How To Handle Your Picky Eater

“I don’t like that!”

“It smells funny!”

“Why can’t I have that instead?”

“I want chocolate!”

If you're the parent of a picky eater, these are probably familiar statements to you.

How do you make sure your picky eater gets all the nutrients a growing body needs - without pulling your hair out?

Let’s look at the basics of meal planning for children for some helpful strategies!

Why Are Kids Pickier Than Adults?

Are the taste buds of children and adults really that different?

Why do things we despised as kids become some of our favourite meals as grown-ups?

You might say that over time our “tastes have matured” but there’s more to it than that, as shown in research done by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D on the Science of Picky Eaters.

Firstly, adult taste buds are more tolerant to sour and bitter flavours.

This may explain why the child who begs for a tiny sip of your coffee out of curiosity will spit it out, but then grows up to have a 3 cup-per-day habit.

Children may also be more sensitive to properties such as bitterness, which can be a signal that there might be toxins in food.

So, we know why children often shy away from bitter flavours, but why do they gravitate towards sweets?

It might be because they are being drawn towards energy-rich foods.

They are growing and using energy at a much faster rate than adults, so it would stand to reason they will prefer foods that help fulfill these needs.

Looking at the research, there are many reasons to suggest children may be picky eaters, and then grow into liking a wider variety of foods as adults.

How To Deal With Picky Eaters

So, you’ve got a picky eater on your hands - but they still need to eat and waiting for them to “outgrow” it isn’t really an option.

Let’s look at some strategies that might help make mealtime easier:

1. Get Your Kids Involved With Meal Planning

Do you ever notice how excited kids are to show you their latest piece of artwork?

Or how proud they are to show off their science-fair project?

Kids get excited over things they had a hand in making - and meal time is no different.

Starting a garden at home and involving kids from start to finish can be a great way to get them to eat fruits and vegetables.

As they plant and care for different types of veggies, they will be more inclined to want to try them afterward.

Having them help in the kitchen, even if it’s just adding ingredients to a recipe or having them stir the mixing bowl, not only gets them involved in the process but teaches lifelong cooking skills.

It might even get them excited about Brussels sprouts.

2. Try Different Food Combinations

Just because little Sally doesn’t like pork fried rice doesn’t mean she hates rice.

Maybe she’ll like it in a tasty paella, or risotto with tomatoes.

Don’t give up on getting Johnny to try spinach because he rejects it in a salad - maybe you’ll have better luck with cooked spinach in a soup.

Trying new ways of preparing foods may open your child to things they previously disliked.

But sometimes your child will legitimately just not like a food.

That's okay – we all have foods we don't like – but at what point should you stop trying to make it work and just move on?

We say if a child tries something 10 times and still dislikes it - now might be the time to leave it be.

And what about finishing everything on their plate?

It’s OK. Children need to learn to recognize when they're full.

Pushing a child to eat everything on their plate even if they're full can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food later in life.

3. Set Regular And Consistent Meal And Snack Times

Just like most people have their children keep regular bedtimes, establishing regular meal and snack times is important to maintaining a routine.

Establishing (and sticking to) routines will teach children that they can expect food at certain times.

While it might be OK to have breakfast in front of the TV watching cartoons, setting an expectation of sitting down as a family at least once per day is important - so get in the habit of turning off the TV over dinner.

Or maybe busy evening schedules mean that not everyone is home in the evening, making breakfast a family affair.

Incorporating family meals, where everyone eats together is important; a study from 2000 showed that children who ate dinner with their families had better eating habits, including increased intake of fruits and vegetables and fibre and less fried food and saturated fat.

What will work best for your family?

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

Do you need help with meal planning for your picky eater?

Are you worried that your child may not be getting all of the nutrients they need to grow up healthy and strong?

If so, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

We will work together on strategies and meal plans to ensure your child is getting everything they need from their diet.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To see additional ways on health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopathic clinic

How To Deal With Chronic Pain Naturally

Are you in pain?

And I don’t just mean the pain after banging your shin on the corner of the coffee table or thumping your head on the cupboard door or after exerting yourself at the gym.

I’m talking about chronic pain.

If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain, it may be difficult for you to live your day-to-day life.

But there are naturopathic solutions available.

Contact us at the Mindful Healing Clinic to find out more.

But first, let’s talk about what chronic pain is.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is any type of pain that consistently affects your body for an extended period of time.

The vaguest definition is any pain that exists longer than the expected healing period.

Opinions differ on the length of time required to consider a pain chronic.

Some believe 3-6 months is the marker, with shorter but persistent pain being considered acute.

Others qualify anything less than 12 months of consistent pain as subacute pain and only after the 1-year mark is it deemed chronic.

What Causes Chronic Pain?

There are a number of different causes of chronic pain and they can vary widely.

Some of them include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Nerve damage
• Muscle or joint damage (musculoskeletal pain)
• Certain types of arthritis
• Cancer pain
• Post traumatic injury

These are just some of the ways chronic pain can begin.

Symptoms Of Chronic Pain

There are so many different causes and origins of chronic pain that symptoms can vary widely.

It is often divided into two categories of pain called nociceptive and neuropathic.

Nociceptive Chronic Pain

Nociceptive pain is a side effect of inflamed or damaged tissue that reacts with pain sensors called nociceptors.

There are two sides to this categorization, the first being superficial which is an activation of nociceptors in the skin or external tissues.

The second is deep somatic pain which exists in internal parts of our body and flares up when nociceptors are activated in our ligaments, tendons, bones, muscles, etc.

A further distinction of the deep somatic category is visceral pain, which happens within your organs (viscera).

Nociceptor pain is often distinguished as a dull throbbing and difficulty locating the origin point due to pain in the surrounding areas.

Neuropathic Chronic Pain

Neuropathic pain is also split into specific distinctions.

The first is central pain, meaning it originates in the brain or spinal cord.

The next is peripheral pain, which exists in further parts or our nervous system.

This pain is commonly categorized by sensations of burning, tingling, stabbing, or pins and needles.

Natural Solutions For Chronic Pain

There are many natural solutions that can be recommended by The Mindful Healing Clinic.

Here we will list just a few options to begin your search for solutions to chronic pain.

1. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a type of treatment that involves triggering certain points in the body using small needles.

It originated in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is now becoming a widespread accompaniment to western treatments.

It has been known to work for fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and back & sports injuries.

Acupuncture may be useful for a number of other conditions as well.

For more on acupuncture, read our previous article on the subject.

2. Capsaicin Topical Cream

Capsaicin is the substance within chili peppers that gives them their fiery sensation.

You might not think putting spicy stuff right onto your skin sounds like the best idea, but believe it or not it can help relieve chronic pain.

It comes in cream, gel, or patch form, and applying it directly to the spot where it hurts causes a soothing sensation.

This can be particularly helpful with back pain or pain caused by arthritis.

Be careful, though! Just like adding chili peppers to your meal, moderation is key.

Too much capsaicin can irritate your skin.

Capsaicin has other uses too, including as a supplement to help with diarrhea and intestinal cramps.

But that’s a subject for another article.

3. A Yoga Practice

Yoga is a form of exercise that stretches the muscles in the body with particular moves, an emphasis on focused breathing, and an awareness of the connection between mind and body.

There’s evidence that regular exercise helps with chronic pain, but if you’re in pain you may feel like avoiding physical exertion is best for you.

This is why yoga is so helpful – it’s one of the gentlest ways to exercise, helping you stretch your limbs and ligaments without pushing yourself harder than you’re comfortable with.

Sufferers of chronic pain often experienced heightened depression, anxiety, and impaired cognitive function as well.

Yoga has been shown to improve all three of these side effects.

A 2013 study by Cramer et. al found that patients who were given a yoga routine experienced a significant reduction in the intensity of their neck pain.

So if you’re experiencing chronic pain, yoga may be the way to go.

4. Meditate

There are many different variations of meditation such as guided imagery, attempting to achieve mental clarity and emotional calm, using aides like prayer beads, or different types of religious and spiritual practices.

Like yoga, the exploration of the connection between mind and body has been shown to improve things that stem from chronic pain like depression, anxiety, and cognitive function.

It has been said to assist with conditions like headaches, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.

5. Eat Turmeric

Turmeric is a root that is part of the ginger family.

You’ll find it used commonly in Indian cooking – it’s what gives curry its yellow colour.

It’s also what gives mustard its yellow colour.

In fact, it gives just about everything it touches – your clothes, your hands, your cooking utensils – a yellow colour, so be mindful of that.

Anyway, you can find turmeric in natural root form (which looks a lot like ginger), powered spice form, as a supplement, or even a tea.

What gives turmeric its real potency though, from a health perspective, is its anti-inflammatory properties.

This is thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin.

Turmeric – and curcumin supplements – have been shown to help with a wide range of different health conditions, including depression, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and – you guessed it – chronic pain, particularly from arthritis.

We’ve written an article in the past about turmeric, too. Read that one for more information.

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

If you’re living with chronic pain, you don’t have to suffer through it alone.

There are treatment options available.

Contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, here at the Mindful Healing Clinic, and let’s talk.

If you’re new to naturopathic medicine, I offer FREE 15-minute introductory health consultations to all first-time patients.

During that session, you’ll get a chance to sit down with me and talk about your health concerns.

I’ll answer all your questions about your health, and about naturopathic medicine in general, and you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how you may deal with your chronic pain.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute health consultation today.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To discover additional info on health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopathy

How To Lose Weight With Water

Now, what would you do if I told you water was good for your body?

You’d probably look at me, shake your head, and move on.

After all, everyone knows water is good for you.

This is not a revelation you need a naturopathic doctor in Mississauga or some other health specialist to point out to you.

But not everyone knows exactly why.

Sure, it’s refreshing to enjoy a cold glass of water after a tennis match or a hot day in the Sun, but why is that?

Why do we drink water?

Benefits of Water

Water does a lot for you.

It plays a big role in your digestive system, helping to break down food in your digestive tract and turn it into the nutrients your body needs to function.

It also keeps your digestive tract lubricated and moving, making sure everything functions the way it should.

Once the nutrients are broken down into the components your body can use, water helps you get your nutrients where it needs to go.

Nutrients and oxygen need to travel to your cells, but to do that they need a medium.

And yes, your blood is the medium, but your blood is 92% water.

Meanwhile, your kidneys and liver use water to carry away the waste you don’t want to be hanging around in your body.

Water acts as a lubricant for your body as well, keeping your mouth and eyes moist enough to work properly.

Your lungs, too, don’t work when they’re all dried out - and why would they – they’re 83% water, after all.

It keeps your joints flexing and moving properly, and in general keeps you from shriveling up into an ancient Egyptian mummy.

It helps your body regulate its temperature and helps maintain the shape and volume of the cells in your body too, so they can work properly.

In short, you’d be in trouble without water.

But there’s more to it than that.

Believe it or not, water plays an important role in weight management too.

So if you’re looking for weight loss tips, start with water.

How To Lose Weight With Water

Why do so many people struggle with their weight?

There are many different reasons, but one of the big ones is the fact that they don’t know how to recognize when they’re thirsty, and they don’t know the difference between water and fluids.

After all, just because you’re drinking fluids doesn’t mean you’re getting the water you need.

This common mistake is one of the main causes of a wide range of illnesses in the human body, including excessive weight gain.

Do you know the difference between hunger and thirst?

Sometimes it’s obvious.

If you’ve just run a 5k marathon, or you just biked from Mississauga to Scarborough, you’re probably going to reach for a glass of water before you do a steak dinner.

But most of the time, the sensation of thirst and hunger are so similar that it’s hard to recognize when your brain wants one over another.

This often ends up with us reaching for the snack drawer when what we really need is a tall glass of water.

So the next time you feel hungry, try taking a drink first.

If your hunger subsides quickly, maybe you weren’t so hungry after all.

How Does This Work?

Your brain has two different mechanisms which it uses for energy: metabolism of food and formation of sugars; and conversion of water into hydroelectric energy.

But studies have shown that the brain depends more heavily on the latter, especially for its transport system in your nerves to different parts of the body.

Basically, your brain can’t run without water.

How Much Water Do I Need?

So now you know how important water is.

But there’s more to it than just pouring some of the clear stuff down the hatch.

A general rule of thumb is to drink 35 mL of water for every kg of body weight you have.

The average Canadian woman weighs about 69 kg, so that works out to about 2.4 litres of water (or about five 500 mL water bottles) daily.

Canadian males, meanwhile, weigh an average of about 83 kg, so they should drink about 2.9 litres (or about six water bottles) daily.

Your Water Weight Loss Plan

Follow this strategy to make sure you’re getting enough water:

Drink two glasses of water as soon as you wake up.

This helps kickstart your metabolism and will give you a nice burst of energy in the morning.

1. Drink A Glass Of Water Before Each Meal

Several studies have shown that those who drink a glass of water before a meal end up consuming fewer calories.

A 2003 study by Boschmann Et Al goes more into the science behind this if you’re interested.

2. Ditch The Soft Drinks

If you were to make just one single dietary change in your life to improve your health, this is a good one to start with.

Getting rid of high calorie soft drinks in your diet can save you hundreds of calories per day.

Plus these drinks are loaded with sugar, artificial colouring, and all sorts of other chemicals and generally nasty stuff.

You’re better off avoiding them.

3. Keep Drinking Water Throughout The Day

Yes, start your day with two big glasses of water, but don’t just assume you’re good for the rest of the day.

If you drink small sips of water at regular intervals, your body will absorb it more readily.

4. Drink More Earlier In The Day

If your bladder likes to wake you up at night, it’s going to get worse the more water you drink.

To get around this, drink most of your water during the first three quarters of the day.

Contact Dr. Maria

If you’re struggling with weight loss, there are naturopathic solutions that may help you.

Contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, here at the Mindful Healing Clinic, and let’s chat.

If you’re new to naturopathic medicine, or you’re not sure if I’m right for you, book a FREE 15-minute health consultation.

During that consultation, you’ll get a chance to sit down with me and ask any questions you have about naturopathic medicine or about your health.

I’ll answer them as best I can, and you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how I can help.

Contact me and book your FREE 15-minute consultation today.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To find more ideas about health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopaths in streetsville

5 More Natural Solutions For Anxiety

Anxiety can be disabling. It can affect people of all ages, and in about half of cases anxiety is accompanied by depression.

Experiencing some anxiety - which is the “fight or flight” response - is common, but it can affect day-to-day life when it is constant or a reaction to inappropriate circumstances.

Pharmaceutical options can help symptoms of anxiety, but naturopathic options are available as well.

If you have been experiencing symptoms of anxiety or if you have been diagnosed with anxiety, there are Mississauga anxiety solutionsavailable at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

We previously discussed natural healing solutions for anxiety, but are there other options available?

Keep reading to find out.

Health Complications From Anxiety

Anxiety causes a decline in overall health and long-term stress, and chronic anxiety can negatively impact your overall quality of life.

During the “flight or fight” (cortisol) response of anxiety, your system is flooded with chemicals that ensure your brain gets more oxygen.

When repeated anxiety occurs, your body no longer receives the signal to return to normal functioning.

Complications can arise from this, including a weakened immune system which causes vulnerability to viral infections, increased chance of developing IBS, and a decreased appetite.

Excessive worry and tension are the primary characteristics of anxiety.

Other symptoms include:

● Chest tightness
● Heart palpitations
● Sweating
● Muscle tension
● Panic attacks
● Insomnia

Anxiety affects about 5% of the population, and remission rates remain as low as 38%.

Natural Solutions For Anxiety

Although chronic anxiety can be crippling, more natural solutions are available to treat your anxiety.

6. Practice Meditation

In a recent randomized selection trial, it was found that mindfulness-based stress reduction may have a beneficial effect on anxiety symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. It reduces cortisol levels and improves sleep quality.

If you are interested in trying meditation, guided meditation through YouTube or podcasts is a good place to start.

7. Take B-Complex Supplements

Eating food rich in B vitamins or supplementing with B vitamins can help improve anxiety symptoms.

It will affect your energy levels, sleep, and mood; B vitamins also combat stress.

Vitamin B6 is especially helpful, keeping blood sugar balance and maintaining a healthy nervous system.

In addition to anxiety, a deficiency in B6 can also cause depression, mood swings, and fatigue.

Vitamin B12 is also important, combating chronic stress, depression, and mood disorders.

Supplementing with it can help improve concentration and energy levels.

8. Take Magnesium Supplements

Playing many important roles in the body, supplementing with magnesium has many health benefits.

However, magnesium is one of the leading deficiencies in adults.

Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system, and can relax your muscles.

It regulates hormones that calm the brain and promote relaxation.

In addition to combating anxiety, magnesium can also aid in digestion, muscle aches, spasms, and sleeping difficulties.

Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea, so consult with a doctor before beginning supplementation.

9. Include Ashwagandha In Your Diet

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, can help anxiety through stabilizing the body’s reaction to stress.

In two of three recent studies, ashwagandha demonstrated significant benefits over a placebo treatment when measured on anxiety or stress scales.

In addition to being a stress reliever, ashwagandha protects the brain from degeneration.

It can help to improve focus, reduce fatigue, and fight anxiety.

10. Take A GABA Supplement

GABA, or gamma aminobutyric acid, is an amino acid which plays a role in decreasing anxiety in the nervous system by regulating nerve cells through a sedative effect.

In addition to anxiety, GABA is prescribed for a myriad of conditions, including insomnia and ADHD, and for pain relief.

Taking valerian root is another option.

Valerian root raises the brain’s levels of GABA to calm anxiety.

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

A wide variety of naturopathic treatments are available for anxiety, depending on the specifications of your individual disorder.

If you have been diagnosed with anxiety or suspect that you may have anxiety, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

During your initial appointment, you will sit down with me where we can talk about your anxiety and any other health concerns you may have.

From there, we’ll create a treatment plan based on your unique health needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory session today!

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To read additional information about health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopathic clinic

Natural Remedies For Tension Headaches

Experienced by most people at some point in their life, headaches are one of the most common medical complaints.

In fact, according to data from the World Health Organization, nearly half the adult population have reported to have a headache at least once in the past year.

In spite of their commonality, though, headaches are often under-reported and under-treated.

Tension headaches are the most common primary headache disorder, with episodic tension headaches being reported in more than 70% of some populations.

If you have been diagnosed with tension headaches, or if you believe you may be experiencing tension headaches, you may be relieved to know that at the Mindful Healing Clinic, there are natural solutions for tension headaches available.

But what exactly are tension headaches, and what natural treatment options are available?

Keep reading to find out.

What Is A Tension Headache?

Tension headaches are described as mild to moderate pain in the head that feels like a tight band.

They come and go over time.

Symptoms of tension headaches include:

• Pain in the head that is dull and aching which can spread to the neck
• Tenderness in the neck, scalp, and shoulder muscles
• Sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead, or in the back or sides of the head

Tension headaches can be episodic or chronic.

Episodic tension headaches, which have been reported by more than 70% of people in some populations, occur on fewer than 15 days per month for at least three months.

They usually last for a few hours but can persist for days.

Chronic tension headaches, which are estimated to affect 1-3% of adults, occur on more than 15 days per month for at least three months.

They can be more disabling than episodic headaches.

What Causes Tension Headaches?

`Headache disorders, including tension headaches, are a worldwide problem, affecting people of all ages, races, and genders.

Tension headaches are categorized as a primary headache, which is not a symptom of an underlying disease.

Primary headaches are caused by overactivity in the brain, muscles in the head, or problems with pain-sensitive structures in the head.

Lifestyle factors can trigger primary headaches such as tension headaches.

These factors include, but are not limited to:

• Stress
• Diet
• Changes to or a lack of sleep
• Alcohol consumption
• Poor posture
• Environmental causes, such as second-hand smoke
• Eye or back strain

In addition, headaches can often be an indicator of a deficiency in the body, such as dehydration or a vitamin deficiency.

Other Types Of Headaches

There are 150 different types of headaches.

Other than tension headaches, the three most common types are sinus headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines.

When a migraine and tension headache are experienced simultaneously, it is known as a transformed or mixed headache.

Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation of the sinuses.

They can cause pain in the forehead, bridge of the nose, and cheeks, and are often concurrent with fever, pressure in the ears, and congestion or a runny nose.

Cluster headaches are severe but uncommon, affecting fewer than 1 in 1000 adults.

They occur in groups for a couple of weeks to a couple of months; they can go away for months or years, and then return.

They are characterized by an intense pain that can feel like burning or piercing behind the eyes.

Other symptoms can include runny nose, tearing or redness of the eye, and a drooping eyelid.

Migraines can last for a few hours to a few days and are caused by a mechanism deep in the brain that releases pain-producing inflammatory substances around the blood vessels and nerves in the head.

They are often recurring and can also cause nausea and sensitivity to light.

In the 2013 Global Burden of Disease Study, migraines were found to be the sixth highest cause worldwide of years lost due to disability.

Headaches can also occur as a symptom of a disease, such as in cases of:

• Ear Infection
• Concussion
• Glaucoma
• Stroke
• Meningitis
• Panic Attacks

Natural Remedies For Tension Headaches

Several natural remedies exist which can help alleviate the pain associated with tension headaches.

1. Stretch And Move Your Body

Although movement may feel counterintuitive during a headache, stretching exercises such as yoga can improve respiration and vitality, while relieving built-up tension.

Frequent movement and stretches of the neck, especially when you’re in a sitting position for an extended period of time, relieves tension and can help prevent headaches.

A 2012 study from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that a 12-month stretching program resulted in a 69% reduction of headache frequency and symptom severity.

Results were improved even further when paired with strength training and muscular endurance exercises.

Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine.

2. Acupuncture

Acupuncture seeks to balance the body’s energy by stimulating specific points on the body.

Acupuncture can be used as a treatment for a variety of reported chronic pain, including chronic headaches.

In two recent trials, acupuncture was found to have significant and relevant short-term benefits for number of headache days and pain intensity.

It is considered a valuable tool in patients with frequent tension headaches.

3. Use A Compress

Compresses can provide pain relief for tension headaches.

Either hot or cold can work, depending on your preference and effectiveness.

People with tension headaches often prefer a warm compress.

4. Supplement With Magnesium

Patients who experience severe headaches often have low levels of magnesium, and several studies suggest supplementing with magnesium may help reduce the frequency of migraines for patients with low magnesium levels.

Magnesium is available in oral and intravenous supplements and can also be found in dietary sources such as beans, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and leafy greens.

5. Use Lavender & Peppermint Essential Oils

Peppermint oil, in combination with ethanol, has been shown to reduce headache sensitivity by cooling the skin and soothing muscle contractions.

Lavender oil is used as a sedative and mood stabilizer.

To use these oils, place a few drops on your hands and rub into the temples, forehead, and neck.

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

Naturopathic treatment is available for tension headaches, depending on the specifications of your individual disorder.

If you have been diagnosed with tension headaches or suspect that you have been experiencing them, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

During your initial appointment, you will sit down with me where we can talk about your tension headaches and any other health concerns you may have.

From there, we’ll create a treatment plan based on your unique health needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory session today.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To read additional tips about health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopathic remedies

Getting To Know Your Body: Your Thyroid

Located at the front of your neck on your windpipe, your thyroid plays an important role in your metabolism, the chemical processes within your body.

Metabolism converts food to energy to run cellular processes or converts food to building blocks for proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbohydrates.

In addition, metabolism controls the elimination of nitrogenous wastes.

At the Mindful Healing Clinic, a thyroid health naturopathic clinic, we find that naturopathic treatments may be effective in maintaining your thyroid health.

Read this article to get to know a little more about this small but important gland.

What is Your Thyroid?

Your thyroid is part of your endocrine system, a larger system which consists of all the glands in your body which regulate your hormones.

It is butterfly-shaped and consists of a left and right lobe joined by a small length of thyroid tissue called the isthmus.

Your thyroid releases hormones which regulate almost all of the metabolic processes through your body.

These tyrosine-based hormones are triiodothyronine (T3), which affects heart rate, metabolism, body temperature, and growth , and thyroxine (T4), which affects digestion, heart and muscle function, brain development, and bone maintenance.

The thyroid both regulates the T3 and T4 hormones and creates them.

The thyroid itself is regulated by the pituitary gland, which senses the levels of T3 and T4 hormones in the bloodstream.

If the levels are too low, the pituitary gland secretes the thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, which tells the thyroid to release T3 and T4.

Why Is Thyroid Health Important?

Irregular metabolism can have many negative effects on the body.

Hyperthyroidism, caused by an overactive thyroid, makes your thyroid produce too much thyroxine.

It can accelerate your body’s metabolism significantly, which causes sudden weight loss, nervousness, irritability, sweating, or a rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Hypothyroidism, caused by an underactive thyroid, makes your thyroid produce insufficient hormones.

It upsets the normal hormonal balance in the body.

Symptoms often don’t occur in the early stages, so it can be difficult to diagnose.

Resulting health problems include obesity, joint pain, and infertility.

Keeping your thyroid healthy is vital in preventing hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and other disorders of the thyroid.

Can You Live Without A Thyroid?

It is possible to live without a thyroid, and there are several ways you can end up without a thyroid.

You can be born without a thyroid, or with a malformed or non-functioning thyroid.

This is known as congenital hypothyroidism.

The gland can also be surgically removed, a procedure called a thyroidectomy.

It is most commonly performed on those diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Surgery can also be performed as a treatment for those with an enlarged thyroid, or those with hyperthyroidism.

Whenever the thyroid is removed, the result is hypothyroidism.

After all, a non-existent thyroid is the ultimate form of an underactive thyroid.

Common Illnesses Of The Thyroid

Thyroid problems can occur due to overactive or underactive hormone production, and the results can be debilitating.

1. Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to see the thyroid as a threat and begin to attack it.

It is estimated to affect one in a thousand people, and occurs more often in women.

It can be be caused by:

● Genetics
● Pregnancy, due to increased immune system activity
● Epstein-Barr virus
● Lyme disease

If left untreated, the tissues can die and stop producing hormones, causing damage to the thyroid gland or hypothyroidism.

2. Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is one of the most common diseases of the thyroid, and it is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism.

It is generally treatable if detected early, but can cause severe complications if left undiagnosed.

With Graves’ disease, instead of the pituitary gland releasing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the immune system releases abnormal antibodies which mimic TSH.

This makes the thyroid release too many hormones, or hyperthyroidism.

Graves’ disease is believed to be caused by genetic and environmental factors, although there is no definitive cause.

It occurs more frequently in women.

Complications can include:

● Hyperthyroidism and its associated symptoms
● Swollen eye muscles and tissues, potentially leading to partial blindness
● Pretibial myxedema, a skin condition which causes the thickening of skin on the shins

3. Goiters

A goiter refers to a growth on the thyroid gland, or any enlargement of the thyroid gland.

A toxic nodular goiter results when one or more nodules develop on the thyroid, triggering excess production of thyroid hormones.

Goiters can be caused by both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

They can cause:

● Swelling of the throat
● Difficulty swallowing or breathing
● Coughing
● Hoarseness

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

Naturopathic treatment is available for thyroid disorders, depending on the specifications of your individual disorder.

If you have been diagnosed with an thyroid disorder or suspect that you have one, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

During your initial appointment, you will sit down with me where we can talk about your thyroid disorder and any other health concerns you may have.

From there, we’ll create a treatment plan based on your unique health needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory session today.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To discover more tips about health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopathic remedies

Naturopathic Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes

If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be interested to know there are options available outside of traditional western medicine to manage your condition.

The over-reliance on pharmaceutical management of diabetes as outlined in the American Diabetes Association's 2013 Standards of Medical Care for Type 2 Diabetes may be overwhelming, but there are natural treatment options available.

At the Mindful Healing Clinic, we find that naturopathic diabetes treatments may be effective in helping you manage your condition.

But what exactly is type 2 diabetes, and how do you best treat it?

Is it possible to reverse type 2 diabetes?

Keep reading to find out.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes affects the way that your body handles glucose, which is a type of sugar, in your blood.

It occurs when the cells in your body don’t utilize insulin -- a hormone made by your pancreas -- as well as they should.

Your pancreas tries to make more insulin to get glucose into the cells, but when it can’t keep up, the sugar builds up in your blood instead.

Type 2 diabetes can be caused by a variety of factors:

● Metabolic syndrome
● Genes
● Liver insufficiently storing glucose
● Pre-existing conditions such as prediabetes

You are at increased risk of diabetes if you are over 45 or have a family history of diabetes.

Your medical history and your lifestyle can also put you at risk.

You are more susceptible to diabetes if you:

● Have a heart condition
● Have high triglycerides or low HDL (“good” cholesterol)
● Developed gestational diabetes when pregnant
● Have PCOS or depression
● Get little or no exercise
● Smoke cigarettes
● Are overweight or obese

What’s The Difference Between Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes?

While type 2 diabetes is caused by your body inefficiently using insulin, type 1 diabetes is caused by your body not producing insulin at all.

Insulin helps your body control glucose levels, and without insulin production that glucose builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy.

Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, and type 2 is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, because the body attacks its own pancreas with antibodies; as a result, the damaged pancreas doesn’t produce insulin.

Often diagnosed in childhood, type 1 diabetes has no known cause, and it is not preventable.

In contrast, type 2 is preventable and, in some cases using natural medicine, reversible.

Natural Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes may be treated with a naturopathic approach.

Naturopathic diabetes treatments focus on achieving ideal blood glucose control and metabolic targets.

This is achieved by focusing on optimal nutrient status, controlling after-meal blood glucose elevations, and improving insulin function and sensitivity.

If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, here are some of the approaches your naturopathic doctor may take.

1. Diet

Treatment of type 2 diabetes begins with diet changes, and diet can be effective as the sole treatment.

Evidence from clinical trials show that a diet low in refined carbohydrates can be effective in controlling blood glucose levels, as well as associated complications such as high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

Focus on healthy low-glycemic foods as evaluated by the glycemic index.

Lighten your glycemic load by eating lots of salads, green vegetables, legumes, and beans.

Intermittent fasting, or a “mini-fast”, can also help control type 2 diabetes.

With a mini-fast, you don’t eat until lunchtime except for water, coffee, or tea in the morning.

As you sleep, the glycogen in your liver depletes, causing your liver to turn fat into ketones.

These ketones are used by the brain and other tissues as fuel and are an alternate source of energy to carbohydrates.

2. Supplements

In addition to a controlled diet, you can supplement with a multivitamin.

In particular, those with type 2 diabetes need to consume adequate amounts of fiber, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E.

You may also benefit from supplementation with:

• Magnesium
• Vanadyl sulfate
• Chromium
• Berberine
• Purslane
• Gymnema sylvestre
• Banaba leaf extract
• Pterocarpus marsupium.

Speak with a naturopathic doctor before beginning supplementation with any of the above, especially if you’re already taking medication for your condition, as herbs can have strong medicinal effects on the body and may conflict with your medication.

3. Exercise

Exercise is another highly effective treatment, especially when combined with mini-fasting.

It can be as effective as glucose-lowering medication, with fewer side effects.

A 2014 study published in Diabetes & Metabolism Research And Reviews by Balducci, Sacchetti, Haxhi, Orlando, et al found that, while there is a wide range of evidence supporting the idea that exercise can help treat type 2 diabetes, few doctors are willing to prescribe an exercise routine.

But why is it so helpful?

Regular physical activity improves your body’s insulin sensitivity and helps manage blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels.

In addition, exercise can be used as a preventative measure if you’re susceptible to type 2 diabetes.

Exercise can be as simple as walking or gardening.

With any new physical activity, consult your primary healthcare practitioner before starting a new exercise program, especially if you’ve suffered injuries in the past.

4. Naturopathic Clinical Treatments

Naturopathic clinical treatments can be used as a supplement to diet and exercise, depending on your situation.

One example of naturopathic clinical treatments is infrared light therapy, which stimulates the production of nitrous oxide.

This compound dilates the arteries and improves blood flow.

Other examples are hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) and enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), which utilize oxygen to facilitate the healing of diabetic ulcers and stimulate the production of new blood vessels.

Another example is EDTA chelation, which removes toxic heavy metals from the blood.

This improves circulation and arterial health.

Your naturopathic doctor may use one of the above treatments, a combination of them, or other treatments altogether, depending on your unique health history and needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic

Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, or do you know someone who has?

If so, contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book an appointment.

During your initial appointment, you’ll get a chance to sit down with me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, where we can talk about your type 2 diabetes, and any other health concerns you may have.

I’ll answer any questions you may have, and from there we’ll create a treatment plan for you based on your unique health needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory session today.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To discover additional tips about health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopathic clinic

The Health Benefits Of Beets

Beets are a root vegetable that is unfortunately often forgotten and neglected in the modern diet.

They have been eaten around the world for hundreds of years in various forms and have tremendous health benefits.

With today’s busy schedules, it’s difficult to find time to eat healthy and take proper care of your body.

However, a sure-fire way to maintain your mental and physical energy, provide your immune system with the valuable vitamins and minerals it needs, and even reduce your blood pressure, is to introduce beets into your diet.

As a naturopathic doctor, I’m often asked for some healthy diet tips from my patients, which is why I put together this article.

Keep reading this article to find out more about why beets are so helpful for your diet, as well as a few tasty and healthy ways to prepare them.

Health Benefits of Eating Beets

Beets are a wealth of essential nutrients, including protein, zinc, fiber, B vitamins, and potassium.

Each of these play a critical role in helping your body develop new cells and maintain the health of existing cells.

One of the most profound effects of beets comes from their high level of healthy nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide by your body.

Nitric oxide causes your blood vessels to dilate, allowing for lower blood pressure and overall better blood flow.

This allows your blood to more readily provide your muscles and brain with oxygen, which leads to improved mental and physical strength.

Beets also contain a multitude of antioxidants, the most powerful of which is called betalain.

While all antioxidants have major health benefits, such as aiding in detoxification, betalain stands above the rest because it has been proven to help decrease the risk of cancer .

Beet greens (the leaves that sprout from the red beetroot we generally eat) are equally as nutritious, so don’t toss them away.

They have a similar flavour and texture to swiss chard, and taste great lightly sautéed or steamed.

They’re also among the best plant-based sources of iron, more than even spinach.

Beets also grow locally here in Ontario and can often be found at farmers’ markets, so if you’re working on eating more locally, beets are a great addition to your diet.

Ways to prepare beets

Now that you know that you’d like to begin bettering your body with beets, let’s address how to prepare them!

There’s really no wrong way to enjoy beets, but here are some popular options.

Beet Chips

1.Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.

2.Clean your beets under warm water to remove any dirt or other contaminants.

3.Using a mandolin, carefully slide the beets into even chips. The more consistent the thickness, the more evenly they will cook.

4.Place the beets onto a cooking pan and drizzle or coat them with your choice of seasoning. For a savory chip, use pepper, salt, and olive oil. For something sweeter, use local honey and brown sugar.

Beet Juice

1.Ensure that your beets are clean by rinsing them with warm water

2.Run them through your favorite juicer

3. Combine the juice with juice from other tasty and healthy ingredients; apples, carrots, celery, ginger, and lemon all combine great with the flavor of beets.

Pickled Beets

1.Rinse your beets and place them in a large stock pot, allowing them to be covered with water.

2. Allow the beets to boil for 15-20 minutes, and then discard the water, retaining 2 cups to be used later.

3.Add your beets, along with several whole cloves to sterilized jars.

4.In a pot, combine your remaining beet water with vinegar, sugar, and pickling salt, and bring it to a boil.

5.Poor the mixture into the jars with the beets, and seal tight.

6.Carefully place the jars in a large stockpot filled with boiling water and allow the jars to remain for 10-15 minutes

7. Once removed, your beets will be ready to enjoy.

Eat To The Beet

It’s important to note that beets have among the highest sugar content of any vegetable.

They’re also fairly high in carbohydrates.

As a result, they should be eaten in moderation.

However, you’re safe to eat them a few times a week.

Any more often and you might get sick of them anyway!

This only applies to the root though.

Beet greens don’t have these concerns, so you can eat as much as you like.

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

Now that you understand the benefit of eating beets, and are armed with a few healthy and easy recipes, it’s time to better your life with the benefits of beets.

If you have any questions, or would like to find any additional information, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, at the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory health consultation.

You’ll get a chance to sit down with me to talk about your health concerns.

I’ll answer all your questions, and from there we can talk about how naturopathic medicine can help you.

Call us today to book your FREE 15-minute health consultation.

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To learn more info on health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: downtown Mississauga naturopath

Getting To Know Your Body: Your Endocrine System

The endocrine system is a regulating force in your body, playing a key role in ensuring that your body works the way it should.

It includes all of the glands in your body that make hormones.

These glands control many bodily functions, such as:

● Metabolism
● Reproduction
● Respiration
● Movement
● Growth
● Sensory Perception

The hormones released circulate throughout your body, but each is targeted towards certain organs and tissues.

The kidneys, heart, liver, and gonads assist the endocrine system because they have secondary endocrine functions.

Genetics or your lifestyle affect your chances of developing an endocrine disorder.

Stress, infections, and certain chemicals can also affect the function of your endocrine system.

At the Mindful Healing Clinic, a naturopathic clinic in Mississauga, we find that naturopathic treatments may be effective in treating your endocrine system disorder.

What Is Your Endocrine System?

Different glands throughout your body compose the endocrine system.

The pituitary gland in your brain uses information received from your brain to tell other glands what to do.

It releases hormones which affect growth, lactation, and estrogen and testosterone management.

Also located in the brain are the hypothalamus and the pineal gland.

The hypothalamus connects your nervous system with your endocrine system.

It tells the pituitary gland to start or stop production of hormones.

The pineal gland produces melatonin, which tells your body when to sleep.

The thyroid, located in your neck, controls your metabolism.

The parathyroid controls phosphorus and calcium levels.

Located between your lungs, the thymus makes white blood cells during childhood, which fight infection throughout your life.

The adrenals are located on top of your kidneys and produce the “fight or flight” hormone and cortisol.

The pancreas, behind your stomach, is part of both endocrine and digestive systems because it creates enzymes which break down food.

In addition, it makes the hormones insulin and glucagon, which control blood sugar levels.

The ovaries and testes make estrogen and progesterone, and testosterone, respectively, which affect development during puberty and are responsible for the reproductive function.

Endocrine Vs. Exocrine

The word endocrine derives from the Greek words "endo," meaning within, and "crinis," meaning to secrete.

Conversely, “exo” means outside or external.

The endocrine system produces hormones directly into the bloodstream, and the exocrine system produces and secretes substances onto an epithelial surface using ducts.

Examples of exocrine glands include salivary, sweat, mammary, and mucous.

Why Is Endocrine Health Important?

The endocrine system assists in controlling the balance of hormones in your bloodstream.

Too much or too little of a hormone in the body causes the associated gland or glands to correct the problem.

Hormone imbalances can have significant effects on many of the body’s functions.

For example, imbalances can affect blood sugar regulation, the reproductive system, and metabolism.

Changes in electrolyte balance, stress, and infection can also cause hormone imbalances.

As you age, you are at higher risk for developing diseases of the endocrine system due to hormonal shifts.

Your chances of developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes increase.

Common Illnesses Of The Endocrine System

There are a wide variety of endocrine disorders.

Endocrine disorders can cause many symptomatic reactions, including fatigue, depression, infertility, weight gain, or weight loss.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common disorder of the endocrine system, but hormonal imbalances can also cause other disorders.

1. Hyperthyroidism Or Hypothyroidism

An overactive thyroid producing too much of the thyroid hormone is known as hyperthyroidism.

It accelerates your body’s metabolism, leading to weight loss and a high heart rate, as well as sweating and nervousness.

It is most commonly caused by the autoimmune disorder Grave’s disease.

If hyperthyroidism goes untreated, it can cause a thyroid storm.

Your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature rise to dangerous levels.

If left untreated, it can be fatal; the mortality rate of individuals with untreated thyroid storm is estimated to be at 75 percent.

An underactive thyroid producing too little of the thyroid hormone is known as hypothyroidism.

It slows your body’s metabolism, causing fatigue, depression, dry skin, and constipation, and can slow development in children.

It is more common in women, especially those over 60.

2. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, also known as PCOS, is a leading cause of infertility.

Affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, it is caused by the overproduction of androgens.

The ovaries may develop collections of fluid known as follicles, interfering with the development of eggs and their release from the ovaries.

3. Adrenal Insufficiency

If the adrenal gland produces too little of the hormone cortisol (or in some cases the hormone aldosterone), it can lead to a deficiency.

Symptoms of this deficiency include dehydration and fatigue.

Addison’s Disease is a rare type of adrenal insufficiency which affects 1 in 100,000 people.

In addition to helping the body respond to stress, cortisol helps maintain blood pressure, regulate the metabolism of macronutrients, slow inflammatory responses of the immune system, and balance the effects of insulin.

A deficiency of cortisol affects those functions, causing chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and dizziness or fainting from low blood pressure.

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

Naturopathic treatment is available for endocrine disorders, depending on the specifications of your individual disorder.

If you have been diagnosed with an endocrine disorder or suspect that you have one, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

During your initial appointment, you will sit down with me and we can talk about your endocrine disorder and any other health concerns you may have.

From there, we’ll create a treatment plan based on your unique health needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory session today!

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To learn additional information on health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopath in Mississauga

What Is An Autoimmune Disorder?

Autoimmune disorders are considered a leading cause of death in women under the age of 65.

They are an immune response caused by systemic inflammation, leading your body to attack itself.

Autoimmune disorders are a subset of immune system disorders, which cause abnormally high or low activity of the immune system.

When immune system activity is too low, it causes vulnerability to infections.

When the immune system activity is unusually high, the body attacks and damages its own tissues, which is considered an autoimmune disorder.

The immune system produces antibodies that attack the body’s tissues instead of fighting infections.

This is in response to a trigger your body is exposed to, such as an allergen, toxin, infection, or food.

With an autoimmune disorder, certain types of tissues are mistaken for harmful substances, and your body turns these antibodies against itself.

At the Mindful Healing Clinic, we find that naturopathic treatments for autoimmune disorders may be effective in treating these conditions.

But what causes an autoimmune disorder?

And what treatment options are available to manage your symptoms?

Keep reading to find out.

Risk Factors Of Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders affect ~8% of the population, and occur significantly more frequently in cisgender women than men: 78% of those with autoimmune disorders are cisgender women.

Many investigations have been made as to why women are at higher risk, but it has gone largely unexplained.

Most studies into autoimmune disorders have focused on the effects of female and male chromosomes on immune function.

Others have suggested that cisgender women are genetically predisposed, possibly due to the X chromosome leading to susceptibility for tolerance breakdown.

More recently, research is being conducted into increased allogeneic cell traffic in cisgender women causing susceptibility.

In addition, there is a genetic component to susceptibility.

Whether these genes are expressed or turned on are caused by a host of other factors, such as:

● Heavy metals like mercury
● Infections like Candida
● Mycotoxins from molds
● Herpes simplex virus
● Epstein-Barr virus

There especially is a connection between autoimmune disorders and chronic inflammation caused by gluten intolerance.

Symptoms Of Autoimmune Disorders

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, or a combination of these symptoms, you may have an autoimmune disorder.

● Tiredness or fatigue
● Weight gain
● Cold intolerance
● Dry eyes, mouth, or skin
● Joint pain or muscle pain
● Weakness or a tremor
● Difficulty concentrating or focusing
● Recurring rash or hives
● Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
● Multiple blood clots or miscarriages
● Abdominal pain
● Blood or mucus in the stool, or diarrhea
● Mouth ulcers

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, come see us at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

Common Autoimmune Disorders

The following conditions are some of the most common autoimmune disorders.

1. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

With inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, the immune system attacks the lining of the intestines.

This causes episodes of diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, fever, and weight loss.

Two major forms of IBD are Crohn’s Disease, which is the inflammation of the digestive tract, and Ulcerative Colitis, which causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the lining of the large intestine.

2. Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is caused by the immune system attacking myelin, the protective covering of the nerves.

Symptoms include pain, blindness, extreme fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, cognitive impairment, and poor coordination.

Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world; it affects 1 in 340 Canadians.

3. Psoriasis

With psoriasis, overactive immune system blood cells called T-cells collect in the skin.

This stimulates skin cells to reproduce rapidly.

The extra skin cells can produce silvery, scaly plaques on the skin; dry, cracked skin; small scaling spots; or swollen and stiff joints.

4. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the immune system attacking the joints, since the immune system produces antibodies that attach to the lining of the joints.

This causes inflammation, swelling, and pain in the joints.

If left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint damage.

5. Lupus

Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, is a condition where autoimmune antibodies attach to tissues throughout the body.

Lungs, blood cells, joints, nerves, and kidneys are commonly affected.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose since its signs and symptoms can mimic those of other ailments.

Most people with lupus experience symptoms in flares, where symptoms can worsen for a while, disappear entirely, and then reoccur again.

Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic

Since autoimmune disorders are due to overactivity of the immune system, treatment is generally focused on reducing immune system activity.

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder?

Or did you read the list of symptoms above and think “wow, that’s me”?

If so, contact me, Dr. Maria Cavallazzi at the Mindful Healing Clinic.

During your initial appointment, you will sit down with me where we can talk about your autoimmune disorder and any other health concerns you may have.

From there, we’ll create a treatment plan based on your unique health needs.

Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic to book your FREE 15-minute introductory session today!

Until next time,

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi, N.D

Mindful Healing Integrative Naturopathy
251 Queen St S Unit 4,
Mississauga, ON L5M 1L7
- https://goo.gl/maps/KYspifT7J232

Dr. Maria Cavallazzi is a medical doctor from Colombia where she practiced as a family physician for 8 years until she moved to Canada 16 years ago.

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To get more info on health, wellness, and alternative medicine, please visit us here: naturopaths in streetsville