The same “weight loss” diet is not going to work for us all.
Why?
Because depending on our biochemistry, the foods we eat react with our blood in order to help us or hinder us, and this reaction is part of your genetic inheritance. This reaction is caused by a factor called Lectins. Read more
Dry July is a month dedicated to giving up alcohol, in order to raise money towards creating better environments and support networks for adult cancer patients and their families.
As tough a challenge as it may sound to some, giving up alcohol has a number of health and lifestyle benefits. Read more
If you are experiencing any unusual health symptoms, a nutrient deficiency could be to blame. Below is a list of common nutrient deficiency symptoms and foods you should eat if you think you need more.
Magnesium Deficiency: 75 to 85% of diets deficient Symptoms: Anxiety, confusion, heart attack, hyperactivity, insomnia, nervousness, muscular irritability, restlessness, weakness Recommended Foods: Swiss chard, spinach, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, black beans, navy beans Pyridoxine (B6) Deficiency: 71% of male and 90% of female diets deficient Symptoms: Acne, anemia, arthritis, eye inflammation, depression, dizziness, facial oiliness, fatigue, impaired wound healing, irritability, loss of appetite, loss of hair, mouth lesions, nausea Recommended Foods: Bell peppers, turnip greens, spinach, tuna, banana, chicken breast, turkey breast Zinc Deficiency: 68% of diets deficient Symptoms: Acne, amnesia, apathy, brittle nails, delayed sexual maturity, depression, diarrhea, eczema, fatigue, growth impairment, hair loss, high cholesterol levels, immune impairment, impotence, irritability, lethargy, loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste, low stomach acid, male infertility, memory impairment, night blindness, paranoia, white spots on nails, wound healing impairment Recommended Foods: Calf’s liver, mushrooms, spinach, beef tenderloin, pumpkin seeds, green peas Calcium Deficiency: Average diet contains 40 to 50% of RDA Symptoms: Brittle nails, cramps, delusions, depression, insomnia, irritability, osteoporosis, palpitations, peridontal disease, rickets, tooth decay Recommended Foods: Spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, yogurt, milk, mozzarella cheese Copper Deficiency: 75% of diets deficient Symptoms: Anemia, arterial damage, depression, diarrhea, fatigue, fragile bones, hair loss, hyperthyroidism, weakness Recommended Foods: Calf’s liver, turnip greens, blackstrap molasses, raw cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach, asparagus Essential fatty acids Deficiency: Very common Symptoms: Diarrhea, dry skin and hair, hair loss, immune impairment, infertility, poor wound healing, premenstrual syndrome, acne, eczema, gall stones, liver degeneration Recommended Foods: Wild-caught salmon (avoid farm-raised salmon because of pollutants), flax seeds, walnuts Folic acid Deficiency: Average diet contains 60% of RDA; deficient in 100% of elderly in one study; deficient in 48% of adolescent girls; requirement doubles in pregnancy Symptoms: Anemia, apathy, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, loss of appetite, neural tube defects in fetus, paranoia, shortness of breath, weakness Recommended Foods: Romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens, calf’s liver, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, lentils Iron Deficiency: Most common mineral deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, brittle nails, confusion, constipation, depression, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, inflamed tongue, mouth lesions Recommended Foods: Chard, spinach, turmeric, thyme, shitake mushrooms, green beans Niacin (B3) Deficiency: Commonly deficient in elderly Symptoms: Bad breath, canker sores, confusion, depression, dermatitis, diarrhea, emotional instability, fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, memory impairment, muscle weakness, nausea, skin eruptions, inflammation Recommended Foods: Crimini mushrooms, tuna (be cautious of mercury and other pollutants that can be found in fish), wild-caught salmon, chicken breast, asparagus Potassium Deficiency: Commonly deficient in elderly Symptoms: Acne, constipation, depression, edema, excessive water consumption, fatigue, glucose intolerance, high cholesterol levels, insomnia, mental impairment, muscle weakness, nervousness, poor reflexes Recommended Foods: Chard, button mushrooms, spinach, avocado, papaya, lima beans, lentil beans Selenium Deficiency: Average diet contains 50% of RDA Symptoms: Growth impairment, high cholesterol levels, increased incidence of cancer, pancreatic insufficiency (inability to secrete adequate amounts of digestive enzymes), immune impairment, liver impairment, male sterility Recommended Foods: Button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, cod, shrimp, snapper, tuna, halibut, calf’s liver, wild-caught salmon (again, be wary of pollutants like mercury and PCBs in seafood) Thiamin Deficiency: Commonly deficient in elderly Symptoms: Confusion, constipation, digestive problems, irritability, loss of appetite, memory loss, nervousness, numbness of hands and feet, pain sensitivity, poor coordination, weakness Recommended Foods: Asparagus, romaine lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, sunflower seeds, tuna, green peas, tomatoes, eggplant, Brussels sprouts Vitamin C Deficiency: 20 to 50% of diets deficient Symptoms: Bleeding gums, depression, easy bruising, impaired wound healing, irritability, joint pains, loose teeth, malaise, tiredness Recommended Foods: Parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, oranges, lemon juice, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts Vitamin D Deficiency: 50% of diets deficient Symptoms: Burning sensation in mouth, diarrhea, insomnia, myopia, nervousness, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, rickets, scalp sweating Recommended Foods: Shrimp, milk, cod liver oil, eggs (you can also get vitamin D from sensible sun exposure)Often, the nutrient levels found in food these days is not in high enough levels and supplementation is necessary. 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It’s a common thing to hear in the clinic, “I’ve been to the doctors, I’ve had the testing done and they can’t find anything wrong with me. They say nothing is wrong.”
So many confused patients of ours have felt very unwell only to be left in the dark as to what the source of their problem is. Read more
Spring is often thought of as the time for allergies, but really any change of season can trigger allergies and asthma. For many people a drop in the temperature is enough of a trigger, and when the humidity drops the air becomes drier and is more likely to irritate a sensitive respiratory system. Read more
A brand of herbal products we use a lot of in the clinic is MediHerb. For a company who has gone on to become Australia’s largest purchaser and manufacturer of herbal medicines for the professional market, one would not think that they started out with humble beginnings in a converted goat’s shed. Read more
In this age of skyrocketing medical costs, more and more people are taking responsibility for their own health. They are turning to herbs, nature’s “super-medicines.” Many people are already including herbs in their diets, not just to season foods, but for maintaining and restoring vibrant health. Even researchers have found that chimpanzees are attracted to plants that contain natural antibiotics and are known to dose themselves with herbs in times of sickness. Read more
by Suzanne Wilson, Naturopath
The immune system’s prime function is to protect the body against infection and the development of cancer. Support and enhancement of the immune system is perhaps the most important step in achieving resistance to disease and reducing susceptibility to colds, flus and chronic disease. However, when the immune system becomes compromised with exposure to viral/bacterial infections, certain chemicals, drugs and mechanical injury, it can cause the immune system to attack itself in susceptible humans. Read more
What is health anyway? That is the million dollar question, and it has to be answered before we can make sound decisions about which health trends to follow and which to leave behind.
First, let us look at the miraculous design of our body. Did you know that our bodies have over 4 trillion cells? Read moreYour immune system is one the most complex systems on the planet. It is highly evolved and is able to cope with an amazing diversity of challenges. The problem is however,that the amount of stuff that your immune system has to deal with is increasing. Our world is not becoming cleaner, but is changing rapidly, with new chemicals and toxins introduced every day. Read more
