The Livewell Clinic - April 2018

The Livewell Clinic - April 2018

THE

APRIL 2018 LEDGER

13375 University Avenue, Suite 100, Clive, IA 50325|www.thelivewellclinic.com|515.279.9900

A s a business owner, I’m an incredibly busy guy. I work to stay on top of a dozen different projects at once, all while ensuring our patients receive the best possible care. But as a doctor who values his health and the health of his family, I need to make sure that stress never gets in the way of my immune system and the things that really matter to me. In the middle of National Stress Awareness month, this discussion is more topical than ever. I find that when I’mmost overwhelmed, the best way to recenter myself and gain much-needed perspective is to take time alone and revisit my personal purpose. I don’t worry myself with world news or things I can’t control. For me, stress builds when I lack clarity in my vision and goals, so I spend a lot of time reminding myself just what it is I want to accomplish and why. Though I honestly don’t consider myself the best example of stress management in the world, there are a few things I’ve implemented that could benefit many of my readers, as well. Having a routine is the most effective tool I’ve found to manage overload. Every morning, I start the day with an hour or two on my own. Often, I read whatever business or personal-development book I’m tearing through lately, contextualizing my thoughts in the framework of the author and helping me set goals for the day. I usually watch a couple videos to get my mind going. They’re typically inspirational or business-oriented. Before I’m ready to go to bed at night, I dim the lights, sometimes putting on blue-light-blocking glasses to prevent digital devices from overstimulating my tired mind. Then I make a warm tea to help me relax, using a formula that has plenty of magnesium and supplements like GABA to help settle my mind for the night. MANAGING STRESS, NO MATTER HOW CRAZY THINGS GET DR. WATKINS' MESSAGE FOR STRESS AWARENESS MONTH

intake with vitamin C IV treatments we offer here at the clinic. They help keep disease and stress from burning out your adrenal glands and immune system. If you’re curious about how these IVs work, check out page 3 for more information on their benefits and this month's specials. But sometimes, I just need to get away and take some time, though that’s usually through business events. I recently returned fromDisney, but I’m not sure those kinds of vacations are really the best stress relievers — it was one of the most stressful (but still fun) weeks of my life. Many times, all it takes is being in a new environment to help me recontextualize my stress and regain the clarity I need. Then, like everybody else, there’s watching the TV. Maybe I’ll watch some mindless Disney cartoon with my kids or waste hours of my life watching football — though that can make me more stressed than relaxed. The process of de-stressing really comes down to maintaining a regular rhythm and always keeping things that matter most at the forefront. Often, if I start to feel frazzled and exhausted, all it takes is an hour or two to think about why I’m doing what I’m doing. This redirects my efforts toward what I love. Your health—both mental and physical — is one of the most precious things in your life. It’s not worth it to let anxiety and worry sacrifice your wellness.

Of course, much of stress management comes down to maintaining my day-to-day health. I strive to eat right, but I also supplement my vitamin

317-776-9942 515.2 9. 00 –Dr. Z a c Watki ns

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HANNAH LARSEN’S JOURNEY TO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE Helping Cure Disease at Its Root

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Ever since she was little, Hannah Larsen knew she wanted to work inmedicine to help patients recover and transform their lives. Since the beginning, her studies naturally revolved around the medical field, because she knew she’d someday step into a career that truly made a difference in people’s lives.

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For Yourself

But from the outset of her path toward traditional medicine in nursing school, Hannah could tell something was wrong. During her seven years as a registered nurse at the UnityPoint Hospital ICU, she began conducting research into functional medicine, and she suddenly uncovered all kinds of problematic untruths in the traditional medical field. By the end of her time at UnityPoint, Hannah had become deeply frustrated with the way things were done in traditional medicine. “I was giving patients these pills that were going to cause hundreds of side effects,” she says, “and I’d hear the doctors just laugh it off. Meanwhile, I saw patients getting all kinds of synthetic treatments that, if they had just eaten real food and followed some nutritional guidelines, could totally have been avoided.” To her, traditional medicine had a snowball effect: "You get one disease, then you get another, and that’s all there is to your life.” She looked at all these hopeless patients and thought to herself, “I could fix all of you so easily!” Eventually, it came time to change her path. Through her chiropractor, Dr. TammyWatkins, who is Dr. ZacWatkins’ wife, she was introduced toThe Livewell Clinic and hasn’t looked back since. NowHannah treats all her patients with a passion for healing and a keen sense of compassion. “When [our patients] go all-in and everything starts to improve, they’re completely transformed.” She loves being a part of that process. “They don’t just look healthier. It’s a change that spreads to every area of their life. There’s a glow about them.”

13375 University Ave, Suite 100 Clive Iowa 50325 Phone (515) 279-9900 www.TheLivewellClinic.com

For a Friend

Share your success story or refer a friend and you both will receive a $50 credit. Use at our clinic toward care, supplements, or testing. From: ______________________ To: _________________________ Refe a friend and you bothwill receive a $25 cr dit. Use at our clinic towards care, supplements or testing.

When she’s not at the clinic, Hannah spends as much time as possible outside with her husband and son, biking, playing, and relaxing.

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We’re certainly thankful to have Hannah on our team, pursuing her life’s dream of helping patients achieve the health they’ve always dreamed of. She is an instrumental part of the Livewell process, and we can’t imagine the clinic without her.

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BREAK THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF STRESS AND DISEASE FUNCTIONAL HEALTH: THE KEY TO MANAGING STRESS

Most of us, caught up in the hustle and bustle of contemporary America, deal with stress on a daily basis. Stress is our body’s natural response to threatening situations, and in small doses, it can be a powerful motivator. But in large doses, stress can activate the body’s fight-or-flight protocols, forcing our adrenal glands to pump out adrenaline and cortisol. This reaction also causes the body to reduce the functions of components that aren’t relevant to fight or flight, most notably the immune system. If stress becomes chronic, it can cause our body to stay in this heightened state of readiness, resulting in a variety of health problems. Chronic stress can reduce your lifespan, diminish your quality of life, and damage your health.

In one study, participants taking large doses (around 3,000 milligrams per day) reported reduced physical and mental responses to stress. This may be due to the fact that vitamin C helps to regulate cortisol and stress-related spikes in blood pressure. But to get the most benefit from your vitamins and ensure your immune system is in tip-top shape, you need to use an optimal delivery method. That’s why we offer IV vitamin therapy — to give you the stress-reducing benefits of a healthy body within minutes. Best of all, the positive effects of IV therapy last for days, which is much longer than your typical multivitamin.

Everybody has different methods for relieving short-term stress, but it can feel impossible to reduce chronic stress and its effects. Luckily, there are methods to minimize stress and diminish its negative impact on your health. The best way is to keep your body fit, healthy, and strong. This not only helps your body weather the effects of cortisol in your bloodstream, but it actually reduces the stress your body experiences. Staying fit entails eating healthy meals, exercising, and taking much-needed vitamins. Vitamin C in particular may be beneficial for stress management.

If you’re suffering from chronic stress and need relief, call The Livewell Clinic at 515.279.9900 to set up an appointment with one of our functional health experts. Or come in and check out the many supplements we offer. For the month of April, we will be offering 15 percent off Bio Fizz, liposomal C, and ascorbic acid. For IV vitamin C bundles, we will be offering $100 off our 12 IV bundle and $50 off of our six IV bundle.

COME AND LEARN ABOUT OPTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH!

JOIN US AT OUR STRESS MANAGEMENT FAIR!

Space is limited, so call our office to register for free.

Info Sessions

April 17, 2018 • 5 p.m.

We will have many vendors representing stress-management techniques and services such as yoga, massage, essential oils, and vitamin C therapy, among others.

• April 10 at 5 p.m. • April 14 at 9 a.m. • April 17 at 11 a.m.

• April 26 at 5 p.m. • April 30 at 11 a.m.

Livewell Chat • April 3 at 5 p.m. The topic will be Stress and the Autoimmune Connection.

MANY DISCOUNTS ON PRODUCTS AND SERVICES! Please call our office to register, as space is limited.

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24/7 Emergency Services

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The Importance of Managing Your Stress INSIDE 13375 University Avenue, Suite 100 Clive, IA 50325 Care to Share and Get $25 Meet Hannah Larsen, Our Wonderful Registered Nurse! Break the Vicious Cycle of Stress and Disease Join Us at Our Stress Management Fair

3 Places to View Natural Wonders

ONE-OF-A-KIND

water, lend their glow to the lagoon. These tiny organisms thrive in areas where salt water and fresh water meet, making the lagoon in springtime an ideal place to see them. Eco tip: To ensure this magical sight will remain for years to come, always go with a “pack it in, pack it out” mentality. Take all of your belongings with you when you leave and be respectful of the beautiful environment that is yours to enjoy. NORTHERN LIGHTS IN SCANDINAVIA One of the most elusive natural wonders, the aurora borealis, can only be seen on dark nights in the most northern parts of the world. That makes Sweden and its Scandinavian neighbors a great place to see the phenomenon. FromDecember through April, you’ll have your best chance of seeing the northern lights. Sightings are dependent on solar activity, so it’s impossible to predict the exact timing and location, but they're easier to see during the longer, darker nights of winter and early spring.

If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you might see rare magical sights—baby turtles scuttling toward water, glowing lagoons, or a shimmering sky. But when and where do you need to be to catch these natural wonders? SEA TURTLES HATCHING IN HAWAII OnOahu’s North Shore, head to Turtle Beach, which gets its name from the many turtles that nest along its shores. During late spring and summer, the waves subside, allowing turtles to crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. Baby turtles hatch at night and make their way to the water by the light of the moon. If you do head to the beach at night to see this spectacle, don’t use white light, as it can disrupt the turtles’ progress (that means no flash photography). Eco tip: Look, but don’t touch! It’s illegal to touch a sea turtle inHawaii. BIOLUMINESCENT PLANKTON IN JAMAICA Imagine looking out at the water as the sky gets dark and seeing it turn a bright, glowing blue. That’s the sight you might be treated to at Luminous Lagoon in Jamaica, where dinoflagellates, microscopic organisms in the

Eco tip: Book your trip through a responsible travel company, such as those that practice a fair-trade policy.

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