Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer - Blog

7 things Doctors don't tell new moms

3/6/2014

There's so much information out there on what you should be doing, and not doing during pregnancy. But what about after?

Here are some great tips from Dr. Julie Durnan, Naturopathic doctor, on some of the crucial things you can do so that you and your baby are on the right track.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12864/7-things-doctors-dont-tell-new-moms.html

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Naturally!

10/26/2013

What is IBS?
IBS is essentially a diagnosis of exclusion. Meaning, that when you have a myriad of symptoms, it could be a number of different gastrointestinal conditions. After diagnostic labs and imaging have been done, and nothing pathological is found, your collection of symptoms are stamped Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS. Within the conventional medical system, there is little to offer in terms of treatments, so many people are left feeling frustrated and unsure of what to do with their new diagnosis of IBS. People may go on to suffer with IBS for years with no relief.

Symptoms of IBS
The symptoms of IBS are varied, and the list can be quite lengthy. Some people have only a few symptoms at any one time, and others suffer with multiple symptoms, occurring all at once. Symptoms often wax and wane, and it can be difficult to determine what the cause(s) were for each and every exacerbation. Symptoms can include:

Constipation
Diarrhea
Gas
Bloating
Abdominal
pain
Vomiting
Fatigue
Insomnia
Stuffed Sinuses
Acne
Anxiety
Depression
Irregular
or difficult periods

Natural treatments for IBS
I have treated IBS in my practice countless times. Naturopathic medicine offers so many treatment options for IBS, which have a very high rate of success. With little to offer from conventional medicine system, naturopathic medicine offers a tremendous amount of treatment options for those willing to make the necessary changes for their health.

With most conditions, inflammation is both a contributor and cause. Treating chronic inflammation can be addressed to a great degree with food, or the elimination of certain foods. When it comes to IBS, diet is absolutely essential. The foods you eat can either be your greatest asset, or the greatest detriment to your health. With IBS, there are no particular foods that cause a problem for everyone. However, there are common allergenic, inflammatory foods, most notably wheat and dairy, that are most likely contributing. There are often many other, less common food allergens, which could also be contributing to the inflammation in the intestinal tract. In order to discover which foods are an issue, an elimination diet can be done, whereby all major allergenic foods are eliminated, and then slowly one by one, are brought back into the diet, and you monitor to see if you experience any return of symptoms. This can be difficult, as it requires a close examination of what your body's normal is. Generally, people suffering from IBS have had the symptoms for so long, that they haven't experienced what a 'normal' healthy body feels like in years. The other option is food sensitivity testing, which most people prefer, as it is black and white in terms of what foods are causing an issue for them. Then, just those specific foods can be eliminated, as opposed to a more generic overall elimination diet.

Beyond diet modification, certain aspects of the body need to be supported to return the body to its intended normalcy. Enterocytes are the cells that line the majority of the intestinal system. These cells are injured during the insult of IBS. Helping them heal can include L-glutamine, probiotics, demulcent herbs, digestive enzymes, and fish oil.

Liver Detoxification
Liver support is also important, as IBS creates a leaky gut picture. Our intestinal tract is meant to have tight cell junctions, allowing only essential nutrients to be absorbed via carrier transport proteins. With a leaky gut, various larger particles are absorbed into the blood, creating inflammation, the liver must filter these foreign molecules. The liver sends these to the digestive tract to be eliminated via stool. Thus a perpetual feedback loop exists where the liver is filtering the same toxins repeatedly. Herbs are a great way to help the liver detoxify. Some herbs to consider include; burdock, dandelion, artichoke, and milk thistle.

Stress
Stress is a major contributor to IBS flare ups. Ways to combat stress include; a proper sleep schedule (bed by 10:30pm), regular eating habits, balancing blood sugar throughout the day, social activities, exercise, and meditation. You can also support your adrenals with vitamins (ie vitamin C), minerals (ie magnesium), and/or herbs (ie rhodiola, ashwagandha, avena sativa, ginseng, etc).

Who Can Help?
IBS can be a complex multifaceted condition, and treatments differ for everyone. Consistency wins the race. Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor how IBS is best treated for you.

When you know better, you do better!

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Are Natural Supplements unsafe?

10/12/2013

There was a recent study on supplements that found contaminants in the some herbal formulas. Things not listed on the labe, but found within the productl. You can click the link to the article below.

There are segments of health care products that do not go through the same rigorous testing as others. And often, these misleading claims on the bottles are left unknown for years.

When choosing supplements, more money doesn't necessarily ensure the best product, however, it's likely it does in many cases. When a company invests into 3rd party testing of their products, and searches out ingredients that are sourced ethically, sustainable, and clear of contaminants, that will result in a higher cost. There are also supplement ingredients that are more or less bioavailable to your body's cells. Meaning, some are better absorbed and utilized by your cells than others. If a supplement is not in a highly absorbable form, there is little benefit, and possible disadvantages to consuming that product.

Professional products sold by healthcare practitioners, including Naturopathic doctors, go through rigorous 3rd party testing to ensure the quality and efficacy of their products.

When it comes to your health, spend the money. You only have one body. Invest well!

When you know better, you do better!

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/health/story/1.1959278

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Reducing Hypertension Naturally!

9/9/2013

There are many factors that contribute to high blood pressure (hypertension). Depending on your age or medication usage, lifestyle factors can play a significant role.

In the article "5 Ways to Control High Blood Pressure without Medication", Nutrionist, TV Host, & Author Julie Daniluk describes simple, yet effective tools to implement in your everyday lifestyle to help you take back your health and decrease your blood pressure.

Remember, that if you do implement these changes, this may affect the dose of your blood pressure medication (it will likely decrease), so please stay connected with your prescribing Doctor.

When you know better, you do better!

https://www.juliedaniluk.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=582&catid=263&Itemid=340

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Naturopathic Medicine reduces risk of Cardiovascular Disease

9/5/2013

A recent study has found that using individualized Naturopathic care, including dietary guidelines, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle counselling will reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Find the study here: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/04/29/cmaj.120567

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

50 Shades of Gluten

4/4/2013

Did you know grains, such as corn, oats, & rice can affect people with gluten sensitivity? The same may also hold true with the casein in dairy!

Read this informative article by Huffington Post!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/chris-kresser/gluten-intolerance_b_2964812.html

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Dairy, Calcium, & Bone Health

4/3/2013

Many people assume they need to consume dairy for the calcium content to prevent bone loss. This is simply not the case.

Read this simple article explaining how you can prevent bone loss, especially during menopause, when declining estrogen levels lead to greater bone loss.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8378/why-dairy-isnt-the-answer-to-improved-bone-health.html

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Glycemic Index vs Glycemic Load

2/27/2013

For the most part, people are starting to learn there's a difference between good carbs & bad carbs. Now take a step further and learn about the glycemic index (GI) of foods. GI is the rate at which glucose will enter your bloodstream when eating a certain food. Then beyond that, there's the glycemic load (GL), based on the GI, but the GL takes things further by establishing the amount of carbohydrates in a food. There is a big difference. Just think - the GI of watermelon is high, but the GL of watermelon is very low.

Have a look at this great infographic and learn something new to help you live healthier and shed weight!

http://en.paperblog.com/good-carbs-vs-bad-carbs-418057/

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

All about Candida...

2/23/2013

A Guide to Candida - http://www.candidastore.com/guide-to-candida-infographic/
***click the picture for an enlarged view of the infographic picture.

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer

Should I Be Cooking With Olive Oil?

1/14/2013

Many people assume the best oil to be cooking with is olive oil. However, this is not the case! Olive oil, when heated, causes oxidation of the fat, which makes it a 'bad' fat. These fats are what we should always be avoiding in our diets as they have cancer causing compounds. Heating olive oil also destroys the healthy polyphenols. So if you're wanting to enjoy olive oil, use it in salad dressings, or add it to your food after cooking.

Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer