All too often, older adults in our community suffer from loneliness. This not only affects their quality of life, but can increase risk factors for health problems and mortality rates. And new research out of Carnegie Mellon University offers the first evidence that meditation may reduce loneliness, thereby improving the
It was September 23, 2006, and I couldn’t sleep. The next day was the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront half-marathon. I had been training for weeks but because I had been experiencing some undiagnosed right hip pain for a week or two, I was unsure if I should participate in the next
As a naturopathic doctor, I work with many athletes. I look at optimizing their nutrition and bringing the body back into balance to enhance their athletic performance. Dietary changes can help with energy, digestion and inflammation; acupuncture can improve healing time for injuries. For many athletes, it’s hard to resist
KW resident George Harvey was diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure when he was only 19 years old. This surprised George, as he was not overweight and assumed he was healthy. He was immediately put on betablockers and monitored closely. Eventually George was switched to diuretics, but was resigned to
I grew up on a farm. We had a big vegetable garden and we spent the summer tending it, harvesting, preserving, and canning. We traded pork for milk, eggs, and beef from the neighbours. We got fresh raspberries and strawberries from our grandparents’ farm and froze those for the winter
“Hidden Dangers of Detox Diets” was the title of a mass email message I recently received. Intrigued, I opened it up and it led to an article that discouraged anyone from attempting such a “dangerous” activity. “There is no scientifically proven reason to put yourself on a detox diet,” says
It’s 8:00 am. You’re making oatmeal, helping your son with his homework, getting lunches ready for the family, and the phone rings. Before you know it you’re juggling too many things, all at once, and you feel that your day has already become complicated. This feeling continues at work. You’re
A recent study published in the journal Cancer caught my eye. University of Pennsylvania researchers looked at the role of attitude in the survival rates of cancer patients. They found that neither positive nor negative emotional status predict how long a person with cancer will survive. The five-year study involved
“Gardening is fundamentally an act of enormous hope because everything you do in the garden is for the future.” Barbara Frum, 1937—1992, Canadian Broadcast Journalist As a child growing up on the farm, I always had work to do. When my “townie” friends were watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island, I
As a naturopathic doctor I help my patients choose the best foods for their health. People ask me what they should eat and I make recommendations based on my experience, their symptoms, and current research. Usually the conversation goes something like this Patient: Hey doc, what should I eat? Me: