Weight Loss

How to keep active in the Winter or Cold Weather

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WinterWinter is not everyone’s favorite season. There are many different winter sports that one can partake in outside, but this is not always everyone’s cup of tea. This article will not include the various sports that you can partake in outside, but rather activities that you can do to keep active if you are not a fan of the season.

  1. Walks: Walking outside can pose a challenge for some, but may provide the necessary activity needed to stay healthy. Always make sure to bundle up with a warm jacket, boots with traction, scarf, hat, mittens, and long johns (or janes). I find that my biggest motivation is walking my dog, and I tell myself it is good for both of us when I am feeling “too cold” for a walk. Self – talk is especially important here. Another option for walking is to go to a mall and do some laps around the mall to get your heart rate elevated. If you feel like the stores may be too much of a temptation, make sure to avoid bringing your wallet and just focus on the element of exercise.
  2. Dancing: With the holidays on the way, it may be easy to dance around the house to your favorite tunes, or get up on the dance floor at a Christmas party. As long as you get moving and get your heart rate going this is what matters.
  3. Stairs: If you really want to increase your heart rate, running or walking up and down the stairs repeatedly can be a good and tiring exercise to incorporate into your day.
  4. Weights: Weight training is not just for people who want to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger. When you do weight training/resistance training, it actually puts your body into a fat loss state. This alone can help you to get that physique you may be wanting. Weights do not need to be done in a gym with all of the state of the art gym equipment, but can even be done by grabbing a can of soup and going through some basic exercises such as the classic bicep curl. Remember, everyone has to start somewhere, and it is never too late to start.
  5. Work – out videos: Work out videos provide a great way to get some cardio in and in some cases have a little bit of fun without feeling like you are exercising. A word of caution is to use a video that is at “your level of fitness”. For example, videos such as P90X or Insanity are not appropriate for everyone and you should speak to your health care provider before starting a “work-out routine”.

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!

 

Botanical Medicine: What is it and How can it Help

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Transparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden backgroundBotanical Medicine has been used for thousands of years in so many different forms. Many people think that this is a primitive form of medicine, when in fact it can be quite comparable to some pharmaceutical drugs in some cases. This article looks at what botanical medicine is, how it can be used, and what for.

What is Botanical Medicine?

Botanical medicine involves the use of plants or herbs to achieve therapeutic outcomes. Specific plants or herbs are chosen based off of their medicinal effects in order to aid the individual in question. Botanicals can have multiple effects on multiple organ systems making them quite effective in the sense that they may be able to help with more than one problem. For example, Chamomile can be quite calming on the stomach and promote digestion, but can also be calming on the nervous system, making it potentially beneficial for indigestion and anxiety.

In addition, when more than one herb is combined to achieve a therapeutic goal, they can often have a synergistic effect. What this means is they both possess potent capabilities on their own, but when combined, the effect far exceeds that of them simply being added together. For example, if herb A is 2 and herb b is 2, when added together, you would assume that it would be 4, but it is actually more like 10!

How is Botanical Medicine used?

As alluded to above, herbs can be used on their own or in combination, and can be used in several different forms. They can be made into tinctures, teas, poultices, and salves. Tinctures are alcohol extractions of herbs, often containing a higher dose of herbs in small quantities. Teas are dried herbs that have medicinal properties extracted through hot water. Poultices involve applying herbs topically (externally to the skin). Salves are a combination of herbs in various forms with an ointment.

No form of herbs is necessarily right, but really depends on the patient’s particular case. For example, a poultice may be more appropriate for skin issues than a tincture.

What can botanical medicine be used for?

Botanical Medicine can be used for a variety of concerns. In my practice, I primarily use teas and poultices. I find that both of these forms can be beneficial in quite a few concerns including those listed below.

  • Adrenal Fatigue
  • Allergies
  • Anxiety
  • Arthritis
  • Burn out
  • Colds and flus
  • Constipation
  • Coughs
  • Depression
  • Detoxification
  • Diarrhea
  • Diabetes
  • Digestive Concerns
  • Eczema
  • Fatigue
  • Fertility
  • Fevers
  • Fungal Infections
  • Headaches
  • Heartburn/GERD
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • IBS
  • Infections
  • Insomnia
  • Menstrual issues
  • Migraines
  • Pain
  • Psoriasis
  • Stress
  • Weight loss

If you would like a custom tea made specific for you and your health concerns, please contact myself, Dr. Elisha Cook ND via the contact portion of my page and book your appointment today!

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!

 

How does Acupuncture Work?

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acupunctureWhen I recommend acupuncture, one of the most common questions I get is “how does acupuncture work or how will it help?”. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to aid with so many different health concerns. Over the course of that time, many studies have been conducted to determine how this therapy causes effect, and what it can be used for. The following presents a list of both actions that can take place in the body and the potential conditions or symptoms it can help to alleviate.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture works via many different pathways which cause:

  • Release of endorphins – resulting in decreased pain
  • Relaxation of muscle
  • Stimulation of neuronal activity and brain tissue
  • Secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters
  • Promotes blood flow
  • Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which causes reduced stress

What Can Acupuncture Help with?

Acupuncture can help with many surprising conditions/symptoms including:

  • Pain – joint and muscle
  • Arthritis – including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout
  • Muscle tension
  • Sports injuries
  • Stress
  • Fertility
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches/ Migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Coughs and colds
  • Asthma
  • Sinusitis
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • TMJ syndrome
  • Tinnitus
  • Smoking cessation
  • Heartburn
  • Digestive disturbances such as constipation and diarrhea
  • Concerns during pregnancy
  • To ease discomfort and aid during delivery

How Does Dr. Elisha Cook ND Use Acupuncture?

My approach to acupuncture is based more on Chinese medicine than on Western medicine. What I mean by this is that I do not simply put a needle where it hurts, but rather look at the body as a whole and attempt to support the whole system. As I often tell my patients, you are not your disease and you need to be treated as such. This implies that you are a unique individual with unique presentations results in you needing certain points over others. So for example, two individuals come to me looking for acupuncture for fertility. I will not use the exact same points on these two individuals and the points chosen will not be only around the stomach/uterus area. I also do not use solely acupuncture on a patient. In my opinion, it is best to use the acupuncture while allowing diet, lifestyle, botanicals, and supplements to boost deficient areas. However, all of this is determined at the patient’s comfort level and I work with you where you are at (for example if you only want acupuncture, then we only do acupuncture).

If you are interested in trying acupuncture, feel free to contact the clinic by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

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!

 

5 Foods to Eat/Drink when trying to Lose Weight

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Girl - Weight LossUltimately, this list of foods to eat to lose weight is a bit more extensive than just 5 and should really include fruits and vegetables of all kinds. A diet full of fruits and vegetables is more likely to result in weight loss than one filled with refined sugars. The following is a list of some extra components to add to a balanced diet in order to achieve weight loss.

  1. Chia Seeds: Chia seeds have many beneficial properties that help them in the goal of weight loss. Chia seeds are a good source of protein, omega – 3 fatty acids (not substantial levels to compensate for supplementation), and fiber. All three of these help with digestion, to decrease appetite, to increase energy, and to decrease inflammation. All of these can be beneficial on the road to weight loss.
  2. Sweet Potato: Sweet potatoes can be beneficial for weight loss for the reason that they can be a substitute for a regular white potato. A sweet potato has far fewer calories than a regular potato and are low in glycemic index. What this results in is a reduced impact on blood sugar levels which leads to less sugar being stored in the form of fat in the body.
  3. Hot Water with Lemon: starting each day with hot water with a slice of lemon in it can be beneficial for weight loss for a number of reasons. To start with it can increase metabolism at the beginning of the day meaning more calories burnt. In addition, this drink can stimulate digestion and liver functioning. This can help to process hormones more efficiently and to eliminate toxins from the body. Some sources also suggest that this drink can be a source of vitamin C, which some studies suggest can be important for weight loss.
  4. Green Tea: many studies have suggested that even just 1 cup of green tea per day can be enough to stimulate metabolism. Green tea can also act as a substitute for coffee and the potential to “drink your calories” through having sugary coffee beverages.
  5. Water: Drinking water is important for many bodily functions in general. In addition, feeling hungry could be a sign that we are actually just thirsty. By curbing your appetite through drinking water first, this can help with weight loss. Research has suggested that drinking a glass of water before each meal helps to increase potential weight loss by 3lbs compared to individuals who did not drink water before meals. Water can also increase the amount of calories burned in one hour, after consuming 500 ml of water.

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!