Tea

Lifestyle Tips to Deal with GERD/ Heartburn

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Gastro esophageal reflux disorder (GERD) or acid reflux can be caused by multiple mechanisms. For some individuals, there is too much acid in the stomach, for others there is not enough. In some cases, an individual may be eating too much.  Further, for some people, they can be eating a food that they are sensitive to – this can be determined with the help of a Naturopathic Doctor. Whatever the cause is for you, it can be quite uncomfortable. Some individuals might experience such symptoms as indigestion, burning throat, chest pain, chronic cough, difficulty with sleep and much more. Some lifestyle changes can help to address some of the discomfort and may even reverse the symptoms, but this is not always the case.

Have more frequent smaller meals

Having smaller meals can decrease the burden on our digestive tract when it comes to processing our food and creating stomach acid.

Do not lay down after eating

Laying down after eating can cause the acid to very easily ascend the esophagus leading to “heart burn” type feeling. By postponing laying down for several hours, this can help to prevent the discomfort. Therefore, it is also not beneficial to eat near bed time for this reason.

Chew gum after a meal or have a digestive tea

Both of these techniques can aid with the processing and digesting of food, thereby decreasing the burden on the system. In part, this is due to both moving acid down into the stomach. In addition, tea can help to relax the gastrointestional tract and increase peristalsis (movement) in the intestines. Examples of digestive teas include chamomile, peppermint, and ginger teas.

Slow down meals

In our society, we are always on the go and looking for convenience. This is where we have failed our bodies. We were not meant to be stressed and eating. Stress slows digestion and diverts blood away from the digestive tract, leading to more difficulties with processing food, resulting in indigestion. By taking time for your meal – for example smelling your food and chewing more – it may help your body to process your food more efficiently leading to less GERD or acid reflux.

Avoid tight clothing

This suggestion might sound strange, but tight clothing including belts can increase the amount of pressure in the abdominal area which can contribute to acid reflux. With this being said, it is important to consider the effect of excess weight around the stomach area and contribution it can have to increasing pressure in the abdomen. Losing weight is a touchy subject but is worth considering. If this applies to you, seek some medical input by contacting a health care provider such as myself.

Have you benefited 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!

5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

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Green tea is a very common beverage in our society, and one that has been purported as a very beneficial addition to one’s diet. However, many individuals do not know the full extent to which green tea can help, and how many cups are necessary to achieve these benefits. Please note that this article is based off of a research article that can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Craig_Schneider2/publication/24309791_Green_tea_potential_health_benefits/links/0a85e52f2986fdb4bf000000.pdf

5 Health Benefits of Green TeaTransparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden background

  1. Reduces risk of Cancer

Tea overall can be beneficial for cancer prevention, but in particular, green tea can be beneficial for treating and preventing breast and colorectal cancer risk. In particular, for breast cancer, three or more cups of tea per day was enough to see the benefits. It was noted that the green tea consumption resulted in a 20% reduction in risk of breast cancer. However, with colorectal cancer, five to ten cups of tea were sufficient enough to reduce the risk of this cancer. In particular, green tea consumption resulted in an 18% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer. Other cancers that green tea consumption may reduce the risk of include stomach, esophageal, and prostate.

  1. Aids with treatment of genital warts

In regards to genital warts, green tea was shown to be effective for the treatment through a topical application of the tea.

  1. Aids with weight loss

When trying to lose weight, green tea may help to decrease body weight, body mass index, body fat ratio, body fat mass, and waist and hip circumference. In addition, if an individual discontinues their diet and lifestyle changes in regards to weight loss, those who drink green tea will gain back less weight than those not consuming green tea. These results were found with just one cup of green tea per day!

  1. Reduces cholesterol levels

Green tea can have an impressive effect on LDL cholesterol (i.e. bad cholesterol). When compared to placebo, green tea was able to reduce LDL cholesterol by 16%. This effect was noticed with two cups of green tea per day.

  1. Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease

Aside from the effect on cholesterol, green tea has been shown in research to decrease the risk of not only cardiovascular disease but also stroke. Individuals who consumed five or more cups of tea per day experienced a reduction in risk of stroke.

Can anyone just drink green tea?

As with anything, it is important to know the risks of anything you are consuming. With that being said, green tea may not be for everyone. For example, green tea may decrease absorption of iron or folic acid when consumed with a meal. Therefore, it may not be well suited for anemic individuals or those who are pregnant. In addition, green tea may have a blood thinning effect, and so should not be consumed with blood thinning medication or two weeks prior to surgery. In some individuals, green tea can also cause an upset stomach and nervous system stimulation due to the caffeine content in it.

Have you benefited 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!

Naturopathic Essentials for Camping

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TentAside from the camping essentials such as a tent, sleeping bag, first aid kit, etc., there are also some naturopathic essentials that can aid you while you are camping. I have outlined a couple of items that can help with camping through their diversity – meaning they can be used in multiple ways and in multiple situations. One should keep in mind that these items do not replace the need to seek medical attention in the event of experiencing signs and symptoms of any dysfunction.

  1. Coconut water – coconut water acts as a great electrolyte which can be beneficial for those who are quite active while camping. It can help to nourish muscles and keep you hydrated – and hopefully prevent some muscle cramping. In addition, it can help those experiencing diarrhea, due to the potential to become dehydrated.
  1. Essential oils – everyone has their own preference for which essential oils they like, but I will recommend several of my favourites. Citronella and vanilla essential oils can both be beneficial as bug repellents. Using a couple of drops on your neck, wrist or ankles may help to ward off these pests. Keeping in mind that your sleep may be impacted while camping, having some lavender essential oil on hand may be helpful to encourage you to sleep.
  1. Homeopathics – Homeopathics can be quite useful for a variety of different concerns. In particular, I would most likely recommend at least Arnica and Apis – for trauma and bee stings respectively. If you are interested in knowing the top 5 homeopathic remedies to keep at home, visit my previous blog: https://www.plattsvilledoctor.ca/top-5-homeopathics-to-keep-at-home/
  1. Peppermint tea – Peppermint tea is a powerful therapeutic tool, because it can help with so many potential problems that could happen with camping. It can help to encourage sleep, settle upset stomachs, encourage movement with constipation, and fight infections. For more information on peppermint as a therapeutic herb, look to my previous blog: https://www.plattsvilledoctor.ca/health-benefits-of-peppermint/
  1. Coconut oil – Coconut oil and coconut water are quite different. Though they have similar constituents, they can help in different ways. Coconut oil can act as a great fungal infection fighter. In addition, using coconut oil for oil pulling can be beneficial if you cannot use toothpaste while camping. Oil pulling involves swishing some coconut oil around in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. This helps to keep your breath nice and fresh. It also has an SPF between 4 and 6, and can help moisten dry skin.

Have you benefited 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!

How to Make a Cold Brew Tea or Iced Tea

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Transparent cup of green tea with lime on wooden backgroundCold Brew or Iced tea is made through steeping tea in cold water over several hours. Brewing tea in this way draws the flavours out more slowly and can alter the taste of the tea. In addition to this method, I will also brew a cup of tea as per normal, i.e. boil water and steep a tea bag, and let the concoction chill. I find that this way of brewing the tea extracts the essential oils which can be beneficial for health. Regardless of what method is used, ingredients and instructions are listed below, as well as a recipe for an iced tea. Teas that tend to work well with either way of making a cold tea include peppermint, hibiscus, lavender, lemon balm, and green tea.

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 tea bags of the herb of your choice
  • 8-16 ounces of water
  • Optional: Honey, lemon slice, or mint leaves

Instructions:

Cold Brewed Tea

  • Place the tea bag(s) in a pitcher of water, cover, and let steep in the fridge for 6-8 hours.
  • When tea is done steeping, strain any sediment from tea using a cheese cloth.
  • Serve tea over ice and add either honey, lemon slice, or mint leaves to taste.

Iced Tea

  • Boil water and let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Pour into pitcher with tea bags and let steep on counter until at room temperature – approximately 30 minutes.
  • Place in fridge and let steep for another 6 hours.
  • When tea is done steeping, strain any sediment from tea using a cheese cloth.
  • Serve tea over ice and add honey to taste, or other possible ingredients (i.e. mint, lemon).

Lemon-Balm/Lavender Iced Tea Recipe

  • Take one lemon balm tea bag and one lavender tea bag and place them in a pitcher of water.
  • Let steep for 6-8 hours covered in fridge.
  • Remove any sediment through straining through a cheese cloth once steeping is complete.
  • Serve over ice and add 2 tbsp of honey to taste.

Have you benefited 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!

Source: Celebration Herbals