The Wellness Way - Raleigh

Have you ever wondered why so many people end up needing gallbladder surgery? It’s often due to LOW stomach acid.

The gallbladder plays a crucial role in digestion by storing and releasing bile, which helps break down fats. However, if stomach acid levels are low, the digestive process is compromised. Stomach acid signals the gallbladder to release bile, essential for proper fat digestion. Without adequate stomach acid, this process is disrupted, leading to stress and inflammation of the gallbladder, and potentially the formation of gallstones.

Several factors contribute to low stomach acid:
- Chronic Stress: Prolonged stress can shift the body into a constant fight-or-flight mode, hindering optimal digestion.
- Poor Diet: Diets high in sugar and processed foods can disrupt stomach acid production.
- Food Allergies: Undetected food allergies can cause inflammation and affect stomach acid levels. Getting tested for food allergies is crucial.
- Medications: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids, and other medications aimed at reducing stomach acid can exacerbate digestive issues rather than resolving them.

Tips to support your gallbladder:
- Increase Stomach Acid: Contrary to popular belief, adequate stomach acid is vital for healthy digestion. Reduce stress levels, eat a nutritious diet that avoids allergens, and steer clear of medications that lower stomach acid.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Taking a shot of organic apple cider vinegar before meals can help regulate stomach acid and boost digestive enzymes, aiding in the breakdown of food.
- Gallbladder Complex: For those who have had their gallbladder removed, maintaining digestive support is essential. Our Gallbladder Complex offers a blend of ox bile, organic beet root powder, and artichoke leaf powder to aid in digestion and nutrient absorption. This supplement ensures that bile, necessary for fat digestion, is available to support optimal digestive function.

Comment GALLBLADDER COMPLEX and we will send you a link to our online store along with info on our process 💚

💚Understanding IBD and its factors: Traumas, Toxins, & Thoughts

Traumas (Physical Stressors): Physical traumas, whether acute or chronic, such as spinal subluxations, can hinder nerve and blood flow to the small intestine, triggering autoimmune responses. Other examples of traumas include concussions, neck injuries, infections, and more.

Toxins (Biochemical Stressors): Biochemical stressors, whether natural or synthetic, play a role in IBD. These include chronic use of NSAIDs, infections like MAP or viral triggers, dysbiosis, and dietary factors like sugar and high-carbohydrate foods.

Thoughts (Emotional Stressors): Emotional stress significantly contributes to IBD progression. Negative thought patterns and chronic stressors from major life changes or unresolved emotions can exacerbate symptoms and delay healing.

Our approach emphasizes the importance of assessing gut health and immune function through comprehensive tests like food allergy and stool tests. It's also aimed at reducing inflammation and supporting long-term healing.

For those managing inflammation and conditions like IBD, dietary adjustments play a crucial role:

- Avoid sugar, processed foods, and inflammatory additives.
- Consider a gluten-free, mostly grain-free diet.
- Opt for non-inflammatory fats and avoid high omega-6 vegetable oils.
- Limit alcohol consumption and focus on antioxidant-rich foods.

These steps are key for your journey to wellness 🌿💚 Comment MORE INFO and we will send you a message with details on how to get started.

🌞 Embrace the Morning: Tips for Transitioning from Night Owl to Early Bird 🦉

Consider bidding your night owl habits farewell and embracing the benefits of early mornings. If you're accustomed to late nights, it's time to experiment with a healthier sleep schedule. Start by comparing how you feel after two different sleep routines: try sleeping from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am versus midnight to 8:00 am. You might discover that the earlier bedtime leaves you feeling more refreshed, thanks to optimal hormonal activity before midnight.

Let’s make the switch easier with these 7 tips:

1️⃣ Go to Bed Earlier: Aim for bedtime between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm to align with your body's natural rhythm and enhance sleep quality.

2️⃣ Establish Nighttime Rituals: Wind down before bed by dimming lights, putting away electronics, and engaging in calming activities like reading or a warm bath.

3️⃣ Minimize Sleep Stress: Avoid stressing about sleep; instead, focus on cultivating healthy bedtime routines to naturally ease into restful nights.

4️⃣ Welcome Morning Light: Natural sunlight helps regulate your internal clock, so open your curtains to greet the day and consider a sunrise alarm clock.

5️⃣ Prioritize Your Morning: Start your day with activities that matter most to you, whether it's exercise, creative pursuits, or quiet reflection.

6️⃣ Morning Exercise: Boost your mood and energy levels with morning workouts, supporting overall well-being and enhancing cardiovascular health.

7️⃣ Consistency is Key: Stick to your new routine to help your body adjust efficiently, ensuring adequate sleep and reduced stress levels over time.

Transitioning to a morning person isn't an overnight process, but with commitment and these practical steps, you can enjoy the benefits of starting your day refreshed and revitalized.

Happy Father's Day! 💚

🤢 GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, leading to corrosion and discomfort.

Commonly known as acid reflux or heartburn, this condition arises due to a dysfunctional valve, called the sphincter, between the esophagus and stomach. In a healthy stomach, this valve only opens in response to food pressure, but in an unhealthy stomach, it may open spontaneously under pressure from stomach contents. This can result from inflammation or other imbalances caused by factors such as stress, diet, and LOW stomach acid.

1 - Bad Diet - The standard American diet is a minefield of triggers for GERD. Processed foods, added sugars, and chemical-laden ingredients contribute to inflammation in the gut, leading to increased pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter and subsequent acid reflux. Discovering and eliminating trigger foods through allergy testing can be pivotal in managing GERD symptoms.

2 - Stress - Stress is a silent disruptor of gut health, wreaking havoc on gastrointestinal function and exacerbating GERD symptoms. From altering gastrointestinal motility to impairing the brain-gut axis, stress undermines the body's ability to digest food efficiently, leading to increased acid production and heightened reflux. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and lifestyle adjustments is essential for alleviating GERD discomfort and restoring gut health.

3 - LOW Stomach Acid - When stomach acid levels are insufficient, typically in response to various physical, environmental, or psychological triggers, it disrupts the digestive process. This impairment not only hampers the breakdown of food but also compromises the sterilization of ingested substances. Consequently, undigested food particles and pathogens may enter the digestive tract, leading to widespread issues throughout the body.

Many individuals rely on medications like Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and antacids to manage symptoms, but these merely mask the issue without addressing the root cause. Link in bio to schedule or comment MORE INFO💚

🔍 Our approach goes beyond symptom management to address underlying imbalances in gut and brain health, empowering individuals and families to thrive.

🧪 Important Tests for Gut and Brain Health: Examples of tests include Immuno Food Allergy Test and Genova GI Effects with Parasitology Gut Health Test

Testing helps identify specific triggers and imbalances contributing to symptoms, guiding targeted interventions for optimal outcomes.

🥗 Dietary Changes for Autism: Focus on lowering inflammation with a no-sugar, no-processed food, gluten-free, and dairy-free diet.

These dietary changes support gut healing and promote a balanced immune response, essential for managing symptoms and improving overall well-being.

Avoid high omega-6 vegetable oils and opt for nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich foods like liver, sauerkraut, and omega-3-rich fish.

Incorporating these foods provides essential nutrients to support brain health and reduce inflammation, key factors in managing symptoms.

💊 Supplements for Autism Support: Consider natural remedies like probiotics, digestive enzymes, herbal extracts (Ginkgo, Bacopa), and vitamins (C, D, melatonin) to support gut and brain health.

These supplements target specific aspects of autism, such as gut dysbiosis, nutrient absorption, and neurotransmitter balance, to promote symptom relief and overall well-being.

Personalized supplements like Alcedonia target neurotransmitter production and brain calming.

Tailored supplementation addresses individual needs, supporting neurodevelopment and emotional regulation in individuals with autism.

🌱 Lifestyle Changes & Complementary Therapies: Explore complementary therapies such as regular chiropractic care to address misalignments and improve sensorimotor integration in autism.

Chiropractic adjustments may help alleviate neurological dysfunction and enhance overall functioning, complementing dietary and supplementation interventions.

Interested in learning more? Comment MORE INFO and we will send you a message💚

🦠Consider this scenario: You develop what seems like a routine sinus infection. You visit your doctor, receive antibiotics, and expect to bounce back in a few days. However, this cycle repeats every few weeks or months, leaving you trapped in a cycle of illness.

Now, picture an alternative: You're exposed to a pathogen, but your body's robust defense system swiftly kicks into gear, thwarting the infection before it takes hold. You experience minor symptoms, if any, and resume your daily activities within days. How can you support your body in this scenario?

One crucial aspect is nurturing your gut flora. While yogurt is commonly associated with gut health, it may not be as beneficial as believed. Many yogurt brands contain minimal amounts of beneficial microbes, drowned out by high sugar content and inflammatory dairy. Instead, consider incorporating fermented foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi into your diet. These options provide a richer source of probiotics and prebiotics, essential for restoring gut health.

Why is gut flora so vital? The gut plays a pivotal role in overall health, influencing everything from mental well-being to immune function. Research suggests that the gut microbiota regulates neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, impacting mood and cognitive function. Moreover, a healthy gut flora is crucial for immune regulation, preventing autoimmune disorders and inflammation.

Comprehensive testing is key to understanding your gut health fully. Beyond a simple stool test, thorough analysis can assess digestion, absorption, inflammation markers, and commensal bacteria balance. Armed with this information, you can tailor your approach to restoring gut health effectively.

Repairing the gut requires a multifaceted approach, including removing pathogens, replenishing beneficial bacteria, and repairing the gut lining. Probiotic supplements and targeted dietary adjustments can aid in this process, but guidance based on accurate testing is paramount.

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😴💤Did you know that women require more sleep than men? It's not just a matter of preference; it's a biological necessity for many women to prioritize quality rest. Recent studies suggest that women may need up to 1-2 hours more sleep than men to support their health effectively.

When women don't get enough sleep, it can have significant repercussions on their physical and mental well-being. Sleep deprivation in women has been linked to increased levels of stress, depression, and anger. Moreover, it can impact hormonal balance, leading to potential health issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Physiologically, women's bodies function differently than men's, affecting their sleep needs. Hormonal fluctuations, including cortisol and melatonin levels, play a crucial role in regulating sleep cycles. For many women, these hormones fluctuate earlier in the sleep cycle compared to men, making adequate sleep essential for hormonal balance.

Supporting your body's need for sleep is paramount for overall health, not just for women but for their families too. Prioritizing rest can facilitate hormone production, brain activity, and regenerative processes, ensuring optimal well-being for you and your loved ones.

Sleep is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. By giving your body the rest it needs, you're investing in your long-term health and vitality.

🇺🇸Our office is closed today in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday the 28th at 12:30pm EST

Some key practices to consider incorporating into your lifestyle, for both women and men, to support hormones:

💤Solid Sleep Habits: Quality sleep is essential for hormone replenishment and overall well-being. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine.

🦠Heal Your Gut: Avoid inflammatory foods and allergens that can trigger gut inflammation and disrupt hormone production. Opt for a nutrient-dense diet rich in whole foods to support gut health and reduce inflammation.

🏋️‍♀️Exercise Correctly: Regular physical activity is crucial for hormonal health, but it's important to find the right balance. Avoid overexercising, especially for women, and focus on incorporating a mix of strength training, cardio, and flexibility exercises into your routine.

🧠Reduce Mental Stress: Chronic stress can wreak havoc on hormone levels, so it's essential to find ways to manage and reduce stress in your life.

☢️Limit Toxins: Minimize your exposure to toxins by choosing organic, natural household and personal care products.

🍬Avoid White Sugar: Refined sugar and processed foods can disrupt hormone balance and contribute to inflammation in the body. Opt for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup and prioritize whole, unprocessed foods in your diet.

🥑Enjoy Healthy Fats: Incorporate healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds, and olive oil into your diet to support hormone production and satiety.

👩‍❤️‍👨Build Healthy Relationships: Cultivate strong connections with friends, family, and community members to support emotional well-being and hormonal health.

🧪Get Tested: Consider comprehensive hormone testing to gain insights into your hormonal health and personalized treatment strategies.

Remember, small changes can lead to significant improvements in your hormonal health over time 💚🧩 Link in bio to schedule!

🌸If you're dealing with PMS, making strategic dietary changes can help alleviate symptoms and promote hormonal balance. Here are some key guidelines to consider:

🔥Lower Inflammation: Focus on eliminating foods that can trigger inflammation in the body. This includes cutting out sugar and processed foods, which can increase inflammation and disrupt hormone balance. Opt for a diet rich in whole, organic foods to support overall health.

🍞Gluten-Free, Mostly Grain-Free: Gluten has been shown to aggravate gut inflammation, which can contribute to chronic inflammation in the body. Consider adopting a gluten-free diet to support gut health and reduce inflammation. Limit grains overall to further support gut healing.

🐄Limit Cow's Milk Dairy: Cow's milk dairy products can contribute to inflammation in the gut. Opt for goat or sheep's milk products, which may be better tolerated and can help lower inflammation in the body.

🛢️Avoid High Omega-6 Vegetable Oils: Opt for healthier fats like olive oil, coconut oil, and animal fats over high omega-6 vegetable oils, which can promote inflammation in the body.

📝Follow a Personalized Nutrition Program: Work with one of our practitioners to develop a personalized nutrition plan based on your food allergy test results. This tailored approach can help identify and eliminate trigger foods to support optimal health.

🥩Incorporate Nutrient-Dense Foods: Add liver/organ meats, sauerkraut, microgreens, and leafy greens to your diet for enhanced nutrition. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can support gut health and hormonal balance.

🫐Focus on Antioxidants: Include antioxidant-rich foods like turmeric, green tea, berries, and dark chocolate in your diet to support gut health and reduce inflammation.

🐟Include Omega-3-Rich Foods: Incorporate omega-3-rich foods such as wild-caught salmon, herring, sardines, walnuts, and ground flaxseeds into your meals to help lower inflammation and support hormonal balance.

Consult with one of our providers for personalized recommendations tailored to your specific needs. Link in bio 💚

💧Is Mold Lurking in Your Water Bottle? Despite our efforts to stay hydrated, mold can sneak into our water bottles, causing health issues. Even stainless steel bottles can harbor mold.

🔍 Identifying Mold in Your Water Bottle: Mold can grow from saliva debris or bacteria. Leaving bottles unwashed for extended periods increases the risk of mold growth.

🚨 Recognizing Mold Exposure Symptoms: Mold exposure symptoms range from allergies to hormonal imbalances, headaches, memory loss, and chronic fatigue. Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory diseases, neurological defects, cancer, and immune system suppression.

🛡️ Protecting Yourself from Mold Contamination: Inspect Your Bottles especially under seals and around straws.
- Clean thoroughly with vinegar and baking soda.
- Glass bottles offer transparency and smooth surfaces for easy cleaning.
- UV caps sanitize bottles using UV light, providing an alternative for those concerned about mold.
- For beverages like smoothies with sticky ingredients, opt for containers that are easy to clean.

🌿 Maintaining Mold-Free Hydration: Don't overlook the possibility of mold in everyday items like water bottles. Regularly inspect and clean your bottles to ensure mold-free hydration for you and your family.

🧠May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s a reminder that you can restore your mental health! At The Wellness Way Raleigh, we recognize the profound connection between the body and mental well-being. From imbalanced gut bacteria to heavy metal toxicities and everyday physical traumas, various factors can affect our mental health. By addressing these issues through approaches like comprehensive testing and chiropractic care, we can support the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive. Let’s prioritize mental health awareness and empower ourselves with knowledge and action! 💚

🍄 Understanding Mold

Mold, a member of Kingdom Fungi, is a natural part of the environment and thrives in warm, wet places, including homes. It reproduces by releasing potentially toxic spores into the air, which can lead to various health effects.

🤧 Health Effects of Mold Exposure

Mold exposure can cause a range of health issues, from brain fog and headaches to respiratory problems and skin rashes. Symptoms can vary and may persist for weeks, months, or even years.

🧼 Cleaning and Remediation

Cleaning up mold requires thoroughness and may involve professional assistance, as mold colonies often extend deeper than what's visible. Strategies include reducing humidity levels, using natural cleaning agents like baking soda and peroxide, and incorporating tea tree essential oil for its antifungal properties.

🔍 Where Mold Might Hide

Mold can lurk in various areas of the home, including building materials like wood and drywall, HVAC systems, and even food. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial for identifying and addressing mold growth effectively.

🚿 Prevention Tips

Preventing mold growth involves controlling moisture levels and ensuring proper ventilation throughout the home. Practices such as fixing leaks promptly, using high-quality air filters, and keeping moisture-prone areas clean and dry can help mitigate the risk of mold infestation.

Check out the link in our bio for a link to our favorite air purifier from Triad Aer!

🤔 What is Anxiety?
Anxiety encompasses feelings of unease, fear, and physical symptoms like increased heart rate. Both external stressors and internal factors like inflammation can contribute to anxious thoughts.

📋 Types & Symptoms
Anxiety disorders include GAD, social anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, OCD, and phobias, all sharing common symptoms such as excessive worry, irritability, and panic attacks.

🔥 Fireman vs. Carpenter Approach
Conventional medicine often treats anxiety with medication, while holistic approaches focus on rebuilding the body's foundation through comprehensive testing, personalized lifestyle changes, and supplements.

💊 Common Medications
Conventional treatments include SSRIs, SNRIs, and benzodiazepines, which may alleviate symptoms but come with side effects and do not address the issue at the root.

⚖️ Root Causes: Trauma, Toxins, Thoughts
Traumas, toxins, and emotional stressors contribute to anxiety. Addressing these factors holistically can support long-term healing.

Tests for assessing gut health, such as the Genova GI Effects with Parasitology, and food allergy tests, like the Immuno Food Allergy Test, can provide insights into underlying imbalances contributing to anxiety.

🌿 Natural Remedies & Supplements
Herbal supplements like ashwagandha, chamomile, and CBD oil, along with vitamins and minerals like B vitamins and magnesium, offer natural support for anxiety.

🏃 Lifestyle Changes & Therapies
Lifestyle modifications such as chiropractic care, exercise, breathing exercises, acupuncture, and aromatherapy can calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

Is anxiety overtaking your life? Head to the link in our bio to get started with a New Patient Exam or Discovery Call with us 💚

🔍 What is Cellulite?
- Cellulite isn't a skin condition but rather a symptom of imbalance in the body, often linked to chronic inflammation.
- It results from structural changes in subcutaneous tissue, creating a puckered or dimpled appearance.

🤷‍♀️ Who Gets Cellulite?
- About 80-90% of women are affected.
- Risk factors include weight gain, inflammation, poor diet, low muscle tone, aging, & hormonal changes.

💉 Common Cellulite Treatments:
- Topical lotions or creams temporarily smooth the skin's appearance but don't address the underlying cause.
- Medical procedures like laser treatments, liposuction, subcision, and acoustic wave therapy offer temporary relief but often require repeated sessions.

🔧 Addressing Cellulite Holistically:
- Rather than focusing solely on cosmetic improvements, addressing underlying factors like trauma, toxins, and thoughts offers long-term solutions.
- Supporting the liver, improving circulation, lymphatic support, increasing collagen production, and achieving hormone balance are key strategies.

Cellulite isn't just about appearance; it's a reflection of your body's internal balance. By addressing the root causes holistically, you can achieve lasting improvements in both your skin and overall health 💚

Utilize these 8 tips for better sleep 💤

Practice Barefoot Grounding: Connect with the earth to regulate cortisol levels and support better sleep.

Exercise in the Morning: Establish healthy sleep-wake cycles and promote deeper, restorative sleep.

Drink Green Tea in the Afternoon: Boost relaxation with L-theanine and antioxidants for better sleep quality.

Eat Dinner Earlier in the Evening (ideally before 7pm): Allow time for digestion to prevent discomfort and indigestion.

Set an Early Bedtime: Aim for 9 pm or 10 pm consistently. Increase deep sleep time for physical restoration.

Turn Off Devices Before Bed: Avoid blue light exposure to promote relaxation and melatonin production. Consider adding a red color filter to your device from the Accessibility settings.

Take Chamomile Herb: Reduce anxiety and promote sleepiness with this natural remedy.

Eat Less Sugar: Stabilize cortisol levels and improve sleep quality by reducing sugar intake.

Happy Mother’s Day 💐!

Have you tried Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

1 - Enhanced Oxygen Delivery: Elevate your cellular function with increased oxygen levels, supporting overall tissue repair and function.

2- Accelerated Wound Healing: Stimulate collagen production and expedite the healing process for surgeries, injuries, and chronic wounds.

3 - Reduced Inflammation: Say goodbye to swelling and inflammation with HBOT's anti-inflammatory properties, providing relief for autoimmune disorders and arthritis.

4 - Improved Brain Function: Enhance cognitive function and neuroplasticity, benefiting individuals with traumatic brain injuries and neurological conditions.

5 -Enhanced Immune System Function: Bolster your body's defenses against infections and illnesses, particularly valuable for those with compromised immune systems.

6- Management of Chronic Conditions: Explore HBOT as a complementary treatment for chronic conditions like autism spectrum disorders and fibromyalgia, improving symptoms and quality of life.

Contact our office or click the link in our bio to schedule a session! 💚

Beef tallow is our skin care routine 🐮🧴 Check out the link in our bio for a link to ours!