February 2020 News – From Dr Kathleen Arnold

Welcome February!

What to look for in a quality multivitamin, chiropractic care and pregnancy, and going sugar-free in February – lots to read about in this month’s newsletter!

January went by fast and slow (if you’re a parent, you know what I’m talking about). I am still trying to play catch-up from the holidays, it seems. I’m also trying to find clever ways to ward off cabin fever with my four children. I can’t count the number of times I’ve tried to reinvent ways to use Legos and building blocks, guys. The struggle is very real. At least we are one month closer to Spring!

With my background in nutrition and functional medicine, patients often ask me whether or not they should be taking a multivitamin. My answer is usually yes, but taking a multivitamin is more about properly supporting your overall metabolic pathways than just taking a pill. Here are a couple of tips I recommend for finding and taking a good, quality multivitamin:

  1. Make sure your supplement is GMP certified. This is a marker for quality assurance. It’s third-party verified and renders a better, quality product.
  2. Check for methylated B9 and B12 vitamins. Simply scan the side of the vitamin list until you find Folate (B9) and Cobalamin (B12). If these vitamins have METHYL anywhere in their name (ex: methyltetrahydrofolate or methylcobalamin) then it’s a winner! One of the reasons I recommend a methylated B multivitamin is because your body can utilize these important vitamins in various pathways right away instead of working hard to convert them for utilization. Methylated B vitamins are critical for detoxification pathways, energy and neurotransmitters.
  3. Say NO to preservatives or toxic additives. Dyes and preservatives aren’t healthy for anyone. If you get to the “other ingredients” and you can’t pronounce the words, don’t buy it!
  4. Choose a capsule for optimal support. Some of my patients have significant GI issues like IBS or Chron’s that make it difficult to break down and assimilate certain supplements. Tablets are compressed and can sometimes be difficult for patients to digest and use. If you have issues with digestion, I recommend moving to a capsule form.

We only sell pharmaceutical-grade multivitamins in our office. The one I most commonly use with my patients cost about $20 and meets all of the criteria above. Remember, a multivitamin is not an alternative to a healthy lifestyle but rather a supplement to good health.

Last month we hosted an event to help expecting parents outline a birth plan. We had a great turnout and a lot of great conversations about the resources and choices available for a healthy pregnancy and birth. I am so proud to be able to offer my specialized training and knowledge to women who are pregnant to help them prepare for an amazing birth experience. I am excited to announce that we will be working with a local childbirth educator to offer birth classes at our office within the coming months! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details!

It’s Sugar Free February! We are encouraging all patients and our community to take part in a month-long challenge of cutting out added and refined sugars. Did you know that the average American consumes over 25 teaspoons of sugar daily? That’s the equivalent of half of the “recommended average”! It is the overconsumption of things like refined sugars that are adding to the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes in adults and children alike. Pick up a calendar in the office or head over to our Facebook page to learn more about how to cut back on sugar this month

Until next month, stay healthy and well!

Dr Kathleen Arnold