Ten Simple Rules For Digestive Health From a Naturopathic Doctor

Digestive Health Challenges Are a Common Problem Many of my patients have issues concerning digestive health. These problems range from mild digestive upsets and transient stomach viruses to more serious conditions like Crohn’s disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. These problems have often existed for several years before they are adequately diagnosed and treated. There are many natural remedies that can be offered to people who have digestive problems. Sometimes a few dietary changes and mild supplements can be enough to heal a person’s problem. Even in more severe cases, natural medicine supplements can often help to ease…

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Natural Approach

IBS is a Common Health Challenge As a naturopathic doctor, one of the main complaints people speak to me about is IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In fact, stomach pain and poor digestion seem to be something of an epidemic in the United States. New research conducted on sufferers of IBS, reported on by the BBC, found a dramatic improvement in symptoms of pain, gas, and bloating with the simple addition of water-soluble fiber, such as the psyllium seed. Eliminate Foods Associated With Food Sensitivities Many foods have been associated with digestive upset.  I usually encourage my…

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Acid Blockers and Vitamin B12

Taking Heartburn Medication Can Inhibit B12 Absorption Acid Blockers are one of the most common types of over-the-counter medications my patients take. Unfortunately, over time, these medications can lead to health challenges which include, difficulty digesting food, malabsorption, and nutritional deficiencies. This is due to the fact that, without adequate stomach acid, it becomes impossible to digest our food properly, and absorb key nutrients. B12 is absorbed in the distal portion of the small intestine, and requires intrinsic factor (a carrier protein), in order to be adequately absorbed. Intrinsic factor is produced and stored by parietal cells…

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Your Brain Health and Your Diet

Our Diets And Our Brains Our diets can have an impact on brain health.  And while we know this to be true, we rarely think about it when deciding what to eat. While we've all heard that “you are what you eat,” it's equally true to say that "we think what we eat." The food we consume and the calories we take in fuel the thoughts and ideas we have throughout the day. The brain is an amazing organ—it can take sugar directly from the bloodstream without the need for insulin. Consequently, too much or too little…

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Fiber to Treat Diabetes, Obesity, and Heart Disease

  Why Fiber Is So Important To Health A diet high in fiber may be one of the best things that you can do for your health. When people ask me what I think is the most important change they can make to improve their health, I usually recommend a diet that is mostly plant-based, minimally processed, and high in fiber. Most anthropologists today believe that early humans ate a diet much richer in plant foods than we currently do. And most health experts agree that the daily intake of fiber should be approximately 25 grams or…

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Los Angeles Syndrome: How To Treat Chronic Stress and Exhaustion

The Stress of Living in Los Angeles Could Be Costing You Your Health The People of Los Angeles are stressed, very stressed. In fact, stress is one of the first things I notices about living and working as a naturopathic doctor in Los Angeles. Perhaps, it is how the city is laid out;  a sprawling metropolis that both frightened and fascinated me when I first moved here. The constant onslaught of amazing, talented, harried and over-worked people, has inspired me to call the this health phenomenon “L.A Syndrome.” Amongst some of the symptoms I see are, a…

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