I've seen some couples who are having trouble conceiving and are thus doing IVF or other assisted reproductive techniques. The advice from the fertility specialist has always been to try to abstain from sex in the hopes of elevating sperm counts. Makes sense! But we know that there are other factors at play in addition to the total sperm count, such as the quality of the sperm.
In a recent study by Australian researchers, it was found that men with lower quality sperm could help increase the quality of their sperm by having sex every day for one week. The lead author, Dr. David Greening states that frequent ejaculation improved the quality of sperm by reducing the length of time they were exposed to damaging free radicals in the testicular duct.
Happy Canada Day folks!
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Summer Protection: Keeping cool & Sunscreens
In this edition of our newsletter, Dr. Koo, ND gives you some advice on how to stay cool for the summer and facts you need to know about your sunscreen.
Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter in the News & Resources section of our website or you can get it here.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter in the News & Resources section of our website or you can get it here.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Pandemic Alert (H1N1): Peel Region & Toronto statistics & more Naturopathic Advice
It's official, the World Health Organization has officially declared the H1N1 to be a pandemic. Here's some current information for those of you in my home province of Ontario, Canada:
Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, states that 484 cases of H1N1 flu virus have been confirmed since Friday, bringing the total number of cases in Ontario to 1,562.
Almost all of the cases reported to date are considered mild. The vast majority of the individuals concerned have recovered.
To date, two people, who had the H1N1 virus and chronic medical conditions, have died. Ten people who have the H1N1 flu virus were in hospital as of June 9, a number of whom have underlying medical conditions.
The Ontario cases involve 808 males and 750 females (the gender of four cases is unknown) with an age range of 1 to 97. The average age of the individuals is 21.
Here's the breakdown of the cases in the surrounding regions of the GTA:
| Health Unit | New Confirmed Cases | Total Confirmed Cases |
| Toronto | 159 | 669 |
| Peel Region | 116 | 302 |
| York Region | 71 | 230 |
| Halton | 38 | 126 |
Durham Region | 22 | 53 |
Hamilton | 3 | 10 |
According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, symptoms of H1N1 are similar to seasonal influenza (flu) including headache, chills and cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur in adults as well as in children. In more severe cases, or in people with chronic conditions, complications such as pneumonia may develop.
If you are experiencing these symptoms you should immediately contact your health care provider, including your Naturopathic Doctor (ND), or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. Do not leave your home if possible until you have spoken to your health care provider or a Telehealth nurse. People should only go to Emergency Rooms if they have severe symptoms.
Naturopathic Perspective:
A strong immune system not only reduces the risk of getting sick, but may also reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick.
Although viruses such as influenza don’t respond to antibiotics, there are anti-viral therapies your Naturopathic Doctor can suggest to you to support your immune systems ability to fight viruses and therefore lessen the severity of many illnesses caused by viruses.
Supporting your immune system
The human body has a natural ability to respond to viruses that attack it. These defense mechanisms can sometimes be weakened and require additional support to effectively respond when you are exposed to viruses. A weakened immune system is a particular concern when new viruses like the H1N1 Swine Flu emerge. Your Naturopathic Doctor can work with you to assess the current status of your health, and support your immune system using advanced natural therapies.
You can do simple things to help your body avoid the flu or other viruses. Here are some basics:
Be proactive Book a prevention appointment with your health care provider so he/she can advise you what to keep on hand and how to use alternatives to pharmaceuticals to stimulate and support your immune system. Everyone is different and there are many ways to support the immune system naturally - find an individualized treatment plan that works for you, thus helping you to achieve the best results.
You are what you eat Food is fuel for your body and all its work. Eating a diet high in complete protein, essential fatty acids (EFAs), complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables is important to support a strong immune system. It is particularly important to avoid processed or sugary foods.
Hands off Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is one of the simplest ways to keep germs at bay. Proper hand washing involves at least 20 seconds of scrubbing with soap and hot water. Avoid touching your face since germs often enter the body through the nose, eyes and mouth. Use a tissue or your sleeve for sneezing and coughing—avoid using your hands to cover your mouth or nose.
Keeping the barrier intact Mucous membranes (such as the lining of your nose) must be moist to act as an effective barrier to bacteria and viruses. Using a humidifier in your home or office, or even taking a hot shower helps to keep membranes moist. Staying hydrated on the inside is also extremely important. Make sure you are drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water per day.
Both feet on the ground We all lead busy and stressful lives, and while it’s not possible to avoid all stress, it is important to find a way to achieve balance and reduce stress. Get a full night’s sleep, have an outlet for stress, and make your health and happiness a priority.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Swine Flu: Some advice from Naturopathic Doctors
I'm certainly not one for fear-mongering, however the World Health Organization has just raised the alert level for swine flu to a five out of a possible six, indicating widespread human-to-human transmission which means that the estimated probability of a pandemic is high.
However, there is no need for panic, but we should keep ourselves informed. Please download our patient handout in the News & Resources section of our website to learn about the the swine flu, symptoms you need to watch out for and precautions you can take.
EVENTS
FREE Talk at Chapters Indigo (Mississauga, Square One)
Sat. May 2, 2009 at 2pm
Dr. Koo, ND will doing a lecture on Stress Management.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
However, there is no need for panic, but we should keep ourselves informed. Please download our patient handout in the News & Resources section of our website to learn about the the swine flu, symptoms you need to watch out for and precautions you can take.
EVENTS
FREE Talk at Chapters Indigo (Mississauga, Square One)
Sat. May 2, 2009 at 2pm
Dr. Koo, ND will doing a lecture on Stress Management.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Spring & Detoxification
In this edition of our newsletter, Dr. Koo, ND answers your questions about detoxification. Please consult your health care provider to see if Change of Season Soup is appropriate for you to take.
Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter in the News & Resources section of our website.
Come out in May during Naturopathic Medicine Week to listen to Dr. Koo, ND speak at Chapters Indigo stores in Mississauga (Square One) and Etobicoke (Sherway).
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter in the News & Resources section of our website.
Come out in May during Naturopathic Medicine Week to listen to Dr. Koo, ND speak at Chapters Indigo stores in Mississauga (Square One) and Etobicoke (Sherway).
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Naturopathic Doctors given prescribing rights in British Columbia.
On April 9, 2009, B.C. health minister George Abbott approved regulations granting prescribing authority to naturopathic doctors practicing in British Columbia. See below links for more details.
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/notice/naturopathic_medicine.html
http://www.bcna.ca/documents/BCNAapprovalreleaseFINAL.pdf
British Columbia recognizes the role that Naturopathic Doctors bring to the health care system and is the first province to approve prescribing authority to NDs. In many U.S. states, NDs already have this privilege.
Someone asked me, "why do NDs want to prescribe drugs?" The simple answer is that there are times when medication is important. I cannot speak for all of my colleagues, but I am certainly not opposed to Western Medicine and there is a place and time for natural therapies and there are many cases where a combination of the two treatment approaches is best.
People often ask me when will naturopathic medicine be covered under OHIP? The truth is, I don't know and with fifty cents of every dollar being spent on health care in Ontario, it will be a tough proposition, though I'm hopeful that one day, governments will recognize that naturopathic doctors can alleviate the health burden (costs and wait times) born by the system. What has transpired in B.C. may be the first step in including naturopathic medicine into our universal health care system. It should be noted that people making a certain income are partially already covered for naturopathic care in B.C. Maybe Ontario will follow suit......let's hope!
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/notice/naturopathic_medicine.html
http://www.bcna.ca/documents/BCNAapprovalreleaseFINAL.pdf
British Columbia recognizes the role that Naturopathic Doctors bring to the health care system and is the first province to approve prescribing authority to NDs. In many U.S. states, NDs already have this privilege.
Someone asked me, "why do NDs want to prescribe drugs?" The simple answer is that there are times when medication is important. I cannot speak for all of my colleagues, but I am certainly not opposed to Western Medicine and there is a place and time for natural therapies and there are many cases where a combination of the two treatment approaches is best.
People often ask me when will naturopathic medicine be covered under OHIP? The truth is, I don't know and with fifty cents of every dollar being spent on health care in Ontario, it will be a tough proposition, though I'm hopeful that one day, governments will recognize that naturopathic doctors can alleviate the health burden (costs and wait times) born by the system. What has transpired in B.C. may be the first step in including naturopathic medicine into our universal health care system. It should be noted that people making a certain income are partially already covered for naturopathic care in B.C. Maybe Ontario will follow suit......let's hope!
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
In The News: Prostate Test Unnecessary & Red Meat Kills
PSA Testing Unnecessary?
The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is routinely touted to men and every year more and more men ask their medical doctors or naturopathic doctors to write them a script for the test. Recent research on the PSA test reveals that "a high proportion of cancers actually found by PSA testing would never have become clinically apparent in that individual's lifetime" and that means many men are unduly subjected to the possible complications of the treatment, namely incontinence and impotence. The researchers state believe that the risks of large-scale PSA testing outweighs the benefits because many prostate cancers are slow growing and many men die of other causes instead of the cancer.
I believe that the PSA test is still useful and health care practitioners need to use their clinical judgement as to when to prescribe the test. For example, an 80 year old man in most cases probably wouldn't benefit too much from getting this test.
Red Meat Kills
Half a million people were tracked in a study looking at intakes of red and processed meats. The results are not startling to health care practitioners knowledgeable in nutrition. Naturopathic doctors have long advocated that North Americans cut their consumption of red meats. Now the Canadian Cancer Society is recommending limiting red meat to 500 grams or 18 ounces per week to reduce the risk of cancer.
The study found that men and women who eat four ounces per day - the equivalent of a small steak or "Quarter-Pounder" from McDonalds - had a higher risk of dying from heart disease & cancer than those who ate less than one once of red meat per day. Men who were heavy meat eaters had a 22% increased risk of dying from cancer and 27% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Women had a 20% increased risk of dying from cancer and 50% increase for heart disease.
Red meat includes bacon, beef, cold cuts, ham, hamburger, hot dogs, liver, pepperoni, pork, sausage and steak.
My recommendation to my patients stays the same, meat should be treated as a "side" rather than the main course. In many restaurants and households, we are often served "a steak with a side of veggies". Let's reverse that folks!!! Make vegetables the star of your dish.
Other Recommendations:
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is routinely touted to men and every year more and more men ask their medical doctors or naturopathic doctors to write them a script for the test. Recent research on the PSA test reveals that "a high proportion of cancers actually found by PSA testing would never have become clinically apparent in that individual's lifetime" and that means many men are unduly subjected to the possible complications of the treatment, namely incontinence and impotence. The researchers state believe that the risks of large-scale PSA testing outweighs the benefits because many prostate cancers are slow growing and many men die of other causes instead of the cancer.
I believe that the PSA test is still useful and health care practitioners need to use their clinical judgement as to when to prescribe the test. For example, an 80 year old man in most cases probably wouldn't benefit too much from getting this test.
Red Meat Kills
Half a million people were tracked in a study looking at intakes of red and processed meats. The results are not startling to health care practitioners knowledgeable in nutrition. Naturopathic doctors have long advocated that North Americans cut their consumption of red meats. Now the Canadian Cancer Society is recommending limiting red meat to 500 grams or 18 ounces per week to reduce the risk of cancer.
The study found that men and women who eat four ounces per day - the equivalent of a small steak or "Quarter-Pounder" from McDonalds - had a higher risk of dying from heart disease & cancer than those who ate less than one once of red meat per day. Men who were heavy meat eaters had a 22% increased risk of dying from cancer and 27% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Women had a 20% increased risk of dying from cancer and 50% increase for heart disease.
Red meat includes bacon, beef, cold cuts, ham, hamburger, hot dogs, liver, pepperoni, pork, sausage and steak.
My recommendation to my patients stays the same, meat should be treated as a "side" rather than the main course. In many restaurants and households, we are often served "a steak with a side of veggies". Let's reverse that folks!!! Make vegetables the star of your dish.
Other Recommendations:
- Select lean meat and alternatives
- Trim visible fat from meats
- Remove the skin from poultry
- Use cooking methods such as roasting, baking or poaching that require little or no added fat.
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Cooking with the RIGHT Oils
In this edition of our newsletter, Dr. Koo, ND speaks on the topic of oils. The second page has a comparisons of smoking points of different oils. Put this handy reference on your refrigerator for the next time you cook a meal.
Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter here or you can also find it in the News & Resources section of our website.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Download a complimentary copy of our Naturopathic Newsletter here or you can also find it in the News & Resources section of our website.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Counterfeit toothbrushes?
Here's a new one I have not heard of: Health Canada has issued an advisory warning on counterfeit toothbrushes. What will people counterfeit next? The fake toothbrushes have been spotted as Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360.
Reports have been filed with Health Canada of toothbrush bristles dislodging and catching a consumer's throat.
Authentic Oral B toothbrushes, made by Proctor and Gamble Inc. have the Oral B logo manufactured as part of the hand mould. Fake Oral B brushes have been known to have the logo printed in silver text on a peel-away label.
Colgate toothbrushes can be identified by the packaging, labelled in English and French only, that states "Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc," and by a lot code moulded into the brush handle just under the brush head.
Problems can be reported to the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate 1-800-267-9675. Consumers requiring more information can contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Reports have been filed with Health Canada of toothbrush bristles dislodging and catching a consumer's throat.
Authentic Oral B toothbrushes, made by Proctor and Gamble Inc. have the Oral B logo manufactured as part of the hand mould. Fake Oral B brushes have been known to have the logo printed in silver text on a peel-away label.
Colgate toothbrushes can be identified by the packaging, labelled in English and French only, that states "Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc," and by a lot code moulded into the brush handle just under the brush head.
Problems can be reported to the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate 1-800-267-9675. Consumers requiring more information can contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Why are some people colder than others?
Do you know someone that's always cold? A co-worker that's usually bundled up or a family member that's always turning up the thermostat.
And my guess is that it's likely someone of the fairer sex. Why is it that women tend to feel this way?
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let me just say that a lot of factors can affect why one person feels colder than another. Diet, age, fitness level, stress level and the quantity and quality of our sleep all affect this to some degree. The human body has a core temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius and this stays fairly constant. It is our extremities (the hands and feet) that has a more pronounced effect on how cold we feel. When the temperature dips, the body will draw blood back to the vital organs leaving the hands and feet more vulnerable to the cold.
Now why do women feel the change in temperature more so than men? There are several factors, but hormones play a major role. Women's temperatures vary with their menstrual cycle. You will be familiar with this if you've ever tracked your basal body temperature (BBT) for fertility or contraception reasons. Temperatures rise sharply just before ovulation and will remain high for the post-ovulatory phase of your period til your menses. As a side note, birth control pills can elevate one's core body temperature, so I would hypothesize that women coming off the pill will experience a temporary cold state.
More specific reason why someone might feel cold:
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
And my guess is that it's likely someone of the fairer sex. Why is it that women tend to feel this way?
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let me just say that a lot of factors can affect why one person feels colder than another. Diet, age, fitness level, stress level and the quantity and quality of our sleep all affect this to some degree. The human body has a core temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius and this stays fairly constant. It is our extremities (the hands and feet) that has a more pronounced effect on how cold we feel. When the temperature dips, the body will draw blood back to the vital organs leaving the hands and feet more vulnerable to the cold.
Now why do women feel the change in temperature more so than men? There are several factors, but hormones play a major role. Women's temperatures vary with their menstrual cycle. You will be familiar with this if you've ever tracked your basal body temperature (BBT) for fertility or contraception reasons. Temperatures rise sharply just before ovulation and will remain high for the post-ovulatory phase of your period til your menses. As a side note, birth control pills can elevate one's core body temperature, so I would hypothesize that women coming off the pill will experience a temporary cold state.
More specific reason why someone might feel cold:
- Iron Deficiency: Women and vegetarians are also more susceptible to this
- Poor circulation as this decreases blood flow to the extremities. Smokers need to wary of this. Get up and get active as physically active individuals have increased ciruclation.
- Hypothyroid: An underactive thyroid will lead to lower body temperatures.
- Your typical environment dictates your perception of how cold or hot a new environment it. For example, if your home thermostat is set a balmy 25 degrees celcius, you will tend to feel colder at work where the thermostat is usually 21 degrees.
- Chronic stress and poor sleep make us more sensitive to changes in temperature.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
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