New Logo

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children, chiropractic, Dr. Tijana DC, Eliabeth Landt, family health, family wellness, healthy.BEing family wellness, marietta, New Logo and Trademark, new logo design, pregnancy, unique logo design, wellness

Today is a very exciting day as this is the showcase for the official brand new healthy.BEing family wellness logo, designed by the very talented Elizabeth Landt.

Have any questions? Contact me below, at drtijana.dc@gmail.com, Facebook, or Twitter!

Be healthy & happy, Dr. Tijana

Chiropractic & Childhood Trauma

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childhood trauma, children, children health, children's health, chiropractic, chiropractic benefits, chiropractic care, chiropractic for pregnancy, Dr. Tijana DC, falls, healthy.BEing family wellness, injury, pediatric chiropractor, pediatrics, slips, spinal adjustment, spinal health, spinal trauma, trauma

We’ve discussed why healthy children should be adjusted in a previous blog post. The answer is simple: to keep their nervous system functioning at the optimum level without any interference or distress. Chiropractic throughout pregnancy, birth, and childhood can be instrumental in laying a foundation for life-long health and wellness as it offers better choices for overall lifestyle.

The nervous system is the master controller in the body, contained within the spine and skull, and if its communication pathways (nerves) become distorted, they may result in an ineffective neural input and output. So if the spine is the area of nerve distress then the body is unable to operate smoothly. Chiropractors focus on removing the physical, chemical, and emotional stressors to ensure the nervous system works efficiently and effectively.

“The school of the hard knocks”

Some of these physical stressors in a child’s body can happen from small and large knocks and falls that will affect the child’s health. According to the National Safety Council, by the age of 7, a child will have fallen around 2500 times; and prior to turning 3 years of age (a critical period of brain development), nearly 50% of children have fallen head-first from a high place, such as a bed, a changing table, and a flight of stairs. Unfortunately, the resilience of children at a young age can make immediate symptoms less noticeable to an untrained eye; however, spinal health may have been compromised during these falls that leads to postural, immune, and neurological dysfunction over time as it will affect the structure and function of the whole nervous system.

Children with postural abnormalities, weakened immune system, and compromised neural communication due to undetected and uncorrected spinal injury may suffer from the following subtle symptom manifestations below, which can all lead to health problems later in life:

• Colic
• Irritability
• Inability to suckle and breastfeed
• Poor sleeping habits
• Developmental delays
• Digestion issues
• Asthma
• Behavioral problems
• Low energy
• Inability to concentrate
• Headaches
• And more…

So what exactly happens during a slip or a fall?!

When the child’s body is abruptly jarred in an accident, the muscles that protect the spine and skull automatically contract in order to keep the brain and the nervous system safe, which includes the muscles that attach to the nerve coverings themselves. This jarring motion will tension and subluxate (misalign)  the spine and all of its attached muscles and ligaments in the process, which will affect the nervous system input and output. A subluxated spine, whether large or small, will result in altered structure and function, changing the way the body is able to behave, feel, and think.

Common times for injuries

The birth process: Stress and strain during birth in the upper neck muscles (suboccipitals) in newborns, which can effect the function of the brain stem. In addition, poor handling of babies, development of proper head support, learning to sit up, crawl, stand, and walk can also create spinal and nerve distress during the first year of life.

Playground, preschools, daycare centers in the early childhood up to the age of 5.

Schools and childhood activities, such as sports, bicycles, playgrounds, skateboarding, slides, rollerblading, and horseback riding from age 5 to 8.

Patient in my office, who has been under care 2 weeks after conception

Child’s greatest health asset

As you understand the importance of an optimally functioning nervous system, it make sense that all children, with or without any evident symptoms, deserve a well-adjusted, subluxation-free spine and nervous system. Chiropractic is gentle, safe and effective for children of any age with outstanding benefits, such as:

• Maximizing the child’s brain plasticity and neural development
• Enhancing the child’s overall health and well-being
• Strengthening the immune system for a reduction of incidence of colds, earaches and general illness
• Helping with colic and irritability
• Helping with breathing difficulties, asthma, and allergies
• Influencing postural changes
• Improving the child’s ability to concentrate
• Reintegrating the nervous system to assist with behavioral disorders and emotional stress and anxiety
• Alleviating bed-wetting and digestive problems
• Improving sleep issues

Incorporating chiropractic care will become an important part of a healthy lifestyle for the whole family.

Consider consulting with a local Doctor of Chiropractic on how to enhance your child’s health with an optimally functioning nervous system without interference or distress.

Have questions? Contact me here, at drtijana.dc@gmail.com, Facebook, or Twitter!

Be healthy & happy, Dr. Tijana

SCHEDULE THE FIRST APPOINTMENT FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY for a comprehensive health assessment TODAY at 706.254.4579!

Chiropractic for Healthy Children

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children, chiropractic, Dr. Tijana DC, healthy.BEing family wellness, nervous system, neurodevelopment, pediatric chiropractor, pediatrics, spinal health

“Why do healthy children get adjusted?” is not an uncommon question I am asked. The answer is simple: to keep their nervous system functioning at the optimum level without any interference or distress.

The nervous system is the master controller of our body and if its communication pathways become distorted, they may result in an ineffective neural input and output. These communication errors may be manifested as:

• Colic
• Irritability
• Inability to suckle and breastfeed
• Poor sleeping habits
• Developmental delays
• Digestion issues
• Asthma
• Behavioral problems
• Low energy
• Inability to concentrate
• Headaches
• And more…

Whatever the symptoms may be, it indicates that the nervous system does not have the  inability to self-regulate the bodyand function at a peak level. So whether you have a large spine or a tiny little spine, if that spine is creating nerve distress then the body is unable to operate smoothly. Chiropractors focus on ensuring the nervous system works efficiently and effectively by removing the physical, chemical, and emotional stressors.

These stressors insult the body’s ability to express its health and occur in form of vertebral subluxations. These lifestyle stressors may be:

• Bad posture
• Prolonged postures
• Tummy sleeping
• Falls and/or physical trauma
• Poor food choices
• Dehydration
• Exposure to chemicals and toxins
• Emotional stress and anxiety

In some cases, the insults may start early in development while in-utero from exposure to toxins and/or by being restricted within the uterus and unable to freely move about. Subluxations often occur with long labors, very fast labors, births where instruments may have been used (ex. forceps and vacuum), and is surprisingly frequently with Cesarean births.

Now that you have an appreciation for the importance of the nervous system and how it affects the whole body, it does make sense that all children, with or without any evident symptoms, deserve a well-adjusted nervous system and spine. Incorporating chiropractic care will become an important part of a healthy lifestyle for the whole family.

Additional benefits of chiropractic care for children:

• Maximize the child’s brain plasticity and neural development
• Enhance the child’s overall health and well-being
• Strengthen the immune system for a reduction of incidence of colds, earaches and general illness
• Help with colic and irritability
• Help with breathing difficulties, asthma, and allergies
• Influence postural changes
• Improve the child’s ability to concentrate
• Reintegrate the nervous system to assist with behavioral disorders and emotional stress and anxiety
• Alleviate bed-wetting and digestive problems
• Assist with sleep issues

An optimally functioning nervous system is your child’s greatest health asset.

 

Have questions? Contact me here, at drtijana.dc@gmail.com, Facebook, or Twitter!

Be healthy & happy, Dr. Tijana

SCHEDULE THE FIRST APPOINTMENT FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY for a comprehensive health assessment TODAY at 706.254.4579!

Nutrients in Breast Milk

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breast milk, breastfeeding, children, children's health, Dr. Tijana DC, infant formula, infant nutrition, neonatal care, neurodevelopment, nutrition

“Breast is BEST!”

This phrase has stuck with me from the first time I heard it in the classroom, and it cannot be more true. So to help you understand why that is the case, here are the reasons why breast milk is the ultimate food for a baby:

• FATS – most important for growing brain & body
  • Rich in brain-building Omega-3’s, esp. DHA and cholesterol
  • Adjusts to infant’s needs where levels decline as baby gets older
  • Contains lipase, fat-digesting enzyme
  • Absence may predispose a child to adult heart and central nervous system diseases
• PROTEIN
  • Rich in brain & body building proteins: easily-digestible whey, growth factors & sleep-inducing proteins
  • Lactoferrin for intestinal health
  • Lysozyme, an antimicrobial
  • Formula: contains casein curds from cow’s milk and may cause allergic reaction
• CARBOHYDRATES
  • Rich in lactose and oligosaccharides for brain development and promote intestinal health
• IMMUNE BOOSTERS
  • Rich in living white blood cells, immunoglobulin, and antibodies IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM, and IgD
• VITAMINS & MINERALS
  • Rich in highly bio-available iron, zinc, calcium, selenium (an antioxidant)
• ENZYMES & HORMONES
  • Rich in digestive enzymes: lipase and amylase for intestinal health
  • Rich in hormones: thyroid, prolactin (for formulation and production of milk), oxytocin (“cuddle hormone”), and more for overall biochemical balance and well-being

More information on breastfeeding to follow soon HERE!

Feel free to contact me here, at drtijana.dc@gmail.com, Facebook, or Twitter!

Yours in health, Dr. Tijana

Chiropractic enhances sensory processing

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children, chiropractic, developmental delay, Dr. Tijana DC, epigenetics, food sensitivities, neurodevelopmental disorders, neurologic function, neurologic reeducation, nutrition, sensory processing disorder

Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as sensory processing disorders (SPD), shows impairment in detecting, modulating, interpreting, or responding to sensory stimuli. Many times the symptoms closely resemble those of ADHD and autism. The signs may include difficulty reading and writing, organization and time management, clumsiness, lack of social skills, lack of desire to play, and others that do not allow the child to be child-like.

Some of the factors affecting proper functionality in neural formation are deeply rooted in epigenetic changes during the crucial pre- and post-natal developmental time periods. These factors may stem from in-vitro, birth and/or early childhood traumas, lack of breastfeeding, vaccinations, food sensitivities, and environmental toxins. All of these create a neurological insult to the body, especially when considering an immature system of a child.

Two recent studies published in the 2011 edition of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health have shown that chiropractic care increased functionality in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Read more in Natural News.

My approach: Chiropractic care, in conjunction with sensorimotor re-education (through play), anti-inflammatory diet, and nutritional supplements, aid in addressing the mechanical and chemical aspects of the nervous system by re-establishing the appropriate rhythm of neurologic flow.

I am happy to help in answering any questions or concerns, contact me here or at drtijana.dc@gmail.com.

Yours in health, Dr. Tijana

Keep GMOs out of your foods!

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children, Dr. Tijana DC, GMOs, health, healthy diet, wellness

It is important to avoid genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in the food by assessing how you shop and eat to avoid harmful chemicals in your and your children’s diets.

• Buy organic, as much as possible.
• Look for “Non-GMO” label.
• Avoid at-risk ingredients– 4 major crops are:
  • Soy
  • Corn
  • Cottonseed
  • Canola

• Consider other products that may contain GMOs:
  • Soy flour, lecithin, protein, isolate, and isoflavone – used in millions of processed foods
  • GM sugar beets may soon enter the food supply. To avoid GM beet sugar, look for organic and non-GMO sweeteners, candy and chocolate producst made with 100% cane sugar, evaporated cane juice or organic sugar.
  • Half of Hawaii’s papayas are GM!
  • Novel products such as SEEDLESS WATER MELONS are NOT genetically modified.
  • Baby Foods and Infant formula often have soy or milk from cows injected with rbGH. Also, many brands add GMO-deriven corn syrup, corn syrup solids, or soy lecithin.
  • Cereals and breakfast bars are very likely to include GMO ingreidents, because the are often made with corn and soy products.
  • Many frozen and snack foods, canned soups, sauces and dressings are highly processed and often contain GMO ingredients.
  • Many candy, chocolate and sweeteners can come from GMO sources. Watch out for soy lecithin chocolate and corn syrup in candies!
  • The sweetener aspartame is derived from GM microorganisms found in over 6,00 products (including soft drinks, gum, candy, yogurt, vitamins etc.)
  • Luckily, there is no GM Popcorn on the market!

Reading labels is the only way to determine what you are eating, even when it comes down to fresh vegetables and fruit.

Be happy and healthy, Dr. Tijana

Food for Healthy Kids

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children, Dr. Tijana DC, GMOs, health, healthy diet, healthy foods, kids diet, wellness

Processed industrialized food and the fast-food culture require us to be extremely careful when feeding the children. With the ever-present risk of childhood diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, allergies or worse, it is important to teach children healthy food habits that will last them a lifetime. Pleasing the picky eaters with limited palates may be a challenge for a number of parents, but here are 10 suggestions to help navigate the kitchen and teach the importance of wholesome nutrition to the little ones.

• Cook with raw and organic ingredients. Yes, this means cooking, which can be a challenge for busy schedules or less cooking experience. However, more nutritional value and have more control over what you’re eating is a significant trade-off.
• Stay away from processed foods as much as possible. If you must do quick meals, get organic ones – at least they will have better ingredients, which are stocked in most grocery stores.
• More vegetables. This may be tough for picky eaters, but there are lots of sneaky methods to include vegetables in a child’s diet. Our favorite is to blend them up and put them in with a sauce or soup. Instantly, they’re invisible, and the kids don’t think twice about eating them.
• Choose the meat wisely. It is of vital importance of choose the proper type of lean protein that is free of hormones, antibiotics, and toxins.
• Don’t keep junk food in the house. If it’s in the house, the kids will find it and eat it.
• Pack healthy snacks. When you’re out and your child is suddenly hungry, you will be equipped rather than having to turn to junk- or fast-food. There are many good organic and healthy snacks to choose from these days, like snack bars, apple sauce, cheese, crackers and little squeeze-bottle baby foods.
• Eat out less. The trouble with eating in a restaurant is you have no control over the food, and even great restaurants cut costs by using the cheapest ingredients possible.
• Drink water. Sweetened drinks and soda lead to major health issues and obesity in children. Kids also need far less milk than American “official” sources say (milk is especially important to choose organic and not overly pasteurized).
• Less GMOs. Part of the advantage of buying organic foods is they usually aren’t genetically modified organisms (GMO). There are many negative consequences of our kids eating GMO foods, like developing allergies, resistance to antibiotics, and negatively influencing sexual development. Steer clear of them as much as possible.
• Create little sous-chefs. Engaging the kids in choosing, preparing, and cooking the food will increase the interest in their nutrition and will open their minds to what they are eating.
• Have family meals. Make an event out of meal-times instead of rushing through them or eating them at different times. This will develop a healthy ritual and perspective around meal times.

Be happy & healthy, Dr. Tijana

Natural Remedies for Infants

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breast milk, breastfeeding, children, chiropractic, colds, congestion, Dr. Tijana DC, homeopathic, infants, natural remedies, remedies for kids

31 Natural Remedies for Colds, Congestion, Coughs, and Fevers in Infants (Newborn to 6 Months) http://ow.ly/8X5iy

Breast milk is one of your biggest resources! It helps to increase hydration, receive antibodies, use breast milk’s antimicrobial properties, fight infections, and many more.

If using any additional products, ensure that the products come from clean, organic sources, especially if there is skin contact involved. Since it will be introduced in the blood stream within 20 minutes, it is essential that the products, such as oils, lotions, and rubs, are in their purest form possible.

Taking your infant to a pediatric chiropractor will help the healing process, both if there is a health concern or for preventative care. Maintaining an intact nervous system is vital part of achieving optimal health for the infant. Some helpful FAQs here.

If you have more questions, feel free to contact me here or at drtijana.dc@gmail.com.

Yours in health, Dr. Tijana

Kids Yoga on Sesame Street

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benefits of yoga, breathing, children, kids yoga, sesame street, yoga

Getting centered through yoga on Sesame Street! We do yoga with kids at Generation Thrive! http://ow.ly/7TuO2

Word on the Street: BALANCE

Episode Summary

Telly’s upset to have missed the yoga class Leela’s just finished teaching, so Rosita and Elmo offer to teach him what they learned. Yoga is a special kind of exercise from India, and the breathing and stretching feel great! 

The furry friends show Telly slow yoga breathing, then Telly tries to keep his balance as he moves into position for the special flamingo pose. But he keeps falling. Maybe he can’t balance because one of his elbows is heavier than the other? Elmo and Rosita have him hold different objects to make his weight equal on both sides, but boom! Telly comes crashing down.

Finally, Chris helps Telly practice finding his balance point, supporting his arms as he shifts his weight. It works. Ommmmm!

Namaste!