Dr. Elisha Cook ND Archives - Page 14 of 24 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

5 Foods to Eat/Drink when trying to Lose Weight

October 19, 2016 by elisha

Ultimately, 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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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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!

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.

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/

Thanksgiving with a Food Sensitivity

October 4, 2016 by elisha

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to reflect on the many things one is thankful for, but for some individuals it can be quite challenging. Individuals with a food allergy/sensitivity may struggle with figuring out what is safe to eat while trying to partake in the festivities. More can be done to accommodate when you are making the meal, but when you have less control over what meals are being planned it can pose quite the challenge.

Thanksgiving at Home

As mentioned above, having a bit more control over the meal that is planned is beneficial due to being able to prevent cross contamination, lack of selection, and contamination period. Making sure to thoroughly clean items such as cutting boards, utensils and counters before working on safe food items is important to prevent cross contamination. Making a variety of items that are safe help those individuals who cannot have certain foods feel more relaxed table because there are more options and less stress over what can or cannot be eaten. It is also worth considering the question, “is thanksgiving all about the turkey?” Do you need the traditional foods eaten at thanksgiving or can you create a new tradition for your family? This concept in itself might help to take the stress away from the holiday.

Thanksgiving Away

Celebrating thanksgiving at another individual’s home poses many challenges to avoiding food sensitivities. Some planning before the event is important on your part. Offer to bring a couple of safe foods in the event that you may not be able to eat certain food items. This also provides an opportunity to spice up or add a bit of variety to the meal. Some food sensitivities can be brought to the attention of the host, so they can attempt to provide a couple of safe foods, but it is best to not push the issue and demand everything be safe for you to consume. Offer to help them to prepare a safe meal if they struggle with how to avoid certain foods that you may be sensitive to. Ultimately, focus on what you can eat rather than becoming discouraged at what you can’t eat, and focus on the time spent with your loved ones and the reason for the holiday.

Thanksgiving Meal Swaps

Regular potatoes – sweet potatoes
Stuffing – stuffing made with gluten-free breads
Cranberry sauce – make cranberry sauce from scratch
Gravy – use arrow root powder/starch/flour instead of regular flour to thicken (2tbsp of arrow root powder to 1 cup of liquid)

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Does Supplement Brand/Quality Really Matter?

September 27, 2016 by elisha

This question is a common question that I get in my practice. The short answer to this question is yes, quality and brand really do matter and can make a big difference with how quickly or effectively you achieve your health goals. Some common problems with some supplements in the market place are as follows:

Use of the wrong part of a plant

In the past, there has been some problems that have arisen for several brands due to individuals taking the product and becoming very sick. The reason stemmed from them using the wrong portion of the plant. The plants included in this were Black Cohosh and Kava Kava. Many companies were using the cheaper portions of the plant and not actually using the plant the way it was traditionally used, resulting in serious medical conditions as liver cirrhosis. Moral of the story is just because a botanical is good does not mean all of the parts of that plant are good.

Decreased amount of actual substance in it

Some studies have been released demonstrating that after investigation of 32 chondroitin products on the market, only 2 of the products actually had the amounts of the product that they claimed to be in the bottle. What was worse was that just under half of the bottles contained 10% or less of the claimed amount of the product. Dose does matter and if you cannot get the adequate amount, a lot of the times it is just a waste of money. (Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228559816_Analysis_of_glucosamine_and_chondroitin_sulfate_content_in_marketed_products_and_the_Caco-2_permeability_of_chondroitin_sulfate_raw_materials)

Contamination

Unfortunately, not all brands are made equal, and that includes what fillers are put into them. Some supplements contain heavy metals, mold, pesticides, dairy, gluten, or chemical fillers. These can make it very hard on the digestive tract, affect absorption, and actually cause you to become sicker. Looking for brands that are free from these contaminates can help some individuals that may find that they “react to all supplements”.

Products not containing adequate doses of substances

Another problem that I often stumble across when patients bring in their current supplement regime is that a lot of the brands out on the market do not actually contain high enough doses of certain ingredient in order to make them effective. I am surprised that some supplements would have the individual taking 6 capsules per day to achieve therapeutic value, while the recommended dose is 2 capsules per day. This is a waste of money and is ultimately lacking in the effectiveness overall.

How do you know you are getting the best supplements?

It is important to always consult a naturopathic doctor before beginning to take any supplements. Supplements are not harmless and have the possibility of interacting with medication. Before I began my practice, I researched which supplement brand was the most efficacious, research based, and the best quality for my patients. The brands that I carry are a reflection of that research, where they contain adequate amounts to reach therapeutic level, are void of contaminants, and use the appropriate plant parts when indicated. I have also looked on the market to see what is available from local health food stores and have found some better brands of those out there. Having a health care team on your side that has done the research in this area and can help to determine what supplements are needed for your personal health concerns is of utmost importance. For more information in this area, please consult a naturopathic doctor before self-prescribing.

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