Natural Health Newsletter

You probably recognize these phrases out of your head. You probably believed them when you heard them - or a least didn't question them. But imagine if you had someone standing next to you who just said "you're so stupid" or "I can't believe you just did that". How would you respond to them? You'd probably be quite angry. You wouldn't inherently believe them. You'd defend yourself.

So why wouldn't we take subtle verbal abuse from an outside person, yet we accept these phrases without question when they float though our own head?

These phrases are no more correct when they are self generated, but when they are self generated, we often believe them, and even believe that we need them.

This insidious voice in our head is called the Inner Critic. And by catching the negative phrases we feed ourselves every day, we can reverse the patterns that sap us of our power and energy (when you tell yourself "I am so stupid" do you feel better, or worse?) and work from a place of positive self support that is inherently motivating and energizing.

I invite you, next time your Inner Critic rears its head, to let it know you do not accept its assessment of the situation, and take the opportunity to affirm your worth and talent. Perhaps every dropped fork actually carries with it the opportunity to say "I'm worth it".

If you would like more guidance in living without stress and self-doubt, you can ask our psychotherapist, Ariel Garten. Contact Ariel at 416.481.0222 or email her at AGartenPsych@ForcesofNature.ca.

Flu Shot or Not?

My answer is always “not”. The vaccine can be 70% effective for the 3 strains it contains, BUT, and this is a big BUT, there are several hundred strains circulating at any given time. Each year the strain changes, so the vaccine from the previous year has no effectiveness for the given year. Vaccination stresses your immune system. Wouldn’t it be better to strengthen your immune system? Not only would that help prevent the flu, but it would also prevent bacterial, fungal and other viral infections, and also help prevent cancer.

The naturopathic approach:

Immune boosting tips like those below.
Anti-viral herbs: if you should take ill with something, anti-viral herbs can help your immune system to fight it off more effectively so that the infection is not severe and you’ll be back on your feet that much quicker.
Homeopathics: Homeopathic flu remedies like Oscillococcinum can be taken throughout flu season as a preventative or can be taken in larger doses to help fight off the flu if you do take ill.

By Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc , ND . Contact Pamela at 416.481.0222 or by email at PFrankND@ForcesofNature.ca

Immune Boosting Tips

Now that fall is here, the changes in weather can take a toll on our immune systems so here are some naturopathic tips to keep you staying healthy:

Vitamin C – acts as an immune enhancer and has antioxidant properties. I usually recommend either Scorbatate (Genestra) or Ultra Potent C (Metagenics) as these contain highly absorbable Vitamin C.
Zinc – also helps to boost the immune system.
Probiotics - help to replenish friendly intestinal bacteria and support digestive and immune health.
Echinacea – an excellent herb to be used SHORT term to boost the immune system. Works best when taken at the onset of cold/flu symptoms.
Astragalus – another great herb that can be used long term to prevent colds.
Other herbs and substances that have been proven to help: Garlic, ligusticum, mushroom extracts like Reishi and Coriolus versicolor

Other Lifestyle Factors

Drink lots of water
Get plenty of rest
Wash your hands often to prevent transmission of a virus
Eat a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables to ensure that you get enough of your vitamins and minerals

For more information contact Dr. Marni Ross at 416.481.0222 or MRossND@ForcesofNature.ca.

Chiropractic Tip #1

Take a Break. When working in the yard, alternate tasks and positions, and take breaks every hour.

For more information on chiropractic care contact Dr. Anne Stacey at AStaceyDC@ForcesofNature.ca or call 416.481.0222 to book an assessment.

Vitamin D Season

It seems like every time I pick up a medical journal these days there’s another article touting the benefits of vitamin D. At our latitude, even in the summer months, we don’t get adequate sunlight to have healthy vitamin D stores. A study done in Montreal with severely debilitated patients showed that all were vitamin D deficient and all significantly improved upon vitamin D supplementation. Montreal is close enough to home to draw the conclusion that a large percentage of the population here is also deficient in vitamin D. Studies have shown that vitamin D helps prevent MS, osteoporosis, depression, hypertension, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and high cholesterol. Vitamin D levels can be checked by a blood test, or you can safely supplement vitamin D, 400 – 1 000 IU per day. If pregnant or breastfeeding please check with a naturopathic doctor first. I recommend taking it from October to March when sun exposure is reduced.

By Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc , ND . Contact Pamela at 416.481.0222 or by email at PFrankND@ForcesofNature.ca

Enjoy Your Next Massage More

Be receptive. Don't eat just before a massage session.
Be on time. If you arrive in a frenzied, rushed state, it will take longer to relax.
Wear whatever you will be comfortable in that will allow the therapist to work on the areas of your body that need it.
During the massage session, speak up if you have any feedback on the amount of pressure, speed of movement, room temperature, music volume, or lighting.
Some people like to talk during a massage session, while others remain silent. You should do whatever you feel like, and the massage therapist will follow your lead.
Breathing helps to facilitate relaxation - remind yourself to “just breathe”.
Drink extra water after a massage.

For more information contact Elizabeth Belluomini at EBelluominiRMT@ForcesofNature.ca or Helen Harris at HHarrisRMT@ForcesofNature.ca or call 416.481.0222 to book an appointment.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Problems Poor Oral Health Can Cause

Periodontal disease or gingivitis
Bacterial infections in the mouth can lead to bacterial endocarditis – inflammation of the heart and it’s valves
Poor oral care can contribute to oral cancer, which takes more lives than cervical or skin cancer
Poor oral health affects the digestive tract and can contribute to Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other digestive problems.

Symptoms of other diseases that can be identified in the mouth

Symptoms like swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and/or excessive gum problems can be indicators of diseases like diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart and kidney disease.

Vitamin C, manganese and coenzyme Q10 are all important for healthy gum tissue. Of course, you want to avoid sugars as much as possible, brush and floss regularly and see your dentist. If you are particularly cavity prone, antibacterial herbs and oregano oil can be used to reduce plaque causing bacteria in the mouth.

By Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc , ND . Contact Pamela at 416.481.0222 or by email at PFrankND@ForcesofNature.ca

Chiropractic Tip #2

Use The Right Technique. When gardening, kneel to plant and weed and rake with one leg in front of the other. For new sports activities, start with a lesson and make sure your equipment is the correct size for you.

For more information on chiropractic care contact Dr. Anne Stacey at AStaceyDC@ForcesofNature.ca or call 416.481.0222 to book an assessment.

New Recipes on Our Website

This month we’ve got some tasty recipes for Poached Salmon, Cashew Chicken, Immune Support Breakfast, Chinese Chicken Herb Soup, Cream of Squash Soup, Turkey Loaf, Waldorf Salad and Babaghanouj. To check them out click here

Here’s a yummy pesto recipe:

Hemp Pesto

1 cup fresh basil

¼ cup hemp hearts

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves fresh garlic

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Measure and place all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth and refrigerate.

Monthly Specials (Exclusively for our naturopathic clients)

Oscillococcinum (Safe, Effective Flu Prevention and Treatment)

6 dose size $13.50 Save $1.50

12 dose size $21.60 Save $2.40

Allimax Garlic (Safe, Effective Cold Prevention)

I can personally vouch for this one, my husband and son have each had 2 colds in the last few months and I've been taking my Allimax one per day and haven't had one!

30 capsule size $22.25 Save $2.50

90 capsule size $52.70 Save $5.88

BioDMulsion 1000 Liquid (Liquid vitamin D)

Sale Price $17, Save $3.00

Bits and Bites

Here's some tips and some of the latest published research:

Pediatricians have petitioned the FDA to restrict sales of cough and cold medicine for children younger than 6 years old. There is a lack of research showing that they work and they are alarmed by reports of deaths, seizures, hallucinations and other problems in some children who took the medicines.
Lead in Lipstick! Apparently 33% of the brands tested showed unacceptable lead levels and price was not an indicator of quality where lead was concerned. This is of greatest concern in women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
Six months of acupuncture treatment appears to be more effective than conventional therapy in treating low back pain, according to a study in the Sept. 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Contest

Our Never Ending Self Improvement Project Contest

We always strive to provide you with the best possible care and so we are looking for ways that we can improve. Tell us what you would like to see improved about our website, the clinic atmosphere or any of our services. When we implement your idea, you will receive a complimentary one hour massage therapy session. It's first come, first served so whoever submits a particular idea first will get the free massage session, so don't wait!

We are looking at doing a major overhaul of our website in the New Year. So we would particularly like your ideas for making our website more useful to you. Also, we are shopping around for a web designer/developer to implement our ideas. If you or someone you know are interested, send us your contact information and we’ll submit our Request for a Proposal to you.