Author: KIHC

Mindfulness
Jocelyne Leyton, DOMP

My husband was going away for a few weeks hiking and I found myself saying to a few close friends ‘this is a great opportunity for me to deepen my Mindfulness Practice’. Well, it is four weeks later. Although I started out with resolve and awareness to be more present moment to moment I eventually, once again, got caught up in the speed of the demands of life I deemed important.

My attention to future and past details began, as usual, to take over my life. I was rushing my morning shower to get to the boat (we live on an island). I was driving faster to work to get there earlier. I was doing the dishes without presence absorbed with the next future activity. Does this sound familiar? Meanwhile, life is happening in the moment.

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~ Dr. Christina Vlahopoulos, ND

Many of you may be familiar with the sleepy feeling associated with a large turkey dinner or the sugar rush that comes after a sweet treat. But what about children who have a complete melt down after lunch or who are unable to sit at their desk at school while trying to learn? Various learning challenges seen in children are a growing concern for parents and educators. The increased demands on educators make it more problematic to provide children the attention they need to excel scholastically. That may be one piece of the puzzle.

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~ Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND

Many of us believe that if we could just lose a few pounds, we’d be healthy. In fact, our body must be healthy before we can achieve long-lasting weight loss.

Studies suggest that starting a diet is one of the best predictors of weight gain. If you’ve been on at least 3 diets in your lifetime, you may know this fact too well. Many weight loss programs focus on reducing calorie intake and increasing calorie expenditure. In real life the math isn’t that simple, and I hear too often of people severely restricting their food intake, increasing their exercise routine, and not losing an inch.

The solution lies in understanding your body’s unique metabolic balance. For example, a sluggish thyroid gland can generate a slow metabolism and this condition may not be obvious through conventional blood testing. Current laboratory

Please click here to see our full online January e-newsletter.

~ Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND

Even if you’re fortunate enough to answer “no” to this question, the illness is so prevalent, it’s likely that someone you know struggles with depression. Unfortunately, of the nearly 1 in 20 Canadians treating their condition with pharmaceuticals, fewer than 50% will experience complete relief from their symptoms and at least as many will experience drug complications or side-effects, ranging from increased risk of suicide in adolescents to bone fractures in the elderly. Science’s limited understanding of depression offers solutions for only a minority of people afflicted, leaving many more searching for additional healthcare options.

Your brain is responsible for up to 25% of the metabolism in your entire body. These metabolic processes require hundreds of nutrients, including proteins and B-vitamins for brain chemicals that create mood, and omega-3 fats that generate healthy brain cells. Vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc are also critical for healthy brain function. A struggling brain works much more efficiently if given the correct nourishment.

Did you know that the digestive tract makes approximately 95% of all the serotonin in your body?

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The following three articles on adverse drug reactions and bone health are intended to support informed choice only. Always speak to a health professional before changing how you use your medications.

Warning for use of Actonel and other Bisphosphonate drugs

Fosamax, Didrocal, and Actonel, part of the drug class known as bisphosphonates, are well known for their ability to improve bone density in individuals with osteoporosis. These drugs cleverly slow down the cells that break down bone, called osteoclasts. Research indicates that extended use of these drugs can actually lead to an increase in certain types of rare leg fractures caused by simple activities like walking.

For the full online version of our December newsletter, please click here.

Is this true? Recent well-designed studies suggest that it is. Supplementing with calcium may increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It may increase your risk of a heart attack by a staggering 30%.

However, these studies evaluate the use of calcium (calcium carbonate or citrate), as a single nutrient. These supplements do not include vitamin D, potassium, or magnesium, all of which are essential for heart health. Thankfully, studies evaluating the use of supplements with both calcium and vitamin D suggest

Joel Ackerman, RMT

We often think of massage therapy to treat muscular aches, knots, and for relaxation, and rightly so. By definition, massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues in the body, which mean muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Is there a place for massage therapy in the treatment of bone conditions, such as arthritis or osteoporosis? The answer is yes!

~ Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND

90% of deaths caused by influenza occur in people older than 65 years, even though seniors are the most likely group to receive the flu shot. How can this be?

The effectiveness of the vaccine significantly depends on your body’s ability to mount an immune response against the ingredients in the vaccine. People with immune deficiencies are less able to generate the virus-fighting antibodies stimulated by the vaccine, so they acquire less protection against the flu than healthier people. In other words, the most vulnerable population acquires the least protection from the flu vaccine.

Why is it important?

Vitamin D is more similar to a hormone than a vitamin and its impact is widespread in your body. Not only does it perform the more familiar roles of bone metabolism, immune balance, and muscle function, but it might also play a role in treating diabetes and preventing cancer. Deficiencies of this important nutrient have far-reaching health consequences.

How much should you take?

Vitamin D is a hot topic in nutritional medicine during the cold and flu season. Many regulatory bodies recommend daily doses of only 400 to 800IU, while many popular medical practitioners insist that 10,000IU daily is safe and most effective for prevention. What amount is right for you?