Vitality Clinic Blog

Life is a balancing act- from work, to play, to how much milk we put on our cereal.  This is not some new revelation but it’s worth revisiting.  I love the old adage that “it’s not strong enough until it’s too strong.” 

Every second of every day, your body is tirelessly performing a balancing act.  I suggest we help it out as much as we can.  Just like tires or the clutch in your car wear out, things can wear out in your body.  The difference is that your body is the only vehicle you will have for life so it needs to be serviced on a daily basis.

I can go into a biochemical spiel about prostaglandin pathways and homocysteine levels, and I would be more than happy to if you’re interested, but for simplicity, I thought a visual aid might go a lot further.

(Anti-Inflammatory)                                                                            (Pro-Inflammatory)

EFA’s                                                                                                           Red Meats/Fats

Fish Oils                                                                                            Dairy products and Eggs

Vitamin E                                                                                                                 Peanuts

Bioflavinoids                                                                                            Processed foods/Oils

Vitamin/Mineral Co-Factors                                                                                          Alcohol

Fresh Fruits/Vegetables                                                                                                Coffee

Seeds and Sprouts                                                                                                  Black Tea

The body’s clean up crew

Lungs, lymph, and kidneys

Liver (antihistamines, C-P450, deconjugation)

Circulating digestive enzymes (proteases)

Anti-oxidant nutrients (Vit A,C,E, Zinc, Selenium, etc)

Here's a link to my anti-inflammatory diet:  http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/anti-inflammatory-diet

In good health, 

Dr. Crysta Serné

Chiropractor and owner of Vitality Clinic

I have been pondering this thought now for a number of years.  Actually, 11 to be exact… ever since the government chose to discontinue paramedical services (chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, etc) as part of the Medical Services Plan (MSP).  Yes, some patients are eligible to receive MSP premium assistance and I am pleased to offer that option when possible.  However, the majority of patients that walk through our doors pay private fees and are then reimbursed through their extended health plans.  I often akin our profession to retail services- we are selling ourselves, our profession, and our belief system, and we have to market ourselves accordingly.  We have to ensure that we provide exemplary service or the patient will take their money and go elsewhere.

Yay!!

I am not sad or disappointed by this revelation.  In fact, I am delighted by it as it means that we have to work even harder to make sure we provide the best care we possibly can to our patients.  And just like retail, you might like the feel of a sweater better in one store than in another - they both offer the same type of sweater, but one is just a little more to your liking.

So what sets me apart from any other Chiropractor?  You will NEVER here me say I am better than any other individual is.  Not only is that egotistical and unkind, but it’s also completely unethical.  Instead, let me offer you some insight into what I do.  Then you can make the decision for yourself.

I LOVE what I do.  It’s what gets me up in the morning, well aside from my meowing cat…  I have an unyielding passion for my craft that energizes me- it pushes me to want to expand my knowledge base, explore new ideas, and constantly do better.  I love that I am able to bear witness to the evolution of so many life events- graduations, marriages, and births to name a few.  Sure, I adjust almost any body part imaginable, and I rehabilitate almost any injury one can think.  It is extremely rewarding to be able to offer this care, but all it takes is for one person in my day to say, “Wow, I feel better,” smile again, or say “What?  I had no idea you adjusted ankles.  Awesome!”  to make me want to come back and do it all over again the next day.

I was taught the same information as any other Chiropractic graduate.  Perhaps my brain processes the information differently and my hands feel things differently.  Maybe that’s what sets me apart.  All I know is that I never want to stop being a Chiropractor.

Dr. Crysta Serné

To learn more about myself and the treatments I offer, please visit the following links

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/dr_serne_comment

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/sports_therapy

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/chiropractic_care

This is often the time of year when most people become reflective and think more about what they have done, where they are going, and what they have yet to accomplish.  It can result in you springing to action to create change, or a time where you pat yourself on the back and say, "job well done this year!" 

All to often in our lives, we forget to evaluate our relationships (lovers, family, and friends) in that reflection.  When discussing successes and failures, it is often based on the bottom line at our job, grades received, and bonuses earned.  Talk of relationships are often left out or avoided.  Whatever scenario you resonate with, now is the perfect time to establish what you want out of your relationships for the coming year.  Transitioning into 2012 allows for the perfect time to make some changes, however subtle or grandiose they may be.

Kim Anami, our resident life coach, wrote an amazing piece on this very subject.  You may feel as though life is fantastic and it is exactly as it should be.  I applaud you and encourage you to read the article anyway.  It will move you.

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/feng-shui-your-relationships

Happy Holidays,

Dr. Crysta Serné

… And no, I’m not referring to taking a shower before bed, unless that helps you get a better night’s rest! 

I believe we can all agree that the way you feel during your waking hours hinges on how well you sleep at night.  Previously, I spoke about WHY you need a good solid night’s sleep.  By learning to avoid common enemies of sleep and trying out a variety of healthy sleep promoting techniques, you can discover your personal prescription to a good night’s rest. 

Experiment!  What works for some might not work as well for others so it’s important to find the sleep strategies that work best for you.  The key is once you have strategies to help you achieve the R’s of sleep, keep as much consistency in your routine as possible.  Now we are going into delve into HOW to achieve this.  

read more....

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/sleep-hygiene

I hope you get a good night's sleep!!

Dr. Crysta Serné

Chiropractor