Dr. Tannaz Mokhtari: Naturopathic Blog

In light of spring cleaning and reducing plastic usage in our household I have been searching for alternatives for food storage and water bottles. It is rather easy to find glass containers for food storage and stainless steel bottles for adults and children! However non plastic sippy bottles for toddlers are not as easy to find. I was using glass bottles and as he is practicing his pitch they break into thousands of pieces! Finally it fell into our laps on his first birthday! A blue good quality stainless steel bottle with a special sippy tip and the most important part a LID! My 13month old loves to drink his water from this special bottle and since I found this product now I give one to any of my friends with toddlers and they all love it.

This company also has other products for food and drink storage so if you are looking visit www.noplastic.ca

For information on Bisphenol A please visit: www.environmentaldefence.ca/toxicnation/action/bisphenolfaq.htm

I believe in the healing power of nature and using plants and food as therapeutic agents to bring about healing. I also believe our body has the ability to heal itself given the right agents.

If we consider the health spectrum with illness at one end and wellness at the other, where would you place yourself today? Where would you want to be on this scale? In order to decrease our pain, improve our health, reduce inflammation and improve our immune system we NEED to create change. I always talk about a lifestyle modification with my patients because it is ESSENTIAL in achieving wellness. Let’s use a simple example, if the oil light on your car’s dash comes on you don’t simply take out the light to get rid of this important signal, you will take the car in for an oil change because that is what is required. Well our body has signals with which it tries to communicate however as a society we have become so dependent on “specialists” that we seldom understand what these signals mean or how to interpret them. We go to doctors asking them to take our pain away! Well the pain is there because there is an underlying problem. The pain is the signal our body is communicating to tell us there is disharmony and there is dis-ease. So we take the Tylenol, Advil, and other pain relievers in order to take the pain away so we can go about our daily life. We take the flu shot because we have been told about its lifesaving benefits. However if the cause of the pain is never addressed then I promise you it leads to bigger and bigger health issues which are not likely to go away with taking any medications or vaccines.

I often see individuals in my office whom have been struggling with their pain and distress for a long time and finally decided to create a change! Change is difficult. It tips your scale until you find your balance again. But if this change is in the right direction you will feel better and be rewarded.

This season is the cold and flu season, and I often get asked about the flu shot- to take or not to take! My answer is always the same; if you are a healthy individual, generally recover well, have a healthy lifestyle and eat well then you don’t have to worry. The most recent study on effectiveness of flu vaccine published in The Lancet indicated a growing number of immunologists and epidemiologists say the vaccine probably does not work very well for people over 70, the group that accounts for three-fourths of all flu deaths.

The authors said previous studies had measured the wrong thing: not any actual protection against the flu virus but a fundamental difference between the kinds of people who get vaccines and those who do not. The Lancet paper, by Michael L. Jackson and colleagues at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, was based on an analysis of medical charts of thousands of elderly members of an H.M.O. The study found that people who were healthy and conscientious about staying well were the most likely to get an annual flu shot. Those who are frail may have trouble bathing or dressing on their own and are less likely to get to their doctor’s office or a clinic to receive the vaccine. They are also more likely to be closer to death.

In 2005, Dr. Simonsen, who was then at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Md., published a paper in The Archives of Internal Medicine that found something odd: even though the percentage of older people who got an annual flu shot more than tripled from 1980 to 2001, there was no corresponding drop in the death rate.

That paper included one of the first estimates of how many deaths are actually caused by the flu — a number hard to pin down because doctors seldom confirm flu in their patients with lab tests. Using a statistical model and the best available data, Dr. Simonsen found that influenza probably causes just 5 to 10 percent of all winter deaths in the elderly. But earlier studies had found that the flu vaccine cut an elderly person’s risk of dying by 50 percent! How does this add up?

Ultimately the decision is up to each individual and my message is do your research and then make an educated decision.

If you want some interesting facts and figures please visit www.vran.org/vaccines/flu/flu-facts.htm and http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/02vol28/dr2823ea.html

I use herbal tinctures and homeopathy for myself, my family, and at the office. My patients are very happy with the results and always ask for the herbal formulas at the beginning of the cold and flu season. Eating well balanced meals low in simple carbohydrates, managing stress effectively and boosting your immune system using herbal supplements such as Astragalus, Ginseng, Echinacea, Borage, Osha, and Cleavers will help you get sick less often and recover much faster. Taking a good quality vitamin-mineral formula, green shakes, and vitamin D are also important. I often see my patients get sick when they are stressed and are not resting enough, not getting enough sleep and have a poor diet. Proper sleep, healthy diet and good stress management are necessary for a healthy functioning body.

Have a healthy winter ahead,

My son was diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome at the age of 4.5yrs. He had recurrent viral infections which his pediatrician thought was quite normal for his age.  Despite following a very healthy diet and good lifestyle he was sick every 4-6weeks. As a mom I knew there is a problem, hence the frequent visits to his doctor and the frustration of not being to prevent it .  Prior to his diagnosis he became very ill, had a fever, abdominal upset and lack of appetite. He started getting puffy above his right eye. We visited his pediatrician’s office three times before a diagnosis was made on the tenth day. Three different pediatricians saw him during these visits.  He was so swollen his cloths did not fit him.  I believe he was spilling protein for a long time, but his body was strong and because of his lifestyle and dietary habits he overcame it until this last time when his body was just too weak.

The diagnosis came as a shock, followed by 5 days of hospitalization and lots of procedures and medications which could have been avoided.

My frustration with the whole experience is that the diagnosis was made too late.  The simplest and cheapest test is used to make this diagnosis and it is absolutely mind boggling as to why doctors fail to order this test more often.  All you need is a urine sample and a dip stick!  An excess loss of protein in the urine is the indication for this diagnosis. Simple yet in any case I read about the diagnosis has been missed and the child ends up in the hospital with diuretics, blood pressure medications, prednisone and running a risk of developing clots, high cholesterol, risk of having a stroke and the list could go on.

My goal is always to prevent. I believe an in an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”.  If the test was done after the first sign of puffiness presented then he could have been treated with much less medications. He would not have develop fluid in his lungs, and have his albumin levels fall  so low as not to show up on the lab test! Now I have to check his urine every morning with an Albu-stick (specific for protein in the urine). The urine dip stick has other benefits; in case a child is developing diabetes and the symptoms are missed the glucose will show up in the urine.  In cases of infection many times a child may not communicate their discomfort or may have minimal symptoms yet the test may show evidence of urinary tract infection so all in all the benefits of the test will out way its minimal cost.

My suggestion to the parents is to ask for a dip stick urine test whenever you see your child is getting sick too often and not recovering well despite the healthy lifestyle and proper diet. This test can be done at home so you may choose to purchase a bottle of dip sticks and test your children at home from time to time. I believe asking for the test and having a diagnosis early is very important and from a cost benefit factor, if a test costs 0.25cents  to  a maximum of 0.50cents but prevents hospitalization and unnecessary medications then at the end it costs our healthcare much less!

I have included some general information regarding Nephrotic Syndrome below. I welcome any comments you may have or if you would like to share your experiences.

What is the Nephrotic syndrome?

This is an illness where the kidney loses protein in the urine. This causes protein in the blood to drop, and water moves into body tissues, causing swelling (edema). You will see the swelling around the child’s eyes, in the belly, or in the legs. Your child will not go to the bathroom as often as usual and will gain weight with the swelling.

What causes the Nephrotic syndrome?

In the majority or cases, the cause is not known. The National Kidney Foundation has active research programs into causes and treatments of the Nephrotic syndrome.  Viral infections can often play a major role.

Who gets it?

Usually, young children between the ages of 1 1/2 and 5. It happens twice as often in boys as girls. However, children of all ages and adults also can get it.

How can you tell if your child has it?

You may see that your child has swelling around the eyes in the morning. You may think that your child has an allergy. Later, the swelling may last all day, and you may see swelling in your child’s ankles, feet and belly. Also, your child may be:

• more tired & more irritable
• eating less
• pale looking

The child may have trouble putting on shoes or buttoning clothes because of swelling.

How is the Nephrotic syndrome treated?

The treatment will try to stop the loss of protein in the urine, and increase the amount of urine. Usually, the doctor will start your child on a drug called prednisone. Most children get better with this drug.

Tea is a wonder drink, you can drink it on a cold day to warm up, drink it hot or cold in a warm day to cool off, drink it for comfort or as a means for social outing! It is the second most consumed drink in the world after water. Recent studies show benefits of tea in many health conditions.

Tea has therapeutic potential in weight management, glucose control, and skin health.

The specific catechin known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea has been identified as the constituent responsible for reducing fat mass, fat absorption, adipocyte differentiation and proliferation and lipogenesis. Some studies have shown the benefits of green tea use to increase thermogenesis in obese individuals. 

There is also some evidence that green tea and to a lesser degree black tea may have a role in improving glucose control and enhancing insulin activity.  This is useful for people with diabetes.

Tea polyphenols may protect against skin cancer and photo-aging.  Tea protects skin against UV radiation damage and green tea is now being used in many skin care products. Oral and topical use of green tea can improve skin health and provide protection due to their antioxidants countering free-radicals, as well as immune modulating and anti-inflammatory actions.

I often recommend green tea use to my patients – it’s a great way to relax and boost your fat metabolism!

So go ahead drink your tea and enjoy its many benefits.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms that start approximately 7-14days before a woman gets her period.  The symptoms can include: acne, trouble sleeping, mood changes, weight gain, change in bowel habit, change in appetite and increased hunger, breast swelling and tenderness and headache.  The symptoms are due to some hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances.  PMS symptoms have been divided into four categories; PMA-A (for anxiety), PMS-C (for cravings), PMS-D (for depression), and PMS-H (for water retention).  Women generally do not fit snugly into once category but exhibit a variety of symptoms.

Healthy lifestyle choices can significantly improve the severity of your symptoms. 

Dietary modifications

·         Low fat

·         High fiber

·         Low sodium

·         Low sugar

·         Low caffeine

·         No alcohol

·         No  smoking

Physical activity & lifestyle

·         Aerobic exercise can improve anxiety and depression

·         Aerobic exercise helps control hunger and food cravings

·         Deep breathing exercises helps mental clarity and increase oxygenation

·         Proper sleep for 7-8hours per night is essential

·         Avoid stressful events and schedule important events after period

Beneficial  Treatments

·         Liver and bowel detoxification

·         Thyroid and adrenal support

·         Flaxseed and Evening primrose oil alternation during the month

·         Supplementing with B6, Ginseng, 5-HTP, St. John’s wort, chromium and fish oil

·         Acupuncture  and herbal treatment

·         Homeopathic treatment and drainage therapy

·         Ask yourself where in your life your energy is stuck-in your relationship, in your work, in addictive eating habits- and take steps to move that energy

Plan some fun activities, massage and relaxation time

I have been out of touch for a couple of weeks attending to my newborn! Finally found a few minutes to myself to write a blog.  Just before he was born I had the “nesting syndrome”, I just wanted everything cleaned and cleaned over, getting rid of the clutter in the house.  This time of the year many people feel the need to do “spring cleaning” or as I call it “detox” their home.  We are all becoming more conscious about and taking steps to improve the environment outside.  But what about the environment within the four walls of our own homes? With double-glazed windows and air-tight doors, the air we breathe day and night can become a toxic brew of chemicals, most of which the average person can’t even pronounce.  Using toxic cleaning agents, air fresheners, toiletries, and lots of other day to day products, we expose ourselves and particularly our children to this toxic stew! According to Dr. Lynn Marshall of the Environmental Health Clinic at Toronto’s Women’s College Hospital, children are particularly vulnerable to these chemicals. “They eat, drink and breathe in more contaminants relative to their body size.  They are lower to the ground and explore with their hands and mouths.  Their ability to handle environmental pollutants is immature, at the same time as development of key organs and metabolic processes are rapidly occurring and can be interrupted by exposure to toxins, even at low levels, with permanent negative consequences.”

There are a number of illnesses which may be linked to the excess environmental toxins. The causes of environmental sensitivities/intolerances, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and fibromyalgia, also pegged as “21st century illnesses,” are unknown. It is suspected that there are a number of factors at work, leading to the body’s inability to adapt to a combination of stressors. One of the stressors commonly linked with these conditions is our exposure to an increasing number of toxic chemicals.

Here are some useful tips to remember: 

·         Open a window and run a fan. Fresh air improves air quality much more effectively than an air freshener which can itself contain damaging chemicals.

·         Use a one-inch pleated filter in your furnace, rather than the usual flat surface filter, as there is more surface area to collect more dust particles. Remember to replace the filter regularly.

·         Clean furnace ducts every two years.

·         Avoid indoor smoking.

·         If you have a gas stove, make sure your exhaust fan is functioning properly, and that you use it every time you use the stove.

Switch to all-natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda or use a line of organic cleaning products; 

White vinegar - use to clean windows, counter tops, chrome, grease, floors, etc.
Baking soda - absorbs odours; good for cleaning ovens, sinks, etc.
Lemon juice- cleans windows, sinks, grease, etc.
Vegetable oil, lemon oil - can be used as a furniture polish
Borax - for cleaning toilets, tubs, floors
Plant-based dish soaps

There are also a growing number of commercially available, less-toxic products on the market. Canadian products that have been certified as safer for human health and the environment have an Ecolabel (three doves intertwined to form a maple leaf.)

Products to use sparingly or avoid:

·         Window and floor cleaners containing ammonia

·         Drain cleaners containing sodium hydroxide

·         Commercial air fresheners

·         Aerosol products

·         Anything with added fragrances or dyes

Also remember this is a great time for doing a “body detox”.
Wishing you a wonderful spring.

 Happy Spring! I know it is hard to believe spring is actually here with all the snow around in Toronto, but with the longer day light hours and more sunshine we are slowly feeling it and our internal sense of rejuvenation will start to awaken.  Spring is truly an exciting time of year, a time of rebirth and new beginnings.  This spring is especially important for me since I am expecting my baby any day now!

As exciting as this time of year is for most of us, it can be quite irritating for some prone to seasonal allergies.  The immune system becomes hyper-reactive and reacts to the environment.  Most people with allergies find relief through the use of anti-histamines, and find that they have to use them regularly and often in order to find relief.

Factors leading to allergies include:

·         Incomplete digestion due to deficiency of stomach acid and digestive enzymes.

·         Lowered endocrine functions such as underactive thyroid and adrenal glands.

·         Over worked immune function.

·         Stressed Nervous system, due to lack of enough sleep and relaxation.

·         Exposure to environmental pollutants particularly household products such as air-fresheners, chemicals, lack of proper air circulation and ventilation in the house.

·         Nutritional deficiencies; these can be tested through hair mineral analysis, blood work, and urine tests.

 Here are a few tips for natural and safe allergy relief:

·         Homeopathic medicine such as Sabadilla for acute attacks of allergies involving tremendous paroxysms of sneezing, constant itching and tingling inside the nose, watery discharge from the nose, watery, irritated eyes.  The more specific the remedy is to the symptoms it will be more effective.

·         Essential fatty acids from organic and pure sources, are important in regulating the immune system and suppress the formation of inflammatory chemicals in our body.

·         Take extra daily doses of vitamin C, it helps relieve allergic symptoms and prevents local inflammatory reactions, and provides antihistamine-like effect.
Quercetin and bromelain are also very effective in their antihistamine-like effect when used preventatively.

·         Take a good quality multivitamin daily, choose powder, liquid or capsule for easier absorption.

·         Take a greens supplement daily, these are full of naturally occurring essential nutrients, however beware of sensitivities to wheat, as most of these products contain wheat grass juice.

·         Drink plenty of water from a pure source.

·         Be aware of food sensitivities and try to avoid the food you feel is causing discomfort.

·         Get tested for food sensitivities, these are different from food allergies.
Think about a proper detoxification program to cleanse your body, this is the perfect time!

 Wishing you a wonderful and allergy free spring!

Just recently I have been at a corporate event and talked to people about the need for detoxification and the best time to detoxify. Most people had heard of detox but were not sure what it really meant.  Some believed they had a decent lifestyle therefore detox was not really beneficial for them.

So back to why detox, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;

·         More than 4 billion pounds of chemicals were released into the ground in 2000, threatening our natural ground water sources.

·         Over 260 million pounds of chemicals were discharged into surface waters (i.e. lakes, rivers, and oceans).

·         Nearly 2 billion pounds of air emissions were pumped into the atmosphere.

·         Several thousand food additives are intentionally added to our food supply, and thousands more slip into our food supply unintentionally during harvesting, processing, or packaging.

·         Over 400 pesticides and herbicides are currently licensed for use on food crops, and every year over 2.5 billion pounds are dumped on crop lands, forests, lawns, and fields.

Extensive research shows that it is not a question of if we are carrying a burden of these toxins, but rather how much and to what extent they affect our health. 

·         Immunological toxicity may be a factor in the development of asthma, allergies, skin disorders, chronic infections, and cancer.

·         Neurological toxicity affects cognition, mood and overall mental functioning.

·         Endocrine toxicity affects reproduction, menstruation, libido, metabolic rate, stress tolerance, glucose regulation, and more.

The message: We all need to support our body’s natural function and enhance the detoxification ability of our body by: 

1)    Reducing the intake of and exposure to toxins
Washing fruits and vegetables before consuming them; Eating organic foods, particularly meats; Drinking a lot of purified water; Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; Using prescription and over the counter medication only when necessary; Exercising regularly; Limiting your exposure to pesticides and herbicides; Using protective equipment when working with toxic substances.

2)   Support your body’s detoxification capacity
Your body is able to rid itself of harmful toxins through a process called detoxification. Unfortunately, this process is compromised in many individuals due to the great numbers of toxins their bodies must get rid of, as well as a lack of nutrients needed to fuel the entire detoxification process. Consuming a low-allergy potential source of nourishment along with nutritional factors known to enhance the body’s detoxification capacity can have a powerful effect on your body’s ability to cleanse itself.

Spring is the best time to enhance your detoxification capability and rejuvenate yourself. Get started on your program and enjoy your spring and summer feeling better than ever!

(Note: some material collected from 2006 advanced Nutrition Publications, Inc.)

Every winter I get more and more concerns about skin dryness.  February and March seem to be the worse months. Our skin is the largest organ in our body.  It has a protective function and helps in absorption of some nutrients such as vitamin D and elimination of some toxins through the sweat.

Most dry skin is caused by environmental exposures, such as:

·         Weather. In general, your skin is driest in winter, when temperatures and humidity levels plummet. Winter conditions also tend to make many existing skin conditions worse.

·         Central heating and air conditioning. Central air and heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and dry your skin.

·         Hot baths and showers. Frequent showering or bathing, especially if you like the water hot and your baths long, breaks down the lipid barriers in your skin. So does frequent swimming, particularly in heavily chlorinated pools.

·         Harsh soaps and detergents. Many popular soaps and detergents strip lipids and water from your skin. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps are usually the most damaging, as are many shampoos, which dry out your scalp.

Other factors, including certain diseases, can significantly alter the function and appearance of your skin. These include:

·         Psoriasis. This skin condition is marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales.

·         Thyroid disorders. Hypothyroidism, a condition that occurs when your thyroid produces too little thyroid hormones, reduces the activity of your sweat and oil glands, leading to rough, dry skin.

·         Alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and caffeine can visibly dry your skin. Prescription drugs such as diuretics, antihistamines and isotretinoin (Accutane) also have a drying effect.

·         Dehydration. Severe diarrhea and vomiting, a high fever, profuse sweating during exercise or simply not drinking enough liquids can cause your body to lose more fluid than you take in. One of the first signs of dehydration is skin that has lost its elasticity.

Here is some beneficial self care advice for keeping your skin healthy, vital and young:

·         Keep yourself hydrated. Drink lots of water even if you don’t feel thirsty.

·         Avoid chlorinated pools. Swim in facilities that use salt instead of chlorine.

·         Avoid extremes of temperature.  Keep your hands and face covered during the winter to prevent damage to your skin.

·         Avoid harsh soaps and cleaning agents. Use olive oil soap, Emu oil soap or other soaps and shampoos with natural ingredients.

·         Eat fish or pure and certified sources of fish oil and flaxseed oil. These sources of omega3 fatty acids are very beneficial to your skin.

·         Moisturize you skin using cocoa butter, Shea butter, Emu oil, olive oil or any combination of nut oils. Try to use these oils in their purest form and apply to your skin while the skin is still moist. I.e. after bath/shower or washing your hands.

·         Use a humidifier. Hot, dry indoor air can parch sensitive skin and worsen itching and flaking. A portable home humidifier or one attached to your furnace adds moisture to the air inside your home. Portable humidifiers come in many varieties. Choose one that meets your budget and any special needs. And be sure to keep your humidifier clean to ward off bacteria and fungi.

·         Homeopathy can be very beneficial in treating skin ailments; talk to your Naturopathic Doctor if you find your skin is persistently dry and getting worse.

As a society we are suffering more from chronic illnesses and degeneration than ever before! So why is it that despite our technologically advanced medical system and access to medications, we are seeing more cases of cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and arthritis just to name a few?

My thoughts are it is our lifestyle and dietary habits. This is the single most important criteria which we as individuals have complete control over and tend to undermine it! There is an overlay of various nutritional fads that have risen and fallen over the past few decades.  Most recently, the latest diet trend has been an interest in high-protein foods and a decrease in fresh fruits and vegetables.

The result is that high protein diets increase the net dietary acid load and acidify the urine pH. Conversely, diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with a greater degree of alkalinity.  Over time, ingestion of a high dietary acid load can progress to a chronic low-grade level of metabolic acidosis.  A chronic acidic load can cause a number of health conditions such as osteoporosis and muscle wasting. 

Another aspect of the acid-alkaline balance is its role in detoxification, by either the acute removal of a drug or poison due to overdose or a nutritional protocol to support metabolic detoxification and decrease dietary toxins.  One approach to help maximize the detoxification capability of the body is to implement elimination diet high in whole fruits and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc.) which contain myriad phytochemicals such as indole-3-carbinol and other essential elements for facilitating toxin biotransformation.  Additionally, these vegetables can favorably alkalize the urine pH. 

In addition to dietary changes, nutritional supplementation for a short-term course of 4-6 weeks with select botanicals can facilitate metabolic detoxification.  Also potassium citrate can be used effectively to alkalize urine and in turn affect our internal environment.

Managing stress properly and getting a good night rest in addition to a proper diet and exercise routine will help us achieve total wellness. Nurturing our soul, mind and body is a lifetime commitment and unbelievable rewarding!

As we get closer to spring I will devote more blogs to different approaches for cleansing and detoxification, so be sure to visit us regularly. Also if you are interested in more detailed information regarding this topic please visit my newsletter section at http://www.your-nd.com/html/news.htm.