HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Hello everyone, seems like the long winter has finally come to an end. This winter has been trying for all in various aspects, so let’s hope that this spring will be the beginning of more positive and uplifting endeavors.

In this newsletter:

• Faster Detoxification Without Fasting


• Steak Anyone?


• Ancient Whole Grains


• Managing Stress In A Drug Free Way


• Spelt Salad Recipe

FASTER DETOXIFICATION WITHOUT FASTING

Spring brings with it warmer weather and renewed physical and mental energy. For many of us, however, the transition from winter to spring isn’t always easy. The cold winter months are a natural time for rest and introspection so it can be a challenge to get moving on. If you have been experiencing symptoms such as anger, depression, mood swings, abdominal pain even allergies, its time to get a head start spring and take charge of your health.

Detoxification Without Fasting

First let’s talk about how to address underlying imbalances that may be affecting energy levels. Pollutants and toxins everywhere - water, food, soil, air, dust, everyday products and objects in the home or workplace. While the body is normally an efficient detoxification machine on its own, the modern world we live in can put a strain on even the healthiest of us. Build-up of these toxins in the body can lead to a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms: weight gain, constipation, fatigue, headaches, malaise, irritability, mood swings, bloating, insomnia, and muscle / joint aches and pains.

While we may have limited control over our environment, we have a great deal of control over our own bodies. Some people find an enormous value in occasional “spring cleaning” programs or daily supplementation with targeted nutrients to help the body process excess toxins for removal.

10-Day EATING Plan For Energizing Results

There are a variety of programs to address fatigue and detoxification. One of the fastest programs combines a simple, 10-day eating plan and an advanced nutritional product that supports the natural removal of potentially harmful compounds - binding them for safe elimination out of the body. Please make an appointment and I will design this program to meet your specific needs.

Adding a specialized eating plan helps prevent the ingestion of new toxins to give the program a “jump start” for faster results - without fasting. It’s important to maintain adequate nutritional intake during a detoxification program to help prevent muscle wasting and further energy depletion. I can provide you with specific dietary guidelines to maximize the benefits you will receive from this program.

People who follow this specialized program often report having more energy in just 10 days. I can also recommend targeted nutritional supplements that are gentle enough to use every day for ongoing detoxification assistance to help keep you feeling your best.

If you are concerned about how environmental toxins are affecting your health, please call my office at (416) 913 4325 to set up an appointment. We can test for heavy metals and nutrient status and discuss a tailored detoxification program to help you feel healthier and more energetic.

STEAK ANYONE?

Steak may taste great off the barbeque but is it really that good for your health? In a research study of approximately half a million men and women in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), red, white, and processed meat intakes as risk factors for total mortality, as well as cause- specific mortality, including cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were investigated.

The researchers found that women who consumed the most red meat – 66 grams per 1000 calories – were 36 percent more likely to have died than women who ate the least - 9.1 grams. Men who ate large amounts of red meat were 31 percent more likely to have died (Archives of Internal medicine, volume 169).

Consumption of processed meats, such as sausage, salami and hot dogs, was lower but still had a significant effect on the rate of deaths.

Conclusion of the study: Red and processed meat intakes were associated with modest increases in total mortality, cancer mortality, and cardiovascular disease mortality.

ANCIENT WHOLE GRAINS

Whole grains have been getting a lot of attention in the nutrition world for their heart-healthy benefits, but you can only eat so much whole wheat before things start getting dull. Fortunately, there are many other grains out there that are loaded with health benefits and great flavor. Among them are ancient grains, which include not only wheat but also many other unusual grains that are worth making dietary staples.

With the increasing awareness and demand for these ancient grains, they can also now be found in a variety of processed cereals, breads, crackers, and pasta products. Look through your grocery and health food stores and try substituting a few for some of your wheat-based staples. In this issue we will discuss Spelt – a grain that has gained quite a bit of popularity recently.

MANAGING STRESS IN A DRUG FREE WAY

Stress is a natural nonspecific response of the body to the various demands we place on it. However, stress is not necessarily negative. There is a distinction between healthy and unhealthy stress. Healthy stress includes appropriate physical exercise, good eating habits, positive thinking, adequate rest, and a natural response to emergency situations. These stressors keep us alert and motivated, and support our body’s strength and vitality.

Unhealthy stress, such as negative emotions and thinking, overexertion, poor eating habits, lack of sleep, worrying about the stock markets and the financial crisis, chemical and environmental pollutants and toxins, challenge our health and can trigger physical and mental, particularly if they are experienced over a prolonged period of time.

Some of the signs and symptoms of an overactive response to stress include and are not limited to:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Depression
• Depressed immune system
• Digestive disorders
• Headaches
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Weight problems

Medical studies have shown that with increased and consistent stress, our white blood cells, which defend our body against viruses, decrease. This decrease results in lower immune resistance, ultimately leading to physical disease and emotional instability.

THERE IS HOPE! Practitioners of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help your body cope with stress effects on the body. Treatment at our clinic goes far beyond treating symptoms and signs of stress. We combine massage therapy with acupuncture to give you the best two - hour combination treatment which will help your melt your stress and tension away, and help your body build better coping mechanisms to stress.

Qi is the energy or the power that animates and supports the functions of the body. It flows through specific pathways, called meridians, and provides nourishment for the entire body. When “Qi” becomes “blocked” or the supply is inadequate, the body and organ systems become “stressed out” and our health is then compromised. With acupuncture, the practitioner can support and restore the integrity of the various organs affected and depleted by the stress response, along with evaluating the quality and quantity of Qi.

We may also recommend adjunct therapies to enhance treatment and speed up the healing process, such as proper eating habits, use of exercise, stretching, movement ad meditation practices, to support and promote a balanced and healthy BODY, MIND and SPIRIT. Acupuncture and massage can provide a safe, effective and drug free alternative for the treatment of stress.

SPELT RECIPE

Spelt is an ancient grain with a nutty flavor that dates back before even wheat. Although it can be used in many of the same ways as wheat, it has a broader spectrum of nutrients and it is a great substitute for people with sensitivity / intolerance to wheat. Spelt was an important grain in ancient Greece and Rome, and is rich in vitamin B2, manganese, niacin, thiamin, and copper. It's said to help people with migraine headaches, atherosclerosis or diabetes.

Spelt has a pleasant, mild, nutty flavor. Whole-grain spelt is an excellent source of riboflavin, a very good source of niacin, a good source of dietary fiber and zinc, and has up to 25% more protein than regular wheat.

To cook whole grain spelt (spelt berries), first rinse and then combine 1 part spelt berries to 3 parts water and a few pinches of sea salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 50-60 minutes, until tender. Spelt flakes are processed from whole spelt berries, and can be used like rolled oats in recipes and breakfast cereals. To cook, combine 1 part flakes with 3 parts water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Stir and add non-dairy milk if desired. Spelt flour is also available in health food stores in both whole-grain and refined forms.

Substitute well for wheat flour in recipes, although you may need to adjust by either reducing or increasing the amount slightly, depending on the recipe. If you don’t feel like adventurous enough to try to make bread or muffins out of spelt flour, be sure to check out your neighborhood health food store, which most likely would carry baked goods made with spelt flour.

Here are a few things you can do with spelt:

• Add several tablespoons of cooked grains to stews, soups and vegetable salads.


• Use as hot breakfast cereal with the addition of warm milk, chopped fresh seasonable fruits and flavorings like cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and maple extract.


• Create side dish pilaf by sweetening vegetables in a little olive oil and adding cooked grains and rice and sautéed onions.


• Marinate cooked grains with salad dressings and sprinkle or toss into main course salads.


• Use in place of rice in stir-fries.

For any questions, or concerns, or to schedule an initial naturopathic appointment, please contact us at 416 913 4325 (HEAL) or email us at [email protected]

* DISCLAIMER: The information on this article is the property of Dr. Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, and is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any diseases or promote any services or products mentioned on the website.