Hey! It's December and that means it's time to CELEBRATE. If your celebrations are anything like mine that means that there is occasionally alcohol at them. Did I say "occasionally alcohol"? I meant "often wine." But if you were hoping for a list of tasting notes I'm sorry to disappoint! This how to guide is a little less "how to indulge" and a lot more "how am I going to manage my health risks since I'm for sure having some wine"
It's so true that many people think suicide or thoughts of suicide is something that happens to "other people." That's what I thought before life taught me that simply isn't true. Suicide is not a mental illness; it's a mental health issue. There's a difference...
OK. So I know I’m a bit late to the game but I recently watched Disney’s Moana and I’m completely in love. In a wonderful departure from “waiting for the prince to save me” movies of my childhood, Moana depicts a true heroine. The movie is a great adventure journey but the true conflict in the story is one of identify. Moana struggles throughout the film with this central question “Who Am I?” This is a question many of us ask ourselves and when we are distant from the answer, it can fill us with anxiety. In fact, lack of connection to ourselves and our identity is, in my opinion, the leading spiritual cause of anxiety. In watching Moana tackle her own identity we can learn how we can better connect to our own higher selves and help our children find theirs.
So in this movie Moana has two duelling destinies. As a child, she is chosen to voyage across the ocean to restore the heart of Tafiti but as the daughter of the village chief, she is expected to take over as chief of the village. She feels drawn to the water but also a lot of shame and frustration about this desire which she expresses in “How Far I’ll Go.” Moana does what many of us do when confronted with this type of conflict, it’s so uncomfortable to hold two opposite positions at the same time, that she blames herself crying “what is wrong with me?”
This tension between others expectations and listening to our own inner voices is all to familiar. Watching Moana try and navigate this phase of self discovery can bring to light how we mange this role in our own journey and how we support the children in our lives as they discover theirs. Are we meeting this challenge with an authoritarian perspective, creating rigid rules like Moana’s father? Are we consolatory like Moana’s mother who cautions "Sometimes who we wish we were, what we wish we could do—it’s just not meant to be" Or are we meeting this conflicts with wisdom, trusting in the questioners ability to find their own answer?
In the end Moana is able to listen to herself and follow her calling. She finds her identity as a voyager and claims both her identity and her purpose. This culminates in the song “I AM MOANA” where she is able to acknowledge the voice was not something calling from outside of her but coming from inside her. In doing so is she able to loose her anxiety over her identity. She becomes the confident heroine who voyages across the ocean and in doing so is then better able to lead her village. Her anxiety is resolved because she is living in congruence with her purpose. Even though she faces challenges, she faces them confidently with a sense of purpose and identity.
This is what we all want for ourselves and our children. To feel confident in why we are here so that challenges placed in our path can be met from a place of purpose. This is what comes from creating space to listen to our higher selves and honouring the gifts we have received. Moana reminds us that we all have a calling, and that being separated from it can cause us a great sense of anxiety which can be resolved simply by reconnecting.
Nutrition can be challenging to understand. Nutrition and kids, even more so. There are so many things to consider - it can often be overwhelming. You want your child to grow and thrive, but you only have so much time and effort to put into nutrition. Often this can be made more complicated by picky eaters and kids who loves something one week and will not touch it the next. To make it worse, nutrition advice often gets divided into camps and everyone seems to believe their camp is best for everyone. Ever met someone following a vegan diet? Gluten-Free? Paleolithic?
The truth is nutritional science is still young, and while we know some basic truths for sure (example - vegetables are in fact good for you) scientists are still uncovering the details in terms of which diet is BEST or BEST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. So what I’ve done for you in this guide is waded through what we know about nutrition, and what we know about anxiety and put together my best recommendations. These are meant to help you navigate the world of nutrition and make better choices for your family. What they are not meant to do is create guilt, shame, or stress. So take what you can from these guidelines but please use them as just that, guidelines, not rigid rules.
Ready for some new recipes?
Before I get into the recommendations themselves I want to explain WHY I’m making them. If you’re the type of person that wants to know the details the next few paragraphs are for you. If you are in a hurry, or would rather skip the nutritional science, feel free to skip ahead a few paragraphs. The nutritional recommendations below are there because they support one or more of the following principles: supporting a health microbiome; creating a balanced blood sugar response; ensuring appropriate nutrients for building the nervous system; and/or avoiding common nutrient deficiencies that cause anxiety.
Bacteria can influence our mental wellbeing
Although we are still uncovering the details, it has become apparent that our microbiome (the bacteria living in our intestines) have a huge impact on many aspects of our health, including our mood. These bacteria can make neurotransmitters, and can communicate with the brain via the enteric nervous system (our nervous system in the gut). While we often think of our brain sending information to our bodies, when it comes to the digestive tract 80% of the nerves between it and the brain actually go from the digestive tract TO the brain(1). Probiotic supplements (good bacteria in a pill) have been shown to be beneficial for anxiety(2). It makes sense then to support a natural healthy microbiome with our diets. We can do this by increasing foods that contain healthy bacteria (probiotics), including foods that feed the probiotics (prebiotics), and reducing food for pathogenic or harmful bacteria / yeast (sugar).
Sugar can disrupt our blood sugar response
The next principle, creating a balanced blood sugar response, is something that is important for many people, but not always considered when discussing anxiety. This is unfortunate because individuals with anxiety are more likely to experience blood sugar imbalance (3). With an impaired response to the carbohydrates in their foods, people with anxiety may experience reactive hypoglycemia. This is because the body creates too much insulin in response to sugar and an individuals blood sugar goes too low, creating symptoms like shaking, increased heart rate, and nervousness. Many people experience this as anxiety. By balancing blood sugar, individuals can feel more calm. In fact, a study examining Glycemic Index (how quickly your blood sugar goes up) of breakfast foods and mood in healthy children found that a low glycemic index breakfast was associated with feeling more alert, more happy, and less nervous (4). Imagine the difference in children with anxiety who may be even more sensitive! I want to stress than in my practice I have seen anxiety completely resolve by changing diet; in these cases the body’s response to carbohydrates was the ROOT CAUSE OF THE ANXIETY.
The last two principles I’m going to speak about together because they both come down to getting enough nutrients (not just calories, but nutrients) from your diet. This is important for both macronutrients like proteins and fats, and micronutrients like B vitamins and Magnesium. There are things you need to get from your food because they are essential. This means your body cannot make it on its own. If you do not consume enough of these building blocks, the thing your body is trying to make just doesn’t get made. You need amino acids from protein to build neurotransmitter. You need long chain omega-3 fatty acids to act as insulators to the wires your brain. The other important thing to consider is that if you are not getting enough of a nutrient your body you may have symptoms caused by that nutrient deficiency. A lack of vitamin B12 can cause numbness and tingling, both common symptoms in anxiety. A lack of magnesium is a known cause of anxiety, this is concerning because nutritional surveys consistently demonstrate that dietary magnesium is usually below the recommended daily allowance (5).
And so, with these principles in mind, here are the Do’s and Don’t for Feeding Your Anxious Child.
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Protein provides essential amino acids, the building blocks of neurotransmitters, compounds your brain uses to communicate. In addition to it’s essential role including protein at meals and snacks decreases the calories from carbohydrates which improves the glycemic index of the meal, helping to balance blood sugars. It’s best to include a variety of protein sources including more plant proteins (like legumes) and less red meats.
Beans (black beans, kidney beans, chick peas)
Tofu, Tempeh, Soy Milk
Hummus
Eggs
Greek Yogurt (unsweetened)
Fish and Seafood
Chicken and other poultry
Beef, Lamb and Pork
Clean protein powders (whey, soy, hemp)
Our brain is made up of a lot of fat! It’s important to make sure we are building it with the best (and least inflammatory) fats as possible.
Fatty Fish (Salmon/Trout, Mackerel, Anchovy, Sardines, Herring)
Olives and Olive Oil
Raw Nuts and Seeds
Coconut, Coconut Oil
Avocado
Organic Full Fat Dairy Products
As most people know, processed sugar is devoid of nutrients. It also has a high glycemic index. While it’s obvious to exclude or limit things like candy and cookies there is a lot of sugar hidden in prepared foods like pasta sauces. It is important to read labels and look for words like sugar, cane sugar, dehydrate cane juice, glucose, fructose, glucose-fructose, sucrose, dextrose, maltodextrin, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and corn syrup solids are some of the more common words that mean “added sugar.” The labels you want to check most are:
Candy, Fruit Snacks, Chocolate
Cookies, Cakes, Muffins, “Breakfast Cookies”
Breakfast Cereals
Granola Bars
Yogurt / Yogurt Products (especially kids yogurts)
Pop, Fruit Drinks
Pasta Sauce, Canned Soups
Crackers
Condiments (Ketchup, Peanut butter) and Salad Dressings
Fibre reduces the glycemic index of our food. It also serves as a prebiotic to support a healthy microbiome.
Vegetables (Fresh or Frozen)
Fruits (Fresh or Frozen)
Whole Grains (brown rice, steel cut oats, polenta, spelt berries)
Seeds (Hemp, Chia, Sesame, Quinoa)
Fermented foods are a natural source of probiotics that help support a healthy microbiome.
Yogurt, Kefir
Cultured Vegetables (Sauerkraut, Kimchee)
Miso, Tempeh
Salt pickles and brine-cured olives
Kombucha
Apple Cider Vinegar
Preservatives are meant to kill bacteria. From a food safety / longevity standpoint it seems like a great idea. But when you consider the microbiome suddenly preservatives are not a good choice. Even if they are safe for humans, these compounds are designed to kill bacteria! And so it is important to limit these foods to support a healthy microbiome. Some major offenders include:
Processed Meat (Hot Dogs, Bacon, Lunch Meats, Smoked Fish)
Cereal
Potato Chips
Soft Drinks
Dried Fruit
Commercial Breads and Bread products
It's important to prevent magnesium deficiency. In addition most of these whole foods are good for the microbiome and your blood sugar balance. When possible, choose organic vegetables, as they are generally higher in magnesium due to conservation of soil minerals compared with conventional farming practices.
Organic Leafy Greens (spinach and swiss chard)
Nuts and Seeds (pumpkin seeds, almonds)
Cheese and Yogurt
Beans and Legumes (black beans)
Some Fruits (Avocado, Fig, Banana)
While you as a parent are responsible for providing healthy choices, it is also important to model healthy food relationships. Unless your child is very ill after eating something, making something a “never” food is generally a bad idea. Cultivate an enjoyment of healthy food and a respect for all foods. Making something forbidden can create an unhealthy relationship with that food. Children with anxiety are at higher risk for eating disorders in their teens and twenties. Teach them to enjoy food and to eat mindfully.
Looking for some meal inspiration that meets these guidelines? Download my “Lunches for Anxious Tummies” for 18 School, Kid, and Naturopath Approved Recipes.
Browning and Travagli. Central Nervous System Control of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion and Modulation of Gastrointestinal Functions. Compr Physiol. 2014 Oct; 4(4): 1339-1368 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4858318/
Pirbaglou et al. Probiotic supplementation can positively impact anxiety and depression symptoms: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition Research. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joel_Katz/publication/304402610_Probiotic_supplementation_can_positively_affect_anxiety_and_depressive_symptoms_a_systematic_review_of_randomized_controlled_trials/links/578f74a908ae81b44671c97d.pdf
Zhou et al. The Prevalence of impaired glucose regulation in anxiety disorder patients and the relationship with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activity. J Evid Based Med. 2016 Aug 29. [Abstract] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27792263
Micha, Rogers and Nelson. Glyceamic index and glyceamic load of breakfast predict cognitive function and mood in school children: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2011 Nov;106(10):1552-61. [Abstract] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21736777
Gaby. Nutritional Medicine. 2011. Concord NH. Magnesium. Ch 27. Pg 136.
"Dr. Katie, does magnesium work for anxiety?" This questions, and variations of it, is one of the most common off the cuff questions I get asked, both in my practice and when I'm out in the community. In some ways the answer is straightforward, the evidence of efficacy (or if something works) for a particular ingredient (say magnesium) is easy enough for me to assess. However, the full answer is more complicated. Many factors contribute to whether or not a particular supplement is effective for anxiety. This is complicated by the fact that when someone asks "does something work for anxiety?" they are almost always asking "will this work for me?"
These are related but different questions. "Will this work for me?" is a more complicated question involving not only the efficacy of the supplement but an individualized assessment of each person's experience, and a deeper understanding of how each supplement effects an individuals mind body and spirit. This process doesn't lend it's self well to lists, but I've done my best, and so here it is, the seven things I always consider when answering "does this work for anxiety" for my patients.
This is the first thing I consider when someone asks "does something work." Evidence comes in a variety of forms, which are graded in Evidence Based Medicine. Evidence ranges from historical use of a product, to our understanding of how something would support normal body functions, to case reports, clinical trials and meta-analysis (where the results of several clinical trials are amalgamated.) Some remedies have been studied in clinical trials, when that has been done it is important to include that information in assessing whether a supplement will work for an individual. Regardless of whether or not a meta analysis is available, the highest level of evidence available is used to determine the supplements efficacy.
The form of a supplement is something that can greatly impact efficacy, even between two of the "same" supplements. When it comes to herbal medicine there are a variety of ways to take different herbs. Some herbs may be available in a tea, some in a capsule, and others in an alcohol extract called a tincture. Different herbs are more effective when extracted in water vs alcohol or vice versa. Knowing what form is going to be effective is an important part of know which anxiety supplement is going to work. In nutrition supplementation, different forms of vitamins and minerals are more readily absorbed by the body. Some individuals may require or respond better to forms of vitamins that are in their most active form, especially if they are unable to activate them themselves. These factors are important, because the right dose of an effective ingredient is not helpful if it is not effectively absorbed. Form can greatly impact the efficacy of a supplement and is an important consideration when asking "does this supplement work?"
Dosing is another important factor when considering the effectiveness of a supplement. If an ingredient is effective, but a supplement does not have sufficient amounts of the at ingredient, the supplement may not work. This is not a fault of the ingredient it's self but a reflection of the amount of the ingredient in the product. Also dosing may be different for the same supplement for different conditions and for different individuals. For example, the dosing of NAC is not the same in OCD as it is for influenza, even though NAC is effective for both conditions.
Quality of supplements is also a factor when determining if something is going to work. In herbal medicine, where and how the plant was grown, how it was harvested, stored and prepared can all impact the medicinal effects of the supplement. I am quite partial to herbs that have been wild harvested or grown organically. The struggle of the herbs to grow in their natural environment encourages the creation of the medicinal compounds in the plant.
Anxiety doesn't look the same in everyone. Some people have difficulty breathing, Others experience more tension in their bodies, some may be unable to concentrate due to repetitive thoughts and worries. Some experience digestive discomfort. Each of these presentations can be labeled "anxiety", but different supplements are more indicated for certain presentations of anxiety. How severe someone's anxiety is informs the dosing and choice of a supplement. While some individuals may respond best to gentler treatment, others may need a more aggressive approach. Something that works well for someone may not be the best dose to work for someone else. Anxiety is something that encompasses a variety of different diagnosis. Some individuals experience anxiety all the time, such as in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, others may experience anxiety in only certain social situations. The supplement and dosing used in each of these situations is different, and should be different.
I almost didn't include this one because it is so obvious but it is the most important. If a supplement is going to be effective, it has to be safe for the patient to take. Safety in supplements is not something I take lightly. Just because you can pick something up off the shelf at a health food store does not mean it is without risk. We are lucky in Canada as all of our supplements are quite highly regulated and are unlikely to be contaminated however, just because a supplement is what it says on the bottle does not necessarily make it a good choice, or a good choice for you. A supplement may be safe for some people and not others. It's always a good idea to consult a health care provider when taking a new supplement especially if you have a disease or disorder, you are taking pharmaceutical or over the counter medication, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Lastly, I think it's very important to take into account your own intuition about what is happening in your body and what you think will help you. In my practice I value what my patients think about their bodies and acknowledge that they have access to their own bodies wisdom. I also consider my own intuition, not above issues of safety and evidence of efficacy, but alongside the patients experience. In this way I strive to find the supplement that matches the patient not only in their body, but is an energetic or spiritual match as well.
One of the side effects of stress is that a lot of people carry it in their bodies. One of the common places is in the neck and shoulders. I sat down with Leslie Brown RMT to discuss how massage can help with managing one of the most common physical side effects I see of stress in my practice - tension headaches.
Tension headaches are trigger points that refer pain into your head. Trigger points are a tight hyper irritable spot that most people call knots. Each muscle has a different location and referral pattern. For example some one might experience pain behind their eyes and someone else might have pain in the back of the head. A massage therapist will know what muscles to treat based on where your tension headache is. Active trigger points will constantly refer pain into your head, while latent trigger points only create pain when you press on the trigger point.
This picture shows some common referral patterns of the neck muscles. The X's are trigger point locations in the muscles and the red areas show where the referral pain (tension headaches) are felt.
Neck problems are so prevalent. So many people have poor posture and are so stressed! Also repetitive computer and cell phone use affects posture and causes neck pain and headaches. These headaches are very prevalent and exhausting. They take away from your focus and energy and impact sleep because when you have pain you don't have restorative sleep, which impacts your overall healing.
I have a lot of experience with treating headaches and neck pain because of my work with people who have been in motor vehicle accidents. Many people do not only come in when they have a headache, they come in for prevention and maintenance. Typical treatment would be 1/month to counteract lifestyle factors such as ongoing postural and stress tension. It is also beneficial as time for self care and to help with relaxation. If you are getting more than 3 headaches a year, treatment can help reduce frequency and intensity of your headaches.
Leslie Brown is a Registered Massage Therapist at Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre. To book a massage with Leslie, or chat with Dr. Katie about multidisciplinary headache care call 519 827-0040.
Recently, I've been hearing a lot of conflicting information about essential oils. On one hand people seem to be using them liberally as a cure-all for many different ailments. On the other, there are many warnings going around about the dangers of using essential oils and how toxic they are. So what's really going on here? What is an essentail oil? Do they work? And are they safe?
I know why it gets ignored. It's hard to talk about. It's hard to write blog posts about. For some reason it seems like it's in another place. It's not a tangible like cardiovascular disease and cancer. You don't know which of your friends' dad's have had it. Or at what age your uncle did. And because of this it can seem like it's not a big deal. But the truth is it's common, one in ten Canadian men get it over the course of their life, and it's deadly - disproportionately killing men, one every minute.
If you haven't guessed, I'm talking about depression. Yes one in ten men and if you are doing the math, you know someone even if you don't know who. For some reason we don't talk as much about "mental health" Something that is so confusing to me because from my perspective depression, well all mental health concerns really, aren't just about our minds. In fact, no disease or disorder is "just mental" or "just physical."
Mental Health is inseparable from our physical health. So why don't we talk about it? Sometimes I find men are afraid that identifying the problem means having to hash out all the gory details. LIke acknowledging that there is some shit going on in their life and that it's making everything else a whole lot less fun means having to talk about it in detail. But there are lots of ways to heal from depression and talking is only one component. Sometimes men need to be heard, but sometimes they need to run more, or learn about mindfulness, or spend some time having fun with friends.
This month, in honour of Movember and in support of men's mental health, I'm donating $40 from each men's initial naturopathic visit to The Movember Foundation. If you know of someone going through a hard time right now who might be helped by this article, please share it with them. If that person is you, and you want to talk more about naturopathic support for mental wellness, I'm happy to listen.
This morning I felt a little off. I didn't sleep well last night and as I prepared to go to work I felt sad and tired, like I'd rather have a day in bed than head into work. It's been a busy few weeks for me. We ran 2 workshops the past 2 Tuesday evenings, I traveled for work over the past weekend, and in general had just put in more hours than usual. This week is looking like more of the same with extra work things booked into hours I usually use to take care of myself and my home.
I took a breath and checked in with myself; I found I was feeling overwhelmed. Knowing I had some time booked off soon, I checked my calendar and discovered I just had to keep this up until... Easter. My face fell and I wanted to cry. I knew I needed some space before then and so I made up my mind - I would take a day off. As soon as the thought of this came into my mind I felt more peaceful.
I arrived at work, checked my schedule and booked off the next available day. I felt a weight lift. To me this is the radical self love I encourage in my work, and work to practice for myself. When you love what you do, it's hard to remember you can't spend all your waking hours working on it. Your mindbody needs rest, and when I didn't schedule enough of it in, my mindbody let me know.
These messages from our bodies are gifts. What is your body telling you? How can you honour its needs today?
Love, Dr. Katie
Last night I had a wonderful time chatting with some great people about stress, anxiety and insomnia management. I know you all really wanted to come so I thought I'd share all the best bit for those of you who live too far away, or couldn't make a 7:30pm talk on a Tuesday!
One topic we spent a bunch of time on was nutrients you might be missing. Did you know that nutritional studies show half of American women were getting less than 75% of the recommended daily amount of magnesium. Magnesium, which is found in vegetables and whole grains, can relieve symptoms of anxiety and insomnia when they are caused by a magnesium deficiency.
Another topic that came up frequently was different types of mindfulness practices. Many people shared their experiences from everything from walking in natures, to exercise, to meditation. We discussed how the practice of being present can ease anxiety and bring more enjoyment to life by allowing your consciousness to surrender to what's happening in the moment.
Thank you to everyone who came out and shared last night!
Still feeling like you missed out? Book your calendars for Tuesday November 17th, 7:30pm @ Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre in Guelph because I'm running this talk one more time this year! See you there!
Dr. Katie
If you are reading this blog than I'm away from my office right now. That's right, vacation, I'm in my first year being self employed and I'm away right now, catching up on beach time, book reading, playing with the neiphlings and probably sampling some county wine. So why am I telling you this? Because planning to take vacation, and then actually taking the vacation is, how I want to live.
Just liking guiding people through stressful life periods is a passion of mine, I'm also passionate about spending time with my family. By getting to know myself and connect with my higher self and what I want from life it lets me create almost like a mission statement. When you are connected with your passion you can live your life with purpose and design your life around living your dreams.
I'll share another secret with you today. I'm not writing this post from the beach. In fact, I wrote it 2 weeks ago from my office. Why? So I could be in the moment right now when I'm away from work. For my life, work/life harmony means being where I am and practice being present in what I'm doing. This mindfulness practice increases productivity and lets you focus on where you are while breaking the worry cycle of thinking about places you aren't and things you can't deal with in the moment.
So what's with all the honesty today? Why share so much? Because expressing what's going on for me, acknowledging emotions, brings me piece of mind. Being able to speak your truth, wether literally through tea with a friend or written into a journal, or figuratively by creating or appreciating art or music, sets those emotions free.
Follow your passion. Live in the moment. Speak your Truth.
Love, Dr. Katie
We've all heard the saying "you are what you eat" but it is so true, especially when it comes to mental health and whole body wellness. If your body isn't getting what it needs, it freaks out, leaving you tired stressed and more emotional than is really you.
So what can be done? Here are my top 3 ways you can nourish your body to help you feel calm.
1. Balance Your Blood Sugar. Not just for diabetics, blood sugar regulation is important for everyone! Think of the last time you saw a bunch of kids at a birthday party with cake. They have all this energy and then crash! Meltdowns! Moods all over the map! The same things happen to us as adults! When you eat crap your blood sugar goes on a roller-coaster ride and takes your emotions along for fun! So what can you do? In general, most people feel less anxious eating less carbohydrates and sugars and increasing their fruits, vegetables, fats and proteins. It doesn't mean you can never eat cake (although you might want to check out this recipe). It's about shifting the balance away from things that wire you up towards things that keep you calm.
2. Replenish Nutrients. A standard north american diet can be deficient in many nutrients. Minerals are removed from our foods through the refining process and that leaves many people deficient in minerals. One to watch for is magnesium, which deficiency of manifests as anxiety in some people. Omega-3 fatty acids is another nutrient in which the modern diet does not have enough in. Try switching from meat to fish or seafood 2 nights a week. The last "nutrient" is a bit outside the usual definition but we traditionally got it from our foods, probiotics. Due to the wonders of refrigeration we eat way less fermented foods than our traditional diets and with the advent of processed foods we are eating less fibre (food for our good microbes) and more preservatives (things that kill microbes). The relationship between our microflora and our mood is emerging and restoring these beneficial bacteria can be the key to wellness in all kinds of disorders, including anxiety.
3. Movement. We all know exercise is good for us but so many of us don't spend enough time moving. I know when I'm stressed I need to move even more, but that's often when I feel like it least. A friend recently said to me "when I don't feel like going to the gym, that's when I know I have to go." What they have discovered, along with may other people who use exercise as their medicine of choice for mental health maintenance, is how powerfully uplifting is to be moving in your body.
When we feel stressed and anxious, when we are tired because we didn't' sleep, it's easy to go with the "treat" mentality. I deserve this chocolate bar. I need this coffee. I'm too tired to go to yoga, I'll watch TV instead. I know I've said each of those things at some point or another. But in those moments when we are tired/stressed/anxious what we need most is to nourish ourselves. So go for a walk, make yourself a salad for dinner and throw a piece of fish on it. Your brain will thank you.
Love, Dr. Katie
I can't tell you the number of times someone has come into my office with a concern and asked me "is this all in my head" "do you think I'm making this up" or exclaimed "maybe I have a chemical imbalance" or "I think this is my hormones" A lot of the time there seems to be this either/or mentality. Either this is all in my head, or my head is fine it's my body that's got a problem with it. I tell everyone the same thing. It's not either/or, it's both.
Our thoughts and emotions exist in our bodies as molecules. They create and shape or physiology just as our physiology creates and shapes our thoughts and emotions.
That's all well and good Dr. Katie but what do I DO about this?
Naturopathic Support for stress and anxiety looks at both the mind and the body together and supports you both in the moment and over time. Therapies are combinations of things you do (like breathing, exercise, changing how you eat and self care) and things that you take (such as teas, nutritional and botanical supplements and homeopathic remedies.)
Want to get started now? Check out my tree meditation and feel calmer in 3 minutes.
Love,
Dr. Katie
It's here! You may or may not know but behind the scenes I've been working hard to curate the best resources in naturopathic stress and anxiety management. What's it's become is an exciting clinical program that puts you in the drivers seat of your own mental health and wellbeing. Tranquil Minds is about getting to know yourself on a deeper level. It's about finding a sense of purpose in life. It's about taking care of your self mentally and physically. It's about providing you with the information you need to make yourself feel better.
Designed by Evan Woolfery
This program is my passion and I LOVE to talk about it. So if you're in the Guelph area and you want to find out if this is the right fit for you call me @ 519 827-0902 or email info@norfolkwellness.com to book a free 15 minute chat about whether Tranquil Minds is a good fit for you.
Feeling overwhelmed? I know I get that way sometimes, which is why I wanted to share my favourite grounding meditation with you. I call it the "Tree Meditation" because it uses the metaphor of a tree to help you connect with the earth and feel grounded and stable. Let me know if you like it!
Summer is a busy time. Many of us use the warm weather to spend more time outdoors having fun and being active. But sometimes we fall and scrape our knees in the pursuit of fun. Or get a bit of a sunburn because we were having way to much fun to think about reapplying our sunscreen. Or withstand the odd mosquito bite to enjoy a glass of iced tea on the deck/dock/patio. So here is a list of what you can throw together to treat most minor injuries whether your on your deck or visiting a cottage!
So there you go! 5 things to get your first aid kit ready this summer! Want more natural first aid tips? Come out to my Free Natural First Aid Seminar this Tuesday June 9th @ Norfolk Chiropractic Wellness Centre @ 7pm. Spots are limited so reserve yours today by calling 519-827-0040 or emailing info@norfolkwellness.com
Yes, naturopaths eat cake! We are also believe that whether you are celebrating a birthday, graduation, new baby, or anything else, food intolerances shouldn't prevent anyone from eating delicious cake. This recipe is gluten and dairy free without compromising taste or moisture. It is also made with with nuts, which lowers the glycemic index (how fast your blood sugar rises) compared to cakes made with flour. It even has vegetables in it! We hope you invite it to your next celebration!
Photograph by John Cartrand
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9” x 13” cake pan. In a blender or food processor, grind the cup of almonds into flour. Watch carefully to avoid making almond butter! Wash, peel and grate your carrots. In a large bowl whisk together the almond flour, oat flour, leaveners, and spices. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs together with maple syrup and coconut oil. Chop the cup of nuts. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and then mix in the carrots, nuts, and raisins. Pour into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.
Hot Tip: Craving some frosting for your cake? Whip 2 parts “Blossom" cream cheese with 1 part honey and 1 part coconut cream and chill until spreadable for a tasty frosting.
Cooking fish in the oven can be fast and easy. This light-tasting trout recipe is a great way to incorporate more fish & healthy fish oils into your diet. Fish is an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to decrease cardiovascular mortality and cancer risk.
Photograph by John Chartrand
Ingredients
Instructions:
Place your trout fillet skin side down onto a baking sheet and season it with a pinch of salt and pepper. Slice your lemon and lay the slices on top of the trout. Place your fish on the upper rack of you oven and broil on high for 10-12 minutes (depending on the size of your fish) until the fish becomes flaky and the dark pink flesh lightens all the way through. Enjoy! Hot Tip: Although this recipe is really great with trout, you can broil whichever fish you are into right now using the same method, just adjust the cooking time for the size of the fish fillet.
