My first published article......

The following was published in Beach to Bay Times ~ local calendar & commentary book:

Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs) ~ What’s All The Hype?!

First what is a GMO?  Wikipedia describes it as:  A genetically modified organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

To explain it even further…the term GM foods or GMOs is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content.   Genetic engineering can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. The best known example of this is the use of Bt genes in corn and other crops.  Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae.  Bt crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer.   Don’t those crystal proteins sound delish?

What does that mean for you and me?  Basically it means our foods are genetically altered.  Corn, soy, sugar, canola and sugar beets are just a few of these foods.  Also you’re most likely ingesting GMOs if you’re eating conventional poultry, dairy or meat. The animals are either treated with hormones (to increase milk production, for example) or GMOs are present in their feed (corn, soy).

You have to ask yourself, are these foods really safe?  Have they been tested?  Since GMOs were introduced in 1996 the deteriorating health of Americans does raise questions.  Within nine years, the number of people with three or more chronic diseases nearly doubled.  And overall food related illnesses doubled from 1994 to 2001, according to the Centers of Disease Control.  There is no systematic, well-funded investigation to explore links between GMO consumption and any disease.   Does that make us the guinea pigs?

So what’s a person to eat?  All organic GMO free products?  That would be pretty radical and expensive but you have to ask yourself (and your body) are GMOs right for you?

About our contributing writer:  Julie McKamey is a Wellness Coach and is the chapter leader for the Wicomico County Weston A. Price Foundation.  She lives in Salisbury with her husband, Dr. Kevin McKamey, who is a Chiropractor at Delmarva Chiropractic.

 

Peeps Are Pigs....

A photo journal of proof.....

We really should take better care of what was made for us to live on!  ;-P

Relax, Rest, Regenerate, Renew, Revive AAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

Relax means:

~ to become less tense, rigid, or firm.

~ to become less strict or severe; grow milder.

~ to reduce or stop work, effort, application, etc., especially for the sake of rest or recreation.

~ to release oneself from inhibition, worry, tension, etc.

Relax was the key word for my Valentines Day weekend.  And ya know what…it was good!  We do not do it often, the kind of "relax" where you LEAVE the house and the worries of life behind and drive to a nearby (so you are not road weary) destination and relax!  It was all a surprise for me, a very nice surprise that was pulled off with some help but still he did good!

So I was thinking about how important it is to relax as part of stress relieve.  We all get stressed out sometimes and need to just get away, check out from reality, take a break from life, if only for a few hours.

Stress seems to rule our days, to rule our weeks, to rule our months and it’s time to do something about it!  Come on, I know you know what I am blogging about.  You wake up stressing over this or that on a regular basis.  Don't ya?!  You can admit it!!

Why is reducing stress so important?  Because it is not healthy for you and wellness is our focus here peeps!  Overall well being of our mind, body and soul.  I’m here to educate, empower and encourage you to handle your stress!  So here's some stress fighting tips:

Relax ~ Just do nothing, do not think about the stresses of life, it can be for an hour, a day or an entire weekend, just do it!  Leave the cell phones, office stuff and worries of world in a box and don't open the lid!

Breathe ~ Sit up straight, close your eyes and inhale and exhale, nice and easy, then repeat 10 times.  3 deep breathes like this before you begin to consume your meal can go a long way too!

Eat Chocolate ~ A piece of dark chocolate might be just the nibble you need to brighten your outlook and reduce stress. (milk chocolate doesn’t count)  Did I mention we did “Death by Chocolate” this weekend?!  Yeah baby!

Soothing Scents  ~ To calm those nerves in an instant, try inhaling aromas from lavender or peppermint oils.

Take a Bath ~  Hydrotherapy has been practiced for years.  Its healing and restorative powers are great. To make your tub-time extra therapeutic, sprinkle in a handful of bath salts, turn down the lights, turn on some relaxing music, light an aromatherapy candle and LOCK THE BATHROOM DOOR AND THROW AWAY THE KEY!!  ;-)

Get Moving  ~  Even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing go for a brisk walk!  A walk is one of the quickest, most effective ways to reduce stress.  Pound it out!

Go to Your HaPpY pLaCe ~ When you feel tension throughout your body, calm those nerves by closing your eyes and picturing your happy place.  I like to go the beach, hear the waves crashing, feel the sand between my toes and the sun on my face.  There is usually a little umbrella drink in my hand too!  The mind can be very powerful sometimes!
 

Now that I've shared some relaxing, stress fighting tips I'd like to thank the owner and staff of The Refuge Inn www.refugeinn.com for the wonderful accommodations, the owner and staff of Waterside Inn for the sweet hospitality and awesome finish line of the Death by Chocolate trail and to all the local merchants that participated in the event.

To Tape or Not To Tape ~ The Sticky Question!

I recently wore Kinesio tape where it could be seen on my neck and I got a lot of questions about it.  Our friend wore it on his legs for a half marathon and other runners questioned him about it.  I saw a facebook post today saying something about “don’t knock it until you try it”.  So I thought I’d take a little time to educate, empower and encourage you about taping!

First what is it?

It’s a type of thin, elastic cotton tape.  It comes in a multitude of colors!  The tape itself is able to stretch.  As a result, if the tape is applied to a patient on a stretch greater than its normal length, it will "recoil" after being applied and therefore create a pulling force on the skin or muscle that it is being applied to. This elastic property allows much greater range of motion compared to traditional white athletic tape and can also be left on for long periods of time before reapplication.

How might it work?

There are several  benefits claimed for the tape. One of those is correcting the alignment of weak muscles as well as facilitating joint motion as a result of the tape's recoiling qualities. The tape is also claimed to lift the skin, increasing the space below it, and increasing blood flow and circulation of lymphatic fluids.

Basically taping is a technique based on the body's own natural healing process. It gives support and stability to a person's joints and muscles without affecting or reducing circulation and range of motion.   

It can also be used as preventive maintenance, to re-align bones and muscles or for patients with edema.

What it did for me…

When I was having problems with my foot (Plantar Fasciitis) the doctor taped my foot on 3 different visits.  It helped lift my arch and relieve some of the pain.

Recently when I had separation of the Sternoclavicular Joint I was adjusted by a chiropractor and taped for 30 days (tape was changed out periodically).  Today I continue to have my shoulder rehabbed and am pleased with the results I am getting from regular adjustments and various other techniques used on my shoulder.

What can it do for you?

I liked this slogan “Taping the world for health…….”  and you can learn more about Kinesio tape at

http://www.kinesiotaping.com

...on a side note:  www.delmarvachiropractic.com has this service available to you!

A little shoulder action.

A multitude of colors!

 

Sharing is Caring....Baby it's cold outside!

Wind Chill Advisory

Wind chill is forecasted to reach 5 to 10 degrees below zero due to already low temperatures.
The NWS warned that the cold wind may be a danger to exposed skin, leading to frostbite and hypothermia. There is also a possibility that water pipes may freeze due to the wind chill.

safety tips:
• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Layering clothes helps keep the body warmer than a single heavy coat. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens or gloves. Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers maintain more warmth when they touch each other.
• Wear a hat (preferably one that covers the ears). A hat will prevent the loss of body heat. Half of body heat loss is from the head.
• The mouth should be covered a scarf to protect the lungs.
• Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep feet warm and dry and to maintain footing in ice and snow.
• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks. Slips and falls occur frequently in winter weather, resulting in painful and sometimes disabling injury.
• Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose.
• If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion.

If symptoms of hypothermia are detected:
o Get the victim to a warm location.
o Remove wet clothing.
o Put the person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
o Warm the center of the body first.
o Give warm, non-alcoholic or non-caffeinated beverages if the victim is conscious.
o Get medical help as soon as possible.

How Heavy Is Your Backpack?!

 

Now some of us can carry a lot more than others.... ;-P 

This chart is a good rule of thumb for those little minions in your life.  

Keep your child safe ~ lighten the load!

Let's go back to school happy and healthy!

STRESS!!

It has been a stressful week for me........how do I handle it you might ask!

There are MANY stress relief options. 

How do I handle it?!

Prayer, that is the first place I go.  Into my prayer closet where I can release my stress and lift it up to HIM because anything over my head is still under HIS feet....besides HE already knows.

I also like to exercise my stress away.  Obviously life has been going to smoothly lately.  LOL
Seriously, a brief walk or bike ride really can be a stress reliever for me.  I can just clear my mind during this time of walking or riding.

Another way I like to relieve stress....go for a ride in the car.  Sometimes I am topless ~ wind blowing in my hair, enjoying fresh air and breathing in the fresh smells of the world!  (sometimes those smells include the chicken coops, oops)  Other times the top is up, I am in the passenger seat and I am just enjoying what HE has made.  How can you live in a place like Salisbury where the city is a little busy and in just a couple of miles you are out of town and in the country?  We are blessed to have the country so near, to be able to stop at farms and buy fresh produce!!

My friend use to just drive over the new bridge in Charleston, SC and this helped clear her mind.

Is this running away from our stress/problems?  I don't think so, I think it is coping with it.

How ever you deal with stress is up to you, these are just a couple of things that help me.  We can not continue to live in the stress of life, we need to release it sometimes, to see a different view, to refresh ourselves.  Life is a journey we take one day at a time.  Live it!!