HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Hello everyone and here at last is our long awaited the summer newsletter for 2011, filled with lots of great information for your health and safety through the summer, as well as great health tips and as always, a tasty recipe to tantalize your taste buds.

Whether you’ll be gardening or camping outdoors, make sure to have lots of fun and of course, please keep yourself hydrated with lots of water. Check out the other great uses of water besides hydration for the body in this newsletter. Of course, if you are going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure you use a good natural sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or greater.

In this newsletter:

• Healing With Water


• Choosing The Right Sunscreen


• Healthy Ratatouille Vegetarian Recipe

HEALING WITH WATER

We all know about the benefits of water on the body internally but here are some other great applications for water. Water is one of the oldest and safest forms of healing. It is great for alleviating acute conditions and can be instrumental in re-establishing health in more chronic conditions. Water is a form of healing that you always have at your fingertips. Simply by turning on the faucet, making ice, or boiling water you can induce different healing effects.

Cold water - Constricts local blood vessels, decreases inflammation, stimulates the nervous and digestive systems with short and quick applications. It improves muscle strength, builds resistance to disease and invigorates the body during long applications Reduces fever, relieves thirst or pain, soothes burns, reduces constipation, aids in the elimination of toxins, increases energy and reduces fatigue.

Ice - Decreases the pain associated with injuries or minor burns. Controls bleeding, bruising and reduces swelling. Increases the range of motion of a joint, stimulates the muscles and decreases spasticity.

Hot water - Dilates small blood vessels, relaxes muscle and raises body temperature with short applications. Increases blood flow, induces perspiration to aid in eliminating toxins and stimulates the healing process during long applications. Aids in relaxation, calms the body and mind and decreases pain. Note: heat needs to be avoided with acute inflammatory conditions.

Steam - Increases perspiration and helps the body eliminate toxins Opens pores and helps prevent skin problems and chest congestions. Prevents nasal and sinus condition and ease a great many airborne allergies when used in humidifiers.

Alternating Hot and Cold - Creates a pump-like action that stimulates circulation and aids in healing by increasing the number of white blood cells to an area. Improves healing of acute infections, chronic congestions, improves menstrual flow, increases muscle tone and strength, decreases pain and helps with varicose veins. Usually start with hot water and end with cold.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUNSCREEN

The market places are filled with aisles of different types and sunscreens with different SPF’s. So which one should you use and what SPF should you choose. Sunscreens range in SPF from 2 up to 60. SPF stands for Sun protection factor and the number refers to the product’s ability to block or screen the sun’s burning rays. Natural sunscreens are generally better for the skin.

There are two types of skin-damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVB rays, which cause sunburns, and UVA rays, which trigger deeper connective-tissue damage (including skin cancer and the wrinkles and sunspots associated with premature aging).

There are 2 types of sunscreens - physical and chemical sunscreens, and ideally you need one that provides you with both. Physical sunscreens are made with minerals (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) that form a natural, protective layer on the skin that blocks the sun's harmful rays. Most natural sunscreens will contain these.

Chemical sunscreens (avobenzone, Mexoryl SX and Tinosorb) absorb UV rays. Choose a natural sunscreen that has protection against both - UV A and UV B rays.

The strength of UVB radiation depends upon the time of day, season of the year, and geographic location. UVB rays are most intense from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are stronger in summer, at higher altitudes, and closer to the equator.

Whether you choose a lotion, stick, gel, or cream sunscreen depends largely on your skin type and personal preference. Oil-free gels are good solutions for facial skin prone to breakouts, and sprays may make application to the back and shoulders easier.

"Water-resistant" sunscreens should retain their protective ability for at least 40 minutes in water. Those labeled "waterproof" should protect the skin for 80 minutes in water.

It is advisable to use a natural sunscreen with SPF of 15 on daily. Remember to apply lip balm! People often forget protecting the lips. The SPF rating of the lip protection you apply should be at least 15. We carry a whole range of natural sunscreens at the clinic so if you have any questions, please call us at 416 913 4325 or drop in.

HEALTHY RATATOUILLE VEGETARIAN RECIPE

This is a simple recipe and makes a great meal in the evenings or as a starter and tastes umm good.

Ingredients (Makes 6 Servings):

• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium eggplant, cut into cubes
• 2 green pepper, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 6 mushrooms, sliced
• 3 zucchini, cut into 1⁄2 slices
• 1 28-oz can tomatoes, drained
• 1tsp. salt or hebamere seasoning
• 1⁄4 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1⁄2 tsp. thyme
• 1 tsp of coriander leaves (chopped)

Instructions:

• In a 6-quart pot, sauté onion and garlic in oil for 3 minutes.
• Add eggplant and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
• Add peppers and cook 5 minutes.
• After adding zucchini, cook for 5 more minutes.
• Add seasonings and tomatoes.
• Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.
• Try it with a tablespoon of yogurt.

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.