I remember a number of years ago hearing that polar bears in Canada's
arctic region had been found to have traces of toxic chemicals in
them. If bears in remote regions of Canada are toxic, what about us
humans?
A new report released by Health Canada shows
that children as young as three years old have traces of lead in their
blood and bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine. The concentrations of lead
have decreased slightly from when we last tested the Canadian population
in 1978-1979. This is a positive sign, but lead in any amounts have
been shown to be detrimental to humans, especially growing children.
The levels of BPA are still high despite despite being
added to Canada's toxic substances list in Oct. 2010. BPA was detected
in a whopping 95% of Canadians ages 3 to 79. BPA found in the urine is
an indication of RECENT exposure.
Making some lifestyle
changes can have a meaningful impact on the levels of such toxins in
your system. Few patients or even other health care practitioners know
or realize how these toxins impact your health. Patients with multiple
chemical sensitivities, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc. can all
benefit from this. Here in my practice, we've tested the levels of
toxic chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, benzene, etc. in patients'
urine (environmental pollutants profile) and have instituted changes accordingly for each patient, kind of like an episode of Dateline I recently saw.
Please watch this Dateline episode
about "detoxing" or going "chemical free" and the difference it makes
to the reporter's urine samples and that of her young children. Quite
eye-opening.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Juicing - What you should know about what you're missing!
Many patients ask me if it's ok if they drink their fruits and vegetables. Generally, science says that juicing is a good way to get some vitamins and nutrients, but the lack of fiber and the high glycemic (ie. high sugar) content may be an issue.
But I've always had a nagging suspicious that there was something else that we might be missing in this story and now I have proof. Research out of The University of Queensland in Australia has found that "fibre binds up to 80 per cent of cancer-inhibiting antioxidant polyphenols in fruit and vegetables, thereby protecting the antioxidants from early digestion in the stomach and small intestine."
So what this means is that if you don't eat the fiber part, less of the antioxidants will reach your colon or large intestine. Last time I checked, colorectal cancers were listed as fourth on the list of most diagnosed cancers.
Maybe next time you drink your orange juice, try to include the pulp.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
But I've always had a nagging suspicious that there was something else that we might be missing in this story and now I have proof. Research out of The University of Queensland in Australia has found that "fibre binds up to 80 per cent of cancer-inhibiting antioxidant polyphenols in fruit and vegetables, thereby protecting the antioxidants from early digestion in the stomach and small intestine."
So what this means is that if you don't eat the fiber part, less of the antioxidants will reach your colon or large intestine. Last time I checked, colorectal cancers were listed as fourth on the list of most diagnosed cancers.
Maybe next time you drink your orange juice, try to include the pulp.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Acupuncture Works - Proof in largest study to date
The largest study of acupuncture for chronic pain compares real acupuncture vs placebo vs. other treatments for pain relief and what they find is that acupuncture's effectiveness rate is 50%, placebo is 43% and other treatments is 30%.
So naturally the headlines are that acupuncture is only marginally more effective than placebo, which makes me wonder how people interpret information.
First of all, there is no such thing as "sham acupuncture" as far as I'm concerned. All of these supposed placebo treatments such as using a laser on acupuncture points or misplacing a needle by a couple of millimeters is NOT placebo. Lasers treatments are already used for pain relief and not hitting the exact acupuncture point still produces an effect on the body. So yes, these "placebo treatments" do have a physiological effect! Also, one has to wonder why placebo works 13% better than the other treatments group? Why doesn't anybody talk about that point?
The headlines from CNN and other news agencies should just read: Acupuncture works! To quote the lead author of the study Andrew J. Vickers, who works at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York "Most clinicians and patients would say a 50% success rate versus a 30% success rate for something like intractable chronic pain is actually pretty good".
I agree!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
So naturally the headlines are that acupuncture is only marginally more effective than placebo, which makes me wonder how people interpret information.
First of all, there is no such thing as "sham acupuncture" as far as I'm concerned. All of these supposed placebo treatments such as using a laser on acupuncture points or misplacing a needle by a couple of millimeters is NOT placebo. Lasers treatments are already used for pain relief and not hitting the exact acupuncture point still produces an effect on the body. So yes, these "placebo treatments" do have a physiological effect! Also, one has to wonder why placebo works 13% better than the other treatments group? Why doesn't anybody talk about that point?
The headlines from CNN and other news agencies should just read: Acupuncture works! To quote the lead author of the study Andrew J. Vickers, who works at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York "Most clinicians and patients would say a 50% success rate versus a 30% success rate for something like intractable chronic pain is actually pretty good".
I agree!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Organic foods: Are they healthier?
So I've been hearing a lot about this new study , a meta-analysis by Stanford researchers concluding that organic foods are not really healthier than non-organic ones. Basically, they analyzed nutrient contents from the two and found that they were similar. And from that, they conclude that there's no difference and that's what the media is running with. Headlines everywhere are saying how organic foods aren't more nutritious and that it's all a scam.
I've never told patients that organic foods are more nutritious because frankly, all are grown from the same soil. But I think people are missing a point here.
The researchers did find that there were less pesticides in organic foods and that organic meats produce less antibiotic resistant bacteria. Both of these ARE good things people! I'm not saying that everyone should only eat organic because that could get expensive, but it just baffles me how people interpret studies, even the researchers themselves.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
I've never told patients that organic foods are more nutritious because frankly, all are grown from the same soil. But I think people are missing a point here.
The researchers did find that there were less pesticides in organic foods and that organic meats produce less antibiotic resistant bacteria. Both of these ARE good things people! I'm not saying that everyone should only eat organic because that could get expensive, but it just baffles me how people interpret studies, even the researchers themselves.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Alkaline Diets - A quick summary
Alkaline diets seem to be all the rage these days in the U.S. The concept is pretty simple and as old as time. Pretty much, eat lots of veggies and fruits which are alkaline. Decrease consumption of large amounts of meats and processed foods which are acidic.
Some patients have asked about alkalinizing waters machines and such and I always give the same answer: There are no short cuts, you need to eat a healthy diet! I have no idea what long term consumption of alkaline water will do, but I do know that there are only positives to eating fruits and veggies.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Some patients have asked about alkalinizing waters machines and such and I always give the same answer: There are no short cuts, you need to eat a healthy diet! I have no idea what long term consumption of alkaline water will do, but I do know that there are only positives to eating fruits and veggies.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Food Allergy, Food Sensitivity or Food Intolerance Testing
UPDATE (Feb 1, 2012):
Here's another article from the Toronto Star about this issue. For people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease) or even irritable bowel disease (IBS), this test may be useful. IBS can cover the gamut from people who have lots of gas and bloating to people with constipation or diarrhea or even pain in the gastrointestinal tract.
Click on our website link below for more information.
Previous Article:
Some of my patients are already aware and have done laboratory tests for food allergies or for food intolerance/sensitivity. Sometimes, there have been dramatic results in health and well being because of the tests.
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Here's another article from the Toronto Star about this issue. For people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease) or even irritable bowel disease (IBS), this test may be useful. IBS can cover the gamut from people who have lots of gas and bloating to people with constipation or diarrhea or even pain in the gastrointestinal tract.
Click on our website link below for more information.
Previous Article:
Some of my patients are already aware and have done laboratory tests for food allergies or for food intolerance/sensitivity. Sometimes, there have been dramatic results in health and well being because of the tests.
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Food Intolerance / Allergies & Laboratory Testing
Some of my patients are already aware and have done laboratory tests for food allergies or for food intolerance/sensitivity. Sometimes, there have been dramatic results in health and well being because of the tests.
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
This type of testing is not well known and is not covered by OHIP, but it would seem that even doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital are beginning to see value in such tests. A patient of mine showed me an article from the newspaper 24 Hours, which I will attach to this post for all to read.
IgG and IgE food testing has been around for quite some time, but not all patients need to get this test. As discussed in this article, there are other less expensive ways to do so which some patients opt for. However, you should check with your insurance to see if you are covered for this laboratory test. If you're lucky, you will be and the test can be done for a much lower price than that quoted in the article depending on which laboratory provider is being used.
There are many lab tests that can be done to find possible problems or to track if treatments are working. Did you know that there are even urine tests to see if your osteoporosis treatments are working? This can be done sooner than waiting for a bone density scan, although bone density scans are considered the gold standard in medicine today.
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Portion Sizes - They have gotten bigger along with our waist lines
In a report released this month in the Lancet, researchers from Columbia University state that half of U.S. adults will be "obese" by 2030 - that means 164 million Americans, a staggering statistic. Medically, being obese (BMI 30-35) is a different term than being overweight (BMI 25-29.9)
I've also noticed a couple of trends as we've gotten bigger. Some clothes sizes have become misleading. Retailers and manufacturers know that the public are more averse to buying bigger sizes so they have actually shrunk the sizes on the labels while increasing the waist and hip sizes. Don't believe me? If you have a really old pair of jeans, try them on for size and try one with the same size today to compare.
Another trend is the hyper portion food sizes that have become the norm. It seems like we all love a good deal so the more the merrier. Take a look at this article showing a pictorial representation of the changes in portion sizes from 20 years ago. I would like to add to that list a can of pop from my youth (with something like 250mL) vs today's can with (330 mL).
By the way, the researchers also note that a mere 1% reduction in BMI would prevent 2.4 million cases of diabetes and 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke. I would like to add that a mere 15 minutes of exercise (done regularly) has been shown to significantly improve one's health. What are you waiting for? If you've fallen off a good lifestyle regiment, then it's time to begin again. And I'm talking to my patients specifically. I know, I'm a nag.......but it's because I care!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
I've also noticed a couple of trends as we've gotten bigger. Some clothes sizes have become misleading. Retailers and manufacturers know that the public are more averse to buying bigger sizes so they have actually shrunk the sizes on the labels while increasing the waist and hip sizes. Don't believe me? If you have a really old pair of jeans, try them on for size and try one with the same size today to compare.
Another trend is the hyper portion food sizes that have become the norm. It seems like we all love a good deal so the more the merrier. Take a look at this article showing a pictorial representation of the changes in portion sizes from 20 years ago. I would like to add to that list a can of pop from my youth (with something like 250mL) vs today's can with (330 mL).
By the way, the researchers also note that a mere 1% reduction in BMI would prevent 2.4 million cases of diabetes and 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke. I would like to add that a mere 15 minutes of exercise (done regularly) has been shown to significantly improve one's health. What are you waiting for? If you've fallen off a good lifestyle regiment, then it's time to begin again. And I'm talking to my patients specifically. I know, I'm a nag.......but it's because I care!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Who is looking at the BIG picture?
Some of my patients have a number of conditions that are being managed separately by different specialists. My question is, who is looking at the BIG picture? The respirologist is prescribing his meds, the rheumatologist her meds, the GP has her meds and now the kidney specialist wants my patient to take more meds for her new kidney problem.
Is this the best course of action to take? How are all these medications interacting? Is it possible that long term use of this chemical cocktail is what's causing harm to the kidneys in the first place? Hopefully, someone's listening to my concerns.
A friendly rant from your local naturopathic doctor,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Is this the best course of action to take? How are all these medications interacting? Is it possible that long term use of this chemical cocktail is what's causing harm to the kidneys in the first place? Hopefully, someone's listening to my concerns.
A friendly rant from your local naturopathic doctor,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Insomnia - Something that may help
There are a number of reasons why you might have trouble falling asleep at night. A common one involves late night computer use. That's because the blue light from your computer screens trick your brain into thinking that it's day time. It's one of the reasons why I often advise patients with insomnia to cut out the use of laptops, ipads and even smartphone use late at night.
Another option for those that just "have" to use their gadgets is to use a program that can "dim" the light on your screen. There are different ones out there, but here's a link to a free one that you can try out: F. Lux
Let me know if it works for you!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Another option for those that just "have" to use their gadgets is to use a program that can "dim" the light on your screen. There are different ones out there, but here's a link to a free one that you can try out: F. Lux
Let me know if it works for you!
Yours in Health,
Ian Koo, ND
Visit us on our new Facebook page!
www.NaturopathicEssentials.com
"The care you want, the health you need."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)