Sep 2011
Kukicha twig tea
30/Sep/11 11:11 AM Filed in: Asian medicine | Digestion
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Anyone who spends any time around me will see me drinking my signature, favourite tea, kukicha!
Kukicha is a Japanese tea - either a green tea blend of both leaves and twigs from the tea plan (Camellia sinensis) or a pure tea, made from just the twigs and stems. The twigs are steamed, then dried, aged, and gently roasted to create a rich, toasty, dark tea. This taste is unlike other teas made from the leaves of the plant and often appeals to those who aren’t usually tea fans or coffee drinkers for its darkness.
Kukicha is very low in caffeine and is particularly associated with the macrobiotic diet. It is alkalinizing and is very easy on digestion, which makes it a great choice for people who are sensitive to caffeine or with digestive troubles. Check out this page about home remedies from kukicha.
Anyone who spends any time around me will see me drinking my signature, favourite tea, kukicha!
Kukicha is very low in caffeine and is particularly associated with the macrobiotic diet. It is alkalinizing and is very easy on digestion, which makes it a great choice for people who are sensitive to caffeine or with digestive troubles. Check out this page about home remedies from kukicha.
Comments
Blood type diet primer, part 1
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
“One man’s food is another man’s poison.” This saying has never been more true! This is the first part of a two-part blog all about blood type and the Blood Type Diet - stay tuned for part two coming soon!
The Blood Type Diet was the major catalyst for me to become a naturopathic doctor, so I can say that it literally changed my life, both health-wise, but also career-wise. I first became aware of naturopathic medicine after reading Eat Right For Your Type, the best-known book by best-selling author Peter J. D’Adamo, ND. This was a major turning point for my health as the information in this book transformed me from a tired and cranky university student well on my way to being overweight (with chronic disease down the road) to an energetic and vibrant naturopathic doctor.
How it all began...
Have you ever wondered why the Atkins diet works for some people, while vegetarianism works for others? Dr. James D’Adamo noticed that some patients did well on vegetarian and low-fat diets while others did poorly. He began blood-typing his patients and a pattern began to emerge. Then, his son Dr. Peter D’Adamo researched his father’s theory while still a study at naturopathic college. He soon discovered a scientific basis for his father’s observations.
What is blood type?
There are four basic blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each individual carries two alleles (one from each parent) that together determine blood type. Types A and B are dominant, while type O is recessive. Therefore, type O people carry two identical O alleles, while type A and B people can either carry two identical alleles (either both A or both B) or one dominant allele (A or B) and one recessive allele (O). Type AB people carry two dominant alleles (one of each of A and B), creating the fourth blood type.
There is also another commonly used blood typing system based on Rhesus factor. In this system an individual is either Rhesus positive or negative. Rhesus positive is dominant and Rhesus negative is recessive.
These blood types determine antigens (substances that serve as identifiers and stimulate production of antibodies) on your cells. Blood typing is used in transfusion medicine to determine which blood is safe to give each individual. Blood type O negative, being recessive, is the “universal donor,” meaning this type can be given to anyone without causing an immune reaction (antibody production). Blood type AB positive, being dominant, is the “universal receiver,” meaning this type can be given any type of blood without experiencing an immune reaction.
What does blood type have to do with food?
Blood type goes far beyond your blood to impact disease and nutrition. Your blood type antigens are not just in your blood, they are everywhere in your body, particularly the surfaces that interact with your environment. These include your digestive tract all the way from your mouth to your large intestine as well as your nasal passages and lungs. Because these blood type antigens are everywhere, they influence on how your body interacts with the food you eat via several mechanisms:
Blood type also influences other processes in your body and how you get sick:
Why should I eat right for my type?
“Your blood type is the key that unlocks the door to the mysteries of health, disease, longevity, physical vitality, and emotional strength. Your blood type determines your susceptibility to illness, which foods you should eat, and how you should exercise. It is a factor in your energy levels, in the efficiency with which you ‘burn’ calories, in your emotional response to stress, and perhaps even your personality.” (from the introduction to Eat Right For Your Type)
You literally “are what you eat” since all your cells, proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters are constructed from what you put into your body. Therefore, what you eat is also your most powerful tool for preventing and healing illness. Eating right for your blood type is designed to optimize your digestive and immune health now to alleviate health issues as well as prevent future disease by protecting you against your unique susceptibilities. When you know your blood type, you are empowered to create an environment that is optimal for your type, including diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
A few of the major benefits to the Blood Type Diet:
The majority of people come to the Blood Type Diet hoping to lose weight. While this is indeed a major focus of this system, the greater goal is improved physiological function when an individual eats the foods that are the best fuel for his or her system. The natural result of this improved function is weight loss, but also improvement in other health concerns (such as digestive disturbance, allergies, hormonal imbalance, pain and inflammation, mood regulation) and prevention of chronic illness (such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes).
“One man’s food is another man’s poison.” This saying has never been more true! This is the first part of a two-part blog all about blood type and the Blood Type Diet - stay tuned for part two coming soon!
The Blood Type Diet was the major catalyst for me to become a naturopathic doctor, so I can say that it literally changed my life, both health-wise, but also career-wise. I first became aware of naturopathic medicine after reading Eat Right For Your Type, the best-known book by best-selling author Peter J. D’Adamo, ND. This was a major turning point for my health as the information in this book transformed me from a tired and cranky university student well on my way to being overweight (with chronic disease down the road) to an energetic and vibrant naturopathic doctor.
How it all began...
Have you ever wondered why the Atkins diet works for some people, while vegetarianism works for others? Dr. James D’Adamo noticed that some patients did well on vegetarian and low-fat diets while others did poorly. He began blood-typing his patients and a pattern began to emerge. Then, his son Dr. Peter D’Adamo researched his father’s theory while still a study at naturopathic college. He soon discovered a scientific basis for his father’s observations.
What is blood type?
There are four basic blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each individual carries two alleles (one from each parent) that together determine blood type. Types A and B are dominant, while type O is recessive. Therefore, type O people carry two identical O alleles, while type A and B people can either carry two identical alleles (either both A or both B) or one dominant allele (A or B) and one recessive allele (O). Type AB people carry two dominant alleles (one of each of A and B), creating the fourth blood type.
There is also another commonly used blood typing system based on Rhesus factor. In this system an individual is either Rhesus positive or negative. Rhesus positive is dominant and Rhesus negative is recessive.
These blood types determine antigens (substances that serve as identifiers and stimulate production of antibodies) on your cells. Blood typing is used in transfusion medicine to determine which blood is safe to give each individual. Blood type O negative, being recessive, is the “universal donor,” meaning this type can be given to anyone without causing an immune reaction (antibody production). Blood type AB positive, being dominant, is the “universal receiver,” meaning this type can be given any type of blood without experiencing an immune reaction.
What does blood type have to do with food?
Blood type goes far beyond your blood to impact disease and nutrition. Your blood type antigens are not just in your blood, they are everywhere in your body, particularly the surfaces that interact with your environment. These include your digestive tract all the way from your mouth to your large intestine as well as your nasal passages and lungs. Because these blood type antigens are everywhere, they influence on how your body interacts with the food you eat via several mechanisms:
- Lectins
- Protective barriers in your body, including lining of your gut
- Bacterial environment, including relevance to choice of probiotics
- Stomach acid production
- Intestinal alkaline phosphatase and processing of fats in your diet
- Secretion of digestive enzymes and other substances
Blood type also influences other processes in your body and how you get sick:
- Stress and response to exercise
- Blood clotting
- Disease risk (cancer, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid, reproductive disorders, etc)
- Susceptibility to infection by bacteria, viruses, yeast, etc
Why should I eat right for my type?
“Your blood type is the key that unlocks the door to the mysteries of health, disease, longevity, physical vitality, and emotional strength. Your blood type determines your susceptibility to illness, which foods you should eat, and how you should exercise. It is a factor in your energy levels, in the efficiency with which you ‘burn’ calories, in your emotional response to stress, and perhaps even your personality.” (from the introduction to Eat Right For Your Type)
You literally “are what you eat” since all your cells, proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters are constructed from what you put into your body. Therefore, what you eat is also your most powerful tool for preventing and healing illness. Eating right for your blood type is designed to optimize your digestive and immune health now to alleviate health issues as well as prevent future disease by protecting you against your unique susceptibilities. When you know your blood type, you are empowered to create an environment that is optimal for your type, including diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
A few of the major benefits to the Blood Type Diet:
- Improve immune function, avoiding common infections
- Lose weight by improving metabolism, increasing nutrient intake, and reducing toxic burden on your body
- Prevent chronic disease, such as cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes, etc
- Slow down the aging process by improving overall health
The majority of people come to the Blood Type Diet hoping to lose weight. While this is indeed a major focus of this system, the greater goal is improved physiological function when an individual eats the foods that are the best fuel for his or her system. The natural result of this improved function is weight loss, but also improvement in other health concerns (such as digestive disturbance, allergies, hormonal imbalance, pain and inflammation, mood regulation) and prevention of chronic illness (such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes).
Cold and flu prevention 2011/2012
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... Save time and money this winter by preventing cold and flu! Although there is lots of hype each year about cold and flu season, there’s no need to worry if you’re prepared. Wouldn’t you rather prevent colds, flu, sinus infections, sore throats, and bronchitis this year?
Cold and flu prevention plan
If you are an existing patient, book yourself for a 30-minute follow-up visit to get your personalized cold and flu prevention recommendations based on your specific needs. If you are a new patient, book an initial visit in which we will create a cold and flu prevention plan and get you started treating any other health concerns. We will work together to come up with a plan that fits your needs, whether you choose homeopathic flu prevention (see below) or other nutrition and lifestyle choices to keep you healthy all winter.
This is also a great opportunity to connect with natural medicine as a treatment option if you do get sick. Remember, I offer short-notice acute visits, so don’t hesitate to call the office - I can usually fit you in the same day or within a day or two for immediate treatment and to give you take-home recommendations to help you get better quicker.
Homeopathic flu prevention program
Once again, Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is running our ever-growing homeopathic flu prevention program! You can participate in the program at either of my clinic locations.
Participants historically have very few flu incidents over the winter, even though family members and co-workers may become ill. Flu symptoms may be much milder and of shorter duration than non-homeopathically protected people. Many participants no longer experience the flu at all!
How does it work?
The Homeopathic Flu Prevention Program is an ongoing research study conducted by Helena Ovens, ND. Your participation is voluntary and appreciated.
1. To participate you must currently be in good health and you must not have had a flu shot since April 15, 2011.
2. Fill out an intake form and call Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic or Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health to arrange at time to drop it off and pick up your remedy. You will be given a 6-month supply of homeopathic pellets, an instruction sheet, and a form to record any “flu-like” symptoms. There is a $5.00 administrative fee per adult (children are free) to cover the costs of materials and remedies.
3. Take 1 pellet of the remedy once per month on the same day to prevent the flu. If you have any “flu-like” symptoms, record them on the form.
4. Return your form by the end of April 2011 by fax, email, in-person, or by mail. It is very important that you return your form (whether you experienced “flu-like” symptoms or not) so that we can track the success of the program.
We look forward to helping you have a healthy, flu-free season!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... Save time and money this winter by preventing cold and flu! Although there is lots of hype each year about cold and flu season, there’s no need to worry if you’re prepared. Wouldn’t you rather prevent colds, flu, sinus infections, sore throats, and bronchitis this year?
Cold and flu prevention plan
If you are an existing patient, book yourself for a 30-minute follow-up visit to get your personalized cold and flu prevention recommendations based on your specific needs. If you are a new patient, book an initial visit in which we will create a cold and flu prevention plan and get you started treating any other health concerns. We will work together to come up with a plan that fits your needs, whether you choose homeopathic flu prevention (see below) or other nutrition and lifestyle choices to keep you healthy all winter.
This is also a great opportunity to connect with natural medicine as a treatment option if you do get sick. Remember, I offer short-notice acute visits, so don’t hesitate to call the office - I can usually fit you in the same day or within a day or two for immediate treatment and to give you take-home recommendations to help you get better quicker.
Homeopathic flu prevention program
Once again, Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is running our ever-growing homeopathic flu prevention program! You can participate in the program at either of my clinic locations.
Participants historically have very few flu incidents over the winter, even though family members and co-workers may become ill. Flu symptoms may be much milder and of shorter duration than non-homeopathically protected people. Many participants no longer experience the flu at all!
How does it work?
The Homeopathic Flu Prevention Program is an ongoing research study conducted by Helena Ovens, ND. Your participation is voluntary and appreciated.
1. To participate you must currently be in good health and you must not have had a flu shot since April 15, 2011.
2. Fill out an intake form and call Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic or Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health to arrange at time to drop it off and pick up your remedy. You will be given a 6-month supply of homeopathic pellets, an instruction sheet, and a form to record any “flu-like” symptoms. There is a $5.00 administrative fee per adult (children are free) to cover the costs of materials and remedies.
3. Take 1 pellet of the remedy once per month on the same day to prevent the flu. If you have any “flu-like” symptoms, record them on the form.
4. Return your form by the end of April 2011 by fax, email, in-person, or by mail. It is very important that you return your form (whether you experienced “flu-like” symptoms or not) so that we can track the success of the program.
We look forward to helping you have a healthy, flu-free season!
Fall: Allergies and Immunity talk September 21st
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving at free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies and Immunity on Wednesday, September 21st, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
Monthly talks have started up again! See my Appearances and Events page for upcoming dates and topics!
I will be giving at free talk as part of my 4 Seasons of Wellness program called Fall: Allergies and Immunity on Wednesday, September 21st, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
- Seasonal allergies
- Preparing for cold and flu season
- Lung health
Monthly talks have started up again! See my Appearances and Events page for upcoming dates and topics!
Got pain?
12/Sep/11 01:47 PM Filed in: Pain
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This post started as a blog about my current running program, but has morphed into my own story of aches and pains! I think this is a good place to start, stay tuned for more on running injury- and pain-free!
Pain is a major problem faced by all kinds of patients. Inevitably, if pain is on a patient’s list of concerns, it is at the top! That’s because living with chronic pain is consuming and impacts all other areas of health. Pain relief is therefore a major industry. With so many options, how do you know what to try? I have definitely not tried everything, but I thought that sharing my own experiences might be helpful.
My story
When I moved to Toronto in 2003, I started running. A few months in, I started to have knee pain, so I signed up for a Learn to Run clinic at the Running Room with the hopes of improving my form and eliminating pain. When I started the clinic, I suddenly had much more pain and had to pull-out until the winter. I saw a sports medicine doctor and physiotherapist at Athlete’s Care and was treated for iliotibial band syndrome and patellofemoral syndrome. With the help of exercises and stretches prescribed to me, I did my Learn to Run clinic at the start of 2004 and successfully completed a 5km race! However, I was hardly running effortlessly and pain free...
In 2006, I still had pain while running, so I saw a chiropractor and got orthotics, which helped me run with less pain. However, I still struggled and in the fall I started having hip pain that made walking, sitting, and running incredibly difficult! I saw another physiotherapist, Danny Kuzmich. In my first session, Danny adjusted my sacroilliac joint and eliminated my hip pain! Working with Danny got back to being able to run regularly. However, I was still limited in the distance I could run without pain.
After preceptoring with osteopath Robert Taylor and hearing about osteopath Carla Delange from him and several other people, I sought osteopathic treatment in 2008. After just one session, I was able to increase my running time without pain by 10 minutes! After the next session, I added another 10 minutes, and within a couple more sessions I was up to running for 60 minutes without pain! These results also LASTED which was encouraging to me. I can’t speak highly enough of osteopathy from my own experience and I’ve seen equally great results with patients I’ve referred for osteopathic treatment. I now see osteopath Ben Besse-Bergier and I highly recommend him.
Most recently, I have been implementing Chi Running in preparation for running the 10km Zoo Run on September 24, 2011. I’m going to write more about this in a separate blog post... And, next up on my reading list is The Mindbody Prescription by John Sarno.
What to do about pain?
Look inside your body
I cannot count the number of patients with pain that have seen remarkable results from naturopathic treatment! Nutrition, supplements, herbs, and homeopathy are all powerful resources to reduce and heal pain. Everything going on inside your body (digestion, inflammation, hormones, neurotransmitters, etc) affects how you feel! Naturopathic medicine is a fantastic choice whatever kind or source of pain you feel because it is deep, gentle, personalized, and addresses the CAUSE. Wouldn’t you love to eliminate and prevent pain naturally?
Look inside your mind
Have you been told “it’s all in your head”? Well, whoever told you that may have meant that you aren’t really feeling pain, which is incredibly UN-helpful when you ARE in pain! However, there is value in using your head to treat pain. Mind-body medicine isn’t just a trend, it is the key to truly holistic treatment. Did you know that mood disorders like depression and anxiety can actually cause you physical pain? That’s just one example of how your mind interacts with your body. Meditation, stress reduction, affirmations, and lots of other treatments exist to get your mind and your body working together to help you feel better. For some great reading, check out my reading list under Mind-Body.
Seek a second (and third, and fourth...) opinion
There are so many practitioners that can help you with pain, don’t be afraid to seek more opinions! Naturopathic doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can all offer you a different perspective. Empower yourself with information, it’s worth it!
Surgery is a last-resort option
Surgery is something you can’t undo and I see so many patients who have had surgery and regret it. Surgery is always there as an option, just make it your last option. Explore the full range of health care available to you first!
This post started as a blog about my current running program, but has morphed into my own story of aches and pains! I think this is a good place to start, stay tuned for more on running injury- and pain-free!
Pain is a major problem faced by all kinds of patients. Inevitably, if pain is on a patient’s list of concerns, it is at the top! That’s because living with chronic pain is consuming and impacts all other areas of health. Pain relief is therefore a major industry. With so many options, how do you know what to try? I have definitely not tried everything, but I thought that sharing my own experiences might be helpful.
My story
When I moved to Toronto in 2003, I started running. A few months in, I started to have knee pain, so I signed up for a Learn to Run clinic at the Running Room with the hopes of improving my form and eliminating pain. When I started the clinic, I suddenly had much more pain and had to pull-out until the winter. I saw a sports medicine doctor and physiotherapist at Athlete’s Care and was treated for iliotibial band syndrome and patellofemoral syndrome. With the help of exercises and stretches prescribed to me, I did my Learn to Run clinic at the start of 2004 and successfully completed a 5km race! However, I was hardly running effortlessly and pain free...
In 2006, I still had pain while running, so I saw a chiropractor and got orthotics, which helped me run with less pain. However, I still struggled and in the fall I started having hip pain that made walking, sitting, and running incredibly difficult! I saw another physiotherapist, Danny Kuzmich. In my first session, Danny adjusted my sacroilliac joint and eliminated my hip pain! Working with Danny got back to being able to run regularly. However, I was still limited in the distance I could run without pain.
After preceptoring with osteopath Robert Taylor and hearing about osteopath Carla Delange from him and several other people, I sought osteopathic treatment in 2008. After just one session, I was able to increase my running time without pain by 10 minutes! After the next session, I added another 10 minutes, and within a couple more sessions I was up to running for 60 minutes without pain! These results also LASTED which was encouraging to me. I can’t speak highly enough of osteopathy from my own experience and I’ve seen equally great results with patients I’ve referred for osteopathic treatment. I now see osteopath Ben Besse-Bergier and I highly recommend him.
Most recently, I have been implementing Chi Running in preparation for running the 10km Zoo Run on September 24, 2011. I’m going to write more about this in a separate blog post... And, next up on my reading list is The Mindbody Prescription by John Sarno.
What to do about pain?
Look inside your body
I cannot count the number of patients with pain that have seen remarkable results from naturopathic treatment! Nutrition, supplements, herbs, and homeopathy are all powerful resources to reduce and heal pain. Everything going on inside your body (digestion, inflammation, hormones, neurotransmitters, etc) affects how you feel! Naturopathic medicine is a fantastic choice whatever kind or source of pain you feel because it is deep, gentle, personalized, and addresses the CAUSE. Wouldn’t you love to eliminate and prevent pain naturally?
Look inside your mind
Have you been told “it’s all in your head”? Well, whoever told you that may have meant that you aren’t really feeling pain, which is incredibly UN-helpful when you ARE in pain! However, there is value in using your head to treat pain. Mind-body medicine isn’t just a trend, it is the key to truly holistic treatment. Did you know that mood disorders like depression and anxiety can actually cause you physical pain? That’s just one example of how your mind interacts with your body. Meditation, stress reduction, affirmations, and lots of other treatments exist to get your mind and your body working together to help you feel better. For some great reading, check out my reading list under Mind-Body.
Seek a second (and third, and fourth...) opinion
There are so many practitioners that can help you with pain, don’t be afraid to seek more opinions! Naturopathic doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can all offer you a different perspective. Empower yourself with information, it’s worth it!
Surgery is a last-resort option
Surgery is something you can’t undo and I see so many patients who have had surgery and regret it. Surgery is always there as an option, just make it your last option. Explore the full range of health care available to you first!
Great quote #31
01/Sep/11 02:13 PM Filed in: Quotes
“The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the one doing it.” Chinese Proverb
