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…