Victoria South Archives - Page 107 of 118

Thinking About Your Pregnancy?

Want to talk without a political agenda? Many women find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and having to decide what happens next. It can be difficult to find a place to discuss your decision freely, without judgement or strong opinions. Abortion can be a huge relief and still be a stressful experience you want support around. Having an unexpected baby can also be very stressful, with a lot to consider. Either path can get us questioning our life plans, our relationship, hopes about career and financial stability, our ideas about motherhood, what family or friends will think, or a partner’s feelings. We can feel understandable self-doubt, mixed with shame, anger, regret, guilt, and sadness, plus a pressure to get on with life. It’s a lot to sort out. A Registered Clinical Counsellor can provide an emotionally safe, unbiased place to work out your feelings, whatever they may be.

Mary Munro MA.MC.RCC, www.marymunro.ca

Organically Grown Produce & Anti-Oxidants

Fruits and Vegetables produced WITHOUT synthetic pesticides and fertilizers have healthy immune systems. A plant’s natural defense mechanism includes the production of Anti-Oxidants. Recent studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between farming practices (Organic and Conventional) and the anti-oxidant content of the fruits and vegetables grown. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins) that can help to prevent and repair damage to your body’s tissue. Antioxidants do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals, which start oxidation — a process that causes damage from oxygen that can lead to cell dysfunction. Include a diversity of vibrant coloured fruit and vegetable in your diet every day! Top Produce items for Anti-Oxidant content: Sweet Potatoes, Cherries, Tomatoes, Asparagus, Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Sprouts, and Microgreens. For best results consume them as close to Raw as possible.

Bryan Lawson PDC. Produce Geek, and Permaculturist, Urban Ground Market.

Natural Approaches to Depression in Children and Teens

Part 1: The Role of Zinc

According to the Centers for Addiction and Mental Health, in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health or addiction problem in any given year. 70% of mental health problems have their onset in childhood and adolescence.

It is therefore imperative that childhood mental health problems be treated safely and effectively, not only to address current suffering but to prevent long-term mental illness as well as untimely deaths.

In 2012, suicide accounted for 17% of deaths among children aged 10-14, 28% among teens aged 15-19 and 25% among young adults aged 20-24.

Conventional treatment of depression focuses on antidepressant medications. These can have serious side effects and in some cases even increase suicidal behavior. They also don’t address the underlying reasons for depression. Nonetheless, one in ten Canadians is taking antidepressant medication, including children.

Non drug based approaches can be far safer and more effective and tend to address the root causes of depression. There are many possible causes of depression in children and youth, including inherited predispositions, nutritional factors, exposure to toxins and infectious agent and emotionally traumatic events. Most commonly, depression is a multifactorial condition. This article is the first of a series and will focus on the role of nutrition, especially the role of zinc.

Malnutrition in children

Children often suffer from undiagnosed malnutrition. With the many processed foods in their diets most children’s nutritional status is poorer than those of adults, although they require increased nutrients for growth and development.

I have cringed numrous times watching some of my daughter’s classmates walking to school clutching a fistful of gummi worms for breakfast, or eating bags of fruit loops or a dry Mr. Noodles for lunch.

I fought with the administration of every school she attended to stop the selling of pizza lunches served with donuts and chocolate milk as fundraisers, and the continuous bombardment of the children with sugary treats brought almost daily by well-meaning parents and teachers.

These foods offer mostly high fat, high sugar, empty calories devoid of minerals and vitamin, not exactly brain fuel. I believe that diet contributes to the fact that one in six children is now being diagnosed with some sort of developmental disorder.

Hair mineral analysis and zinc levels

One simple way to assess nutritional status is with a hair mineral analysis, a simple and inexpensive test available through most naturopathic doctors.

I have literally run hundreds of these tests over the last 25 years and have rarely seen one come back with a normal zinc level, a testament to modern food production methods.

Children tend to be especially low in zinc, a crucial trace mineral that is involved in more than 200 enzymatic reactions in the human body. The highest concentrations of zinc are found in the brain.

Zinc levels can affect the function of the blood-brain-barrier. As the name implies, this barrier controls what can enter or exit the brain, including how much aluminum is allowed to enter the brain. Aluminum is highly neurotoxic and has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, autism and OCD symptoms among others. [1]

Zinc also plays a role in neurological signaling pathways and other important brain functions. Approximately 10% of the total zinc in the brain exists in the synaptic vesicles, little bubbles full of neurotransmitters at the ends of neurons. In fact, zinc may act as a neurotransmitter. [2]

Zinc and neurological disorders

Zinc deficiency in certain regions of the brain such as the hippocampus, has been linked to an increased risk of neurological diseases, including epilepsy, as well as depression, ADHD, learning disabilities and olfactory dysfunction. [3]

Would it not stand to reason that medical doctors, pediatricians and psychiatrists should investigate zinc levels in cases of mental health concerns?

Sadly, this is not the case as they are not trained in nutrition and most just don’t have time to peruse journals on molecular biology or neurotoxicology and instead are being indoctrinated by pharmaceutical reps advocating Prozac and other SSRIs, best-selling drugs.

A real no-brainer, with the entire population being deficient in zinc and other important nutrients, pun intended.

Zinc and immune system function

Zinc is also an extremely important mineral for normal immune system function and has many roles in controlling inflammation. Certain acute infections, including streptococcal and Lyme disease infections, may trigger the sudden onset of anxiety, depression and OCD symptoms in children and probably adults. Low zinc levels can make it harder to fight off such infections.

Chronic, low-grade infections have been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome and auto-immune conditions, both of which can manifest as depression. [4]

Zinc also has powerful effects on the hormonal system, including testosterone production. Low testosterone levels are linked to depression and low confidence in adult males, which appears to be far more common than previously thought.

Zinc, hormones and depression

I think all male teens with depression should be evaluated for testosterone and zinc levels. I have seen plenty of lethargic young men perk right up with some basic supplementation of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and zinc.

Teens in particular are fond of junk food as well as the liberal use of alcohol and other intoxicants which further stresses nutrient requirements. Pubertal nutrient status is important for all aspects of normal growth and development. [4]

Considering that 70% of mental health issues start in childhood I think it should be routine to evaluate all children and youth for zinc and other nutritional deficiencies.

This evaluation could constitute a major break-through in preventative medicine and be a great benefit to society due to reduction of costs, suffering, disability and premature death, not to mention increased happiness and productivity for all.

This really is a human rights issue and I am sure we will see these ideas realized in the future.

Meanwhile, look to dedicated naturopathic physicians to investigate and treat the many causes of depression now. Your child is worth it.

Dr. Anke Zimmermann, ND, www.drzimmermann.org

References:

[1] The Toxicology of Aluminum in the Brain: A Review. Yokel, R.A. Neurotoxicology, 2000 Oct; 21(5):813-28

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11130287

[2] Zinc Homeostasis and Function of Zinc in the Brain, A. Takeda, Biometals, 2001 Sep-Dec; 14(3-4):343-51

ink.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-017-3728-9_9

[3] Lower Serum Zinc and Higher CRP Strongly Predict Prenatal Depression and Physio-somatic Symptoms, Which All Together Predict Postnatal Depressive Symptoms.

Roomruangwong C, Kanchanatawan B, Sirivichayakul S et al, Molecular Neurobiology, 2016 Feb 5. [Epub ahead of print]

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12035-016-9741-5

[4] Lower serum zinc in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): relationships to immune dysfunctions and relevance for the oxidative stress status in CFS.

Maes M¹, Mihaylova I, De Ruyter M., Journal of Affective Disorders. 2006 Feb;90(2-3):141-7. Epub 2005 Dec 9

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16338007

[5] Nutrition and Pubertal Development. Ashraf Soliman et al, Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2014, Nov; 18(suppl 1):S39-S47

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4266867/

Sun Strategy

The sun boosts our immunity, regulates our hormones and keeps us on the sunny side of life. The best source of Vitamin D is produced in the body by receiving the suns energy through our eyes and our skin. But too much of a good thing is not so good. How can you prevent sunburns and skin damage in the hot summer? Eat antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, especially those in the orange, red and yellow spectrum. Drink clean, alkaline water. Wear a mineral sunscreen with herbs and organic butters like shea and coconut. Zinc and titanium effectively slow both the UVA and UVB rays. These two mineral oxides provide a healing and protective barrier to the skin. Many chemical sunscreens do not address the longer UVA tanning rays that can cause deep DNA damage. In a nutshell: eat lots of beta carotene and greens, stay hydrated, limit sun exposure, wear a hat and light protective clothing, use a zinc-based sunscreen and enjoy the glory of the sun!

Karen Van Dyck, Nature’s First Beauty Bar, www.naturesfirstbeautybar.com

Book Club: My Stroke of Insight

My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD is the riveting account of a Harvard-trained brain scientist’s massive stroke at the age of 37. This stroke, caused by a ruptured blood vessel, affected the entire left side of her brain, temporarily removing the ability to differentiate between herself and others and leaving her in a stroke-induced Nirvana. It took her eight years to recover. An absolutely fascinating and inspiring book that sheds new light on what it means to be human.

Dr. Anke Zimmermann, ND

Help is Available

Professionals can help! If you have a mental health concern, deciding to take that first step toward reaching out to a professional can seem daunting and scary. However taking that first step can open the door to feeling better. Who do you go to if you have a mental health concern? Your doctor can be a great professional to turn to. They may even refer you to other professionals to ensure you get the care you need. There are many different types of professionals that can help us. For example, counsellors can help you work on relationship issues, past life events and many other topics. Financial planners can help you save money or reduce debt. Reaching out to a professional doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it means you’ve recognized a need for change and want someone to help you through it.

Canadian Mental Health Association, www.cmha.ca

Does Matcha Contain Caffeine?

Yes, Matcha does contain caffeine. The caffeine in Matcha is alkalizing rather than acidic. The caffeine is released into the bloodstream slowly. The time of the release varies, but it is not nearly as harsh as the caffeine rush inherent in coffee and energy drinks. This gradual and consistent release provides the body with just the right amount of caffeine over a longer period of time rather than dumping a huge amount of caffeine into the body all at once. Matcha still yields an immediate boost, but not the extreme rush. The lift is far more appropriate to your energy demand, and can be easily regulated based on that demand. Once again, a blast of too much caffeine results in an acidic state that can harm the stomach lining and arteries over time, taxing the organs and disrupting the body’s overall functionality. By contrast, Matcha’s caffeine has an alkalizing effect, resulting in a much gentler influence on the stomach.

Tiffanie & Kip Home, Just Matcha Tea Shop
www.justmatcha.com

The Social Nervous System

The Social Nervous System is something that we all know about intuitively, to a greater or lesser degree. When someone makes eye contact with you and gives you a warm smile, your Social Nervous Systems are being engaged. You might feel pleasant sensations in your face and your body, and a whole-body experience of expanding and relaxing. You smile back, the pleasant sensations and expansion increase, and you notice that the other person is mirroring your own relaxation and joy. People have been using their Social Nervous Systems for as long as people have been on the planet. But it has only been in the last 10-15 years that science has identified the importance of a certain group of nerves hat help us feel acknowledged, loved, contacted, met, bonded, secure. Given the complexity and precarious position of the modern world, getting people to genuinely reach out and touch their neighbors is what we really need.

Laurie Pryce, Biodynamic Body
www.biodynamicbody.ca

Tapping Into Your Brain’s Potential

Our dynamic and brilliant brains are continually forming new connections between our brain cells; creating and strengthening vast networks that carry the electrical and chemical information responsible for everything we do mentally, physically, and emotionally. This wonderful process of neuroplasticity, however, is a double-edged sword: the brain also creates and maintains the networks that support our less-than-desirable modes of being. The good news, though, is that we can consciously take control of this process by consistently choosing what we focus on, how we behave, how we think, and how we manage our emotions. It starts of course with us and our conscious awareness and intention; but there are also some amazing tools and technologies, such as neurofeedback, that can help guide and speed up this process of healing and change!

Dr. Chris Hammer, PhD, Valentus Clinics
www.valentusclinics.com

Benefits of Cassiolamine

This multi-flavonoid compound helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and in the reduction of high blood pressure. Cassiolamine helps to maintain healthy blood vessels by reducing the adhesion (stickiness) of blood platelets, which promotes healthy blood flow. This important ingredient also serves as an anti-oxidant, which helps to maintain a healthy heart and improved immune system. What this natural legume based extract is mostly known for is its powerful lipase-inhibiting features, which results in the prevention of fat absorption and an effective carbohydrate blocker.

Brett & Andrea Griffin, Valentus Canada
www.weightlosscoffeehub.com

Crooked Head, Crooked Posture

Have you ever wondered what “sets” your balance and posture? Your mind needs to take in information from the environment to know what’s going on around you, and the body uses your senses as a way to take in information. Your eyes play a major role in balance and posture as they give you feedback on direction and where the horizon is. Your inner ear has special canals that detect movement which is a major contributor to balance and posture. What your feet feel on the ground is very important. Also, information from your muscles brings in a lot of data related to position. The most important muscles for this are located along the spine and particularly in the upper neck. To correct those postural issues we need to get the head positioned straight.

Dr. Matthew Kittleson, UC Life
www.uclife.ca