Dr. Elisha Cook ND Archives - Page 23 of 23 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

Gut – Brain Connection

December 8, 2015 by elisha

Recently, a lot of research has emerged suggesting that there is a connection between gut health and your mental health. Though this seems odd, in a way this does seem quite logical. Within our guts is an additional nervous system called the enteric nervous system that responds to hormones in the gut, and so, by association, one might think that this nervous system would connect to our central nervous system. Therefore, the health of the one nervous system might in turn affect the health of the other nervous system. This in theory is poorly understood, but much research has shown that this could be useful for treatment of mental health concerns.

To begin with, some mental health concerns are due to inflammation in the brain, specifically in neurons. When neurons are inflamed, the system cannot function the way that it was meant to. Some studies have shown that an inappropriately balanced gastro-intestinal system (in regards to microorganisms) can lead to increased inflammation in the gut, which is associated with increased anxiety. By correcting the inflammation and altering the gut micro-flora, the inflammation and resultant anxiety was decreased.

Some research has also shown the influence of the specific gut microorganisms on hormones. Specifically, it has shown these the micro-organisms secrete dopamine and serotonin. These two compounds that are secreted are hormones that are related to mood and energy. I like to call them your happy hormones, though to be honest, undermining the full potential of these two hormones.

Finally, research has also shown that the appropriate gut micro flora can help to decrease the stress hormone cortisol. This could be due to several mechanisms including improved mood, therefore improved tolerance to stress.

If you are concerned that your gut health could be impacting your mental health, or that your gut could be in a healthier state, do not hesitate to consult a naturopathic doctor or seek health. The concerns you have could be very simple in origin and fixed simply if addressed sooner than later.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

Bacterial Infections versus Viral Infections: What you need to know!

December 1, 2015 by elisha

This time of the year provides many avenues for individuals to fall under the weather. Most of the time, individuals struggle with the common cold, but symptoms and states can escalate into scenarios that are far worse. The treatment of these various states can drastically impact not only recovery but prevention of future infections as well. This is dependent on identifying whether a bacteria or a virus is the ultimate cause of the illness.

Bacterial Infections

As you might be able to guess, bacterial infections are caused by a bacteria. The cause or route of exposure depends on the type of bacteria. For example some bacteria can enter through ingestion (e.g. our food). When an individual is infected with a bacteria, a common symptom might include a high fever. Others symptoms depend on the presenting concern, e.g. if someone has diarrhea, they might experience blood in the diarrhea. From a primary care standpoint, it is important to address bacterial infections with an appropriate antibiotic. However, if the appropriate antibiotic is not chosen, this can lead to bacterial resistance. What this means is that a bacteria fights off the antibiotic and does not respond to the antibiotic in the future as a result. In short, the next time that you have a bacterial infection from the same bacteria, and use the same antibiotic, you will not be able to fight off the bacteria.

Viral Infections

Viral infections are caused by a virus. A virus may have similar presentations to a bacteria, but ultimately can be less aggressive in general. Often, a viral infection will cause a relatively lower increase in temperature when compared to a bacteria. In addition, depending on the viral infection, the sickness caused from it can be self – limiting, meaning that it will go away on its own once it has run its course. This is not the case for all viruses though. As a result, these infections do not need to be treated with antibiotics. Taking an antibiotic when it is not necessary can result in future resistance to antibiotics and cause the treatments to not work when it may be crucial that they do. Regardless, it is important to consult with your medical doctor as to how to best approach any colds, flus, or sicknesses you might have.

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Sautéed Garlic and Tomato Sauce on Zucchini Recipe

November 24, 2015 by elisha

Those who are following a Paleo or Mediterranean style diet will love this recipe! This recipe is great for those who are trying to avoid gluten, dairy, and ultimately refined carbs. It can also be a vegan option if the meat/fish option is avoided. This recipe also requires a spiral sliver or spiralizer. The recipe is also best done in stages as opposed to adding all of the ingredients at once. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

6 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil
2 zucchinis
approximately 625g of grape tomatoes halved – or more
1/3 cup of basil (or Italian seasoning)
Optional: Shrimp
Optional: Feta cheese

Directions:

Heat the oil on low – medium heat.
Add in the minced garlic and sauté until softened (approximately 5 min).
If you are adding in shrimp, add it to the garlic mixture and cook for approximately 10 minutes on medium heat.
Add in halved tomatoes and let cook for approximately 10 minutes (this also depends on the desired consistency of the sauce you prefer. For a “chunky” sauce, cook for less time.)
Spiral cut the zucchini, and add it to the pan, cooking for approximately 10 minutes or until “noodles” are soft.
Remove from pan and serve.
For extra flavour, you can add feta cheese to the top if this works with your specific diet.

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Presenting . . . Dr. Elisha Cook Naturopathic Doctor (ND)

November 17, 2015 by elisha

It is official, I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor! Thank you to everyone who gave me encouraging words, kind thoughts, and prayers while I was preparing for and waiting for my license. So now you must be wondering . . . where does she go from here. Well, this blog will provide you with all of the juicy gossip, or at least the details of where I will be practicing.

As of December 1, 2015, I will be practicing at Meyers Chiropractic in Woodstock Ontario. I have been a patient of this clinic since my teen years, and am truly blessed to be joining this amazing health team. The clinic provides chiropractic care and massage therapy, in addition to the naturopathic services I will be providing. To learn more about the clinic, please see the following link: http://www.meyerschiropractic.com/

To be sure of the services you are getting, and to make sure it is something you are interested in, I will be offering a FREE meet and greet session where I basically explain what naturopathic medicine is and how I can help you. This outlines the basis of the therapies that way no one is blind-sided and there is a clear understanding between patient and practitioner. You can book your free session by emailing me personally or contacting me through the contact portion of this website and we will schedule your free 15 minute meet and greet.

If you are interested in booking an initial intake, you can call 519-537-7058 to book in for any date following December 1, 2015. You can view the available hours through the contact portion of my website. Initial intakes consist of a 90 minute session where I take a history, complete relevant physical exams, and give a treatment plan. Depending on your particular health concern, a secondary visit or visits may be required. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to helping you and your family achieve your health goals!