Are you Zinc deficient?

Zinc is a mineral that is required for many organ functions.  It is needed for liver function and for serotonin, insulin and immune cell production.  It stabilizes histamine responses and prevent free radical  damage (or overload) in the body.

A zinc deficiency can show up in the following ways:

• diabetes
• food allergies or sensitivities
• recurrent infections
• delayed wound healing
• arthritis
• hair loss
• eczema
• infertility
• depression
• insomnia
• behavioral disorders

 How do you know if you are Zinc deficient?  There is a simple test that can be done at my office, called a Zinc Tally test.  It takes about 2 minutes and the results are immediate. 

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Leaky Gut, also known as Increased Intestinal Permeability is described as an inflammatory condition in which the intestines become unable to filter large proteins or toxic molecules.  These particles then enter the bloodstream and can trigger destructive immune and degenerative responses. 

What are some causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome?

• eating processed foods
• excessive NSAID (ie Advil) use
• eating too quickly, not chewing food properly, drinking liquids with meals
• intestinal infections
• delayed transit time - not eating enough fiber
• eating too many refined sugars
• eating foods that you might be allergic or intolerant to
• diets high in saturated fats
• chronic alcohol consumption

What are the symptoms?

• gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea - Irritable Bowel symptoms
• food allergies
• allergies
• eczema and other skin issues
• fatigue
• headaches
• moodiness
• muscle/joint pain
• poor concentration
• hormone imbalance
• sinus and respiratory symptoms and asthma
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (colitis, Crohn's)
• Celiac disease

Can it be treated?
Yes it can.  The first step in treatment involves removing the cause.  Then it varies depending on the severity of the symptoms and how long they have been present.  There are excellent treatments that can be used to help rebuild and repair the intestinal damage.   

Female hormone imbalance: a cause of many conditions

If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, then it's possible you might have an estrogen deficiency:

• hot flashes
• fatigue
• poor memory or decreased concentration
• depressed mood
• decreased libido
• osteoporosis
• stress incontinence

On the other hand, you may be experiencing estrogen dominance if you have any of these symptoms:

• heavy bleeding
• PMS
• acne, oily skin
• fibroids
• fibrocystic breast
• hair loss
• infertility
• hypoglycemia
• water retention

An estrogen deficiency is basically self explanatory, as women approach menopause, their estrogen levels decrease and some women need to take hormone replacement therapy or bio-identical hormones.  Estrogen dominance means that there is excess estrogen hormone in relation to progesterone.  It's very important for these levels to be in balance otherwise the previously mentioned symptoms arise.

What should you do if you have any of these symptoms?  It's best to do some laboratory testing to see if your levels are imbalanced.  Saliva hormone testing is best as it is most effective in monitoring monthly changes.

If the results come back abnormal, then naturopathic medicine can be used to correct any hormone imbalance through nutraceuticals, herbal medicines or bio-identical hormones.

Hypothyroidism - a possible source of many unexplained symptoms

Do you suffer from constant headaches?  Recurrent infections?  Cold extremities?  Dry skin (especially on your hands and feet)?  Constipation?  Morning fatigue?  Swelling (particularly around the eyes)?

If you experience one or more of these symptoms then you may have a thyroid disorder, likely hypothyroidism.  Underactive thyroid function is on the rise and here are some possible reasons for it:

• presence of BPA in plastics
• PCB's (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
• nitrogen fertilizers
• Triclosan - an antibacgerial/antifungal agent in soups, toothpastes, deodorant and cleansers
• lead and mercury toxicity
• nutritional deficiencies - iodine, B12, zinc, iron, selenium
• medications - birth control pills, beta blockers
• smoking
• fluoride 
• stress

What should you do if you are concerned about your thyroid gland?  Go to your naturopathic doctor or family doctor and have your thyroid hormones tested.  Specifically have your TSH, free T3 and free T4 tested.   It is important to review your results with a qualified practitioner because even if your levels are slightly out of optimal range, then symptoms can appear.  Conventionally, patients are often prescribed pharmaceuticals only when their thyroid levels are well out of the normal range and serious symptoms have already developed.  Correcting even slight hormone imbalances can make a huge difference early on and this is where natural therapies can be very beneficial. 

Do You Know How Much Salt You Are Eating?

The recommended average intake of daily salt (or sodium) is 1500 mg, most Canadians have more than twice this amount in their diets.  A high salt diet leads to elevated blood pressure which contributes to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. 
Some of the salt we take in is added during cooking or at the table after the food is prepared but most of the sodium consumption comes from processed foods (from fast food restaurants and packaged foods).  Here is a list of some foods and their sodium content:

Bacon -  2500 mg
Corned Beef - 1700 mg
2 slices of bread - around 400 mg
Cheddar cheese - 600 mg
Parmesan cheese - 1800mg
Canned corn - 250 mg
Saltine crackers - 1100mg
Lasagna - 500 mg
Peanut butter - 600 mg
Canned soup - 400 mg
Ketchup - 1000 mg

What do I suggest?

• Buy as few packaged products as possible
• Read labels and look for products that have less than 350 mg of sodium per serving
• If the option is available, buy low salt/sodium products
• Have you blood pressure checked regularly and if it's high, decrease the amounts of smoked meats and fishes, condiments such as ketchup, mustard and commercial salad dressings, avoid salted nuts, pretzels and potato chips and keep the cheeses to a minimum (cheddar, cottage, feta and parmesan)
• On the other hand, increase your intake of potassium rich foods.  Low potassium levels can contribute to high blood pressure.  Potassium is found in the following foods - fruits (especially bananas, avocadoes and berries), vegetables (green leafy vegetables, squash, yams and eggplant are best), yogurt and beans

Insulin Resistance - Are you at Risk?

What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which controls the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance refers to the condition where your physiological insulin is no longer effective in lowering blood sugar levels in your body.  The result is an increase in blood glucose levels and this can lead to a number of adverse health conditions.

What conditions can it lead to?

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

What are the risk factors?

•  Obesity - especially around the upper/middle part of the body
•  Lack of exercise
• Genetics
•  Aging

What can you do to prevent developing Insulin Resistance?

• Exercise regularly - 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes is ideal
• Eat a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, lean meats and complex carbodydrates 

Saliva Hormone Testing

What is the benefit of saliva hormone testing?

Testing hormones through the saliva is an easy, non-invasive way of assessing hormone levels.  For certain hormones, it has been shown to be a more accurate method of addressing hormone imbalance.

Who would benefit from hormone testing?

• Anyone who has experienced chronic, long term stress or short periods of intense stress
• Women who suffer from irregular periods
• Women who experience PMS
• Peri or post menopausal women who are concerned with an estrogen/progesterone imbalance
• Men and women who are concerned with changing hormone levels as a result of age
• Anyone experiencing the following symptoms:  weight problems, insomnia, fatigue, acne, blood sugar imbalance and decrease immune function

Which hormones can be tested?

• Estrogen – is the main female hormone and if imbalanced it can contribute to menstrual disruption in cycling women, unpleasant symptoms for menopausal women and possibly cause certain female cancers.
• Progesterone – is required to balance estrogen levels
• Testosterone – is a hormone that is essential for both men and women
• DHEA – is needed for energy production and blood sugar balance and is required to produce other hormones such as testosterone.
• Cortisol – this hormone level changes throughout the day and it is necessary for stress management, blood sugar metabolism, energy production and anti-inflammatory effects.

What is the process?

If you are doing the complete hormone assessment and you are a cycling female, then the test needs to be done at a certain time of the month.  Your naturopath can discuss with you when the right time would be.  Otherwise, the saliva collection is done any day, and 4 saliva tests are required – first thing in the morning, mid day, mid afternoon and evening.