By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips

Let’s talk. Period.

Menstrual health is not an easily discussed topic and yet it is vital for all women – especially those trying to conceive. To put things simply, the first step in trying to get pregnant is ensuring that your menstrual cycles are regular and healthy. This will help determine when you are ovulating which is necessary for having a chance to conceive that month.

With all of this in mind, the health tip of the day is simple: start tracking your menstrual cycle today. Regardless of whether or not you are trying to get pregnant, your menstrual health is an important part of your overall health. You can start simply by marking the first day you get your next period on your calendar or on the many free apps that exist, and continue for every future period. It is helpful to track the length of your period, the length of your cycles, heaviness and your premenstrual symptoms.

As a naturopathic doctor, I can use this information to determine if your menstrual health is reflecting good overall health or not. I can also use natural therapies like nutrition and acupuncture to help regulate your cycle and promote your fertility chances, if that is your goal.

Remember, it’s your body, your health. Period.

Happy Naturopathic Medicine Week,

Odette Bulaong, BSc (Hons), ND

Check out what a Naturopath in Markham Does here 

By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips, Uncategorised

Fracture Rehabilitation

I have recently seen an influx of fracture patients, mainly due to the harsh winter conditions we experienced this year.  I wanted to go over some facts and tips on rehabilitation of fractures.

 

There are different types of fractures and almost all require significant amounts of trauma.  If you sustained trauma (ie fell off step, slipped and fell, car accident, etc), you should go see your family doctor.  Most doctors will assess your symptoms and send you for an X-ray if they believe you may have a fracture.  X-rays are the gold standard in diagnosing fractures.  Once it has been confirmed you have a simple fracture, you will be immobilized at your fracture site for typically 6 weeks.  Bone healing is usually around 4-6 weeks for upper body fractures and 6-8 weeks for lower body fractures.  More complex fractures may require surgery and healing can be delayed depending on the surgery.  Talk to your surgeon and get a timeline if this is your case.  The whole process of rehabilitation of fracture can vary but it usually last at least 6-8 weeks post immobilization.

 

Tip #1: Do not think immobilizing the fracture site means immobilizing the whole limb.  I have seen this happen far too often.  For example, if you fractured your elbow, you can still move your shoulder, wrist and hands.  Keep your body moving.  Immobilization is one of the worse things you can do to your body (although necessary to facilitate fracture healing).  So why subject non-injured body parts to immobilization when you can maintain healthy joint movement?

 

Tip #2: You don’t even need to immobilize the fracture site all the time*.  Every once in a while, you can move slowly and in a control manner to keep your joints healthy.  An example of this is ankle fractures which used to be plaster casted always.  Now, almost all ankle fractures are given a walking boot and allowed to move slightly.  It’s to help counter the detrimental effects of immobilization.  Let pain be your guide when moving though (no more than a 5 out of 10 on a pain scale and absolutely no sharp pain).

 

Tip #3: Go see a rehabilitation health care professional.  Even during your immobilization, there are modalities like laser therapy that can promote fracture healing.  After immobilization, you may think your movement can come back on its own and it can but often times, you will require joint mobilization to regain all your mobility back.  Sometimes, no matter how hard you force your joint to move, it requires a glide or a roll that has been lost due to immobilization.  Your rehab professional can help regain that.  Also, a rehab professional can guide you through the rehab process which requires regaining full range of motion, proper strengthening and progressive return to activity to prevent reinjury.

 

Hope that gives you a general guideline on dealing with fractures.  If you have any questions or you have sustained a fracture and require rehab, feel free to come in and see one of our healthcare professionals at Form and Function.

 

Regards,

Man Chun (Manni) Wong

Registered Physiotherapist

 

*Only applies to simple fractures.  Some complex and displaced fractures require full immobilization.  Talk to your surgeon about immobilization before moving your fracture site if this is your case.

By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips

Is your lipgloss making you sick?

If you suffer from skin, immune-related, reproductive or other hormone-related health conditions there are many nutritional, herbal and lifestyle changes that are helpful to restore your body back to health. One of the important lifestyle changes that often goes overlooked is limiting your exposure to chemicals found in everyday beauty products.

Women in particular can use multiple beauty products on a daily basis. In addition to lip gloss, women often wear foundation or powder, blush, mascara and that is often on top of a moisturizer and other skin care products. Unfortunately, many beauty products contain harmful chemicals that can have a negative impact on our health by:

  • causing allergic reactions (hives, rashes)
  • disrupting hormones (reproductive, stress, thyroid)
  • irritating the skin and worsening conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne)

The good news is that there are many good quality make-up and skin care products that are formulated to be free of these chemicals. You can learn more about the top 10 most harmful chemicals in beauty products at the Environmental Defence website.

If you are looking to try natural make-up and body care products but don’t know what to start, you’re in luck. The Environmental Defence is hosting a FREE event called “The Just Beautiful Eco-Beauty Event” on April 4th where you can try and buy beauty products that are chemical-free making them healthier for you.

It was a great event last year and I was able to find some fantastic products.

Hope to see you there,

Odette Bulaong, ND

By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips, Uncategorised

Food Recall: Listeria

New recalls have been added to the CFIA's Food Recall Report.

Class 1
Reason for Recall: Listeria
Product(s): Okanagan's Choice Cheese brand Shredded Cheese Products 
Recalling Firm: Castle Cheese Inc. 
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-13/eng/1394763186626/1394763213149 

Class 1
Reason for Recall: Listeria
Product(s): Dole brand Italian Blend Salad 
Recalling Firm: Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. 
Distribution: New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Possibly National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-12/eng/1394692964357/1394692975163

 *The above food recalls are from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and brought to you by Arin Taub, RD at Form & Function
By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips, Uncategorised

Food Recall: Packaging Defects

A recall has been added to the CFIA's Food Recall Report. 

Class 3
Reason for Recall: Packaging defects
Product(s): Heinz brand infant food
Recalling Firm: Heinz Canada
Distribution: National

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-09/eng/1394379805526/1394379825591

*The above food recalls are from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and brought to you by Arin Taub, RD at Form & Function
By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Talk, Health Tips

March is Nutrition Month – Simply Cook and Enjoy!

March is Nutrition Month – Simply Cook and Enjoy!

apple

As many people may know, March is nutrition month with the topic this year being “Simply Cook and Enjoy!”, with the goal of encouraging those all across Canada to eat better and enjoy food that is good for you. As well, this year’s theme focuses on serving up practical advice on cooking and food skills from dietitians, the food and nutrition experts.

Home cooking is an important skill to have for good health. Due to time constraints, people often find it difficult to prepare meals at home and are forced to rely more on processed and prepared meals. Having cooking skills is also essentially important in order to educate others, such as your children, so that they will have these skills and be able to feed themselves when they grow up. Of course, there are long-term implications of a poor diet on health.

Try some of these helpful tips and tools to help you and your family make healthier choices and of course, Simply Cook and Enjoy! These tips are to help you make good use of time and not only improve your ability to have more home cooked meals, but also reduce spending on going out for meals! There are 8 so far for the first eight days of the month:

1. Simplify weekday cooking. Prepare some ingredients in advance.

2. In a hurry? Take a kitchen short cut with healthier convenience foods like pre-cut veggies.

3. Feel sandwiched for time? What could be simpler than a sandwich for supper? http://ow.ly/qkqKE

4. Time-crunched? Good-for-you meals can take less time than take-out! http://ow.ly/qkrkv 

5. Double up! Make a double batch of breakfast on the weekend to enjoy during the week.

6. Cook once. Eat twice. Make weeknight cooking a breeze with planned extras.

7. Make a no-fuss meal with just six simple ingredients or less! http://ow.ly/qkrVe

8. A few good kitchen tools, like sharp knives and a blender, can make cooking a whole lot easier!

 

Additionally, visit dietitians.ca this Nutrition Month for inspiration and information from Registered Dietitians:

• Access eaTracker to review your food and activity choices, analyze your recipes, plan your meals, and more.
• Download free smartphone apps eaTipster for a nutrition tip a day, and Cookspiration to inspire you to cook.
• Watch videos with advice from Registered Dietitians.

Facebook: /dietitiansCAN

Website: www.dietitians.ca/nutritionmonth

Twittier: @dietitiansCAN

For more information and tips on how to adopt healthier eating patterns, Registered Dietitian Arin Taub at Form and Function Health and Wellness Clinic will be happy to help. Do not hesitate to book an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Eat well and stay active!

By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips, Uncategorised

Food Recall: Milk Allergy

The following recall has been added to the CFIA’s Food Recall Report

 

Class 1

Reason for Recall: Allergen – milk

Product(s): Chocolat Alprose brand 52% Cacao Premium Dark Chocolate

Recalling Firm: Altra Foods Inc.

Distribution: Ontario, Quebec

 

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-07/eng/1394260286797/1394260313793

 

 

By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips

Don’t Be Afraid of Fiber: The Benefits Of Fiber And How to Get More In Your Diet

Don’t Be Afraid of Fiber: The Benefits Of Fiber And How to Get More In Your Dietwhole grains

What is Fiber?

Fiber is a nutrient found in a variety of foods and offers many benefits to all individuals in various ways. Having adequate fiber in your diet can promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation, especially when paired with exercise, which also provide this benefit. It does so by providing bulk and absorbing water in the gut. Additionally,  fiber might also help prevent and treat various diseases and conditions including cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer and diabetes. Additionally, having fiber in your meal can help you stay full longer and is therefore beneficial for those trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight.

Where Can I Find Fiber?

You can find fiber in a variety of foods in most food groups including fruits and vegetable, grains (whole grain breads and cereals), and meat and alternatives (nuts, seeds and legumes such as dried peas, beans, soy and lentils).

How Much Fiber Is Recommended  Daily?  

The adequate intake of fiber for males aged 18 to 50 years is 38 grams per day and for women of the same age is 25-26 grams per day, according to the Dietary Reference Intakes set out in Canada. (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/reference/table/ref_macronutr_tbl-eng.php)

How Can I Change My Diet to Get More Fiber?

  • Add a fruit and/or vegetable to your daily routine (can be fresh or frozen)
  • Choose whole wheat instead of white when selecting breads, pastas and rice.
  • Compare food labels when selecting breads, crackers and cereals to select the option which contains more fiber per serving.
  • Use dried peas, beans and lentils in dishes instead of meat once or twice a week. This can also reduce caloric intake and help with weight loss.
  • Add a serving of nuts or seeds such as almonds as a snack.

For more information and tips on how to add fiber into your diet or if you have a general inquiry about how to adopt healthier eating patterns, Registered Dietitian Arin Taub at Form and Function Health and Wellness Clinic will be happy to help. Do not hesitate to book an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Eat well and stay active!

By Dr. J 0 Comments Health Tips

Don’t Be Afraid of Fiber: The Benefits Of Fiber And How to Get More In Your Diet

Don’t Be Afraid of Fiber: The Benefits Of Fiber And How to Get More In Your Dietwhole grains

What is Fiber?

Fiber is a nutrient found in a variety of foods and offers many benefits to all individuals in various ways. Having adequate fiber in your diet can promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation, especially when paired with exercise, which also provide this benefit. It does so by providing bulk and absorbing water in the gut. Additionally,  fiber might also help prevent and treat various diseases and conditions including cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer and diabetes. Additionally, having fiber in your meal can help you stay full longer and is therefore beneficial for those trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight.

Where Can I Find Fiber?

You can find fiber in a variety of foods in most food groups including fruits and vegetable, grains (whole grain breads and cereals), and meat and alternatives (nuts, seeds and legumes such as dried peas, beans, soy and lentils).

How Much Fiber Is Recommended  Daily?  

The adequate intake of fiber for males aged 18 to 50 years is 38 grams per day and for women of the same age is 25-26 grams per day, according to the Dietary Reference Intakes set out in Canada. (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/reference/table/ref_macronutr_tbl-eng.php)

How Can I Change My Diet to Get More Fiber?

  • Add a fruit and/or vegetable to your daily routine (can be fresh or frozen)
  • Choose whole wheat instead of white when selecting breads, pastas and rice.
  • Compare food labels when selecting breads, crackers and cereals to select the option which contains more fiber per serving.
  • Use dried peas, beans and lentils in dishes instead of meat once or twice a week. This can also reduce caloric intake and help with weight loss.
  • Add a serving of nuts or seeds such as almonds as a snack.

For more information and tips on how to add fiber into your diet or if you have a general inquiry about how to adopt healthier eating patterns, Registered Dietitian Arin Taub at Form and Function Health and Wellness Clinic will be happy to help. Do not hesitate to book an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Eat well and stay active!