3 Steps to Strong Springtime Immunity

It's almost mid-April and winter is finally waving goodbye. Our days are warming up, there are ample puddles to jump in, and we can almost dig our hands into the dirt.

3 Simple ways to keep your family healthy during this seasonal transition:

1. Embrace warmth.

Continue to eat steamy foods like soups & stews, gentle warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and hot herbal teas like echinacea, elderberry and chamomile. Dress your kids for unexpected changes in temperature, and unexpected spills in the puddles. Consider low grade fever to be your body's first line of defense against viral and bacterial infections (see earlier post on how to support a fever). 

2. Limit sugar consumption. Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's, then Easter keep our candy larder overflowing all winter long. Limit consumption of refined white & brown sugars, as well as high fructose corn syrup. Encourage naturally sweet fruit, or gently sweetened homemade treats made with (limited) less refined sugars like honey, maple syrup, juices, dates. Sugar directly inhibits our immune response so it's especially important to avoid during the first signs of cough, cold or flu. 

3. (Re)Consider Cod Liver Oil

High in fat soluble vitamins A & D and omega three fatty acids EPA & DHA it's no wonder our grandparents doled this out during long Canadian winters. Natural flavouring and encapsulation have made this wonder supplement somewhat more palatable in modern times. 

Food Sensitivity Testing

I have not eaten an egg in a decade, I've had small amounts of eggs in baked goods, challah bread, waffles and pancakes, but I have not eaten an entire egg since my Carroll food intolerance test indicated that I do not have adequate enzymes to digest them properly. I used to be the queen of the fried egg with mustard on pita in Naturopathic Medical School, then wondered why I'd have a "nervous stomach" midway through the morning. No more eggs, no more nervous stomach! 

I offer the Carroll food intolerance testing as well as other food and nutrition related tests through my clinic. The following is a brief description of each. If you are interested in knowing more, or having a test done, please contact me. 

The Carroll food intolerance test

Tests your enzyme intolerance, this doesn't change over time, it identifies one food or group of foods that your digestive system does not make enough enzymes to break down properly. Soy, potato, dairy, fruit, seafood, meat, honey, eggs, sugar, mine salt, grains are tested for a main intolerance as well as combination intolerance (wherein two groups must be eaten a number of hours apart). 

The test is done through a blood spot, sent to California. 

($125)

IGG food sensitivity test

Tests your immune reaction to 96 different foods. Immune systems are dynamic, so your IGG reaction to foods can change over time, the general recommendation is to eliminate the foods that are identified for 3 months, then attempt to re-introduce them. Oftentimes after the suggested break some of the foods can be re-incorporated into your regular dietary rotation. The test is done through a blood spot, sent to Calgary.

($285)

Nutrigenomix

Tests your blood for genetic variations that can help predict disease development; cardiovascular, diabetic, etc, and introduces preventative suggestions from a nutritional and supplemental stand point. For example if you have the fairly common mutation that makes synthetic folic acid impossible to breakdown, all commercial grain must be eliminated (as it is fortified with folic acid). This test Is not a test I would order of the main or only concern was a digestive disturbance, rather it is geared towards individualized disease prevention. 

$349+

 Clinically each of these tests can take a lot of guess work out of the question "what can I eat"? Which is often times posed when a person seems to be reaction to something they cannot identify or everything they eat. Sometimes our body gives us the sensitivity clues so long after ingestion it's impossible to pinpoint through food journaling or elimination diets. 

Blossom Bitting ND

506.830.6600

Prevent Pollen Problems

 Spring is here, or so the calendar tells us. Warmer temperatures and seeing ALL of this snow melting is very inspiring for most of us. However, the snow's release of mold spores, coupled with upcoming pollen pollution can leave some running for cover. 

The following are a few quick naturopathic home care tips to help you prepare for allergy season. Better control over your allergies can leave you with more energy, better focus and a better mood. I usually recommend anyone who suffers from allergies to start a prevention plan around the time of the spring equinox. In other words, the time is now. 
Support your immune system- foods high in omega 3 fatty acids (fish,flax seeds,walnuts & hemp seeds) and pro-biotics (yogurt, keffir, kimchee, sauerkraut) help to balance the immune system, making it less reactive to allergens. Taking  a vitamin C supplement (at least 3000 mg per day, no more than 1500mg at a time) can act as a natural anti-histamine, helping to reduce the itchiness, redness and inflammation that comes along with allergies.
Take some honey in your tea- adding a teaspoon of local unpasteurized honey (I usually get mine from la fleur du pommier at the Moncton or Dieppe farmers market) to your diet can expose you to small quantities of local pollen which may help desensitize you to the spring time flood of pollen from trees and plants. Nettles is a mineral rich herb that has been used traditionally for allergy symptoms for centuries, it mixes well with peppermint to make a flavorful tisane appropriate for any age. I make and sell a tea blend called "132 Weldon" it deliciously combines these herbs with red raspberry leaves. 
Use a neti pot- an ancient yogic practice which has become mainstream in recent western culture,  partially due to Oprah promoting it about a decade ago, a neti pot is used to bathe your nasal passages with warm saline. It washes away any potential air born allergens that you've inhaled throughout the day or previous night.

See your ND- The above steps are basic and somewhat universal steps to help you to start to control your "spring fever". As always, you will get better results if you consult with a naturopathic doctor like myself, one on one, as we can address the specifics of what has perpetuated your individual imbalance.  We can also add tailored in office solutions such as acupuncture, specific herbal solutions, homeopathy, adrenal gland support, sleep aids, etc. 

Acute Naturopathic Care

For Kids

Ages 6 months-16 years

Ear aches	coughs	Sore throats
gastroenteritis	fever	viruses
Chicken pox	measles	mumps

Wednesdays 3-5pm (October-March)

30 minute visits for newcomers

 (15 minute visits with existing file)

Call ahead to reserve a spot or drop-in

857-1300           1067 Champlain St Dieppe