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| | A look at toxins, opportunities for new moms, and Oaktree's response to COVID-19
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How is our packaging hurting our bodies??
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| Plastic in My Food By Dr. Marie-Pier (Downtown Chiropractor)
Ever think about how your food is packaged? Odds are,
the food you ate today was either stored, heated, lined, or served
in plastic. Did you know that there is mounting evidence that plastic is harmful to our health, and that that harm can start as early as in the womb?
Microplastics and other chemicals in plastic build up in our foods and
therefore in our bodies. The biggest thing they wreak havoc on are your
hormones: they mimic estrogen and inhibit testosterone, which can lead to
infertility issues.
- Polysterene (aka Styrofoam) is a known carcinogen (and also an environmental nightmare).
- PFSA (polyfluoroalkyl), which is often used in food packaging like popcorn bags and in non-stick pans, has been shown to cause reproductive, developmental, liver, kidney, and immunological problems, and may also be associated with low birth rate and thyroid disruption.
- BPA (bisphenol A) acts as an endocrine disruptor (which means it is linked to breast and prostate cancer, infertility and metabolic disorders), it is used in the plastic that lines the inside of aluminum cans.
The good thing is that we are (slowly) starting to move away from plastic
packaging. That’s good news for both your health and the health of the
planet! Bulk barn is my go-to place for all my dried goods, and if I need anything more specific (like shampoo, dish,soap, local produce and cheese), I venture my way to Nu Grocery.
Whenever you can, buy food package-free, or in paper or glass packaging. If
you have to heat something in the microwave, use a glass container. Instead
of using saran wrap, try beeswax wraps (ideally from a local maker that uses
local honey!).
There’s also so many toxins added into our food (an article for another
day), so I have been doing my best to make as much food at home as I can to avoid any additives I don’t want in my food, and it also prevents chemicals
from leaching into my food since I don’t store it in plastic!
What tips do you have for avoiding toxins getting into your food? Let us know!
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| | | Looking for a Simple Detox? by Dr Vanessa, Downtown Chiropractor |
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It is nearly impossible to avoid everyday chemicals and toxins that threaten our health. They are hidden in our clothes, furniture, soaps and makeup and even the air we breathe and the food we eat. When these toxins build up in our bodies it can cause physical and mental health issues such as chronic fatigue, headaches, insomnia, among other things.
In order to avoid toxic overload there are simple things we can do on a daily basis to help the body be rid of these toxins! One of the things that I personally like to do is add lemon to my water. That’s it, easy as that! Lemons are loaded with health benefits and are a great source of Vitamin C. Not only does it give my water great flavor, but it helps my body detox. If you want to take it a step further, start your day with warm lemon water on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up!
Lemon Water Benefits:
Helps maintain pH balance (by decreasing acidity): Disease can only grow in an acidic body (favourable for growth of bacteria, yeast, fungus, viruses etc). Cancer also strikes in those with an over-acidic body. .
Glowing skin: Helps with acne, rashes, wrinkles and dark spots .
Weight loss: By promoting healthy digestion and increasing metabolic rate .
Liver cleanse: Promotes the flush of toxins .
Hydration: Staying hydrated is key!
Our bodies also have their own natural ability to eliminate these toxins through organs like the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, colon, skin etc. How do we keep these vital organs functioning at 100%? By boosting the nervous system through adjusted and having acupuncture! When the nerves are communication properly, your brain will be able to communicate to those specific organs so that they can do their job and eliminate the toxins that are building up in our bodies on a daily basis.
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| Detoxing doesn’t have to be complicated! |
| | ATTENTION NEW MOMS:
Dr Katrina are Hannah are bringing GrowCo to Ottawa! |
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New mom? Maybe you’re due soon? Did you have a baby a while ago, but are still experiencing feelings of discomfort?
GROWCO is a doctor-led post-partum rehab program rooted in deep healing and supporting new moms in both body & mind.
Tissue healing post-partum doesn’t stop at a magic 6 - week post injury mark - it can last over a year! Your new role and changes to you body are dynamic and we are here to support YOU. Whether you are looking for proper guidance on your core, pelvic floor rehab and return to fitness OR you’re struggling with incontinence while sneezing, diastasis recti (separation) or weakness months later, you NEED a physical assessment.
Our classes are inclusive so baby(ies) are absolutely welcome. They run for 4 weeks with a 1-hour class twice a week, for a total of 8 sessions.
Our first session at Oaktree Orleans is starting Wednesday March 25th at 1:30pm. If you’re a patient of Oaktree Orleans, you will be able to schedule your chiropractic adjustment before the classes so you can get the MOST out of each class! The first step is to schedule a special postpartum assessment so we can tailor your classes and rehab. |
| If you are interested or know a new mom, please sign up at reception and ask away with any questions you may have. Look forward to getting started!
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| | Oaktree's thoughts on COVID-19 |
| | Dear Oaktree family,
We are open and ready to serve you! We will keep you informed if anything changes. We understand that concerns about COVID-19 (the coronavirus) have been escalating around the world. As a precaution, we are doing all that we can to protect our patients and create an environment where you continue to feel safe and healthy.
Here is an overview on the steps we are taking:
CLEANING: While our office is cleaned all the time, we have already increased efforts to sanitize and disinfect key, high-trafficked areas, including the tables, door knobs, handles, and the bathroom.
KIDS AREAS: We are leaving out only easily cleanable toys and will be cleaning them more often.
We also HIGHLY encourage that you get adjusted and have acupuncture MORE frequently right now! These are some of the best thing you can do for many types of illnesses. Your immune system gets a boost and your body has a better chance of healing itself faster.
From time to time, we get calls from patients notifying us that they are either too sick to keep their appointment, or fearful that their presence in our office would needlessly expose us to their germs. We do appreciate your concern. Here are our thoughts on it:
1) If you are unwell, you could benefit greatly from an adjustment or your acupuncture. Try to keep your appointment. It will help your recovery.
2) However, if you are specifically coughing or have a fever, please stay home. We would love to care for you, but we want to protect the others coming too!
3) If we were to somehow “catch” everything that our patients had, we would be sick all of the time. However, we are not. ??
4) We do many things to keep our immune systems strong. Among them is getting regular chiropractic and acupuncture. Just like you!
Your safety and health are our top priority. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, let us know! We thought to include this great article on chiropractic’s role in the flu pandemic of 1918. We hope it will encourage you that continuing to boost your immune system is a great approach! (Although it’s specifically about chiropractic, we know that acupuncture is amazing at this too!)
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| | | Pandemic Preparedness and the history of Chiropractic Care and the flu
In the closing days of World War I, a deadly form of influenza ("flu") appeared, the Spanish Flu. The influenza pandemic of 1917-1918 claimed more lives than the war.
During this crisis, doctors of chiropractic noticed that their patients seemed to have a lower fatality rate than the general population. A study was published by the osteopathic profession.1 Among doctors of osteopathy of the time, it was routine to check patients' spines for "osteopathic lesions" (what we know as "subluxations"), and to correct them with manipulation/adjustments.
The death rate among influenza patients under conventional medical care in the U.S. was estimated at 5 percent to 6 percent. The fatality rate among influenza cases under osteopathic/chiropractic care was estimated at 0.25 percent. The implication drawn from this data by the study's author was that lesions (subluxations) depress the immune system; therefore, correcting the lesions assists immune function.
During the 1918 influenza epidemic, Davenport, Iowa, medical doctors treated 4,953 influenza cases with 274 deaths. At the same time, 150 chiropractors, students and faculty of Palmer School of Chiropractic treated 1,635 cases during the influenza epidemic with only one death.
The state of Iowa reports medical doctors treated 93,590 influenza patients with 6,116 deaths or one out of 15. The rest of the state, except for Davenport, reported 4,735 patients treated by chiropractor care with a loss of 6 which is 1 out of 789 during the influenza epidemic.
This conclusion, drawn by both osteopaths and chiropractors more than 80 years ago, has received support from recent research. The activity of the immune system's major "players" - the white blood cells - has been found to increase after chiropractic adjustments.2,3 An intriguing study suggests that the immune response of HIV-positive patients (as measured by CD4 count) improves when spinal subluxations are corrected.4,5
Chiropractic and acupuncture have always been about maximizing the function of the body. The healthier your nervous system is, the healthier you are. Eye opening to see that when the most deadly flu ever happened people did not find relief from the conventional, but rather from strengthening their own body’s defense mechanisms!
References:
1. Riley GW. Osteopathic success in the treatment of influenza and pneumonia. J Am Osteopathic Assn, 1919; 18:565.2. Brennan PC, et al. Immunologic correlates of reduced spinal mobility. Proceedings of the 1991 International Conference on Spinal Manipulation (FCER):118.
3. Brennan PC, et al. Enhance phagocytic cell respiratory burst induced by spinal manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1991;14:399.
4. Selano JL, et al. The effects of specific upper cervical adjustments on the CD4 counts of HIV positive patients. Chiropractic Research J 1994;3:32.
5.Todres-Masarsky M, Masarsky CS. The Somatovisceral Interface: Further Evidence. In Masarsky CS, Todres-Masarsky M (editors). Somatovisceral Aspects of Chiropractic: An Evidence-Based Approach, 2001, Churchill Livingstone, New York.
6. http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1241106609 |
| | Reminder
The best prevention for COVID-19, and any other virus, such as the cold or flu, is to:
- Get adjusted and get acupuncture!
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning product.
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| | | | Get Connected
Stay up to date on the comings and goings of our Oaktree community by joining our facebook group and following our instagram.
Instagram: @Oaktreehealth Facebook: Oaktree Healthy Community
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