FamilyNaturopath.ca

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open - John Barrymore

September is PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic o***y syndrome, or PCOS, is one of the most common hormonal issues affecting the ovaries, typically showing in your teens or 20s.
While the exact causes of PCOS are unclear, the effects of PCOS on women’s bodies and their fertility are well-known
Women with PCOS create higher levels of androgens. Elevated androgen levels in women will affect the development of eggs and interfere with ovulation therefore affecting fertility. Other signs and symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, polycystic ovaries, hirsutism and commonly acne
A simple cure for PCOS does not yet exist, however, there are ways to help manage symptoms through diet and lifestyle. One of the keys to managing PCOS is to stay active, maintain a healthy weight and follow a low refined carbohydrate diet. By eating less refined carbohydrates and focusing on healthy fats, high protein foods and slow-digesting carbohydrates, our blood sugar remains at a steady level without increasing insulin production (which can throw off ovarian function).
Naturopathic Medicine has been successful in helping women with PCOS manage their health and take back control of their symptoms. If you need help with PCOS, get in touch...you don’t have to go at it alone!
See my article on PCOS for more info: https://familynaturopath.ca/tips-resources/articles/pcos-polycystic-ovarian-syndrom-our-naturopathic-approach/

Back to school is a little different this year. If you're sending your kid into class with a few unknowns, make sure that their immune system is fully supported.

Here are 4 ways to support your child's immune system:

1 - Stress Management
Unwinding outside of school is crucial, as stress can impact the immune system. Encourage screen-free, unstructured outdoor play time to expend some of that pent-up energy. Exercise is an effective stress buster and immune strengthener, as is meditation (there are a few great guided meditation apps available for your phone).
2 - A Nutritious Diet
A balanced diet includes eating the rainbow of fruits and vegetables throughout the day, limiting sugar and processed foods, and making sure to start the day with a healthy, satiating breakfast. Healthy ideas include full-fat yoghurt with granola, a boiled egg, or a smoothie that includes a source of healthy fat and protein such as h**p hearts...make sure to include fruit or to take for later as a snack.
3 - Immune Support Supplements
A high quality kids' daily multivitamin and probiotic provide a good foundation and are especially important this September. Adding vitamin C, vitamin D and Zinc on top of that can give the immune system more help to fight off infection.

It is well known that children adapt fast to change. We can help them cope with a little extra support, teaching good hand washing techniques, and focusing on gratitude and fun.

Getting a tick bite can send anyone into a panic! Although not every bite from a tick transmits infection, bites should be evaluated carefully. Early detection and appropriate treatment are critical in effectively treating and preventing severe complications of Lyme disease, the most commonly transmitted disease from ticks.
Check my recent blog to answer questions like:
What does the rash look like? Do I get a blood test, or need antibiotics? What kind of complications can develop if undetected?
https://familynaturopath.ca/ticks-and-lyme-disease-what-you-need-to-know/

Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted - Christine Caine

As a woman, if you’ve noticed slow and steady weight gain you may be tempted to blame the typical hormonal shifts that come with age. However, insulin resistance could be the cause!

When your body’s cells are no longer able to respond to insulin properly they become “insulin resistant”. This means your blood sugar levels rise higher than they should even if your pancreas is producing a lot of insulin.

Excessively high blood sugar can have many harmful effects that can cause damage throughout the body. So, your body has a back-up plan to protect itself: it stores the extra energy by converting it to fat, often around your midsection.

If you’re wondering how your insulin levels may be affecting your weight, give me a call 905-597-7201. Together we can create a tailored health protocol to bring you back in balance.

St. John’s wort, a plant with yellow, star-shaped flowers, has been utilized for centuries in everything from wound healing and alleviating insomnia to use in various kidney and lung diseases.

Today, it’s largely prescribed to treat mild to moderate depression and many studies note that short-term use of St. John’s Wort is as effective as some conventional antidepressants! St. John's Wort may also be effective for menopausal symptoms, and short-term memory.

Allergic reactions, dizziness, confusion have been noted as possible side effects and a few particular drug interactions are contraindicated, therefore, always consult with a healthcare practitioner prior to using St. John’s Wort.

Amazing dogs can help detect disease - The Hippocratic Post

They give so much love....and...are very intelligent: their smell sense can be trained to detect illnesses like Parkinson's disease and cancers...coming to a doctors office near you?

Amazing dogs can help detect disease - The Hippocratic Post Dogs have and how it protects us on a daily basis. Dogs are used extensively to sniff out explosives, illegal drugs and other contraband.

Let's learn how to preserve our food...

Time is running out to register for Let’s Preserve, a canning, jamming and pickling webinar series taking place from August 17-18 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm EST and proudly sponsored by Whole Foods Market Canada. Learn from Food Network celebrity chef and Second Harvest Ambassador Bob Blumer, along with preserver and canner extraordinaire Jade Guthrie. Your pantry can be an artisan flavour haven all year long! Register today at https://buff.ly/2VIW0ua and earn a chance to win one of two $150 Whole Foods gift cards!

The Let’s Preserve webinar series is part of Second Harvest’s campaign, encouraging households to utilize handy tips to reduce their food waste and costs at home and donating the difference to support our food rescue mission.

It's spring cleaning season, why not clean up your household products too?
Typical household cleaning products can include harsh chemicals that are dangerous for your health. You're quite literally breathing in particles from every product you use.
Reduce your daily toxic load and check out some of these easy to make DIY cleaning products for the home:
All Purpose Cleaner
1 tsp borax
1/2 tsp washing soda (also known as Ash Soda or Sodium Carbonate)
1 tsp liquid castile soap
2 T vinegar
2 cups of hot water
Label your glass spray bottle

All Natural Glass Cleaner
2 cups of water (distilled or filtered is best so it doesn’t leave residue)
2 tablespoons vinegar
10 drops essential oil of choice- I use lemon (optional- but it helps cut the vinegar smell)
Glass spray bottle for storage

Cookware and Grout Cleaner
1 part water and 3 parts baking soda mixed into a paste.
Apply to grout and let sit, scrub with toothbrush, remove with sponge.

Although the pandemic has had some positive effects on the environment, such as the drastic reduction in emissions from air travel for example, what will our overall legacy be from this period?

Single-use plastics - PPE such as masks, gloves and gowns as well as takeout containers - are making their way to our landfills in record numbers. A typical surgical mask is manufactured with plastic that takes over 400 years to break down.

Governments have reversed or delayed environmental policies restricting single-use plastics during the pandemic. The current health crisis is a priority, but how do we move forward to a healthier future? It is important to let our governments know that now is the time to implement plastic use reduction policies; develop alternative materials; and promote better systems to recycle the plastic we do use.

The theme for Earth Day in 2021 is Restore Our Earth, here are 51 ways you can join in https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips/

Inflammation is not just about your joints or injuries, it also correlates to mood & sleep issues, diet/sugar and hormone imbalances. Are you living with inflammation without knowing it? There's a test for that!
In fact, Naturopathic Doctors have a whole list of tests we can run to check how inflamed your body is - here are a few examples:

CRP (C-reactive protein)
The liver produces this protein as a response to several inflammatory conditions, acute and chronic. Your practitioner may use CRP in conjunction with your symptoms to get an overall picture of what is going on

Serum Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the blood. There are a number of issues that can raise your ferritin levels, making a simple ferritin test a handy way to check for inflammation, autoimmune disorders, infections and liver disease.

RDW (Red Blood Cell Width)
The width of your red blood cells is an indicative factor in checking for oxidative stress and inflammation.

ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
Erythrocyte is another term for a red blood cell, and the speed at which your red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube can indicate systemic inflammation.

Chronic systemic inflammation is rampant, and is at the root of a number of disease states. We can help you to find out the status of your inflammatory markers (and symptoms) and work together to bring them down in a targeted way that is tailored for you. Give us a call on 905-597-7201 or email us to arrange a virtual consult and testing requisition.

Today's spotlight is going to the fabulous enoki mushroom. Also known as the golden needle mushroom or winter mushroom, enoki are popular in Japanese cuisine and have traditionally been used throughout Asia as culinary medicine.

With a mild, delicate flavour and slight crunch, enoki can be eaten both cooked and raw, and are especially high in B vitamins and a wide range of minerals. The healthy amino acids they contain give them their reputation as a remedy for high blood pressure, stomach ailments, high cholesterol and liver disease - in fact, research has shown that enoki possess various pharmacological properties including anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties.

When your body starts showing signs of imbalance like headaches, fatigue, low energy... it's time to look deeper into what's really causing all of this. There are always a variety of things that could be going on, but when you work with a Naturopathic doctor we don't look at each symptom separately we look at their relationship and dive deeper to see what's really at the root of it all so we can help you heal, feel rejuvenated and healthy.

This latest microgreen fad is one you don't want to miss - basil sprouts are packed with 4-5 times the nutrients of mature basil, making them exceptionally rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-inflammatory compounds. To keep these intact, they should always be eaten raw but well rinsed.

Try adding a handful of basil microgreens to your salad, sprinkle them on your avocado toast or even use them on your healthy Friday night pizza to add a delightfully fresh basil taste.

Also...is it pronounced bay-sil or bah-sil?

Are you a fan of fad diets? If you are one of the great many who have followed every latest diet to the letter, only to end up regaining all the weight (plus a few more pounds), you’re not alone.
Keto is a great example - it may be an easy and very successful diet for your friend to follow, but be way too hard on your body. Following the wrong diet might not only mean you don't lose weight – it can be dangerous if it doesn’t suit you as an individual.
This month it's all about healthy, sustainable weight maintenance. Check out our blog to learn why your weight loss efforts may not be working, and what you really need to do if you want to drop those extra pounds. https://familynaturopath.ca/tips-resources/articles/11311-2/

Who's ready for a fresh new year? Happy New Year!

Ultraprocessed Food Again Linked to Increased CVD, Death

Diet quality affects longevity...makes sense. Here's a study conducted in Italian adults that breaks it down. What is ultra-processed food? The ultra-processed food (UPF) group comprises products (e.g. snacks, drinks, and ready meals, created mostly or entirely from substances extracted from foods or derived from food constituents with little, if any intact food, which often contain flavours, colours, and other additives that imitate or intensify the sensory qualities of foods or culinary preparations made from foods. It's basically inexpensive, convenient and tasty (= 'addictive').

Ultraprocessed Food Again Linked to Increased CVD, Death Individuals who consume a high proportion of ultraprocessed food in their diet were at a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality, Italian researchers report.

Intravenous Vitamin C Ameliorates COVID-19, Review Finds

Finally, some hard evidence of the value of high dose vitamin C - for a range of conditions, including treating those with COVID-19...congratulations to the study authors...I'm looking forward to the other 50 studies on vitamin C that are in-process. If you care about your immune system, read and share this research article - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3760/htm

Intravenous Vitamin C Ameliorates COVID-19, Review Finds New research suggests intravenous vitamin C may ameliorate symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

You are what you eat.. or are you what your body can absorb?

Let’s say you eat all the right things: vegetables, fruit, healthy proteins, fats and carbs. If you’re not properly absorbing the nutrients in your meals, those efforts may well go to waste.
Would it surprise you to hear that this scenario is actually very common?
Digestive enzyme deficiency can have serious health impacts. We need sugars for energy, and fats and amino acids for muscles, nerves and virtually every bodily function, and we need the body to make the most out of every vitamin and mineral in our food. In fact, poor absorption may be a reason for cravings as the body calls out for the nutrients you thought you had provided. That's why digestive enzymes are one of the most commonly recommended supplements, especially at the start of a new health regimen.

Each major food type has its own enzyme that breaks it down into forms that the body can use:
· 'Amylase' turns carbs and starches into sugars.
· 'Protease' turns proteins into amino acids.
· 'Lipase' turns fats into glycerol and fatty acids.

How can you keep your own digestive enzymes in top shape?
- Choose enzyme-rich foods such as tropical fruit and fermented foods.
- Chew your food well - We make digestive enzymes in our saliva, stomach, small intestine, and pancreas, and proper chewing is the trigger that tells each of those enzymes they are needed.
- Reduce Stress, especially around mealtimes as stress slows down the digestive process.
- And finally, check with your health practitioner to see if you may benefit from adding a multi-enzyme digestive supplement to help replenish your body and get your absorption back on track.

I am not this hair, I am not this skin, I am the soul that lives within - Rumi

Whether the change of season has your skin feeling tight and dry, or wearing a mask all week is causing irritation, this Fall evening skincare routine is for you.
1 - Wash your face using a dab of unpasteurized honey as a face wash - honey is an efficient skin cleanser which also happens to be naturally antibacterial and probiotic.
2 - Apply a mask consisting of 1 tablespoon of finely ground oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of live, plain organic yoghurt, and optionally a dash more honey and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water and patting dry.
3 - Moisturize richly with naturally soothing almond oil, rosehip oil, shea butter or a dab of coconut oil.

Do you have benefits you haven't used? Do you have health issues you want to discuss? Or do you just want to make sure everything is on track?
We have space in our schedule and time in our hearts for you. If you are ready to make some changes and need a guiding hand to help you understand the best use of your time and efforts, as well as what your body actually needs, give our office a call 905-597-7201.
Finding someone to help you with your health issues is NOT easy!
Feeling vulnerable and repeating your health story as it falls on deaf ears is extremely frustrating.
The difference with working with me is I pride myself on listening to your story (all of it, because it matters) and then working with you to eliminate the problems, restore balance and maintain your health - all while looking at the whole body, the whole person.
If you are tired of feeling ignored, unheard, tired of wasting time going at it alone or with things that aren't working... we are happy you found us! Call and book in to start telling your story to the right person!