Category: Enhance Your Life

What is BPA?

In recent years, many studies have shown that significant levels of toxic substances can leach from the every day items used in our homes and workplaces. We are now into the fourth generation of people exposed to toxic chemicals from before conception through to adulthood, and statistics tell us that we are under siege. Children born today face a greater chance of developing at least one or more of the following health conditions – ADD/ADHD, Autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and infertility – which have been linked with pre- and post-natal exposure to toxic chemicals. This article will take a closer look at one toxic chemical found in your homes – BPA.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an industrial chemical used to make two common synthetics:

• Polycarbonate plastic: a clear, rigid, shatter-resistant plastic found in a wide variety of consumer products (ie food and drink containers, CDs, DVDs, water bottles, drinking glasses, kitchen appliances and utensils, eyeglass lenses, office water coolers, hockey helmet visors, medical supplies, cell phones, computers, toys and car headlights).
• Epoxy resins: used in industrial adhesives and high-performance coatings. They are used as adhesives in sporting equipment, airplanes and cars. They are also found in dental filling materials, protective coatings around wire and piping and line the interior of every tin can found in every home and grocery store.
• Additional sources of BPA include “carbonless” paper – the white, glossy, coated paper that most cash register receipts are printed on; newspaper ink; and since newspapers are used in making recycled paper, levels of BPA in recycled paper is extremely high (ie pizza boxes made from recycled paper).

2.     What are the health risks of BPA?

• BPA is a synthetic estrogen that is disruptive to our endocrine system. It has been linked to a wide variety of health conditions, including infertility, obesity, diabetes, early puberty, behavioral changes in children, resistance to chemotherapy treatments and breast, prostate and reproductive system cancers.

3.     BPA reaches the developing fetus

• Surveys by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have found BPA in nearly every person over the age of 6. In 2009, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in 90% of cord blood samples. Most of this contamination is believed to come from food packaging. BPA molecules leach into food and beverages from plastic food containers and the epoxy linings of metal cans.
• In 2007, the Canadian government was the first to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups due to pressure from consumers and environmental groups. While this was a big step forward, the government still allows BPA in canned foods, store and bank receipts and dental glue. EWG advises consumers to limit their consumption of canned products or to use products made by companies that provide BPA-free lining, such as Eden Organics.
• In 2007, EWG found BPA in 53 of 97 canned foods tested. In 2011, tests of 78 popular canned foods found BPA in 90 percent of products. The following canned foods measure high in BPA: beans, green beans, green peas and chili. There are low concentrations of BPA in canned fruit and beverages.
• In 2011, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health determined that volunteers who ate a single serving of canned soup a day for five days had ten times the amount of BPA in their bodies as when they ate fresh soup daily. Campbell’s and other major canned food makers are seeking alternatives but have not yet switched to BPA-free cans.

4.     How to limit your family’s exposure to BPA

Completely eliminating contact with BPA is virtually impossible, but you can reduce your family’s exposure to this chemical by making the changes below.

• Use fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Alternatively select products that are packaged in glass or cardboard containers or that have been frozen when fresh.
• BPA leaches from containers into the contents and we end up consuming it. Containers do not need to be heated for this to occur. Switch to glass or stainless steel containers where possible.
• With respect to baby formula, choose powdered formula because the packaging contains less BPA. If your baby needs liquid formula, look for brands sold in non-plastic containers.
• Limit your consumption of canned food, particularly if you are pregnant.
• Look for canned food labeled as BPA-free or buy food packed in glass jars or waxed cardboard cartons. A few companies sell cans lined with non-BPA alternatives, such as Eden Organics.
• Store food in non-toxic alternatives such as glass or stainless steel.
• BPA leaches from containers into the contents and we end up consuming it. Containers do not need to be heated for this to occur. Switch to glass or stainless steel containers where possible. Do not microwave your leftovers in polycarbonate or plastic containers – use glass containers instead. Do not use a plastic lid cover in the microwave to prevent food from spraying. Better yet, don’t use a microwave
• Watch receipts – In 2010, EWG’s testing of retailer’s store receipts found that 40 percent were coated with BPA. The chemical can rub off on hands or food items. Some may be absorbed through the skin. Limit exposure by: 1) saying no to receipts when possible 2)Keep receipts in an envelope 3) Never give a child a receipt to hold or play with. 4) Wash your hands before preparing and eating food after handling receipts. 5) Do not recycle receipts and other thermal paper. BPA residues will contaminate recycled paper.

 

Sources:

Environmental Working Group, 2013, https://www.ewg.org/key-issues/toxics/bpa#.W31c2pMzqHowww.ewg.org/bpa;

Bisphenol A, CAND patient handout, April 2008, www.cand.ca;

Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life affects our Health by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie

Be Impeccable with Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean.
Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don’t take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Don’t Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.

Be Skeptical

Don’t believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: Is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind words, and you will understand the real message

Every year, many people make a New Years resolution. Often, the resolution is to vow to do something different that they haven’t been able to achieve – for example – start & commit to an exercise program or lose and keep off x # of pounds. I have two twists on this idea. The first is not waiting until New Years Day to change. I constantly hear from patients that they will start a new program, eat better or make changes after the holidays. I encourage them to not wait. Start now. Take little steps like instead of having 3 gingerbread cookies, have 1 or better yet, skip the sugar as it is not a solution to your health problems, and have a few more carrot sticks. Remember that every moment is an opportunity to start a New Year’s resolution.

The second is the idea of a Recurring Resolution.

These are changes that I have made or goals that I set annually and they remain objectives for me in my life. A big one for me is to not be a burden on our already over taxed health care system. After many years of hospital stays, I vowed in 2001 that I would restore my mental health so that I would not need to take up a bed in an overcrowded system. I was hospitalized in 2003 and 2008 for my mental health, however, other than those years, I have remained “hospital-free”. This is not to say that if I need medical attention I won’t go because of my “Recurring New Years resolution”, but rather my primary goal in life is to emphasize my mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. For my physical health, I always set a goal like completing a 10km faster than I did the year before. This year, my physical goals are to participate in the Banff to Jasper relay for the 2nd year in a row running 14km – and I hope to make this an event that I participate in annually. I am also training for a triathlon. In 2001, I completed an Ironman, and since then, I participated in one triathlon in 2011, 10 years after Ironman.

Lastly, if you do have a resolution that you are trying to make permanent or recurring in your life I will be offering a group coaching program starting 2017 which is designed to help you achieve optimal well-being in 2017. If you know someone that is ready to shift gears in their life and grow into their authenticity and personal truth then please let them know about my Moving Beyond coaching program. If there is someone that is struggling with depression, anxiety, disordered eating or an eating disorder, addictions, bipolar disorder (Type 1 or 2) or someone that simply wants to make a change in their life (ie career, relationship) please let them know about this exciting opportunity:

The group will be limited to 25 people and it is an intimate format that will transform your life. Coaching groups provide the tools and support you need to uncover your truth and create the life you’ve imagined. Please email: admin@naturalterrain.com with the subject: Moving Beyond – Group Coaching Program if you are interested in joining and we will send you pricing details and further information on how you can participate. Act quickly as these spots tend to fill up fast! I look forward to working with you to make 2017 your best year yet! Happy New Year!

Recipe for Amazing Health
Ingredients:
1. See an ND monthly or as needed to get your health on track. Continue to visit your ND 1-2x/year thereafter.
2. See a psychologist as above for your mental health
3. Work with your ND or a holistic nutritionist to ensure a strong dietary foundation
4. See an open-minded MD + specialists (as needed) that will work with your ND
5. As needed, add a structural integration specialist (osteopath or rolfer), chiropractor, massage therapist and/or acupuncturist
6. As needed, see a physiotherapist.
See cnda.net or cand.ca to find an ND. Then, mix ingredients 2-6 as needed with lots of personal self-care, positive nutrition as prescribed by your ND and combine with a supportive community network + regular exercise you love for amazing health.
Servings: will last a lifetime

Dear Dean & Mrs. Lusztig, Members of the Faculty of Commerce, Fellow graduate students

Upon graduation, the question that can be heard ringing through the halls is “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW?” For many it is an uneasy sensation, similar to what one feels when they discover that an hours preparation or cramming before a midterm exam isn’t quite enough.

After 5 years of Commerce, I truly feel that we are now ready to face the challenges that lie before us, each of us having suffered through and completed our degrees. From our many experiences at UBC, we should cherish the good aspects, such as friendship. I think the most rewarding experience of our university careers has been the friendships that have developed over the last 5 years. Such friendships have instilled feelings of togetherness & sharing, the sharing of ideas, feelings and ambitions. These are true friendships that will remain with you a lifetime, they are to be treasured and valued like no other.

We should also learn from the bad, that is, don’t let your failures pull you down, but may they provide you with an incentive to work harder and continue to strive towards the most prestigious of achievements. In anything you set out to do, do not accept mediocrity. Advancement cannot occur in the world if individuals simply desire sufficiency or adequacy, rather than excellence.

I think now, more than ever before, we have realized we must work hard for what we want – – we must take responsibility for our lives and persevere. At UBC, we’ve learned not to accept indifferent efforts from ourselves. Each one of us, even Accountants, has a strong feature or talent that distinguishes us from one another, and this talent has hopefully been strengthened during the past half decade. In whatever you aspire to become, develop your talent to the fullest, and use it to your advantage. Goals are dreams and wishes that are not easily reached. You have to work hard to obtain them, never knowing when or where you will reach your goal. BUT KEEP TRYING!!! Do not give up hope, and most of all never stop believing in you. For within you, there is someone special, someone wonderful and successful. No matter what you achieve, as long as you want it and if makes you happy, you are a success.

You must employ your privileged position as University Graduates as a positive influence as you venture into the work force. It is imperative to realize that we, as the youth of today, and as the contributors of our society tomorrow, will have the capacity, and moreover, the responsibility to steer society in the direction in which we wish it to go. We must remember that the experience and knowledge, which we have accumulated over the past 17 years, represents only the start of our real education. To quote Winston Churchill:
“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Good luck to you all and thank you!

One thing I am passionate about is spreading the message about Naturopathic Medicine and one way to do that is by helping other NDs become successful in practice. Maybe you are new in practice and wondering how to be successful in practice. Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by the idea of setting up a new clinic, marketing, deciding on software, hiring staff and the multitude of decisions that have to be made. I remember when I went to the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, I had made a career change from Marketing (B. Comm) to Medicine (ND) and I lacked confidence in my skills. Remember, there is a reason it is called a medical “practice” – you are learning from your patients every day. There is no doctor or scientist out there that knows it all – and neither do you. Mother nature might be the only one that has the answers and that is why I think it is best to follow her lead ☺. As I say to my patients “Nature is the teacher of science”. There are many aspects to business – business is a broad term that encompasses operations, accounting, finance, marketing/advertising, human resources, organizational behaviour etc – and this article will discuss 7 key points that every ND needs to do well. Clinicians spend many years studying medicine but they have to realize that private practice is essentially a business – especially for naturopathic doctors.

Here are my 7 business tips:

1.Physician heal thyself – when I first started in practice, I asked Dr. Gord Smith for advice. He said “When you learn to get out of the way with patients, then you will be successful.” It took me time to fully integrate what he was teaching me. I have come to believe that working on my own “issues” in the mental, emotional and spiritual realms have been a key point in working with patients. You can only take patients as far as you have gone yourself. I have found that the greatest gift I give to my patients is through the healing work that I have done. To this end, I have created a unique course for clinicians to further their own exploration into personal healing and growth. I highly encourage you to either work with a gifted practitioner you trust or to sign up for this exciting retreat: Beyond the Label Teacher Training. I hear you, I’ve been there. I have learnt that you have to do your own personal growth work to get yourself out of the way in order to help others. If you find you are triggered by what patients are saying, you are getting defensive or taking things personally, then you need to some work (ie The Work of Byron Katie, take my course, counseling).  Even though I reported to a CEO in my previous career, have a business degree and have been practicing for over a decade, I don’t profess to know everything – because who does. So let yourself off the hook with the pressure you are putting on yourself to know it all – you never will. Put more energy into healing yourself.

2. Take one action step every day toward your goals. Since you are “self-employed” you are the one driving your business and the success of it. Don’t let your fears of self-doubt stop you in your tracks. Pick one thing on your “to do” list that you can do today. If you don’t have a “to do” list I suggest that is your action step for today – create one. As someone once told me “Fail to plan, plan to fail”. If you are unsure in business, then hire a business coach. I am happy to consult as with you as well.

3. Give patients hope and love. I think an important point that many are missing is hope. Hope is defined as: to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen. We must instill hope in our patients. The reason we don’t may be due to a lack of confidence in our abilities, in the medicine, in the patient or maybe we have forgotten how important the basic things are. I know many are fearful of giving “false hope” to patients (ie cancer). Remember that you are not the only one guiding the patient. There are often contractual spiritual forces at play that are bigger than us. I believe in the field of psychoneuroimmunology and I ask many patients to watch this video – as it talks about one’s thoughts as it relates to one’s health. The main point in the video is: one of the most important components to your health is your subconscious and conscious beliefs. Thoughts create neuropeptides. Neuropeptides bind to immune cells as every immune cell has neuropeptide receptors. Therefore, your thoughts = your immune system. This is the field of psyconeuroimmunology and the work of Candice Pert in her book “Molecules of Emotion”. Remember that patients are putting their trust in you to help them heal. You need to put faith in them that they will heal. This is called hope. It is not necessarily going to be easy. It is not necessarily going to be hard. It is going to be what you make it. I maintain confidence that through my actions, the steps the patient needs to take and the work of spirit in their lives that they can regain their health on all levels – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – if that is what is meant to be. It is important to remember that health is a lifelong journey – not a destination. We are always making choices today that our future self will thank us for. One of those choices is focusing on HOPE. The other is focusing on LOVE. Really care for and love your patients – I make this a #1 priority with my patients – that they feel cared for and I really grow to love them. No one leaves the clinic without a hug or a gentle touch on the back. I really think that this loving approach is one of the things that has made me so busy. In the end, patients know that I care about them.

4. Marketing/networking and referrals. It is important in marketing/networking to let people know you are available to help. The naturopathic profession has a PR problem and there are many that still don’t know we exist, what we can do, how well trained we are etc. Although I have seen a shift over the last 20 years, we still have a long way to go to catch up in creditability to MDs. If people don’t know that you can help them then you aren’t in their realm of possibility. It is your job (and that of our professional associations) to let the public know about who we are, what we do and how we are trained as primary care providers. Find ways to market yourself and spread your message in ways that you are comfortable with – if writing is your thing, then write for your local paper or blog; if speaking is your strength, then give talks; or if you have a particular interest – in sports, arts, or volunteering, then start with the groups you are involved with. Do your part to get the message out about our amazing profession. One way to do this is to ask for referrals – from existing patients, from like-minded practitioners (ie massage therapists, psychologists, chiropractors, medical doctors, pharmacists etc) and give referrals to the same people you are asking something from. I have taken a lead from my realtor and I give every patient a welcome letter that says “I am never too busy for your referrals – if you know someone that would benefit from naturopathic medicine, please let them know about us”. ☺ I believe this is the ideal health care team for a patient:
a. See an ND
b. See a body therapist (ie rolfer, massage, cranio, reflexology)
c. See a chiropractor and/or acupuncturist
d. See a psychologist
e. Work with an open minded MD
f. Refer to “specialists” as necessary

5. Have a plan. Let patients know what aspects of their health you are working on and how long that will take. Never let a patient leave without having a follow up appointment scheduled. I let patients know that they are on a plan – for example, first we are going to balance your neurotransmitters, manage stress and then address your hormones. While we are doing that we will also work on the organs of detoxification and diet. And after that we will address x, y and z. Patients return because they are ready for the next step, they get results and they want to feel EVEN better. Patients know with me, they must schedule their follow ups even if it is 6 months away as I am so busy – they want to get in and they value and respect that time because they value their health. Once I have helped patients with their chief concerns, I let them know that I am just like their family MD and I want to see them in 6 months – 1 year to have an annual check-in. For many of my patients I am their primary care provider.

6. Be organized and be on time. If you aren’t an expert or if you don’t have knowledge on condition Z – it is fine as you tell them that you are addressing root causes and in the first visit, there are always two diet changes you can make for people (whether it is decreasing caffeine, eliminating pop, increasing water, incorporating more organic foods, eliminating GMO foods) and that gives you time to research their specific condition. Remember though, that you treat people, not conditions.

7. Location, location, location – location is important. Starting in a busy city with lots of other NDs is more difficult than an under serviced area. We do need to recognize that the world of business has moved online – so you need to have a physical space for people to come to your office, but how they find you needs to be online. If you aren’t online, then get there – this is the way of the world so build your website, start blogging and be active on social media. When I was in school, a teacher said the ND/population ratio was 1:10,000. That means that a city the size of Toronto could have over 260 NDs. There are currently 301 NDs – if it were me, I might consider another location. When I was a student, I looked at the size of each city in Canada and the population – recognizing that my preference was to move back to Vancouver, BC where I am born and raised – and decided that Squamish was going to be where I would move. Four years later, love found my heart and my partner wanted to live elsewhere. We ended up settling in Edmonton (after a stint in Fort McMurray) and I love it here! We discussed moving to a Gulf Island to practice, but we chose against it. We discussed moving to Vancouver, but we chose against it. We discussed buying a health food store in Pemberton, BC, but we chose against it. Many factors go into deciding what is best for you and your family. I believe home is where your heart is and wherever you go, there you are. Canada is an amazing country and there are many locations that need an amazing ND like you!

Here’s to your success!!

Reference:
1. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope

Here are 8 tips to help you lose weight:

• Eat a good breakfast and don’t skip meals: It is important to have a small amount of protein (nuts, eggs, and yogurt) and a variety of fruit and hearty whole grains for breakfast in order to carry you through until lunch time. If you skip a meal, you increase the likelihood that you will be excessively hungry later in the day and more likely to eat too much of the “wrong” type of food.

• • Eat slowly: take at least 20 minutes to eat a meal as it takes this long for your stomach to send the “full” message to your brain. By rushing your meals, you can eat too much before you realize you are satisfied.

• • Shop smart: Nutritious foods are found around the perimeter of grocery stores, not in boxes in the food aisles. Do not go shopping when you are hungry and avoid buying obvious high-fat junk foods. Learn to read labels and do not buy items that have the following words listed as ingredients: refined, sugar, glucose, fructose, sucrose, hydrogenated, corn syrup, sugar alcohols (sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol) and artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, Nutrasweet, Equal).

• • Prepare for times of weakness: recognize times or events that signal you to eat, such as an argument, hard day at work, talking on the phone. Plan activities that don’t involve food for these times, such as exercising, taking a long bath or reading a good book.

• • Be your own best friend: if your friend makes a mistake, you don’t call them a failure or tell them to give up. If you stray from your eating plan, don’t be hard on yourself. Treat each lapse as temporary, not a sign of failure. Simply resume your program and don’t look back.

• • Drink plenty of water (filtered with minerals remaining): water flushes toxins from your body and helps keep your appetite under control

• • Exercise: You put on weight if your daily caloric consumption exceeds your caloric expenditure. By exercising, we influence an important part of the weight formula – so let’s get moving!!!

Contact your Naturopathic Doctor to customize a nutritional plan for you today – www.cand.ca and click on “find a practitioner”.

10 Steps to a New You

1. Breathe: Those who practice deep breathing have better memories and are have an enhanced ability to cope with stress.
2. Eat your veggies: Vegetables are high in antioxidants so they can slow the aging process, they fill you up and provide much needed fiber for a healthy gut.
3. Get a good sleep: While sleeping your body focuses on detoxifying your tissues and reversing the harmful effects of pollution, bad eating and stress.
4. Correct imbalances: Whether lifestyle, energetic or dietary, imbalances use up valuable energy and resources without giving you anything back. Pick one imbalance you can correct –ie drinking more water. And then build on this. Your body will thank you.
5. Honour yourself:  When you are giving yourself what you need, your body has a wonderful way of healing itself and attracting more goodness into your life.
6. Exercise and get outside: Increasing your heart rate and moving your muscles increases the bodies ability of to fight stress, illness and injury. Being in touch with the outdoors makes you aware of natural rhythms and improves mood and energy.
7. Eat organic foods, drink purified water: When you give your body the right building blocks, you build better tissue leading to improved health. Plus it just simply tastes better!
8. Make connections: Women generally live longer and are happier because of the power of the relationships they form. The number and quality of relationships is directly proportional to the perceived quality of life in several studies.
9. Detoxify: Exposure to daily hazards leads to a build up of chemicals in the body. Only when these toxins are removed can the body function as it should. Consult with a naturopathic doctor to help with this process.
10. Play, be creative: As we get older, we forget to really enjoy life. Plan a fun activity every day, whether it is a hobby, watching a 30 min sitcom or chatting with a friend nurture your inner child. You deserve it!

When comparing our modern-day lives with those of our grandparents, it is clear that our environment has changed greatly. Not just the natural world, but in our day-to-day lives as well. We are exposed to hundreds of times more chemicals, toxins, and different forms of radiation than generations past. At the same time chronic disease rates are soaring. The sum total of the things we’re exposed to on any given day through eating, drinking, breathing, and using products is what is called environmental exposures. You can take control of your health by paying attention to your environmental exposures.

Below is the third and final installation of a series on environmental exposures and their solutions. This article focuses on behaviours in our daily lives that involve environmental exposures and the impact they have on our overall health. The solutions are based on the questions posed in our Environmental quiz – please take the quiz today!

1. How much alcohol do you drink?

It is well known that excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental to your health. It can cause major deficiencies, liver and heart problems, diabetes, mental health concerns, hormonal imbalances, damage to an unborn child, and lead to addiction and even death, not to mention the negative effect it can have on loved ones. But what about moderate alcohol intake? It is true that there are actually some benefits to having some alcohol, but at what level of intake do the risks outweigh the benefits? The research points to different cutoffs for different conditions. Large studies show that one drink per day may actually be protective against heart disease, stroke, gallstones and type 2 diabetes. This is because alcohol intake (below or at the 1 drink/day level) raises HDL “good” cholesterol, and reduces the formation of small blood clots. Red wine has earned esteem for its antioxidant properties that also show a protective effect on the heart, blood sugar regulation and on inflammation. It is also important to mention the psychological benefits of having a social night with friends that involves a glass of alcohol. Depending on the person, this aspect of drinking alcohol could reduce stress, bring people together and build the health resiliency of a strong community.

Despite it being protective in some areas of our health, even just two drinks a day (just one drink over the recommended level) can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 41%. This points to the large role that alcohol plays in hormonal disregulation due to its effect on the liver.

Overall, the general scientific consensus lands at alcohol offering potential long-term benefits if consumed at no more than 1-2 drinks per day for men, and no more than 1 drink per day for women. Timing of intake is important as well, meaning drinking all 7 drinks for a week should not be consumed in on night (binge drinking) as that has exponentially more harmful effects than drinking 7 drinks on separate nights. If you don’t drink, this does not mean you should start in order to get the benefits. This is to inform those who already drink about healthy levels and what impact it has on their bodies. As the famous Paracelsus once said, “the dose makes the poison”.

For information on the impact of different types of alcohol, see https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/is-wine-fine-or-beer-better/

2. How much exercise do you get?

Exercise is great for balance, strength, muscle tone and flexibility. It is well known that exercise is an important part of a healthy routine. The minimum recommendation for physical exercise for adults in Canada is at least a total of 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise (breaking a sweat) per week. But it isn’t beneficial just for our physique; it has great benefits for the functioning of our endocrine system as well. Regular exercise is known to impact almost all hormones in the body that are responsible for such important functions as blood sugar regulation, menstrual cycles, sleep-wake cycles, and the creation, distribution and utilization of energy in the body. It is understandable then, that the hormone regulation that comes from regular exercise is protective against conditions related to hormonal imbalance. Long-term studies have found that the more exercise a woman gets per week, the lower her lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is. For women already diagnosed with breast cancer, exercise during and after treatment reduces side effects, improves response to treatment, and ultimately overall prognosis. In another part of the endocrine system, the balancing effect that exercise has on blood sugar levels and the hormones insulin and glucagon also helps protect against developing type 2 diabetes. In the nervous system, exercise is known to be a very effective salve for mental health concerns like anxiety, depression and bipolar conditions (see mental health and exercise article here: https://naturalterrain.com/exercise-helps-mental-health/) Managing physical, hormonal and emotional health with exercise is a healthy way to help your body help itself and get back to normal eating, sleeping, and menstruating cycles – all of which then keep you healthy! Interestingly, all these above effects are independent from weight loss. However, if adding exercise to your routine also helps you reduce your weight to a healthy level (and your detoxification systems are functioning), the hormonal, mental health and systemic benefits may be even larger.

3. Do you suffer from any of the following: ongoing fatigue, headaches, pain, and constant colds and coughs?

Each of these symptoms is a sign that there are larger dysfunctions happening in various systems of your body. Frequent colds and coughs could signify a low immune system. Headaches and pain could point to inflammation and an inability to clear out toxins fast enough to prevent buildup. Fatigue could be a sign that your body is under-functioning in some respect, having too much to process and cope with. Exposure to environmental chemicals is one way these whole-body issues arise. Headaches, for example, are shown to be common symptoms after workplace exposure to chemical irritants, either once from a big one-time exposure (a workplace accident or renovation), or over time (a little bit of mold or other irritant in the workplace every day). Irritants have been shown to make the nerve fibres that sense pain and the blood vessel system in the head more sensitive and reactive after exposure. Air pollution is another irritant that is known to cause asthma, chronic cough, skin irritation, headaches and liver cancer. Such health effects of environmental exposure are far-reaching too: a 2017 study in Ontario showed that maternal exposure to air pollution is also correlated with higher risk of childhood cancers in offspring. Exposure to pollution, toxins and irritants are damaging to the immune system because all immune cells come from the bone marrow, the place in the body that is most sensitive to the toxicity of environmental exposures. Toxins can either reduce immune cell formation or lead to defective immune cells, leading to fatigue, low immune defences to colds and flus, or even lead to autoimmune disease.

4. Have you been diagnosed with low thyroid function or a skin condition (ie eczema, psoriasis, acne)?

Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, is a condition that can either be autoimmune (the body is attacking its own thyroid gland out of confusion or an over-stressed immune system) or from other direct damage done to the thyroid. Research shows that environmental exposure to chemicals can increase the risk of both causes of hypothyroidism. Chemical agents such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenols, found in old electric equipment), BPA and PFCs (bisphenolic acid and perflourinated chemicals, found in many plastics), pesticides and fluoride can disrupt the thyroid. Autoimmune or direct damage to the thyroid results in whole-body symptoms affecting energy, appetite, weight change, temperature, digestion, heart rate, and sweating, among other body functions. It is important to know that your thyroid could be damaged from your exposures to environmental chemicals. Check back in on part 1 and 2 of this environmental solutions article series to learn more about these chemicals and identify what changes you can in your life to reduce your exposure.

https://naturalterrain.com/body-toxic-wasteland-part-1-dr-chris/

https://naturalterrain.com/body-toxic-wasteland-part-2-dr-chris/

5. Do you use Advil, Tylenol, Immodium or any over the counter (OTC) medication more than 1x/ year?

Billions of dollars are spent every year on OTC drugs in Canada. It’s important to remember that simply because it’s available without consulting a doctor doesn’t mean it’s always safe. Acute toxicity is a real risk with OTC medications now, firstly because many products combine different amounts of ingredients for different symptoms (cough, cold, flu, pain, drowsiness, insomnia, diarrhea, etc) making it difficult to keep track of how much has been taken, and secondly because not everyone reads the label correctly. A 2012 survey showed that 24% of respondents unwittingly exceed the safe limit of 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen over a 24-hour period. Acute overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause acute liver failure and even death. The same study revealed that anti-diarrheal medications are some of the most abused products on the market. Overuse of this type of medication can cause electrolyte imbalance and heart disturbances. Beyond overdose toxicity, chronic use of some OTC medication is now implicated in higher risk of developing dementia. OTCs that fall into this category are medications that have anticholinergic properties. For more information about this, see my article on dementia and how to prevent it: https://naturalterrain.com/10-ways-reduce-risk-dementia/

6. Are you more than 15 lbs overweight?

Extra weight is a storehouse for chemicals and other factors that contribute to hormone imbalances. Fat cells, or adipose, can bind and hold chemicals in your body. Some chemicals that are water-soluble are excreted in the urine, while other chemicals such as pesticides, preservatives, food additives, and other pollutants are fat-soluble, meaning they get trapped in layers of fat. These can slowly leach out into the blood stream or come out in bursts and flood the rest of the body, manifesting in flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal upset. The US Environmental Protection Agency did a survey in the 80’s called the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS) on cadavers across the country and discovered harmful chemicals in 100% of the samples, ranging from dangerous dioxins to PBCs and other industrial solvents. Chemicals end up here because they accumulate in the food chain, in our environments, in our plastics and other materials. They accumulate and are stored in the adipose of our bodies and then cause harm to us when they are released; unfortunately they are released most when weight is lost from fat burning. This is why it is important to tone your detoxification systems like your liver and kidneys while drinking plenty of water if you are losing weight. Fat itself can actually make and release estrogen into the body as well. Therefore the presence of fat alone raises the levels of some hormones with systemic effects. Too-high levels of estrogen as well as too-low levels can ultimately lead to more symptoms of systemic hormonal imbalance.

These are some important considerations to have in mind when you are making decisions for better health for you and your family. Talk with your Naturopathic doctor to find out more about how you can protect yourself from environmental exposure to chemicals, irritants and hormone disruptors.

 

References

All photos are free under creative commons license, obtained from pixaby.com

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