Supports Cardiovascular Health

It’s said that garlic is one of the best foods to keep your heart healthy. It’s been shown to reduce cholesterol while lowering lipid content within the blood. Studies have shown that garlic has a positive effect on hypertension, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. It seems that the miracle food also has the potential to prevent blood clots from forming.

Helps with Hypertension

In both human and animal studies, garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure when administered orally. So much so that improvements can be seen after a single dose. There are long-term, positive effects to eating garlic, as the acid it produces can relax the muscle cells that make up the pulmonary artery, while allows it to expand more. When combined with a balanced diet, garlic can improve your blood pressure immensely.

Nutritional Support Against Cancer

There’s been a correlation shown in many studies done around the world between the higher consumption of garlic and a decreased risk of cancer. Increasing the amount of garlic taken into the body is related to the reduction of cancer cells in the stomach, pancreas, colon, breast, throat and prostate. Established cancer research institutes are claiming that garlic is the most effective food in the prevention of cancer.

Liver Protection

This is one of the best foods you can consume to help detoxify your liver. Garlic can aid in lowering the effects of liver disease while also preventing liver damage caused by certain toxic factors. According to studies, garlic can protect cells in the liver from nitrates, acetaminophen and gentamicin.

Antimicrobial Properties

Studies have shown that the antibacterial properties in garlic can effectively treat salmonella, Proteus, staph infections and more. The workings of garlic can also be antifungal, antiprotozoal and antiviral in some cases. Through test tube studies, it was found to fight against viral pneumonia, the common cold, influenza, herpes and HIV. When cold sufferers consumed garlic extract, they experienced milder symptoms and shorter illness duration.

A Powerful Antioxidant

Unstable molecules in the body known as free radicals can damage DNA and cause issues with your health. How does garlic come into play? Because it’s packed with strong antioxidants, garlic can fight against the distraction caused by free radicals. When it’s broken down, the garlic’s antioxidants produce acid that both react with and traps these damaging molecules.

At Northshore Naturopathic Clinic, our staff is committed to providing new and existing patients with the most effective naturopathic treatments possible. Our services include IV therapy, anxiety counselling, Bowen therapy, food sensitivity testing, trauma counselling, concussion and brain injury treatment and more. Located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, call to book an appointment with us so we can start the healing process on both your physical and mental health.

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Why is gut health important?

There is a limited amount of space available along your stomach lining for bacteria to reside. You want to make sure the bacteria that does settle there is the right kind.

Your stomach also impacts the way your brain functions and vice versa. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to keep your mental health in check. When you feel anxious or experience stress, your brain can hinder involuntary actions in your body like digestion. Similarly, when your gut does not feel good, it sends signals to your brain that can affect your emotions and mood. In fact, most of the serotonin – a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep and emotions – is made in your gut, not your brain. How you feel and what goes on in your stomach is much more intertwined than scientists had previously realized. That is why you should make taking care of your gut a top priority on your health checklist.

Eat probiotic foods

Fermented foods contain a large number of good bacteria. Kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, coconut kefir, and microalgae are all great plant-based foods rich in probiotics. When selecting these types of foods, avoid pasteurized and vinegar-based varieties since it can kill good bacteria.

Eat regularly, but do not graze

Give your gut the chance to clear out waste including bad bacteria. Every one and a half to two hours your intestines contract to keep the waste in your stomach moving throughout the rest of your digestive system. When you eat, this process comes to a stop. That means snacking constantly can lead to overgrowth of bacteria and slow down digestion. You do not have to go to the extent of fasting, but you should give your body breaks between meals to prevent bloating and constipation.

Drink water

This tip is on pretty much every wellness blog and for a good reason. Your gut needs to be hydrated to keep waste and bad bacteria out of your system. You should drink about half your body weight in ounces of water a day. That means if you weigh 130 lbs, you should drink about 65 oz of water each day. Dehydration can cause the bad bacteria to outnumber the good bacteria and lead to inflammation.

Avoid stress

Easier said than done, right? While a stress-free life is what we all strive for, it can feel impossible to accomplish. Try to cope with your stress in productive ways like through meditation, yoga, therapy, and time outdoors. Letting stress take over cause your brain to slow down digestion, causing bad bacteria to thrive in your gut.

To learn more about which supplements and practices will improve your gut health, consult the professionals at Northshore Naturopathic Clinic. Our clinic is located at NorthVancouver, BC. If you have any queries, feel free to contact us.

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Contrary to the popular belief, baby blues and postpartum depression are psychologically and
physiologically distinct. Baby blues symptoms include anxiety, crying, sleeplessness, and mood
swings that can last for a couple of weeks. On the other hand, postpartum depression is
characterized by symptoms that are more severe and longer lasting.

Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression may experience the following:

● Frequent panic attacks and anxiety
● Constant fatigue and sleeplessness
● Isolation from friends and family members
● Deterioration in good eating and sleeping habits
● Resentment towards the baby
● Emotions of guilt, irritability, and worthlessness

To make matters worse, doctors usually take the route of prescribing antidepressants to
suffering mothers, but instead of having lasting positive effects on patients, antidepressants
pack many side effects. Similar to numerous other physiological and psychological problems,
the holistic treatment of postpartum depression has also begun to gear towards natural
solutions.

Northshore Naturopathic Clinic in North Vancouver, for instance, offers pre and post delivery
treatments that naturally alleviate all negative effects of childbearing and labour. The specialists
at the clinic handle each case with care while acknowledging the mother’s lifestyle,
responsibility, dietary practices, and hormone levels. The information is used to administer
treatments tailored to the specific needs of the mother.

Listed below are a few important daily functions that should be undertaken in order to ensure a
speedy recovery.

Receive help from other People

All mothers understand the difficulty of getting through the first couple months after having a
baby. You barely get any time to sleep, take a shower, clean the house or exercise. It is
important to not hesitate or feel inadequate in receiving help from family members and friends in
taking care of your baby for a few hours while you enjoy some time to yourself and better yet,
step outside.

Get Ample Exercise and Nutrition

New mothers are allowed to exercise after a six-week postpartum recovery period. Moreover,
working out in the presence of your baby has been made easier with workout DVDs, jogging
strollers, and mommy and me yoga regimes. All you have to do is allocated an hour of your day
and release gleeful endorphins.

You must also make it a point to eat healthily as well. A regular intake of protein throughout the
day will help you maintain stabilized sugar levels and mood. Along with appropriate amounts of
protein, make sure to eat whole grains, beans and nuts.

Contact Northshore Naturopathic Clinic

If you are suffering from postpartum depression, we are here to help you! Our facility is
conveniently situated in North Vancouver and you can visit us online at
www.northshorenaturopathicclinic.ca. You can also call to discuss your inquiries with us at 604-
986-7774.

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