Personal Care

What is Cholesterol and Why Does It Spike?

“Good” cholesterol is also known as HDL-C (HDL Cholesterol). HDL is a transport molecule that carries cholesterol from our body back to our liver. When higher amounts of cholesterol are brought back to the liver, the liver recognizes that our body has too much and in response, decreases its production. Higher HDL cholesterol has been associated with less cardiovascular events.

Adrenal Fatigue and Lectin Consumption

The deleterious effects of chronic dietary consumption of foods with high lectin contents is receiving a great deal of attention these days. Many common plant foods contain lectins which the plant employs as defense mechanisms. Gluten is a lectin. When humans consume such foods, the lectins in them deploy n the gut. The immediate mechanism of their action is to provoke an auto-immune reaction by way of molecular mimicry. Lectins (there are a great many) are functionally indistinguishable from proteins and bind to cell receptors causing havoc with hormone regulation. 

Easy Meals for Moms!

All you do is pick your milk and any additions like fruit, nuts, chia seeds, nut butters, coconut and voila, in the morning you have a ready to go breakfast. It can also double as a quick lunch or dinner when you’re pressed for time.

Life After Baby: The Mommy Diaries

Being a mother can be one of the most fulfilling jobs, but it can also be quite perilous on your health. No one truly prepares mothers for what is to come after your baby is born. Some mothers may struggle with breastmilk production, or not be consuming enough fluids, while other mothers may struggle with self-care. Below is a list of dos and don’ts for moms.   

Top 3 Ways to Optimize Fertility for Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that predominantly affects women during their childbearing years. Current statistics show that PCOS effects up to 10% of women in North America and is often undiagnosed.PCOS is diagnosed based on a combination of presenting symptoms, a hormone panel performed via a blood test and a transvaginal ultrasound to look at your ovaries. It is a condition that often isn’t diagnosed until a woman presents at her doctor struggling with fertility.

Why Am I Always So Bloated?

Bloating is a digestive complaint experienced by many people.

You may be bloated if you feel your pants are too tight after meals, your gut feels like there are tiny “explosions” occurring or if you experience an uncomfortable fullness after consuming a meal. Digestive concerns are very common these days and this is due to many factors including the North American diet, lack of movement, stress, and not prioritising time when it comes to preparing and eating meals. More often than not, people are eating on the go or eating out.

 

Top 5 Things to Look for in Your Healthcare Practitioner

Finding the right healthcare practitioner can be challenging. It is hard enough to find a medical doctor these days who is even accepting new patients! Aside from someone local, whose hours work with your schedule, and who you don’t have to wait two years to see, one of the most important things in your journey towards better health is to have a practitioner who you can trust and who supports you. Whether they are a medical doctor, specialist, naturopathic doctor, or another member of your healthcare team, I believe the following are the most important things to look for when finding yourself a healthcare practitioner.

1. Is open to collaboration
Most of the population these days doesn’t have just one healthcare provider. It’s so great to have multiple