Dust and Pets May Boost Mental Health

Eat some dirt and get a pet goat. Jen, can we get a goat?!

There is nothing healthier mentally and physically than getting outside and interacting with your environment.

Children raised in a rural environment, surrounded by animals and bacteria-laden dust, grow up to have more stress-resilient immune systems and might be at lower risk of mental illness, asthma and allergies than pet-free city dwellers, according to new research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

If you are not exposed to these types of organisms, then your immune system doesn't develop a balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory forces, and you can develop a chronic, low-grade inflammation and exaggerated immune reactivity that makes you vulnerable to allergy, autoimmune disease and, we propose, psychiatric disorders.

Full Article: https://www.colorado.edu

If people got as excited as dogs did to go for a walk...

If only people would get this excited to exercise, the world would be a much healthier place!

Can you imagine people jumping up and down and shaking their butt every time someone says "Do you want to exercise?"

Read more about health tips we can learn from dogs. 

Natural Spring Cleaning Tips [NBC 25]

Saginaw chiropractor, Dr. Dan Kehres, as seen on NBC 25


True health is total health. One aspect of total health is reducing the toxins in your environment.

A recent study by the EPA stated that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.

One of the best all-natural cleaners is white vinegar as it is non-toxic and inexpensive. It can be used to clean almost anything!

For general cleaner mix half water, half white vinegar and a few drops off essential if you want a scented cleaner.

To mop your floors, we use the same mixture. It is safe for kids and pets too!

Another simple way to create a healthier home is to remove two common sources of chemicals from your laundry room -- fabric softener and dryer sheets.

Here are some of the chemicals found in commercial fabric softeners and dryer sheets you want to avoid:

•  Alpha Terpineol: can cause central nervous damage and respiratory problems

• Benzyl Acetate: linked to pancreatic cancer
• Camphor: causes central nervous disorders, is easily absorbed through skin
• Chloroform: a carcinogenic neurotoxin that warns inhalation can be fatal

To reduce toxins in your laundry, replace dryer sheets with dryer balls. Plastic dryer balls can be found at many home good stores, but wool dryer balls are your best option. They help reduce drying time (saving money) and help soften clothes too. To find wool dryer balls locally, visit Sweet Peach Baby Boutique in Bay City, Mich.

Also, try swapping out fabric softener for white vinegar. Fill a Downy Ball with white vinegar and throw in the wash on top of the laundry. It works great, is a natural antibacterial cleaner and fabric softener. And it doesn't leave your laundry smelling like vinegar.

Incorporate some of these natural spring cleaning tips for a healthier home!

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs

Coconut Oil has many beneficial uses -- from cooking oil to whipped body lotion. 

We give our dog Rossi coconut oil regularly. Sometimes a small chunk of it as a treat, or when the coconut oil becomes liquid we will drizzle it over her dog food. 

Our gluten-free, dairy-free, coconut oil loving shih tzu

She loves it! Coconut oil helps prevent and reduce itchiness and is good for her overall health too.

Like humans, coconut oil has a variety of benefits for dogs too:

• Reduces pet allergies and clears up skin conditions 
• Improves digestion and reduces "doggie breath"
• Aids in arthritis or ligament problems

Holistic veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker says “I recommend 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil for every 10 pounds of body weight twice daily.”

Pets deserve a healthy lifestyle too!

Learn more about the benefits of choosing natural skin (and fur) care products.


Organic coconut oil is available at Kehres Health & Chiropractic in Saginaw for $13.00. Contact us to order 989-607-4322 or drkehres@kehreshealth.com.