Weight Loss

5 Ways to Increase Metabolism

by

Girl - Weight LossMany individuals are looking to different weight – loss techniques to help get ready for bikini season – this includes searching for different ways to increase your metabolism. Increasing metabolism can help with more than just weight loss – it can also help if an individual ate a trigger food and is experiencing uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, gas, indigestion, or constipation. In regards to weight – loss, increasing metabolism can be useful for kick-starting your weight loss journey or for surpassing a plateau. As always, please consult with a health care professional before trying any of the below recommendations. If you are interested in losing weight please consult a health care provider such as myself to get the necessary support you need. Weight loss that is achieved too quickly can result in an individual gaining weight beyond where they initially started. If this is you, consider emailing me or calling the clinic to book your complimentary 15 min meet-and-greet session to talk about your goals.

  1. Hot water with lemon first thing in the morning – before having anything in the morning, have a hot water with lemon in it. The bitterness of this drink helps to stimulate the liver and kick start metabolism in a gentle manner, without the negative effects on blood sugar that coffee may have.
  2. Exercise in general – e.g. going for a 20 minute walk, jogging, etc. More specifically, weight or resistance training can be quite beneficial for increasing metabolism if you are exercising on a regular basis, but have plateaued with your weight. Any form of alteration to your regular routine with exercise; whether it is increasing a weight, switching to cardio from weight training, switching to weight training from cardio, etc; can result in increased metabolism.
  3. More frequent, smaller meals – having six smaller meals per day can be beneficial in increasing metabolism by keeping metabolism “active” for longer (when we eat, metabolism increases). Studies have also shown that being a “nibbler” versus “meal eating” may decrease risk of thyroid conditions, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.
  4. Green tea – green tea can be beneficial for increasing metabolism that are not solely based on its caffeine content alone. Green tea consumption can results in such effects as increased fat oxidation and thermogenesis, both resulting in increased metabolism. The unfortunate drawback to green tea is that one would need to drink 5-6 cups of it per day to attain the metabolic effects from it.
  5. Intermittent fasting – intermittent fasting is not for everyone, but it can be beneficial in giving the gut time to heal and process contents, while boosting metabolism.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

References

https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Pg36CZA_Hv8C&oi=fnd&pg=PT1&dq=%22hot+water+and+lemon%22+AND+metabolism&ots=8_FtyFnLaL&sig=aCHECbmvxiNGzgMc87LJXWa6oZM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22hot%20water%20and%20lemon%22%20AND%20metabolism&f=false

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026049596900505

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/8/5/682.short

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2007.10719626

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/6/1040.long/-

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S225548231370451X

What is Hydrotherapy?

by

What is Hydrotherapy?Head shower while running water

Water can be a very powerful tool for healing that is often underestimated. As Naturopathic Doctors, we use water therapy, called hydrotherapy, which involves applying different methods of water to the body to promote healing. This might involve alternating hot and cold water applications to an area, or even using a sauna to nourish our bodies. Hydrotherapy has an added benefit of being inexpensive, because most of the time it is just a matter of applying water to an area. Though it is just water, some of the treatments may not be good for certain patient populations based on its effect and pre-existing medical conditions. Therefore, it is best to consult with your Naturopathic Doctor before trying any hydrotherapy treatments on your own.

What does it cause in the body?

Overall, various hydrotherapy treatments can be used to cause the following effects in the body:

  • Reduce pain
  • Increase circulation
  • Promote detoxification
  • Promote healing of organs/tissues
  • Stimulate brain function
  • Relieve fatigue
  • Boost Immune system functioning
  • Promote digestion
  • Increase metabolism
  • Relieve congestion
  • Relieve coughs
  • Promotes relaxation

What are the different conditions it can help with?

Hydrotherapy can be used to help many different conditions including:

  • Digestive concerns such as constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, fatty liver, colic, tenesmus, etc.
  • Menstrual concerns such as irregular cycles, premenstrual tension, cramping (dysmenorrhea), etc.
  • Musculoskeletal concerns such as joint pain, muscle pain, muscle tears, ligament instability, etc.
  • Respiratory concerns such as the effects of allergies, congestion, coughs, frequent colds and flues, compromised immune systems etc.
  • Many other concerns such as weight loss goals, fatigue, detoxification and improving overall health.

For more information on hydrotherapy or the services I provide, consider calling the clinic at 519-537-7058, or message me via the contact portion of this website.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

 

Almond Sauce Recipe

by

Almond SauceAlmond Sauce

Almond sauce is a variation of your traditional “Peanut Sauce”, which is best paired with fresh spring rolls and stir fry. The sauce is great for those who are on the elimination diet or those who just want to spice things up in the kitchen!

Ingredients:

  • ¼ tsp coriander
  • ½ cup almond butter
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 3 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic – minced
  • 3 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp honey

Yield: 1 ¼ cups

Directions:

  1. Combine almond butter, coconut milk, sesame oil, lemon juice, honey, coriander and garlic in a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix or blend until smooth consistency.
  3. Chill for 15-30 minutes and serve.

Acupuncture Clinic – March 1, 2017

by

acupunctureOn March 1, 2017, I am inviting any patients of mine who are interested in receiving acupuncture for a reduced rate to join me at the clinic for a “Acupuncture Clinic”! The only change is that the acupuncture will be in a group setting. You will not have any body part exposed that you do not feel comfortable with, but we do ask that you wear comfortable clothes that allow access to the shoulders and knees (in the event that the needles are put in these spots).

The acupuncture points that will be chosen for you will be based on either your previous treatment plan, or your Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM) diagnosis (based n the tongue and pulse).

If you have not had acupuncture before, are a patient of mine, and are wanting to try acupuncture, this a great opportunity to try it for a reduced price.  The price for the session is $25 (compared to $45), and allows the opportunity to make your health benefits for naturopathic or acupuncture coverage go a bit further this year.

When and Where:

March 1, 2017 from 5pm-7pm

Meyers Chiropractic and Health Specialists

338 Dundas St Suite 101

Woodstock ON

N4S 1B4

How to Prepare: 

Call 519-537-7058 to book your spot

Wear comfortable clothes that allow access to the shoulders and knees

Bring your headphones and music

Please note that this is on a first -come first -serve basis and is only open to patient’s of Dr. Elisha Cook ND. If you are not already a patient of Dr. Elisha Cook ND and would like to take part in this event, there is still time to become a patient. Book your initial appointment before March 1, 2017! For more information please call the clinic at 519-537-7058 or contact me personally.

We reserve the right to deny acupuncture treatment in the event that Dr. Cook determines that based on your medical history, that this treatment is not appropriate for you.