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Thursday, May 21, 2015

How Your Feelings Fuel Food Addiction




There are all sorts of emotions that can affect our wellness and this includes worry, fear, anger, grief, sadness and guilt.  Feeling that you are not accepted, a personal failure or that you are being overwhelmed by large financial burdens. 

The bottom line is that who we are is always in a delicate balance between chemistry and energy and when any type of energy, even if it is just emotional, becomes blocked and we become addicted to emotional eating.

What is Emotional Eating?
Emotional eating refers to people who eat because of the way they feel rather than when they are
hungry. Many people who overeat do so because they become obsessed with overeating a certain type of food. They associated gorging on this food with nurturing oneself. Yet others eat of anger or in defiance of someone who wants them to go on a diet. Some overeating behaviours are almost vengeful; the person is “biting back” at a world that they feel is swallowing them whole. 

Stuffing Your Anger
Many people overeat because they are “stuffing your anger.”  When we are infuriated we want to fill our mouths with something warm, salty and chewy.  This relates to the primal drive in us that evolutionary biologists say goes way back to our caveman days where we associated eating raw fresh kill with comfort. It is a very primal hard-wired urge that can help soothe us when we feel deprived. Many studies have shown that people who go on diets that are too strict do not tend to stick to themIn essence, you are an emotional eater if you find yourself using the eating of food (usually too much food or fatty, sweet and salty foods) to cope with the usual stresses of life. Many people eat every time they experience a rush in adrenalin.  They will give themselves the permission to break their diet because they associate the concept of celebrating with food with achievement.  This means that even extremely happy moments can lead a person to stray from their diet.Despite the fact that there are other ways of producing these feel good chemicals in our brains such as exercising, getting out to see friends and indulging in hobbies we like, many of us still become addicted to food.  Eating fatty, salty and sweet foods are there surest ways to change our brain chemical composition so that we feel  good” However the “high” does not last long and like an addict, we eat some more to get another hit of escapism through being a foodie.


By the way, meditation and exercise can go along way towards satiating the dissatisfaction that seems to come with going on a vegan diet at first.  .So if you can, it is best to try and deal with your emotional eating disorders and issues in other ways and consult with a dietician or naturopaathic doctor who can help you with this issue, which if left unchecked can lead to all kinds of health problems.
For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.









Monday, May 18, 2015

Naturopathy, Diet and Low Blood Pressure


Low blood pressure is also known as hypotension and the good news is that it can be treated with diet changes, medication, homeopathy and other measures. Taking the naturopathic, holistic route towards prevention and treatment of this condition can be very helpful if you are feeling fatigued every day.

It is key to understand what your blood pressure reading is. Your blood pressure reading consists of two numbers. The first number in a blood pressure reading, this is the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood through your arteries to the rest of your body.  The second number refers to the amount of pressure when your heart is at rest between beats. Usually they're written one above or before the other, such as 120/80. If your blood pressure reading is 90/60 or lower, you have low blood pressure.

Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure


Most people with low blood pressure have absolutely no symptoms.  Some people feel dizzy if they stand up quickly or lie down quickly.  Fainting, inability to concentrate, blurred vision, cold clammy skin, rapid shallow breathing and fatigue could be caused by low blood pressure. Severely low blood pressure can deprive the brain and organs of oxygen and cause severe shock.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure



People who exercise regularly tend to have lower blood pressure than do people who aren't as fit. So, in general, do nonsmokers and people who eat well and maintain a normal weight.

Low blood pressure is common in pregnant individual. As a woman’s circulatory system expands rapidly during pregnancy, blood pressure is likely to drop. During the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, systolic pressure commonly drops by five to 10 points and diastolic pressure by as much as 10 to 15 points.

Many medications can cause low blood pressure, including diuretics (and other drugs that treat high blood pressure. Heart medications such as beta-blockers, drugs for Parkinson's disease, tricyclic antidepressants, Viagra narcotics and alcohol can also cause severely low blood pressure.

Some kinds of heart conditions can cause low blood pressure including heart valve problems and a condition that slows down the heartbeat called bradycardia. These conditions may cause low blood pressure because they prevent your body from being able to circulate enough blood. 

Disorders of the endocrine glands, including an underactive or overactive thyroid can also cause low blood pressure as can Addison’s disease low blood sugar and diabetes. All of these conditions can be treated with hormone replacement therapy and changes ind diet.

Dehydration caused by fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can cause low blood pressure.  This is because dehydration reduces the volume of blood in the body.

A lack of the vitamins B-12 and folate can cause anemia, which in turn can lead to low blood pressure.  Sometimes vegans and vegetarians have this condition as a result of not eating enough meat and a dietician or ND here at Pinewood might recommend vitamin shots or supplements for you.

As people age they may experience low blood pressure after eating. This is caused by a large amount of blood flowing into the digestive tract.

Care and Treatment of Low Blood Pressure


Doctors usually try to address the primary health problem — dehydration, heart failure, diabetes or hypothyroidism, for example — rather than low blood pressure itself. When low blood pressure is caused by medications, treatment usually involves changing the dose of the medication or stopping it entirely.

If it's not clear what's causing low blood pressure or no effective treatment exists, the goal is to raise your blood pressure and reduce signs and symptoms. 

One way to raise your blood pressure is to add more salt to your diet but make sure that you are consuming the right type of salt. This is where consultation with a dietician or naturopath is important.

If your low blood pressure is caused by low blood volume then you need to drink more water.Low blood pressure  can managed with minor changes in diet – such as  adding salt to your food.

To book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.


Thursday, May 14, 2015


NOW IS THE TIME TO ADD MORE RAW FOODS

No, raw food does not mean eating sushi. Raw food is plant or animal food that has not been heated above 115 degrees fahrenheit.  Raw foodists believe that when heated above this temperature, the enzymes in the food are destroyed or denatured, and cannot provide the same nutritive value. So, eating food in its natural state allows the body to derive more nutritional benefit from it. Live enzymes and vitamins offer the best nutrition.  Adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet is one way to eat more raw food.  Now that summer is around the corner it is the best time of year to eat more local fresh fruits and vegetables.

Here are a few tips on how to add more raw food to your diet:

  •  When you are hungry, snack on raw, unsalted almonds.  They will provide protein, healthy fats and fiber and help balance blood sugar levels.
  •  Don't be afraid to eat healthy fats such as those found in avocados or nuts and seeds.  These fats leave you feeling nourished and can actually help you lose weight when consumed in moderation.
  •  When craving sweets, try eating a few dates.  This may curb your craving and set you on your way to eating less processed sugars.
  •  Snack on fresh fruit throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels balanced.
  •  Freeze organic berries in season so you can quickly and easily make a smoothie.
  •  As you get more comfortable with making fruit smoothies start adding green vegetables to increase the nutritional value.
To learn more about raw foods join me on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 for a Raw Dessert Workshop.  We'll discuss how easy it is to add more raw foods to your diet, especially dessert. Healthy, no sugar, no flour, but decadent! Cost is $50 per person. Bring a friend and save $5. Email karen@nutrilicious.ca to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Simple Ways to Get More Exercise Into Your Life, Lose Weight and Just Feel Better!

Regular exercise is good for your overall health and it also benefit your immune system. You improve your energy levels and your muscle strength and this in turn causes improvements to take place throughout your entire physicality.

 It does not take a lot of exercise to produce positive changes in your body. For example, it only takes 30 minutes of reasonably brisk walking 3 or 4 times a week to strengthen your heart, lungs and all of the major muscle groups. At the same time, exercise helps to optimize your digestive system, meaning that less harmful toxins and bacteria will lodge in your gut as the process of peristalsis (passing the food and then waste materials through your system) gradually becomes more efficient. 

People who walk suffer from much less constipation and are less reliant on laxative drugs which have a way of making your body dependent, sick and acidic

Ways to Fit a Bit More Exercise Into Your Schedule

Even if you don’t have 30 minutes available four times a week to go for a brisk walk, there are plenty of different ways you can find the time in any average day for enough exercise for your immune system to benefit. For example, you can take the stairs whenever possible instead of using an elevator or even an escalator. 

In order to exercise your whole body at the same time, it is generally agreed that one of the most beneficial forms of exercise is swimming. The advantage over this compared to running or even climbing the stairs, swimming places no additional stress on your joints and muscles, as there is no harsh impact on your knees or the balls of your feet. Joint pain or arthritic pain is no excuse as there is always swimming to help you get the exercise you need without hurting your joints.

Cycling is another good low impact exercise alternative that nevertheless brings significant benefits, so you might for example consider cycling to work every so often rather than taking the bus, train or the car. This is an intensely aerobic activity that also helps facilitate the intake of oxygen, which in turn feeds the skin and calms the immune system. The thing to understand about your immune system is that while your gastrointestinal tract is the ‘core’ of it, every other part of your body is also intrinsically involved in protecting you against infection and disease. 

Exercise is As Crucial As Diet

A healthy lifestyle is not just about what you eat it is about you do and exercising every day is crucial as is taking care of ourselves emotionally and not letting our stress levels get out of hand.  Walking, especially, has been known for centuries to be a great stress reducer. It is also the ideal time to meditate, particularly if you are taking a stroll through nature.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at (416)-656- 8100. We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.