Nov 2011
Winter: cold and flu talk December 7th
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Winter: Cold and Flu on Wednesday, December 7th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
How to handle colds and flus. Learn how to address and prevent key winter health issues to keep you and your family healthy all year long.
Topics will include:
See my Appearances and Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
I will be giving a free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Winter: Cold and Flu on Wednesday, December 7th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
How to handle colds and flus. Learn how to address and prevent key winter health issues to keep you and your family healthy all year long.
Topics will include:
- Key nutrition and lifestyle steps
- Preventing cold and flu
- Acute treatment
- Self-care techniques
See my Appearances and Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
Comments
Guest post: The scoop on fish oils
25/Nov/11 05:27 PM Filed in: Guest post | Nutrition | Stress | Thyroid | Heart health | Immune | Depression | Arthritis | Diabetes
Guest post originally published by Negin Misaghi, ND
I’m not much into miracles especially where medicine is concerned. Fish oils however, are without question today’s miracle medicine! I should clarify however that fish oil is a miracle in the sense that it’s a very potent healer, and not a miracle as far as the definition of this word is concerned - with regards to it being supernatural or incomprehensible. Far from it! In fact, the mechanism of action of fish oils with regards to its therapeutic effects are very well understood.
Everything in our lifestyle from our standard diet to our hectic stress-filled day-to-day living, to our sedentary city life of drive-through’s and desk jobs, and machines of all functionalities has made us ‘inflammatory’ – in every sense of the word!
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, our inflammatory and stress-filled lifestyle causes damage to the liver. Once the liver has reached its capacity, damages begin to affect the heart and kidneys also. Chinese Medicine among many traditional medical beliefs (like Ayurveda and others) links each organ system to an emotion. The liver when pathological causes feelings of anger - hence, inflammation in every sense of the word! When damages reach the heart, depression and anxiety set in, and once the kidneys begin to take the grunt of the insult and are damaged, fears and insecurities begin to surface (just to show how entwined our body systems are where an imbalance of one system puts pressure on others and if chronic, can upset the harmony of the whole body).
This is where fish oils can have a great impact on the health of an individual both physically as well as mentally and emotionally. Fish oils have demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory properties for conditions that are inflammatory in nature (arthritis, heart disease, metabolic syndrome and insulin insensitivity (diabetes)). As well, fish oils have been found to be effective for the treatment of depression (recent research has linked depression to chronic inflammation).
Although fish oils benefit almost every health condition of today as most result from chronic inflammation, it should also be noted that if there’s still gas feeding the fire of inflammation (i.e. the root cause of inflammation has not been removed), fish oils would only be a band-aid solution. To learn more about how inflammation can be controlled at its root, seek the advice of a licensed naturopathic doctor. In the meantime, consider supplementation with fish oils to keep inflammation in check!
I should also mention that the EPA component of fish oil is responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties and NO vegetarian source of Omega 3’s contains EPA.
To be discussed in a later post: Why animal sources of omega 3′s are superior to vegetarian sources, why dietary sources of fish oils are not sufficient for some, and best(safe) fish to consume for their omega 3 content!
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is moving!
24/Nov/11 09:04 AM Filed in: My practice | News
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is moving!
As of December 1st, 2011, Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is relocating 1 block east on Queen Street East! We are thrilled to be moving in with Simple Cures Chinese Medicine Wellness at 2010 Queen Street East, 2nd floor between Bellefair Avenue and Wheeler Avenue (door is between David's Tea and Walking On A Cloud).
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic will continue to offer naturopathic medicine, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, clinical and personalized nutrition, lifestyle counselling, and Bowen therapy. For full information about the clinic, hours, and location, check out my page here.
As of December 1st, 2011, I will be available:
Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-6pm
Alternate Saturdays 10am-4pm
Appointments outside these hours are available by special request.
What is not changing?
Our phone number remains 416-690-6168
Our fax number remains 416-690-6589
Our website remains kewbeachnaturalhealth.com
My website remains wavelengthwellness.com and you can continue to access all my info here, including my blog.
The only changes are location and my availability! For my patients, nothing else will change - all you need to do is come to our new location and enjoy the beautiful, peaceful clinic environment!
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is moving!
As of December 1st, 2011, Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is relocating 1 block east on Queen Street East! We are thrilled to be moving in with Simple Cures Chinese Medicine Wellness at 2010 Queen Street East, 2nd floor between Bellefair Avenue and Wheeler Avenue (door is between David's Tea and Walking On A Cloud).
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic will continue to offer naturopathic medicine, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, clinical and personalized nutrition, lifestyle counselling, and Bowen therapy. For full information about the clinic, hours, and location, check out my page here.
As of December 1st, 2011, I will be available:
Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-6pm
Alternate Saturdays 10am-4pm
Appointments outside these hours are available by special request.
What is not changing?
Our phone number remains 416-690-6168
Our fax number remains 416-690-6589
Our website remains kewbeachnaturalhealth.com
My website remains wavelengthwellness.com and you can continue to access all my info here, including my blog.
The only changes are location and my availability! For my patients, nothing else will change - all you need to do is come to our new location and enjoy the beautiful, peaceful clinic environment!
Stop eating junk
20/Nov/11 12:13 PM Filed in: Nutrition
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I loved this recent blog at Crazy Sexy Life called Crap In. Crap Out. We all know we should eat healthy and right for us, so why do we keep eating junk? This blog address 5 “yes, but...” reasons! A few great quotes:
Took the words right out of my mouth! Enjoy!
I loved this recent blog at Crazy Sexy Life called Crap In. Crap Out. We all know we should eat healthy and right for us, so why do we keep eating junk? This blog address 5 “yes, but...” reasons! A few great quotes:
- “When you eat dead, processed, sugared, preserved crap, how could you possibly expect to feel good, lively, clear-headed and brave?”
- “You don’t know what real fun is until you’ve mastered yourself, learned to eat live foods and enjoy them, and sculpted for yourself the exact body you want.”
- “Learn to make yourself feel better with exercise, self-care, regular sleep and healthy, nourishing food.”
- “almost everyone would totally support your healthier eating if you honestly and seriously asked them to.”
Took the words right out of my mouth! Enjoy!
Great quote #33
18/Nov/11 11:27 AM Filed in: Quotes
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein
Reducing High Cholesterol talk November 16th
15/Nov/11 09:41 AM Filed in: My practice | Events
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving a free talk on Reducing High Cholesterol on November 16th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Beyond statins... Learn the what, why, and how of cholesterol and effective strategies to achieve healthy cholesterol balance.
Topics will include:
See my Appearances and Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
I will be giving a free talk on Reducing High Cholesterol on November 16th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Beyond statins... Learn the what, why, and how of cholesterol and effective strategies to achieve healthy cholesterol balance.
Topics will include:
- What is cholesterol?
- Where does it come from?
- Types of cholesterol and other fats
- Why elevated levels are detrimental
- How to monitor levels
- Treatment options
See my Appearances and Events page for more upcoming dates and topics!
Guest post: Kegel exercises for women
Guest post originally published by Crystal Chanderbhan, ND
A Guide to Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises, sometimes known as “Kegels” can be performed to improve your overall health. These exercises strengthen the muscles of your pelvic floor and can be performed for childbirth preparation, control involuntary loss of urine and improve your sex life.
Purpose
- Improve the tone of the perineal muscles and pelvic organ support
- Promote post-partum healing and comfort
- Prevent urinary incontinence or regain bladder control
How to perform Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Tightly contract muscles surrounding the vagina with an internal “pulling up”
- Release muscles and take notice of the relaxation
- Contact tightly again, hold, then release
If it is difficult to get the feeling of this exercise, try stopping and starting the flow of urine while urinating. Do not do this on an ongoing basis. Another way is to tighten your bottom as if trying to hold back gas.
Variation: “The Elevator”
This variation can be done to gain full control of the perineal floor muscles, in addition to increasing flexibility and develop awareness of tension/relaxation, which can be helpful for delivery. This exercise can be done in any position, however, lying down is typically easier.
How to perform “The Elevator”
Imagine you are riding in an elevator. As you ascend each floor, try to draw up the perineal muscles a little more until you reach complete tension. When you reach your limit, don’t let go:
- Now, descend, floor-by-floor, gradually relaxing the muscle. When you arrive at the ground floor (no tension), take the muscle group to the basement with a gentle blowing out breath through pursed lips. This should feel as if the perineum is bulging
- Complete the exercise by lifting up the muscle back to the ground floor level
- Repeat the entire exercise and remember to breathe normally as you tighten the pelvic floor muscles
Everywhere and anywhere! These exercises can be performed without anyone being aware of what you are doing. Here are some ideas:
- At red traffic lights
- While cooking
- During commercial breaks on TV
- During sexual intercourse
- While waiting at the grocery store
- While brushing your teeth
Initially, perform 5 in a row, holding each muscle contraction for 5 seconds, then releasing. The goal is to 50 contractions a day for the rest of your life.
Hints
- Perform the pelvic floor exercises as often as you can. The more you perform them, the faster you will feel and notice the results.
- Select an activity you do often as a reminder. During commercial breaks while watching TV is an easy way to attain a goal of 50 sets daily (i.e. 2 sets of 5 contractions done at each commercial break). Find a behavioural cue to use as a regular reminder.
Wylde About Health Expert
05/Nov/11 09:23 AM Filed in: My practice | Events
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I’m pleased to share that I am now a member of Wylde About Health Experts, answering any and all health-related questions on Wylde About Health, Bryce Wylde’s website. Bryce is one of Canada’s leading alternative health experts and hosts Wylde On Health on channel CP24 every Friday at 7pm.
We are all striving to answer as many questions as we can as quick as we can. Anyone can ask a question and you can also check out all the experts.
I’m pleased to share that I am now a member of Wylde About Health Experts, answering any and all health-related questions on Wylde About Health, Bryce Wylde’s website. Bryce is one of Canada’s leading alternative health experts and hosts Wylde On Health on channel CP24 every Friday at 7pm.
We are all striving to answer as many questions as we can as quick as we can. Anyone can ask a question and you can also check out all the experts.
Wylde on Health November 4th
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be on Wylde on Health with host Bryce Wylde this Friday, November 4th at 7pm on CP24!
The topic for Friday’s show is Breathing Easily Naturally. Topics will include:
Check it out on channel 24 or online here.
I will be on Wylde on Health with host Bryce Wylde this Friday, November 4th at 7pm on CP24!
The topic for Friday’s show is Breathing Easily Naturally. Topics will include:
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia
- Lung diseases such as emphysema
- Smoking cessation
- Natural treatments for respiratory health (including nutrition, self-care, acupuncture)
Check it out on channel 24 or online here.
