Weight Loss Archives - Page 6 of 10 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

October 11, 2016 by elisha

Some people choose to have pets for companionship and/or for work related purposes, while others choose to not have any at all. Many debate whether the stress of owning a pet is really worth all of the extra effort. The answer to this question is really dependent on the individual, but I will choose to focus on the potential positive outcomes that may come from owning a pet. Just because there are positive health benefits to owning a pet does not mean that just anyone should go out and get a dog/cat/fish/lizard/etc. Owning a pet requires commitment, patience, budgeting, and so much more. Also worth mentioning is that much of the research conferring that pets offer health benefits is based off of owning a cat or a dog. This does not mean that there are not any health benefits to owning fish, lizards, or other pets; but there may be different health benefits than those listed below. For example, there has been quite a bit of research behind fish tanks and how having one can actually decrease stress, promote relaxation and even decrease behavioural distress in children.

Owning a cat/dog can decrease:

Blood pressure by being in the same room as a pet or even just petting them
Cholesterol through even just petting your pet
Triglycerides
Feelings of loneliness
Risk of developing allergies in children by 33% but this is dependent on age and research is a bit mixed.
Stress
Depression
Risk of being or becoming obese (if you walk your dog and do not leave it to someone else)
Anxiety or behavioural distress in children
Doctor’s visits
Sick days

Owning a cat/dog can increase

Socialization
Chances for activity
Immune system strength
Recovery post – cardiovascular event
Empathy in children without siblings
Self – esteem in children without siblings
Participation in social and physical activities in children without siblings

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:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/

http://center4research.org/healthy-living-prevention/pets-and-health-the-impact-of-companion-animals/

http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/benefits-of-pets/

5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

August 2, 2016 by elisha

Green tea is a very common beverage in our society, and one that has been purported as a very beneficial addition to one’s diet. However, many individuals do not know the full extent to which green tea can help, and how many cups are necessary to achieve these benefits. Please note that this article is based off of a research article that can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Craig_Schneider2/publication/24309791_Green_tea_potential_health_benefits/links/0a85e52f2986fdb4bf000000.pdf

5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

Reduces risk of Cancer

Tea overall can be beneficial for cancer prevention, but in particular, green tea can be beneficial for treating and preventing breast and colorectal cancer risk. In particular, for breast cancer, three or more cups of tea per day was enough to see the benefits. It was noted that the green tea consumption resulted in a 20% reduction in risk of breast cancer. However, with colorectal cancer, five to ten cups of tea were sufficient enough to reduce the risk of this cancer. In particular, green tea consumption resulted in an 18% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer. Other cancers that green tea consumption may reduce the risk of include stomach, esophageal, and prostate.

Aids with treatment of genital warts

In regards to genital warts, green tea was shown to be effective for the treatment through a topical application of the tea.

Aids with weight loss

When trying to lose weight, green tea may help to decrease body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, body fat mass, and waist and hip circumference. In addition, if an individual discontinues their diet and lifestyle changes in regards to weight loss, those who drink green tea will gain back less weight than those not consuming green tea. These results were found with just one cup of green tea per day!

Reduces cholesterol levels

Green tea can have an impressive effect on LDL cholesterol (i.e. bad cholesterol). When compared to placebo, green tea was able to reduce LDL cholesterol by 16%. This effect was noticed with two cups of green tea per day.

Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease

Aside from the effect on cholesterol, green tea has been shown in research to decrease the risk of not only cardiovascular disease but also stroke. Individuals who consumed five or more cups of tea per day experienced a reduction in risk of stroke.

Can anyone just drink green tea?

As with anything, it is important to know the risks of anything you are consuming. With that being said, green tea may not be for everyone. For example, green tea may decrease absorption of iron or folic acid when consumed with a meal. Therefore, it may not be well suited for anemic individuals or those who are pregnant. In addition, green tea may have a blood thinning effect, and so should not be consumed with blood thinning medication or two weeks prior to surgery. In some individuals, green tea can also cause an upset stomach and nervous system stimulation due to the caffeine content in it.

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.

5 Foods to Avoid when trying to Lose Weight

July 5, 2016 by elisha

Weight loss involves more than just taking a silver bullet pill. It involves diet and lifestyle changes that can be difficult for some to achieve. If you are one of these individuals that struggles with weight and needs assistance in this area, please seek medical advice, including a naturopathic doctor, in regards to your weight loss goals. However, avoiding these 5 food types could provide aid as well:

High caloric and high sugar drinks – This includes most fruit juices, lattes, and alcohol. These can act as empty calories and cause blood sugar spikes that leave you fatigued and without the energy to make it through the day and even get in some extra activity time. These drinks may also dehydrate you which can further complicate weight loss.
Processed foods – this includes such items as sandwich meats, boxed foods, etc. These foods are often high in salt, carbohydrates, and fillers that can prevent you from losing those extra couple of pounds.
Foods that you may have a food sensitivity to – these foods are not the same for everyone and can be determined with the help of a naturopathic doctor. Some naturopathic doctors provide a blood test to determine the results. When losing weight, I find it more reliable and efficient to use a dietary method to determine the food sensitivities for you. If you are interested in exploring this more, please consider consulting a Naturopathic Doctor such as myself.
Refined carbohydrates – this includes cereal, bread, pastries, cookies, etc. Especially when these foods are eaten alone and without a protein, they can cause blood sugar spikes and lead to excess sugar in the body which is retained as fat.
Candy and high sugar snack foods – These items are fairly self – explanatory. Candy and high sugar snack foods do not provide nutritional aid. Avoiding these and only having them in moderation can help individuals work closer towards their weight loss goals.

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6 Reasons Why Fish Oil is Beneficial for Health

May 24, 2016 by elisha

Fish Oil supplements are one of the main supplements you will find on the market today. Many people take them simply because “I know it is good for me”, but do not fully understand the benefits to their health. This article is meant to bring to light some of the research on the supplement, and some ins and outs that are important to know for choosing the right supplement. Of course, when in doubt, please consult a naturopathic doctor to determine what supplement would best help you with your specific health needs.

Ratios

If you are a patient of mine, you already know that I think ratios are important when it comes to fish oil. In short, children need more DHA as their brains are developing, and adults need more EPA to sustain it. As a result, the ratio of EPA to DHA needs to be 2:1 or higher depending on your particular health concerns. For example, if EPA is 200mg is a capsule, I would like to see DHA at 100mg or less. Some individuals may want to try to obtain omega 3s through vegan sources such as flax and hemp, but these sources tend to not be able to obtain the same ratio of EPA:DHA that fish oil can.

Sourcing

Ideally smaller fish sources, such as sardines, act as a better source for omega 3’s due to the lower mercury content in these fish. However, all supplements have to meet a standard in regards to mercury content, and so, if you are purchasing a high quality fish oil supplement made in Canada, they need to comply with this standard.

6 Health Benefits

Joint Health

One of the main uses of fish oil is for pain. Specifically, it can be beneficial for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc. Fish oil helps to lubricate your joints and decrease inflammation, both leading to decreased pain.

Heart Health

Fish oil can be quite beneficial for overall heart health by firstly improving the function of the heart muscle itself. In addition, fish oil may help to increase HDL (good) cholesterol, decrease triglycerides, decrease blood pressure, decrease atherosclerosis (i.e. plaque build-up), and prevent stroke.

Weight Management

Fish oil may help to improve weight by decreasing central adiposity when taking with exercise. It has also been shown to aid with conversion of muscle to lean muscle mass.

Mental Health

As mentioned above, EPA and DHA both have a role to play in brain development and health. In short, fish oil may be beneficial for the following conditions: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dementia.

Skin Health

Fish oil can be beneficial for various skin conditions through its beneficial properties in addressing inflammation. That being said it may provide some relief to those suffering from acne, psoriasis, SLE, and eczema.

Reproductive Health

In general, fish oil can help women who are trying to conceive, have conceived, and women who are not conceiving. In regards to pregnancy, fish oil may help increase chances of conception. Fish oil can also help to decrease inflammation overall which may contribute to premenstrual tension issues such as cramping. In addition, fish oil may prove to be beneficial for men experiencing erectile dysfunction due to is beneficial properties in heart health – specifically related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and atherosclerosis.

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.