Lynn's Blog

Major Health Crisis?

lynncallaghan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:05:44 +0000

Stressed out Canadian office workers are becoming “desk potatoes” which is threatening the well being of Canadians. As a nation we need to promote physical activity, wellness and optimal nutrition for all.

The prevalence of obesity is rising quickly for many inactive Canadians, especially those who are juggling family, careers and responsibilities! Many spend their days at their desk, on the computer, on the phone, sitting for 8 hours a day!

We need employers to make physical activity and wellness a priority in their strategic planning so that stress, workplace injuries, absenteeism and benefit claims would decrease! Employers need to boost morale, productivity and job satisfaction with activity and wellness for all.

Physical activity and healthy eating not only reduces the risk for diabetes, heart disease, obesity, stroke, depression, premature death and disability, it will give the private sector a competitive edge.

An inactive person on average costs the health system $300.00 more each year than an active person. (dr. Robert Cushman, spokesman for the Canadian public health association).

Considering that the total cost of dealing with diabetes is 9 billion yearly and that physical activity can reduce the risk factors by 50 %, it’s clear that urgent steps need to be taken.

Many Canadians work through lunch at their desks, we need to encourage them to get out for a noon hour walk or fitness class. Nurturing physical activity at work will produce better workers and better outcomes, a win/win for both employers and employees.

Our public health system is in trouble and we all need to look at the long term of reducing the burden of illness!

So ask your employer for support to start up a lunch hour fitness class, walking club or have some wellness lunch and learn sessions!

To your health!
Lynn Callaghan RHN, PTS, FIS

Adrenal Fatigue and Stress

lynncallaghan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:51:55 +0000

Excerpted from www.mercola.com
When our body is under stress, circulation moves to the arms, legs and head to give us the energy to run away from a threat. This evolutionary trait is preparing us to think quickly and escape and in this state, oxygen and blood flow are removed from none essential processes such as digestion. We end up with ~
• Decreased nutrient absorption
• Decreased oxygenation to your gut
• As much as four times less blood flow to your digestive system, which leads to decreased metabolism
• Decreased enzymatic output in your gut – as much as 20,000-fold!
Many nutrients are also excreted during stress, particularly:
• Water-soluble vitamins
• Macrominerals
• Microminerals
• Calcium (calcium excretion can increase as much as 60 to 75 mg within an hour of a stressful event)
As if that’s not enough, your cholesterol and triglycerides also go up, while gut flora populations decrease. You’re also more likely to experience increased sensitivity to food and gastroesophageal reflux.
But perhaps most importantly, when your body is under the stress response, your cortisol and insulin levels rise. These two hormones tend to track each other, and when your cortisol is consistently elevated under a chronic low-level stress response, you’ll likely notice that you have difficulty losing weight or building muscle. If your cortisol is chronically elevated, you’ll tend to gain weight around your midsection. Body fat, especially visceral fat (the fat that gathers around your internal organs, around your midsection) is a major contributing factor to developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
When you eat under stress, your body is in the opposite state of where you need to be in order to digest, assimilate nutrients, and burn calories. Practice ‘mindful’ eating and NEVER eat when you’re stressed. It’s best not to eat at all.
Stress also plays a major role in your immune system, and can impact your blood pressure, cholesterol, brain chemistry, blood sugar levels and hormone balance.

Adrenal Exhaustion: ENERGY, WEIGHT LOSS, ALLERGIES and more!

lynncallaghan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:25:04 +0000

What symptoms do you suffer with?

· Fatigue and lack of energy?

· Weight loss struggles?

· Cravings and low blood sugar?

· Difficulty sleeping?

· Digestive problems?

· Hot flashes, night sweats, PMS

· Mood swings, depression, anxiety?

· Loss of libido?

· Allergies and sinusitis?

· Difficulty concentrating, brain fog or ADD?

…Maybe you suffer with many of the symptoms listed above? Well, you’re not alone because, stress and diet are the two biggest causes of adrenal fatigue, which is the major underlying cause to so many of today’s health complaints.

First, understand that your Adrenal Glands are important to how well you live and how well you feel.

The adrenals glands are primarily known for the production of our stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. But they are literally a hormone factory and significantly affect the function of every tissue, organ and gland. They produce our anti-aging hormone DHEA, our reproductive hormones: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, as well as aldosterone which regulates our sodium and potassium.

The basic task of your adrenal glands is to rush all your body’s resources into “fight or flight” mode by increasing production of adrenaline and cortisol. The problem occurs when we are constantly in the “fight or flight” mode and we begin to produce too much cortisol and adrenaline.

If you are living your life in constant stress and always on the go, you are constantly in the “fight or flight” mode which triggers your body to burn calories from carbohydrates and proteins (lean muscle), and NOT stored body fats. The constant squeeze on the adrenal glands will cause your heart to race, your blood pressure to increase, your digestion to slow down and your immune system to go on alert. More importantly, it will affect your metabolism, which controls your energy and your ability to lose weight.

However, when the body is in the “resting-digesting” mode, it will burn stored body fats for energy. This is important because you get two and a half times more energy when you burn fats instead of carbohydrates or proteins. This is why it is so important to manage your stress, but you need to know (Identify) where it is coming from and you need to realize that…

Stress is Cumulative…

The effects of stress are cumulative and the more you call on our adrenal glands to produce more cortisol and adrenaline, the faster you deplete your adrenal glands.

Cortisol isn’t a bad hormone, as infomercials want you to believer, but prolonged stress and the constant production of additional cortisol and adrenaline begin to deplete and fatigue your adrenal glands.

Stress is more than worry, fear and anxiety. It is anything that causes your adrenal glands to produce more cortisol and adrenaline. It’s like the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back.” The more stress you tax your adrenal glands with, the more you deplete them and the more you have to nourish them.

A major reason why so many people have a hard time overcoming adrenal fatigue and exhaustion is because they can’t Identify where their stress is coming from…

The Diet Connection…

Your diet is a major contributor to adrenal fatigue and exhaustion and must be addressed! You can’t overcome it by simply swallowing more pills!

Low blood sugar and digestive difficulties cause the adrenals to produce additional cortisol and adrenaline, which results in even more work for the adrenal glands which is added to all the emotional and physical stress in our life.

The adrenals can only handle so much work before they become depleted and you feel the result of adrenal exhaustion.

Cortisol and adrenaline are used to balance your blood sugar when it drops. As your blood sugar drops due to skipped meals, delayed meals, or eating the wrong foods (processed, refined grains and high fructose corn syrup), your adrenals will be forced to produce even more cortisol and adrenaline. This is a big problem! If the adrenals are exhausted and unable to produce enough cortisol or adrenaline then your blood sugar will continue to drop! This brings on the cravings, hypoglycemia, PMS, inability to focus, ADD and weight gain.

It is a vicious cycle that keeps repeating itself and needs to be addressed. You can take all of the supplements you want, but they won’t help your adrenals if you can’t keep your blood sugar stable. This is why you will never restore your adrenal glands if you can’t keep your blood sugar stable!

The Digestion Connection…

Bloating, indigestion, heartburn, reflux or any of the other irritable bowel problems add to the stress on your adrenals.

When your digestive system is irritated and inflamed, your body’s natural response is to eliminate the inflammation. Cortisol, produced by the adrenals, is generated to reduce inflammation. So, the continual irritation in your digestive system causes your adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. This is more work for the adrenal glands and contributes to the overproduction of cortisol and adrenaline racing through your body.

This contributes to the vicious cycle, because elevated levels of cortisol begins to erode the intestinal lining. This leaves you susceptible to hidden food allergies, yeast, fungus, and candida overgrowth. These all contribute to digestive difficulties which further inflames the intestines and causes more work for the adrenal glands.

Physical Stress Connection…

The many sources of physical stress also cause the adrenals to be depleted. Not enough sleep, too much exercise, doing the wrong type of exercise (such as Aerobic exercise that triggers Anaerobic metabolism), joint and back pain, as well as, being overweight are all additional stressors that tax the adrenal glands, which is one more factor to exhausting your adrenal glands!

The Hormone Connection…

Hormonal imbalances associated with progesterone deficiency are also directly tied into the health of the adrenal glands.

When your body is under stress and needs more cortisol, the body may have to direct more of its resources (pregnenolone and progesterone) to make that cortisol. This causes two more problems.

First, a percentage of progesterone is being used to make cortisol. You can NOT make cortisol without progesterone. The adrenal glands literally steal the progesterone, which leads to lower levels of progesterone. This throws off the balance of progesterone to estrogen. This affects fertility, PMS, hot flashes, night sweats. This is significant problem for women in pre- and post- menopausal stages, when hormone production becomes highly dependent on the adrenal glands!

Secondly, it reduces the available pregnenolone that is needed to produce DHEA, testosterone and estrogen which means it produces less of the anti-aging hormone (DHEA), testosterone and estrogen. The adrenals simply don’t have enough resources to produce enough cortisol and our sex hormones and a major reason for low testosterone for both men and women and a main cause of loss of libido.

The bottom line? You simply cannot live without your adrenals and the hormones they produce. And how well you live and feel depends a great deal on how well your adrenal glands function!

The more stress in your life, the more you tax your adrenal glands! Stress originates in multiple areas, including emotional stress, blood sugar imbalances, digestive difficulties and physical stress. And all of this stress builds up over time and it has a cumulative affect! The adrenal glands are involved in multiple functions of your body:

· Metabolism

· Blood sugar and cravings

· Digestion and elimination

· Thyroid

· Reproductive hormones

· Mood and chemical imbalances

· Blood pressure and heart health

· Immune system (allergies, infections, etc.)

· Liver and detoxification centers

As you can see, when your adrenal glands aren’t functioning properly, it affects so many areas of your health and can form a vicious cycle.

CAUTION: It’s more than simply lowering cortisol…it’s about nourishing those exhausted adrenal glands.

Stress and the Aging Process

Is your body Building up or Breaking down? The body is always in a continual state of re-building and tearing down. The rebuild phase is called “anabolic” and the tearing down phase is called “catabolic.” One key to staying healthy is to make sure your body is doing more rebuilding than it is tearing down. When the body is in a more `catabolic’ state – it’s wearing down. People who struggle with adrenal exhaustion, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and other degenerative, chronic health problems find themselves in a more catabolic state.

Cortisol and adrenaline are both considered to be catabolic hormones, meaning they break things down. While hormones like DHEA, testosterone, insulin and growth hormones are considered to be anabolic hormones and are needed to begin the rebuild and growth process.

The constant production of cortisol and adrenaline keeps us in that catabolic state which affects our overall health. This is why stress ages us and cause us to wear down and deterioriate faster. When we manage our stress and aren’t over-producing cortisol and adrenaline we allow our body to make DHEA, testosterone and the other growth hormones that keep us healthy. But when we are always running from the saber-tooth tiger, needing quick energy to fight or flight, we shut-down our anabolic growth hormones. This prevents us from repairing and rebuilding our body, which affects our overall health.

The key is to balance those stress hormones. Not everyone’s stress hormones are too high as infomercials want us to believe. Which means NOT everyone should be taken something that is only going to lower cortisol.

If you have been under constant stress for a prolonged period of time you may have reached that point where your adrenal glands aren’t making enough of your stress hormones. This is why nourishing those adrenal glands with specific nutrients known as adaptogenic herbs can help balance out those hormones. They can lower the production if they are too high and raise the production if they are too low. Some of the most researched adaptogenic herbs are ashwagandha, rhodiola, cordyceps and ginseng.

Products that simply focus on neutralizing cortisol may be doing more harm than good. They indiscriminately lower cortisol levels when they may already be too low! Also, many of these products do absolutely nothing to help nourish and replenish your adrenal glands. Simply put, they attempt to treat the symptoms (often unsuccessfully), not the source of the problem!

Here’s the solution:

Support and replenish your adrenals with adaptogenic herbs for example

Identify where your stress is coming from….use the online health quizzes!

Stop doing the things that are depleting and exhausting your adrenal glands:

· It is too much mental stress?

· Are you skipping meals or eating the wrong foods that throw your blood sugar off?

· Do you eat foods that irritate and inflame your digestive system?

· Too much exercise? Not enough sleep? Poor nutrition?

We have found that people with mild to severe cases of adrenal fatigue can see significant improvement through a few simple steps that will help support and replenish the adrenal glands.

You will see dramatic improvements as you begin to restore normal function back to your adrenal glands.

So start today with these few small steps and you’ll begin to feel and see the difference almost immediately. But don’t wait because you will really love the way you feel when your adrenals are functioning well!

Modified from source: http://natratech.com/Solutions/adrenal_exhaustion.htm

What you need to know about the autonomic nervous system

lynncallaghan — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:56:42 +0000

The Greek doctor Parmenides is quoted,give me the power to create fever in an ill person,
and I shall be able to cure any disease!” Fever is one of the most powerful healing tools in
nature because it activates the human defense system and viruses and bacteria die easier in
high temperatures. Above all, fever gives the autonomic regulation new impulses.
This is called „conversion” and one can notice that a feverish patient who is at first pale and
freezing, gets a better circulation through his fever, and his hands and feet start to get warm.
The patient relaxes and falls into deep sleep, thus allowing his healing system to work.
But not only in feverish diseases, but in the majority of all diseases the autonomic regulation
plays an important role. This is especially true for acute diseases that go along with pain,
dizziness, unrest or other sensible symptoms. Generally it can be said that whenever a patient
feels uneasy, it`s the autonomic regulation that plays the key role. If the therapist can mange
to rebalance the autonomic regulation – just like fever can – he has an important tool towards
well-being and health.
Before I talk about the therapy of the autonomic regulation, I want to explain the function and
meaning of the autonomic regulation a little more in detail. The autonomic nervous system
steers the organism in a subtle and unconscious way, and has its capital in the hypothalamus.
From there the body is regulated automatically. You can compare it to the air-condition in a
car. The autonomic regulation leads to proper organ functions inside our body. Practically all
functions that aren`t influenced by will- power are steered by the autonomic system, like
heart-beat rate, digestion, skin temperature, blood pressure and sleep. The autonomic
regulation is active, too, when you think in terms of reproduction or emotions.
The autonomic regulation consists of two poles that mark extremes: The sympathicus and the
parasympathicus (called „vagus”). In our daily lives we always swing like a pendulum
between these two poles. While daytime is controlled mainly by an active sympathicus, the
parasympathicus is active during the night. You can spot sympathicus action by: fast pulse,
high blood pressure, fast metabolic system, pale and wet skin, inner tenseness and unrest.
If the parasympathicus is active you will find the contrary, such as slow heart beat, low blood
pressure, slow metabolism, dry skin, a need to rest and sleep, feeling tired, cramps of the
intestines and constriction in the lungs.
If someone is healthy, the autonomic regulation swings like a pendulum from one pole to the
other. This leads to a feeling of well-being, joy and health. But if the autonomic regulation
remains in one position – like an air condition heating too much or cooling too much – we
begin to feel uneasy. The more time we are out of autonomic balance, the more the functions
of the body are disturbed and after some time the first symptoms will show. The following
graphic can show this well:
2
Sympathicus Parasympathicus
Stress relaxation
Day activity sleep- night
Adrenalin Acetylcholin
Coloured region=
Harmony – Well-being
Health and well-being depends directly on the proper functions of the autonomic nervous
system. If we have too few challenges from the outer world, we become dull and passive –
and before long this will turn into its contrary – cramps and tensions. People in a
parasympathic condition are mainly tired, suffer from fatigue, loss of interests and a tendency
to sleep, but also cramps in the inner organs like the intestines, leading to constipation can
occur. The head muscles are tense and lead to tension headaches. If you look at these persons,
you will find narrow pupils (miosis), dry skin, tired faces and symptoms like gastric ulcers,
gallbladder cramps, constipation, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat etc. The other edge is
the sympathic condition where you will find nervousness, hectic and alertness. Those persons
do not want to rest or sleep, they have a tendency to suffer from diarrhoea, high blood
pressure and high pulse. The characteristic signs are wide pupils as well as wet skin and a
nervous and hectic appearance.
The reasons for autonomic dysregulation
If the autonomic nervous system doesn`t work properly, one used to put it in terms like
„autonomic malbalance” or „appearing- like- somatic- symptom”. Many persons who are
diagnosed like this, feel misunderstood, and are treated as if they didn`t want to work, or take
advantage of being “out of order”. If a doctor has no clinical findings in his blood tests, the xray
or other, the patient is diagnosed with „autonomic malfunction”. Many doctors feel that
there are emotional reasons behind, and they advise their patients to do psychotherapy and
normalize their life-style. This means doing exercise, no smoking or drinking, going to bed
early and meditation or relaxation.
For the majority of all patients these advices bring about even more distress – because they
feel pushed in the wrong direction, and feel uncomfortable with this kind of treatment.
From my holistic experience – treating persons in a way of natural healing for many years
now – the patients are perfectly right! The advices of conventional medicine aim in the wrong
direction, when it comes to autonomic malfunctions. This is why I want to explain about the
real causes for autonomic malfunctions.
The most important cause are hidden emotional conflicts, that are below the patient`s
conscious mind, and only appear on the surface by psychoenergetic blocks. This is why most
of the patients think that their symptoms can`t be caused by emotional reasons – simply
because they are beyond the reach of their conscousness. These emotional conflicts are deeply
subconscious and can hardly be put in words by the patients. This is a perfect explanation, too
why most patients dislike the traditional “talking psychotherapy”.
3
Disturbances in the psychoenergetic field lead to malfunction of the chakras and finally to
autonomic disturbances. Then the circle is closed, and we can understand clearly how
autonomic malfunctions come into action. When we use the testsystem “Psychosomatic
Energetics”, we can find the disturbed chakra and the connected emotional conflict within
minutes. We can dissolve them in only weeks with the help of specifically designed complex
homeopathic remedies, the socalled “chakra remedies” and “emotional remedies”. Much to
our surprise most of the patients begin to talk about the emotional background of their
diseases after such a treatment. It seems as if the remedies open the door to the subconscious
mind and melt away the blocks– and only then a psychotherapy can really be effective and
“come to the point”.
The other important causes for autonomic malfunctions are geopathic stress, foci, like chronic
infections in the sinuses, and disturbances of organ functions, like the digestional system with
intestines, gallbladder, pancreas or stomach. For testing these organs, I use the “organ testkit”
(Rubimed company) to find out the muscle reaction to different vials. Further examinations
like neuraltherapy and testing the reflexes serve to support my findings. Sometimes I even
need specialists in clinical examination, e.g. in cases of chronic infections in the tonsils that
need surgery. I want to give a few examples why these hidden causes can lead to autonomic
dysbalance. Everyone knows cases of „bad stomach” due to a meal that was intoxicated by
bacteria (salmonella etc). These bacteria disturb the healthy bacteria in the intestines very fast,
and lead to vomiting and diarrhoea. If bad bacteria in the intestines become chronic, they
irritate the autonomic balance and lead to a feeling of unease. Geopathic stress disturbs our
sleeping patterns heavily, causing a feeling of constant fatigue and tiredness. Chronic
infections of the sinuses lead to the miserable feeling of having a constant cold, wearing out a
patient and making him feel sick. Patients usually comprehend in an instant why a certain
autonomic malfunction has led to the disease they suffer from. It doesn`t take studies at the
university, but a practical mind and understanding is enough to get the message.
Because medicine doesn`t have objective testing methods for these malfunctions, many
humans are diagnosed wrongly and are classified as „autonomic malfunction” even though
they suffer from geopathic stress or a focus – and could be helped, if only one knew. This is
where holistic healing has its main place. According to the sentence, “the one who heals, is
the one who is right…” the holistic therapist has to keep an eye on all these hidden causes for
illness. The tighter we come to the real cause at the beginning of the disease, the better the
results will be. Finally autonomic malfunctions will disappear, and the patient will regain his
health – and well-being.
4
In many cases it`s not sufficient to detect and treat the real cause of an autonomic disturbance,
it`s also necessary to give the patient instant relief in acute crisis. The most simple treatment
is to remove the autonomic block and bring the autonomic pendulum back to swing again. In
acute diseases like common cold, pain, unease or vertigo it`s often enough to rebalance the
autonomic regulation in order to achieve fast and good results.
My colleague Dr. Ernst Hartmann, the discoverer of the global cosmic net (also called
Hartmann net), had understood this important law for healers, and in the sixties he invented
„Polyxan blau” (for treating sympathicus) and „Polyxan gelb” (for treating the Vagus). These
homeopathic remedies are made from meadow grasses that grow on geopathically disturbed
spots. Nowadays there are two new homeopathic remedies called „Simvita” (for treating
sympathicus) and „Paravita” (for treating the vagus), and they show wunderful results, much
faster and stronger than the ones I had before. If you test the pulse rate and look at the pupil of
your patient, you can easily find out which one of the two he or she will need. You can test
these remedies as vials in a muscle test, too. If e.g. the arm gets weak when stressed with
„Simvita”, the patient will need exactly this medication to rebalance his autonomic regulation,
and feel well again.
In acute cases the dosage is 10 drops per hour, and can be reduced to three times 10 drops
daily,as soon as the patient feels better. Hartmann advised to take 40 drops in a glass of water,
and drink a zip every 5 to 10 minutes until the client feels relief. Sensitive persons feel the
relief even in minutes. You can use “Simvita” and “Paravita” in practically all cases of acute
5
diseases that you would normally treat with natural remedies, like common cold. I could feel
the effects myself, when I caught a cold, and healed it within one day with Simvita.
You can also use Simvita or „Polyxan blau” wherever sympathicus regulation is out of
balance – starting from tachycardias to nervousness and anxieties (where you can combine it
perfectly with „anxiovita” – another wonderful homeopathic remedy especially designed for
all kinds of anxieties). I learnt from a colleague that she even treated a patient`s hypertensive
crisis with Simvita – and was successful. Paravita and Polyxan gelb respectively, are good for
all vagotonic conditions, like weakness, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, and low blood pressure.
Other classical indications are chronic pains and diseases that go along with cramps and
tensions.
Outlook
Any therapy that leads to relief and bettering of symptoms, almost automatically rebalances
the autonomic regulation. If you do an acupuncture, a massage or prescribe a fitting remedy,
you will always get autonomic balance, if you have pushed the right buttons. The important
point is that we get a better understanding for the connections between psychoenergy and
physiology, and that we use the tools we have in the best possible way. Better understanding
will lead to medical treatment that is both holistic and deep-going, and converts the patient in
his whole physical-emotional and mental being.
Conversion means:
?? That autonomic polarity is turned into ist opposite by therapeutic means,
?? The patient comes back into a state of harmony and
?? Life force begins to flow again, and healing mechanisms can start.
But conversion is even more, as any experienced therapist knows. The patient`s whole
existence begins to change, and many persons develop, and open up, speaking in emotional
terms, they become friendlier and regain hope. Healing diseases and healing the mi nd and
spirit in a religious sense are tightly connected, and the full range of results can only be seen if
we really manage to bring our patients to a holistic conversion. The best way to do so, is, as I
tried to show, finding the real causes, treating them and aiming at the autonomic balance.
Translation: Dr.med.Ulrike Banis M.D.
Where you can get the remedies:
1. Polyan blau, gelb, grün (Mixture of blau/gelb): Fa.Ritsert/ Eberbach (Germany)
2. Organtestkit, Simvita, Paravita, Neurovita and Anxiovita test vials :
Fa. Rubimed AG Grossmatt 3 CH 6052 Hergiswil, Switzerland
The author`s address:
Reimar Banis MD, ND
General practicioner, Holistic health
Rathausstrasse 11
A-6900 Bregenz (Lake Constance)
e-mail: drbanis@hotmail.com

The Digestive System – Underactive Stomach…

lynncallaghan — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:39:01 +0000

Our body systems are designed to function efficiently, thanks to the foods that we eat, the water we drink and the air we breath. We remain healthy as long as our bodily processes go on unhindered, and as long as our various systems can receive efficiently the raw materials that are needed to nurture, repair and fuel our body.

An underactive stomach does not produce enough enzymes for the proper digestion of food. Pepsin, the enzyme responsible for the digestion of proteins is only activated in the presence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Low HCL is one of the most common problems…This can be caused by a diet rich in animal proteins, dairy products, refined and processed foods and fast foods…It can result from eating habits such as drinking liberally with meals, drinking cold drinks at mealtime, improper food combining or inadequate chewing… stress is an emotional factor that also contributes to an underactive stomach.
Symptoms can sometimes be confused with those of an overactive stomach, leading to the use of antacids, which aggravates the condition. The regular use of antacids interferes with the production of natural acid in the stomach, leading to poor digestion and malabsorption.

An underactive stomach will affect the proper functioning of the colon, leading to constipation and poor absorption of all vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, chromiun, iodine, iron, manganese, potassium, selenium and zinc. Allergies are also linked with underactive stomach.

In holistic nutrition, we recommend eating smaller meals more often and avoiding or limiting concentrated protein foods such as red meat and dairy. Limit convenience foods and follow proper food combining. Drinking with meals or ice cold drinks will shut down the digestion process…taking small sips with meals at room temp is ideal during meals.
The state of mind at mealtime will affect a person’s digestion. Eating when rushed or upset should be avoided…Digestive enzymes may be recommended to alleviate this condition. To learn more, contact a holistic nutritionist in your area.

Lynn Callaghan,
Holistic Nutritionist

(info from symptomatology book with the Canadian school of natural nutrition.)

Weight Control Lesson #3 How stress makes you fat and relaxing can make you thin!

lynncallaghan — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:59:24 +0000

Your full of stress, the flight or fight response where all of the molecules scream “danger”. A surge of molecules triggered by your brain starts streaming through your body, telling you that it’s time to fight or run. Your breathing increases, your blood pressure goes up, and oxygen shifts from the upper part of your body to your lower body, preparing you to run. Your adrenal glands release adrenaline and Cortisol (stress hormones) into your blood stream. This response happens to increase blood fat, sugar and insulin levels, preparing you for increased energy needs.

This mechanism, when triggered too often, leads to insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome which are conditions that lead to weight gain. How can you exercise more, eat less and still gain weight? Under any physical or psychological stress, the body is designed to protect itself, and one way it does that is to conserve weight.

Stress is defined as a real or perceived threat to your body. It could be psychological or social such as depression, anxiety, grief, divorce, loneliness, unemployment etc…Or it may be physical, an infection, and inflammation, exposure to cold, environmental toxins, pain, smoking, alcohol or stimulants. Being overweight is a significant stressor. It has an impact on your health both physically and psychologically. Being overweight also leads to the production of more stress hormones.

When someone is chronically stressed, they set off a series of hormonal imbalances that complicate the problem. Each of these imbalances can have a serious impact on your health and your ability to lose weight.

In situations where stress is persistent, you also lose the normal circadian or daily rhythm of your hormones. Ultimately your system just burns out – metabolic burnout.

Sleep deprivation is another source of stress which increases hunger and cravings for calorie dense, high carbohydrate foods.

Relaxing makes you thin… the good news is that you do have control over the part of your nervous system that helps you to relax. The parasympathetic system. When you relax, you turn off the genes that cause you to gain weight…your metabolism is turned up, your fat burning increases, you become more insulin sensitive and consequently you lose weight. The problem is that relaxing isn’t a natural state. Most of us are use to being stressed out. So you need to train yourself to relax. Here are some tips to incorporate:

• Identify and reduce the causes of stress
• Practice active relaxation
• Eat stress reducing foods and avoid stress inducing foods
• Use herbs to reduce your stress

Make a list of the things that are causing you stress then try to think of ways you can eliminate them. If you can’t eliminate all stressors, there are ways that you can encourage your body and brain to relax. Use deep breathing, hot baths, saunas, prayer, yoga or meditation.
Certain herbs can help you adapt to stress better such as ginseng, Rhodiola, Siberian ginseng, ashwagandha and licorice. Supplements that help to reduce stress are B complex, magnesium, vitamin C and zinc. Get enough rest and sleep, very important in reducing stress and weight!

BREAK the DIET CYCLE

lynncallaghan — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:24:56 +0000

You know how it is… you go on a diet; restrict yourself from all the foods you love and then you CHEAT! The more extreme diet comes next, cheat again and feel even worse…what a rollercoaster ride. The extra pounds don’t really decrease but your self esteem certainly takes a dive. This vicious circle of dieting may be more detrimental to your health, body and mind!

Eating low calorie diets, below 1200 calories per day will slow your metabolism and may result in loss of muscle (which you don’t want to lose) and may not supply the nutrients you need to keep healthy.

Some studies suggest that dieting may prevent your body from producing enough serotonin to maintain your mood level, leading to food cravings and overconsumption of “bad” carbohydrates and sugars. Some experts believe that the body fights to maintain a certain “set point”, regardless of food intake and restrictive diets may elevate this set point and increase the size and number of fat cells.

The dieting cycle and produce feelings of deprivation, self blame and lowered self esteem, stress and depression. Here are a few steps for breaking the diet cycle and starting a healthy, new relationship with food.

Redefine Health – Start to measure your well being by how you feel rather by what the number on the scale says. Are you strong? Do you have stamina and energy to take you through your day? Can you walk up the stairs without getting out of breath?

Counteract social pressures – Stop basing your goals on the images you see in magazines and on TV. Magazine pictures are manipulated to portray ideals, not reality!

Choose a realistic target weight – Are you shooting for a weight that you have not had since junior high or college? Take an honest look at your beliefs about your ideal weight; do you think it will result in a perfect body and a perfect life? Be realistic with your goal weight, talk to a professional who can help you determine your ideal weight, considering your height, age, body composition, and lifestyle!

Make sure the timing is right for you – Are you facing multiple stressors right now? Looking for short term results for an upcoming reunion or wedding? Real, long lasting change takes time; there are no magic pills or quick fixes. Take small steps and you will avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Take baby steps towards better choices- instead of giving up pizza all together, try ordering a healthier version or make your own at home.

Build a support system- find people who are supportive and stay away from negative people who offer nothing but negative comments or feedback.

Treat yourself! To a bubble bath, a pedicure, a new hairstyle… Remember, you can break the diet cycle!

Lynn Callaghan
PTS, FIS & Holistic Nutritionist

FOODS that contain both protein & Carbs

lynncallaghan — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:21:03 +0000

Many foods contain both protein and carbohydrates, regardless if the food comes
> from a farmer’s dirt or a baker’s oven. Protein is important for building muscle
> and providing the body with energy. Carbohydrates, commonly know as carbs, are
> broken into simple sugars by the body. These sugars also help provide a primary
> source of energy. When you eat food that contain both protein and carbs, you’re
> giving your body a double dose of energy.
> Legumes
> 1. Legumes, better known as beans, are the perfect protein and carbohydrate
> combination. They contain high levels of energy sources, and provide plenty of
> vitamins and minerals for a healthy diet. Soybeans contain the most protein.
> White, kidney, black and navy beans provide a descent amount as well. Mung and
> snap beans provide the least amount of protein and carb content.
>
> Milk Products
> 2. All milk products contain protein and carbohydrates, regardless if you’re
> talking about whole milk, yogurt, cheese or ice cream. Most milk products
> contain a much higher percentage of protein than they do carbohydrates. However,
> the exact levels depend on the product and the amount of additional ingredients.
> Goat milk provides protein with slightly lower carb levels than cow’s milk.
>
> Nuts and Seeds
> 3. Nuts and seeds are an incomplete protein, making them a good, but not great,
> protein source. They also contain a relatively high concentration of
> carbohydrates. They’re particularly useful in vegetarian diets because of the
> essential vitamins, minerals and oils they add. Pumpkin seeds, pine nuts,
> sunflower seeds and almonds have high protein content. Coconut, pecans and
> macadamia nuts have lower protein levels.
>
> Fruits
> 4. Almost every kind of fruit contains a small amount of protein along with a
> higher dose of carbohydrates. Though they’re not a great source of primary
> protein, fruit does help add to your overall daily intake. From apples, apricots
> and bananas to strawberries, tangerines and watermelon, remember that fresh
> fruit is always the best choice.
>
> Vegetables
> 5. Many vegetables have at least a small amount of protein mixed in with some
> carbohydrates. However, certain vegetables, such as potatoes, peas, spinach and
> broccoli, have rather high protein and carb content. Other vegetables, such as
> beets, cabbage and carrots, provide only a tiny amount of protein.
>
> Grains
> 6. Grains offer a high concentration of carbohydrates, but they also have a
> small amount of incomplete protein. Barley, bulgur wheat, oat bran and whole
> wheat flour have relatively high concentrations of protein for a grain. Cornmeal
> and white wheat flour have relatively low concentrations of protein.
>
>
> Read more: Foods That Contain Protein & Carbs | eHow.com
> http://www.ehow.com/about_5379566_foods-contain-protein-carbs.html#ixzz0zG3YsbDh

Weight Control Lesson #3

lynncallaghan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:51:44 +0000

How stress makes you fat and relaxing can make you thin!

In situations where stress is persistent, you also lose the normal circadian or daily rhythm of your hormones. Ultimately your system just burns out – metabolic burnout.

Sleep deprivation is another source of stress which increases hunger and cravings for calorie dense, high carbohydrate foods.

• Identify and reduce the causes of stress
• Practice active relaxation
• Eat stress reducing foods and avoid stress inducing foods
• Use herbs to reduce your stress

The humble pumpkin, a nutrient powerhouse!

lynncallaghan — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:22:57 +0000

from my friend in ottawa, kylie delfino.

Pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber; one-half cup serving contains 5 grams of fiber. Fiber helps reduce bad cholesterol levels, protect the body against heart disease, control blood sugar levels and promote healthy digestion.
Health Benefits of Pumpkin

The potassium found in pumpkin aids in balancing fluid levels in the body, promotes strong bones, is necessary for energy production, and helps to control blood pressure. Pumpkin is also rich in magnesium, which aids the body in hundreds of functions, including promoting a healthy immune system, contributing to bone strength, and normalizing heart function. Pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5 is also found in pumpkin. Vitamin B5 help balance hormone levels and manage stress.
A Nutritionally balanced twist on the traditional Pumpkin Pie

The natural sweetness of the pumpkin and pure maple syrup makes this pie sweet as can be, yet combined with the protein and good fats from the tofu and the pecan nuts balanced with the fiber from the brown rice flour this is a well rounded, sweet treat for the holiday season.

* Gluten free
* Yeast free
* Refine sugar free
* Dairy free
* Egg free

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 350F

Crust:

* 2 cups of pecans
* 1 cup of brown rice flour
* Pick of sea salt
* 1/3 cup of olive oil
* 1/3 cup of maple syrup

Crust: combine pecans, brown rice flour and salt in a food processor and blend with an S blade until it becomes a crumb like texture. Add oil and maple syrup and fold with a spatula until it makes a firm ball. Transfer ball to greased glass pie dish and flatten with hands to make the pie crust. Puncture with fork and bake for 15 minutes in a 350F oven.

Filling:

* 1 x 12oz pack of silken tofu
* 2 cups of cooked pumpkin pureed
* ½ cup of maple syrup
* 1 tsp of pure vanilla essence
* 1 tbs of pumpkin pie spice

**blend your own pumpkin pie spice (Kylie’s personal blend)

* ¼ tsp ground cloves
* ¼ tsp all spice
* 1 tsp ground ginger
* 1 tsp cinnamon

Filling: wrap tofu in paper towel to remove excess moisture, then in a clean food processor process tofu until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and blend until velvety smooth. Pour filling into pie shell and bake for 50 minutes at350F. TIP: wrap foil around edges to prevent burning.