Health advice For The Whole Family

  Dr. Sarah Connors HBSc, Naturopathic Doctor
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Do You Understand Your Cycle?

8/10/2017

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Most of the time, I generally enjoy being a woman. I think it’s amazing we have the ability to create new life, we can wear a dress or a pair of pants, and for the most part live our lives how we see fit. The one time of the month I don’t particularly enjoy being a woman though is my period. Granted, I’ve learned how to make my period much more manageable than it used to be in my teens. However, it still can cause me some discomfort and anguish, and does that and more for the women who come to see me in my office.

So many women believe that however our cycles/periods progress is how it is. There’s nothing much we can do about it besides taking painkillers and other medications and just waiting for it all to be over. I want you to do better than that. I want you to know you have options! If you’d rather control your cycle than let it control you, then this is what you want to understand.
 
First of all, most women don’t have a very good understanding of what exactly is going on in their body. We’ll go over that first, then speak to some of the natural options that can help improve your overall hormonal experience. Most women know the average cycle is 28 days, but there can be some normal variation in that, where your cycle is a little longer or shorter. This is only a ‘problem’ if it creates a problem. If your cycle is regular/consistent then whether it is 28, 30 or 25 days doesn’t matter too much.
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Review of the Stages

Your cycle goes three main stages:
 
The Follicular Phase:
  • This is generally days 1-14 (depending on when you ovulate)
  • The follicle that carries the egg is growing and getting ready for release
  • Estrogen levels are increasing
  • The uterine lining is preparing/starting to build in preparation for the possibility of an embryo to implant
Ovulation:
  • Day 13 or 14 usually
  • When the egg is released from the mature follicle
  • Corresponds with the LH (luteinizing hormone) surge and estrogen levels reaching a peak
  • This can in some mean correspond with mild discomfort or pain (often referred to as mittelschmerz) and possible some light mid cycle flow
Luteal Phase:
  • In the event that the egg is not fertilized then the egg begins to disintegrate indicating the beginning of the luteal phase (Days 15-28)
  • The follicle has transformed into the corpus luteum which will secrete progesterone until it also atrophies triggering menstruation, or a growing embryo signals the continued production of progesterone to maintain the uterine lining/pregnancy
If there isn’t a growing fetus to support, the uterine lining is preparing to shed and start the cycle over again

Obviously this is a very short overview of the cycle, but it highlights the main transition points and key items occurring at each time period. The reason for this, is I talk to women all the time who have very little understanding of what is happening when during their menstrual cycle. Unless you’ve begun researching the female reproductive cycle because you’re concerned about your fertility, most women fall in the category of knowing very little about what’s happening inside their own bodies. The more you know, the more you can understand what’s going on, and how you can address issues that come up surrounding your cycle.
 
Clearly I won’t be able to address every single issue in this post that can happen or ‘go wrong’ with the cycle, but I will make some suggestions about possible natural things you can do to help minimize problems from occurring. The following are just 3 recommendations I often make to my patients:
Avoid Excess Estrogen
Our world has become over run with estrogens from all manner of sources. The biggest issue being the exogenous estrogens, the ones that are produced outside of our bodies, xenoestrogens (artificial estrogen) in particular. Being mindful of our exposure sources can help minimize the estrogens we come into contact with. Certain plastics, cosmetics, and medications (particularly the pill) can all contribute to our overall estrogen load or overload.
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Eat Well/Organic
Eating a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables is almost always a good idea! The potential impact for your reproductive health is no exception for this sage old advice. Specific nutrients aside (eg. Omega 3s from nuts and seeds for balancing follicular phase), simply the presence of enough fiber helps to keep estrogen levels under control by binding up excess estrogen and ensuring it's excreted from the body.
Exercise
As with eating healthy, we know getting enough exercise has many benefits for our overall health. There are also specific benefits that exercise contributes to helping to maintain a healthy cycle. Aside from the obvious benefit of encouraging blood flow to the reproductive organs, women who exercise regularly usually have less issues with dysmenorrhea (painful cramping), fewer clots/problems with clotting, and often less mood irregularity.
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Natural Treatment Options:
Then of course there's also the additional therapies we can add to help correct the body's imbalances should it need that extra support.

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Herbs
There are many herbs in the world that’s main purpose is for women’s health! For example Black Cohosh is almost exclusively used for women’s reproductive issues. From helping with PMS, to starting labour to minimizing troublesome symptoms of menopause, Black Cohosh is an herb that can help throughout the entire reproductive cycle. Many of the herbs we use for reproductive health purposes are gentle with minimal to no side effects, but not all of them are. Therefore, it is always a good idea to use herbs under the supervision of someone who knows how to use them properly, such as a Naturopathic Doctor or herbalist.
Acupuncture
I use acupuncture in my practice a lot, and especially for reproductive health concerns. From an Asian Medicine perspective, a lot of hormonal and reproductive issues have to do with dysregulation of the Liver, Spleen and Kidneys. Acupuncture helps to correct the imbalance of Qi (energy) between these organ systems to re-establish health.
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Nutritional Supplements
To a certain extent I spoke to this previously when I mentioned eating a healthy diet. However, since our food is not as nutrient dense as it used to be sometimes we need to supply our body with additional support in the way of supplements. For example, sometimes being low in iron can cause a number of issues with your cycle such as menstrual cramping or irregularity. If you want to become pregnant in the near future, waiting to get your levels up through diet alone is often not enough. Therefore, supplementing with a good quality iron supplement can be necessary for a period of time.


I hope that you find this information helpful. If you have more questions about your own cycle, how you can regulate it better or any other women's health related concerns please get in touch with me through my clinic or email me through my contact me page. I am here to help!




Note: Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor today about getting assessed and treated if needed, and as always talk to your health care provider before beginning any new medication or supplement. This information is not meant to replace the advice/guidance of a medical professional, nor should it be acted upon by individuals unsupervised by the appropriate healthcare provider.
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Healthy Pregnancy Starts LONG Before You Think!

6/16/2017

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I work with a lot of women in my practice, and many of them are at or approaching the time in their lives when they would like to start having a family. As a result, they inevitably end up asking me about pregnancy and birth and when they should start ‘preparing’ for a healthy baby. Well, the simple answer to that is technically two answers: as soon as possible and you can always be working to be at your healthiest to become pregnant.
When Do We Start Focusing on Healthy Pregnancy?
 
Realistically, it’s never to early to start planning for a healthy pregnancy! This is true because a healthy pregnancy technically starts long before conception even happens. If we want to live our best lives, and give our kids the opportunity to live their best lives then regardless of pregnancy, you are always trying to be your best or your healthiest version of you! That being said, just because you ate chips and drank pop and stayed out until all hours of the night as a teenager and into your twenties doesn’t mean you’ve missed your window of opportunity to have a healthy baby. Just means the sooner you can start, the better and it’s never too late to improve your health.

Why Does this matter?
Half of all pregnancies in the US/Canada are not intended or planned. Therefore, if you’re always in a state of health it doesn’t matter as much when you become pregnant. Also, there’s the myriad of health conditions you can protect your unborn baby from by being healthy/healthier long before you become pregnant. You can actually help prevent illnesses like: allergies, eczema, asthma, depression, gut problems, autoimmune disease, heart disease and autism by being healthy before pregnancy. Remember, the choices that you make today, help to create the world our children will inherit tomorrow. If we make better choices now, we make our world better for them later.
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Are you Sexually Active? Take your Vitamins
If you are presently sexually active, I recommend taking some vitamins in preparation for pregnancy. If you are actively trying to become pregnant, then a good quality prenatal vitamin with methyfolate can be started in advance of a positive test or having sex with the intention of having a baby. Methylfolate is absorbed better than folate and helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. If you’re thinking you're still a ways away from trying to become pregnant, I still recommend having methylfolate, but you can get it on it’s own or as part of a B complex. Remember how I said about ½ of pregnancies aren’t planned? Take your vitamins. You can certainly take other nutrients, like Fish oil and Vitamin D3. Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor or other health care provider to help you put together a plan that addresses your individual needs. 

Avoid High Mercury Fish

Mercury and other heavy metals are a problem for all of us, but especially for a newly developing and growing human being. At present, children born into today’s world have about 300 chemicals in their system, identified from their umbilical cord blood. Mercury and other heavy metals can transfer to the baby in utero. We also know that mercury can cause neurological and hormonal issues. If you’re consuming seafood during pregnancy or even before, check to make sure that it’s clean as far as heavy metals. The Environmental Working Group website keeps a fairly up to date database of safe and unsafe fish.
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Clean up your Cosmetics
Did you know most women apply 10 products before leaving the house in the morning? We often forget that our skin is our largest organ. What goes on the skin, also goes in! Many of these toxins will stay in our body for long periods of time, months to years, and can then be passed onto your baby. Another good resource for checking your cosmetics and hygiene products is the Skin Deep database maintained by the Environmental Working Group.
Go Organic!
I know this is a tough and controversial one, but even switching over some of your foods to organic can have a big impact.  Minimizing our exposure to pesticides wherever possible is important because they can remain in your body and be passed onto your growing baby. Studies have also shown that kids exposed to pesticides have lower IQs. If you’re not ready or able to go completely organic, at least following the Clean 15 and Dirty 12 list can be helpful. Eliminating just these highly sprayed products from your diet can reduce your pesticide exposure by 70% or more.
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Aim for Your Optimal Weight
I know you’re thinking, “I’m just going to gain weight in pregnancy, why try to lose it now?”. Unfortunately, being significantly overweight increases the risk of certain complications such as gestational diabetes and cesearan section. Being overweight can also increase the risk of your baby developing health issues like eczema, asthma, allergies and obesity. Also, having the body you love now, can help you be your healthiest self physically, mentally and emotionally later on.
Chill Out! De-stress!
Stress affects pretty well every system in the body. In particular stress messes with hormones and creates fertility problems. At present, it’s estimated that 80% of all health issues stem from stress! Stress pregnancy can lead to depression, anxiety, and obesity in you and your baby. Do your best to make time for your favourite de-stressing activity on a regular basis so you do not become overwhelmed by stress.
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Fix Your Gut, Fixes Theirs Too!
Having a healthy gut or ‘microbiome’ means that your baby will too. A baby’s first exposure to healthy microbes is from their mother. Ideally from a natural birth where passing through the vaginal canal gives them good bacteria as well as breastfeeding. With a few exceptions, a person’s gut flora is mainly set by age 3. Therefore, giving babies a good start can literally set them up for a healthy gut for life.
Building a Healthy Gut
In order to establish a healthy gut, there are a few helpful things you can do. Avoid antibiotics, for yourself and your baby, unless absolutely necessary. Ensure you eat a whole foods diet with some fermented foods included. From time to time, take a good quality probiotic. The more research is done on the gut/microbiome, the more we realize we cannot get everything we need to grow and maintain a healthy gut from diet alone. Therefore, optimizing both diet and occasionally supplementing as needed is likely the best strategy.

To Supplement or Not to Supplement?

Ultimately this is going to be different for each person. There are a few that I generally look at/recommend to most of my patients at one time or another.
Supplements to consider for most people:
  • Vitamin D3
  • Magnesium
  • Probiotics
  • Fish oil
  • Multivitamin/Greens*
The reason for most of these is that it’s difficult or almost impossible for us to get enough for our optimal health from diet alone. There are very few naturally occurring dietary sources of Vitamin D3, and most of us don’t get enough of the right kinds of sunrays to produce our own Vitamin D. Recent studies have shown that most people are moderately to severely deficient in Magnesium. In North America we don’t eat much fish or sufficient plant sources of Omega 3s so again we are generally deficient in these essential fatty acids.  Probiotics I’ve already mentioned, and the multivitamin and/or greens I would say is the most optional because if you’re generally eating well and don’t have absorption issues then you’re likely doing ok with your nutrient intake. However, if you’re not eating well or are picky then a multi or greens supplement may be beneficial for you.
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Prenatal Vitamins
The ‘best’ of anything is not easy to define. The ‘best’ can change based on the criteria your using. Is it best for price? Best for quality? Best combination of the two? I am really not a fan of ‘which one is the best one?’, I almost always answer ‘it depends’. As far as the prenatal vitamin goes, there are a few things to look for in a good quality one:
  • Methylfolate
  • Iron
  • Methylcobalamin (Vitamin B 12)
  • As many active forms of vitamins as possible
Bare Bones of a Healthy Diet
I often get asked, ‘what is the best diet?’ I will still likely answer ‘it depends’, but there are some commonalities between the diet plans that are worthwhile. Generally speaking the typically incorporate 4 things:
  • Eat mostly vegetables and some fruit
  • Eat some protein
  • Eat some healthy fat
  • Don’t eat sugar, deep fried and highly processed foods
Beyond that, it’s really up to you and what your body needs to be it’s healthiest possible version.




Have questions about having a healthy pregnancy or how to improve your health overall? Please email me through the website ‘contact’ page or get in touch with me directly. 




Note: Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor today about getting assessed and treated if needed, and as always talk to your health care provider before beginning any new medication or supplement. This information is not meant to replace the advice/guidance of a medical professional, nor should it be acted upon by individuals unsupervised by the appropriate healthcare provider.

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Self Care for Mom: The Gift that Keeps on Giving!

5/27/2017

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In my practice I work with a lot of women, and many of them are Moms or will soon be Moms. Whether or not this is currently your situation, giving yourself the space and permission to care for yourself is important. There are so many women out there who are running themselves into the ground from exhaustion trying to be ‘superhuman’ or ‘super mom’. Is it any wonder that there are so many Canadians complaining of exhaustion, stress and burn out?

When women were surveyed about stress related to work these were the results:
Women were more likely than men to report work stress — 28 per cent said they had high-strain positions and 17 per cent said they had low-strain jobs, while 20 per cent of men reported high-strain jobs and 24 per cent said they had low-strain positions. (CBC News, 2007).
One-third of women surveyed said they were a bit or extremely stressed most days at work — versus 29 per cent of men (CBC News, 2007).
That’s not even including their potential sources of stress outside of work. Ask yourself or just try to imagine it: running a busy household with two or more kids, a husband/partner, and then your work demands on top of that. Is anyone else feel exhausted yet? I know I am and I don’t have a family of my own to care for yet! So why do so many women feel that they have to do it all? That nothing will get done if they don’t do it. That if they take a moment for themselves, they’re being selfish or self-indulgent.

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I am here to suggest another way of looking at self care for you super powered women. Instead of seeing it as ‘it’s all about me’ time, think of it as a necessary task that deserves time and space on your to-do list in order for you to better care for your family. Take a moment and think about that for a second. I know, it seems strange to think of ‘me time’ or self care time as caring for your loved ones, but it’s true. If you are completely exhausted, no energy, nothing left to give of yourself, what kind of ‘care’ could you possibly be providing for your family?
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I have these women come into my office with all manner of concerns: anxiety, depression, chronic stress, low energy, fatigue you name it. I can guarantee you all of them have been giving and giving of themselves with absolutely no effort or time being put aside for their own self healing and care. They’re giving everything they have to their various jobs: Mom, working woman, maid, cook, chaufeur, professional hugger, bedtime storyteller, the list goes on!

Then I ask them what’s the quality of that interaction? Do you have the time and space to be patient with your kids when they are attempting to drive you insane? What’s your relationship with your husband/partner like? If this at all describes you, you know what the answers are already. You lose your temper easily, when you don’t mean to. You love your kids, but you are at the point where you do what you do for them begrudgingly. What relationship with my husband? I’m lucky if I see him, forget spending anything that resembles quality time with him.
This is where I talk to them about self care. If you start to see this as a very necessary part of your day, your family will benefit from you taking care of yourself as much as you will. So in the spirit of Mother’s Day, even though it has already passed I challenge you to take a little you time. This doesn’t have to be anything monumental, it can be a bubble bath alone with a good book and glass of wine, or sleeping in while Dad or older siblings take care of everything downstairs for a little while. Whatever it is, do something you enjoy and rejuvenates you. You will not only feel so much better yourself, but your family will feel the difference in the present and giving mother you can be when you giving from a full cup instead of attempting to dredge up something from a long empty well.
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Have more questions about what Naturopathic Medicine can do for you and your family?
Take advantage of our 15 minute consults to find out more today.




References:
CBC News: Technology & Science. (2007). Work stress leads to increased absenteeism, disability: StatsCan. Retreived May 27, 2017: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/work-stress-leads-to-increased-absenteeism-disability-statscan-1.636782

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Probiotics and the Microbiome

4/14/2017

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There is so much more discussion about probiotics and the microbiome now than ever before. There is research about the benefits for infants, for mood, for digestion, for re-establishing a healthy gut after antibiotics, and so on.  Even though there’s plenty of evidence to show that probiotics or good bacteria are good for us, a lot of people still ask me ‘does taking probiotics actually make a difference?’ Obviously, my quick answer would be yes they generally do. However, perhaps it’s easier for you to decide for yourself, with a little more information.
The Gut:
Generally when we refer to the ‘gut’ as a collective we tend to think of our abdominal area only. However, the gastro-intestinal tract or GI tract actually begins in the mouth and ends at the exit point, the anus. For our purposes let’s focus on the small intestine and large intestine since that’s where the majority of probiotics have their most beneficial effects.
In the whole GI tract there are over 100 000 billion bacteria. Different species in different numbers populate the gut. This is why it is actually important to change your probiotic on occasion because there are so many different species to be supported. If there are so many bacteria present, how could a few billion make a difference? 
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Well that has to do with the composition and state of the small and large intestine.  There’s anywhere from about 10-100 billion microbes present in the small and large intestine. This helps us understand why giving a probiotic or eating fermented foods makes a difference, because there’s enough probiotics present in the average capsule to replenish and encourage growth of good bacteria. Also, the small intestine is approximate 20 ft long, so it houses about 95% of the bacteria that live in our intestines. The large intestine on the other hand is only 4 ft long, but because things are moving much slower through the large intestine the bacteria layer in the mucosa can be up to 200 cells thick, compared to 1 cell thick in the small intestine. This allows this shorter stretch of organ to still accommodate 10-100 billion microbes. 

Research:
As I mentioned before there are many studies that have been done and are currently being done on the effects of probiotics and the microbiome as a whole. If you did a simple google or pubmed search you would come up with 1000s of results. I can’t summarize all of them, but here are a few highlights:

INFANTS AND PROBIOTICS
Eczema, asthma and allergy have become much more of a problem over the past few decades than they ever were before. In the Swansea baby Allergy Prevention Trial they looked to see if intervening with probiotics at an early age could reduce the incidence of allergy, and atopic conditions by extension. The intervention was given to newborns for the first 6 months after birth. The outcome was a follows:
 
Placebo group: Almost 10% of infants had atopic eczema at 6 months; Approximately 13% of infants had atopic eczema at 2 years.
Probiotic group: Approximately 3% of infants had atopic eczema at 6 months; almost 6% of infants had atopic eczema at 2 years.
 
The overall reduction of infants with allergy was 57% at 2 years. Remember, they only received treatment for the first 6 months. This demonstrates that the positive benefit of intervention goes beyond the intervention period.

PROBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTICS
Most people are aware that we should take probiotics when we take an antibiotic. However, how much, when and for how long make a difference? One study, The Cambridge Clostridium difficile trial looked at the impact of probiotics to prevent/reduce C. difficile infection and associated diarrhea in patients receiving antibiotics. The outcome was as follows:
 
Antibiotic/Placebo group: When tested at Day 28 they still had overgrowth or dysbiosis present
Antibiotics followed by probiotic: They had a growth of bacteria up to Day 7, but then at Day 28 there was a significant decrease in bacterial overgrowth
Antibiotics with Probiotics: There was no overgrowth of bacteria at Day 7 or 28 because the probiotics were present throughout antibiotic treatment

This study demonstrates that by taking probiotics while receiving antibiotics you can decrease the chances of bacterial overgrowth occurring at all. However, it is still beneficial to intervene with probiotics later on as it will help to bring bacterial overgrowth under control. 
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Gut/Brain connection:
One of the newer areas of study that’s been getting a good deal of attention is the impact that a healthy gut can have on our mood. More and more studies are coming out showing a positive impact of probiotics and healing the gut on issues such as depression, and anxiety. This work is still early, but promising. Promising enough that some companies are actually beginning to make probiotic products specially geared at mood.
Choices: Making sense of what’s available on the market
As happens with most things in the market, as they get more popular there tends to be more people interested in developing a product for it. Over the last few years we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of probiotics available at the store. Knowing you have all these choices, how do you make the right choice for you? Well, there’s no short and easy answer to that. There are a number of factors you want to consider:
  • Do you have any gut problems (eg. IBS or Ulcerative Colitis)?
  • Are you experiencing symptoms such as gas, indigestion, eczema, etc.?
  • Do you have any current allergies or sensitivities?
  • Do you know how many strains are best for you?
  • Do you know which strains are best for you?
  • Do you know roughly how many billion you need?
 
Knowing these things makes it much easier for you to select an appropriate probiotic. If you don’t know the answer to these questions or aren’t sure, then you may want to speak to a Naturopathic Doctor or other healthcare professional. When I go through this process with my patients, we figure out which probiotic (if any) might be best for them so it’s much easier to find what they need when they go to purchase a product from the health food store.
 
 
Have questions about probiotics or how to improve your gut health overall? Please email me through the website ‘contact’ page or get in touch with me directly. 


Note: Talk to your Naturopathic Doctor today about getting assessed and treated if needed, and as always talk to your health care provider before beginning any new medication or supplement. This information is not meant to replace the advice/guidance of a medical professional, nor should it be acted upon by individuals unsupervised by the appropriate healthcare provider.




References:
Allen SJ et al 2014 Arch Dis Child
Plummer et al 2005, Int J Antimicrob Agents 26

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Dealing with Allergies Naturally

3/31/2017

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Finally Spring is here!

The weather is gradually getting warmer, birds are returning, and pretty soon the winter jackets can be put away for another year. The downside for some of us, with these seasonal changes comes allergies! Yes, all the fun you can have sneezing, congested, blurry eyed and unable to breath. However, what if you could do things differently and get them under control naturally?
The Stats
 
In the US:
·  Number of people in the U.S. who have either allergy or asthma symptoms: 1 in 5.
·  Percentage of the U.S. population that tests positive to one or more allergens: 55%.
 
Internationally:
The prevalence of asthma in different countries varies widely, but the disparity is narrowing due to rising prevalence in low and middle income countries and plateauing in high income countries.

Common Symptoms:
 
  • Postnasal drip
  • Sniffling
  • Dark circles under eyes (allergic shiners)
  • Puffiness beneath the eyes
  • Restlessness
  • Fatigue
  • Poor sleep
  • Headaches
  • Behavioural problems such as irritability, hyperactivity, poor concentration, whining, and pickiness about food
Why are they more common?
There is no one theory that currently accounts for the rise in allergies/sensitivities. Some of the proposed causes are as follows:
 
Hygiene Hypothesis: Many children do not get sufficient exposure to a wide variety of microbes, and as result of growing up in an extremely clean environment the body does not learn how to modulate the immune response effectively. There seems to be some credibility for this theory since the significant increase in individuals suffering from allergies has been in the western hemisphere, and we have not seen a corresponding increase in other parts of the globe at the same rate.

Inflammation/Leaky Gut: Chronic inflammation in the body and the gut lining is unable to heal and permits certain food particles to pass through and interact with the immune system. These particles are tagged as ‘non-self’ by the immune system, and it will react to the presence of these particles every time they are re-introduced to the system. Leading to a cycle of continuous inflammation and slow/no healing of the gut lining.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)/packaged foods: We have altered certain foods in our food supply so much that our bodies have difficulty recognizing it and breaking it down as ‘food’.  There is also a corresponding increase in exposure to preservatives and pesticides that are mixed in or put on these foods.
What Can We Do?
General recommendations:
  • Remove environmental irritants: Rid the home of common irritants such as dust, perfumes and scented products.
  • Improve immune response: There are many things that can be done to help optimize the immune system. Eating a balanced diet of whole foods, including sources of omega 3s and fermented foods for probiotics.
  • Promote rest and relaxation: learning to relax can help decrease tension, and getting to sleep at a reasonable and consistent hour each night can help promote better immune function.
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Dietary recommendations:
  • Identify Food sensitivities:  food allergens (eg. peanuts or diary), and chemicals, additives, or oils in processed foods can cause allergies to be worse
  • Foods rich in Vitamin A and Beta-carotene: the orange and yellow vegetables and fruits tend to be the richest sources
  • Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): Fish, flaxseeds, eggs, and evening primrose oil all contain EFAs which are essential to health of cells and decreasing allergic symptoms
Supplemental recommendations:
The following nutritional supplements can improve allergy problems in several ways: boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and enhance intestinal health.
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B complex
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Herbal recommendations:
  • Astragalus: immune system enhancing herb that is a tonic for the upper respiratory passages. Can be directly beneficial for those with a tendency towards atopic conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, commonly occurring in those with allergy problems.
  • Nettle: stimulates lymphatic function, decreasing swollen lymph nodes. In its freeze-dried form, nettle is used to stabilize the inflammatory substance histamine produced by our bodies, thus decreasing allergic response.
  • Elder: This herb has a flower rich in flavonoids, which are anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and immune-stimulating. This combination helps reduce allergic response and improve immune function.
Asian Medicine and Acupuncture
 
  • Chinese medicine considers an allergic reaction to be a manifestation of the body's failure to adjust to its environment.
  • According to the concept of the organs and their functions, weaknesses of the "Lung” or "Liver” could explain these allergic reactions.
  • By stimulating the energy of the "Lung" and by regulating the "Liver" the acupuncture treatment aims to calm the exaggerated response. This can be done both preventatively as well as acutely.
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Suffering from allergies can be a very irritating experience. If you or your child is suffering from allergies, it is best to take them to a Naturopathic Doctor who can perform a proper assessment and form a treatment plan that will address your/your child’s needs. Always speak to your health care provider before beginning any new medications or supplements.






References:
Allergy Statistics and Facts. WebMD. Reviewed by Johnson, K. (2012). http://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-statistics
Asthma Statistics. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/about-the-aaaai/newsroom/asthma-statistics.aspx
Romm, A. 2003. Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health. Celestial Arts.
Skowron, JM. 2009. Fundamentals of Naturopathic Pediatrics. CCNM Press. Print.

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    Sarah Connors

    I am a Naturopathic Doctor and Doula providing care in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. I have a passion for helping people with their health issues and improving the birth experience for Moms, and their babies. I also have a life long love affair with soccer, curling, and the alto saxophone.

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