Vitamin D

A survey, conducted by Statistics Canada, found that two-thirds of the
population has vitamin D levels below the amounts research is associating
with reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, while one in 10, or
more than three million people, have such low readings that they don't
have enough for good bone health.

Generally speaking, the sun's where most people should be able to get
their vitamin D requirements met. For many folks, consistent, year-round
sun exposure isn't possible because they live in areas where vitamin D
synthesis can't occur for four to six months out of the year. Not forgetting
to mention that SPF 8+ sunscreens can reduce vitamin D production by 95%.
Add cold temps, cloud cover and other factors and it causes us to look for
vitamin D from dietary sources or supplementation.

As vitamin D deficiency has become more prevalent in people living above
the 35th parallel, therefore all Canadians!, the attention and focus paid to
vitamin D have increased, and for good reason.

Let's take a closer look at what the research is saying:

• IMMUNE SUPPORT. Vitamin D is a powerful immune system supporter and
  inhibits negative autoimmune responses by modulating cell responses.
  When vitamin D is in short supply, cells can attack the body instead of
  fighting off unwanted invaders.

• CELL PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION. When certain cells divide
   rapidly or proliferate, the impact on your health can be devastating.
   Cell differentiation,however, can decrease unwanted proliferations.
   Vitamin D inhibits unwanted proliferation and stimulates healthy cell
   differentiation. Lung, skin, colon, bone and breast sites have been
   studied for vitamin D's positive effects on cell differentiation and
   proliferation, causing them to act as normal, mature cells.

• BRAIN HEALTH. Scientists at the Children's Hospital & Research Center
   Oakland in Oakland, California, say the brain has a wide distribution of
   vitamin D receptors wherein vitamin D directly and positively affects
   learning, memory, motor control and attention. Vitamin D protects
   and maintains healthy brain cells, while a deficiency can result in
   brain dysfunction.

• CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH. Vitamin D may play a role in cardiovascular
   health since low blood levels of vitamin D can increase coronary artery
   calcification. Vitamin D deficiencies can also elevate risk of stroke and
   congestive heart failure, while optimal vitamin D levels support normal
   levels of inflammation-important for cardiovascular health.

How much vitamin D should we get? Canadian Current recommendations
say kids from birth to their teen years and adults aged 51 to 70 should get
at least 400IU daily, while those 71 and up should get at least 600IU daily.

But emerging research, however, says we could require much more-to the
tune of 2,000IU or more daily.
  
Vitamin D  is The hottest Nutrient under the sun !

For Optimum Health and prevention of many important Health issues,
Most Canadian should consider a Vitamin D SUPPLEMENT  (at least from
October to March)! So that means you should be starting your supplementation
soon!


:)
marina

Your Skin - Your Body's Largest Detoxification Organ

The importance of detoxification cannot be stressed enough.  
If your body is not efficient at eliminating waste products 
out of your system, these toxins will overwhelm your organs 
and contribute to many symptoms of ill health, some of which 
are: headaches, fatigue, digestive upset, feeling 'unwell',
constipation, acne...

Detoxification is performed by a number of organs, and 
transportation systems including: the skin, gut, kidneys, 
liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes.
Your primary routes of elimination are: your lungs via your
breath (this is why most people have morning breath, it is 
the toxins you have been eliminating all night long); your 
liver & gut via your bowels, and your kidneys via your urine. 
If any of these isn't working properly, it puts added strain 
on all other organ systems, especially the other organs of 
elimination.

Now, your skin is your largest Elimination Organ, and it 
can easily become overwhelmed, resulting in: acne, hives, 
eczema or other skin outbreaks.

One good way of enhancing your skin's detoxification is 
as simple as doing some Dry skin brushing.

Use a natural bristol brush.  Start with your legs and scrub 
up (not down) towards your waist. Then scrub your arms in 
towards your torso, and lastly your torso towards your heart.
Do this 3-5x week either before bed, or before taking a shower. 

Some of the benefits of this simple procedure include:
1) Cleanses the lympathic system

2) Stimulates the hormone and oil-producing glands

3) Strengthens the immune system

4) Stimulates circulation

5) Helps digestion


Dry Skin Brushing provides a simple, easy and inexpensive 
way to aid in the body's natural detoxification all year 
round or can give an added boost to any body cleanse program.

One more thing... you may have a serious case of the giggles 
the first time you do this, but will eventually grow to love 
this gentle yet cleansing massage.


Cleanse away!

:)
m

Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal Fatigue... you may be wondering what this is, but the truth is
that MANY people living in North America suffer from tired or burned out
adrenals without even knowing it.

The hectic pace of life, made up of time pressures, money pressures,
insufficient sleep & exercise, and poordiet habits (i.e. lots of fast, refined
and processed foods, and consuming sugar and other stimulants to keep 
you going when you feel tired and fuzzy headed - coffee, Red Bull, pop
and other sources of caffeine, all contribute to Adrenal Fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue is a collection of signs and symptoms, known as a
syndrome, that results when the adrenal glands function below the
necessary level.  Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged
stress, it can also arise during or after acute or chronic infections,
especially respiratory infections such as influenza, bronchitis or
pneumonia. 

A keynote symptom of Adrenal Fatigue, is just that, fatigue, and that
fatigue is not relieved by sleep.  You may look and act relatively normal
with Adrenal Fatigue and may not have any obvious signs of physical
illness, yet you live with a general sense of unwellness, tiredness or
generally feeling blah emotionally. 

If you regularly experience one or more of the following symptoms,
please talk to a nutritionist to find out what diet & lifestyle changes,
and supplements can help you:

1.  Fatigue, despite adequate sleep
2.  Trouble getting up in the morning even when you go to bed at a
  reasonable hr
3.  Feeling rundown or overwhelmed
4.  Can't bounce back from stress or illness
5.  Crave salty and sweet snacks
6.  Feeling best only after 6 PM
7.  Insomnia
8.  Lethargy, especially in the morning and mid-afternoon
9.  Decreased sex drive
10. Increased effort to do every day tasks
11. Decreased ability to handle stress
12. Increase PMS weight gain
13. Thoughts less focused, more fuzzy or memory less accurate
14. Suppressed immunity; it takes you longer to recover from illness
15. Mild depression or less enjoyment or happiness with life

The good thing is that this syndrome is fairly easy to treat, once you
are aware that you have it.  So, if this sounds like you, consider
making the following changes...

1.  Go to bed at the same time each night, and preferably 10 or
    10:30pm
2.  Eat some protein in the morning
3.  Eat something every 2.5-3 hrs - this will help keep blood sugar
    stable
4.  Choose whole grain over refined, white flour products
5.  Limit/Avoid sugar - or at least eat less, and make better choices
6.  Take EFAs (essential fatty acids = Omega 3s)
7.  Eat 2-4 servings of fruit, and 5-8 servings of vegetables each day
8.  Exercise - try to move daily
9.  Take time for yourself, at least 20 minutes a day of rest or
    self-indulgence
10. Take the necessary supplements to help rebuild or support your
    adrenals (talk to an expert)

Good luck, and wishing you balanced adrenals!
:)
m

Spring... and Allergies are soon here!

With Spring fast approaching, most of us are eagerly awaiting the warmer weather, spending more time outdoors and the beautiful flowers and leaves that will soon be budding. That is, if you don't suffer from allergies.

Runny nose, itchy watery eyes, sneezing, headaches oh my! Many dread Spring for all the discomfort it brings, and the fear they have each time they step outdoors as to how their body will react. But this does not have to be so.

There are many natural things that can be done to help alleviate allergies, but in most cases, the sooner you start, the better, ideally 4-6 weeks before symptoms usually begin. Here are a few things to consider...

1) Liver cleanse - cleansing the liver can help take the toxic load off the body so that it can more readily respond to foreign invaders!

2) Probiotics - increasing the good bacteria in your stomach will increase your immune response which can alleviate many symptoms and make you more resilient

3) Antioxidants - especially Quercetin, Rutin, vitamin C, grape seed extract - all help reduce histamine, much like an anti-histamines

4) Homeopathics - there are many homeopathics for allergies. Some are complex remedies that help reduce several specific triggers, like pollen, grass, & buds; whereas others are single remedies that help alleviate the symptoms, such as: runny nose, difficulty breathing, congestion etc. It is best to talk to a professional to see which is best for you

5) Diet changes - many people benefit by reducing or eliminating certain foods from their diet, because of the effect they have. For example, dairy is mucous inducing and can increase congestion. Garlic and onions are high in antioxidants, which can ease many symptoms.

6) Nasal Lavage - netti pots or sea salt nasal mists are great at clearing mucous and congestion in the sinuses. Both are great for sinus infections and allergies alike, and can really help open the air passages. An added bonus is that they can also help with some headaches!

There are many amazing remedies in natural medicine that can help reduce the suffering that an allergy season brings, so if you do suffer, consider having a nutritional assessment to see what options you have, in addition to the typical over-the-counter medicines you may have been using up until now, because you will be surprised by just how many options there are.

Wishing you a symptom-free Spring!
:)
m

Cholesterol...some important information...

Elevated cholesterol is not always something to be concerned with as there are other measures which are FAR more indicative of cardiovascular problems, they are: elevated triglycerides, poor ratio of HDL (good) to LDL (bad) cholesterol; elevated homocystein levels and elevated levels of high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, low Vitamin E levels

* Cholesterol is actually a very important anti-oxidant in the body, and is raised when there are other disturbances. Contrary to what most people believe, eating foods high in cholesterol (butter, eggs, shrimp etc) will NOT raise cholesterol. In fact, the most common causes of elevated cholesterol levels include: genetic predisposition, STRESS, reduced liver function (often occurs in a toxic body or when drugs or alcohol are abused/over-consumed or due to a virus such as hepatitis); consuming too much sugar, eating a low to no fat diet.

* A few things to consider: the diet should be low in refined sugar and simple carbohydrates (candy, cookies, white flour products etc); high in vegetables and fruit, lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids (help break up choleseterol deposits) ~ fish intake should increase, while fried and overly fatty foods (animal meats) should be minimized

* the diet should be high in soluble fiber, from: apples, oranges, pears, peaches, berries, grapes, seeds, nuts, oat bran, dried beans, whole grains & vegetables

* Other beneficial foods are: onions, olive oil, coconut butter (unrefined), avocado

* Exercise is important~ try to get 20-30 minutes in each day

* Stress MUST be managed ~ through: deep breathing, yoga, meditation, journaling ~ it doesn’t matter HOW, just as long as it is reduced! Sleep should also be improved, and a minimum of 6 ½ hours should be slept each night

* QUIT smoking! And do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol, some red wine is good, but too much is not

* Supporting the liver would also be helpful: teas: milk thistle or hepatic support (dandelion root, burdock root, yellow dock); hot water with lemon first thing in the morning is also important ~ foods for the liver: garlic, lemons, bitter greens (dandelion greens, kale, collards, rapini, radicchio), beets, carrots

* Statin drugs cause CoQ10 deficiencies ~ it is IMPORTANT to supplement if you are taking these medications. Other side effects of statins include: muscle pain, impaired kidney function (even leading to kidney failure), liver damage, insomnia, skin rashes

For more information, I think the following will be of help... enjoy

Here is an excerpt from Dr. Kim’s Health blog (http://drbenkim.com) which come from the book by author Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, The Cholesterol Myths : Exposing the Fallacy that Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease. Dr. Ravnskov is considered by many to be the world’s leading expert on the relationship between cholesterol and human health.

Here are some facts from his book:

1. Cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance that you need to be healthy. High cholesterol itself does not cause heart disease.
2. People who have low blood cholesterol have the same rates of heart disease as people who have high blood cholesterol.
3. The cholesterol found in your blood comes from two sources: cholesterol in food that you eat and cholesterol that your liver makes from other nutrients.The amount of cholesterol that your liver produces varies according to how much cholesterol you eat. If you eat a lot of cholesterol, your liver produces less. If you don’t eat much cholesterol, your liver produces more. This is why a low cholesterol diet does not typically decrease a person’s blood cholesterol by more than a few percent.
4. Drugs that solely lower your cholesterol do not decrease your risk of dying from heart disease, nor do they increase your lifespan. These drugs pose dangers to your health and may decrease your lifespan.
5. The newer cholesterol-lowering drugs – called statins – do reduce your risk of heart disease, but through mechanisms that are not related to lower blood cholesterol. And alarmingly, statins like lipitor mevacor, zocor, pravachol, and lescol are known to stimulate cancer in rodents.

What about HDL and LDL?

Well, here are some facts about LDL and HDL that the vast majority of my patients are surprised to learn:

• LDL and HDL are not types of cholesterol.
• LDL and HDL are lipoproteins that transport cholesterol through your blood circulatory system.
• LDL stands for Low Density Lipoprotein, and HDL stands for High Density Lipoprotein.
• LDL is often mistakenly thought of as being bad cholesterol because it carries cholesterol to your arteries.
• HDL is often mistakenly referred to as good cholesterol because it carries cholesterol away from your arteries (to your liver).
• LDL and HDL carry the same cholesterol.

Here are the main points to take away from the facts presented above:

Cholesterol that naturally occurs in animal foods is not harmful to your health. But it can become harmful to your health if it is damaged by exposure to high levels of heat and/or harsh processing techniques.

If you regularly consume damaged cholesterol and foods that are rich in free radicals, you likely have significant quantities of damaged cholesterol floating through your circulatory system.

And if you regularly have damaged cholesterol floating around in your blood, then a high LDL level correlates with a higher-than-average risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and a high HDL level correlates with a lower-than-average risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

In other words, if you have significant amounts of damaged cholesterol in your blood circulation, you don’t want a lot of LDL to be available to carry this cholesterol to your arteries, where the damaged cholesterol can contribute to atherosclerosis, and you want a lot of HDL available to shuttle damaged cholesterol away from your arteries.

So while it’s true that a high HDL/total cholesterol ratio can reflect a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, what’s most important when it comes to cholesterol and your health is to avoid eating animal foods that have been cooked at high temperatures, since these foods are typically rich in damaged cholesterol.

Hope this helps ease your worries when it comes to the dangers of cholesterol

:)

m

Live Healthy, Live Zen

Naturally Treating Bladder Infections in Kids

Just recently I was consulted on how to treat a bladder infection in a 4 year old girl. As with most health emergencies (at least in my life!), this happened over the weekend, and the parents were quite concerned, didn't know what to do, and were on the verge of going to emerg, when I got the call.

The good news is, that within a few hours, using a few natural therapies, symptoms began to subside, and their little girl grew more comfortable. Score one for natural medicine!!

This situation is quite common. There are many natural therapies that can help with all kinds of acute (as well as chronic) conditions, if the time is taken to try them, and if you are even aware that they exist.

In this particular situation, it would've taken a few days to get cultures back, and then the usual course of treatment would've been antibiotics (as is the course of action in most acute situations these days!). But, did you know that it can take your body up to 18 months to recover from antibiotics??

In this case, the mom was quite surprised as to how and where her 4 year old got this bladder infection, but during our conversation, she told me that a few weeks prior she had gotten strep throat and was given...you guessed it...antibiotics!! So, the connection here was clear. The previous course of antibiotics weakened her body, killed off the good bacteria, and made her more susceptible to new bacterial infections.

Now, I am not saying that all antibiotics are bad, just that they are, often enough, over-used. And parents who are scared and feel horrible that their little ones are suffering are willing to try almost anything to help ease their discomfort, and succumb to them frequently without trying alternative therapies.

So, the next time you, or little one, succumb to any kind of infection, especially early on, contact a natural practitioner (or me ;) ) and get some advice on natural therapies. I will warn you, sometimes these natural treatments take a bit longer to take effect, but at least they won't leave the body more wiped out. Besides, if the natural therapies don't work, you always have the antibiotics to fall back on, and this may actually reduce the frequency with which you use them and ensure that they are effective when you finally do.

Wishing you an antibiotic-free remainder of winter!
:)
m

Live Healthy, Live Zen

The Factors That Lead to Dis-Ease

As a species it seems that we are getting more and more unhealthy. Here is a quick list as to why to better help you make some much needed changes NOW to ensure a long and healthy life!

1. Genetic Link:
but even genes do not determine that disease will develop, they merely predispose one to certain ailments. Diet, emotions and lifestyle factors play a greater role in initiating the disease process. So, if certain ailments run in your family, do NOT fret, YOU still have the power to avoid them, that is, if you stay positive and develop healthy eating andliving habits!

2. EFA Deficiency:
not supplementing with omega 3 & 6, which are found in: flax oil, walnut oil, almond oil, hemp oil, fish & cod liver oils, evening primrose oil, borage oil

3. Vitamin, Mineral & Antioxidant Deficiency:
caused by consuming primarily non-nutritive foods such as: processed, refined or fast foods; as well as not eating sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables; and not taking a multi-vitamin & mineral supplement

4. Fiber Deficiency:
leads to foods staying in the body longer and fermenting. This leads to the re-absorption of toxins, cholesterol & hormones, all of which can lead to imbalances within the body.

5. Quietude-Exercise Deficiency:
lack of movement causes the muscles to become lazy and work inefficienty. Lack of quietude means insufficient relaxation, something that is becoming ever more important in the fast paced society we are living in. This can lead to adrenal exhaustion, which is an underlying factor to MANY ailments!

6. Anti-Nutrients & Toxic Substances:
Ingesting too much: saturated fat, cholesterol & trans fats, by relying on a diet high in animal protein & fast food. Consuming too much sugar and refined flour products. Drinking too much caffeine (which negatively impacts the adrenals and makes one less adept at handling stress). Drinking too much alcohol, which dissolves cell membranes and increases cholesterol. SMOKING! This expensive habit depletes vitamin C levels, constricts veins & capillaries reducing circulation, and increases exposure to toxins. Careless use and over-use of prescription and non-prescription drugs (including pain relievers, antacids and anti-histamines). And lastly, environmental pollutants, such as: smog, cleaning products, paints etc

7. Poor Digestion!

Hope this helps
:)
m