Vibration Therapy and Neurological Diseases

Whole-body vibration therapy may benefit strength and quality of life in individuals with neurological diseases, according to a new study. Vibration therapy, also known as vibration healing, is the use of mechanical vibration to supposedly prevent, treat and promote recovery from a variety of physical ailments, including pain, sports injuries and bone density loss. Whole-body vibration therapy is applied for more systemic complaints. A patient stands on a machine or sits in a chair that vibrates. Many physical therapists for professional athletes use vibration therapy to decrease the recovery time after an injury. However, evidence of benefit is currently unclear.

In a new study, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search for studies evaluating the effects of whole-body vibration therapy on various factors, including strength, balance and quality of life, for patients with neurological diseases. Thirteen studies evaluating effects in Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and stroke were identified for inclusion.

The researchers found that there is some evidence suggesting potential short-term benefits of whole-body vibration therapy for strength. There was also weak evidence suggesting potential benefits for quality of life. In the long-term, the authors noted that there was limited evidence suggesting potential benefits for balance, strength and walking.

Further well-designed clinical trials are necessary before any conclusions can be made.

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that is chronic and progressive, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Parkinson’s disease affects nerve cells in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement.

The term cerebral palsy refers to a neurological disorder that appears in infancy or early childhood (most commonly under 37 weeks of age) and permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination but does not worsen over time.

There is currently good evidence of benefit that suggests music therapy may modestly improve symptoms including some aspects of motor coordination, speech intelligibility and vocal intensity, emotional functions, activities of daily living and quality of life for patients with cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease.

For more information about vibration therapy, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness Database.

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What Do Setbacks Teach Us?

by Cheryl Hiebert, M.Div ~

I was struggling with an article idea this week and realized that I have an excellent topic to discuss. I am a living example of it right now. I have an injury that is keeping me from running and I had my world rocked to the core at around the same time. I decided I would share some of my ideas with respect to loss, injury, disease and setbacks.  But I have a few questions to pose first: When these incidents occur in our lives how do we handle them?  With anger, with grace, with introspection? Do we search for the lessons and the deeper meaning? Do we shrink away and hide? Do we throw up our hands in despair? Or do we decide to use it as an experience to learn, to deepen our personal growth, and to perhaps look at our lives differently?

The idea for this article came to me while having lunch with a dear friend. She is a hero to me. She has had several very tough years since her partner was diagnosed with cancer. We have all witnessed what a strong loving woman she has been for her family. Through all of this she has become a powerful advocate for patient care within the hospital setting; trying to make big changes to create a gentler, healing environment for the people recuperating or undergoing treatment. And also being incredibly aware of how the families are experiencing this situation with their loved ones as well.

She gave me the example of entering the ICU and seeing huge signs with block letters that said: DO NOT ENTER. She felt this was an assault on the senses of the people coming in to see their loved ones. She called her assistant immediately and said: add this to the next meeting agenda as #1.

Gifts Are Hidden Within Challenges

To help make positive changes she has also spent her time seeking out ways to cope, to eat better and holistic/integrative approaches to help everyone stay well during this stressful time. She volunteers tirelessly, counsels, takes care of a big family, and sits on numerous committees and the list goes on. She did not hide away or shrink from the challenge. She met it head on with strength and determination. The world is richer for her being here… the experiences that could have devastated her made her that much more determined to learn and grow. She inspires me. I walked away from our time together pondering all of these things.

So we see in her case how her challenge has created the space for her to help others in ways that perhaps no one else could see or had the guts to do something about. But she had to BE in it to learn that and move in this direction. That is just one of the gifts from all of this. When we take this approach in our lives, we may begin to see the how’s and the why’s of it occurring for us.

We can look at challenges differently when we fall, get injured, get sick, etc. It is ALWAYS an opportunity to look beneath the surface. However, it might take some time to do so. We might need to lick our wounds for awhile and go through the appropriate stages of grief, but eventually we have to pull up our socks and move forward. We make the decision to live fully again. How many people do you know that have been sick or injured and a friend gave them a book that changed their life? Or maybe during their recovery they had an epiphany. The disease might have been the wake-up call they needed to change the way they were living their life.  As a result, they made the decision to be healthy, to changes jobs, to retire, to leave a relationship. I have always felt that if we continue along without doing “our work” during these times of wake-up calls the universe “ups that ante” – in other words… be prepared for another wake-up call.

The Mind-Body Connection

Here is one way to look at the setbacks that occur. It is with a book I adore: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. It is one I picked up in my 20’s and has been instrumental in my spiritual growth and wellness since then. Contained within her book is a list of physical problems that has a 3 part chart. It works like this: you look up the ailment, disease or physical symptom. The next column contains what the probable cause is and in the final column a new thought pattern one can incorporate into their life to help heal it. I opened the book for an example: Adrenals. The probable cause is listed as: Defeatism. No longer caring for the self. Anxiety. The new thought pattern is: I love and approve of myself. It is safe for me to care for myself.

When something shows up in my body or that of one of my clients, I always refer to this list and am continually amazed at how accurate it is. I use this list for my own self-care and awareness. When we are aware then we can make positive changes in our lives. If we move along without stopping to examine our lives when we have a setback we lose the opportunity for tremendous growth.

The Wisdom of Our Bodies

Remember from some of my past articles: when a physical symptom shows up in the body it is a red flag. Our body in its wisdom is waving for you; pay attention. Symptoms disease injury and setback always have an underlying emotion or thought pattern that has now shown up as a physical symptom in your body.

Why do we have setbacks in our lives? I feel that it occurs when something in our life is out of balance, when things are awry, when we need to slow down, make changes or pay attention. I see so many people avoiding taking care of themselves or avoiding issues or grief or pain and so they keep busy all the time. Avoiding setbacks by running around, watching TV, listening to the radio, on the computer, texting, reading, cooking, working out, never being alone. We fill the hole inside with busyness and the acquisition of more and more material goods. They are all excellent ways to avoid being still, because being still feels scary. When we stop and get quiet or are alone, feelings can come up. Whatever we have pushed away, or stuffed down or avoided shows up. And that is a good thing, by the way! Think of a pressure cooker. We need to take the lid off and allow the steam to escape. It takes a lot of energy to hold things in.

Releasing the Pressure

Although a meditation practice is an excellent tool to allow the lid to come off to release the pressure, you can simply allow yourself some quiet time to reflect. With the busyness we are often in the fight or flight response which is running on adrenalin. This stresses out the central nervous system which in turn creates anxiety, affects our immune system and can create a host of other problems. We are taught to chin, up, suck it up, that we cannot cry and to avoid our feelings. And that is exactly why I feel we have our setbacks… to get us out of that toxic loop and help us get back on track.

And so with my current setbacks I am spending some much needed time with friends, writing a shorter article this week and doing some things for my own self care. I am slowing down and letting go of a few responsibilities that were creating a schedule that was simply too much. I am doing more Yoga! I think of the image of a wrinkled shirt…Yoga irons out all of my wrinkles, releases pent up emotion, brings me into my body and I always feel richer for the experience.

Let Setbacks Be Your Guide to Growth

Take some time for yourself and look at your list of ailments, symptoms and setbacks. Are there changes you have been avoiding? Are you taking good care of yourself in the way you deserve? Do you keep promising yourself that you will do certain things? Take the time to honour and treasure yourself and your personal growth. Perhaps you can allow your setbacks be a guide to a greater awareness and to help create deeper meaning in your life.

My own current setbacks have created this article for you this week. My intent is that it inspires you to take a closer look at your own life. Look at the glorious opportunities that are there for you. Try changing the way you look at ailments and see the wisdom behind each one.

And know that I am here for you along the way to help you discover the wondrous you that IS there! I send each of you much love today.

Photo by janineomg

        ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Cheryl Hiebert is a Personal Wellness Coach with a mind body spirit approach to wellness. Her goal is to help you feel empowered on your individual path and help you jump out of bed every day loving your life. To help you create a life where you feel happy, full of energy and first on your list. You are worth it!

To see how you can get more support from Cheryl, make sure to visit her website or her Holistic United profile.

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Eat Your Way to Desire: 10 Foods to Get You in the Mood

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.“ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

by Lisa Weeks ~

For most people living in North America, today is synonymous with romantic love. In honour of St. Valentine and keeping the love strong all year long, here are 10 Foods to Boost Libido:

Avocado: Avocados have high levels of folic acid which helps metabolize proteins, providing you with more energy. They also contain vitamin B6, a nutrient that increases male hormone production.

Bananas: Bananas contain bromelain, an enzyme believed to increase libido and reverse impotence in men. Additionally, they are a good source of potassium, which helps regulate a woman’s thyroid gland, an element that supports sex drive.

Cayenne and chilies: Capsaicin, the substance that gives kick to peppers and other spicy foods, triggers the release of endorphins. This feel good chemical stimulates nerve endings and raises your heart rate.

Chocolate: This luscious treat contains phenyl ethylamine (PEA), which boosts levels of endorphins, reduces depression and anxiety. In fact, it is one of the brain hormones that is released when we are in love. Go for dark chocolate to get those extra antioxidants. PEA may be increased by exercise, yet another reason to put on those running shoes!

Eggs: They may not be the most sensual of foods, but eggs are high in vitamins B6 and B5. These help balance hormone levels and fight stress, two things that are crucial to a healthy libido.

Garlic and ginger: Eat these regularly to increase arousal. Just make sure you share that garlicky meal with your partner and stock up on extra mints! Garlic contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow to the sexual organs. As such, it’s a highly effective herb to help increase libido. You can also take garlic capsules.

Maca: Toted as an ancient superfood of the Incas, Maca is rich in calcium, potassium, iron, and EFAs.  Its known as an adaptogen used to increase energy, improve mood, and increase libido.

Nuts: Eating nuts and seeds help to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow to the sexual organs. Make sure to eat them unsalted and raw to get the most benefits. Choose almonds, walnuts, or Brazil nuts. The high dose of omega 3 fatty acids helps support the production of hormones.

Pumpkin seeds: The seeds are also know as pipitas. They are high in zinc, which is important in testosterone production for men and also helps to sustain sexual desire in women.

Sexy Chocolate Mousse Pie

What you’ll need for the crust:

1-cup raw almonds

3 dates

Honey or maple syrup

What you’ll need for the filling:

4 ripe avocados

16 soft, fresh dates, pitted

2 heaping Tbs cocoa powder

3-6 Tbs agave syrup (to taste)

Topping Ideas: fresh berries, pumpkin seeds, sliced banana

Grind almonds in a food processor, then add dates and mix until texture is uniform.  Add a little honey or maple syrup until mixture sticks together.  Press into an 8-inch round pie pan.

Cut avocado in half, remove pit and scoop flesh into a food processor.  Add dates, cocoa powder and sweetener and blend until completely smooth.  Taste and add more sweetener if desired.

Pour filling into prepared curst and refrigerate at least a couple of hours. Pie filling will be pudding-like in texture and consistency.

Serves 6 to 8

photo by Daniel Danny and Jennifer

                About the Author

Lisa Weeks, HBSc., ND, is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Toronto and Markham who unites her extensive scientific research background with Naturopathic therapies and philosophies to offer you a holistic approach to healing. She believes Naturopathic Medicine can benefit the whole family, from infants to seniors and focuses on women’s health, kid’s health, immune system support, pain management, digestive health, skin issues, sleep support, stress relief, energy support and more. For more information, visit her website and her Holistic United Profile 

Looking for a holistic provider? Search our directory to find a holistic practitioner in your area.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog!

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.

Vitamin D-licious – Three Easy Ways to Ensure You’re Getting Enough

by Monica D. Riley ~

The rays of sunlight are limited during winter months, but that is not an excuse to let your vitamin D dip below a healthy level. “Vitamin D has emerged as a star supplement, because of its many nutritional benefits for men, women and children,” according to Dr. Rovenia Brock, renowned nutritionist and author.

Vitamin D plays a key role in the proper absorption of calcium for strong bones and teeth and has been shown to support colon, breast, prostate, ovarian, heart and colorectal health.

Vitamin D not only assists your body with many crucial functions, being deficient can actually put you at risk for other things – osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and other cancers, to name a few.  And a whopping three-quarters of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, according to a 2011 article in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

With so many Americans ingesting below the optimal levels of Vitamin D, what is the best way to counteract this growing public health issue? Here are three easy ways to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D this winter:

1. Take a supplement: Recognizing that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are major public health concerns for both children and adults in the United States, vitamin D supplements can be relied on to provide much needed help getting those levels up where they should be. Vitamin D supplements are available in two forms – vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. The D3 form is more active than the D2 form and a better choice when choosing a supplement.

2. Fortify Your Life: An effective way to make sure that your family gets enough “D” is to include fortified foods and beverages.

• Milk:  Because D is a fat-soluble vitamin, you will find slightly more per cup in whole milk (124 IU) than 1% (120 IU) or nonfat (115 IU).
• Cereals:  You can almost double your “D” by adding milk to a fortified breakfast cereal.  Most cereals offer 40 IU-60 IU per serving.
• Orange Juice:  OJ is in the “hot seat” right now, but by sticking with an organic orange juice, you can increase your daily vitamin D by 140 IU

3. The Natural Way:  There are a handful of foods that contain vitamin D naturally.

• Salmon:  Salmon tops the chart as a D-licious source and a 6-ounce sockeye fillet contains nearly 900 IU of vitamin D.
• Other Fish:  Other favorite fish sources include 6-ounces of light tuna, canned in oil, which offers about 460 IU and Atlantic or Pacific halibut at 367 IU.
• Eggs:  Eggs are an excellent source of natural vitamin D.  They deliver up to 44 IU per large egg and are 15% lower in cholesterol than previously thought.

Western society is constantly on the go, and people are eating food that is deficient in all vital nutrients.  Though this may be true, that is no excuse not to get your daily dose of “D” all winter long through your healthy eating plan.

Photo by Tasselflower.

Monica D. Riley MSJ, ChP is a certified master herbalist and aromatherapist of 15 years.  She currently writes a national column on Holistic Health and Wellness for the Examiner.com and shares wellness wisdom through the Vegas Holistic Health Emporium.   As a graduate of Vassar College and The Medill School of Journalism, her 15-year career journey includes network reporter/journalist; executive programmer/producer with PBS and college professor. Monica incorporates a holistic lifestyle as her key to wellness. And, she is dedicated to helping others achieve their unique balance. “You can create your own wellness destiny. The secret is to maintain a mind-body-spirit synergy.” VIsit Monica’s Holistic United profile for more information.

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Attention Deficit Disorder: A Homeopathic Approach

By Beth Landau-Halpern ~

It is abundantly obvious that attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) are a common diagnosis among today’s children. This disorder is characterized by a short attention span, distractibility, disorganization, procrastination and problems with forethought, judgment and impulse control. According to leading expert Dr. Amen, an untreated child is negatively impacted in all areas of his/her life.  They are more likely to be underachievers, have conflict in close relationships, and abuse drugs.

Statistics show that as many as one in ten boys are on medication for behaviors that fall under the category of ADHD. Some children do well on prescribed medications, yet many others find they experience side effects such as difficulty sleeping, suppressed appetite, diminished growth, depression, dizziness, nausea, and heart palpitations. Some parents are seeking alternative approaches to treating their child and evidence supports homeopathy as part of that alternative to drugs.

Homeopathy is a centuries-old holistic form of medicine. It seeks to heal the whole person as an individual with different ways of expressing inattentive, impulsive, hyperactive behaviours, resulting in a different, individualized homeopathic prescription. A program covers physical, mental, or emotional symptoms that may not part of the standard ADHD diagnosis. Diet is an important aspect of the healing process and is supported through supplementation with essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, naturally occurring neurotransmitters, and amino acids; and psychological and behavioral support for improving the ADHD child’s chances of flourishing.  Together, these integrated approaches can make enormous improvements in behavior, without any of the side effects of pharmaceutical medications.

Homeopathic medicines are safe, inexpensive, non-toxic, gentle, and free of adverse side effects. After taking a homeopathic remedy, expect to see a gentle but definite move towards improvement. Coupled with the other natural medicines, children with ADHD can improve dramatically, without reliance on pharmaceutical medications. I have seen children improve their performance in school, start to engage in healthy activities in a focused and confident manner, and get along better with their family and friends. I have seen fractured, frustrated families find peace and an easier way of functioning together, thanks to the wonderful impact of a natural approach to ADHD.  A balanced, calm child means a happy, healthy family!

photo by Carmela Nava

               About the Author

Beth Landau-Halpern is a Toronto-based homeopath with a special interest in treating children with ADHD and their families. Beth trained as a homeopath in London UK, after a first career as a dancer. She loves the deep connection she feels with the clients she works with and knows that listening well is a necessary step to healing.  Beth has worked as a homeopath for 12 years.  For more information, visit www.blh-homeopath.com and www.adhdhomeopath.com, and Beth’s Holistic United profile.

Rest and Rejuvenate: 9 Tips For The Winter Season

“When the heart is at ease, the body is healthy.”  Chinese Adage

By Erin Telford ~

Chinese medicine is all about living with the rhythms of nature.  We can follow the seasons and live our lives accordingly for maximum health.  We encounter problems when we go against these earthly cycles.  The majority of the animal kingdom hibernates during wintertime.  It is a period of restoration, quiet and inactivity in preparation for the giant burst that is spring.  What do humans do?  Race around frantically, travelling, attending holiday parties, amp up the workouts to avoid holiday weight gain, stress about the small stuff, and go to bed late.

These 9 Tips to Encourage Harmony and Balance will support you in the winter goal to replenish our reserves and conserve our Qi:

Eat warm, cooked foods. Just say no to salads and other raw foods throughout winter.  It’s cold outside and your diet should reflect this to stay in harmony with the season.  The foods to eat now are ones that naturally grow during this time of year or have been harvested and dried during autumn such as root vegetables, squashes, wintergreens, mushrooms, beans and lentils.  Your body wants and needs to stay WARM.  Cooking methods should reflect this – bake, roast, braise, stew and slow cook to introduce more heat into your meals.  Reach for broths and stews, add more ginger and cinnamon to your meals.  As always, organic, local and unprocessed products are most nutritious.

Here are some ideas of foods to add to your winter meals: beef, black beans, black mushrooms, blackberry, black sesame seeds and oil, black soybeans, blueberry, bone marrow, cabbages, celery, chard, chestnuts, cranberry, dark leafy greens, duck, eggs, ginger, goose, kale, kidney beans, kohlrabi, lamb, leeks, lotus seed, miso, mulberry, mutton, ocean perch, parsley, pine nuts, raspberry, rutabaga, seaweed, shrimp, soy sauce, string beans, turnips, walnuts, wood ear mushrooms.

Get extra sleep. This is such an active, social season for most people that we tend to get less sleep during a time when we need it the most.  The Tao suggests that we go to bed with the moon and rise with the sun.  While it is unrealistic for us to crawl into bed at 5pm, I’m sure many of us would like to!  Where possible, try to add an extra hour to your sleep routine.  Cut out the extra hour of TV or internet surfing to add rest to your schedule.  We really notice how much sleep we actually need when we finally get that much needed good night’s rest.  Getting up earlier also allows us the chance to absorb more of the sun’s warming energy and vitamin D!

Support your adrenal system. The stress of the holiday season can be exhausting.  Stress triggers our sympathetic nervous system or our “fight or flight” response.  These days this reaction is elicited by an overwhelming line at Whole Foods rather than the need to outrun a tiger.  Our body’s adrenal system (the kidneys) still interprets our stress in the same way, no matter what the cause.  Adrenal overload leads to adrenal exhaustion and a very burnt out person.  You can combat this by cutting down on coffee, sugar and other stimulants. Research shows deep breathing is an effective way to calm the nervous system.

Wash your hands. This is the number one way to prevent spread of viruses and bacteria.  Wash your hands as soon as you get home, get to work, get to school and before and after EVERYTHING.  Anti-bacterial hand soaps and sanitizers reduce your skin’s ability to kill germs on its own.  They are a last resort if you are unable to wash your hands but I do advise against them.

Reduce stress  Find a method to add peace and calm into your life on a daily basis. The effects of stress have been documented. There are lots of easy ways to keep stress in check, but it takes daily action.

Slow down. This is not the season to strive and push through. Each season in Chinese medicine corresponds to a different organ system.  Winter is the time of the Kidneys and the Bladder.  The qualities of those organ systems are also the qualities of winter – rest, reflection, conservation and storage.  The Kidneys are considered the source of all the energy in the body.  They also store all of our “reserve” energy.  The amount of reserve energy that we come into this world with could be compared to the strength of our genetic code.  It has a strong effect on our physical and mental development as well as our aging process.  We should naturally reduce our activity levels to conserve our energy at this time so as not to deplete our reserves.

Change Your Workout. By reducing the intensity of your workouts, you will boost energy and not deplete it.  This is a time of year for nurturing and rebuilding the stores of the body in anticipation of bursting back to life in the spring.  Yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong are perfect winter appropriate forms of activity.

Know your cold! There are two different types of colds-a ‘hot cold’ and a ‘cold cold’.  Hot colds are characterized by a burning, painful sore throat, more copious sticky yellow phlegm and a possible fever and body aches.  A cold type cold will present as a scratchy throat and a runny nose with clear phlegm.  Each type requires different care as far as herbal remedies and dietary therapy.

At the first sign of a cold or flu, rest and see your acupuncturist. Try not to “push through” your illness or use antibiotics as a quick fix.  Illness is our body’s way of telling us to slow down and take care of ourselves.  Acupuncture and herbs can stop a cold in its tracks, ease your symptoms and lessen the duration of an existing illness.  If you do decide to take antibiotics, acupuncture and herbs can work alongside Western treatments to compliment them.

Photo by Olga Oslina

               About the Author

Erin Telford is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with a private practice in Manhattan.   She believes in the powerful healing dynamic between patient and practitioner and the body’s innate ability to move towards balance. She uses Chinese Medicine to harmonize the body, mind and spirit. For more information, visit Erin’s site at http://www.radiantheartacupuncture.com/ or her Holistic United profile.

Looking for a holistic provider? Search our directory to find a holistic practitioner in your area.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.

Overindulged? Learn to Shed Post-Holiday Weight

by Monica D. Riley ~

Who doesn’t indulge a little over the holiday season? From office functions and parties to festive dinners, it’s difficult to resist temptation. It’s been said most people gain at least 5 pounds during the month of December. For those of you who have difficulty shedding unwanted layers, you’ll want to learn how to support metabolic function and clear up some misconceptions about your metabolism.

Here are 4 Metabolism Myths to steer you on a permanent path to healthy weight loss:

Metabolism is a “thing”: The amount of energy – that is, calories from food – that your body requires to function is called your basal metabolic rate.  So, even when you’re sitting in a chair doing nothing, your body is hard at work breathing, pumping blood, growing new cells and regulating hormones.

Some people are just born with “high” metabolisms: Your basal metabolic rate is based on your height, weight, sex and age.  However, what can the variable differences that affect metabolism is activity level and amount of muscle.  According to Dawn Jackson Blatner, registered dietician and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association,  “Activity has a huge impact.  It causes the body to burn calories for energy and the more you do, the more calories your burn.”

Dieting increases metabolism: The positive effects you can have on metabolism, through diet, come through digestion.  “When you eat foods that are whole, and not processed, your body burns more calories simply digesting it,” Blatner says.  Any diet, where your body feels like it is in starvation mode, will actually slow down your metabolism.

Metabolism slows down as you age:  Age does affect your basal metabolic rate, but this is because as you age you gradually lose muscle mass.  The less muscle mass you have, the fewer calories your body will burn at rest.  Resistance training, two to three times a week, can help you stay lean.

Nature has provided support to increase metabolic function. These herbs, along with a healthy wellness plan, may speed up your metabolism and allow you to burn calories and fat faster! Keep your metabolism burning bright with these 12 Special Nutrients and Herbs:

Green Tea:  Green tea has a thermogenic effect, raising metabolism by increasing body temperature and inducing the body to release norepinephrine.  This is a chemical that speeds up calorie burning.

Kelp:  Kelp, as well as other seaweeds, raise metabolism in two ways:  they affect the thyroid gland and they increase basal metabolic rate.  Iodine, an important component of kelp, has a direct effect on basal metabolic rate.

Cinnamon:  Cinnamon is an herb that has many properties, and is included in herbs to increase metabolism. When you ingest cinnamon your body heats up, burning more calories than normal for three to four hours.

Cayenne Pepper:  Hot peppers are foods that speed up your metabolism, and adding cayenne pepper to your meals will speed up your metabolism for hours after you eat.

Turmeric: Found in turmeric, Curcumin is used to reduce inflammation and is being toted for having anti-cancer properties.

Ginger: Research has shown ginger to have the ability to ease arthritic pain.  It’s also commonly used to settle an upset stomach.

Saffron: Although not in your toolbox, Saffron has been found to reduce PMS symptoms by 50%.

Vinegar: The acid found in vinegar (acetic acid) has been shown to support the breakdown of fat and reduces its accumulation.

Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar on an empty stomach; add vinegar to salads or other foods.

Spirulina: Take this nutrient rich food before each meal and it will help to decrease your appetite. Its nutrient content will nourish your thyroid and provide protein to vegans.

Holy Basil: This herb proves to be a natural painkiller, with strong detoxifying, antioxident and antibacterial properties. It is an adaptogen that helps reduce cortisol and blood sugar levels.

Hawthorne:  One of the herbs to increase metabolism is Hawthorne. This herbal ingredient stimulates your thyroid gland, which has a big responsibility in controlling your metabolism. You will also feel more energy, and will eliminate water retention.

Eat citrus: The University of Western Ontario found that a flavonoid in citrus fruits called naringenin causes the liver to burn excess fat.  It has also helped improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of insulin resistance.

*Be aware, specific drugs can be affected by eating grapefruit. Check with your doctor if you are on any medications and would like to enjoy grapefruit.

At the end of the day there is no escaping it. We need to be more active, so here are 4 Ways to Sneak In Activity.  If activity is the key to boosting your metabolism, you can fit it in anywhere!

Inconvenience yourself:  Skip the conveniences like car washes, the drive-thru and valet parking and opt for a do-it-yourself-attitude.

Pack flats:  Keep a pair of flats or sneakers in your car or desk and get walking!

Walk and talk:  The next time you meet with your boss or catch up with a friend, why not suggest a walk together instead of a calorie laden lunch?

Small bursts of exercise: In addition to regular exercise, small bursts of exercise are easy to incorporate and the extra calories burned add up – on average of 300 more calories burned each day.  The extra burst will provided you with more energy and reduces stress built up through the day.

• Take the stairs
• Mow the lawn and rake the leaves
• Dance
• Go walk your dog
• Exercise between commercials
• Complete a set of wall push ups
•  10-20 squats before leaving the bathroom

Andropause: Male Menopause

~ by Lisa Weeks

The “change of life” not only applies to women; men go through their own version of menopause called “andropause”.

Now you may not see men fanning themselves and turning red during a hot flash, but this change of life does affect their stamina, drive and overall vitality.

Andropause typically occurs in men between 40 and 50 years of age, when testosterone levels decline to levels that result in fatigue, depression, lack of vitality, increased irritability, mood swings, sleep problems, hair loss, a decreased sex drive, night sweats, loss of muscle mass and/or problems in achieving or maintaining an erection. Testosterone levels can even start to decline in men at the age of 30 and drop continually over time. This occurs gradually so effects may not be as noticeable as in women, whose hormone levels drop more rapidly.

Testosterone is an elixir of life that helps to make men feel strong, young, and virile. It maintains bone integrity; preventing against osteoporosis and preserving muscle mass. Testosterone protects the heart and prevents cardiovascular disease. Obesity, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, some medications, a poor diet and stress can all interfere with the action of testosterone.  If you are overweight, your body can actually convert testosterone to estrogen! Not only does this make testosterone levels drop; when estrogen levels get really high, men may start to develop breasts (called gynecomastia).

What can you do to enhance testosterone levels?

Lose excess weight by following a healthy exercise and eating plan. Fat cells in our body actually produce estrogen, even in males! Don’t limit your fat intake completely, however – choose healthy sources of fat such as avocado, fish oil, and raw extra virgin olive oil instead of animal fats and trans-fats.

Avoid consuming large amounts of alcohol. Limit beer as it has been shown to have estrogenic effects, which mask the benefits of testosterone in the body.

Quit smoking and talk to your doctor about any possible side effects of your medications.

Eat organic fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and poultry. This will reduce your exposure to pesticides, antibiotics and hormones which can impair the action of testosterone.

Eat liver-supporting foods. Include eggs, onions, garlic, dark leafy greens, lemons and limes, artichokes and beets to help your body detoxify from harmful types of hormones.

Avoid using plastic food and beverage containers and eating canned foods (their lining is made of plastic) as these contain hormone-disrupting bisphenol A.

Go green with cleaners and body care products to avoid exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals in conventional cleaning products.

Exercise to maintain muscle mass and decrease fat mass so you can optimize testosterone levels.

Eat cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, rutabaga, and turnip as these help to reduce estrogen levels in males.

Relax and de-stress. Cortisol, the stress hormone, reduces the action of testosterone. Meditate, do yoga or deep breathing exercises to take it easy.

Eat zinc-rich foods to maximize testosterone levels. Include cremini mushrooms, spinach, sea vegetables, pumpkin seeds , chickpeas, oysters, crab, lobster, clams, salmon, turkey, and lamb.

Get your fiber in to reduce estrogen levels. Choose steel-cut oats, organic vegetables, brown rice and whole grains to keep you regular.

Your Naturopathic Doctor can determine your testosterone levels by doing a salivary hormone test. This will test for various hormones and will allow them to choose the most appropriate herbs and nutrients to support healthy hormone levels.

With a little help, you will be able to increase stamina, drive and overall vitality!

photo by Kyle May

Lisa Weeks, HBSc., ND, is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Toronto and Markham who unites her extensive scientific research background with Naturopathic therapies and philosophies to offer you a holistic approach to healing. She believes Naturopathic Medicine can benefit the whole family, from infants to seniors and focuses on women’s health, kid’s health, immune system support, pain management, digestive health, skin issues, sleep support, stress relief, energy support and more. For more information, visit her website and her Holistic United Profile 

Looking for a holistic provider? Search our directory to find a holistic practitioner in your area.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog!

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.

Conventional Vets – Holistic Disguise?

~ by Dr. Kim Bloomer

An article entitled Pet Owners Turning to Acupuncture for Their Furry Friends reminded me of how many veterinarians are offering “alternative” therapies such as acupuncture. In the US, only veterinarians are allowed to perform acupuncture as it is considered a form of  invasive surgery.

As the demand for alternative health drives mainstream medicine to offer alternatives to surgery and medication, it’s an important time to define what holistic healthcare is all about. The term holistic has been abused and misused to the point of being rendered utterly useless in describing REAL health care for us and our animals. Offering a few holistic services does not mean the clinic is run under holistic principles. It is merely conventional care with a little bit of so-called “holistic” care thrown in.

Holistic is defined as identifying with principles of holism in a system of therapeutics, especially one considered outside the mainstream of scientific medicine, as naturopathy or chiropractic, and usually involving nutritional measures.

The definition of naturopathy is 
a system or method of treating disease that employs no surgery or synthetic drugs but uses special diets, herbs, vitamins, and massage to assist the natural healing processes.

The word alternative means there is a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility.

NATUROPATHY encompasses the principles in a holistic health practice. The foundation of animal health and natural healthcare is centred on natural feeding practices. The two leading causes of health problems in our pets can be linked to over vaccination and feeding man-made, processed “pet” foods.

The veterinary care industry is now on a campaign to warn you of feeding your pets a natural diet, in particular dogs and cats, the diet they were designed as carnivores to eat: raw meat and bones. This industry is flooded with misperceptions of whole food diets. Vets are often “educated” on nutrition by pet food industry representatives. Which brings me back to the why of it all? Maybe the individual doctors don’t know the “why” but the industry itself does. More illness equals more income. Once your pet has been set up for disease via vaccines and processed junk food, then you’ll need to take them in for “healthcare” and “medicine”. When they are really sick you can either pay for specialty care OR you can get them to do some form of “alternative” care.

There is a HUGE gap here in understanding what “health” is versus “disease” management. Everyone should be entitled to choose – although if you are a natural health care practitioner the choices are often squashed or taken away because the agenda is not health, but often about money.

As for me and my house, we will promote and build health in my animals following the naturopathic principles laid down through God’s laws of health mandated in nature. If I need something such as acupuncture, I’ll seek it out from a true holistic veterinarian who doesn’t mix in all the allopathic stuff. And if I have a true emergency, then I will seek out conventional care to patch up the situation but aid the body’s innate healing process after the emergency is over and my pet has survived, using a naturopathic approach.

Photo by digital_image_fan

Kim Bloomer, C.V.N.D., N.D. is a certified animal naturopath as well as being certified in small animal nutrition, with years of experience in animal health. Having worked in veterinary medicine as a veterinary assistant for years, she later went on to earn her doctorate in animal naturopathy from Kingdom College Of Natural Health. Dr. Bloomer is Co-Founder of the American Council of Animal Naturopathy.

Dr. Bloomer’s articles have been featured in various publications such as Animal Wellness Magazine, Natural Horse Magazine, Pet Connection, and Dogs…Naturally! Magazine. She is the co-author of Whole Health for Happy Dogs, co-authored with holistic veterinarian, Dr. Jill Elliot. In addition Dr. Kim has authored the book,Animals Taught Me That – a collection of short stories about the animals who have graced her life and the important life lessons they have taught her.

Dr. Bloomer is the host and creator of Animal Talk Naturally Radio show which she hosts together with her like-minded colleague and friend, Dr. Jeannie Thomason. For more information on Dr. Bloomer, please see her Holistic United profile.

Begin Your Year With Clear Vision

~ by Cheryl Hiebert

Over the past few days I have been mentally reviewing this past year and wondering if I’ve accomplished anything. Have any of my dreams and goals been fulfilled?

As I reflected, it felt as though maybe I hadn’t accomplished much, so I decided to flip back 
to the beginning of my 2011 daytimer. My list of 
accomplishments was many. I could truly be happy with how hard I had worked, but the most important one was not completed. I had promised myself I would have a published book by the
 end of the year and I didn’t achieve it. I had made a deal with myself to set time aside every day to write. I had not followed Al
 Secunda’s 15-second principle of committing to 15 seconds each day to work on a goal.

Take some time and reflect for yourself… get out your old calendars and lists. How do you feel about what you achieved last year?

Now let me ask you this – how often do you sit and think about what you really want in life? What you REALLY want.

I’ve decided to get back to the basics and create a vision board that really works. We can dream and talk about things for years and years, but taking action is key to success. A vision board creates a tangible object for you to collect and focus your intentions on, adding more along the way. I have a huge one in my office that I add to all the time. I have pictures of someone doing Yoga, a runner, a couple in a canoe, a couple cycling together, food, quotes, words and phrases I love, gorgeous vistas and much more.

Here’s how to make a vision board for yourself:

Brainstorm: Make a list of all of the things you would like to see in your life – let it free flow without judgment or limitation. How you would like to look and feel, the activities you would like to consistently partake in your leisure time, vacation spots, your home, car, books, a romantic partner, poems, quotes and phrases that inspire you.

Write it down: Anything and everything that comes to mind should go down on paper as a potential intention.

Start Clipping: Put on some music, go and collect all of your magazines and
 catalogues, and begin to cut out everything related to that list. Don’t stop there – cut out anything that catches your eye; anything that intrigues you and inspires. It might be a sunset, a gorgeous colour, or a big fresh salad. The images don’t have to make sense, but you do want ones that make you happy and satisfy something deep inside of you. You will find ideas that you never thought
 of as you search through your magazines or browse on the web. Don’t limit yourself, this is the time to go outside of your comfort zone and dream BIG BIG BIG. The internet is a great place to find and print out images and quotes you might like to incorporate into the vision board.

Get Creative: Now that you have your huge pile of images, let’s build it. You will need a glue stick and a large piece of cardboard poster stock (2’x3’ for sure.) Arrange all of the images on the table beside the poster paper before you start gluing them on. Have fun and be creative as you mindfully place each item on your board. Now hang your vision board in a place where you can easily see it every day.

Here are 4 Visualization Techniques for you to experiment with:

• Take a few minutes each day and visualize everything you have on the vision board, or stand in front of it and take note of each aspect you have placed upon it. Allow yourself to see, feel, taste, touch and smell it in as much detail as you possibly can.
• Another visualization technique for you to try in the morning before you get out of bed – take a few moments to visualize clearly everything you want in your life; begin your day that way, with that frame of mind. This part is key to manifesting: visualize the goal as if it has already been achieved… notice how it feels to have it now. Take a moment and think of one thing you would like right now. Close your eyes and see it before you… that life you want, a new car… feel the feelings of being in that place… allow yourself to see it, feel it, taste it. The more sensations you can bring alive while you think and dream, the more powerful your manifestation process will be.
• One of the other things I did for myself last year was make up a binder filled with all of my favourite articles, quotes and items that motivate… that set me on fire! That keeps me on track. It is beside my bed and I review it almost every night.
• Try it! Make that commitment to yourself that only you can make. In one year from now you can look back proudly and say: I did it!

Cheryl Hiebert is a Personal Wellness Coach with a mind body spirit approach to wellness. Her goal is to help you feel empowered on your individual path and help you jump out of bed every day loving your life. To help you create a life where you feel happy, full of energy and first on your list. You are worth it!

To see how you can get more support from Cheryl, make sure to visit her website or her Holistic United profile.

Looking for a holistic provider? Search our directory to find a holistic practitioner in your area.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog!