Category: Interesting

3 Lifestyle Tips for Post-Concussion Syndrome

After a head injury, people may suffer from symptoms of concussions. These symptoms typically disappear between 7 and 10 days. But what happens when these symptoms persist?

 

This is known as post-concussion syndrome and it can last months and even years. Symptoms of post concussion syndrome include headaches, insomnia, dizziness, concentration difficulty, fatigue, memory difficulty, irritability, and intolerance of stress, emotion, or alcohol. There are several different approaches in which naturopathic doctors may take in treating post-concussion syndrome. Dr. Mason-Wood, ND has experience supporting those with concussions and post-concussion syndrome and will use a range of modalities to get his patients feeling better.

 

These are a couple of basic lifestyle tips that can help people with post-concussion syndrome.

  1. Limit Screen Time

    • Patients with post-concussion syndrome often have increased sensitivity to noise and light. The light given off from screens, such as T.Vs, computers, and cell phones is considered blue light.  Blue light activates a certain part of the back of your eye and brain which can aggravate symptoms. By reducing your screen time, you are letting your eyes rest and helping your brain recover. Reducing screen time may not be easy if your job or schooling requires you to be on a computer so there are several different ways you can get around this. You can use a red light filter on your screens (or in the meantime, turn night shift on your MacBook or iPhone) and try blue-blocking glasses.

  2. Exercise

    • Starting with light aerobic exercise after 1-2 days of the injury has been shown to speed up time to recovery and improve symptoms. It is believed that light exercising increases the ability of your brain to repair itself by increasing the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Make sure to pick activities that do not increase your risk of re-injury.

  3. Listen to your body

    • Be gentle with yourself. Listen to your body, and identify when it is telling you to rest. Step away from your computer, move into a dark room, if you are having bad symptoms with a certain food or drink, avoid it and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Honour what your body is saying and rest when you need it. This can significantly help in your recovery.

For more ways to help manage your concussion or post-concussion syndrome book an appointment with Dr. Mason-Wood, ND

7 Tips for Healthy Ageing

Ageing is a natural and normal process. Although ageing can not be stopped, there are many different things you can do to prevent feeling old. Here are some practical tips you can apply to your everyday life to help ensure that you are healthy ageing.

1. Get 7-8 hours of sleep

Sleep plays an important in reducing mental and physical ageing. Sleep helps to consolidate memories, clear toxins, repair tissues and promote muscle growth. Decreased sleep has been linked to high inflammation rates, cognitive impairment and chronic disease which all play a role in unhealthy ageing. It is important to get a good nights rest and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

2. Exercise

Exercise helps to improve cardiovascular function, muscle strength, bone density, mental health and improves immune function. All of these are can result in increased longevity. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week.

3. Weight control

As we age, the risk for many different chronic illnesses increases. These risks can be further increased if a person is overweight or obese. These illnesses include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and mobility issues. To promote healthy ageing it is important to maintain a healthy weight. If you need help starting this process, check out our 8 tips for weight loss and call the clinic for an appointment (587-521-3595).

4. Eat Vegetables and Fruits

Fruits and Vegetables are high in antioxidants. As we age, the number of antioxidants in our body’s decrease. Eating antioxidants can help prevent chronic disease, and ageing processes that occur as a result of free radicals, as discussed in last week’s article. Some of the vegetables and fruits highest in antioxidants are blueberries, blackberries, kale, and spinach.

5. Not smoking or vaping

Free radicals can cause a lot of damage to our skin, hair and organs which are typically associated with getting old. One of the main sources of free radicals is smoking. When something is smoked (tobacco, marijuana, or even meat), there is an reaction called incomplete combustion that occurs. This creates free radicals that are linked with unhealthy ageing.

6. Limited alcohol consumption

Alcohol can increase the amount of inflammation in the body, which can lead to chronic disease and decreased organ, tissue and cellular function. Alcohol also decreases the immune function and depletes some vitamins, such as vitamin B1 (thiamine) which is important in turning our food into energy. In an older population, it is important to monitor alcohol intake closely as it can cause falls, which is one of the major causes of older adults having to move into more assisted living facilities. Ensure that you are limiting alcohol and drinking lots of water to best support healthy ageing.

7. Seldom snacking

Because one of the processes that occurs in ageing is glycation, it is important to monitor what is put in the body and how often. Consider limiting snacks, as it improves insulin sensitivity. This means that the body is able to take up and utilize the sugars to make energy for the cell. Therefore, there is less sugar in the blood to make Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and cause damage to our cells. Try eating only at 2-3 times a day and eliminate any snacks you may be having in between.

Despite growing older every day, we want you to feel the best you’ve ever felt physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Healthy ageing can start with these 6 easy tips. If you need more guidance, Dr. Mason-Wood is happy to help.

Don’t Wait to Get Your Frozen Shoulder Treated

“Will I ever be able to reach that shelf in the kitchen?”

When you have a frozen shoulder, even simple everyday tasks like putting away your groceries are daunting, painful, or simply impossible.

Frozen shoulder can be extremely painful in its early stage; it becomes even more debilitating when the lack of range of motion sets in later on. Recovery from this condition can take months – sometimes years – for full recovery.

Although frozen shoulder is a very common condition, there are some things that are mysterious about it. Typically frozen shoulder tends to affect one side, usually the non-dominant side, but some develop the condition in both shoulders. In rare cases, patients develop frozen shoulder on the other side within five years.

It’s important to seek treatment early for frozen shoulder to avoid permanent damage to the joint. During the many months of decreased shoulder mobility the rotator cuff muscles weaken and the joint capsule tissue surrounding these muscles stiffens. This can place the shoulder at significant risk for cuff tears, arthritis, and possible osteopenia or thinning of the bones.

Without treatment, the shoulder joint can actually deteriorate to a point where full recovery becomes very difficult – if not impossible.

The risk of permanent damage however can be reduced with early physical therapy, with a focus on shoulder mobility under the guidance of a skilled health care professional. The therapist might recommend strengthening the rotator cuff muscles. A strong rotator cuff can help support your shoulder and allow it to move more freely. They might also give you exercises to work on your scapula. (One way to diagnose frozen shoulder is by observing if the scapula or shoulder blade moves excessively when you reach to the side or above you head.)

It’s important to keep mobilizing your shoulder – but don’t overdo it by making up strenuous exercises at the gym.

A Naturopathic Doctor might suggest prolotherapy – both non-surgical injection treatments that can greatly reduce pain and speed the healing process. In a prolotherapy treatment, dextrose is injected into the affected area to bring immune factors to the area and effectively stimulate the body’s own healing capacities.

Take it slow. Remember that your frozen shoulder didn’t develop overnight – it will take some time and patience to repair it with a little help from a skilled health care professional. Dr. Michael Mason-Wood, ND and the team at Natural Terrain Naturopathic Clinic are trained in alleviating joint pain. Click here to find out more about prolotherapy. 

The Natural Process of Ageing

Whether we like it or not, we are all growing older every single day. We are not the same person we were 15 years ago, not physically, psychologically or socially. The process of getting older is known as ageing. Some of the first things that might come to mind when you hear the word ageing, is wrinkles, gray hairs, and sagging.  However, ageing goes beyond the outer appearance. The bones also get less dense, some organs begin to slow down and cells are slower at regenerating which can lead to disease. There are many processes in play that attribute to ageing. This article features 3 of the main causes of ageing: Oxidative stress, Telomere shortening and Glycation.

Oxidative Stress

Every day, our cells make energy in the form of a substance called ATP. While making ATP, oxygen atoms are exchanged and passed to different molecules. Oxygen has a negative charge and therefore binds to different molecules to become neutral and stable. However, occasionally one of those oxygens gets loose from the process. This free oxygen is called a reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals. Because of the negative charge on the oxygen, it finds other molecules to bind to in the body, such as proteins, cell membranes, and DNA. When the oxygen binds it creates damage and can destroy the cells. When we are young, our bodies have antioxidant molecules that help prevent reactive oxygen species from causing damage. However, as we age, the number of these reactive oxygen species increases and there is less of the protective antioxidant molecules. This causes an increase in damage to our cells and can lead to some of the common ageing problems. For example, grey hair can be caused when reactive oxygen species (O-)  bind to water (H2O) in our hair resulting in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The hydrogen peroxide bleaches the hair, making it appear gray or white.

Telomere shortening

Our cells are constantly regenerating. As old cells die, our bodies replicate the DNA and create new cells. At the end of DNA, there is a small portion called a telomere. Telomeres are caps of the end of DNA. Every time the DNA is replicated, the telomeres become shortened. Once the telomeres become too short, that cell is no longer able to replicate. This causes damages to our cells and tissues and increases the ageing process.

Glycation

As we age, our body becomes less equipped to deal with sugars. The sugars in our blood combine with proteins and fats, creating advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The AGEs will then bind to certain receptors on our cells. This combination of AGEs and receptors (called RAGE) causes an increase in inflammation, a decrease in skin cell growth and causes collagen and elastin to break down. Collagen and elastin are proteins that are present in the skin and organs to help provide structure.  Therefore, glycation is one of the reasons that skin becomes more wrinkly and saggy during ageing. Glycation also affects the blood vessels, bones, muscles and organs and can cause decreases in body functioning.

Ageing is a complex process which involves many different mechanisms. While we can’t stop ageing, there are many things that can be done to ensure that you are ageing healthfully.

A Naturopathic Approach to Pain

Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition. Last week we discussed some of the science behind pain, this week we will look into the naturopathic approach to pain.
 
There are lots of different reasons why a person may be experiencing pain. It is important to take the time to identify the root cause so that it can be targeted in the treatment.  For some people chronic pain is a musculoskeletal problem, for others, it’s a problem within the nervous system, immune system, digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system or multiple of these. In an appointment for pain, you can expect a full workup with detailed questioning, a review of systems and physical exams.
 
It is also important to remember that pain affects everyone’s life differently.  Just like taking Tylenol won’t work for everyone’s pain, neither will prescribing the same treatments. Looking at a comprehensive overview of a person’s medical history and their lifestyle helps naturopathic doctors to create individualized treatment plans.
 
Dr. Mason-Wood, ND uses these principles of finding the root cause and individuality to guide the management of chronic pain. On top of graduating as a Naturopathic Doctor, he has taken multiple additional courses to further his learning and is able to provide some of the best pain treatments. Based on his evaluation of the patient, different modalities may be utilized, such as diet, counselling, botanicals, neural therapy, ozone therapy, biopuncture, acupuncture, prolotherapy or prolozone therapy. To get a personalized pain management treatment, book your appointment with Dr. Mason-Wood, ND today!

FOOD ALLERGIES: I had them as a kid, and treated them as a pediatrician

This article as been written by the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service and is posted with their permission. The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource. Please subscribe to OMNS here  http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html and find archived articles here;  http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.shtml

by Ralph K. Campbell, MD

I am writing this out of the firm belief that “it takes one to know one.” I don’t know at exactly what age it started, and of course, my mother, now, can’t tell me. By school age, we both knew that a normal kid didn’t make the noises when talking like I did. Some described it as “he sounds like he has a clothespin on his nose.” What I am describing is nasal allergy due to sensitivity to cow’s milk.

A childhood dairy dilemma

In the ’30s and ’40s there was much general knowledge about vitamins, but little about food allergy. Fortunately, my mother stumbled (or was it was divine intervention?) across a remedy. She found I couldn’t tolerate a big glass of supposedly good-for-me cow’s milk. But tasty, readily available New York aged cheddar cheese didn’t give me any trouble.

We have since learned what was happening: The milk sensitivity was causing such swelling of the inferior nasal turbinates—mounds of tissue projecting toward the dividing septum, designed to moisten incoming air and trap dust and other particulates, like pollens—that they nearly completely blocked my nasal airway. Accompanying the swelling was itching, relieved by executing the “allergic salute” – a swipe of the nose with a sleeve that covered the forearm.

In this situation, secretions could only go down the “back door” where they irritate the area where the nasal airway drains into the throat. This is where the adenoid resides: a lump of lymphoid tissue like the tonsils, designed to intercept harmful bacteria. In children with nasal allergy, both of these areas of lymphoid tissue seem to enlarge, often prompting an adenoidectomy while leaving tonsils to their separate fate.

Ear issues

This also is the area where the Eustachian tubes converge. These tubes allow air to move out of the middle ear space so that the ear drum can vibrate when sound waves strike it. The ear drum is linked by three little bones to the inner ear and its drum-like membrane. The inner ear looks like a snail (so the medical term is cochlea), and is filled with a liquid. It is lined with “hair cells” along the spiral that are part of the auditory nerve. A marvelous mechanism: when sounds impinge upon this inner membrane, vibrations of the fluid sweep over the hair cells — those closest to the base of the membrane signal the high tones, and the more distant ones near the center of the cochlea signal the lower tones.”

The upshot of a stuffy nose and post nasal drip may be several possible problems including hearing loss. Since bacteria thrive better in warm, damp, dark places with poor ventilation, middle ear infections result. Pain can be a prominent feature of a flourishing middle ear infection. Ear infection has been identified as a top cause for a child needing an emergency room visit.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition in which the smooth muscle around branches of the respiratory tree (bronchi) constricts with varying intensity. Breathing out is more difficult because the pressure from the surrounding alveoli compresses the bronchi still further. It can be intense enough to be life-threatening and require the immediate relief from a shot of adrenalin. The bronchospasm (contraction of the smooth muscle around the bronchial tubes, narrowing the airways) makes it difficult (and sometimes frightening) to move air in or out. This attack can be precipitated by the patient’s food allergy or by many other factors such as irritants like dust, or by the polluted air we attempt to breathe. It also may be triggered by other allergens such as animal dander, dust mite excretions, and pollens. With so many causes of nasal allergy and asthma, it can be difficult to determine which food allergen is responsible. In 1957, I devised a procedure (described below) to help with this process. We expect food allergies to be manifest in the gastro intestinal track, and it helps to know the symptoms. But in looking for the culprit, if it also causes symptoms in the respiratory system, these are more distinctive and may appear more quickly after ingesting the food.

Who done it?

To pin down a food allergen, we need to remember what was eaten. Suspicious suspects are those foods related in time to the onset of signs and symptoms. One is not usually allergic to spaghetti, but to one or more of its ingredients: tomato, onion, garlic, wheat, etc. The culprit may be as obscure as Red Dye #2 in a breakfast cereal. This is no joke: that was exactly the situation for a boy under my care who had two separate bouts of immediate oral hypersensitivity, also known as angioedema. He was saved by emergency room visits. My own daughter twice experienced anaphylaxis and was hurried to the emergency department. Such episodes require urgent treatment.

What can we do?

First of all, be prepared to avoid big problems. If a patient has had an episode of angioedema, a self-administered form of adrenalin should be prescribed that can be nearby in case of another episode, and future food challenges should be done in the doctor’s office where emergency care can be given if needed.

For garden-variety allergies, make a list of suspicious foods and ingredients. If the reaction is repeated, then go to the “elimination and challenge” procedure. If there is a reaction, wait a few days for recovery, then challenge by trying this single suspect again. If there is a reaction, this is confirmation that this substance should be eliminated from the diet. Remember, this process is too slow if angioedema has been previously exhibited. A severe reaction must be treated immediately with life-saving adrenalin because of its effect on the respiratory tree, particularly swelling of the lining of the larynx and laryngospasm which can be accompanied by the more visible edema of the face. It is mentioned as a serious side effect in many drug ads. There is a wide range of severity in any of these allergy reactions. For example, intestinal allergy can put one out of shape for several days and be accompanied with headache and the “blahs.” Besides their obvious effect on breathing and the gut, food allergies can also produce “fuzzy thinking,” affect the excitatory neurotransmitters, and interfere with normal sleep.

As a side note, in the early 80’s, I corresponded with Dr. William G. Crook, a pediatric allergist in Georgia. We became pen pals as I responded to an article he wrote that was published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, that seemed to cover everything I had thought about the subject. He sent me a copy of his book, “Tracking Down Hidden Food Allergy.” It was very readable, including illustrations by his daughter, and, best of all, was accepted by the medical community. [1]

Vitamin C and other nutritional helpers

Relief from allergy manifestations comes from avoidance of the culprit and high dose vitamin C. 2,000 mg of vitamin C every two hours is very effective and quick acting. [2,3]. A deficiency of magnesium and other minerals, very common in the modern world, can lead to asthma and many other health issues. In many cases, asthma symptoms can be reduced or prevented by appropriate doses of supplemental magnesium. [4-7]

Eating a better diet helps, too. [2,7]

  • Avoid artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
  • Stop eating cold cuts and other deli meats that are preserved, including hot dogs.
  • Eat more greens — a lot more — especially fresh and raw greens. Eat more legumes (unless there is a peanut allergy).
  • Drink more water, which will help to flush out antigens.
  • To achieve and maintain health, I recommend a good daily multivitamin, plus extra B-complex. [2-8]

One nice thing about food allergy is that milder reactions are often outgrown. Also, allergists are finally eliminating the need for bans on peanuts on board an airplane by desensitizing the reactions with administration of increasingly larger doses of peanuts in the office setting, while standing by with adrenalin if they move too fast. There had been a lot of enthusiasm for this program, but January 29, 2019, on Medscape, a real kill-joy article by Gary Stradmauer, M.D., about food desensitizing appeared. An oral peanut derived drug, AR101, was employed, but it only allowed tolerance for about two peanuts. Even this small, positive effect would only last by continually taking the drug. So now attention is turning back to the needle that the allergist relied on for so many years, for more promising desensitizing.

Vitamin C can quell just about any ordinary allergic reaction, including asthma and hay fever. When you are having an attack, the old “2,000 mg every two hours” for a day or two” plan can’t be beat. In my experience, it is bordering on miraculous.

I’m always going back to my simple philosophy: nutrients are safe and effective, so, with a little common sense, you have little to lose.

 

References

1, Crook WG (1980) Tracking Down Hidden Food Allergy. Professional Books. ISBN-13: 978-0933478053.

2. Saul AW (2005) Allergies. http://doctoryourself.com/allergies.html , http://doctoryourself.com/allergies_2.html

3. Downing D (2010) The Vitamin Cure for Allergies: How to Prevent and Treat Allergies Using Safe and Effective Natural Therapies. Basic Health Pub. ISBN-13: 978-1591202714

4. Davalos Bichara M, Goldman RD. (2009) Magnesium for treatment of asthma in children. Can Fam Physician. 55:887-889. http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/9/887.long

5. Daliparty VM, Manu MK, Mohapatra AK. (2018) Serum magnesium levels and its correlation with level of control in patients with asthma: A hospital-based, cross-sectional, prospective study. Lung India. 35:407-410. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30168460 .

6. Dean C (2017) Magnesium. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v13n22.shtml

7. Case HS (2016) Magnesium Decreases Hyperactivity in ADHD Children. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v12n20.shtml

8. Campbell RK (2014) Food Allergy, Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v10n04.shtml .

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org

Find a Doctor

To locate an orthomolecular physician near you: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v06n09.shtml

The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource.

Editorial Review Board:

Ilyès Baghli, M.D. (Algeria)
Ian Brighthope, M.D. (Australia)
Prof. Gilbert Henri Crussol (Spain)
Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. (USA)
Damien Downing, M.D. (United Kingdom)
Michael Ellis, M.D. (Australia)
Martin P. Gallagher, M.D., D.C. (USA)
Michael J. Gonzalez, N.M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D. (Puerto Rico)
William B. Grant, Ph.D. (USA)
Tonya S. Heyman, M.D. (USA)
Suzanne Humphries, M.D. (USA)
Ron Hunninghake, M.D. (USA)
Michael Janson, M.D. (USA)
Robert E. Jenkins, D.C. (USA)
Bo H. Jonsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Sweden)
Jeffrey J. Kotulski, D.O. (USA)
Peter H. Lauda, M.D. (Austria)
Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D. (USA)
Homer Lim, M.D. (Philippines)
Stuart Lindsey, Pharm.D. (USA)
Victor A. Marcial-Vega, M.D. (Puerto Rico)
Charles C. Mary, Jr., M.D. (USA)
Mignonne Mary, M.D. (USA)
Jun Matsuyama, M.D., Ph.D. (Japan)
Dave McCarthy, M.D. (USA)
Joseph Mercola, D.O. (USA)
Jorge R. Miranda-Massari, Pharm.D. (Puerto Rico)
Karin Munsterhjelm-Ahumada, M.D. (Finland)
Tahar Naili, M.D. (Algeria)
W. Todd Penberthy, Ph.D. (USA)
Dag Viljen Poleszynski, Ph.D. (Norway)
Jeffrey A. Ruterbusch, D.O. (USA)
Gert E. Schuitemaker, Ph.D. (Netherlands)
Thomas L. Taxman, M.D. (USA)
Jagan Nathan Vamanan, M.D. (India)
Garry Vickar, MD (USA)
Ken Walker, M.D. (Canada)
Anne Zauderer, D.C. (USA)

Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D. (USA), Editor-In-Chief
Editor, Japanese Edition: Atsuo Yanagisawa, M.D., Ph.D. (Japan)
Robert G. Smith, Ph.D. (USA), Associate Editor
Helen Saul Case, M.S. (USA), Assistant Editor
Ralph K. Campbell, M.D. (USA), Contributing Editor
Michael S. Stewart, B.Sc.C.S. (USA), Technology Editor
Jason M. Saul, JD (USA), Legal Consultant

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Aging and Oxidative Stress

Oxidative Stress

Oxidation is a chemistry term which refers to a molecule gaining an oxygen atom or losing an electron. Inversely, reduction is when a molecule loses an oxygen atom or gains an electron. Examples of oxidation include an avocado turning brown after being exposed to air, a bumper forming rust or a cut becoming inflamed. All of these processes require oxygen to occur. Oxidation occurs in the form of a redox reaction where one atom/molecule is oxidized while the other is reduced. Every cell in our body uses oxygen to produce energy. Energy production occurs in an organelle in our cells called mitochondria. Mitochondria can be thought of as mini power plants and it is where the body produces most of its energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate or ATP. Ten percent of our body weight is mitochondria and we produce our body weight daily in ATP. Occasionally, during the metabolization of oxygen occurs in the mitochondria products called free radicals are produced.

Free Radicals and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

Free radicals are atoms or molecules which have unpaired highly reactive electrons. Free radicals can interact with other atoms or molecules (such as DNA, lipids and proteins) in the cell and steal electrons from them. This results in aberrations, in the molecule whose electron was stolen, and can lead to cellular damage. Additionally, the now damaged molecule can react with another atom or molecule and this creates a chain reaction which can overwhelm the body’s natural defenses.

Another class of potentially harmful molecules are reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reactive oxygen species are molecules containing oxygen and include oxygen ions and peroxides. They are formed in the metabolism of oxygen and play important roles in normal cell functioning. However, during times of bodily stress ROS’s can dramatically increase which can overwhelm a cell’s defenses and damage the cell.

Damage to cellular DNA can cause the aberrant cell to divide more rapidly than a healthy cell and this is the start of a cancerous cell. It is for this reason that smoking can lead to lung cancer. Therefore, the more oxygen the body uses the more free radicals produced which leads to greater oxidation. In addition to oxygen utilization, free radicals can also be formed from exposure to X-Rays, cigarette smoking, air pollutants, heavy metals, ozone, some medications and chemicals. Keep in mind that oxidation is a natural process and in most circumstances helps the body. Normal cells produce a small amount of free radicals. For instance, internally generated sources of free radicals occur in mitochondria, peroxisomes, xanthine oxidase, phagocytosis, inflammation and during exercise1. Our immune system uses free radicals to destroy bacteria and viruses. The body is well equipped to handle these endogenous forms of free radicals by creating enzymes that reduce ROS, by utilizing antioxidants and by being able to repair the damage done by free radicals and ROS. In fact low to moderate levels of oxidation help modulate the immune system and enhance cellular processes.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are reducing agents which can donate an electron to free radicals preventing them from reacting with other molecules in the cell. However, when an antioxidant donates an electron it becomes oxidized; therefore, antioxidants must constantly be replenished. Additionally, under certain circumstances antioxidants may become oxidative in nature and increase the oxidative stress on the body. Our main source of antioxidants are found in fruits, vegetables and animal sources and include vitamin C, vitamin E, flavonoids, polyphenols, minerals (selenium), alpha lipoic acid, melatonin, CoQ10 and many others substances. Since different antioxidants work on different pathways in the body we need many different vitamins and minerals to act synergistically together to neutralize free radicals. This is why it is prudent to consume a wide variety of different foods. Antioxidants work in two different ways. The first way is that they can prevent oxidation from occurring by stabilizing ROS and free radicals. The second is that when a free radical starts a chain reaction the antioxidant can terminate the reaction mid-way through.

What is Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress can be thought of as the balance between the production of free radicals/ROS and the body’s ability to detoxify the free radicals/ROS or repair the damage done by them. Normally the body is equipped to handle these stressors and the total burden placed on the body is manageable. However, overexposure to cigarette smoke, UV radiation, other environmental toxins and even excessive amount of exercise can overwhelm the body causing reactive oxygen species to accumulate. The accumulation of ROS damages cells and causes mutations within the cells. Increased levels of oxidative stress have been linked to arthritis, diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, asthma, COPD, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) and many other diseases1.

What Role Does Oxidation Play in Aging?

Did you know that oxidation is the cause of wrinkles and sagging skin? The oxidative stress theory of aging was first proposed by Denham Harman in the 1950’s. He conceived the idea that as time progresses the number of ROS in our body increases which negatively affects our overall level of oxidative stress. Invariably, the ROS which are produced in the mitochondria will bind to proteins, lipids and carbohydrates which are the building blocks of our bodies. These building blocks are damaged and destroyed and the body becomes less and less capable of repairing the damage done. Our skin sags because we lose collagen to oxidative stress and then are unable to replace the collagen. Our joints begin to ache because the connective tissue becomes oxidized and is destroyed and we cannot replace the connective tissue at the rate at which it is oxidized. Oxidation also weakens body systems which is why we are more likely to injure ourselves as we get older and why our chances of mortality increase from causes such as strokes, heart attacks and cancer. Furthermore, ROS can damage neurons in the brain which leads to neural degeneration and is one of the reasons why we begin to lose our memory as we age. As we can see, oxidation is implicated in many of the most common illnesses that affect humans.

How Can We Prevent Oxidation?

In the past when we ate a healthy diet and our environment was relatively free of pollutants, the body had everything it needed to counteract oxidative stress. Despite an increase in our lifespan, the rates of chronic disease in Western society have progressed at an even faster rate. Nowadays, the general population does not eat a nutrient dense diet containing ample antioxidants. Additionally, the amount of environmental pollutants are exponentially higher than they used to be. Not coincidentally the amount of chronic and degenerative diseases in the population has skyrocketed.

The first and most important step to preventing oxidative damage is getting a good night’s sleep. It is during sleep that our body repairs and regenerates tissue while also detoxifying ROS and free radicals. Second, eating a nutrient dense diet is vitally important so that the body contains a plethora of antioxidants and other detoxifying substances to counteract oxidative stress. Did you know that sugar is the most oxidative food we can eat and therefore a diet high in sugar will cause a great deal of oxidative stress on the body. Lastly, brief bouts of high intensity exercise has been shown to increase our resistance to stressors and needs to be included in a healthy lifestyle. Did you also know that the vitamin and mineral content of plants are lower than they were 100 years ago?2 Supplementation can mimic some of the vital components of plants that are lacking in today’s agriculture. It is recommended that you consult with your Naturopathic Doctor prior to supplementation. This is because there are a few things that people are doing wrong with supplementation and we want to make sure you avoid these pitfalls. Additionally, not all nutrition plans are for everyone, nor are all exercise plans; therefore, it is vital that you consult your Naturopathic Doctor who can create a treatment plan that is right for you. This treatment plan may include supplementation, botanical medicine, homeopathy, injection therapies or one of many other treatments offered at the Natural Terrain Naturopathic Clinic.

Hormesis

Not all stress is bad and in fact some stress is good and strengthens the body. Have you ever started running and could barely run 1km, but within a few short months you could run that multiple times over. This is hormesis at work. Hormesis is the concept that small doses of a stressor help prime the body to handle that stressor better in the future. This concept also applies to heat, toxins, lack of food and a broad range of other stressors. It has been found that by limiting food intake and fasting intermittently we can actually increase lifespan because multiple different survival mechanisms are activated (3). It is thought that the production of free radicals also primes the body and strengthens it. This in turn can lead to an increased lifespan. You may be thinking, “So it is true what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger!” Not quite. Short term, small doses of stressors are the key. When stressors last a long time they cause an accumulation of ROS in the body which overwhelm our natural defenses and in the end cause health problems.

If Oxygen Causes Oxidation, Why Are We Using Ozone To Treat Patients?

Ozone (O3) is a molecule containing three oxygen atoms as compared to the dioxygen (O2) that we normally breathe. The fact that ozone contains one more oxygen molecule means that it is highly reactive. This property makes ozone oxidative, but this is what also gives ozone its healing properties. As it happens, ozone is quite damaging to the respiratory system when inhaled (4) as well as to most tissues that are exposed to it in large amounts. However, when blood is mixed with ozone in a therapeutic dose the oxygenation of blood increases tenfold (4). This oxygenation of blood has many therapeutic benefits, but predominantly it has immunomodulatory effects. This means that for those individuals who have overactive immune systems: such as autoimmune, chronic and inflammatory diseases ozone will calm the immune system down.

Many illnesses (especially structural disorders) are caused by a lack of blood supply which results in lack of oxygen to tissues as well as allowing a build of a waste. This prevents an individual’s body from properly healing. Ozonation increases oxygenation of the blood and up regulates the immune system so that when it is injected into areas which previously had limited blood supply ozone stimulates a low grade immune response which repairs and regenerates tissues. Therefore, when given in a therapeutic dose ozone has a hormetic effect on the body which stimulates the body natural healing capabilities providing a multitude of benefits.

1. Lien Ai Pham-Huy, Hua He, and Chuong Pham-Huy. 2008. Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health. Int J Biomed Sci. Jun; 4(2): 89–96.
2. Davis D. 2009. Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition: What Is the Evidence? HORTSCIENCE VOL. 44(1).
3. http://www.intermittentfaster.com/intermittent-fasting-science/
4. Sagai M, Bocci V. 2011. Mechanisms of Action Involved in Ozone Therapy: Is healing induced via a mild oxidative stress? Med Gas Res. 2011 Dec 20;1:29. doi: 10.1186/2045-9912-1-29.

Cleansing Fast

Detoxification of the body is the most important factor to health.  The following is a simple program to help cleanse the major detoxification organs involved in eliminating toxins from the body. This program can be repeated once a month – Dr. Chris, ND and  Dr. Michael, ND do this at the start of each month for 3 days as a monthly reset.

Materials needed

  • 6-8 fresh lemons daily (depending on size)
  • 2-3 litres of distilled or filtered water daily
  • Small amount of raw honey or maple syrup (optional)
  • One bottle of Solu-Fibre
  • A herbal detoxification formula as prescribed by your naturopathic doctor

It is best to begin the program by eating only raw fruits and vegetables for two days prior to this cleanse, aim for 3 cups of colored vegetables, 3 cups of greens and 3 cups of sulphur rich vegetables (ie. asparagus, bean sprouts, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, kale, garlic, mushrooms, onions, etc .)  This prepares the body and helps eliminate toxins.  As such the body does not become overwhelmed when you start the detoxification process.

Instructions

DAY 1  Mix 1 ½ cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 2 litres of distilled or filtered water. A little raw honey may be added for palatability (if desired).  Consume ½ your body weight in ounces of the combined lemon water, (ie. If you weigh 150 lbs consume a minimum of 2.3L).  Each morning and evening take (a) 1 tablespoon of Solu-Fibre in a 10 oz. glass of the lemon mixture, and (b) the herbal detoxification formula as directed by your naturopathic doctor.

DAY 2  Repeat lemon-distilled water mixture and Solu-Fibre.  Take herbal remedy as directed.

DAY 3  Repeat lemon-distilled water mixture and Solu-Fibre.  Take herbal remedy as directed.

This is the end of the concentrated detoxifying.  It is most important to reintroduce solid foods gradually for lasting benefits.

DAYS 4 & 5  Continue to drink water and add the juice of ½ lemon if desired.  Continue the Solu-Fibre and the herbal remedies.  Drink as much as desired of the following:  spring water, carrot juice, or other fruit and vegetable juices (except citrus), preferably freshly prepared with a juicer for maximum benefits.

DAYS 6 & 7  Add raw vegetables.  Maintain herbal remedy and Solu-Fibre . Consume juices as desired.

DAY 8  Add lightly steamed vegetables to allowable food.  Continue herbal remedy and Solu-Fibre twice daily.

DAY 9  Add raw unsalted nuts and/or seeds.  Reduce Solu-Fibre mixture to once per day.  Continue herbal remedy as directed.

DAY 10 & FORWARD  Gradually return to a sound, healthy diet.  Finish the herbal formula.  Adjust Solu-Fibre intake according to personal need.  Lower bowel gas and foul odoured stools are indications of increased need for dietary fiber.

Note: 1) it is important to drink the specified minimum amount of liquid based on your body weight daily.  2) Colon hydrotherapy during the cleansing fast is highly recommended for best results.  Discuss gut microbiome replenishment protocol for post colonic treatment.

You can find out more about detoxification and try our 3-day detox here.

5 Steps to Improve your Testosterone

Could it be my hormones?

5 Steps to Improve your Testosterone

Testosterone is a “masculinizing hormone”, meaning it contributes to classically male characteristics in the body. That being said, it is normally present in both men and women, only at different levels. Like all other hormones, there is an optimal amount of testosterone for your body, and when the levels fall below this point, there are telltale low-testosterone symptoms.

 Symptoms of Low Testosterone

The symptoms of low testosterone include:

    • Change in sleep patterns, with an increase in sleep disturbances
    • Increase in body fat and decrease in muscle mass, loss of strength
    • Hair loss
    • Reduced libido, sexual stamina
    • Erectile dysfunction or infertility
    • Decreased motivation, decreased energy
    • Depression
    • Worsening of sleep apnea
    • Worsening of congenital heart failure
    • Hot flushes or sweats
    • Loss of body hair

What Causes Low Testosterone

Testosterone peaks in men around age 20 and naturally begins to decline by 1% every year after age 30. But other factors also contribute to blocked production and falling levels, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease, other hormonal disorders, and infections. Another major culprit that is becoming more and more common is exposure to estrogen-mimicking compounds in food, water, and your environment. These hormone-disrupting pollutants increase estrogen, which reflexively causes testosterone to decrease.

How is Low Testosterone Diagnosed?

The normal range is 9–38 nmol/L (270–1070 ng/dL). The functional or optimal level for testosterone is above 19 nmol/L meaning if you are below this level, you may benefit from testosterone-boosting treatments. A blood sample must be collected in the morning, preferably before 10 AM, or within 3 hours of waking, and preferably in a fasting state (not having eaten). Testing should occur when the sleep-wake pattern is stable (e.g., not during shift changes or jetlag) as this can affect short-term testosterone levels.

Natural Ways to Increase Testosterone

There are many non-invasive and lower-risk ways to boost testosterone before turning to hormone therapy or trying anabolic steroids. Below are the best ways to increase testosterone levels naturally.

  1. Avoid exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals

As mentioned before, chemicals can disrupt the body’s normal hormonal balance. Avoid exposures by completely avoiding plastic near your food, not using BPA plastic water bottles or other products, eat organic as much as possible, and opt for non-GMO foods. Phytoestrogens (especially soy) should be taken in moderation. Finally, avoid hoppy IPA beers because of the phytoestrogen from hops in high concentration in IPAs. Sorry guys! Take our environmental quiz to see how you score and if you are in need of a customized detoxification program

  1. Body Composition

If you are overweight, losing weight can be very beneficial for testosterone levels. Strength training is advantageous but also using short, intense intervals of exercise, like HIIT training, can boost levels.

  1. Supplement to support testosterone-production pathways

Like other hormones, testosterone is produced from cholesterol using a number of cofactors and enzymes, including zinc, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium, so the body must have enough of these elements to complete the pathway. It is also derived from DHEA, which is considered the “anti-aging” hormone – so checking this level is also important if your testosterone is low. Other helpful supplements/herbs include tribulus, stinging nettle root, ashwagandha, adaptogenic herbs, and Myomin.

  1. Reduce stress

When we are stressed, we produce cortisol which tends to lower testosterone, so it is important to get your stress under control by examining your commitments and eliminating what you can/setting boundaries, or building in regular stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing and stretching, especially after exercise, as well as meditation.  Getting enough sleep is a part of this because sleep deprivation directly increases the next day’s cortisol levels, and decreases hormone production.

  1. Nutrition

The most impactful diet changes you can make to support your testosterone levels are:

  • Limit or eliminate sugar from your diet
  • Eat healthy fats, such as mono-, and poly-unsaturated fats, as well as saturated fats from animal sources
  • Eat foods such as olives, olive oil, raw nuts such as almonds or pecans, grass-fed meats, coconuts and coconut oils, organic eggs, palm oil, butter made from grass-fed/organic milk, avocados, unheated organic nut oils
  • Increase intake of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) from food like whey protein

Testosterone is an extremely important reproductive hormone that has major impacts on your daily physical and mental health. Testing is easy, and there are effective ways to boost levels to achieve your overall optimal health. Ask about testing your levels today – call 587-521-3595 or schedule an appointment with Dr. Mason-Wood online.

Sources:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/bc-guidelines/testosterone-testing

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw27307

http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/07/27/increase-testosterone-levels.aspx  http://www.medicinenet.com/low_testosterone_low_t/article.htm#low_testosterone_low_t_definition

 

Low Carb, High Fat Lifestyle Gains Ground

This article as been written by the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service and is posted with their permission. The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource. Please subscribe to OMNS here  http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html and find archived articles here;  http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.shtml

What is the world’s biggest nutritional problem? Until fairly recently, the answer was often hunger. In previous decades there were numerous solicitations in the media asking for donations to help feed the hungry — but those have largely disappeared. In the early 80s the marketing of processed food fundamentally changed from marketing to satisfy hunger to marketing processed food to satisfy desire and pleasure. Essential nutrients were removed from food to extend its shelf life and promote a “better taste” that would appeal to the tongue and generate more profit. One could argue the obesity epidemic had its origins there. Today, one might answer the world’s biggest nutrition problem is obesity and the associated problem of malnutrition from lack of adequate intake of essential nutrients, which causes the metabolic diseases of diabetes, heart disease, and some say cancer.

The answer to the obesity epidemic seems to have gotten lost in the modern world, but it has long been discussed under two buzzwords. One is “ketogenics” or driving the body into fat burning mode. The other is “low carb, high fat”. They are very similar in approach.

The low carb – high fat proposition is quite a startling if not radical change from the doctrine, familiar over the last five decades, of avoiding fat. After studying this material, I found that the conventional wisdom was wrong — and has substantially contributed to the world’s population of people who just don’t feel good.

In a profound lecture, Dr. Joan Ifland presents her twenty-three-year journey of understanding how the world switched from hunger to (shall we say) “non-hunger” but with the rather huge side effect of metabolic diseases. Metabolic diseases are ones that are self-inflicted or developed from within, whereas communicable diseases are ones we get from each other.

Dr. Ifland’s thesis is that the largest addict group in the world today is addicted to carbohydrates, in particular, sugar. The size of this group far exceeds any traditional addictions to drugs or alcohol. Her insight is that in the ’80s and ’90s big business learned from the early hugely successful marketing of tobacco how to mass-market today’s junk food. It has been a huge business success for a few but devastating to health and life spans for many. She explains there are too many contributors to the status-quo to hope for government action, but the solution can only come from individual action. She further explains that modern communication technology can be very useful to promote individual action to solve this worldwide problem. A recent global conference in Cape Town, South Africa on the Low Carb, High Fat subject presented several excellent lectures, itemized below. All the conference lectures appear to be high quality. The science appears solid, and these are well worth a few evenings of study.

Dr. Gary Fettke, an orthopedic surgeon from Australia, explains chronic inflammation and its causes in processed food. Although he appears to have started out as a surgeon, as he saw amputations for diabetic patients becoming a large part of his practice, he changed focus to become an enthusiastic advocate of the low carb high fat diet.

Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University in North Carolina explains how fifteen years ago, two patients told him about their success with ketogenic diets. His investigation into the subject has transformed his practice into a full-time university-based, drug free, weight loss clinic. He explains that many of his colleagues have proposed that this, too, will be a fad. However, the science has shown to be solid.

Dr. Zoe Harcombe is an interesting lecturer from Wales, UK. She is one of the leading proponents of a low carb high fat diet. Her research shows there was never any scientific justification for low fat diets. The theory sounded good, that is “fat is bad”, and thus the politicians promoted it, case closed. At least until Dr. Zoe took a new look. She did not find faulty science, she found no science to support low fat diets.

Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt is widely known as Sweden’s esteemed diet doctor. He has an interesting story on the causes of a butter shortage in Norway. Additionally he presents how Sweden became the first national government to support low carb, high fat eating in preference to the traditional food pyramid.

In Closing

Energized by these lectures, I have learned that by eating the classic French fries and high-carb lunch, I will likely be fall-out-of-the-chair fatigued about 4 pm. To avoid that I’ve cut out big doses of processed carbohydrates and sweets, and include a larger portion of healthy fatty foods such as butter, nuts, whole olives, and avocados, per the recommendations above. It makes a big difference on what one gets done in a day.

The science behind the low carb, high fat trend is solid. Be your own scientist. It is easy to run your own experiments to verify what has been presented. To put it concisely, “What is it worth to you to feel really good?”

(About the author: Tom Taylor has engineering degrees from Georgia Tech and a MBA. He became interested in nutrition subjects as a solution to feeling too old and stiff to do the peculiar positions required to work on boats and airplanes. He has contributed prior articles to OMNS.)

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org

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The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource.