With any type of digestive issue it’s important to look at diet because you may be eating foods that irritate the gut or impair optimal digestion. Food sensitivities to wheat and dairy are common. You may see significant improvement after a 3-week trial of no wheat (bread, pasta, crackers, etc) and no dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese).
You can get more specific information with food sensitivity testing. This quick in-office test looks at over 120 different foods and shows which ones are the biggest issue for you.
Aloe vera, slippery elm, and DGL (licorice) are herbs that soothe and heal the gut. Aloe juice can be taken daily, slippery elm powder can be mixed into water or applesauce, and DGL tablets can be chewed with any irritation or pain.
If you have been on prescription antacid medications for many years you may have reduced absorption of vitamins and minerals such as B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. Blood tests can determine the levels of some of these nutrients and extra supplementation may be indicated.
There is no reason for you to suffer with digestive problems. Consider booking an appointment so you can have better digestion and overall greater health.
Have a great day,
Dr. Natalie Mazurin
Vancouver Naturopath
What is a nasal lavage?
It is a procedure of washing out the nostrils out with a salt-water solution.
Why do a nasal lavage?
The idea of a nasal lavage program is to reduce chronic infection so the body can heal itself. In many cases antibiotics are not able to reduce the infection however nasal lavage may prove to be effective and beneficial. It aids in sinus congestion and infections, stuffy nose, difficulty breathing through the nose, and for re-current sinus infections.
It is important to follow the instructions carefully. The lavage can be continued until the symptoms resolve. It should be done twice daily. There may be some discomfort or bleeding after a lavage. This might mean that there is still an infection present. However, if the pain and bleeding continues discontinue the treatment and be sure to consult with your physician.
What do you need?
– ½ teaspoon of sea salt
– 1 cup of distilled water or filtered water – it is best if the water is close to room temperature. (You want the water warm but not hot)
– a water container with a small spout (like a small watering can or neti pot (featured image)) or you can use a bulb syringe
– optional: a pinch of powdered acidophilus
– mix the water and salt (and acidophilus) together
How to do you do nasal lavage?
First do an alternating hot and cold compress to the nose/sinuses.
Apply a hot wet towel to the nose/sinus area for 3 minute. (The towel should be hot enough to tolerate but not too hot so that is burns). Then quickly switch to a cold wet towel for 1 minute. Repeat this two more times.
Proceed with the lavage:
When first doing this, it will feel strange or uncomfortable. With your head forward and tilted to the left into a sink insert the bulb syringe or spout in the right nostril. Gently pour some of the water solution into the right nostril making sure it comes out the left nostril. If it does not come out then tip your head more to allow the stream of water to come out the left nostril. Continue this for half of the solution.
Now reverse sides tilting the head to the right pouring the water in the left nostril and allowing the water to come out the right nostril.
NOTE: DO NOT sniff the water in, gently push it in
If you experience a lot of discomfort then reduce the amount of salt in the solution.
Have a great day,
The Vitality team
As women approach menopause, many begin to experience a heightened sensitivity to allergies that previously had only subtle effects, or new allergies might spring up seemingly out of nowhere. The best way to attain allergy relief is to understand allergies as related to menopause, their causes, and finally, the treatment options available.
Causes of Allergies
The body’s hormones and the immune system use many of the same chemical messengers that allergies can react from. Changes in any of the individual components can affect the rest of the overall workings of the body; So, when hormones become imbalanced as a result of menopause (or any other period of time that hormone fluctuations are likely to occur), the immune system can suffer and make a woman more prone to allergies.
About Allergies
Allergies are present when a person’s immune system reacts abnormally to foreign substances that are typically harmless to most people. Perhaps the most common example is an allergy to pollen. In this case, pollen would be known as an allergen.
When a person is allergic to something, the immune system mistakenly identifies the substance as harmful, and in an attempt to protect the body, produces a type of antibody, at the source of an allergic reaction, known as an IgE Antibody. These antibodies spark chemical reactions in certain cells, namely the release of a chemical called histamine into the bloodstream. Many people, especially allergy sufferers, are familiar with histamine, which is the chemical that inflames tissue and is responsible for runny noses, sneezing, rashes, or whatever an individual’s allergic reaction might be
For those with allergies, histamine becomes part of an allergic response that can range from relatively minor symptoms to life-threatening, full-body reactions.
Symptoms of Allergies
Because there is such a wide array of allergies that different people have, the symptoms are vast as well. Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some allergies can cause multiple symptoms in an individual. An extremely severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Although anaphylaxis is rare, if not treated, it can cause very serious health concerns and even death. Below are allergy symptoms, separated into mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild symptoms: • Rash • Itchy, watery eyes • Congestion • Sneezing
Moderate symptoms: • Itchiness • Difficulty breathing
Severe symptoms: • Varying degrees of swelling that can make breathing and swallowing difficult. • Abdominal pain • Cramps • Vomiting • Diarrhea • Mental confusion or dizziness.
Types of Allergies
Many people have allergies to animal fur and dander, pollen, and certain types of food. But really, almost anything can be a cause of allergy in a person. The Food and Drug Administration recognized eight foods as being common allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, fish, wheat, soy, and sulphites (a chemical often found in flavors and colors in foods). The world is filled with potential allergens, which create various types of allergies.
Those common types are the following:
• Hay Fever is the most common of the allergic diseases and refers to seasonal nasal symptoms that are due to pollens
. • Asthma is a breathing problem that results from the inflammation and spasm of the lung’s air passages.
• Allergic Eyes is inflammation of the tissue layers that cover the surface of the eyeball and the undersurface of the eyelid.
• Allergic Eczema is an allergic rash that is usually not caused by skin contact with an allergen. It´s usually associated with hay fever of asthma.
• Hives are skin reactions that appear as itchy swellings and can occur on any part of the body.
• Allergic Shock is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can affect a number of organs at the same time. This response typically occurs when the allergen is eaten (for example, foods) or injected (for example, a bee sting).
(article origin- 34 menopause symptoms)
If you would like more information, please book a consult with Dr. Kaleigh Anstett, our Vancouver Naturopath
Have a great day,
The Vitality Team
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So what is a food allergy? It is an immune response that occurs after ingestion of a specific food. Although any food is capable of producing this response, foods that commonly cause allergies are dairy products, egg, wheat, corn, citrus, shellfish, soybeans, tree nuts and peanuts. There are two categories of reactions: IgE mediated (immediate) and IgG mediated (delayed). IgE type I immediate hypersensitivity reactions have been well studied, and their involvement in food allergies has been established. Their symptoms occur within minutes after exposure and vary from local redness and swelling, rhinitis, urticaria, asthma and itchiness to throat swelling and anaphylaxis in severe cases. Most people with IgE allergies know they have them since the symptoms occur shortly after ingestion of the offending food. These allergies are often permanent and can be confirmed using skin-prick tests or blood tests.
However, only 6-8% of children and 2-3% of adults suffer from IgE mediated food allergies. It’s estimated that 80% of all food allergies are IgG mediated reactions. These reactions are very different from IgE food allergies because they usually occur 3 hours to 3 days after ingestion. The symptoms are also more varied and can affect any system or organ in the body. They also tend to be less permanent.
There are several theories as to why food allergies develop. Poor digestion (not enough stomach acid, insufficient chewing, rapid swallowing and antacids) may increase the chances of developing a food allergy. If food molecules are not broken down into small enough particles to be absorbed between cells in the digestive tract, the larger food proteins can trigger histamine release, which increases intestinal permeability. This in turn can lead to more systemic food allergies. Other theories include the alteration of foods through processing, heating, fortifying, purifying, pasteurizing etc. leading to the development of food allergens. Repetitive ingestion of the same foods, excessive stress, digestive tract infections, dysbiosis, failure to breast feed, early introduction of solid foods and overexposure of environmental irritants are other possible theories.
IgG food allergies are often discovered through elimination diets with slow food re-introductions. This process can be very useful, but is time-consuming and occasionally result in false negatives if a large quantity of an offending food is not eaten. However, there are now IgG blood tests available for determining reactivity to specific foods. They often only require a simple blood draw or finger-prick to tests 90+ foods.
Regardless of which form of testing is used, the treatment of food allergies is the same. The offending food is eliminated from the diet, supplements and an appropriate diet that help repair the intestinal lining are prescribed through a qualified healthcare practitioner.
I believe that unrecognized food allergies are the cause of many chronic health conditions today. Many people are being treated for their symptoms associated with these food allergies, but the underlying cause is never being addressed. Determining these food allergies and their causes can be crucial for optimizing a wellness.
Reference: available by request.
• Acne
• Migraine Headaches
• Allergic Sore Throat
• Ear Infections
• Arthritis
• Candidiasis
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Chronic Constipation
• Anxiety
• Crohn’s Disease
• Asthma
• Transient dyslexia
• ADHD
• Edema
• Bed-Wetting
• Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers
• Bronchitis
• Hypochlorhydria
• Celiac Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Chronic Diarrhea
• Loss of Voice
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Memory Loss
• Colic
• Indigestion
• Colitis
• Eczema
• Ulcerative Colitis
• PMS
• Frequent Illness
• Overweight
• Hay Fever
• Tinnitus
• Hyperactivity
• Vertigo
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Skin Rashes
• Insomnia/Sleep Disorders
• Mood Swings
• Excessive Mucous Production
• Learning Disorders
• Malabsorption Syndrome
• Joint Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Depression
Have a great day,
The Vitality Team