Dr. Mary Oberstein » April 2014

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Dr. Mary's Take Family Kid's Health Nutrition

Hey baby, How about a nighttime snack?

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When Moms ask me how long I breastfed my daughters, I look up to the sky as if I’m counting the years and then I say jokingly, “Right up until they started middle school?” Having three daughters all roughly two years apart, I was breastfeeding for about a 6 year period of time and breastfeeding was one of the best experiences of my life. Think about how amazing is it that our bodies are designed to not only carry and birth people but to give them all of the nutrition they need to thrive and survive. I could write about ALL of the great benefits of breastfeeding however, I’m going to take it up a notch and just talk specifically about breastfeeding at night.

An article that was written for Breastfeed Chicago entitled ‘5 cool things no one ever told you about nighttime breastfeeding’ stated this.  Are you ready?

1) Breastfeeding moms get more sleep.

2) Breastfeeding women have a higher level of  hormones at night therefore produce more milk at night.

3) Nighttime breast milk contains melatonin (a sleep inducing hormone) which babies don’t develop in early life.

4) Nighttime breast milk is rich in brain boosting substances, mood affecting hormones and helps with sleep/wake cycles.

5) Keeps mom’s long term milk supply steady and strong which can lead to less pumping during the day.

For anyone who wants to be blown away by how intelligent our bodies are, I encourage you to click here for the article  to get the “why and “how.”

The gift of MORE sleep, lowering your postpartum depression risk, building and developing babies brains, possibly reducing their risk for long-term mood disorders,  developing their own circadian cycles, ensuring your long-term breast milk supply, giving you an opportunity to pump less at work are just a few reasons to make you want to wake up at night to nurse your baby. Honestly, the Greatest reason is because you love your baby and yourself and want what is best for both of you! Cheers!!

 

 

Family Kid's Health Nutrition

A Little Lemon

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I have a lemon tree in my backyard that produces a ridiculous amount of lemons. The good news is that lemons have so many beneficial qualities and I have an abundance of them. The not so good news is that I have this habit of “pruning” the tree myself.  I have absolutely no idea how to prune a tree, I just go with my instincts and cut branches that don’t look like they want to be there. My husband calls me Edward Scissor-hands after a pruning frenzy but I truly believe that after I finish this task, the lucky remaining lemons get a burst of energy from the earth and taste so much better. I love living a healthy lifestyle . Squeezing a little lemon into your water everyday is a great way to get yourself and your family to drink more water which is essential to good health. Of course, eating lots of fruits and veggies is the best way to stay hydrated. I use lemon in herbal teas, stir-fried and steamed veggie dishes, and home-made salad dressings among other things.

It’s a simple way to cleanse and purify your body on a daily basis and  if you have a lemon tree in your yard, then you’re all set.

Pruning lessons! THAT is what I want for Mother’s Day!! I’m serious!

Family

Committed to living a healthy lifestyle

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It really can be THAT simple! I’m talking about living a healthy lifestyle. THE first step is making the commitment. If you can’t or won’t then take the pressure off yourself and live your life how you see fit. The upside: you can be as lazy as you want and you have more free time. The downside: the quality of your life and health will suffer.  I was 18 years old when I COMMITTED TO LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. I started exercising regularly, eating healthy foods that nourish my body and focused on keeping my mind, body and spirit as free and clear as possible. I found that if you make living a healthy lifestyle part of your day… your world… your life… it’s EASY.  Choose an exercise that you enjoy doing. Eat fresh fruits, veggies and unprocessed foods THAT YOU LIKE!  Read books that enlighten you. Set up a peaceful, healing and loving environment. Choose to be around people who you want in your life.  AND, of course, get your nervous system checked by a Chiropractor to ensure that your body and all of its systems are functioning at the highest possible level.

Here are three reasons that people decide to live a healthy lifestyle:

1) Inspiration

2) Motivation

3) Desperation.

Please don’t wait for #3.  Start TODAY! Your life may depend on it!

Dr. Mary's Take

Where is Your Happy Place?

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I am blessed. I live in La Jolla California.  La Jolla translation:  The Jewel. Throughout my travels, I have found fewer places that are more beautiful than where I live. I have never considered myself a beach person, I feel like I’m more of a mountian person however, the fact that I live five minutes from the beach, my HAPPY PLACE” is anywhere I can look out at the massive ocean, listen to the waves and smell the salty air that permeates through my body and cleanses my soul. I go to my HAPPY PLACE when I need perspective. Sometimes, I just need a visual representation of BIG. You think you are faced with a BIG challenge? Go to the ocean. All of the sudden, you see what BIG looks like and your challenge seems alot smaller.

What did you say? You don’t live on the coast. That’s OK. Your Happy Place can be anywhere that you feel FREE! Free to breathe deeply, clear your mind, get centered and remember what is most important in LIFE.  Where is your HAPPY PLACE?  I’d love to know.

Family Kid's Health

Fearful of Fevers?

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When you or your child has a fever, does it make you nervous? Would you like to be less Fearful of Fevers? Maybe this explanation will help ease your mind.  I was a medical technology major before I decided to become a Chiropractor and I spent numerous hours in the lab culturing bacteria samples. The ONE constant with ALL of the bacteria was that they grew and multiplied, very aggressively at times, until we placed them in high temperature settings. The bacteria could not thrive or ultimately survive in higer than “normal” body temperatures. Sometimes, it only took raising the temperature 3-4 degrees to see the decline in growth.  I think that most people know that fevers actually are an important part of  the healing process. WHY then, when you or your child has a fever would you try and lower the body temperature? If someone has a fever due to heat stroke or poison call 911.  If someone suffers from seizures caused by fevers, then lower their temperature. Those are exceptions to allowing the body temperature to rise.  In my family, when any of us have had a fever, we put on cotton sweats, got in bed with extra blankets to raise our body temperature in order to “knock out” the  viruses and/or bacterium. Within 48 hours, we were back in action. We see a alot of kids in our practice and have witnessed their amazing bodies “burn out” all sorts of super bugs. Sometimes parents just need a little reassurance that their child is going to be fine and that their healthy immune system is on the job.

If you EVER need reassurance about fevers or other health concerns, come to my blog and leave a comment.  I will cyber-walk with you through the process. That is my committment to making this world healthier!  Still Fearful of Fevers? I’m promise you… you got this!