HEALTH NEWSLETTER

At last the Spring is here! We can finally hear the birds chirping and with the temperatures on the rise and the snow melting away it will be soon be the time to enjoy the outdoors without heavy coats and boots and breathe in the fresh Spring air!

In this newsletter:

• Spring Cleansing For The Body


• Allergy Clearing Tips


• Cashew Cardamom Milk Recipe

SPRING CLEANSING FOR THE BODY

Feel energized, have mental clarity and prevent illness with a Spring Detox!

Spring is a time for rejuvenation and cleansing. Just as we do Spring-Cleaning for the house, it is important to do the same for the body. Everybody's body is unique, so are the learning rates at which the detoxification organs (skin, lungs, lymphatic system, liver and the kidneys) remove various toxins that are built up in the body.

These toxins could be environmental toxins such as industrial pollutants, pathogenic bacteria, phyto-chemicals, insecticides, certain prescription antibiotics and over-the-counter medications, and excesses in certain foods.

Some of the benefits of a spring detox include:

1. An improvement in the physical appearance - when the body eliminates toxins and the blood flow and circulation improves; the body and the face will generally look more youthful and radiant.


2. A boost in physical and emotional well-being.


3. A sharpening of mental capabilities once the "cloud / brain fog is lifted" as the toxins are eliminated from the body.


4. Prevention of illness - toxins can cause a number of health related problems such as cancer, symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia.


5. An enhancement in digestion and elimination of unhealthy food addictions and allergies, which helps with the attainment of ideal weight and loss of unhealthy weight.


6. Minimizing of the effects of aging.


7. A HUGE INCREASE IN ENERGY!

At the Nature's Intentions Naturopathic Clinic we offer various Spring Detoxes, which are customized to your individual health and lifestyle. I generally recommend doing the cleanse in the Spring and Fall. While cleansing is good for the body, it is very important to do it under proper supervision, as the metabolites that are produced from toxins break down need to be cleared efficiently and effectively, and if the kidney or liver function is compromised, you may do more harm to your body than good from the cleanse.

If you are interested in doing detoxifications cleanse come in for a quick visit and we can discuss what type and length of cleanse would be most appropriate for you.

ALLERGY CLEARING TIPS

Breathe clearly, feel no nasal congestion, stuffiness and itchy eyes by clearing your allergies this Spring!

If you suffer from allergies or are an allergy sufferer, you know the aggravation you go though each year. Spring comes and instead of enjoying the fresh blooms and grass, and breathing in fresh air, allergy sufferers have to worry about what medication to take or what to do, so that they do not feel as much congestion and how to make it through the day without looking drugged up! Here are some natural health tips if you suffer from seasonal allergies that will help reduce or clear your allergy symptoms and let you breathe again:

1. Improving / strengthening immunity – Allergies are often caused by a dysfunctional immune system, hence improving your immune system function by improving your diet, eliminating sugar, sleeping well, and improving lifestyle habits would be very helpful for overcoming sinus infections and sinus inflammation in general. Figure out what exactly you are ingesting or exposed to on a day-to-day basis that contributes to your allergens. If its in your diet – eliminate it and see the difference you feel, if its in your environment, and cannot exactly be eliminated, try reducing your exposure to the allergen along with strengthening your immune function and reducing your stress level. Did you know allergies are often brought on after a stressful situation?


2. Steaming with essential oils that have antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties such as eucalyptus, tea tree or rosemary. You can also add peppermint for circulation as well, to open up the sinuses. A netti pot with probiotics and sea salts would be very helpful to drain the sinuses and clear out the infections as well.


3. Eliminate allergens – First identify what the allergen is – food or environmental – this can be accomplished by a simple allergy blood test. Once identified, if is a food allergen – eliminate if from your diet and this would help to reduce congestion and the stuffiness. If it is environmental, it may be more difficult to eliminate e.g. if you are reactive to certain grass or weed species which are native to your place of abode, you might be able to get rid of them – in which case, talk to your naturopathic doctor about natural supplements that help with allergy symptoms as well, improve your immune function so that you can breathe easier when exposed to your allergen. However, if you are reactive to house mites or dust, regular vacuuming and proper ventilation would be helpful. If you are allergic to molds however, it may be helpful to get rid of plants in the house, which maybe great to purify the air in the house, but not great as the soil they grow in maybe moldy.


4. In general, to reduce general congestion - eliminate foods that create more mucus in the body such as dairy products, bananas, wheat and oranges.


5. Hydrate often – Drinking luke warm to warm fluids such as teas and lemon water constantly through out the day help thin the mucus and relieve congestion.


6. Compresses for the sinuses - To encourage the sinuses to drain and to relieve the pressure build up in the sinuses, it would be helpful to apply hot compresses (tolerable hot, not scalding hot) to your sinuses for 10 – 15 minutes a couple of times a day. You can add a couple of drops of rosemary or eucalyptus to help open the sinuses as well.


7. Try a healthy vegetarian diet for a few weeks. Healthy Vegetarian meals have various added benefits on the body, and do not create as much inflammation in the body as the animal based products do, so try juicing for a couple of days followed by a vegetarian diet and see how much of a difference your body feels.

CASHEW CARDAMOM MILK RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup raw cashews (soak overnight in 1 cup of water) and blend it into a fine puree
• 1 pinch of ground cardamom
• 1 dash of nutmeg
• 1 pinch of ground vanilla beans
• 1.5 cups of rice milk or almond milk
• Sweeten to taste with either agave syrup, honey or stevia

Instructions:

Mix all of the above ingredients in a pan, and heat it to boil for about 2 minutes, you can also add a chamomile tea bag once you remove the hot milk from the stovetop and put it in a mug. Enjoy a warm soothing cup of cashew cardamom milk, ideally in the evenings. Works well for relaxation, lowered blood pressure and better sleep!

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.