Naturopathic and Nutritional Support for Bulemia

The naturopaths, nutritionists and therapists here at the Pinewod Natural Health Clinic are very sensitive to the health issues that may be caused by bulemia and the need for nutiritional support and other therapies to help ease psychological symptoms and also heal the damage from this disorder.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrolled binge eating often involving extremely large amounts of high calorie foods followed by induced vomiting or the use of laxatives to purge the body of the food eaten during the binge.The binge eating and purging is usually carried out in secret.  This is a serious medical and psychological problem with potentially dangerous complications that need to addresed

Symptoms  of Bulemia

The main symptoms of bulimia are eating and then throwing up food.The rest of the symptoms to do with the disorder largely psychological and have to do with issues of control.  Many obsessions rule this disorder including an obsession with weighing oneself and fantasizing about food. 

Bulemic behaviors also include refusing to eat, taking laxatives and smoking to cut the appetite.  Problems with drugs, weight loss supplements and alcohol also often come hand in hand with bulimia.

Most of the symptoms are behavioral and the consequences are hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, being overweight, bone loss, tissue swelling, boating, the cessation of menstruation, hair loss, swollen salivary glands, broken blood vessels in the face, anemia, mood swings, rotting teeth and eye problems.

The constant throwing up can also damage the esophagus and cause a hiatial hernia. Rotting teeth are also common with this disorder as the acidic stomach juices in the mouth cause the erosion of tooth enamel.

Causes of Bulemia

People with eating disorders such as bulimia have been found to have chemical brain imbalances that are similar to those found in individuals with clinical depression.

As researchers have become increasingly aware of the physiological elements of anorexia the psychological ones continue to beef great importance as well.

The psychological causes of bulimia include --

• Extreme emotions such as guilt, anger, hostility
• A feeling that one is always out of control
• A refusal to grow up and wanting to be cared for by others like a waif or an orphan and
• A distorted body image that always makes one see the self as overweight no matter how thin they get.

People who are victims of child abuse or who have physically or emotionally abusive family members or partners are more likely to develop bulimia.

Not being able to live up to their own expectations or others to be as beautiful as the thin women that are seen on television or in magazines is also a motivator for bulimic behavior.

What to Do About Bulemia

In almost all cases bulimia must be treated intravenous nutrient feedings of potassium and multivitamins

The individual also will need psychological and group counseling.  Ian intervention and treatment by a psychiatrist may also be necessary.   Biofeedback is a treatment we offer here at the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic of helping with this issue.

Antidepressants may be prescribed to deal with feelings of irritability, depression and anxiety that accompany this disorder.

Bulimia can lead to serious medical problems including ulcers, internal bleeding, hypoglycemia, a ruptured stomach, kidney damage, and erratic heartbeat, cessation of the menstrual cycle and a low pulse rate and blood pressure.  The worst consequence of bulimia is death as the body is progressively starved of calories.

For more information about how bulimia can be treated 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.

A Hearty Raw Meal of Portabello Mushrooms and Yams

Eating raw is all the rage and it is absolutely one of the best things you can do to reduce inflammation in your body, boost your immune system and give your entire system a real life.  However eating raw in the colder months just seems all that more difficult because when it is cooler out we what something a bit chewier with some bulk to it. 

Here are two recipes that paired together create quite a hearty meal.


Portobello Steaks With Mashed Cauliflower

Serves 4

Steak marinade:

Portobello Mushrooms

8 big organic Portobello mushrooms, stems removed

balsamic vinegar

1 small yellow organic onion

olive oil

cayenne

salt

Mash:

1 organic cauliflower head, just the florets

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 cup cashews, soaked

2 cloves garlic, minced

salt

pepper

fresh rosemary

Slice mushrooms and onion.  Mix ingredients for the steak marinade a bowl and marinate for two hours. Remove mushrooms and place on a big baking sheet. Dehydrated mushrooms n oven at 100 F for 2 hours.

Process food processor with all other ingredients until they are the consistency of mashed potatoes.   Serve side by side like steak and mashed potatoes.

Calories: 926   Fat: 63g Cholesterol: 0g Sodium: 37 mg Carb: 56g Dietary Fiber: 7g Sugars: 16g Protein: 100g.

Yam Noodles With Mushrooms

Serves 4

Toppings:

6 mushrooms

2 teaspoons sesame oil

3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Sauce:

3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

2 tablespoon of pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon miso

1 tablespoon organic chickpea hummus

2 peeled garlic cloves

3 tablespoons mustard

water

sesame seeds

I yam, peeled

Julienne the yam using a spirooli or slice on a mandolin into long thin noodles. Put on a plate.

Slice the mushrooms thin and marinate in oil and apple cider. Blend together all of the ingredients for the sauce until smooth.

Toss sauce and noodles together and serve.

Calories: 130 Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 0g Sodium: 6mg Carb: 17g Dietary Fiber: 13g Sugars: 14g Protein: 2g.

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.

Delicious Raw Pasta Recipes

Eating raw is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, but in the winter we find ourselves craving heavy carbs, especially pasta.  Here are some recipes for some vegan pastas where vegan carbs replace the starch of pasta noodles and that still have the mouth-feel and fullness factor of pastas made from grain. 

Remember too that eating raw means exactly that so you won't be boiling water, frying or broiling a thing to make any of these delicious raw pasta dishes.

Cinnamon Beet Pasta

Serves 4-6

10 cherry tomatoes

1 large red beet
5 red stems of Swiss chard, chopped
1 handful of cilantro
1 handful basil, shredded
Sprig of fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
6 large zucchinis

Cut zucchinis into pasta using a vegetable pasta-making machine called a spirolizeror a mandolin so that they resemble long noodles.  Place the zucchinis into a drainer to drain.

Blend the other ingredients until smooth. Put the pasta in the bowl and pour it over the pasta and serve.

Calories: 1284   Fat: 79g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 373 mg Carb: 26g Dietary Fiber: 7g Sugars: 22g Protein: 8g.


Mock Mac N' Cheese

Serves 4

Noodles:

Orange Cauliflower

3 organic zucchini, julienned into noodles

Sauce:

2-cup cashews

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/4 cup spring water

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/4 teaspoon shallots, finely minced

1/2 teaspoon apple cider or red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon cracked black paper

Preheat oven to 115 F. Julienne the zucchini into long strips so they resemble noodles.

Blend with the rest of the ingredients until creamy.  Toss with the noodles in a shallow dish.

Dry out the raw dish for 1 hour. It will still be raw but with less water in it which gives the dish its texture.

Calories 510   Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 18 mg  Carb: 357g  Dietary Fiber: 4g  Sugars: 9g  Protein: 8g.


Mushroom Walnut Pasta

Makes 4 servings

Sauce:

6 sundried tomatoes, plumped in water

5 black olives, chopped
2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
2 tablespoon pine nuts
1 tablespoon walnut oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
6 garlic cloves, chopped
several fresh basil leaves

dash of sea salt

Pasta:

1 medium zucchini, spiralized or julienned into thin noodles

8mushrooms, sliced

Walnut topping:

1/4 cup walnuts, soaked and dehydrated
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 garlic clove, minced
a pinch sea salt
fresh cracked ground black pepper

Combine sauce ingredients in a food processor.  Toss with mushrooms and zucchini.  Process walnuts, yeast, garlic and sea salt until you have a crumble.  Sprinkle over pasta and sauce and serve.

Calories: 974   Fat: 62g Cholesterol: 0g Sodium: 1192 mg Carb: 37g Dietary Fiber: 13g Sugars: 30g  Protein: 21g.

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 

Natural Ways of Treating Bronchitis

Winter is definitely bronchitis season and many people find themselves succumbing to a bad cough all season long. However, there are ways of treating this type of chronic cough without the condition becoming so alarming that you need to huff on a Bronchodilator all day or take Corticosteroids.  

Studies have also shown that antibiotics are not an effective treatment for chronic bronchitis which is the kind of ailment that seems to stick around all winter and spring for some people.

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is the inflammation or obstruction of the bronchi, the medium sized breathing tubes that lead to the lungs. 

Bronchitis can either be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infection, which can be bacterial, viral Chlamydia, mycoplasmal or caused by a combination of agents.  It typically follows an upper respiratory infection.

Chronic bronchitis is not necessarily caused by infection and is generally part of a syndrome called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically as a persistent cough that produces sputum (phlegm), for at least three months in two consecutive years.

In both acute and chronic bronchitis there can be a build up of mucus plus coughing, fever, pain in the chest or back, fatigue, sore throat and a case of the chills. 

The cough may be expectorating, in other words – mucus is coughed up. The cough can be wet or dry and wheezing may be present.

Causes of Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infection, which can be bacterial, viral Chlamydia, mycoplasmal or caused by a combination of agents.  It typically follows upper respiratory infections.

Chronic bronchitis results from chronic irritation of the lungs such as exposure to cigarette smoke or other noxious fumes. Allergies may also cause chronic bronchitis.

Environmental factors may also play a role. People who live or work in unhealthy environments or who are exposed to too much dampness, cold or dust are more vulnerable to bronchitis than most.

Self Care is Crucial

If it has a viral cause then treating it with antibiotics may make it worse.

Resting in bed during the early stages when fever is present is highly recommended. You should also drink plenty of fluids including water, herbal teas and soups.

Adding moisture to the air by using a humidifier, vaporizer or a pan of water may help. Applying a hot water bottle on the chest and back may also help aid in sleeping and reduce inflammation.

A common treatment for chronic bronchitis is a bronchodilator, which helps to temporarily open constricted bronchii (bronchial tubes.) Short-term acting bronchodialator medications relieve acute attacks of coughing and wheezing. Long-term acting bronchodialotor medications contain steroidal compounds that help relieve chronic conditions.

Above all stay away from smoke and second hand smok!

Taking Care of Your Lungs 

Most cases of acute bronchitis are self-limiting with full recovery in a matter of weeks. Most cases are resolved in twenty to thirty days.  In some cases however the condition can lead to pneumonia. This is more likely to occur in people who also have a chronic respiratory disease.

Over time chronic bronchitis causes the heart and lungs to work harder which can lead to conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, enlargement of the heart and ultimately heart failure. Chronic bronchitis might also cause chronic asthma to develop as well.

Our naturopaths at the Pinewood Natural Health Centre can recommend herbs, natural expectorants, homeopathy, massage, nutritional support and acupuncture that can help  a great deal with this often hard-to-beat condition.