Abbruzzese Wellness

It seems like a new buzz word in health these days is “Detox.” Whether it is Detox Diet, Detox Cleanse, Detox for weight loss or Detox ”whatever” there is information you need to know to have a safe and effective detoxification process. So with almost 30 years of experience putting together Detox programs for my Practice Members I thought that I would share my thoughts.

You may be thinking what do I need to “Detox” from? Each and every one of us is exposed to all sorts of environmental pollutants daily. Whether it is in the air we breathe, the water we drink or the food we eat there are harmful chemical getting in to our bodies. Even the most health minded individuals can’t escape having a toxic load stored in their cells.

There is plenty of evidence documenting the pollutants all around us. There is chemical off gassing from many household items such as rugs, furniture, vinyl windows, paint, etc. There is the leaching of toxins from the plastic containers that we drink out of and buy our food in. Not to mention the chemicals that are actually put into processed foods such as artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, stabilizer, etc. If you are not eating organic produce then there are the pesticides that vegetables and fruit absorb. Your body absorbs heavy metals that off gas from silver dental fillings in your teeth. There are even the chemicals in the clothing we wear.

Fatigue, weight gain, a weakened immune system, digestive issues and chronic joint stiffness/pain are just a few indications of an increasing toxic load. Everyone has some degree of toxic load which has a direct effect on your health and quality of life. The question then becomes what can be done about it?

If you Google “Detox” you will discover many different ways to go about it. Some of the information you will find is great, some good, some not so good and some will do more harm than good. This poses the question, which “Detox” is safe for me? Some programs look sensible but may not be right or effective for you. Some may sound a little crazy but may be where “you” need to start.

The fact is that a “Detox Plan” works best when it becomes a part of your lifestyle. The issue is whether or not you consciously make lifestyle choices with your health being the #1 priority. In order to live a healthy lifestyle 5 components are necessary; proper nutrition, proper activity/exercise, proper rest, positive mental attitude and proper nerve supply. All five contribute to your body’s ability to detoxify.

When do you incorporate a Detox Plan into your lifestyle? At a minimum you will benefit greatly by planning a Detox twice a year, schedule in the spring and fall. This is best done for at least 10 to 30 days depending on your need and tolerance. You may prefer an every other month or monthly schedule for 3 to 7 days or even a one day a week plan. They all work depending on what you want to accomplish and your level of health.

What kind of Detox plans are there and which one is right for me? There many different types; herbal programs, herbals teas, Homeopathic kits, whole food diets, medically formulated powers, liver cleanse, bowel cleanse and the list goes on and on. Which one is right for you at this time in your life is a little trickier. In order to do this on your own you need to do your research. Look over a multitude of programs and choose the one that looks sounds and feels right to you..

If you are doing this for the first time or have done a Detox and didn’t get the results you were aiming for than a health professional with experience in Detox plans would be highly advisable. If I can be of any assistance in your “Detox” for health journey I can be reach at DrBob@WellnessIsTheWay.net or call 914-762-8800

If you could address a health problem or just be healthier in a natural non-invasive way (without drugs or surgery) would you be interested? In my experience, people generally prefer a more natural way of healing. So, why do the majority of people still turn first to these invasive methods?

Because, they haven’t discovered an ancient well kept secret: that human beings are self-healing and self-regulating organisms.

If you cut your finger is it the band-aid that heals you or is it your innate intelligence?  When you run up a flight of stairs do you need to remind your heart to beat fast or does the inborn wisdom of the body take care of that? The answer may seem simple know.

Health comes from you not to you! The only one who heals you is you and the only one who heals me is me.  The reason for this is our innate intelligence, whose mission is to maintain the material of the body in active organization. The function of innate intelligence is to adapt universal forces and matter for use in the body, so that all parts of the body will have coordinated action for mutual benefit.

There is another well kept secret; it is that we experience our lives through our nervous systems. It is the communication system between our internal and the external world giving us the ability of awareness.

So you ask… why is awareness so important to health and wellness? If you are disconnected from any part of the body, function is impaired and health is compromised. You must find it to fix it. You must feel it to heal it. With awareness we become present in each moment and we are able to make choices from higher states of consciousness. We are designed to have infinite awareness. We just need to gather the resources and develop the strategies to make this happen consistently. I believe that this is best accomplished through Reorganizational Healing (ROH).

Dr. Donald Epstein developer of ROH states that “Reorganizational Healing is an emerging wellness, growth and behavioral change paradigm. Reorganizational Healing takes an approach to help create a map for individuals to self-assess and draw on strengths to create sustainable change. Reorganizational Healing gives individuals concrete tools to explore and use the meanings of their symptoms, problems, and life-stressors as catalysts to taking new and sustained action to create a more fulfilling and resilient life.”

As a practitioner I am a facilitator in your healing. Using the ROH applications of Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) and Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI) I will guide your journey to health and wellness. To find out about ROH and more please me at (914) 726-8800.

The holiday season can bring an abundance of joy, laughter and celebration. This is also the time of year when stress and anxiety can climb to all time highs. So what can we do to enjoy the holidays and stay healthy?

First we start with learning that stress comes in three flavors: mental/emotional, environmental, and physical. Mental emotional stress arises from trying to do too much in too short a time span and insufficient communication in any relationship (family, friends and work place). Environmental stress comes from the food we eat, the liquids we drink and the air we breathe. Physical stress is created form doing more than we are in shape for, coupled with a disregard for and/or lack of physical awareness.

HINT! Everyone has all three stressors all the time and each one can positively or negatively affect the other but that’s for another post. The question is how well do you manage the level of each?

Since you can’t fix what you can’t find, in order to manage your levels you first must have awareness. And we’re in luck; the built-in early warning awareness systems already exist in each of us. “The systems” are our emotions, physical signs and symptoms.

Emotions point to our current state of mind based on our circumstances and/ or relationships with others. Symptoms and physical signs are the body’s way of saying “STOP, Listen, Do something different, NOW!” Our Innate Intelligence (the inborn wisdom of our being) uses symptoms to stop us and emotions to help move us in a different direction.

Each one of us experiences life through our nerve system (brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves). It enables us to perceive our experiences in our own unique way which influences our behaviors which in turn creates the structures of our lives. When we listen to the messages of our Innate Intelligence we are become aware of the right thing to do for our own wellbeing.

Here is how to enjoy the holidays and stay healthy.

• Listen to your body.
• Get plenty of sleep (you are better off getting up early than staying up late, your body does most of its healing between 10 PM and 2AM)
• Drink plenty of water. Your body is more than 70% water replenish it daily. No juice or soda these are liquid sugar. Fruit juice does not equal eating fruit unless you squeezed it yourself.
• Holiday treats and cocktails in extreme moderation – not every day and a maximum or 2 of each in a day when you do indulge (sugar and alcohol suppress the immune system)
• Eat balanced meals (include lots of veggies) while sitting at a table not on the run. No fast food.
• Give yourself permission to say no thank. Avoid over committing yourself.
• Take a good Vitamin D3 supplement. At this time of year in the northeast the sun no longer produces enough. Experts recommend 5000 to 8000 IU per day for adults and 35 IU per pound of body weight for children.
• Keep up your regular exercise routine if you have one. If you don’t have one plan to start one so you will be healthier next holiday season.
• Listen to your body, Listen to your body, Listen to your body.

If you need more information on this or any health and wellness topic please contact my office.

Happy Holidays!!!