Monthly Archives: April 2016

Naturopathic Ways To Reduce And Treat Hypertension / High Blood Pressure

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HYPERTENSION – HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition that affects 50 million Americans – one in four adults. It is defined as an average systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg, a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mm Hg, or both. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the first and third most common causes of death among Americans.

In the early and middle adult years, men are more likely than women to develop the condition, but as men and women age, the reverse is true; more women older than the age of 55 have high blood pressure than men of the same age. While hypertension generally develops in people older than 20 years of age, more than half of all Americans over the age of 65 have the condition.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Most people who have high blood pressure do not know they have it because they generally experience no symptoms at all. Occasionally, some individuals may experience a mild headache when their blood pressure is high. Serious cases of hypertension, which happen infrequently, may produce the following symptoms:

•   Severe headache

•   Confusion

•   Nausea

•   Visual disturbances

•   Seizure

CAUSES

There are two major types of hypertension: essential (primary) and secondary. Essential hypertension is by far the most common, accounting for more than 95% of all cases. The cause of this form of hypertension is not known for certain, but is likely a combination of factors, including:

•   Genes for high blood pressure

•   Low levels of nitric oxide, a naturally occurring agent responsible for the dilation of blood vessels (African Americans are believed to have low levels of this substance)

•   Insulin resistance

•   Obesity

The causes of secondary hypertension include:

•   Kidney disorders

•   Endocrine disorders, such as Cushing’s syndrome

•   Obstructive sleep apnea (episodes during sleep when breathing stops due to obstruction of the air passages)

•   Stress

•   Chronic heavy alcohol consumption (accounts for 10% of cases of secondary high blood pressure)

•   Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly in the elderly

•   Use of certain medications, including oral contraceptives, pseudoephedrine, hormone replacement therapy, and steroids

•   Heavy coffee drinking (5 or more cups per day), particularly in those who have previously had high blood pressure

•   Use of cocaine, nicotine, Ginseng or licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) can cause or worsen existing hypertension.

RISK FACTORS

The following factors increase an individual’s risk for high blood pressure:

•   Family history of hypertension

•   Alcohol abuse

•   High sodium intake

•   Inactive lifestyle

•   Being overweight

•   Mood disorders, particularly depression and anxiety (they may have a direct impact on blood vessels or they may lead to unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol and substance abuse or poor weight management)

Hypertension is more common among African Americans than Whites (this may be due to nitric oxide levels or to social factors such as chronic life stressors)

NATUROPATHIC HEALTH MODIFICATIONS TO HELP PREVENT HYPERTENSION:

1.   Maintaining a desirable weight

2.   Maintaining a normal body weight is one of the most effective ways to prevent high blood pressure. Weight reduction, therefore, in overweight individuals of any age should be a priority in the prevention of hypertension.

3.   Reducing salt intake

4.   Although population-based studies suggest a link between salt intake and prevalence of high blood pressure in particular groups of people (African Americans, for example), how each individual responds to sodium in his or her diet is quite variable. Since reducing dietary salt is generally considered safe, however, low-salt diets are recommended, particularly for those at risk for developing hypertension or heart disease.

5.   Increasing physical activity

6.   Several studies suggest that physically inactive people may be at an increased risk for developing hypertension. Moderate exercise, brisk walking, swimming, yoga and jogging may all be helpful in improving heart health and reducing the risk of hypertension.

7.   Limiting alcohol consumption

8.   Limit your alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day.

9.   Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

10. People who consume vegetarian diets have significantly lower blood pressure than those who do not.

11.  Keep your cholesterol under control.

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS TO TREAT HYPERTENSION / HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

The same lifestyle modifications that help prevent hypertension are useful in treating it. The following steps are recommended for people with hypertension, regardless of whether they are taking prescription medications.

•   Lose weight if overweight.

•   Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 oz. of ethanol per day for men (this roughly equals 2 pints of beer, 2 glasses of wine, or 2 shots of 100-proof whiskey) and 0.5 oz. for women and lighter-weight individuals.

•   Increase and maintain aerobic physical activity (30 to 40 minutes most days per week).

•   Reduce salt intake to less than 2,400 mg sodium or 6,000 mg sodium chloride per day.

•   Improve overall cardiovascular health by quitting smoking and reducing saturated fat and cholesterol intake.

•   Reduce stress—since ongoing stressful circumstances, such as job dissatisfaction, may contribute to the development of hypertension, stress management may lower elevated blood pressure.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Processed And Allergic Foods

Healthy Me,

My theory is that the more processed a food is, the higher the chances that the individual who consumes it will be allergic / intolerant to it. Take milk for example – 2 out of every 3 kids I see at the clinic is intolerant to milk! Industrialization has brought with it methods to process milk down to its bare components (I mean 2% fat component or less – not the way nature intended it for sure).

Anyways, so when one drinks this composition (called milk) of concentrated, isolated, purified components in milk, no wonder they become intolerant to it – our bodies were not designed to intake and utilize concentrated forms of mechanically processed components – we might as well take food or in this case milk in a pill form! I wonder if people drinking fresh milk laden with cream would have the same intolerance / reaction called lactose intolerance to it. How compromising!

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Suggestions For Improving Your Digestion

Healthy Me,

Here are a few suggestions to improve your digestion:

•   Eat slowly and chew your food properly

•   Concentrate on the textures, colors and the types of food you are eating

•   Do not sip any water while having your meals, if you like you can have some sips of fresh fruit/ vegetable juice

•   In the morning have ½ lemon with 1 glass of warm water, a pinch of cayenne pepper and 1 tsp of olive oil mixed in

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Why Is Our Weight Loss Program So Different

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The majority of the weight loss programs are based on generic weight loss pills, crazy crash diets and exercise, however, what if you have tried all that and still not lost the weight… this is where we can help you as we provide holistic healing that combines the mental, emotional and physical aspect of you as an individual.

Why is our Toronto Weight Loss Program so different? Firstly you would have to come in for an initial assessment which includes a blood and urine test, and our naturopath may also recommend additional tests such as thyroid tests, adrenal function tests for stress, hormone tests, and food intolerance tests, among others depending on your specific reasons for being unable to loose weight or maintain the weight loss.

We will then provide a full physical exam as well. Our naturopath’s holistic treatments will be based on your comprehensive intake, tests and various forms, and our treatment plans are not a life long commitment, after the initial assessment and physical, we will provide your treatment plan based on natural therapies – such as nutrition, diet and lifestyle changes and specific natural supplements that address your situation.

Unlike weight loss clinics which tend to provide generic pills and diets for everyone, our naturopathic treatment is based on your symptoms and your health, once you have achieved your ideal weight, you will be able to maintain it without the need to pills etc. as you will be working with a healthy lifestyle change that is individualized to you.

I do not encourage starving crash diets, as they only make things worse, especially if your weight gain come after a stressful situation so the last thing you need to do is stress your body again with crazy diets.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathi Clinic

Allergies Versus Sensitivities

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In Canada, we have three allergy seasons that are related to the environment:

1. The Early spring allergy season which is driven by tree pollens beginning in March or April, and lasting until mid-June.

2. Late spring / early summer allergy season caused by grass pollens: from late May until mid-July or even early August.

3. Last but not the least the ”TRUE HAY FEVER SEASON” late summer / early autumn — from mid-August until the first frost –which is primarily attributed to ragweed and other “weed” species.

We also have something called the Perennial allergic rhinitis, which occurs year-round, is triggered by common household allergens such as dust mites, animal dander, and mold.

There are various approaches to treating allergies using various sprays, pills and creams, however the best approach is the natural one- which basically focuses on improving the ”hyperactive” immune system, which is usually imbalanced in people who have allergies.

The natural approach also focuses on natural methods to improve overall immune function and health, and tone done the up-regulated immune system, hereby reducing your allergenic response to otherwise harmless proteins.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Arthritis And Foods

Healthy Me, , ,

Quite often I see patients in the clinic suffering from various types of arthritis, and majority say that they get flare ups quite often during this hot and humid weather. When i ask them more detailed questions about their arthritis and ask them if they see a connection with the coincidence of flare ups and what food they ate the night or day before, majority cannot recall if there is a connection.

Here is one for all the arthritis sufferers out there: if you are suffering from flare ups for no apparent reason, look at the foods you are eating. Especially for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, try to avoid the night shade family vegetables (green peppers, egg plants, tomatoes and potatoes) – these foods tend to make the inflammation in the body worse.

Also pay close attention to any other foods that could potentially be worsening your symptoms and if you are still unable to pinpoint what foods are causing the symptoms to get worse, it might be worth investing in the food Igg screen test which helps determine what foods you, specifically are reacting to.

Other parameters you want to look at are stress. A lot of times I find clients getting flare ups after stressful events, hence learn some techniques to help you ease the stress and improve the body’s ability to deal with stress, go for a swim or yoga or massage, alternatively learn some deep breathing techniques or relaxation methods.

Homeopathic remedies may help ease the pain and swelling in joints related to humid weather, ruta may help with bone pain, however you are much better of seeing a naturopath or homeopath for your specific remedy for your symptoms.

Some nut and fish oils are great as natural anti-inflammatory, along with ginger and turmeric powder.

Having more of a vegetarian diet would be quite beneficial initially to help reduce the inflammatory burden on the body as well.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

General Detoxification Tips

Healthy Me, , ,

There are various types of detox available in the market such as kidney flushes and liver flushes and quite often i have patients who ask me what the best detox is and when is it a right time to do a detox? Generally speaking, the best times to do a detox are Spring and Fall, however since we are exposed to various toxins all year long, anytime is a good time.

Bear in mind that the majority of the detoxification products available on the market are general and not specific, and can do more harm than good in certain instances, hence talk to your health care provider before starting one as they can best determine if the timing is ideal for the cleanse or detox you are interested in doing. Here are here are some detoxification tips all of us can benefit from:

Tips for Spring Detoxification

•   Drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses/day).

•   Add half a lemon to a warm glass of water with a pinch of cayenne pepper and ½ tsp of olive oil and enjoy it first thing in the morning.

•   Eat your salads and greens – they provide you with lots and lots of live enzymes and minerals and also help detoxify heavy metals from the body.

•   If you haven’t eaten fruit and vegetables on a regular basis, start to eat a lots of fruit, your body will detoxify itself first. Even if you do not change your use of stimulants (coffee, sugar and nicotine).

•   Steam bath to remove heavy metals: Using 1/2 cup of baking soda or 1/2 cup of sea salt. Soak for 15-20 minutes and then scrub the skin gently with soap on a loofah / face towel. Within a few minutes the water will turn murky and “dirty” due to heavy metals coming out of the skin, including aluminum and mercury. Do this once a week during detox and once a month for maintenance.

•   Exercise regularly, for at least 20 minutes. Partner up with a friend or family member if motivation is a problem. Go for a brisk walk or jog, or try something different like a spinning class or Yoga!

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Successful Weight Loss In Women

Healthy Me, , ,

I have often found that the biggest problem with weight loss for most women is not actually about losing the weight, but is getting organized and pre-planning meals. I find that with lots of my clients, once we have narrowed down exactly what they should be eating as far as their health is concerned, weight loss is the fastest for women who tend to plan and prepare their meals and exercise schedules ahead of time.

For instance, with some of my clients, I found that if they had a schedule that they prepared and stuck it where they could see it daily, with a goal weight – say an actual number with regards to their weight, may be a pound lighter at the end of each week, they were more likely to reach that goal easily than someone who didn’t. So women, here is a simple tip to safe and effective weight loss – PLAN A SCHEDULE WITH MEALS AND EXERCISE AND STICK TO IT!

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Treating Constipation Naturally

Healthy Me, , , , ,

People suffering from constipation often tend to do various cleanses and diets, which seem to find helpful for a few days or months and then their symptoms of gas, bloating and constipation recur. The thing that I have found to be most beneficial for my patients is determining what exactly is causing the constipation – usually we find the cause is the foods that they have been eating and not tolerating well or they have diets which is are high in carbohydrates such as breads and pastas, or they are not drinking enough water or they have too much stress in life, once all these issues are addressed- from determining what foods people are intolerant through specific blood tests and changing their diet and lifestyle and teaching them proper techniques for stress management, the issue of constipation is generally RESOLVED!

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Treating Hair Loss Naturally

Healthy Me,

There are a lot of natural products available in the market for hair loss, however a lot of times patients find that they are not very beneficial or helped a little, but not really.

At the clinic we always get patients to try and focus on why it is that they are losing their hair versus what supplements they can try as often times the underlying cause for the hair loss is something totally different then what we may think will be helpful for it just because a health food store employee or the media says and promotes.

Significant hair loss can be brought on by sudden stress in life or sudden crash diets or diet changes, a lot of times a lack or excess amounts of certain vitamins or minerals can cause hair loss too, toxic hormonal changes (thyroid, male and female hormones) and post pregnancy can cause hair loss due to a low kidney essence / chi. Hence what I recommend for anyone losing hair is to get a proper diagnosis as to why you might be losing hair rather than trying different products off the shelves.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.