Gut Health:

Our gut is where we get nutrients, vitamins, minerals "the good stuff" and get rid of waste and toxins "the bad stuff", it also plays a large role in how we feel both mentally and physically.

When we eat or drink things our system doesn't like, our gut is often the first thing that talks back to us in the form of indigestion, stomach pain, gas, constipation or diarrhea. This we understand well. What we don't take into consideration is that how we feel mentally and physically, how well our immune system works, and our risk for developing chronic diseases is also affected.

Most of us have experienced a sugar high or seen one in our kids. This is an obvious example of how foods can affect us. Unfortunately many of the affects are not so obvious and over time we notice things like increasing pain and inflammation, weight gain, mental fog, depression and other ill feelings. These are often symptoms caused by poor gut health resulting in poor nutrient absorption and poor elimination of toxins.

Often when we seek care for these gut issues, the answer is an acid reducer or blocker.... a med to help the constipation or the diarrhea or gas. Unfortunately these meds work to treat the symptoms, but actually

often cover up the underlying problem and can not only perpetuate the problem but also can increase risk of other disease processes. When we block acid we increase risk for nutritional deficiencies (B12, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D), we increase risk for bacterial overgrowth, we weaken our immune system, we increase our risk for fracture and possibly dementia and gastrointestinal tumors.

If you want to truly affect your health and wellness when it comes to your gut, you have to get to the source of the problem. It may be just years of poor eating or it may be one particular thing. It may be a food or a medicine. It may be something environmental. Whatever it is, the answer is not in blocking it with all of these stomach medicines. It may not be the easy way, but it is the way to improved health and wellness now and in the future.

If you feel this is something you want to work on, I'm here to help:)

Dr. Cheryl Canfield

Canfield Wellness, PLLC

989-977-9019

It's Spring!!

Spring always makes me feel like it's time to renew. Longer days, more sunshine, greening of grass and trees, flowers blooming, and new life. It's a good time to take a look at yourself and do an assessment of where you are in life and where you want to go.

If you are a young adult, you may be thinking about your future and what you want to do with your life. You may be in the middle of life with a busy job either outside or inside your home, balancing your needs with the needs of your family. You may be going through a very stressful time mentally or physically. Life may be dragging you down and you are struggling to get through each day or you may be having the time of your life. You may be having babies or struggling to have babies. You may have just become an empty nester. You may be a new parent or a grandparent. You may have become a caregiver to elderly parents. You may be overwhelmed with illness or tragedy in yourself or a family member. You may be an elderly person figuring out what the rest of your days will look like.

Attaining and/or maintaining health as you go through these various stages of life's triumphs and trials can be challenging. Health encompasses physical, spiritual, community, mental and environmental wellbeing. As amazing as our bodies are they can be affected by all of these areas to the extent that we can be made unwell. Identifying and making the changes necessary to address these areas can be difficult to figure out.

This Spring season, take the time to really look at your life. Take note of where you are and where you want to be. Be honest and insightful a

nd remember you have to look within first. We all have a tendency to blame our problems on someone or something. We first need to take ownership of who we are and what changes we need to make. Ask yourself what is holding you back from moving toward a goal of being your best self. You don't have to do everything at once, just make one positive change. Pick something you know you can succeed at. With each success you will build your confidence on making further changes. Consider writing yourself a note of encouragement every morning and sticking it on the mirror or the fridge. "You are Strong", "You are beautiful", "It's going to be a great day". It may sound silly, but it will help. Maybe you want to change your eating habits. Again, pick something doable to start, so you can build your confidence. Drink an 8 ounce glass of water every morning when you get up or don't eat anything after 8 pm. Each time you are successful you learn that

you have the power to make positive changes in your life. More importantly every time you make a positive change, you influence your health both now and in the future.

Canfield Wellness aims to help everyone be their best self. I do a thorough assessment on every patient and we establish what your wellness needs and goals are. So many people are helped just by having someone listen to and work through all of their concerns. Life is tough and complicated and we each have our individual journey to navigate. I would love to help you in any way I can.

Dr. Cheryl Canfield

Canfield Wellness, PLLC

Integrative Healthcare and Consulting

989-977-9019

Happy New Year!!

As we enter the new year what are your goals? Is it time to make a commitment to focus on your health? I know in my life, as I turned 60 this year, I realize there are less years ahead than behind! I find myself more compelled to make changes to ensure I live out these years in the best way I can.

Regardless of age, we should all attempt to recognize the importance of preventive health. We may feel okay now, but how we are going to feel 10-20-30 years from now. What are we doing now to make sure we are going to have better health then?

For many of us, the first time we start to pay attention to this is when we start to break down in some fashion. We develop things like joint pain, fatigue, weight gain, elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure. These ailments do not happen overnight, they creep in over time and would have been easier to prevent than to reverse. But, here we are..... Now what??

Our bodies are made to endure a lot. When we break down, much is fixable. Part of that process is looking at how we got there and beginning to make corrections moving forward. Figuring that out can be complicated and that is what I specialize in helping people do.

Wherever you are in life, take a moment and start thinking about how you are caring for yourself. Take initiative when it comes to taking care of your mind, body and soul. It doesn't have to be a major life change to begin to do this. Don't bite off too much when it comes to change or you will set yourself up to fail. Pick something and really commit. Don't give yourself an out. When you are successful you will feel empowered and then you can move to the next thing.

If you find yourself stuck, seek help from a professional. You can see your primary care doctor, seek out a health coach, or see someone like me. Whatever you do, make sure you find someone who is willing to come alongside you and get you the answers you are seeking.

Take care, Happy New Year!!, and make a plan for 2023 to make at least one change toward better health and wellness.

Dr. Cheryl Canfield

Canfield Wellness, PLLC

canfieldwellness.com

989-977-9019