee provides. Reasons and Benefits Buying and drinking organic coffee will provide you with many benefits. Some of the numerous reasons to switch over to organic coffee include: No chemicals used in the washing of the coffee beans. Conventional coffee beans are washed in a pool of chemicals. Organic coffee beans will not use any chemicals to treat them. The possibility of lowering your risk of chronic diseases Major savings on your overall health Benefits to t...

Food is essential for our bodies, but certain foods can trigger what is known as a food allergy. A food allergy occurs when your immune system mistakes a food as harmful and attacks it. It can occur at any time and is generally followed by various symptoms including rash, itchy skin and hives. In more serious cases it can even be fatal. Because food allergies affect people differently, it can go unnoticed or simply mistaken as food intolerance. Food Allergy Vs. Food Intolerance Food allergies differ from food intolerance in that your body actually digests the food, then views it as harmful, as opposed to simply having the inability to digest it. Food allergy symptoms also differ from food intolerance symptoms, which include heartburn, gas, bloating, cramping, headache and irritability and nervousness. Some common food allergy symptoms include: Itchy ear canal or mouth Runny nose Sneezing Red skin around the eyes Nausea or vomiting Itchy, dry skin or rash (eczema) Diarrhea...

If you've ever wondered what the secret to a flat stomach is, sometimes it's as simple as maintaining your gut health. Occasionally, what is known as bad bacteria can accumulate in your gut and cause all kinds of negative effects such as inflammation, bloating, causing you to crave bad foods, and even triggering certain allergens. Therefore, maintaining your gut health is not just a key component in eliminating belly fat, but it's also important for preserving your overall health. What is Gut Health and What Does It Refer To? Gut health is becoming a popular term to define the overall state of your gut. The gut contains a gut barrier and gut flora, or intestinal microbiota, which are responsible for maintaining the proper balance in the gut. Within the gut are more than a trillion active microorganisms that regulate the mucosal immune system and metabolism, as well as protect the body from infections and help ensure the GI barrier stays intact. An intact GI barrier sust...

Not only does meat protein provide a whole list of benefits, but add the fact that it's organic and you really up the ante. Not only does organic meat taste better, but it contains no antibiotics, hormones, GMO's or pesticides for a meat product that is at its healthiest, most purest form. Since the beginning of time, protein has been a human staple. In fact, many contribute meat as one of the reasons humans were able to evolve into the elaborate brained species we are today. Our bodies are well equipped to digest animal protein, and just a small amount goes a long way! The Benefits of Animal Protein Quality, unprocessed meats are rich in nutrients. In fact, just 100 grams of raw beef contains a whole host of minerals and vitamins including vitamin B6, B3, B12, Selenium, Zinc and more. Vitamin B12 alone is an essential nutrient found in meat. Vitamin B12 is responsible for maintaining the proper function of various body processes including keeping red blood cells and nerves u...