Update October 17, 2016

The calculator that I referred to in the original post is no longer active, luckily these apps are available and even easier to use than the original!

Opti-D Time Calculator

D VitaMeter

We have known for a very long time (at least 1926) that adequate levels of vitamin D reduce the incidence of respiratory infection, colds, and flu.  It is not so surprising then that as we head into the darkest time of the year –the winter solstice December 21st- the incidence of colds & flus are increasing. We do store vitamin D in our bodies from the summer, the problem is that by this time of the year, without adequate exposure to sunlight, we have used up our stores.

Your skin naturally produces, and then absorbs vitamin D (which is actually a hormone) with sun exposure. In the winter months it is likely that you are not getting enough sunshine to replenish your stores of vitamin D.  This niffty calculator will tell you how much sun exposure you would need to get at various times of the year. Only a few minutes every-other-day for the super pale (nearly transparent) like myself and up to 24 minutes if you have darker skin. 

As your stores of vitamin D drop, your ability to fight infection decreases leaving you with 3 options: 

1. Get sick.
2. Withstand the freezing temperatures and stand in a t-shirt outside at noon for up to 24 minutes every-other-day. 
3. Increase the vitamin D in your diet  - dietary supplementation.

Sources of Vitamin D...

Halloween is a scary time - parents & teachers I am sure that you will agree. Our kids turn into monsters before our very eyes! There are several factors that make kids crazy around Halloween – the excitement, late nights & early mornings, and of course SUGAR!

I am not going to join the chorus of voices talking about the evils of sugar – that fact is that too much sugar is unhealthy. It is also Halloween and bowls of sugary treats are popping up everywhere, so chances are all of us will be eating too much sugar this week.  I want to focus on what can be done to help mitigate the all of the sugary goodness we are ingesting.

Things I have learned about surviving a sugar onslaught:

1. Eat often – ideally whole foods rich in fibre & protein
Sugar can cause a spike in our blood glucose (sugar) and put our bodies on a crazy blood glucose roller coaster that makes us crave another sugary hit. Eating whole foods often through out the day will do 2 things: our bodies will be better able to level out after a sugar hit; and, if we are full it is easier resist all of those tempting treats. 

• Fibre: slows the rate of glucose absorption, lessening the post-treat spike in blood glucose; and, it takes a long time to digest so we feel full for longer. 
  
• Protein: primes our bodies for sugar metabolism and keeps us feeling satiated longer.  
  

I am excited to let you know that I am offering free homeopathic flu vaccinations for this year’s flu season. Homeopathic flu vaccination has has an efficacy rate of 90% and has been in use for over 150 years. There are no reported side effects.

Homeopathic flu vaccination is suitable for everybody and is particularly recommended for infants, children, the elderly and those with existing health conditions or compromised immune systems. Due to its extremely gentle and non-invasive nature, homeopathy can be safely integrated into your existing health care regime (i.e., supplements, prescription medication, etc.). 

For more information on how to survive the cold & flu season and on homeopathic flu vaccination please see visit my website .

To protect yourself and your family naturally this flu season just contact me via email or at 416-579-6234.

Oh my, this morning was hard! After 3 days of giving thanks I am feeling a little sluggish – I am sure I am not the only one. 

Like a lot of people I tend to over do it a bit during the holidays – I sit too much, I eat too much, I eat too many rich foods (sugar & fat), I drink more red wine than I am used to (…and then a scotch or 2 for good measure) and I stay up too late. The end result is that I am struggling through my day today, which means so is my immune system. 

The next few days will be critical in determining whether or not my body will be successful in defending against the pathogens it has been exposed to this past weekend…it is not a coincidence that cold & flu season start now.

3 Things I have learned about recovering from holiday celebrations:

1. Get moving

Exercising may be the last thing on your mind right now, but it one of the best things you can do. Even a moderate about of exercise today (and over the next few) will: improve your mood, improve your energy, stimulate your immune system, and help you get a better sleep. A vigorous workout may not be possible today but even a 20-30 minute walk will be huge benefit to you – especially if you have a beautiful sunny day.

So now you are sick! What do you do now? There is no cure for a cold or flu. Suppressive medications, e.g. decongestants, will allow you to ignore your cold/flu for a short period of time, but in the long run you will likely only increase the duration and intensity of your cold/flu!

Learn more about the effect suppressive medications have on your body.


Things I have learned about recovering from a cold/flu:

1.     Do all 5 things suggested in Cold & Flu Season - Part 1 Prevention.   


2.     The best defence is offence - Flush Your Sinuses
Gargling and using a netti pot literally kill and wash away the pathogens that are attacking your system while soothing your irritated mucus membranes. At the onset of any symptoms gargle and use a netti pot. Gargle deeply once every 3 hours for at least 60 seconds, continue to gargle for at least 1 day after you feel better. Follow your netti pot instructions.

• Gargle recipe: 15-30ml (1-2 tbsp) real apple cider vinegar (optional), 250ml (1c) of warm water & 2-5ml (½-1 tsp) salt.

Tip: If I am on-the-go (aka not following my own advice and resting) I will mix up a large batch of the salt & vinegar to take with me and use throughout the day. 

Well I am sad to say that cold & flu season is upon us.  While it may see logical to blame the vectors in our lives (aka children, colleagues, fellow commuters, etc.) more times than not our own immune system to blame. 

Most of us are exposed to cold or flu viruses on a fairly regular basis, but we only get sick when our bodies are in a weakened state. A weak immune system means that cold & flu viruses are able to get a foothold in our bodies and proliferate.

So if colds/flus are simply a matter of our individual immune systems being weakened why is there a cold/flu season? There are a lot of interesting theories regarding cold/flu seasons, like the cold nose idea, but I think it just boils down to an end of summer. Summer has a slower more relaxed pace – we take vacations, entertain casually, and we take time to enjoy sitting outside. Generally, we take better care of ourselves in the summer. In the fall everything seems to ramp up to a hectic pace as we get the kids off to school, head back to the gym, and tackle the piles of stuff we procrastinated all summer. In addition we spend less time outside getting our vitamin D and the weather is erratic which means that we get chilled often.

5 Things You Can Do To Survive The Cold & Flu Season

1.  Eat well
 Food is your fuel. Crappy food equals crappy performance.  Strive to eat only real food – nothing processed. Keep your diet high in fresh vegetables and fruits all year round.  Many people recommend increasing your garlic intake during cold/flu season and for good reason.


2.  Drink well

August is a month of trips and travel. For most of us that is a great thing, but for those of us that experience motion sickness trips and travel are something to be endured. Homeopathy will help you and your loved ones arrive at your destination with a smile on your face...If only I had known about homeopathy years ago I could have saved a childhood friend from what turned out to be a ghastly weekend sailing with my family! Sorry Susan.

There are lots and lots of homeopathic medicines that can be used to treat motion sickness - there will be one that is particularly suited to your brand of travel induced nausea, headache, anxiety, etc.. I have indicated some of the most common ones below,  if don't find one that works for you from the list below don't despair - just contact me and we will find the one that works for you. In no time you will be able to breeze out of a car/boat/plane like a seasoned international jet setter - looking and feeling fabulous!

I think that we maybe crazy, my husband and I went into moose country in Algonquin park this past weekend – translated for non-campers – we went into the heart of mosquito country during prime mosquito season during what may be one of the worst mosquito years across Canada!

We quickly discovered that as September campers we were unprepared for the swarms of mosquitoes. After the first of 3 portages I was sure that I would be a mess of bites for a week or more - but hours after leaving the bush I had no remaining bites!

How is that possible you ask? Well, once we were in the relative safety of our camp site I dug through my homeopathic first aid kit and did what I could to prevent more blood letting. I dosed us with ledum & staphesagria – I would have preferred frequent low doses, but I worked with what I had and it helped.   I am not saying that we didn’t get bitten – we did. We were bitten, but infrequently and the bites were only mildly itchy and resolved themselves quickly. I was amazed.

I have looked into chemical free mosquito solutions and discovered some interesting things.

I know that some people love the sun - I am not one of them! It seems that despite my best intentions there are at least a few times a year that I get too much sun and I end up looking like this.  After 40 years in this pale skin and with all of my medical knowledge you would think I would know better and not get burnt - apparently not.

Below are some TLC tips and first-aid recommendations for when you or your loved ones have gotten too much sun and you are dealing with dehydration, sun burns, rashes or sun/heat stroke: 

I am a freckled, green eyed, redhead - protecting myself from the sun is not optional.  As a child I spent most of my summer in the various stages of sunburn - red, blistered and/or peeling - sometimes all three at the same time! When I was younger it was only the pain and grossness of blistering & peeling that bothered me....now I know that sunburns are one of the main risk factors for skin cancer. 

I was in third year university (an eon ago) when I read studies that linked the use of chemical based sunscreens to an increase in skin cancer! What! The more I read the more I learned. I was shocked and angry to find out that all of the goopy, sticky lotions I diligently put on all of the time could be increasing my risk of skin cancer, disrupting my hormones &  increasing my exposure to other toxins!