If you've never been burdened by listening to someone else's issues, they won't be burdened by listening to yours.
#Dontbottleitup
Dr. Justin Gallant ND
#Dontbottleitup
Dr. Justin Gallant ND
Whether it's sports, exams, relationships or cancer, your attitude is one of the most important tools that you have.
Here are some health strategies to try out as a New Year’s Resolution.
Cut this out, stick it to your fridge and cross the goals off as you conquer them: 1) Walk 5000 steps per day and 10000 steps each Sunday for 1 month 2) Avoid dairy for 1 month 3) Avoid grains for 1 month 4) Avoid sugar for 1 month 5) Make friends with 4 people in 1 month 6) Take a walk in nature 4 times in 1 month 7) Journal all of your thoughts, feelings, philosophies and ideas every day for 1 month 8) Track your nutrition for 1 month 9) Follow a whole foods, Paleolithic or Caveman diet for 1 month 10) Learn something new for 1 month 11) Avoid coffee for 1 month 12) Join a group activity like Yoga, boot camp, trivia or a sports team Whichever accomplishments felt good for you and were sustainable try maintaining them! Click "Read More" if you'd like to know why I'm suggesting these things Cold and flu season is here and preventing the flu can be a matter of saving yourself a couple of sick days or saving your life. Influenza (The flu) is a consequence of being exposed to one of a variety of strains of viruses. We all harbour several different viruses, but it’s not until our terrain is jeopardized that the virus flares up or we contract a new strain which causes us to manifest symptoms of that virus.
There are several things you can do to strengthen your terrain and minimize your risk of getting the flu. The main goal is to keep our immune system strong, minimize exposure to new strains, and minimize transmission if the virus is active. Click on read more if you're interested in preventing the flu.
Sugar has developed a bad name these days and for good reason. It contributes to inflammation, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, acne, alzheimer’s… you name it.
Although sugar has such a bad name and commonly has negative effects on our system, we have to keep in mind that our brains, muscles and all cells NEED glucose in order to function. Our brains use ~30% of the glucose we take in. Glucose is our fuel. Click "Read More" to read on about how sweeteners affect athletes, diabetics and people who use them in meal replacements. 
Insomnia: Why can't I fall asleep or stay asleep?
Most patients who walk through my door wake up around 1-3am. The most common reason for this is hypoglycemia. Once I get them eating a small snack with protein before bed their sleep-maintenance insomnia usually subsides.
There are several other reasons for waking up around this time but clinically I have seen low blood sugar as being the most common. If having a snack before bed doesn’t cut it and you’re still waking up in the middle of the night you should definitely talk to your Naturopath or Medical Doctor about it, especially if you're having other symptoms. Many people say eating before bed will cause you to gain weight but a small snack may actually help you lose weight as I discuss further down. Click "Read More" if you'd like to learn more...  This blog has been adapted from my recent publication in The Sherman Hub, a local newspaper of mine...
I'll start off with a quick list of ways to be healthy in the winter and if you're interested in the details click on read more. 1) Shovel safely 2) Vitamin D 3) Get Outside 4) Visit Friends and Family 5) Moisturize 6) Get a humidifier 7) Eat soups and stews 8) Drink warm herbal teas 9) Tips for diabetes or circulatory issues 10) Tips for breathing issues 11) Take immune boosters and antivirals  It’s great to be health-conscious but since good health is something we strive for, for almost a whole century, it’s better to take it a couple steps further and be health-empowered! When you’re conscious about something, you are aware of it and it’s possible to make a choice about it. When you are empowered, you have full control over it and can make quality, lasting changes.
Here's a list of steps you can take to become empowered over your health (click on Read More for the full blog) 1. Keep copies of your blood work and understand it 2. Know your family history 3. Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to your health, the earlier you find an issue, the easier it is to treat. 4. Seek professional healthcare, don’t peruse internet forums or medical websites to diagnose and treat yourself. 5. Don’t be ashamed or embarassed of whatever condition you have. 6. Understand your condition. 7. Be as open as you can about what’s going on, we have a lot to learn from each other. 8. Be open-minded! 9. Know correct doses for supplements 10. Read labels 11. Join health-empowering websites 12. Keep your health records organized 13. If you have a chronic health condition, keep a journal 14. Get a Doctor that you like and is open-minded 15. Have a team of healthcare practitioners looking after you. 16. Try avoiding the food you love for a month 17. Come see me!  (Warning… my imagination is running rampant right now) Picture this! Say a collapse occurs, zombie apocalypse, more realistically government or economic collapse, something like a world war, nuclear bomb or another great depression. Naturopathic Doctors will still have all of the tools necessary to diagnose and treat patients. Nine times out of ten an ND will be able to figure out what’s going on with your entire system after doing a thorough verbal intake and physical exam. Yes we love to order blood work but more often than not we could tell you which lab tests will be normal and which ones abnormal just based on the information you’ve given us, along with what we’ve gained from the physical exam. Click on "Read More" if you like where this is going |
Dr Justin Gallant NDNaturopathic Doctor with a passion for teaching about health. Health detective, health guide, health ambassador and health educator. Categories
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