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"Naturopathic medicine supports the
body's innate ability to heal itself"
Patients that come to see Naturopathic doctors have a variety of symptoms, ranging from physical aches and pains, to digestive issues, to anxiety and depression. With all of my patients I have noticed a trend with food sensitivities. There are the top 6 allergenic foods that people may have reactions to, but within that same list, people commonly have a 'sensitivity' to one or more of the those foods. The symptoms can greatly vary...arthritis, insomnia, eczema, chronic UTIs, rash, heartburn, constipation, bloating, fatigue, and the list goes on...
Dr. William Davis, cardiologist, has written a book about one sensitivity in particular, which he believes with his own personal practice and research, is the culprit to most of today's health problems. Read the review in The Vancouver Sun to learn more about his new book. Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight - book review in The Vancouver Sun - 2011 Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer
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The current school cafeterias out there are filled with essentially, junk food! So many parents opt to pack their child's lunch & snacks for the day. Unfortunately, due to a strong media source, parents are often lead to believe that the choices of snacks that they pack for their children are not healthy at all, being loaded with sugar! The #1 thing you should always aim to avoid! Here is an excellent article depicting some unhealthy snacks to avoid feeding to your child and to yourself.
http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/10/26/10-most-unhealthy-health-foods-for-kids/?pid=4981#slideshow Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer Quinoa is an amazing food! I once thought it was a grain, but have found out more recently that it is actually a seed. It is more nutritious than a lot of foods out there - especially amongst it's sisterly grains. It is simple and quick to cook.
One fact that many people do not know about quinoa is that it is actually a complete protein. Great for vegetarians, or anyone choosing to eat less animal products. Only 1 cup of quinoa has 9 grams of protein - slightly more than 1 medium sized egg. Try adding quinoa to your diet - it's great in salads, soups, as a side dish, or even as the main dish mixed with veggies and spices. Here is an article explaining some of the known benefits of Quinoa. http://www.naturalnews.com/034110_quinoa_nutrition.html#ixzz1dKnmsZzZ Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer "If you don't take care of your health today, you will be forced to take care of your illness tomorrow!" - Deepak Chopra
Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer The summer days are over and evidence of fall is among us with the changing smell and crispness of the air, and of course the beautiful colourful fallen leaves signifying the new season has arrived. With a new season brings with it changes that can be adopted to better adapt to this colder, wetter season. 1. Warm Foods & Spices In traditional chinese medicine (TCM), cold ‘dampens’ the spleen, which is the organ believed to be involved with digestion. During a colder, damp season, it is important to decrease the ‘cold’ foods and include warming foods. Spices are also a great adjunct to this. Including spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cayenne can improve circulation and aid digestion. 2. Vitamin D During this time, the sunshine mostly hides behind a cloud of grey skies, and levels of Vitamin D can plummet leading to SAD – seasonal affective disorder. It is essential to supplement with a high quality Vitamin D all winter long to keep your mood and health in top shape. 3. Dry Skin Many people find that their skin cyclically changes every winter. Amongst the many benefits of fish oils, essential fatty acids are an excellent way of nourishing your body from the inside out. Quality of all supplements, but especially fish oil, can vary greatly. Make sure you are purchasing from a quality health food store or practictioner, otherwise you may be doing more harm than good. 4. Infrared Saunas During the cold wet months of winter, an excellent way to warm and detoxify your body is sitting in an infrared sauna for approximately 20 minutes. Infrared saunas penetrate your body 4-5cm and helps detoxifies your cells. Always make sure to shower with soap afterwards, as the fat soluble toxins released via sweat will be reabsorbed if not bound by the saponins in soap. 5. Greens Drink ‘Green’ drinks help bind toxins and heavy metals in the body. They basically at as a courier system to deliver unwanted heavy metals & toxins to the right exit of your body. My favourite brand, because of quality and delicious flavour, is ‘Green’s First’. 6. Fiber Winter can be a time of retainment. Keeping digestion flowing is essential. Fiber is a binding agent and also acts as a ‘courier’ for excess hormones and other unwanted materials. If toxins are delivered to the intestines to be removed and have nothing to bind to, they will be reabsorbed. 2 tbsp of freshly ground flax seeds in a glass of water at night is an easy, palatable way of getting the beneficial fiber and lignans that bind to excess estrogen. 7. Herbal Teas Coffee wrecks havoc on the adrenal glands, especially if they are already depleted, which in today’s society, is almost ubiquitous. Another great alternative is herbal teas. Depending on the blend, they can be a warming, energizing, or soothing. Yerba mate and green tea are great energizing alternatives to coffee. 8. Digestive Aids Digestion can become more sluggish during winter and old flare ups can reappear. When this occurs, the nutrients from food and supplements will not be as well absorbed nor utilized by the body. An old remedy of 1 tsp of apple cidar vinegar before each meal can be used to aid with digestion. The smell and taste is not pleasant, however, it’s benefits make it worth it. You can add it to a small amount of water if desired. Fall is a time to focus on foods that were grown during the few previous summer months and are meant to carry us through the winter. Choose these winter foods more often and less of the summer, tropical fruits and vegetables. Fall can be an extremely nourishing time of the year when less time is spent outdoors and more time on indoor activities. We can take this time to reflect on the past, prepare, and make changes for the future. This can be a time of rebuilding where days are shorter, and thus nights longer, perfect for an earlier bed time, to receive all the nourishment from sleep. Relish in this season!
Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer “We are what we eat” is a common known phrase, but Naturopathic Doctors take that statement one step further by stating “We are what we absorb”. There is a large difference between those two statements. One major reason for this is the predominance of food allergies, and the more recent acknowledgment of food sensitivities. The immune system reacts differently to an allergy vs a sensitivity, and thus vary in the repercussions. If a food is not tolerated by the body, the established barriers of ‘self’ and ‘non-self’ are hampered and nutrient absorption can be compromised. This occurrence mainly happens in the digestive tract. The list is anything but limited in terms of the reactions the body can have when a food is deemed ‘foreign’ to the body. These allergies or sensitivities may not necessarily be present at, or before birth, but can develop in childhood, and even well into adulthood. At any age, they are not a welcomed occurrence, however, in knowing and accepting the impacts that any which food can have on the body, changes can be made that can drastically improve a person’s life. There are several foods that have made the top list of allergenic foods. Within that list, there can be allergies present and/or sensitivities to one, or many. The list is as follows: 1. Dairy 2. Eggs 3. Wheat (gluten) 4. Soy 5. Shellfish 6. Peanuts Aside from the commonly known immediate reactions to food, such as hives, rash, or anaphylaxis (airway constriction), there is an even larger list of greatly varied symptoms that can occur, minutes, hours, or even days after the consumption of a food. For some, a large amount of that food needs to be consumed for a reaction to occur, for others, only a minuscule amount, possibly hidden in a food, can be enough to set off a whirlwind of symptoms. Possible symptoms include: Heartburn, indigestion, stomach cramps, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, excess respiratory mucous, blurry vision, allergic shiners (bags under the eyes), achy joints, chronic pain, itchy throat, itchy skin, candida eruptions, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, difficulty sleeping, menstrual cramps, irregular periods, slow wound healing, depression, weak muscle strength, headaches & migraines, frequent colds & flu, ear infections, sinusitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, asthma, arthritis, and aggravation or progression of autoimmune diseases. Some of these symptoms can last for days after the food is consumed, and if the food continues to be consumed, further serious health concerns can develop, such as the sequelae of autoimmune diseases. The food that are ancestors consumed is far different then what is available to us in the grocery stores today. Food is no longer just food, but what comes with it, is a multitude of hundreds of foreign pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, as well as the ever emerging presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which scientists have yet to learn the full, long term repercussions of in our food system as a whole, or in our bodies. Food has also genetically changed and mutated over the course of hundreds of years. Most land has grown the same crop year after year without the rotation of crops, which is intended to allow the soil to be replenished and give different nutrients to the foods it inhabits and births. The food industry has changed the way we eat. It is thus imperative that we adapt and change the way we eat in order to ensure that our bodies receive the necessary nourishment from food. For many, that involves the removal of some, or many foods from the diet. Symptoms of food allergies and sensitivities are a red flag from the body to listen to what it needs and what it can not tolerate. Sometimes it can be hard to decipher what food(s) are at the core of the problem. That is where an elimination diet and/or allergy/sensitivity testing is necessary. It may be that the removal of the food for six or more months (along with other dietary, supplement, and lifestyle alterations) will allow the body to heal, and once that healing has occurred, that food may be allowed to be reintroduced with few or no repercussions. Any symptom produced by the body is meant to be heard and thus addressed. Naturopathic Doctors help clarify the issue of what to eat to ensure proper nutrient absorption. It is worth the time and effort to discover what foods your body is not well tolerating, and to make the appropriate changes. Naturopathic Doctors can help you to modify these changes in your diet as well as other lifestyle changes to best suit your body’s need for balanced health.
Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer Any symptom is the body’s way of showing your cognitive self that something is out of balance. If you listen to it, you can reap the benefits. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a varied collection of symptoms that 75-90% of women experience on a regular basis. Just because it is ‘common’, does not mean it is ‘normal’. PMS is a signal to you as a woman that your body is out of balance. Of the long list of possible contributors to PMS, your nutritional state can have great impact.
Nutrient deficiencies that may contribute include the following: 1. Calcium A mineral that controls muscles abilities to contract and relax, which a lack of, can contribute to low back pain, muscle cramps, and fatigue. High levels of estrogen can disrupt calcium absorption and availability, most notably when estrogen levels are too high in proportion to progesterone. In addition to managing high estrogen levels, calcium can be supplemented. 2. Magnesium This mineral is key to allowing muscles to relax as well as regulating nerve function. High levels of estrogen will also disrupt the levels of magnesium in the body. 3. Vitamin B6 This vitamin is intimately related to hormone production, especially those responsible for mood. It is also responsible for estrogen metabolism. A very important vitamin to help balance PMS. 4. Vitamin D This vitamin has sometimes been referred to as a hormone, as it has so many profound effects on the body. One most widely known effect, is it’s mood enhancing abilities. Because of fluctuating hormone levels during the pre-menstrual phase, mood can greatly be effected. Vitamin D can greatly dampen these effects and improve your mood. 5. Fiber Excess hormones, as well as other toxins, are partially eliminating by binding to fiber. It is the bulking agent for excess substances to latch on to and be excreted via the feces. Without it, and sufficient water, excess hormones and toxins are reabsorbed back into the body. It is so very important to have daily fiber. A great way to get that is via freshly ground flax seeds. They are quite palatable. Take 2 tbsp with water at night approximately 1 hour before bed. The liver is most active during sleep and will be processing and filtering our entire bodies. The fiber will bind the excess and properly eliminate it via the intestinal tract. Fiber, especially flax seeds, are an excellent way to eliminate efficiently! There are many factors to consider when addressing the cause and subsequent treatment in alleviating PMS. In addition to supplementing with these nutrients, there are many other natural and effective treatments that can be addressed with the help of a qualified licensed Naturopathic Doctor. You can reach Dr. Krista Moyer at Broadway Wellness by calling 604.732.5222. Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer The topic of migraine headaches is vast. Anyone who suffers from migraines on a regular basis – knows they cannot be summed up in sentences and words.
Triggers can be many: hormonal and cyclical shifts; caffeine and alcohol; strong perfumes and odors; foods like baked yeast, strong cheeses, and nuts; changes in weather; mental and emotional tension and stress; – sometimes the cause seems to be idiopathic and unknown. Although the triggers mentioned above can seem to set a migraine in motion, the mechanism itself is poorly understood by the medical community. There is likely an arterial spasm at the root of many migraines which may be dictated by hormone levels in the body. The migraine itself can completely remove a person from their lives for hours to days. Some migraines are relentlessly painful, yet just under an invisible line such that a person can, barely present, take part daily activities. Other’s make it impossible to leave a dark room. Migraines can separate people from their families, their friends and workplace, from themselves – while they’re happening – and for some people migraines are happening quite frequently. Medications help some people, certain diet changes help some people, stress management, and learning to calm the mind itself helps some people. Hormonal imbalances are often present, which can cause vaso-constriction / dilation – disturbing blood flow to the brain. This can be detected and balanced with the help of a Naturopathic Doctor. There are some manual techniques that have been known to give relief to migraine sufferers. What manual therapists have to contribute is their attuned palpation skills in assessing where tethered, bound, gathered, or stretched and strained structures are situated – in the head, neck, and base of the skull in particular. Every structure in our entire body, right down to each individual cell membrane, is lined with connective tissue called fascia. It’s designed to protect and package structures, and to promote slide and glide between structures situated next to each other. Arteries, veins, nerves, muscles, tendons, the brain itself , cranial bones, membranes – all structures in the neck and head – must have freedom to move in relation to one another, or they are at risk for decreased function, and pain from stretching and pulling associated with being adhered to surroundings rather than having freedom of movement. Restrictions in connective tissue involving structures in the head and neck may pose an additive factor in promoting the mechanism behind migraine headaches in some cases. Also, the pituitary gland, cradled within the cranial vault (housed within the sphenoid bone) – is primarily responsible for regulating your hormones – some of which are responsible for arterial constriction and dilation. In the case of frequent migraine sufferers – checking that the bones and membranes housing the pituitary gland are giving it freedom of movement is worthy of consideration. Structure affects function: structures free and mobile can in essence perform their functions optimally, whereas structures tethered and bound cannot. Gently assessing and mobilizing the fascial constraints in the neck, and cranium using gentle myofascial and cranial sacral techniques can create profound change and relief in the body and life of a person struggling with migraine headaches. If you’re managing migraines in your life, and looking for options for treatment – manual assessment and treatment with a Registered Massage Therapist trained in some of the techniques mentioned above, including myo-fascial release and cranial sacral therapy, may be an avenue for you to explore. Many of the Vancouver Registered Massage Therapists at Broadway Wellness have been trained to use these techniques. Having your hormone levels assessed and balanced by a Naturopathic Doctor, such as Dr. Krista Moyer at Broadway Wellness, can be extremely valuable and pertinent as well. Written by: Monica Cleland RMT You can call Broadway Wellness at 604-732-5222 or email clinic@broadwaywellness.org to book an appointment or get more information today. Vancouver Naturopath: Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer |
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