Tag Archive for: Healthy lifestyle

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Natural Health Practitioner Recommends Superfoods that Detoxify

The beginning of the new year is when many of us will start a detox program; but if doing a detox is not your thing, our natural health practitioner recommends superfoods that detoxify and that you can easily add into your daily life.

Natural Health Practitioner Recommends Superfoods that Detoxify

Photo Credit: celynnerasmus.com

Avocados—lower cholesterol and dilate blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxins.  Avocados contain a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks 30 different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals.

Beets—contain a unique mixture of natural plant chemicals and minerals that make them an excellent overall body cleansers.

Cranberries—have powerful antibiotic and antiviral substances to help the body cleanse harmful bacteria and viruses from the urinary tract.

Flaxseeds and Flaxseed Oil— are loaded with essential fatty acids, that are essential for many cleansing functions and maintaining a healthy immune system. The health of every cell in your body is dependent on getting adequate amounts of essential fatty acids.

Fresh Garlic—helps cleanse harmful bacteria, and viruses from the body, especially from the blood and intestines. It also helps cleanse buildup from the arteries and lowers blood pressure. Garlic has anti-cancer and antioxidant properties that help detoxify the body.

Lemons— are the perfect liver detoxifiers. Fresh lemon juice contains more than 20 anti-cancer compounds and contain high amounts of vitamin C, a vitamin needed by the body to make a substance called glutathione; which reduces the likelihood of negative effects from environmental chemicals. Vitamin C and other antioxidants found in lemons are integral to ward off cancer, fight the effects of pollution and cell damage.

Seaweed—could be the most underrated vegetable in the Western world. Studies at McGill University in Montreal showed that seaweeds bind to radioactive waste in the body so it can be removed. Seaweed also binds to heavy metals to help eliminate them from the body.

Diversified Health’s natural health practitioner recommends superfoods that detoxify and can also set up a personalize workout program to fit your health needs.

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How Do You Handle Stress? | victoria health services

How Do You Handle Stress? | victoria health services. Traffic jams, paying bills, & deadlines are some of the unpleasant or challenging situations that create stress in our lives. So why is it some people deal with stressful situations better than others? The answer is complex and includes many factors from genetics to weather condition.

Nearly one in three people view their lives moderately to severely stressful, and more than 50% felt that stress had a moderate to severe impact on their health problems.  Communicating with your health practitioner about dealing with stress is the starting point, and you might be surprised to find that your health practitioner is full of sound advice on ways to effectively deal with stress in your life.

How Do You Handle Stress? | victoria health services

How Do You Handle Stress? | victoria health services

Stress is a fact of life. It can come from any life change or unexpected event, even a happy one such as a promotion. You need a certain amount of stress to keep you focused and motivated, but when the stress level gets too high, it has the opposite effect – you feel upset and have trouble concentrating. If this continues over the long term, it can increase your risk of health problems including heart disease, depression, infections and sleep problems.

That’s why it is so important to learn how to cope with stress. Everyone responds to stress in their own way. There is no “right” way to handle stress – you need to find out what works for you.

Take our quiz to find out how you handle stress.  Choose the answer that fits you best.

In a stressful situation, what are you most likely to do first?

a) Deal with my feelings about the situation first.
b) Analyze the situation and deal with it right away.
c) Do something unrelated to the stressful situation to take my mind off of it for a while.

How do you act when you’re under stress?

a) I may get impatient, but I’m pretty much my usual charming self.
b) I’m an open book. You can see how stressed I am by the way I look.
c) I keep a stiff upper lip and hold it all in. The stress doesn’t show.

When you’re stressed, how do you relate to your friends and family?

a) I just want everyone to go away and leave me alone.
b) I want to talk to someone, but also need to be alone some of the time.
c) I really don’t want to be alone – I need to have people around me most of the time.

How do you treat yourself when life gets stressful?

a) I put my nose to the grindstone and push myself harder.
b) I may work a little harder, but I make sure that I still take care of myself.
c) I indulge myself in my favorite treats (food, shopping, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.)

When everything is changing around you, how do you react?

a) I try to stay in control of everything and keep things the way they used to be.
b) I go with the flow and adapt to the way things are now.
c) I don’t really care about the change – nothing I do has any effect on the way things are.

Have you noticed any of these signs of stress

Trouble sleepingFeeling irritable and defensive
Headaches Trouble concentrating or remembering
Tense, tight musclesAnxious, jittery, or nervous feelings
Crying or feeling like I want to cryAvoiding social situations
Sweaty palms, dry mouth, or difficulty breathingActing more rude or impatient
Upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipationHaving trouble making decisions
Frequent colds, viruses, or infectionIncreased use of alcohol, drugs

Answering yes to questions A, B or C.

(a) You have trouble expressing your emotions. You need to find some outlet that will help you deal with stressful situations.
(b) You deal with stress in a healthy and productive manner.
(c) You are feeling helpless (nothing you do will make any difference).

How to handle stress

Having stress is not necessarily bad, but you need to be aware of your sources of stress and have a way to cope.

Take care of yourself

  • Exercise at least three times a week. Exercise can relieve tension and put you in a better mood. The body makes “stress hormones” that can lead to health problems if they are allowed to build up. Exercise helps bring stress hormones back to normal levels.
  • Eat well. Good nutrition can improve your mood and your ability to handle stress.
  • Get enough rest, but don’t stay in bed to avoid problems; you’ll just end up with more stress.
  • Try to avoid using caffeine, cigarettes, or alcohol as a way of dealing with stress. These may make you feel better for a while, but in the long run, they will cause you more stress than they’re worth. They can also lead to health problems.
  • Be sure to schedule some “quiet time” for yourself. Use this time to do something you enjoy, such as reading or listening to music, and don’t let anything intrude on it.

Talk to a friend, family member, or health practitioner; even if you like to deal with your problems alone, don’t let yourself become isolated.

Simplify your life by setting priorities for yourself. Organize your time so that you spend it on what is most important to you, and learn to say “no”.  Don’t try to do everything yourself, and if someone else can do it, then delegate!

When to check with your health practitioner:

If you have any of these symptoms, [ Depressed mood,  sleep problems,  major difficulty concentrating,  loss of interest and pleasure,  unexpected weight loss or gain,  heartbeat that is fast or erratic,  chest pain,  feeling of worthlessness or guilt,  or even thoughts of death or suicide] talk with your health practitioner,  you may be suffering from a more serious medical condition.

How Do You Handle Stress? | victoria health services

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To B or Not to B, that is the Supplement

b12These days, you simply can’t eat enough food to obtain all of the proper nutrition you need due to the fact that our soils have been depleted, or it may be difficult to find enough locally grown produce to fulfill our needs. You know that supplements are beneficial, but do you know the key questions to ask yourself about buying the right vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements?

For example, are you sure that the echinacea product you’re taking is the correct species of the plant? The correct portion of the plant? Processed to provide optimum bio-availability? Are you sure those coenzyme Q10 capsules contain COQ10 and not just a mixture of riboflavin and folic acid which looks just like COQ10?

Wide price differentials exist among particular nutraceuticals, and one reason can be differences in the quality of the raw material between manufacturers. There’s natural diversity in the genetics of the plant that have a long-term impact as to the final quality of the packaged product. Some plants may have high levels of active ingredients, while others may have none.

Vitamin B for instance, supports healthy cardiovascular an nervous system function, as well as the ability to boost energy levels.  But what brand, what dosage and when should it be taken are questions that you should be asking before taking any nutraceutical supplement.

If you’re unsure about the quality of the vitamins, minerals and/or supplements you are taking, ask for suggestions or recommendations by your health care practitioner.  The practitioners at Diversified Health Clinic use only the highest quality nutraceuticals.

Remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. We’re here to help, and enjoy participating in your life long good health!

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Sleep, “why can’t I get enough” ?

Sleep, why can’t I get enough? This is the question that most of us ask even knowing that sleep deprivation is often voluntary. Many people would rather work late, watch television, or do just about anything else than obtain what they need in sleep time: 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

Sleep allows your body both to relax and replenish itself. For example, studies show that growth hormones secreted during sleep help repair damaged tissue.

For most people, puffy baggy eyes, a droopy face, and an overall draggy demeanor is what they see when they look in the mirror after a hard night of no sleep or insufficient sleep. In contrast, a good night’s sleep, especially when you sleep well night after night, is far more likely to leave you with clearer skin and an improved attitude to life.

Alcohol may cause insomnia or frequent awakenings, and to improve your sleep time and quality, you should eliminate or at least cut back your alcohol consumption.

Caffeine is another sleep robber, because it’s a stimulant that prevents you from falling asleep with ease. Caffeine remains in the body 3 to 7 hours after consumption! Heeding this information, avoid foods and drinks with caffeine, as well as chocolate (which also has caffeine in it) at least 3 hours before you want to go to sleep.

Sometimes medications can induce insomnia as a side effect. Ask your doctor if your medicines could be keeping you awake. If so, your physician may be able to change the medication or reduce the dosage.

You may also want to try a chiropractic adjustment or an acupuncture session which can aid in helping you regain your normal sleep patterns.

What if you can’t sleep, despite following the above advice? Consider making some lifestyle changes.

First, analyze your bedtime habits. Are you going to bed at midnight and expecting to fall asleep instantly? This is less likely to happen if you’ve been having an animated discussion with family or friends or watching an exciting movie on TV. Delay the debate and tape the movie and watch it another day, and turn in earlier.

Also don’t eat fashionably late. If you dine at 9:00, and then expect to fall asleep at 10:00, think again! You’ve given your digestive system plenty to work on. Better to eat earlier, so your body can wind down at night.

Now, if you smoke, keep in mind nicotine is a stimulant that makes it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep so avoid smoking for several hours before bedtime.

Ask yourself what’s going on with your life now. Are you stressed out, as many people with insomnia are? If so, it’s time to bring down stress levels. One way is through slow, deep breathing. Another strategy to achieve shuteye is mastering simple relaxation therapy techniques. Lie down, close your eyes, and imagine different muscle groups relaxing. You can start with your feet and work your way up to your head, in your mind. Or start with your head and work down to the toes.

Often gentle exercising is an inducement to sleep. Experts report walking is a great cardiovascular exercise that can also relax the body so that it’s ready to fall into a nice deep sleep when it’s time. Take a brief walk a few hours before you’d like to sleep.

It’s important to use your bedroom for sleeping and intimacy only. Avoid using it as an office away from the office or another place to watch television. If you’re facing sleepless nights, purge your bedroom of work and entertainment paraphernalia.

Transform your bedroom into a sleep-inducing room. Do you have a comfortable mattress, clean soft sheets, and is the thermostat set at a moderate temperature? If not, then go ahead and make the needed changes. You may find that they help lull you into dreamland.

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Understanding Colds and Flu

Sometimes it’s hard to know and to understand colds and flu symptoms. Many of the symptoms are the same, and both colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria, which means that you can’t treat them with antibiotics.

Common Cold:

The common cold affects the upper respiratory system – so most of the symptoms involve the eyes, nose and throat.  The common cold is spread by touching contaminated surfaces or other people’s hands, then touching your eyes and nose.

Understanding Colds & Flu

Photo Credit: ayushveda.com

Symptoms appear between 12 hours and 5 days after an exposure, and last for 2 to 7 days.

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Watery eyes
  • Low fever or chills (rarely)
  • Some tiredness or muscle aches

Flu:

Flu symptoms are typically worse than cold symptoms, and are more likely to affect your whole body, rather than being more localized in your nose, eyes and throat.   With the flu, you can have additional symptoms like fever, body aches, extreme fatigue and a dry cough.

Symptoms appear 1 to 3 days after exposure, and lasts for 2 to 14 days.

  • Sudden fever (38° C or higher)
  • Cough (sometimes dry)
  • Achy muscles
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Extreme fatigue

So how can you prevent colds and flu…..

Wash your hands frequently and remember to wash before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching surfaces that may have been contaminated by other people.

Cover up when you cough or sneeze, and use a tissue, or raise your arm up to your face to cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

Keep shared surface areas clean like doorknobs, light switches, telephones, and keyboards, that can be contaminated with all kinds of bacteria and viruses.

Stay home! If you go out when you’re sick, you may spread your illness to your co-workers. Wait until you no longer have a fever and your cough is improving.

The most important thing about understanding Colds and Flu, are not the symptoms, but rather the simple everyday thing you can do to prevent them.

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De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health

De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health – Stress is a fact of life. Surprisingly, stress comes in the form of both good and bad. Stress is indeed a disease, causing problems for both the physical body and mental functions. There is however an important distinction: long-term stress (e.g. emotional, drug, and financial) can cause significant damage, but short-term bursts of focused stress (e.g. writing an exam or being in a job interview) can actually help you to function better and be healthier.

Today’s world is tough … not only for us but also for our children. The constant go-go environment refined by busy households, school pressures, video games, malls and competitive sports, are so stress-filled that it is bound to subject our children to the burdens of life at a young age. As parents, it’s easy for us to overlook these influences as stressful for our kids, but they often are.

Regardless of what type of pressures our children face – they need to be taught how to manage stress overall. Amongst many different ways to alleviate and control stress, one method in particular can make quite a difference … yoga, for kids.

De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island healthPhoto Credit; kidsyogaguide.com

Yoga is used by millions of adults to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, center thoughts, and to handle stress. Yoga followers seek refuge in allowing the mind to reconnect with their soul to create harmony within, while also being relaxed and soothed. There have been many times when I’ve left a yoga class feeling so relaxed that a groovy “yes” response would have been rendered to just about any question. Children can benefit from yoga in the same manner, as it can be used to counter the pressures they experience. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they are given the skill to navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age also encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that’s non-competitive. This non-competitive approach encourages co-operation and compassion—instead of opposition— which is a valuable message to send to our children.

Whether your child is feeling stress from a normal everyday stressor or from something out of the ordinary, yoga can be just the right prescription to help him or her survive stress reactions. Kids not only learn how to experience their physicality with yoga, but they also learn to appreciate the value in proper breathing. Remember times when you were under pressure and the one thing people told you to do …“breathe”. Why? Because breathing deeply and regularly creates a calmer feeling within the body and a clearer feeling in the mind. As a result, this gives you a much better ability to handle stress.

Yoga for children is a natural way to exercise, relax, focus, and strengthen the body/mind/spirit connection. Yoga programs for kids have been available now for almost a decade and are specifically tailored to children’s age groups, which makes it fun! For example younger children are asked to assume poses from nature such as a snake, tree, or a dog. There are also programs in place for those children with special needs, which are geared towards teaching self awareness, self control, and concentration.

This weekend, why not “chill-lax” in the comfort of your own home by hosting a family yoga session using Yoga Pretzels Cards! These colorful cards are full of fun activities for kids and grownups to do together, and focus on teaching the basics of yoga while practicing bending, twisting, breathing, and relaxing. Truly a wonderful family activity to engage on a Friday night!

I encourage all parents to look for kids’ yoga in your area and enroll your children De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health – you just may be introducing them to one of life’s best survival skills.

Sources: Geeta Bagga
Benefits of Yoga for Kids
Yoga for Kids Guidelines and Poses

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