Des Moines Chiropractic Newsletter - November 2013

Compass Chiropractic November 2013 E-Newsletter

 

Saturday Hours Now Available!

Painful flareup?  Inflexible work schedule?

We’ll give you a hand this winter!  Saturday appointments are available from 10 AM to 1 PM on the following dates:
 

November 16, 23
December 7, 14, 21
January 4, 11, 18

Congrats to the winners of the TV and iPad giveaways!

We enjoyed making Ingrid C. and Todd K’s days with these great giveaways.  Ingrid won the TV and Todd won the iPad Mini.  Keep reading our newsletter each month to learn about other upcoming opportunities to win with Compass Chiropractic.

What Books Are You Most Thankful For?

November brings our annual Thankfulness Waiting Room Wellness activity!  This year we are again asking our patients to share the books that they are most thankful for.  We’ll send out the list in our December newsletter.  If you can’t make it in this month, feel free to email in your picks or share them on our facebook page!  Our team will share about their picks below.

Sandy’s Books

Tuesdays with Morrie  by Mitch Albom is the final lesson between a college professor, Morrie, and one of his long lost students.  After seeing his professor in an interview on TV the author is reminded of a promise he made sixteen years ago to keep in touch with him. Now stricken with ALS, Morrie does not have much time left, and Mitch recognizes this fact. He travels from Michigan to Massachusetts to meet with him. This meeting goes well and affects Mitch and Morrie so much that they meet for the next fourteen consecutive Tuesdays, up until Morrie passes away. During each of these meetings, they discuss a different topic about life. These topics make up the content of the book and include death, love, culture, marriage, regret and the world we live in, among many others. I love this book and the many emotions conveyed and, no surprise here, it was a tearjerker for me.  As someone who has taken care of and watched two close relatives die in the past few years, it certainly made me think about and ponder my own life as well as aging, forgiveness, family, compassion, and mentors in life, just as Mitch Albom does during the course of the book.
 
Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay.  This is as close to an owner’s manual for parenting that you will find.  I found this book several years ago when my daughters were younger.  This parenting book shows you how to raise self-confident, motivated children who are ready for the real world.  It taught me how to not hover and be a helicopter parent and how to let go and let my kids make mistakes and learn from them.  It’s full of great advice on how to parent effectively while teaching your children responsibility and growing their character.  It truly helped me realize that allowing my kids to endure and survive the natural consequences of some of their decisions – while they are young – will help them develop the skills and abilities to make better choices and survive difficult times as they grow older.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  If I had to point to one book that was instrumental in developing my love of reading it would be Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, a series of books I fell in love with back in grade school.   Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in 1867 in the log cabin described in Little House in the Big Woods. As her classic Little House books tell us, she and her family traveled by covered wagon across the Midwest. Her books share many of the things, happy and tragic, that she experienced with her family.  As an adult, she and her husband, Almanzo Wilder, made their own covered-wagon trip with their daughter, Rose, to Mansfield, Missouri. There Laura wrote her story in the Little House books, and lived until she was ninety years old. For millions of readers, however, she lives forever as the little pioneer girl in the beloved Little House books.  I still own a full set of her books, I shared them with my daughters and I never grow tired of reading these books and fantasizing of what life must have been like on the prairie back in the 1800’s.


Sheri’s Books

When deciding what books I was thankful for a number of them went through my mind.  However, I am an avid science fiction fantasy fan, so I decided on the two that started this love affair.
 
 Years ago a friend loaned me The Mists Of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.  This book is the story about the legends of King Arthur but told from the perspective of the female characters in that day.  The book casts Morgan Le Fay as a woman with unique gifts and responsibilities during a time of political and spiritual chaos instead of an evil sorceress.  She is a High Priestess with much power that influences the great story of King Arthur’s legend.  They made a movie of it in 2001 that starred Anjelica Huston, Julianna Marguilies and Joan Allen.  Might just have to do a search for it on Netflix so I can watch it again.

The second book that I am thankful for is actually a five novel trilogy.  They were written by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Julian May, and Andre Norton.  The story is of three princesses that are given the power of the rare and mystical Black Trillium-a badge of the royal house, a symbol of ancient magic.  As dark magic takes over the land, the sisters are forced to separately go searching for three magical talismans.  These talismans when brought together will be the only chance they have of freeing their people and land from evil!  Scary, right?!  The five books in order are called Black Trillium, Blood Trillium, Golden Trillium, Lady of the Trillium, and Sky Trillium.  The first novel was a collaboration of the three authors.  Then they were each charged with writing a separate story as one of the sisters and their journey to finding their talisman. The last novel was written by Julian May, in which she brought all three sisters together years after finding their talismans and defeating evil.

I love to read these fantasy books and am thankful for them because they take me into a world of imagination and wonder.  Leaving reality behind for just a few chapters!

Dr. Krohse’s Books

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.  Millions have been wowed by the movie and musical.  However, as with the vast majority of great stories, those who skipped reading the book actually missed the most powerful way to experience the story of Jean Valjean. This story has to be read!  A word of advice though: don’t read the unabridged version which totals about 1500 pages.  That would put you through  about 1150 pages of confusing historical information on France and the war going on at the time and about 350 pages of one of the best stories of all time.  Instead look for an abridged version between 300 and 500 pages.

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  When I first saw a friend reading this book I made fun of him.  He told me a girlfriend had told him that he HAD to read it.  Later I asked him to borrow it and am so glad I did.  It has enhanced and helped me understand the most important relationships in my life.  I believe the lessons are so valuable that I require all new staff to read it.  I figure it can only enhance their life overall as well as their ability to make our patients feel appreciated.

 

Chi Running by Danny Dreyer.  Until age 18 I had always been defined by an activity.  I was “Swimmer Dave”.  Losing that identity when I quit swimming in college was a bit of a crisis, but I got involved in other activities and was generally happy.  At 30 years old, I never thought I’d define myself by a single activity again.  Then I read Chi Running!  In just a few short chapters this book taught me how to rid myself of painful shin splints that kept me from running more than 10 miles per week.  As my mileage and efficiency increased, my pace quickened and I found joy on the trails and roads of Des Moines.  Within a few months I was “Runner David” and I’ve never looked back! :)
 

 

Dr. Krohse (green) runs his debut marathon in Des Moines with a Boston-qualifying time of 3:04

Dr. Krohse surprised the Compass team with Wicked on Halloween!
 

Thank you for helping raise over $4,000 for See-Us-Run Des Moines!

Dr. Krohse made a commitment to donate at least $10 for each new patient who came in from February through October.  When you sent in a friend or family member it directly supported the great mission of See-Us-Run! 

Your referrals will now benefit Central Iowa Trails Association!  Through the end of the year, Dr. Krohse will donate at least $10 for each new patient to our practice to CITA.

Des Moines Chiropractic Newsletter - October 2013

Compass Chiropractic October 2013 E-Newsletter

 

Win an iPad Mini in October!

Need a fall tune-up?  Know a friend or family member who needs our care?

Receive one chance to win each time you come in this month.
Receive five chances to win for each referral!

Don't forget our ongoing 50-50 promotion - When one of our current patients refers in a family member or friend as a new patient, we give them each a $50 credit to use for products or services.

Sorry, credits may not be given to Medicare, Medicaid, or VA-insured patients.

Score Panera bagels and fresh fruit for your company's health fair!

Does your company host periodic health fairs?  Contact Sheri at 309-1217 or compassca@gmail.com and she'll send you a packet of information on the wellness services we provide for larger companies.  We participate in the health fairs of a number of larger companies such as American Equity, Continental Western Group, John Deere, and Heska and would love to help make your company's health fair a success.

Generally at health fairs we perform digital muscle tension scans which employees find very informational.  Lately though, we've decided we should contribute more so we're offering to bring Panera bagels & fresh fruit for all participants.  If no additional food is needed, we may be able to contribute a Kindle Fire HD to give away to health fair participants.  Get in touch with us today to learn more!

No health fairs? Schedule a Lunch & Learn or Screening Session for your team!
 
If your company doesn't host health fairs, don't forget our offer to come and do a lunch and learn.  We bring in a great lunch from a restaurant like Granite City or Biaggi's and Dr. Krohse does a quick talk on staying pain-free at work.  The talk ends with instruction on valuable stretches to keep your team's necks and upper backs flexible and feeling nice through the daily grind.

A screening session is where we bring a great treat such as the Panera bagels and are available in a break or lunch room for anyone interested to visit with us, have their muscle tension checked, and discuss any health issues that they have.

Sandy recommends West End Architectural Salvage

Someone's trash is another person's treasure.  If you find yourself looking for just the right piece of "vintage" furniture to complete a room -- or find yourself on the receiving end of an old family heirloom that needs a little tender loving care, Des Moines has a great business that can help you complete the look of your room -- or provide you with inspiration on how you might repurpose that old family furniture.

West End Architectural Salvage is located at 22 - 9th Street in downtown Des Moines.  They have a warehouse that is bursting at the seams with old furniture, fixtures, lights, hardware and assorted building materials.  With an ever changing inventory it is a great place to roam.   West End is open 7 days a week and has a nice coffee shop located on the first floor of their building.

Sheri recommends Mahjong

I have been addicted to playing Mahjong on my Nook for a about a year now.  I have always loved doing word find games and playing solitaire, which is how I found this game.  Originally I downloaded an app on my Nook for solitaire that had other games.  So one day I started to play it and have been addicted ever since!

Although in doing some research on this game, it seems the apps available out there are slightly different to play than the actual game.  It originated in China and is played by 4 players.  It is a game of skill, strategy, and calculation involving some degree of chance.  It is played with 144 tiles with each player starting the game with thirteen tiles each.  In turns the players draw and discard tiles until they complete a legal hand using the fourteenth drawn tile to form four groups and a pair.  Now on my Nook app, I simply have to match up like tiles to eliminate them from the board with the goal being to clear the entire board of tiles.  However, you can only choose a tile when it can slide left or right or has no adjacent tiles on one side or the other and does not have a tile above it.  Sounds simple enough.  But even though every game starts with a solvable configuration, moves you make can cause it to be unsolvable.  So thinking moves ahead is key to solving the board.  You also cannot go the next level until you solve the board.

Some researchers believe that playing a form of Mahjong is beneficial for individuals suffering from dementia, cognitive, and memory difficulties.  I love it so much that I now have several different kinds of Mahjong on my Nook and phone.  Right now I am conquering Galaxy Mahjong!  So if you enjoy games like solitaire or word finds, I suggest checking out Mahjong. 

Dr. Krohse recommends his new nutritional handout:

Nutritional recommendations can be hard to make.  There are so many products, so many experts, and so many opinions on nutrition and supplementation.  However, in my practice my "golden rule" has always been to recommend what I would want recommended to me or a family member.  Below are the products and food philosophies I personally use and personally recommend to my family members.

-Dr. David Krohse
 

Supplements that may Decrease Pain, Stiffness, and Tension

Natural Calm Magnesium Supplement

Patients frequently walk out of our office on a Friday with their first bottle of Natural Calm and then come back the next Monday raving about the ways it has decreased their pain, eliminated muscle spasms, helped them sleep better, solved stubborn chronic constipation, and generally improved their life.  It seems everyone notices a benefit when they start taking Natural Calm.

Two minerals play a key role in causing muscles and nerves in your body to become more and less excited.  Calcium can be thought of as the exciter.  Most people focus on getting plenty of calcium.  However, many people neglect to get enough magnesium, the mineral which enables the muscles and nerves to relax properly.  Improving your magnesium intake can improve a number of symptoms including the ones listed above.  I love my Natural Calm and highly recommend it for patients dealing with muscle tension, spasms, pain, tightness, chronic stiffness, restless legs, and painful menstrual cramps.  You can pick up a brochure to read other symptoms that may be helped.

Personally, I take Natural Calm shortly before bed to help me get a more restful night's sleep.  I also feel it does wonders at preventing muscle soreness and speeding up recovery following my intense running and cycling workouts.  Follow the directions on the bottle and gradually increase to your ideal dose as magnesium has stool loosening effects.

Glucosamine Synergy by Standard Process

For tougher cases of tension and tightness, I personally use and recommend Glucosamine Synergy by Standard Process.  Many have heard of the potential benefits of glucosamine supplements for knee and spine arthritis symptoms of tension, tightness, stiffness, and pain.  However, I have read that these supplements generally take months of use to feel the benefits.  My personal experience with Glucosamine Synergy has made me feel strongly that the "synergy" portion of this product vastly speeds up the rate at which it starts to help.

The synergy portion of this product starts with Boswellia Serrata or Indian Frankincense which has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine to decrease arthritis symptoms.  The rest is a health-supporting cocktail of whole food plant and animal extracts which support connective tissue maintenance and repair as well as overall joint health.

I first tried this product when I was experiencing some stubborn neck and top of the shoulder pain that would not resolve.  I began to take the three capsules a day and would estimate that I noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms within the first four days!
 

Supplementation for Everyone

Most health experts agree that the best plan to get the nutrition you need is through your food.  I personally follow a  few simple rules that emphasize eating real, nutrient-rich foods when possible.
•             Unlimited veggies and fruits in a 2:1 ratio (search the web for "dirty dozen, clean fifteen" to find which should be purchased organic)
•             Limited processed foods, grains, legumes, and dairy focusing on lower carb dairy options such as cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, hard cheeses, and half & half
•             Regular consumption of healthy fats to support healthy hormone production such as olive oil, flax seeds, fish oils, nuts, coconut oil, and almond milk
•             Highly satisfying proteins such as eggs, fish, meats, and protein powder supplements
I would describe my diet as an 80% Paleo Diet.  To learn more about how this diet can improve health and decrease weight I recommend reading the book The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.

In the context of my diet, I add one "supplement" with the goal of filling in any gaps I might be missing.

Vega One
 
I love the story behind Vega One.  Brendan Brazier was a professional triathlete... and a vegan.  Vegans have a hard time covering all the nutritional bases as it is, but when 4,000+ calories per day of endurance activity was thrown into Brendan's life he was seriously struggling to make sure his body was still able to perform optimally.  Vega One was his solution: one plant-based powder supplement to fill in all the gaps in his healthy diet and active lifestyle.  This product takes the place of most of the individual products that health experts recommend for everyone: multivitamin, fish oils (omega-3s), probiotics, greens foods, fiber, and healthy protein.

Personally I have about three to five servings of Vega per week.  My favorite is the Vanilla Chai or French Vanilla flavors and I either mix a scoop of it with some vanilla unsweetened almond milk as a between-meal snack or blend it with frozen tropical fruit to make a delicious morning smoothie.

What About Losing Weight?!?!

Did you know I'm a chubby guy who learned about a plan that actually works?  Up till 2010 I weighed 30-35 pounds more than I do now.  In January of 2010 I tried the Standard Process Purification Program.  In the 21 days of the program I dropped 15 pounds.  Over the next five weeks I dropped another 10 pounds.

This program changed my life!  It dropped weight like a crash diet, even as I was eating as much food as I wanted.  It reset my food attitudes and made me appreciate veggies and fruits for the first time in my life.  It also alleviated my year-round environmental allergy symptoms and let me stop taking daily Zyrtec and nasal steroids. I believe a relatively short, well-designed program  like this can be the best way to start a lifetime of healthy eating and ideal weight.

Read about my experience by visiting my blog, desmoineschiro.blogspot.com and look on the right side. While a person goes through the Standard Process Program, I'd also recommend they read two books: Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It by Gary Taubes and The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.

Dr. Krohse cruises to a 3rd place AG finish at the HyVee Tri

Des Moines Chiropractic Newsletter - August

Compass Chiropractic August 2013 E-Newsletter


 

Road Construction!

We're sad to report that the 73rd / 8th Street exit off of 235 westbound will be closed for the next couple months.  For those coming to our office from downtown Des Moines, the best route will be the 63rd Street exit to University Avenue.

Please be aware that University Avenue has a 25 mph speed limit through Windsor Heights and is speed camera patrolled!  Though we fix backs and necks, we can't fix driving records or speeding tickets.

Compass Chiropractic Cutest Pet Contest Winner: Sheldon

Congrats Sheldon!  You won a $50 gift card to Iowa Pet Foods and Seascapes.

Thanks to all the rest of the dogs who participated in the contest!
 

 

Sheri's health class

Sandy recommends Watermelon.org
 
I look forward to consuming massive quantities of watermelon every summer.  And -- because I hate purchasing melons that are mushy, tasteless and not very sweet, I went in search of advice on how to pick the best melons.  I found great information on watermelon.org.  In addition to how to pick good melons, they give information on recipes and how to make beautiful and fun watermelon carvings.

Become a fruit ninja this summer!

Sheri recommends Nut Pob Restaurant

My new favorite restaurant!  Those of you who are Thai food fanatics have probably already discovered this little gem.  My friend has been trying to get me to go with her for months now and we were finally able to get it done.  They have one of the best Pad Thai dishes I have had.  We also ordered some crab rangoons that were fresh and awesome.  They have a great selection of dishes, serve large portions and the prices are right.  Located at 3322 Indianola Ave it could become a weekly stop for me very easily.  My list of dishes I want to try go from the Pho (noodle soup), especially the spicy Tom Yam to their fried rice, and the vermicelli.  For those who like the vegetarian side, there are some special dishes for you too.  Vegetable Pad Thai and Fried Rice are on my list to try.  Great place to get a good meal.  If you have not tried them, do yourself a favor and check them out.  I cannot wait to get the Pad Thai again later this week.

Enjoy!

Jenni recommends Chiropractic Checkups for Kids

With the school season soon approaching, it’s time for those school and sports physicals.  Since the age of 4 my son, Dalton, has been a three sport athlete; baseball, soccer and basketball.  He has been getting chiropractic care since he was a toddler.  Just remember with every slide into the base on the ball field, every high kick into the net in soccer and every jump in basketball, something can get out of line.  Maintenance is the key!
 

Dalton steps up to the plate

Dr. Krohse recommends NNW Healthy 100% Whey Protein Powder

Those of you who have read my newsletter for a while know that I am a big believer that most Americans wishing to maintain a healthier weight would benefit most from decreasing carbs.  My personal experience with the Standard Process Purification Program, which helped me drop 15 pounds in 21 days and 25 pounds in two months changed the way I looked at food.  Books like Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It by Gary Taubes and The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf helped me learn more why a lower carb, high veggie, moderate fruit, moderate protein, and moderate healthy fat diet worked for me.

As I discuss my diet with people, many people acknowledge that their brief trials of low carb eating also produced rapid results.  However, they found it hard to maintain.  For me, this NNW Healthy 100% Whey Protein Powder has been crucial to helping me drop and maintain weight.  I love the flavor and appreciate that it is sweetened by stevia and not sweeteners such as aspartame or splenda that have a more chemical taste and possibly more risk.  It comes in an abundance of flavors, but I generally use the vanilla and chocolate flavors to make a few favorite low carb "sweet treats."  it can be found exclusively at the Hy-Vee Health Markets.  A few of my favorites simple recipes are below:

Chocolate Milk/Mocha
•             Chocolate NNW
•             30-40 calorie/serving vanilla unsweetened almond milk
•             Coffee if you prefer a mocha

Reese's Peanut Butter Paste
•             1 spoon Smuckers Natural No-Sugar-Added Creamy Peanut Butter
•             1/2 serving scoop of Chocolate NNW
•             1 spoon coconut oil (optional)

Berry Good Low Carb Stick-To-Your-Ribs Yogurt
•             1/2 cup frozen triple berry mix (large bags from Target, Costco, or Walmart) microwaved to warm
•             1 cup Anderson Erickson Plain Greek Yogurt
•             1 scoop vanilla NNW

Berry Banana Smoothie
•             1 cup frozen triple berry mix
•             1/2 cup water
•             1 banana
•             1 cup AE Plain Greek Yogurt
•             1 scoop NNW Vanilla

&

MVP Sports Center (formerly Champions Sports Center)

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to provide a lunch and learn for the new staff of the MVP/Champions Sports Center.  This facility is located on Park Avenue near the southwest corner of waterworks park.  I was so impressed with their team and their plans for MVP as they develop it after purchasing it lately.  Zach McCool is definitely an ambitious young man ready to improve the athletic community in Des Moines with his team.

The main focuses of the MVP team are on providing great indoor space, coaching, and development for baseball, volleyball, basketball, football, and dance.  They have an amazing amount of space for these sports and shared that a number of teams rent their facility.  They also host tournaments and parties.  Additionally, MVP caters to the entire family with a cardio and weight room for mom or dad to work out in while their kids are improving in their sports.  Check out MVP Sports Center today!

Des Moines Chiropractic Newsletter - July

Compass Chiropractic July 2013 E-Newsletter

Which pet is the cutest?

Compass Chiropractic Cutest Pet Contest

Our patients have been voting on the pets below in our office throughout the month.  For this last week, we'll accept votes on our Facebook page as well.  For your vote to count, you'll first need to like Compass Chiropractic on Facebook.  Then vote just once by writing your choice as a comment at this post!  If you’ve already voted in our office please refrain from voting again :)

Bailey



Chloe



Maddie



Molly



Raven



Reece



Sheldon



Sophie



Teddy



Tiger Tail the Terrible



Tupelo

Dr. Krohse recommends Posture Awareness with PostureScreen

Poor posture is often the underlying cause of neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.  When your head is in front of your shoulder, the muscles in your neck have to work much harder, and joints in your neck become strained and inflamed.  This inflammation can "pinch" nerves and lead to pain, numbness, and tingling in the head and arms.

Additionally, most would agree that it's more attractive to stand up tall.  After all, who wants to have a "turtle neck" with the head far out in front of the shoulders?

In today's world we all have to work against poor posture.  Desk work, driving, heavy backpacks, and smart phones all pull our heads forward.  We see many instances where a person's posture is already becoming problematic during their teen years.  This sets them up for a lifetime of tension, tightness, and pain.

As the twelve steppers know, the first step to fixing a problem is admitting that you have the problem.  If you never look at yourself from the side, you can pretend that your posture is great even though your spinal health is suffering.  That's where I'm excited to now be able to provide PostureScreen assessments for our patients.  These reports will visually show patients their posture and what the poor posture is affecting.  When we teach our patients stretches and exercises to counteract poor posture, they can use their report as motivation to continue with these strategies even as they begin to feel great through our care.

Ask for a free posture assessment and report at your next visit!  Make sure to bring your children in as well for a posture screen and teach them the benefits of standing up tall and avoiding "turtle neck."  We'd love to teach you and your family strategies to enjoy better posture.

Sheri recommends Standard Process

In January this year I did the purification program from Standard Process, which was the start of my love affair with these products.  After doing this I decided to try some of the supplements for my allergy problems.  They have worked great!  Before taking them I was using a steroid nasal spray, Sudafed, Nyquil, Alka-seltzer etc...  I would even have to rotate the over the counter products because after a while one would not work and I would have to switch it up.  But I am so thrilled to be able to say that I have not had to take any of those over the counter products since February. 

Since the allergy supplements were so successful, I decided to try the regimen they offered for my hypothyroidism.  The thought of taking the medication prescribed to me for the rest of my life was not something I really wanted to do.  Instead of taking meds to replace what my thyroid should be doing, I wanted something to kick start my thyroid into doing its job properly for me.

So I stopped taking my prescribed medication and began taking the Standard Process.  After being on the supplements for 8-12 weeks, I set up an appointment to have my thyroid checked.  I'm so incredibly happy to report that it is now functioning normally!  I have always been a bit of a supplement junkie, but am so amazed to see what the right combination can really do.  It is exciting to be able to actually see and measure what it has done for me.

Sandy recommends Watermelon Sugar Cookies

Here's a sugar cookie recipe that's fun to take to summer picnics:

Ingredients

•             3/4 cup butter, softened
•             3/4 cup sugar
•             1 egg
•             1/2 teaspoon almond extract
•             2 cups all-purpose flour
•             1/4 teaspoon baking powder
•             1/8 teaspoon salt
•             Red and green gel food coloring
•             1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
 
•             In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and almond extract. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Reserve 1 cup dough.
•             Tint remaining dough red; shape into a 3-1/2-in.-long roll. Wrap in plastic wrap. Tint 1/3 cup of reserved dough green; wrap in plastic wrap. Wrap remaining plain dough. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
•             On a lightly floured surface, roll plain dough into an 8-1/2x3-1/2-in. rectangle. Unwrap red dough and place on a short end of the plain dough; roll up.
•             Roll green dough into a 10x3-1/2-in. rectangle. Place red and plain roll on a short end of the green dough; roll up. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
•             Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough into 3/16-in. slices (just less than 1/4 in.). Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Lightly press chocolate chips into red dough to resemble watermelon seeds.
•             Bake 9-11 minutes or until firm. Immediately cut cookies in half. Remove to wire racks to cool.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Jenni recommends Cool Basil

It is a cute Thai Restaurant located in Clive, at 8801 University Avenue, in the same strip mall as Pier 1 Imports and Toys “R” Us.  The seaweed salad was great and the crab rangoons are a must!  Here’s the link… http://www.coolbasiliowa.com/ Enjoy!

 

Des Moines Chiropractic Newsletter - June

Compass Chiropractic June 2013 E-Newsletter

Congrats Jan L! You won the Chiroflow water pillow for signing up for this email newsletter!

Patients and friends who sign up for our newsletter in our office or at the Compass Chiropractic booth at the Valley Junction Farmer's Market will have a chance to win a new TV at the end of summer!

Your best friend can win $50 to Iowa Pet Foods & Seascapes!

Compass Chiropractic Cutest Pet Contest

Email that one cutest picture of your furry, feathered, or scaled best friend to compasschiro@gmail.com by June 28.  Patients and friends will be able to vote on all submitted pet pictures in our office reception area during the month of July. We'll also spotlight submitted pics in our next newsletter!  We can't wait to see your cute pictures!  Check out our team's furry family members below! 

Dr. Krohse & George (not eligible to win :)

 
Sheri recommends Walk Now for Autism Speaks

 

 New staff portraits by J&Company
 

This past Saturday I joined my brother and his family on Team Cristian’s Warriors at the Walk Now for Autism Speaks down at Principle Park.  It is a family friendly event and the single most powerful force in funding vital research in leading to answers needed concerning autism.  It is a family affair that they have been doing for three years now, building a bigger and bigger team each year.  I am so glad that I was able to join them this year, and plan on doing every year here after!

Cristian is my six year old great nephew who has autism.  And yes, I am a great aunt, three times over as a matter of fact!  I joined the team as a walker/donation collector for next years walk.  The Autism Speaks walks around the United States are dedicated to funding science and research, family services, awareness, and advocacy.  Autism is a group of complex disorders of brain development.  Characterized in varying degrees by a difficulty in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.  They can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues.  Issues being in sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.  Some that are diagnosed with autism excel in visual skills, music, math, and art.  It affects over two million individuals in the United States and tens of millions worldwide.

The walk is only a mile long around the river by Principal Park, a very easy, leisurely walk for a great cause!  My niece is a wonderful single mother who tirelessly works with Cristian on verbal skills and learning to speak for certain items that he wants.  It is inspiring to watch her interact with him.  I heard him speak for the first time asking for his Ipad!  My brother and sister-in-law are doting grandparents who also tirelessly work with him.  He goes to a school where the teacher helps the family and Cristian take steps to allow him to slowly communicate verbally.  With the help of the Autism Speaks Walk they collected over $2600 in donations to help the cause!  Way to go Team Cristian’s Warriors!  You can still support this cause!

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Sheri's furbaby Rileigh

Sandy recommends Rhubarb Salsa
 

I have a bumper crop of rhubarb this year and went looking for a way to utilize it (other than in pies and desserts).  I located a Rhubarb Salsa recipe, tried it and loved it.

2 cups thinly sliced rhubarb
1 small red onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 cucumber, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
3 roma tomatoes, finely chopped
2 teaspoons brown sugar
5 Tablespoons key lime juice
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 pinch garlic powder (or more)
ground black pepper (to taste)

Cook rhubarb in pot of boiling water for 10 seconds, quickly drain and transfer to bowl of cool water.  Drain water when rhubarb is cooled.

Stir in onion, peppers, cucumbers, cilantro and tomatoes

Make dressing by dissolving brown sugar in Key lime juice in a bowl; lightly stir lime juice mixture into rhubarb mixture. Sprinkle salsa with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper and stir salsa again. Refrigerate at least 3 hours to blend flavors and chill.  Serve with your favorite chips.

For a little more "kick", leave the seeds in the jalapenos.  

Sandy's daughter Lauren cuddles with her three pet-kids

Jenni recommends Kale!
 

 

Kale is being called “the new beef”, “the queen of greens” and “a nutritional powerhouse.” Here are ten great benefits of adding more kale to your diet:

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat. One cup of kale has only 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat. It is great for aiding in digestion and elimination with its great fiber content. It’s also filled with so many nutrients, vitamins, folate and magnesium as well as those listed below.

2. Kale is high in iron. Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef. Iron is essential for good health, such as the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more.

3. Kale is high in Vitamin K. Eating a diet high in Vitamin K can help protect against various cancers. It is also necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions including normal bone health and the prevention of blood clotting. Also increased levels of vitamin K can help people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids help protect against various cancers.

5. Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support. Eating more kale can help lower cholesterol levels.

7. Kale is high in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is great for your vision, your skin as well as helping to prevent lung and oral cavity cancers.

8. Kale is high in Vitamin C. This is very helpful for your immune system, your metabolism and your hydration.

9. Kale is high in calcium. Per calorie, kale has more calcium than milk, which aids in preventing bone loss, preventing osteoporosis and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Vitamin C is also helpful to maintain cartilage and joint flexibility

10. Kale is a great detox food. Kale is filled with fiber and sulfur, both great for detoxifying your body and keeping your liver healthy.

Here is a really great recipe for a kale snack:

Kale Chips

1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a noninsulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.  With a knife or kitchen shears, carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite-sized pieces.  Wash and thorough dry kale with a salad spinner.  Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

Enjoy!
 

Jenni's boy Ozzie sporting some scrilla shades!

Dr. Krohse recommends J & Company Photography, Urban Sugar, & Val's Home Cleaning

As a small business owner, it's always a blast to meet people creating their own destiny by starting their own outstanding business.  This month I'd like to recommend a few people whose services you should definitely use ASAP!

Jennifer Marinangeli - J&Company

How does Jennifer Marinangeli of J&Company get such fantastic pictures?  Quite simply her smile, attitude, and laughter are contagious.  You'll be smiling and laughing the entire time during your photo shoot.  The fun you're having shows with beautiful, genuine portraits as you can see by the portraits I had her take of our staff recently.  Thanks Jennifer!  Contact Jennifer next time you need a family, baby, couple, professional, senior, or other portrait!  Learn more here!

Amy Richter - Urban Sugar

Want to go above and beyond for your next party or special event?  Serve custom cake pops made with TLC by Amy Richter at Urban Sugar!  Amy will work with you to create special pops to match the theme of your party or event.  For instance, she is now providing Couture Bling cake pops to the Vinyl Studio & Bling Boutique in Urbandale.  Sample or purchase Urban Sugar pops at the Vinyl Studio and call Amy to find out how you can wow your friends, family, or business associates with the most unique treats in town!

Val Leonard

Do you get to Sunday evening and realize you still haven't gotten around to cleaning your home?  Does the week fly by and the mess remain?  Would you like to have more time and a shiny, fresh-smelling house?  If you answered "YES!" to those questions you should contact Val Leonard.  She'll help you find the free time, fresh smells, and sparkles hidden under the dirt, dog hair, & grime.  Read Val's story below...

Hello Neighbor!

My name is Val and I'm the blonde young lady with the blue bandana you may have seen jogging around our neighborhood mid morning.

I grew up here in Des Moines, and spent some time teaching overseas and here locally after studying at the University of Minnesota.  In January, I took the big leap and started nursing school at Mercy College!

I truly believe I have found my calling in life.  I love taking care of patients and already get such rewarding feedback from my patients.  Their smiles, even in bad situations, make my day.

I have been trying to keep up with school and living expenses by working as a server at Luna Bistro in the East Village and as a trainer at Koko Fitclub in West Des Moines.  Occasionally I help my boyfriend, Dr. David Krohse, with various projects with his chiropractic practice in Clive as well. Though I love these jobs, it's clear I need to work more (and more efficiently) to stay ahead with both school and finances.

While cleaning my apartment recently, it struck me how much I was enjoying the process.  The sense of completion as each room tidied up to looking sharp and crisp is just fun for me I guess.  I love the look and smell of clean :) Then it hit me that I might be able to do this for others!

After realizing this, I decided it would be foolish to assume that just because my apartment looks great I could do a fantastic, professional job for you.  I have spent the last couple weeks shadowing and assisting a couple friends who clean houses as their main occupation, and I am having fun putting their tips and tricks into action!  I have also learned their favorite "green" cleaners to keep your place safe for your kids, grand kids, and/or pet kids :)

So with this note, I wanted to see if you, or someone you know would be interested in having their house cleaned.  In my time shadowing, I've learned how to set clear expectations and scheduling so that you and I are both thrilled with the results of our arrangement.  All you need to do is call me at (515) 724-9739 and we can find a time for me to do a walk-through and prepare an estimate!  If you have questions, you can also email me at leona152@umn.edu.

Thank you!
Val Leonard

P.S. Thank you so much for considering letting me help you!

P.S.S. If you don't currently need my help, please pass this along to a friend or family member who would like more free time and a sparkly home :)