Tag: environment

Meaningful Holiday Gift Ideas

Written by Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND on . Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND

We’ve put our heads together to come up with some gift ideas that we hope you can feel really good about! These gifts are environmentally friendly and, in many cases, have the additional benefit of supporting our community.

1. Local food or drinks. We’re fortunate to have some incredibly creative food artisans in our area, whose product lends charm to the sometimes boring and colourless starches of winter cooking. Consider making a little gift basket of some unique preserves or pantry item (e.g. kettle beans, spelt flour, organic garlic, infused oils, pickled asparagus or carrots), healing herbal teas, or locally roasted coffee, available at the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market (open until December 21st), Wendy’s Country Market, Old Farm Fine Foods, and even Farm Boy (e.g. Dharani Teas and Herb Haven products).

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Have You Signed up for CSA?

Written by KIHC on . Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

~ Dr. Christina Vlahopoulos, ND

It is really hard to think about fresh local vegetables and farmer’s markets when it is still snowing out but believe it or not, it is that time of the year again – time to sign up for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Although the ground is still covered in snow, farmers in our area are gearing up for a new season in the hopes of growing and selling amazing produce this summer.

Generally speaking, less than 10% of food imported into Canada is inspected. Furthermore, “product of Canada” doesn’t necessarily mean, “grown in Canada.” What the CSA provides is an alternative to produce being picked too early and shipped for hundreds if not thousands of kilometers before making it to your kitchen. If you are not familiar with the concept of CSA, it is a great way to get fresh, seasonal, organic vegetables and support a local farmer.

Each farm is slightly different but most CSA farms require people to sign up

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Mould: What does it mean for indoor air quality?

Written by KIHC on . Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

~ Dr. Christina Vlahopoulos, ND, MSc (cand.)

With spring just around the corner it means we will start opening windows to let the fresh air in. It is also a very damp time of year with a lot of rain – for those who suffer from mould allergies, it can be challenging. There is a lot of strong evidence suggesting that dampness outside can change indoor air quality. But how does moisture make us sick? Unfortunately it is not the water and rain that make us sick, but rather they create the perfect environment and conditions for mould to grow.

Mould spores can be found everywhere – from food to drywall to leaf litter and the soil on the ground. In fact, mould and the enzymes they secrete, are needed for the normal breakdown and decay of organic material. But the problem begins when there are higher concentrations of mould indoors than outdoors. The problem gets worse when the perfect conditions are met for it to grow. All mould needs is increased moisture or water accumulation and/or the indoor relative humidity level to be above 60% – the higher the moisture content, the faster the mould growth. The greater the mould growth, the higher the risk for poor indoor air quality and the greater the chance of breathing problems or other respiratory illnesses.

One type of mould called “black toxic mould”

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Doing our Part: Making Healthcare Sustainable

Written by KIHC on . Posted in Blog, Newsletters.

Please click here to view our entire March e-newsletter.

Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND

Healthcare in Ontario is financially unsustainable. We spend 43% of our provincial budget on healthcare and economists estimate that in less than 20 years we’ll require an impossible budget of 80% to accommodate our sick population. A significant portion of this budget is consumed by the 80% of adult Ontarians who have a chronic illness, such as heart disease and diabetes. Science has established beyond a doubt that most chronic disease is preventable and often reversible. We have to be smarter about chronic illness if our publically-funded healthcare system is to survive.

One of my favourite quotes is from the philosopher Wendell Berry: “The idea that we live in something called “The Environment” is utterly preposterous… The world that environs us, that is around us, is also within us. We are made of it; We eat, drink, and breathe it”. The idea that humans exist separate from our surroundings is a cultural phenomenon that underestimates the impact of environment on health. This misconception contributes significantly to our current healthcare crisis and is a driving force behind Integrative Medicine,

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Kingston Integrated Healthcare

We respectfully acknowledge that Kingston Integrated Healthcare is situated on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. Since time immemorial they have cared for these lands and waters, and we are grateful. We recognize that a healthy environment is essential to the wellbeing of all people and all life.

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