Join Holistic Nutritionist, Sarah Dobec, on Wednesday, November 25th to learn more about how our immune system works and what we can do to be resilient to the flu and colds.
We will:
- Explore the immune system and how it works
- Discuss foods and habits we should avoid during cold and flu season
-Focus mostly on foods and habits that we should adopt to maintain our health year round
- Cover supplements to help boost our immunity
Date: Wednesday, November 25th
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00pm
Location: Lifewise – 2034 Yonge Street
Please RSVP to reserve your spot:
416.482.3340
Thursday, November 12, 2009
I have had a lot of questions regarding the H1N1 vaccine, as well as the seasonal flu shot this year - not surprising considering the recent media hysteria. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this topic; and, this is one of those decisions we each have to make for ourselves. All I can recommend is that you make sure you have all the facts, and try to make a rational and informed decision. Here are some links providing different viewpoints: www.who.int (World Health Organization); www.nvic.org (National Vaccine Information Center). Whichever direction you choose regarding vaccination, there are many things you can do to boost your immune system naturally: eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, stay active, get plenty of sleep, flush the mucous membranes neti pot and gargling with salt water, and wash your hands often.
Yours In Health,
Dr. Karen Baker
Yours In Health,
Dr. Karen Baker
TCM’s Role in Your Immunity
JoAnn Alafriz, BSc, Dipl ST, Dipl Ac
I always feel compelled to write about our immune system this time of year. This year it is not only the seasonal flu that concerns us, but also the H1N1 virus.
I would like to address how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views our immune system in regards to Qi.
Qi, our vital energy moves throughout our body. If Qi is prosperous there is health, if it is weak there is disease. If it is balanced, there is well-being. There are different types of Qi; they vary in how the body uses them and how Qi deficiencies can cause imbalances.
A healthy immune system is to have strong Jing (essence) and Zheng (postnatal) Qi. We are born with a finite amount of Jing. A fast-paced lifestyle with little sleep depletes one’s Jing. This makes one tired and susceptible to Pathogenic invasion. Zheng Qi is replenished through the air and food. Air quality is important, as is the quality of the foods we ingest. The ability to fight off Pathogens is indicative of the strength of our Zheng Qi.
Wei Qi protects the body against Pathogens. It is our first line of defence. It circulates outside the channels within the skin and muscles. A person with a Wei Qi deficiency may experience frequent colds and/or infections.
Ying Qi nourishes the internal organs and the whole body. It is our second line of defence against Pathogens, as it lies deeper than Wei Qi. It flows within the blood vessels and channels of our body. Ying Qi is activated whenever a needle is inserted into an acupuncture point.
TCM and Acupuncture aid the body in strengthening the Qi and expelling the Pathogens. Suggestions to diet, supplements, herbs and lifestyle are given in each specific case.
I always feel compelled to write about our immune system this time of year. This year it is not only the seasonal flu that concerns us, but also the H1N1 virus.
I would like to address how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views our immune system in regards to Qi.
Qi, our vital energy moves throughout our body. If Qi is prosperous there is health, if it is weak there is disease. If it is balanced, there is well-being. There are different types of Qi; they vary in how the body uses them and how Qi deficiencies can cause imbalances.
A healthy immune system is to have strong Jing (essence) and Zheng (postnatal) Qi. We are born with a finite amount of Jing. A fast-paced lifestyle with little sleep depletes one’s Jing. This makes one tired and susceptible to Pathogenic invasion. Zheng Qi is replenished through the air and food. Air quality is important, as is the quality of the foods we ingest. The ability to fight off Pathogens is indicative of the strength of our Zheng Qi.
Wei Qi protects the body against Pathogens. It is our first line of defence. It circulates outside the channels within the skin and muscles. A person with a Wei Qi deficiency may experience frequent colds and/or infections.
Ying Qi nourishes the internal organs and the whole body. It is our second line of defence against Pathogens, as it lies deeper than Wei Qi. It flows within the blood vessels and channels of our body. Ying Qi is activated whenever a needle is inserted into an acupuncture point.
TCM and Acupuncture aid the body in strengthening the Qi and expelling the Pathogens. Suggestions to diet, supplements, herbs and lifestyle are given in each specific case.
A Healthy Relationship with Food
Dr. Karen Baker, BSc, DC
You may have heard the old adage, “You are what you eat”; it’s not as corny as it sounds. Every day, you are building thousands of new cells and enzymes for your heart, blood, lungs, bones, skin, and muscles, etc.. The building blocks for these tissues come from the food you eat; therefore, what you eat does, actually, determine your physical and chemical make-up.
More than that, if you swallow a multivitamin, and see it excreted in a bowel movement… intact, you can be sure you have absorbed very little of the nutrients in it. The nutrients from your food must be digested properly and absorbed in your bloodstream in order to do you any good.
Further, getting these nutrients from the time of digestion to the formation of different cells, enzymes, fluids, and tissues is another sophisticated process. The nervous system alerts different parts of the body of the various needs, for healing, growth, maintenance or regular replacement.
Choosing a variety of the right foods - rich in nutrients, and in the right proportions – are the first steps towards a healthier body and improved vitality.
Tips for a healthy diet: Keep it simple - eat raw or minimally cooked fruits and vegetables, and AVOID processed foods. (If it wasn’t food 100 years ago, it’s probably not food now.) Use moderation - larger portion sizes is the number 1 cause of obesity in North America. Graze, don’t gorge - 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day are easier to digest than 1 or 2 big meals.
You may have heard the old adage, “You are what you eat”; it’s not as corny as it sounds. Every day, you are building thousands of new cells and enzymes for your heart, blood, lungs, bones, skin, and muscles, etc.. The building blocks for these tissues come from the food you eat; therefore, what you eat does, actually, determine your physical and chemical make-up.
More than that, if you swallow a multivitamin, and see it excreted in a bowel movement… intact, you can be sure you have absorbed very little of the nutrients in it. The nutrients from your food must be digested properly and absorbed in your bloodstream in order to do you any good.
Further, getting these nutrients from the time of digestion to the formation of different cells, enzymes, fluids, and tissues is another sophisticated process. The nervous system alerts different parts of the body of the various needs, for healing, growth, maintenance or regular replacement.
Choosing a variety of the right foods - rich in nutrients, and in the right proportions – are the first steps towards a healthier body and improved vitality.
Tips for a healthy diet: Keep it simple - eat raw or minimally cooked fruits and vegetables, and AVOID processed foods. (If it wasn’t food 100 years ago, it’s probably not food now.) Use moderation - larger portion sizes is the number 1 cause of obesity in North America. Graze, don’t gorge - 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day are easier to digest than 1 or 2 big meals.
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