At some point or another we’ve all experienced the dreaded symptoms of a cold. You know, the sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose, and fatigue that comes along with it. Though most of us are quick to blame someone else for our symptoms, there’s really only one person to blame: ourselves. Instead of being mad at your partner or coworker for spreading their germs, you should be upset with your immune system. Ultimately, a cold is our body’s way of telling us that our immune system isn’t strong enough. Hence why we’ve dedicated this week’s blog to sharing 5 Natural Immune Boosters! 5 NATURAL IMMUNE BOOSTERS 1) ZEN TIME. With Fall in the air and the holiday season fast approaching, things can get a little chaotic. Here’s the thing though, when it comes to health there isn’t anything more harmful than stress. Especially when it comes to colds. Stress weakens our immune system, making us more susceptible to colds and illness. It’s great to have a few plans or a couple of projects to tackle but give yourself some time to relax. Plan some zen time–your body will thank you for it! 2) WATER. Just because it’s getting cooler outside doesn’t mean Read more…
Last week we talked about allergies, this week we’re talking about a common symptom of allergies: sinusitis. Let’s be real, no one likes having a stuffy nose. Especially, a chronic stuffy nose. You sound funny, food loses its flavor, and breathing becomes a hassle. Not to worry, there are some natural ways to relieve this pesky problem. What is sinusitis? In a nutshell, sinusitis is when the tissue lining the sinuses becomes inflamed. Normally, our sinuses are filled with air, but when we have sinusitis our sinuses become blocked and filled with fluid and germs that can grow and cause infection. Sinus blockages can be caused by the common cold, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, or a deviated septum. Sinusitis (or a sinus infection) occurs when the blockages become chronic. Symptoms of Sinusitis Include: Pain and tenderness over the infected sinus. A blocked nose or runny nose A high temperature Headaches or aches in the face near the nasal cavities Toothache Cough Pressure in ears Tiredness Are you one of the unlucky Ottawans suffering from Sinusitis? Try these natural remedies. Get Rid of Sinusitis with these 5 Natural Remedies 1) Flush Your Sinuses. You’ve heard of the Neti Pot, right? The little Read more…
Vitamin D – Why Your Body Needs It!
By Dr Gabrielle Pomerleau Vitamin D is vital for the health of our bones and teeth. It plays an important role in the absorption of calcium in the intestine and limits calcium elimination by the kidneys. It also has an important role of absorption of other minerals like phosphate, magnesium and iron. Vitamin D – Sunshine Vitamin Vitamin D is frequently named the sunshine vitamin. The reason behind this name is not that the sunlight contains Vitamin D; actually, the vitamin precursor is in the human body under the skin ready to be activated by UVB in the sunshine. Being exposed to sunlight helps creates a chain reaction resulting in the formation of Vitamin D. Sunlight Limitations There is multiple factors affecting this natural production of Vitamin D by your body. First of all the amount of UVB varies during the day. It is at its greatest when the sun is at it’s zenith around 12pm to 1 am. The latitude where you live also has an impact on the level of UVB, the further north you live the less UVB you get, especially during the winter months. The amount of skin exposed will determine the amount of time needed Read more…
Avoid Summer Colds with these Tips
Don’t let a summer cold ruin your vacation follow these tips to stay healthy during the warm months