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Do You Even Breathe?!

Conscious BreathingOne of the simplest ways to improve health right this moment is absolutely free! Breathe deeply to increase oxygen intake, relieve stress, cleanse the body of toxins, improve digestion, alkalize your blood and much more.
What’s wrong with how I breathe now?
Without the practice of conscious breathing, you may be unaware that you are, in a way, suffocating yourself throughout your unconscious breathing habits. With shallow, frequent and anxious breathing, there is not enough oxygen provided for the optimal performance of all of your cellular activity. Breathing too shallow and rapidly can cause an imbalanced pH condition by stimulating the nervous system to release too many stress hormones. This can also cause the body to become oxygen deprived and leave excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the blood, leading to an overly acidic state.
What is the correct way to breathe?
There are many different ways to practice breathing techniques. From professional singers and horn instrument musicians to Yoga, Tia Chi, Qigong and other Eastern martial arts, many teachers acknowledge that proper breathing is paramount to personal performance. I encourage you to study them and practice daily for your optimal health and wellness. You may be surprised to find out how poor your breathing patterns have become and actually feel a type of post exercise soreness within your core at your diaphragm after the first few exercises.
“Hypo-gastric” breathing means breathing below your stomach and bowels. This is a misnomer because the lowest parts of your lungs end before your stomach begins. But this does help us visualize and perform optimal breathing. By focusing on pulling the air deep in your core below your belly button, this will ensure the maximum use of all of the lung tissue while distending your digestive organs out of the way to allow more room. This also allows you access to your energy core. According to Eastern thought, breathing is the primary way we bring energy into the body. We extract energy from the breath and store it in the lower abdomen, and the more we can extract and store, the better our physical condition. 
Practice conscious breathing right now:
I invite you to practice deep; full breaths that fill the lower part of your lungs. Don’t be afraid of letting your belly hang out at first, but with practice, you should be able to pull a full breath without exaggerating this motion. Count to four slowly as you inhale, pause for four, and exhale for a count of four. When you exhale, imagine pushing the energy from your lungs into the lower abdomen about four fingers below the navel and about 2 inches deep into your core. If you’re in good condition, you may feel something right away. If not, with practice you soon will. You may feel a tingling sensation in your abdomen or lower back, or heat, or a pleasantly springy feeling in the abdomen, as though pushing on a shock absorber. You may also feel the spine relaxing and small movements with cavitation and popping or clicking taking place in the bones and muscles, similar to when you receive a Chiropractic Adjustment. Your physical body is releasing tension and stabilizing itself into optimal health. The position of body structures relative to each other are falling into alignment. This is a gradual process, like training a new skill, but each time you’ll be able to benefit more with less effort and less focus – it will become natural.
Practice often! Practice conscious breathing just a few minutes of this each morning, night, during a workout, while driving or at stoplights, or while practicing EFT tapping technique. As you become a pro, you will be able to passively and subconsciously pull more successful breaths throughout your typical daily routine which will have a profound impact on your overall health. 
Breathe easy,
Kelly Baltuska, DC

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Emotional Freedom Tapping Technique (EFT Tapping)

My name is Dr. Kelly Baltuska, DC and I want to share with you a very powerful self healing tool that can help improve any and every aspect of your life depending on how you choose to use it. It is very quick and easy to learn and use. It is so versatile, in that you can utilize it to address anything from removing negative emotions, reducing food cravings and other addictions, reducing or eliminating pain, implementing positive goals, and even improving performance. This is the Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT tapping. This is the most popular form of Energy Psychology used today. EFT has been extensively studied and has shown profound results in symptom relief across the whole spectrum of the human condition. Daily practice has even demonstrated a decrease in Cortisol levels in the body. This is a stress hormone that can reek havoc on all of our body systems. For this reason, daily use can provide preventative healthcare benefits. EFT operates on the premise that emotional issues in many forms get in the way of the bodies natural healing potential and the ability to function optimally. EFT can be an ongoing process that we use to clear our mind of past traumas, and welcome any new challenges with a healthy, productive attitude. By implementing this tool, your limiting beliefs can vanish, personal performance can soar, relationships can thrive, and vibrant physical, mental and emotional health can all be yours.

The cause of ALL negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.

This includes fears, phobias, anger, grief, anxiety, depression, traumatic memories, worry, guilt and all limiting emotions in business, sports, and the performing arts. We will all at some point or another experience these emotions. EFT is the perfect tool to acknowledge them and move on. I will demonstrate how you can get started right now by showing you two basic strategies. The first will be the mechanics of tapping and the second will be tuning into the problem and setting a strong affirmation. There are many areas on your body that correlate to the Ancient Meridian points. We will, gently and repeatedly, tap with two fingers about 7 times in each area while focusing your thoughts inward, directed at the emotional aspects of your goal. I welcome anyone and everyone to use this tool for their optimal health and wellbeing. With practice, you will become more skillful at EFT and achieve better results.
It is very important to really focus on whats bugging you both physically and emotionally. As best you can, try to stir this up and bring them to the surface. Be it pain, stress, anxiety, obsession or cravings anything, you name it. Whatever it is, experience it fully and describe it vividly out loud. Next, use the phrase: “Even though I have this ___________, I completely love, honor and respect myself.” Fill in the blank with whatever it is you’d like to work on. For the purpose of this video, I will use stress and anxiety as the focus point. But just because this is how you are learning EFT, don’t forget that the possibilities are endless as far as what you would like to self treat. I invite you to follow along with the video above and repeat as I do in my actions and words to begin learning and practicing right now. After you learn the basic principles, you can personalize this to your specific condition for better results.

You will likely feel instant results with EFT. If not, just go around again and be creative and modify your affirmations to suit your specific condition. Keep practicing multiple times each day. Try EFT as soon as you wake up, before every meal, every time you go the restroom, when stopped at red lights, and when you go to bed. This is such a neat tool to use for your optimal health and wellness. Share this with your friends and family and let me know how you have used EFT to improve your life.

Schedule your next Chiropractic Adjustment online now using this link!


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Dr. Baltuska’s Sleep Hacks for Optimal Rest

DrBsleepSleep is every bit as important for optimal health as healthy food, pure water, exercise, prayer and meditation, and Chiropractic adjustments. The human body’s sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, plays a central role in multiple processes including mood and energy levels, disease progression, weight gain and much more.

In Sleep Deprivation, Life is ROUGH!

Reaction Time Slows: When you’re sleep-deprived, you’re not going to react as quickly as you normally would, making every activity of the day a potentially dangerous one.

Cognition Suffers:
Your ability to think clearly is dampened and you will have trouble retaining memories, processing information, and making decisions.

Emotions Are Heightened:
Your emotions will be kicked into high gear. This means that arguments with co-workers or your spouse are more likely and you’re probably going to blow things way out of proportion. Count on experiencing strong anxiety and flowing tears.

Immune System Shutdown:
Chronic sleep deprivation will weaken your immune system to that of a 80-year-old on antibiotics. You will be sick often. And if not actually sick, you will feel sick.

Better Sleep Quality and Quantity for Optimal Health

1. Sleep in complete darkness, or as close to it as possible. Even a sliver light in your bedroom can disrupt your body’s clock and your pineal gland’s melatonin production. The glow from your clock radio, phone, moonlight, or streetlights could be interfering with your sleep, so do whatever it takes to find pitch black slumber. Move all electrical devices at least three feet away from your bed. You may want to cover your windows with drapes or blackout shades. I recommend a sleep mask to cover your eyes each night. The bonus of sleep masks are twofold. First, the sleep mask will reduce the amount of light reaching your eyes and pineal gland. Second, the Oculocardiac reflex is a physiological process that causes heart rate to drop when pressure is applied to the eyeballs. The sleep mask will trigger this response and calm your body allowing you to fall asleep and stay asleep.

2. Avoid viewing your phone, TV or computer screens in the evening, at least an hour or so before going to bed. These devices emit blue light, which tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime. Normally, your brain starts secreting melatonin between 9 and 10 pm, and these devices emit light that may stifle that process. Even the American Medical Association now states: “…nighttime electric light can disrupt circadian rhythms in humans and documents the rapidly advancing understanding from basic science of how disruption of circadian rhythmicity affects aspects of physiology with direct links to human health, such as cell cycle regulation, DNA damage response, and metabolism.” Find out how to toggle your Iphone settings to protect your eyes from blue light when you use your phone just before bed here: Red Light Tint to Protect from Blue Light Exposure

3. Make sure you get BRIGHT sun exposure regularly. Your pineal gland produces melatonin with the strong contrast of bright sun exposure in the day and complete darkness at night. If you are in darkness all day long, it can’t appreciate the difference and will not optimize your melatonin production. Also, sun exposure is required to achieve optimal vitamin D levels for numerous health benefits.

4. Install a low-wattage yellow, orange, or red light bulb if you need a source of light for navigation at night. Light in these bandwidths does not shut down melatonin production in the way that white and blue bandwidth light does. You can also download a free application called F.lux that automatically dims your monitor or screens.

5. Keep the temperature in your bedroom between 60 and 70 degrees F. Many people keep their bedrooms too warm unintentionally just because heat rises to the upstairs rooms. Optimal room temperature for sleep is between 60 to 68 degrees F.

6. Take a hot bath before bedtime. This increases your core body temperature, and when you get out of the bath it abruptly drops, signaling your body that you are ready to sleep.

7. Avoid using loud alarm clocks. Being jolted awake each morning can be very stressful. Every time the loud alarm shocks you into reality, your body’s stress hormones flood the bloodstream. Imagine what you are doing to yourself with repeated use of the “snooze” button every morning! If you are regularly getting enough sleep, you might not even need an alarm.

8. Be mindful of electromagnetic fields in your bedroom. EMFs can disrupt your pineal gland and its melatonin production, and may have other negative biological effects as well. A gauss meter is required if you want to measure EMF levels in various areas of your home. Ideally, you should turn off any wireless router while you are sleeping. You don’t need the Internet on when you are asleep.

Nighty-night,

Kelly Baltuska, DC

Doctor Baltuska’s Favorite Sweet 16 Superfoods

“Every time you eat or drink, you choose health or disease”

Superfood- A nutrient-rich food that is considered to be especially beneficial to your health and well-being. Research studies help these foods earn their “super” title by demonstrating their positive effects on health.

1. Avocado

Voted healthiest food by nutritionists around the world, avocados are actually classified as a fruit. They are rich in monounsaturated fat that is easily burned for energy. They also provide close to 20 essential health-boosting nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, many B-vitamins, and folic acid. Research has found avocados to help optimize cholesterol levels within as little as one week! They contain compounds that inhibit and destroy cancer cells and protect against liver damage. The greatest concentration of beneficial carotenoids is in the dark green fruit of the avocado, closest to the peel, so use the “nick and peel” method to maximize the benefits from your avocado.

2. Coconut oil

The healthiest oil you could ever consume. Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. The political and economical propaganda in the past might cause you to be hesitant, but don’t be scared to eat spoonfuls of this superfood everyday. It is so versatile, it has countless other uses, from topical beauty applications, to oral health and first aid treatments, to general household cleaning and sanitizing.

3. Coffee

Coffee lowers your blood glucose level and increases the metabolic activity and quantity of healthy bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. Fresh coffee from organic, whole beans that are pesticide-free can help keep your brain and muscle tissue young. Adding milk, creamer and sugar as the popular commercialized convenient stores do completely ruins all of the wonderful health benefits and value you receive from coffee. Consume coffee in moderation prior to exercising in order to maximize health benefits. Dark roast coffee beans are richer in beneficial compounds and lower in caffeine than lighter roasts.

4. Kale

The quality and quantity of vitamins in kale are matched by no other vegetable. It’s potent antioxidant activity aids in DNA cell repair while slowing the growth of cancer cells. Kale is “the beef” of the vegetable world with plenty of iron, protein, and calcium. It’s anti-inflammatory capabilities are unrivaled among other leafy greens. It also has Omega-3 AND Omega-6 fatty acids. What a superfood!

5. Walnuts

Walnuts are good sources of plant-based omega-3 fats, natural phytosterols and antioxidants that are so remarkably powerful at free-radical scavenging that the FDA has gone as far as calling walnuts “drugs”. Plus, walnuts help reduce the risk of prostate cancer and breast cancer. They’ve also been shown to reverse brain aging and boost heart health in people with diabetes.

6. Almonds

The skin of almonds are rich in antioxidants including phenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids, which are typically associated with vegetables and fruits. Nut eaters gain several health benefits compared to non-nut eaters, including lower weight and systolic blood pressure, decreased waist circumference, and a lower risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Choose nuts that are organic and raw and avoid those that are coated in salt or sugar to boost your overall health.

7. Sweet Potatoes

The only food with more Vitamin A than a sweet potato is a cow’s liver. A surprising fact from mother nature reveals that even though they are high in sugar content, sweet potatoes actually help regulate blood sugar levels in a mysterious way. Don’t be afraid to cook them because unlike other vegetables, the heat releases more vitamins and minerals which are then more accessible to our body. Both Anti-inflammatory AND anti-obesity, this is the perfect “medicine” for the Standard American Diet.

8. Dark Chocolate

Chocolate contains anandamide, which means “bliss,” and is a neurotransmitter in the brain that temporarily blocks feelings of pain and anxiety. The caffeine and theobromine in chocolate have been shown to produce higher levels of physical energy and mental alertness while, counter-intuitively, lowering blood pressure in women. To reduce your cortisol stress hormone levels, eat one-and-a-half ounces of dark chocolate a day for 2 weeks.

9. Pomegranates

A symbol of prosperity, pomegranates contain all 3 different types of antioxidant polyphenols whereas other fruits only contain one or two. Effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, and suggested by nutritionists around the world to aid in weight loss and cholesterol level control, pomegranates are seemingly to-good-to-be-true.

10. Kefir

If you have not heard already, this is one of my absolute favorites. I am so jazzed about this superfood that I have been hosting “How to prepare Kefir” demonstrations around town. Beneficial bacteria in fermented foods help boost your overall nutrition, support digestion, and increase B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, digestive enzymes, and improve your immune system. Probiotics are in the spotlight of cutting edge research. Healing practitioners of all walks of life are utilizing them to treat every symptom across the spectrum of the human condition. You cannot sustain optimal health with a diet lacking in probiotics. This is nature’s probiotic.

11. Blueberries

Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center have ranked blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Blueberries are associated with numerous health benefits including protection against heart disease, urinary-tract infections, cancer, age-related health conditions, and brain damage from strokes. Be sure to enjoy blueberries in their raw, natural state without heating or freezing them, as to obtain all of the health benefits.

12. Chia seeds

An ancient superfood used by Aztecs and Mayans, chia seeds were the basic survival ration of warriors. Just one tablespoon was believed to sustain an individual for 24 hours. The Aztecs also used chia medicinally to stimulate saliva flow and to relieve joint pain and sore skin. Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids and the seeds antioxidant capabilities don’t deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. Contrary to popular belief, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Chia seeds also provide fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc.

13. Eggs

Mother Nature’s perfect protein. Eggs contain high quality proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. (Even anti-oxidant properties if eaten raw.) Unfortunately, not all eggs are created equal. To get the most out of your eggs, choose the organic, free range option. Many people believe that they are allergic to eggs. Most often these people are actually allergic to what happens to the egg protein when heated and have no trouble when consuming them raw. Again, it is only safe to consume raw eggs when in the organic, free range form.

14. Broccoli

Our intestinal lining contains receptor sites for cruciferous vegetable phytonutrients contained in broccoli. When these receptors are activated, a biochemical cascade of events ensues that turbocharges our immune system. Eat raw broccoli to keep these receptor sites full for your optimal health and wellness. This superfood contains amazing compounds that heal the body and prevent cell damage. Try your best not to heat this veggie, because cooking broccoli literally burns away the health benefits.

15. Wild caught salmon

Eating oily fish once or twice a week may increase your lifespan by more than two years, and reduce your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 35 percent. Fish have always provided the best source for the animal-based omega-3 fats EPA and DHA. Be sure to pay the extra money for wild caught Alaskan salmon to gain the health benefits. Farm raised fish are fed foods that a fish would never EVER come into contact with naturally and seriously alter the nutritional content of the flesh.

16. Bananas

All this wellness, prepackaged by Mother Nature, and ready to eat on the go in the perfect portion size. They contain potassium, vitamins A, B, C, fiber, flavonoids, and antioxidants. Historically used to calm all different kinds of unwanted symptoms including: upset stomach, morning sickness, stress, heartburn, constipation, PMS, and poor brain function. Just like apples, one-a-day will help keep the doctor away.

Health/Liability Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Contact your health care professional for medical advice.

Why Has Nothing Changed in Healthcare?

Why has nothing changed? Because we need to change.
This principle applies both on a small scale, as far as day to day treatments with patients, encouraging them to take their preventative health into their own hands with daily lifestyle choices. And also a larger scale of our current Healthcare crisis in America.

Not-so-fun facts from the United States Center for Disease Control

Doctors wrote more than 250 million prescriptions for antidepressants during 2010.

Approximately 750,000 people a year are rushed to emergency rooms in the United States because of adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drugs.

The 11 largest drug companies combined raked in approximately $85,000,000,000 (trillion) in profits in 2012.

The current debate in America about healthcare is invalid. Instead of discussing who is going to pay and how much, what we should be looking at is what true healthcare should be. Instead, we are severely misplacing our time, energy and money by discussing where the money is going to come from and who is going to be covered, and public and private sectors; WHO CARES?! The bottom line is that chronic disease currently costs over the $8 million per minute. We will never be able to afford that! Why should be try to fund a healthcare system that is so severely flawed? The current protocol is to begin treating people once they have already become sick, and to intervene with a drug or surgery that doesn’t get them well. The only way out of this mess, is to decrease the number of people who ARE sick. As I mentioned on our last show together, 80% of our healthcare challenges are due to lifestyle choices- decisions and habits that we make every day.

A paradigm shift in how we view our health needs to occur. To be truly healthy is not simply the absence of disease. Right now, if you are not in any pain or discomfort, and you do not have any symptomatic complaints and you couldn’t possibly think of any reason to go see your doctor. I’m sorry to break it to you, but this does not necessarily mean you are healthy. The rule is: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. You are either getting better or getting worse. There is no staying the same. I’m sorry. You may feel very comfortable in your health right now- like you are coasting along, drifting steadily, or idle somewhere between sickness and health. You are either getting healthier or getting sicker. So there it is. There is the challenge you face everyday. With your daily habits of food and drink choices, exercises and activities, rest and sleep, prayer and meditation, and chiropractic adjustments, you are choosing sickness or you are choosing health. There is no limbo here.

But this is not all doom and gloom. The change is happening right now. I get very excited when I see this paradigm shift in what it is to practice preventative healthcare. I have seen it happen in patients and friends and family. When the person begins to understand that a majority of the food products that people are consuming are not providing proper nutrients to the body. They learn how to navigate this world each day by avoiding processed foods and instead adopt a whole food diet. It becomes so easy for them to avoid junk foods because they develop a keen body awareness and quickly feel how the choices they make affect their mood, symptoms, energy and happiness. They start to reflect on their activity levels and develop healthy exercise habits. They simply choose water to truly quench thirst and avoid soft drinks as if they are poisonous, because they are poisonous. When painful or uncomfortable symptoms do arise in their lives, they seek and try conservative treatment options before moving on to more invasive medications and surgeries. This is such a beautiful thing to witness in others and feel for yourself. This mindset and practice is the heart of what true healthcare is and needs to be. Not only will this practice greatly improve the health and quality of life of many, but at the very same time, drastically reduce healthcare costs and take the strain off of that $8 million/minute cost of chronic disease.

Why has nothing changed? Because we need to change.
Kelly Baltuska, DC

Food In Pill Form: Why Fish Oil?

Fish Oil

Fish Oil

Without any required conscious effort, every cell in the human body is constantly performing an elegant balancing act to manage inflammation. The food that we eat can encourage this balance in favor of either ant-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory states.
The Standard American Diet or the SAD diet is far too high in Omega-6 fatty acids. These are found in poultry, eggs, nuts, cereals, whole grains, and vegetable oils. O6 FA’s encourage a pro-inflammatory process in our cells. This is required for life but detrimental when not at a healthy balance with Omega-3 fatty acids. O3 FA’s are anti-inflammatory and are often insufficient in the SAD diet. These are found mainly in fish and seeds. The key is to have a healthy balance of both O6 and O3 FA’s. The ideal ratio is 1:1. Unfortunately, the typical American is inflamed, with something more like a 6:1 ratio. This causes any biochemical disruption, big or small, to become blown out of proportion or to become more of a problem than it should be. Let’s balance this equation nutritionally, so that we can become better suited to handle life’s biochemical disruptions.
The easiest and most affordable way to do this is by supplementing with fish oil, which is full of 03 FA’s. A daily supplement can have a profound impact on balancing this equation while providing numerous benefits including: improved cardiovascular system and healthy blood pressure, clearer skin, decreased stress, anxiety and depression, anti-cancer effects as well as calming symptoms of many chronic pathologies such as: Parkinson’s, Lupus, and Psoriasis etc. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are a must if pregnant as the benefits to a growing fetus are endless. It is also safe and extremely beneficial for kids. There are three powerful scientific studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that correlate increased Omega-3 Fatty Acid intake with reduced risk of death from ALL CAUSES!

How Much Fish Oil?

For the average adult, depending upon body weight, it is safe to consume up to 8 grams of fish oil each day. The FDA recommends limiting intake to less than 10 grams a day. The most commonly noted side effect is a burp that tastes fishy (not such a terrible problem when considering just one of the side effects on many medications is death). This can be easily overcome by freezing your fish oil pearls before consuming.
Patients are commonly shocked when they hear me ask them to take so many fish oil pills every day. This might be because they are used to taking small quantities of powerful prescription drugs. But with fish oil capsules, there is no highly concentrated chemical that was created in a laboratory as is the case with medication. It is just fish oil; a food. There is no reason to worry about such an increased intake. If you think of it this way, like a food, then maybe it will be easier for you to consider consuming a larger amount.

Is That Safe?

The only major concern that I have about consuming too much fish oil daily would be for people with specific conditions or current medication regiments that involve thinning of blood. It has been reported that high intake is associated with thinning blood. For this reason, those who are hemophiliacs or have other blood conditions, at high risk of stroke, taking blood thinning medications, or planning to have a major surgery etc. should err on the side of caution by sticking with a lower intake. The FDA says it is safe to take up to 3000 mg of omega-3 per day. (This is not the same as 3000 mg of fish oil. A 1000 mg pill typically has only 300 mg of omega-3; 10 such pills would equal 3000 mg of omega-3.) Healthy Greenland Eskimos have been known to safely consume an average intake of 5700 mg of omega-3 EPA per day!

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Benefits of Running and Tips to Avoid Injury

Kelly Baltuska, DC KC 1/2 Marathon, October 2013

Dr. Baltuska Running the KC 1/2 Marathon, October 2013

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
-Hebrews 12:1

 

 

 

 

The Benefits of Running
Did you know habitual runners can benefit from an average of an extra 6 years of life? Some other great benefits of running include:

  • Improved mental health- with that runners high and euphoric feeling you get after a good run.
  • Running lowers the effect of Asthma by strengthening lungs and bronchi. Unfortunately a lot of people avoid running because of their asthma and this should be the exact opposite.
  • It expands the arteries and helps people in maintaining their blood pressure.
  • Boosts up your immune system and helps to combat illness and other diseases. Our lymphatic systems rely on muscle movement and plyometric activities to circulate body fluids.
  • Individuals can burn around 700 to 800 calories by running for one hour.
  • Improves your physical strength by strengthening tendons and ligaments.
  • Increases bone density.
  • Helps people in maintaining their blood sugar level. How wonderful is this? Sugar is now in the spotlight for being a major culprit for our top killers. The latest discoveries about heart disease is that it is not the fats in our diet but instead the poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Cancer thrives with abundant sugar intake and wastes away when sugar is removed.

Running Tips to Avoid Injury

  • Shorter stride length
  • Increased cadence
  • Forefoot strike
  • Quiet, smooth & graceful
  • Arms close to core
  • Loose and relaxed fists and jaw
  • Head up and eyes toward the horizon
  • Maintain rhythm and effort uphill
  • Speed up and lengthen stride downhill

Chiropractic Perspective on Running Posture
I’d like to share a chiropractic perspective on running posture and tips to avoid running injuries. It is good practice to keep a short stride length when running. This is the distance each foot is traveling forward with each step. By keeping the steps short and close together, we can really lessen the impact of the gravitational forces that send shock-waves up our bodies and stress our musculoskeletal systems. With closer steps you will notice an increased cadence. This is in increased rate of steps per minute- so you are going to feel quick-footed. Another tip is to avoid heel strikes. The structure of the arches of our feet are amazing shock absorbers, and we completely nullify this function when clod-hopping around the block with our heels hitting the ground first. Instead, we need to shift our center of gravity forward and focus on a forefoot strike with each step. You will feel very ninja-like when doing this right. As if you are trying to sneak around without making much sound. Sound is a great way to know if you are running with good form. Running should be quiet and smooth and graceful. Arms should be bent at 90 degrees and close to your core without crossing the mid-line of your body during each motion. Loose and relaxed fists, and jaw is also important. Eyes and head should be straightforward and toward the horizon as opposed to down at the ground in front of you. When running uphill, maintain your rhythm and the same level of effort but shorten your stride and slow down as you climb. You should never try to maintain or increase your speed when hill climbing. When running downhill, let gravity work for you and speed up just a bit, but stay in control. Your stride will naturally lengthen. Try to avoid fighting gravity by forcefully leaning your weight back and resisting with strong quadriceps muscle contraction. Find your natural rhythm and then get lost in the graceful rocking motion of a long run. When you find this feeling, you are going to be hooked. You are going to be a runner for life and realize that you were in fact born to run.

Run for health,

Kelly Baltuska, DC

March Madness Fitness Challenge

MMFCbasketballJoin us as we keep our preventative healthcare a top priority throughout the spring season. During the basketball tournament, Chad Austin and Dr. Kelly Baltuska will be working hard to keep you motivated and accountable to improving all aspects of your health.

The following paragraph is from Chad Austin:

“I love this time of year!   I start looking forward to March Madness the moment the Super Bowl is over.  I love filling out a few brackets, cheering for my favorite teams, and watching all of the surprise small school Cinderella teams try to shock the world!  If you’re like me then most of the last two weeks of March are spent watching basketball.  If I’m working, I will still be checking the scores obsessively and might even be sneaking out early to watch some games at the sports bar with quality HD sports coverage!  During the awesome 3-week span from selection Sunday to the national championship game, it can be pretty easy to forget all about our fitness plan!  Isn’t it a little ironic that while we are watching these players burn well over a thousand calories per game, that we are probably consuming about that many while we sit and watch them? By the time the tournament is over we have fallen way out of our workout routine, and probably gained weight in the process!  This year I wanted to find a way to help people keep their fitness goals a priority during the tournament”

The March Madness Fitness Challenge is a two-part challenge. The first part is the bracket challenge! Let’s face it. We can’t do a March madness event without including a bracket challenge! That would be crazy! I have created a bracket pool on Yahoos Tourney Pick’em. Here is the link: Fill out bracket now! Just go to the link and create your team in the Be Fit…For Life pool! There is no money involved in the bracket challenge this year, so there is no cost to join the pool. We do plan to make this an annual event though, so we made up the stakes a bit next year!

The second part of this challenge is the most important one! The challenge is to keep fitness a top priority during all of this basketball madness! From selection Sunday (March 16th) to the national championship game (April 7th), we are going to bombard you with lots of great workouts, health and fitness tips, motivational speeches, seminars, and live group workouts! Every day we will do our part to keep you on track! We had a lot of fun putting this together, and I am sure we will add more to it as we work our way through the grand finale of basketball season! There is absolutely no cost to take part in this fun fitness challenge! Here is a link to the Event on Facebook: March Madness Fitness Challenge Event on Facebook

If you’d like to sign up for our March Madness Fitness Challenge, you can do so by sending an email to: [email protected]m or [email protected]

Game on for good health!

Kelly Baltuska, DC

How to Prepare Kefir with Dr. Kelly Baltuska, DC

KefirInviteIt is time for another Kefir class! Everyone is welcome to this FREE event on Saturday, March 22nd at 10:00am. This event will be held at Boyer Chiropractic 9770 Quivira Rd Lenexa KS, 66215.

I am very pleased to have received such great feedback from past guests about the many ways that this superfood is helping multiple body systems. The health of my family and friends has improved so much since we have began consuming this natural, affordable and delicious probiotic that I cannot help but to share it with everyone.

I will provide a “how to” packet of information to take with you and even share some Kefir grains with those eager enough to get started right away. Here is a link to the information packet if you are interested but will not be able to attend the event: Kefir Packet

Please RSVP by either joining the event on facebook, emailing me at [email protected], or call the office: 913-492-9290. Please invite your friends and family to this FREE event! I look forward to seeing you there and sharing this wonderful, functional super food with you!

You can read more about the power of a healthy gut in my newsletter at this link: Food Is Medicine

This event is part of the “March Madness Fitness Challenge”. During the basketball tournament, Chad Austin and I will be working hard to keep you motivated and accountable to improving all aspects of your health. More information at this link: March Madness Fitness Challenge

I hope to see you all there,
Kelly Baltuska, DC
www.baltuska.com
Office: 913-492-9290

Return Guest on “Be Fit… For Life” Radio on the Health & Wellness Channel

I had a wonderful time as a return guest on the Health & Wellness Channel of VoiceAmerica’s Internet Radio this morning. With such a huge success last year, Chad Austin has made “Be Fit… For Life” a permanent addition to this program. Here is a link to this morning’s show: LISTEN NOW!
Show topics this morning included:
  • New Years resolutions, Why has nothing changed? If you don’t Make any changes, you can’t expect to see any changes. It is time to learn how to start making solutions instead of wishes!
  • On America’s current healthcare crisis, Why has nothing changed? A proposed paradigm shift in what it means to be truly healthy.
  • Chad and I started a “Be Fit… For Life” Running Club. I shared the benefits of being a runner and gave tips on good form and posture to prevent running injuries. It is free for all to join the group and we hope to see you all soon. Here is a link to the Facebook page with more information and group workouts and race dates: BFFL Running Club Here is a link to a fun video that highlights our first group 5K and weekly Saturday morning conditioning: BFFL Highlights
  • I discussed and shared this 3 minute video demonstration of how to quickly and easily unlock your body from this seated posture. Watch me at this link: Low Back Pain from Sitting too Long Video
  • We revealed our upcoming “March Madness Fitness Challenge” that will follow along with your college basketball brackets. You don’t want to miss this program! Chad and I will showcase some of the best of what we have to offer our patients and clients as healthcare and fitness professionals. My contributions will include a summary and demonstration of the most popular energy psychology technique practiced in America today, which is the Emotional Freedom Tapping Technique or EFT. With my introduction and resources, you will be able to quickly and easily begin using EFT yourself for great health benefits for free. You simply repeatedly tap specific areas of your body (which are acupuncture meridians) with your fingertips as you focus inward with your thoughts and feelings to identify and address the emotional aspects of your health. This shapes your thoughts and utilizes the amazing power of your mind for profound results. I will also host another “How-To Kefir Demonstration” where I teach you how to easily and afford-ably add this delicious super-food with probiotic benefits into your diet. This will be the third Kefir Demo I’ve done. We have had great turnouts in the past and every week there is someone telling me about how their health has improved since consuming Kefir daily. Also, they are telling me about how they shared their Kefir Grains with friends and family and how THEIR health has also improved. A tentative date for the next Kefir demo is April 1st. More information coming soon.
Choose health,
Kelly Baltuska, DC
913-492-9290