Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of conditions when combined together increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  These conditions can include increased blood pressure, elevated insulin levels and excess body fat around the waist and/or abnormal cholesterol levels.

If more than one of these conditions occur in combination, your risk is even greater than usual of having a heart attack, stroke or developing diabetes.

The causes of metabolic syndrome are generally interwined with a less than healthy lifestyle including smoking, drinking, eating a diet high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, fat and lack of exercising.  Metabolic syndrome also becomes more common in women around peri-menopause, menopause and is also more common in people with a sedentary livestyle/ work environment.

Symptoms To Watch For!

The symptoms of metabolic syndrome that every person should watch for:


  *   Obesity, particularly around your waist (apple shape)
  *   Elevated blood pressure
  *   An elevated level of the blood fat called triglycerides and a low level of high-density lipoprotein
  *   Resistance to insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate the amount of sugar in your body

Having one component of metabolic syndrome means you're more likely to have others and the more components you have the more likely you are to suffer from a serious, life-shortening disease in the future.


Blood tests to detect the amount of fatty deposits in your blood and your resistance to insulin can be conducted at our Pinewood clinic on Duncan Mill Road in Toronto, this test will help determine whether or not you may have Metabolic Syndrome.

Treatment
Aggressive lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication can improve all of the different conditions that characterize this condition.
In general the person will be advised to be more physically active, lose weight and quit smoking. This can help reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol and reduce blood sugar levels.

Walking half an hour to an hour a day is initially recommended to help you lose five to ten percent of your body weight, reduce insulin levels, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes.

Smoking cigarettes increases insulin resistance and worsens the health consequences of metabolic syndrome. A naturopath can help you kick the cigarette habit.

If you have metabolic syndrome or any of the components of metabolic syndrome, you have the opportunity to make aggressive lifestyle changes. Making these changes can delay or derail the development of serious diseases that may result from metabolic syndrome. Our naturopaths and dieticians can recommend weight loss plans for reducing that apple belly as well as help you rethink your diet and lifestyle so you are less prone to developing diabetes or experiencing a cardiovascular related health crisis.

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.

Breast Implants And Auto-Immune Disorders

Have you had breast implants and now are experiencing symptoms of toxicity.  There have been concerns ofr years that silicone implants can  rupture and cause auto-immune disorders.  Silicone gel filled implants are no longer legal for plastic surgeons to place in a person’s body, but women still travel to countries where they are legal, sometimes with effects on the immune system.

These implants were replaced with saline filled implants but they have also been known to cause auto-immune disorders. They also cause hardening of the breast and other cosmetic problems that were also typical of silicone filled implants.

 Breast Implant Concerns

Saline Breast Implants On X-Ray

The classic concern with impamts  is that  the contentsmay rupture and cause autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and lupus erythematosus. Both diseases are fatal.

Appearance-wise some women experience capsular contracture, which is the shrinking of the scar tissue around the implant. This can cause painful hardening of the breast or a distortion  its appearance.

Another risk to implant surgery is the formation of calcium deposits in the tissue that surrounds the implants. This causes the breasts to become rock hard and there may be pain and infection as well.

Sometimes the implant can shift around. This can result in an implant with unnatural look. This is sometimes referred to as migrating breast implants. 

Loss of nipple sensation is also common, especially if the incision point for the implants was made around the nipple area.

An x-ray machine cannot read through implants. The plastic inserts interfere with mammography readings and therefore making it more difficult to detect breast cancer.

It is also not a good idea to get breast implants if you are planning on breastfeeding. Although the implants themselves do not interfere with the process the breasts are often compressed in a way that encourages less milk production.

Breast implant surgery also has many known risks that are commonly associated with any type of surgery including complications from general anesthesia, infection, hematomas, and skin tissue death resulting from the treatments.

Toxic Effects of Breast Plants

People who may have cause for concern about their implants may experience autoimmune-like disorders such as swelling of the joints, swollen glands, fatigue, headaches, muscle weakness, rash, nausea, vomiting, hair loss and swelling of the hands and feet.

If you have any of these problems, there are tests that can be done to detect levels of antibodies to silicone that presumably indicate a leaking or ruptured implant and there is nutritional support and a lifestyle protocol that can help with auto-immune disorders of all kinds.

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.

Detox 101

by Karen Gilman

Registered Holistic Nutritionist
www.nutrilicious.ca


Why detox?

The basic idea behind a ‘detox diet or cleanse' is that the modern world puts so much stress on our bodies that the natural detoxification mechanisms in place in our bodies cannot keep up the demands.  "Detoxing" refers to taking extra measures to ensure that your body rids itself of this ‘toxic load’.

What is a toxin?

"A toxin is a chemical or poison that is known to have harmful effects on the body. These toxins can come from food, water or the chemicals used to grow the food or even the air we breathe. Our bodies process these toxins through the liver and kidneys and eliminate them in the form of sweat, urine and poop."

A ‘toxic’ food is one that is processed or genetically modified and contains additives, refined sugar and flour, food dyes and artificial sweeteners.

The body itself produces toxins or waste through biochemical and cellular activities and eliminates them through everyday functions.  These toxic substances are called free radicals and an accumulation of them in the body is considered a common factor in disease.

What to avoid when detoxing:

Processed foods that contain additives or sugar that can interfere with metabolism and blood-sugar levels.

Common allergens like dairy, eggs, soy, shellfish and nuts.  Also avoid less common allergen foods like the nightshade family of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant as they may have an inflammatory effect on the body.

Gluten grains such as wheat, spelt, barley and rye may have an inflammatory effect on some people and should be eliminated for a few days. 

Caffeine, alcohol, drugs or over the counter medication that place additional stress on the liver.

For more information on which foods to choose to help your body detox consider a consultation with Karen Gilman at the Pinewood Natural Health Centre.

Dedicated to healthy eating for more than 25 years, Karen Gilman is passionate about helping others eat well and love what they eat. Karen graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2011 where she received a diploma in Natural Nutrition. Karen is also a certified food handler and a member of the Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals.

                     

You can make an appointment at the Pinewood Natural Health Centre with Karen Gilman by emailing

toronto@pinewoodhealth.ca 

or

Phone: (416) 656-8100