South Windsor Neck & Back February

Spinal The

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11 Year Marriage W ith Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about my own Valentine: my beautiful wife, Angie. Ever since we met out of the blue more than 10 years ago, she’s been a constant, vital presence in my life. I’m not always the best with words, but it’s easy for me to admit that, frankly, I can’t imagine where I’d be without her by my side. Throughout our relationship, Angie’s been the one with drive, constantly working to accomplish her goals and make turns into an

the best of any situation. As more of a cruise-control kind of guy, it’s been an interesting blend of personalities between

I’m extra grateful that we’re together, since it was such a fluke that we ever met at all. After I made it through chiropractic school out in Connecticut, I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to settle down, or where I would establish my lifelong practice. So, after a lot of thought, I decided to move out to Los Angeles for a few months to be closer to family and figure out my next move. There, I stayed with a close friend from school, a young woman named Iris. Iris was the type of person that made friends with everybody who spoke to her, an easygoing, bubbly conversationalist. One day, she started chatting with another friendly woman, Angie, in line at the grocery store, and they instantly hit it off. Next thing you know, Angie and her are having a drink back at Iris’s apartment, when I walk in from whatever errand I’d been on. Iris greeted me, introduced me to our new friend, and I grabbed a beer and joined their enthusiastic conversation. I found myself at ease with Angie almost immediately. This attractive, easy- to-talk-to individual who’d basically found herself in Iris’s apartment by chance. Though it wasn’t the most romantic story in the world — I didn’t see her down on a sandy beach and come and sidle up next to her or something — in that first, low-key chat in Iris’s apartment, we laid the foundations for what would become the most important relationship of my life. Since meeting 10 years ago, we got married in 2007, but that isn’t even close to the end of our story together.

us, as she gets fired up over virtually everything. But while it’s caused a couple disagreements here and there, it’s certainly one quality among many that I really admire about her — she’s passionate. Though we’re both very independent people, with me managing South Windsor Neck & Back and her working crazy hours with her career as a finance manager for a car dealership, we always meet up and connect at the end of the day. Though we’re deeply different people, our worldviews and attitudes have proven to work together perfectly. With my background in the restaurant business, it’s unlikely we’ll be going out to eat on Valentine’s Day, when the food is subpar, overpriced, and accompanied by an endless wait. Instead, I think we’ll do what we always do — a big lobster feast at home. It’s a great way to take stock of everything we’ve accomplished together, have some great food, and just take a moment to appreciate the relationship we’ve built over the years. Like I said, it’s not the most exciting story in the world, but it’s ours, and I’m continuously thankful that Iris brought Angie over to her place on a whim that day. And, of course, that Angie chose me as her lucky guy. -Dr. Chris Colby

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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you’re probably wracking your brain for the perfect recipe to bake for your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with store- bought chocolate, but there’s no topping the personal touch of some homemade baked goods. If you have kids, baking alongside them can be just as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. As an added bonus, baking is a hands-on opportunity where your child can learn all sorts of important concepts. Here is a short list of some of the educational lessons hiding in your kitchen. Math Baking is a numbers game. Just take a look at any recipe, and you’ll recognize the importance of math in building a beautiful cake. Having children measure out ingredients helps them learn about fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, howmany pints are in half a gallon. Following Directions Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry ingredients often need to be mixed separately and then folded together. It SUCCESS STORY Education in the Kitchen I would take Excedrin constantly to get rid of these migraines without realizing I wasn’t doing anything to actually prevent them from coming on, just treating them for the time being. I would miss school, work, and social events from being in so much pain. I was not living my life in full capacity, and it was really taking a toll on me. “My fiancé originally found Dr. Colby himself and started going due to his back pain, and he wanted to get some relief. He raved about his experience with him and convinced me to check him out to see if he can do something about my migraines. I made an appointment in August 2014, and ever since I have been migraine-free. It is now May 2015 and I can’t even believe I lived a life of having multiple migraines a week. Dr. Colby really has helped me, and I continue to go for maintenance checkups. He really loves what he does and is extremely knowledgeable about chiropractic care. He wants to find the source of your pain and knows how everything works; it’s incredible. On top of that, he is such Check out what one of our wonderful clients has to say! “I’ve had horrible migraines for the past four years and always thought that was normal for me, since I’ve grown up with regular headaches.

What Your Child Can Learn From Baking

only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully and comprehending what they’ve just read. Cultural Understanding Cuisine is a fundamental part of every culture. Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new flavors and ingredients. Nutrition Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet.

a personable individual and really cares about his patients and is extremely flexible in scheduling to treat them. I highly recommend this doctor if you need chiropractic care or even just want to improve the quality of your life, like he did for mine.”

–Katie Wagner

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TEXT NECK:

The Modern

Spinal Disorder

Today, smartphones have become an integral part of most of our daily lives. With the entire breadth of human knowledge available in the palm of our hands and the ability to instantly communicate with virtually anyone in the world, it’s no wonder we’ve become so tied to the little devices. But these technological marvels, increasing the speed of communication and the exchange of ideas as never before, have also created a health hazard unique to the modern age. This disorder, sometimes called“text neck,”afflicts thousands across the country in some form. Our spines may be among the most remarkable and complex structures in the human body, but they’re also a delicate construction that can easily be thrown out of balance. When we’re spending more time craned over a device reading, texting, and browsing, our necks and upper back can sustain damage from this suboptimal posture. This may result in persistent upper back and neck pain, which can potentially become serious, lifelong issues.

Though we’re not going to sit here and argue that cellphones are damaging to society overall, it’s important to be aware of“text neck”and how it can be prevented. The key is to be aware of your posture and avoid looking down with your head bent forward as much as possible. When you can, hold the device or book at eye level. If you use a computer at work, make sure the monitor is propped up so you’re looking at it straight ahead. Also, luckily for those whose damage has already been done, treatment is available for text neck and nearly all types of neck and back pain. By consulting with a professional chiropractor, you can receive adjustments specifically designed to counteract your particular brand of pain, allowing you to slowly but surely return to baseline. There’s no reason to live with constant, nagging pain. Call the experts at SouthWindsor Neck & Back at 860-644-2437 today, and fix your text neck before it becomes a debilitating injury.

The burden of staring at a smartphone

Effective weight on the spine as forward tilt increases

GUARDIANGRAPHIC

SOURCE:SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Recipe courtesy of PaeloLeap.com. augh Soup

Ingredients

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1 tablespoon garlic, minced

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3 pounds sweet potatoes, roughly chopped

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5 cups chicken or vegetable stock

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1 onion, chopped

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1 cup coconut milk

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2 stalks celery, sliced

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Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

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2 medium carrots, chopped

Directions

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Puree everything until smooth, using a blender or an immersion blender. Add the coconut milk, give everything a good stir, and cook for another 30 minutes.

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Place all the ingredients except for the coconut milk in a slow cooker. Season everything to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours.

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Adjust the seasoning and serve warm.

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Inside This Issue

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A Chance Introduction Turns Into a Meaningful Relationship Cook Your Way to Better Grades Success Story Text Neck: The Modern Spinal Disorder Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup

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Have You Heard of Ruby Chocolate?

Chocolate FACTS SAMPLE THESE

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! After 80 years, a new variety of chocolate has finally graced the world: ruby chocolate. This naturally pink chocolate, created by Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut, is not milky like milk chocolate, sweet like white chocolate, or bitter like dark chocolate. Instead, Callebaut describes the flavor of his confection as a“tension between berry fruitiness and luscious smoothness.”Unfortunately, while ruby chocolate sounds like a wonderful treat, it is not yet available to consumers. So, as you wait for ruby chocolate to be stocked in your local grocery store or candy boutique, satisfy your chocolate cravings with some sweet facts about your favorite treat. Imposters! The names of certain chocolates can be very misleading. German chocolate cake, for example, is not named after the country of Germany. It’s actually an American dessert that was first baked in 1852, named for its creator, Sam German, and originally called“German’s chocolate cake.”White chocolate also suffers from a mistaken identity. Made primarily from cocoa butter, white chocolate does not contain any cocoa solids, which means it’s not technically chocolate.

What’s in a Name? The ancient Mayans are credited as the first people to grow and consume chocolate. However, the word“chocolate”comes from the later Aztec civilization. The Aztecs loved a bitter, spicy beverage made from cacao beans called“xocoatl.”And since we’re on the topic of words, the scientific name for the tree that grows cacao beans, Theobroma cacao, is a Greek word, which translates to“food of the gods.”This just proves cocoa connoisseurs were right all along— chocolate really is divine. A Sweet Deal Speaking of the Aztecs, their civilization loved chocolate so much that cacao seeds were used as a form of currency in Mesoamerica. During the American Revolution, chocolate was still accepted as payment, sometimes used in soldiers’rations in lieu of wages. Even today, chocolate remains a valuable commodity. The chocolate industry is worth around $110 billion a year. Humans have enjoyed the sweet pleasures of chocolate for thousands of years. And with so many chapters of candy history left to explore, namely ruby chocolate’s eventual entrance, it’s clear the treat won’t go out of style any time soon.

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