Holistic Living: Nutrition/Wellness Services

09/03/2022

Thyroid issues such as hyper or hypothyroidism are ones that millions of individuals deal with…

Time and time again I hear of people who are taking medication for their thyroid issues without understanding the root cause of the issue! And most of the time, it’s no fault of their own, it’s simply not explained or looked into by their health care provider 🙅‍♂️🙅‍♂️

So, what could be a potential contributor to someone’s thyroid concerns? Adrenal Fatigue! 😴

The adrenal glands, thyroid gland, and hypothalamus work in tandem in a system called the HPA axis! Based on their relationship to one another, if one gland system is not operating properly, one of the others may have to work a little harder to compensate! 😮‍💨

We live in an extremely fast paced and stress driven world, and so, is would be understandable that the adrenal glands, being a system that looks after the stress response, may get a little fatigued if you’re stressed all the time! 😵‍💫😵‍💫

What may happen then? Well, the thyroid for example, may have to pick up the pace, and compensate for those bottomed out adrenals, which could lead to hyperthyroidism (over activity) and eventually, hypothyroidism (under activity) 😴😴😴

So if you’re dealing with a thyroid issue like hypo or hyperthyroidism, think about what else may be playing a role in this issue, and how much of a role stress plays! 👍

08/27/2022

Tight junctions are the proteins that make our gut lining strong and impermeable to toxins, bacteria, and undigested food particles 🙅‍♂️

If these substances breach the gut wall, inflammatory compounds could begin to effect the body systemically, and the immune system could begin to mount a response to its own tissues (autoimmune disease) 🦠

What does the research say? 👇👇👇

Research has shown that free radicals, or reactive oxygen species, disrupt the abilities of various tight junctions within our bodies, including those found in the gut! 🙅‍♂️

Compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrate are just some of the many ROS that have been shown to disrupt the barrier function that tight junctions perform! 🙅‍♂️🙅‍♂️🙅‍♂️🙅‍♂️

Although some of the free radicals mentioned above are created through normal metabolic processes in the body, free radicals can also be created by consuming a poor quality standard American diet, environmental toxins, smoking, stress, and more! 🚬

So next time your stressed, or pick up that cig, think about your tight junctions! 🤙🦠
Research source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6261932/

08/24/2022

We owe much of our health today to the healing power of plants! 🌱🌿

As long ago as 5000 years ago, ancient clay tablets describe herbs used for medicinal products…5000 YEARS AGO!!!!

In truth, even the pharmaceutical products many people purchase from their drug stores are still made from plant compounds, the major difference being that these products have be brought far away from their more natural state, and are developed using synthetic chemical ingredients…

5000 years ago, there were no pharmacies, no quick fix pills to make your headache go away! There were just smart men and women who figured out that plants contain medicinal compounds that could used to treat or aid the ailments of that time, to a certain degree!

How fascinating! I find it so interesting that, even as long ago as that, people looked to the earth for healing! However it’s sad that today, many have come away from the healing ways of our ancestors! 😢
Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358962/

08/23/2022

When we eat food, our stomachs produce and release hydrochloric acid (stomach acid), which aids in breaking down proteins in the stomach!

Frequently, people deal with the issue of acid reflux, where they feel acidity moving upwards into their chest and throat area. Most commonly, this is chalked up to being related to excessive stomach acid.

In my experience working with clients, I’ve found this issues to be likely related to low levels of HCl! How could I come to this thinking? Well, when I work with clients on reducing the things that decrease stomach acid production/render it less effective (poor food combining, too kick liquid at meals, and reducing stress around meal times), and recommend the introduction of capsulated HCl, many times the acid reflux has dissipated!

A traditional doc may be quick to place a patient on a proton pump inhibitor or acid inhibitor, but I think it is important to understand that this issue may not always be the result of high stomach acid levels, but instead could be the result of low stomach acid, causing foods to ferment, creating the rising of this fermentation acid and thus the acid reflux!

*remember, if you are experiencing acid reflux, speak to your trusted health professional for advise, and do not take this post as such* 😊

08/21/2022

Every single cell in our bodies contains cholesterol, and every cell needs cholesterol in order to maintain its integrity! So, does cholesterol play a vital role in humans? YES! 👏

Just like my post on salt, cholesterol is another demonized compound. Years ago, research was coming out, many would say such research was poor research, stating that cholesterol was bad and caused heart disease…

Now, am I here on Instagram to say whether or not cholesterol cause heart disease? NO, as a Holistic Nutritionist, that’s not my job 😊 BUT, what I’m interested in is having a clear picture of what these compound do for the body, so I can make my own sound determinations on what may or may not benefit the health of my body!

To me, if every cell in the human body requires cholesterol, I feel it’s importance for humans cannot be undermined! Does that mean you should go out and drink a gallon of cholesterol ladened fat? NO 😊

I feel as though the way the traditional medical system views cholesterol may be a bit skewed. For example, a doctor may run a blood test and see that cholesterol is high, and will almost immediately prescribe a cholesterol lowering medicine, one that may potentially have other negative side effects….BUT, what if they didn’t know that this person also just sustained a decent injury, and the level of cholesterol in this person was higher to accommodate the injury to help with healing?

In this sense, I personally feel synthetic medicines don’t always need to be passed out like candy because of a marker that happens to be found at one particular time! Instead, thorough investigations into a persons health should always be done, taking into account all areas of health, so that one may truly feel better! 😊 What do you think?

08/20/2022

For many years and years, salt has continued to be a demonized food! This began when doctors started saying salt raised blood pressure and thus lead to heart disease, and while I’m not at all refuting the fact that salt has the ability to increase blood pressure, and high blood pressure can lead to heart issues, this doesn’t mean all people need to FEAR salt or completely avoid it!! 🧂 🧂 🧂

The reality is, salt is an amazing source of many various minerals that are important and needed for many roles within the body! Now, I’m not talking your standard table salt, as that garbage is stripped of its minerals, contains sugar, and anti caking agents…I’m talking about real salt, such as sea salt or pink Himalayan salt!

An example of the importance of sodium in the body can be seen when learning that low amounts of sodium can actually lead to an increased production of the stress hormone Cortisol! 🙅‍♂️🙅‍♂️

We all know that life today is extremely stressful…and thus, our adrenal glands (known as our stress glands), are always working in overdrive, leading to potential adrenal fatigue 😴 The rich minerals in real salt can be supportive towards the adrenals in helping them function normally!

So, is salt for everyone? NO!! Those who may have issues relating to the heart or with their blood pressure may need to air more on the side of caution, and in general, it’s always good for anyone to be working along side a health professional when figuring out how much of something they should be taking in. BUT, I think it’s important to not be fearful of certain foods, and, if salt is something you can have and that fits within your health program, you don’t have to be scared of it!

08/20/2022

08/19/2022

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again; I really think nutrition is typically made to be and feel overly complicated! 🙅‍♂️

The body truly has exactly what it needs to heal, we only need to support it in that process! The problem is, in the modern world, the way we live, eat, and think brings our bodies so far away from being supportive of that healing state that the body can’t keep up! 😓

Taking things back to the basics by simply eating whole foods, moving your body, and drinking more water is a great start towards optimal health! 🌻

Now, this may be a tad bit of an over simplification, however once you start with the basics, a lot of the time the rest will start to fall in place 💙

SO BRING IT BACK TO THE BASICS FRIENDS! ✌️🤙

06/18/2022

There’s many things in our world today that can make us frown :(

Life has turned into one big ball of stress it seems, and it becomes really easy for that to drag us down! But even when you’re not feeling happy, physically smiling has been shown to improve mood and bolster happiness! :)

So the next time you’re feeling :( remember to :) even if you’re not feeling it! Your brain will thank you!

06/14/2022

Adrenal fatigue is a real issue that many are likely dealing with on a daily basis! 😓 It is often an issue that people are unaware of, and I’ve literally heard medical doctors say, “oh that’s not a real issue”, but it’s not really a far fetched concept….

Think about your muscles; the more you use them, the more likely they are to fatigue, until you give the muscles a rest! The same concept could apply to many different systems and organs of the body, and this is the basis of adrenal fatigue!

Your adrenals are tiny glands sitting atop your kidneys, that regulate many hormonal processes, and help you deal with all varieties of stress! 😮‍💨

The harder and harder these glands work without a break, the more likely that they could fatigue, possibly leaving you dealing with some of the signs and symptoms listed here!

Remember, Instagram is not a place to receive medical advice, nor do I provide this/diagnosis’, that’s not what I do!! If you learn more about something like adrenal fatigue and feel like this could be something you’re dealing with, consult with your trusted medical/health professional 😊

06/13/2022

When Spring and Summer come around in Canada, I feel this sense of freshness, peace, and relaxation! 🌸☀️ The feeling of stepping outside and feeling the gentle breeze on my skin, the warmth of the sun, and the beauty of the trees and plants around me brings me a sense of calm 🌻

I recently brought home a puppy that I love so much 🐶 and every day, we go on about 5 walks! Not only has my puppy forced me to be outside more, but being outside more has brought on these feelings of peace and relaxation!

If you’re dealing with a lot of stress right now, take just 5 minutes of your day to step outside and just breath, taking in the beauty around you! It can do wonders for your mental and physical health! 💪

06/12/2022

I want to start this post off by saying, can these foods have their own benefits? Yes…However that’s not the aim of this post! 🙅‍♂️

The aim is to outline that these foods, as they are most of the time consumed in large quantities, and in low quality forms, have the greatest impact on gut health…

Gluten stimulates the release of Zonulin in the gut, which increases small intestine permeability, potentially contributing to autoimmune conditions, global body inflammation etc. 🥯

Dairy can have an inflammatory impact on the gut, and contains proteins that tend to be hard to digest 🥛

Refined sugar and carbohydrates feed yeast and bad bacteria within the gut, allowing them to thrive which can impact the benefits that good gut flora has, increase inflammation and toxicity within the body, and increase gut permeability 🍭

Grains can contains irritating saponins and lectins, which can impact the gut wall. Being a rich source of carbohydrates, if eaten in large quantities, and contain more simple carb than complex carb, can feed yeast/bad bacteria in the gut 🌾

The key takeaway here is, these foods can have a negative impact on the gut/body, however every single person on this planet is different, and what works or doesn’t work for one may differ from someone else, so LISTEN TO YOUR BODY/the advice you receive from your trusted medical/health professional 😊

06/11/2022

🌸 The Body is Like a Flower 🌸

Give a flower healthy soil to live in, fresh water to drink, and proper sunlight, and watch it grow strong and healthy! 🌻☀️

Put a flower in poor quality soil, don’t water it, and don’t provide it with good sunlight, and it will grow frail and weak! ☹️

The human body is the same! Feed the body healthy, nutrient rich food, exercise it, provide it with water, and take part in activities that feed the mind/spirit, and it will be strong and healthy! 💪

Feed the body poor quality, nutrient devoid food, don’t exercise, don’t keep the body hydrated, and participate in activities that have a negative impact on the mind and spirit, and one will be lethargic, constantly run down by illness, and at risk for chronic disease! 🤕

05/28/2022

For real!!!!

01/21/2022

Sodium has been demonized for a very long time…

While there are very legitimate reasons why some individuals may need to reduce their sodium intake, for most healthy individuals, it shouldn’t been seen as an enemy, and we mustn’t forget about the important roles of sodium in the body! 🧂

🧂 Nerve impulse transmission: when we need a message to get from one part of the body to another, sodium is used! Without it, who knows if humans would be as we are today!

🧂 Adrenal Support: the adrenal glands are the glands that deal with all the stress we encounter. Over time with prolonged stress, one may experience adrenal fatigue. Have you ever been super stressed out and noticed how bad you were craving salty foods!? That’s because, under normal circumstances, the adrenals secrete a hormone called Aldosterone, that regulates the amount of sodium being kept in/released from the body. In adrenal fatigue, this hormone may not be very active, and as such, the body will crave sodium due to an imbalance between it and potassium!

🧂 Blood pressure: yes, if one’s blood pressure is very high, they may want to reduce their intake of sodium for a period of time, however under normal circumstances, sodium is used to BALANCE blood pressure. Think of sodium and potassium like a seesaw; if both are present in the right amounts, the seesaw stays balance, but if one or the other is out of proportion, their is fluctuation in that balance!

Of course, this post should not be taken as medical advice…just as an informative piece. So if you have a medical condition that is worsened by the intake of sodium, always consult your health practitioner before changing a part of your care routine!

01/09/2022

Through my own personal struggles with acne, I’ve found several helpful solutions from the natural world, however zinc has been one of the most effective in reducing acne!

Zinc is a mineral that tends to be used a lot more in male health, as it is very supportive in healthy s***m production, however zinc can play important roles for both men and women! 👨 👩

Specific to acne, zinc is extremely beneficial for skin repair, however one interesting role that zinc plays is in its ability to block the action of a testosterone derivative called DHT.

DHT increases sebum production within the skin (oil), which in high amounts may clog pores and increase acne. Zinc can inhibit the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, called 5 alpha-reductase!

So if you’re struggling with acne and have not yet learned about the positive anti-acne potential of Zinc, talk to your Doc or natural health practitioner to see whether or not this mineral could be added to your care plan!

08/01/2021

Plants don’t have arms and legs, so they have to fight back someway! 💥 👊

Saponins are toxic bitter compounds that certain plant foods use to protect themselves against predators who want to eat them! 😬

But unfortunately, when humans eat these foods, we also reap the nasty compounds 🙅‍♂️

Saponins are found in higher amounts in foods like quinoa, and legumes (beans, chickpeas, peanuts etc.)

And yes, while rinsing certain saponins heavy foods can reduce the saponin content, it may not get rid of them all, and cooking doesn’t seem to break these compounds down 👎

Now, while small exposures to saponins likely won’t do anything in our systems, for those individuals that eat heavy amounts of quinoa or legumes daily, Saponins may contribute to some gut inflammation/disruption!

Saponins are similar to soap, in that when they are activated, they create suds 🧼 This soapy material in the gut can act as an irritant, and the more irritated the gut lining becomes, the more this could contribute to leaky gut, and the host of issues that could come along with it!

So, have you heard of Saponins before? If so, do you consume saponin rich foods regularly? 👇