A Functional Medicine Approach To Addressing Anxiety

 Anxiety can significantly impact your quality of life. While the conventional medicine approach focuses on balancing neurotransmitters in the brain, a Functional Medicine approach is to look for the root cause. Functional medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that looks teaches healthcare practitioners including medical doctors to look for and

Balance Calories – A success story of Canadian beverage sector Innovation

 2017 was an important year for the Canadian Beverage Association, as we celebrated our 75th anniversary representing the non-alcoholic beverage industry. Another reason for the industry to be proud was the Conference Board of Canada’s (CBoC) Balance Calories Tracking Report 2017. The report showed that Canadians are continuing to reduce

Clever weight-loss tips to help you succeed

 For any amount of weight you may want to lose, starting can be the hardest part. But you can set yourself up for success by creating a plan. Here are some tips to help you achieve and maintain a healthier weight. Set smaller goals that you can hit along the

Turning the tide on the harm of opioids

 By Wendy Levinson and Laurent Marcoux As clinicians, we are bound by professionalism and our ethical responsibilities to do no harm and to do what we can to address the pain and suffering of our patients. When powerful pain relieving opioid medications were introduced a few decades ago, they seemed

When the doctor says sorry

 By Paul G. Thomas My introduction to the complex and emotional world of adverse events in healthcare occurred in 2001 when I chaired a committee to review an inquest report into the tragic deaths of twelve infants in a paediatric surgery program in Manitoba. Justice Murray Sinclair who conducted the

Tips to Help You Take Care of Your Mouth

 By Dr. Jessie McAllister A smile is more than just a sign of happiness, it can also reveal a lot about a person’s overall health. After all, your mouth is one of the first places a dentist can spot signs of health issues such as sleep apnea, diabetes, and heart disease.

The power of music to improve the challenges associated with autism

 by Kathleen O’Grady My son is practicing the piano as I write this and it’s the sweetest sound.  He’s spent two years working slowly through the same level, but it doesn’t matter; he’s improving and the benefits of both music therapy and music lessons have been clear and measurable.  My

Six Ways to Top Your Morning Oatmeal

 Rolled, steel-cut, or instant - however you like to eat them, oats are an easy, versatile, and nutritious way to kick off your morning. Oatmeal is made from whole oat grains that have been broken down and processed to varying degrees. A serving size, which is typically around half a

A Homemade Brightening Mask Made from Kitchen Ingredients You Already Have

 As we slowly shift from Ottawa’s chilly winters to spring sun, it’s time to take your skin out of hibernation and into fresh rejuvenation. The dry and cold weather can take its toll over the winter months, but you can get your skin in ship shape in time for the

Are you pregnant? Follow these four food safety steps!

 When you're pregnant, food safety is more important than ever because you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk of foodborne illness or food poisoning. Your immune system is weakened, making it harder to fight off infections and leaving you vulnerable to serious health problems. Your unborn baby's

Vegans of Ottawa – Jessica Godard

 Photo credit: Jessica Godard In this series, we chat with vegans from around the region to find out what it’s like to be plant-based in Ottawa, discovering tips and tricks for living a like a local - vegan style. Jessica Godard was born (and mostly raised) in Ottawa and is currently

Endometriosis and Yoga: Healing pain from within

 Those who live with Endometriosis are accustomed to living in pain. Every step, even every breath, makes you more aware of the bitter taste of pelvic pain. For nine years I have learnt not to push myself too hard, to limit my exercise routine and to ensure a proper diet,

What you need to know about prescription opioids

 You were playing some pick-up hockey with friends and slipped and broke your leg. Or you were running across the street, tripped over the curb and fractured your elbow. Or maybe you experience overwhelming pain from a chronic medical condition and your healthcare provider feels opioids may help manage your

Pressure Points on Feet for Headaches

 Drat that headache that stops you from doing any important work, all you can do is lie down and hope that those splitting headaches and migraines just disappears. A headache sometimes disappears on its own but a migraine is a more serious problem and it lasts for days together. A

Healthy Food, Why Is There So Much Confusion?

 Are you are feeling overwhelmed regarding what is healthy food? There is a tonne of conflicting commentary in the media around food, and consequently, you may know who to trust or what to believe. For many years there was confusion over whether eggs were good or bad. People even made

Why media need to stick to the evidence when reporting on food studies

 By Dylan MacKay Two of the most well-known American food journalists have been telling readers lately that the DASH and Mediterranean diets are not tops for our health. But hang on – the evidence tells a different story. The journalists are Gary Taubes, the author of The Case Against Sugar,

The skinny on fat

 For years we've been told that eating fat will add inches to our waistline, raise cholesterol and cause a slew of health problems. But it turns out fats can be your friend if you choose them wisely. While the “bad ones” can wreck your diet and increase your risk of

Government Slow to Take Action on Opioid Crisis

 The official numbers aren’t out yet, but the number of opioid-related deaths in Canada in 2017 is expected to have surpassed 4,000, reports the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). This is yet another significant increase in opioid-related deaths, up from a record 2,861 deaths in 2016. Supervised injection sites

Risk of a fentanyl overdose rising in Ontario

 The opioid crisis is affecting people of all ages, right across the province. Opioid overdoses and deaths have been steadily rising over the last 10 years. In 2016 alone, more than 850 Ontarians died from opioid-related causes. Adding to the concern is a large increase in the presence of synthetic fentanyl

Study reveals Canadian parents would give up social media, chocolate or wine for their kids to eat healthier

 Catelli recently commissioned a survey to delve further into real parenting moments, uncovering revealing truths about today’s modern family, and the daily challenges Canadian parents face, many of which involve mealtime. According to the survey1, due to mounting pressures surrounding their children’s diets, almost two-thirds of Canadian parents (61%) would

Interview with Amber Stratton, Co-founder of Pure Yoga

 If you’re a yogi living in the Ottawa area, chances are you’re familiar with the Pure brand, whether it’s because you practice at a Pure Yoga studio or because you regularly get together with friends over a plate of Radical Wings and a Revive Alive cocktail at Pure Kitchen. The

Eat more plants, less meat

 By Courtney Howard and Ian Culbert What is a healthy diet? New Year’s diet conversations still abound around water coolers Canada-wide as people debate the various merits and shortcomings of sugar, gluten, meat, dairy, tofu and other edibles.  Scientific articles, shiny celebrities and representatives of various groups who produce, transform

The Benefits of Coconut Oil

 Is there anything coconut oil can’t do? It has been hailed a miracle oil and it seems like everyone from celebrities to beauty professionals, yogis to your neighbor is obsessed with the grocery store multitasker. It has been used widely for its many natural health and beauty benefits. Here are

How doctors treat women differently

 Everyone wants to receive the best healthcare services and treatments, but if you're a woman, new research shows you may have to take matters into your own hands. Karen Jensen, a naturopathic doctor with 25 years of clinical experience, says differences between women and men should be considered when treating

Upgrade your shopping list to achieve your healthy eating goals

 Eating well can be daunting, but one of the best ways to cook healthier meals is to tweak your grocery list a little. Just a few small changes over the course of a couple weeks can add up to some big improvements in your overall diet. “Some of the best