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Spring seems to have arrived early this year! The sun and warm weather are lifting people’s spirits and giving people a chance to spend more time outdoors. But it’s not summer yet! This is actually a common time for colds and a second wave of flu. So, head out with light layers and a light scarf (Traditional Chinese Medicine points to the back of the neck as a vulnerable spot to external “pathogens”), and don’t forget to keep up the immune-boosting habits you practiced in the winter. This winter was unusually mild, so we may also be in for an earlier and more severe allergy season. Early spring is the right time to do some preventative work for seasonal allergies. In this newsletter, find out more about our Spring Detox Program – a great way to minimize allergies, get a start on weight loss, or improve your energy and digestion. Whatever your health and wellness goals, we look forward to seeing you at Body of Knowledge this spring! In this issue, you will find: |
Announcements |
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
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The Spring Detox: An Oil Change for Your Body |
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Over the next few months of spring, you may walk into a health food store and see products on the shelves promoting spring cleanse or detox programs. What are these detox programs and how does one navigate through this sea of products? Toxins aren’t a new development. We are exposed to toxins all the time; through food, the environment, and even within our own bodies. We constantly create waste products that can be toxic and need to be neutralized and eliminated. The term “detoxification” describes a process where toxins are neutralized and eliminated from the body. Toxins disrupt normal function of the body by entering cells and displacing essential minerals which can disrupt cell function and cause damage to cells and blood vessels. Since these toxins move in the blood, they can reach all cells and organs systems, including the brain, and thus, can cause a host of problems that affect our health on many different levels. To maintain balance, the body has a self-detoxification process, which involves mainly the liver, but also the skin, spleen, lymphatics, kidneys, digestive tract and lungs. In our modern day world, we are increasingly subject to larger and larger amounts of toxic compounds in our daily lives, and while the body has these built in detoxification pathways, they are subject to a much greater burden than ever before in human history. Through high exposure, the body’s detoxification and elimination systems can get “backed up”. Toxins that can’t be eliminated immediately are stored in fat cells and joint cavities, and the organs of detoxification and elimination themselves can get damaged, decreasing their capacity to do their jobs effectively. A “cleanse” or “detox program”, when administered appropriately, helps the organs of detoxification and elimination to heal and repair, and to catch up on clearing accumulated toxins from the body. As a Naturopathic Doctors, we don’t subscribe to trendy products or extreme diets. A cleanse or detox program should be integrated into our daily lives with healthy dietary and lifestyle choices. Many of the products on the market contain a variety of antimicrobial herbs, liver supporting herbs, and laxatives. It is always prudent to consult a health practitioner before you embark on any type of over-the-counter medication (pharmaceutical or “natural”) to make sure it’s right for you. The components of these products may interact with existing medication(s) you are on, may cause side effects, or may worsen health concerns you are experiencing. A Naturopathic Doctor can customize a detox program to: focus on dietary and lifestyle changes that minimize exposure to toxins, provide safe and appropriate herbs, homeopathic preparations or nutritional supplements which support the body’s ability to neutralize and eliminate toxins, and take into account your unique needs. A safe and individualized detoxification program under the guidance of a Naturopathic Doctor is generally well-tolerated and beneficial. There is no “typical” response, as individuals’ experiences will vary, according to personal biochemistry, physiology, and previous dietary & lifestyle habits. Many people report increased energy and alertness, decrease in muscle or joint pain, improved digestion and sleep, reduction in allergies, or an overall sense of well-being. Much like a tune-up for your car, a spring detox program can help make sure your body is in good working condition by cleaning out waste and ensuring the organs are working properly, which will help to prevent disease and keep your body healthy for the future. For more information on the Group Spring Detox Program, or the individualized one-on-one Spring Detox Program, please see the Announcements section of the newsletter or call us: 416-783-1800. |
You Are What You Eat: A meditation on literal & figurative meanings
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This idiom has its origins in the 1826 work: Physiologie du Gout (The Physiology of Taste) by lawyer-politician turned gastronome Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, who writes: “Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es.” (Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are). Others cite 1860’s German philosopher Feuerbach’s: “Der Mensch ist, was er ißt.” (The punny: Man is what he eats/Man eats what he is). The English phrase, as we have come to know it, became popularized by doctor and nutritionist Victor Lindlahr, who in 1942 published You Are What You Eat: how to win and keep health with diet. (Side note: Victor was the son of Dr Henry Lindlahr, considered one of the fathers of Naturopathy in North America.) Regardless of origin, the meaning was not literal – but pointed to the idea that what you eat affects your state of mind and health. In some instances the meaning was more political; highlighting differences in diet according to socio-economics. More recently, author, Michael Pollan, illustrates in his illuminating book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, that we have, in fact, literally become what we eat. And what we eat, apparently, is a lot of corn. The ancient Mayans and their descendants used to refer to themselves as “the corn people” or “corn walking”, owing to their reliance on corn as the staple food they held sacred. Even now, about 40% of a Mexican’s caloric intake purportedly comes from corn, while North Americans favour wheat as a dietary staple. And yet, if the Mexican calls himself “corn walking”, Pollan asserts, North Americans could be called “processed corn walking”. In light of corn’s unique chemical make-up and technological advances, scientists can identify just how much of the carbon in our tissues comes from it. And, it turns out, North Americans are significantly “cornier” than Mexicans. To what do we owe this shift in our composition? Surplus. American. Corn. So much corn, in fact, that we’ve had to create a whole industrial food industry (not to mention petrochemical industry) to support it. Virtually all processed food is made from fractions (re-imagined by-products) of industrial grade surplus corn (or soy) – that wouldn’t be deemed fit for human consumption as its corn-self. A full 60% of this surplus corn goes towards feeding livestock – formerly grass-eating cattle, chief amongst them. And, as Pollan points out, you aren’t only what you eat, but what you eat, eats too. (Side note: Recent studies have demonstrated that grass-finished beef has a much higher ratio of Omega 3: Omega 6 fatty acids relative to it’s corn-fed counterpart. The health & nutrition implications of this may be far-reaching.) And we can’t stop there! The ingredient list of a typical processed food reads like a veritable corn-ucopia: hydrogenated fat, lecithin, corn meal, MSG, citric and lactic acid, glucose, fructose, maltodextrin, sorbitol, mannitol, xanthan gum, dextrins, modified and unmodified starches, ethanol (both alcoholic and fuel), viscosity control agents, vegetable oil, margerine, shortening, and the ubiquitous HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) are all derived from industrial corn. If we are what we eat (figuratively and literally), and what we eat, eats, shouldn’t we spend a little more time thinking about the quality of the food we consume? We have a seemingly insatiable obsession with the type and quantity of food we eat, and an aesthetically-driven culture that values thinness above fitness and health. And yet, in the past decade, nearly 50% of the adult population is either overweight or obese. We must re-examine our values, and find a new, more holistic way of looking at food, if we are to overcome the chronic diseases of our time. March is National Nutrition Month, April 24th is International Earth Day, and the 1st week of May is National Naturopathic Medicine Week. In honour of these three events, I entreat you to spend a little bit of time this next month or so considering the following:
For guidance and resources on any of these topics, please check out the links on our website, or consider a nutritional consultation. In the same spirit, we are offering a Spring Detox Program at the clinic April 20th – May 29th. The program is an opportunity to become more mindful of the choices you are making with regards to diet and lifestyle, and of the interactions between our food, our environment, and our health. The program differs from a kit you might purchase at a health food store (which may not be right for you), in that it is medically supervised, and focuses on dietary and lifestyle changes that are safe, effective and sustainable. References: |
Oil Your Hinges:
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Sitting at a desk all day can cause numerous postural problems including rounding in the upper bac In the last few years, people have become more aware of the negative relationship between poor posture, lack of core strength and back pain. I consistently get told by new clients that they want to improve their posture when they sit at their desk. They want to learn to use their core and upper back muscles properly so they don’t slouch. People don’t realize that sitting at a desk and working on a computer all day does not just affect the upper back and core. Postural problems are all interconnected. Sitting at a desk and working on a computer for long amounts of time can have huge negative effects on the wrist, hand and elbow. Don’t wait until injury occurs. Try incorporating some of the exercises below into your daily routine. They can all be done at your desk every hour or two. Exercises for the Wrists and Hands Starting position for all exercises: bend your both arms to 90 degrees at the elbows, with your forearms parallel to the floor. Through all the exercises try to limit the motion of the forearm, upper arm and elbow. Make the motion only from the wrist.
Exercises for the Neck
Switch arms and repeat all 3 exercises on the right side. Exercises for the Upper Back and Chest Next, straighten your arms in front of you, horizontal to the floor at shoulder height. Keep your arms straight and use the muscles in-between your shoulder blades to retract your arms. Imagine you are “cracking a walnut in-between your shoulder blades”. Repeat 10-15 times. Kathleen is a guest writer for this issue of our newsletter. Kathleen Trotter is a certified personal trainer, pilates specialist, fitness expert, Iron(wo)man, and Masters student. To learn more about Kathleen’s services please visit: http://kathleentrotter.com/about-me |
SPRING RECIPE |
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Jennifer Baer, ND & Trained Chef
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WELCOME
At Body of Knowledge Healing Arts, we're thrilled to offer you the best in naturopathic medical care. Our registered Naturopathic Doctor provides assessment, education and support for the treatment and prevention of chronic conditions.
Our approach targets the underlying cause of disease or dysfunction and strives to support and strengthen the body's innate ability to heal, repair and maintain homeostasis (balance). Naturopathy is a comprehensive and holistic medical approach that attempts to revitalize our connection to our health, and the health of our planet.
We are located in midtown Toronto, and offer a variety of treatment options, which include:
Nutritional & Lifestyle Counseling
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Herbal Medicine & Homeopathy
Hydrotherapy & Stress Management
Drainage & Detoxification
Our services are covered by most extended health plans.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Look and feel younger. A non-surgical method to lift, tone, tighten and reduce the signs of aging.
Nutritional Consultations & Diet Plans
Consult with trained chef, nutritionist & Naturopathic Doctor, Jennifer Baer, to assess your nutritional status and create a custom diet plan.
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT
To book an appointment with one of our licensed Naturopathic Doctors or our Registered Holistic Nutritionist, call us at 416-783-1800. We offer Naturopathic Medicine, Nutritional Consultations and Diet Plans, Cosmetic Acupuncture and Acupuncture.