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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:
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 Loving 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 support the liver. 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
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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 We are constantly being exposed to chemicals. Eating mostly organic (especially the dirty dozen) is a step in the right direction as we eat everyday. Another great step in reducing the chemical storm that is all around us, is avoiding chemicals in our skin care products! Some of these chemicals are known hormone disrupters, and in my practice, I see that this is a main problem in the majority of my clients.
There are so many things that we can not change, why not change the things we CAN? Read this short article below to learn the 4 Big Bad chemicals in skin care products that you want to avoid! http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/4-big-bad-beauty-ingredients-to-avoid.html Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer We are not just physical beings with emotional moments. Our emotions integrate with our body and mind. The stories we tell ourselves are often false. Call those stories out for the lies they are. Eliminating wheat will make you lose weight! Period! I see it time and time again in my practice in Vancouver. But what happens if letting of the weight stops, when there's clearly more to shed? Well, there can be other clinical conditions impeding your ultimate success.
Dr. William Davis - author of Wheat Belly - a National bestseller on the merits of eliminating wheat for shocking permanent health improvements - has an excellent blog that I recommend following. In his lastest post, he discusses the clinical conditions that can contribute to the lack of weight shedding, when removal of wheat is simply not enough. I lost the wheat, but didn’t lose weight written by Dr. Davis As well, here is a great short VIDEO interview Dr. Davis did on Global News while he was in Vancouver speaking at the British Columbia Naturopathic Association Convention. He states the brief reasons why wheat is bad for you, and addresses some FAQs regarding eliminating wheat. http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/10/global-news-interview/ Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer Chia Seeds have been around since 1500 B.C., and only recently, have they started to regain popularity. And rightly so. 'New' health foods seem to pop up every few months claiming all sort of health benefits. During these times where health is exploding exponentially from year to year, chia is one health food that is well deserving of the spot light. Read on to discover why chia seeds can be an easy addition to your diet. 5 Reasons why you want to eat Chia Seeds: 1. Omega 3's Chia seeds have an incredible amount of essential fatty acids, especially considering their size. With a 1 oz serving, you get an outstanding 5000mg of omega 3's! 2. Fiber Chia seeds also have a high fiber content of 11 grams per 1 oz serving. Great for feeling fuller longer and slowing the release of sugar into the blood stream, thus keeping your energy levels stable. 3. Protein Chia seeds provide 5 grams of protein per 2 tbsp. A simple way to add protein to your morning oatmeal or shake. 4. Antioxidants Chia seeds also provide a bounty of vitamins and minerals, and as such, provides the body with a solid dose of antioxidants to help combat the high oxidative stress your body is constantly battling. 5. Weight Loss Among the many benefits are weight loss. One reason is the low glycemic load of chia - meaning that it does not spike blood glucose and thus no insulin spike occurs, which would otherwise drive glucose into your cells at a faster rate, resulting in an increased conversion to triglycerides - which is then stored in adipocytes (fat cells). Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer “The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you."
Vancouver Naturopathic Doctor Krista Moyer  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 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!
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