Clinical Nutrition

Why a lot of quick – fix weight loss programs and supplements DO NOT work

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Girl - Weight LossBillions of dollars are made in the weight loss industry. Many people strive to gain the perfect physique and pay much in order to reap the gains. Unfortunately, amongst many programs that do work to help people lose weight and keep it off, there are many programs that do not work in the long run. As a result, I hope to help debunk some of the mythical ideologies that some of these programs purport to work.

The Myths:

You can lose weight without diet changes and exercise. 

In order to maintain weight loss goals, you need to change your diet and increase exercise to a level that balances energy in and energy out. This differs between everyone, and so, you may require more or less calories, and more or less exercise than another individual.

You can lose a lot of weight all at once and keep it off.  

Unfortunately, this myth is the worst one of them all. In order to achieve weight loss that will last, an individual should not exceed losing 1-2 pounds per week. That being said, when an individual initially undertakes changing their diet and exercise patterns, they may undergo more than 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week, which is normal. Anything beyond the 1-2 pound weight loss puts an individual’s body into what I call “starvation mode”. As a result of this state, the body is more likely to accumulate weight because of fear of when it will get its “next meal”. In addition, if the individual “falls off the tracks” in regards to their weight loss program and gains back the weight they lost, they will most likely gain back more than what they initially lost, because once again, the body fears that it will not survive if put into another “starvation mode” and so uses the increased weight to protect itself.

You can go back to the way you were eating after discontinuing the program.  

As was mentioned above, without appropriate diet and lifestyle changes, one cannot maintain weight loss. Therefore if you are eating more restricted and suddenly go back to the way you were eating before, you are more likely to gain weight. That being said, that does not mean you can never have a treat or have a cheat day. As I tell many patients, everything in moderation, including exercising and diet. You have to adopt a diet and lifestyle that will ultimately be realistic for you.

You can severely restrict calories for some time and still be healthy.  

Once again, this myth is debunked by the explanation behind the debunking of the second myth. You will put your body into a starvation mode with severely restricted calories, resulting in an overall weight gain.

You can take a pill and it will help you to lose weight and keep it off.

Anything that causes you to lose more than 1-2 pounds per week is not sustainable. This includes various weight loss supplements. In addition, many of the weight loss supplements that do have profound effects have ingredients in them that can be harmful when taken long term. A naturopathic doctor may choose to put you on a supplement to help you through a plateau season, but beyond that, supplements will not help you maintain weight loss in a realistic manner.

Bottom Line: Aside from changing your diet, exercise and lifestyle, you cannot be guaranteed to maintain the weight loss that you gain. In order to keep it off, you need to maintain a lifestyle that consists of healthy dietary habits; adequate exercise; and appropriate lifestyle measures including adequate sleep, stress management, and everything in moderation. If you are interested in achieving weight loss that will work for you, consider contacting myself, and let me help you develop a weight loss strategy that will help you maintain the weight loss that you acquire.

Have you benefitted 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 Elisha Cook via the contact portion of this website.

Naturopathic Approaches for Frostbite

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WinterWith the frigid cold temperatures that have been descending upon us, it is important to understand the signs and symptoms of frostbite and how to treat it. In addition to the first aid advice you might be given, I will also throw a “naturopathic spin” on it.

Signs and Symptoms

In frost bite, there are three stages, with the condition increasing in severity with the increase in stages.

Stage 1: Frostnip – in this stage, one may experience pins and needs that progress to numbness. The individual will also have red skin that feels cold.

Stage 2: Superficial frostbite – the skin will now be hard, pale, blue and cold, which turns to red sore skin after it thaws. The skin may also start to blister. In addition to this, the individual may have a burning sensation and swelling as the skin warms.

Stage 3: Deep frostbite – at this point, deeper damage is done in the form of joint and muscle stiffness, large blisters forming, and gangrene forming. In addition, tissues, nerves, and bones may even be damaged. In addition to these physical effects, the individual may also begin having effects to their cognition such as difficulty speaking, difficulty concentrating, some hysteria, etc.

Prevention

In order to prevent frostbite, certain measures should be taken:

  • Limit your encounters in the cold when possible
  • Bundle up, making sure that all skin is covered
  • Wrap in layers to make sure you keep warm
  • Wear only dry clothing
  • Make sure you have adequate foot wear that is well insulated and keeps your feet dry
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Avoid alcohol and smoking

First Aid Approach

When you first notice signs of frostbite, go into a warm space immediately. Start by warming up the individual gently, such as giving them a warm blanket. Do not immediately go to putting their hands in very warm water as this can actually make the frostbite worse. Once they have been gently warmed then you can proceed to provide a warm (not hot) shower or rinse. If the individual has superficial frostbite, it may be necessary to take them to the hospital. However, in the case of deep frostbite, the individual needs to be taken to the hospital immediately.

Naturopathic Approach

Please note that the naturopathic approaches are not meant to be done instead of the first aid approaches, but are rather meant to compliment them and support them. These therapies are meant to be added to the first aid approaches that you should be taking. There are several different approaches that can be taken from a naturopathic perspective to help an individual who is suffering from frostbite.

Nutrients: Vitamin B3 (niacin) helps with vasodilation, which means it helps to increase circulation and get warm blood to the extremities or affected part of the body. Vitamin C is also a great nutrient to help improve circulation in general.

Homeopathy: The homeopathic remedy Agaricus is a general remedy for frostbite that can be given to an individual that has frostbite. Based on the principle of like cures like, this remedy has the following symptoms, making it well suited for frost bite: Burning and itching on both hands as if frozen; body parts are hot, swollen and red; pain and inflammation in frostbitten toes; shooting pains in fingers and toes; burning, red, itching ears as if frozen; frostbitten nose itches; chronic inflammation of the nose after exposures.

Botanicals: Use warming herbs and plants AFTER exposures have resolved in order to make sure circulation has not been compromised to the affected areas. Such herbs include garlic, onion, cayenne, ginger, mustard, and cinnamon. During the exposure, the individual may consume small amounts of these items in order to gently warm from the inside out. In addition, these herbs can be applied externally to the affected part in order to improve circulation, however this should be done cautiously as some of these herbs can burn the skin. Testing the skin before use for sensitivity should be done. In addition, applying aloe vera gel topically to the affected parts can help with the burning sensation that the individual experiences. Coconut oil can be applied externally as well due to its soothing effect, as well as warming effect. You can also have the affected individual drink a warming substance such as black tea, and add in some honey as this can be warming. Please note that you should avoid alcohol as this can make the condition worse.

Hydrotherapy: As mentioned above, a poultice with warming herbs can be applied to the affected areas, with the cautions taken into consideration. Following the frostbite incident, undergoing contrast showers can help to improve circulation and can also have a warming effect by the end of the treatment.

Have you benefitted 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, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC (416-498-9763), and let me help you achieve your health goals.

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

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Alternative Medicine Symbol - The Green AsklepianRecently, there has been a lot of hype in the media about Naturopathic Medicine and Naturopathic Doctors (NDs). Some good and some bad remarks, but hype non-the-less. Many skewed views exist regarding what NDs actually do. Many think that NDs are overly glorified “Witch Doctors”; others might view NDs similar to General Practitioners, but just using herbs instead of pharmaceuticals; and many think that homeopathic doctors and NDs are one in the same. It is my hope that I can “clear the air” and hopefully bring some justice to what NDs actually do.

Naturopathic Medicine aims at treating the root cause of disease, and not just merely the symptoms. Unfortunately, medicine sometimes looks at an individual merely as a broken arm, rather than looking at the person with that broken arm. NDs propose to try and look at the individual as a whole, and not merely their parts, and attempt to cure disease through this framework and looking for the cause of disease. A ND might, for example, look at the patient’s living conditions, nutritional status, safety, work conditions, etc., in attempt to discover what caused the broken bone and how could it be prevented in the future. As a result, each individual is treated as just that, an individual. One treatment might not work for another simply because everyone is different, and the cause of disease can be completely different for two individuals even with the “same” condition. For example, two individuals could present with headaches, but one person might get headaches due to muscle tension, while another might get them due to caffeine withdrawal. Though both of these individuals might have similar presentations, treating their headaches with the same treatment may not result in a cure for both.

Part of a NDs approach to care involves incorporating the principles of Naturopathic Medicine into ones care. The principles of Naturopathic Medicine are: First do no harm, treat the cause of disease, teach healthy living and preventative medicine, heal the whole person, emphasize prevention, and support the healing power of the body. NDs strive to incorporate all of these principles into each patient case in order to treat disease, support the health of the individual, and prevent future disease. A state of balance and harmony is sought after in the body, and thus achieved through this approach to care, as well as through the use of Naturopathic Medicine’s various modalities. The modalities are used to support the patient’s own healing capabilities, and consist of: Botanical Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Hydrotherapy, Homeopathy, Physical Medicine (including massage and naturopathic manipulation), Primary Care, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Lifestyle Counselling. Despite what some believe, the practice of naturopathic modalities is not merely based on “gut instinct” or tradition, but is based on Evidence Based Medicine and Traditionally practices that have been tested and used for centuries.

It is my hope that being part of this profession will allow me to be part of the movement of our future health care that involves addressing disease before it presents, treating the whole person, managing disease with few side effects, and improving overall quality of life.