Butyric Acid Production Butyric acid or butyrate (the ester form) is a main short chain fatty acid produced by friendly bacteria in the human gut when they feed off of certain carbohydrates, particularly non-starch fibres as well as resistant fibres. These 4- carbon fatty acids are the preferred source of energy for colonocytes ( colon cells). It is used preferentially over glucose, maintaining colonocyte activity. Butyric acids have some impressive benefits both locally and systemically as it is rapidly absorbed.   Prevent and Treat Leaky Gut ‘Leaky gut’ is the term used to describe what happens when food sensitivities, food

Don’t let poor skin health keep you holed up inside. Find out how to approach skin health in a holistic way. What is the function of skin? Protection: from mechanical trauma, chemical trauma, or UV radiation Regulation: water and heat regulation through the skin. Sensation: skin contains sensory receptors for pressure, temperature, pain etc.  What factors affect the skin? 1.Environment: Sometimes the most obvious place to start is looking at what we are exposing our skin cells. a) External: ultraviolet (UV) radiation Pollution chemical irritation       trauma     b) Internal:      dryness, fine wrinkling and paleness genetic

In honour of Naturopathic Medicine week we wanted to give you some insight into this exciting field in alternative healthcare. First do no harm. Treat the whole individual. Address the root cause of illness. Doctor as teacher. Sustainable treatments. Support the inherent healing power of the body. Promote prevention. Naturopathic medicine provides individuals with an alternative primary health care system that blends scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. Naturopathic medicine recognises the body’s inherent ability to heal itself so treatment aims to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease. A holistic approach also

Green tea supplements have come under fire recently following the release of a marketplace review.  The review focused on the adverse effects of green tea supplements on liver health and also highlighted the bigger issue of regulatory processes for natural health products. While the report brought up a number of valid concerns, it was somewhat reductionist. As proponents of natural health products we wanted to provide some insights into the complexities underlying this report and provide tips on what to look for in any supplement. Green Tea – The Wonder Plant Camellia sinensis, commonly known as green tea, has been

Metabolic dysfunctions are fast becoming major risk factors for cardiovascular incidents ie. myocardial infarction, stroke, and non-ischemic cardiovascular disease. The constellation symptoms indicative of metabolic dysfunction include: central obesity (apple body types), glucose intolerance and insulin resistance (eg. non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidemia, high markers of inflammation, and poor clotting (hyperfibrinolysis). Given the wide array of symptoms metabolic syndrome was often overlooked, though the current criteria have been established, with three of the five required for diagnosis: Criteria Defining Value 1. Abdominal obesity Waist circumference: Women >88 cm men >102 cmWaist to hip ratio: women >0.85 and men > 1.0

‘Tis the season for parties, social gatherings, and a whole multitude of social interactions. For some this may include indulging in a glass of wine or two, or three; perhaps an extra beer or cocktail du jour? While it is always important to understand your own limits with respect to alcohol, even when drinking responsibly your body produces a specific physiological response to alcohol consumption. Sometimes this response can lead to some unpleasant mornings after. Your Body on Alcohol: As mentioned above there are a large number of responses your body can produce in response to alcohol. The responses depend

Deaths related to fentanyl overdoses seemingly plagued headlines in Canada for much of 2016. It seemed every time you would turn on the TV or radio another alarming statistic about a string of deaths from misuse of this prescription drug. Emergency room visits, in Alberta, related to opioids rose a staggering 84% from 2014 to 2016. While the number of opioid overdose related deaths in 2011 was six it has dramatically increased to 257 in 2015. Canada’s Health Minister has even had to declare a “national crisis” with respect to opioid overdoses. The magnitude of this issue has really forced

This weekend marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. I was intriguied to learn more after watching a particularly poignant PSA from an actress who is a survivor of domestic violence. It is difficult to imagine how in 2016 this issue still affects so many individuals, and yet it does. It doesn’t take much effort to find reputable statistics regarding the prevalence of this social issue. It is reported that half of all women have “experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.” The sheer magnitude of this issue

With so many supplements available, knowing what to choose can be confusing. From choosing the ingredients based on safety and efficacy, to developing the best delivery systems, and limiting or choosing the most appropriate non medicinal ingredients there is a lot that goes into making a supplement. In the past we have discussed the thought process we use when developing new formulas. We have also debunked common myths surrounding non-medicinal ingredients  here, here and here. But what should you actually be looking for on the label? In a recent poll, 94% of our Twitter followers responded that they always read ingredient

Fear Factor: Fear is a complex sensation elicited by a perceived risk or danger that can directly produce a number of behavioural modifications. Fear can be conscious, subconscious, both, and can be acute or learned. This complexity explains why there is so much variety in how people perceive and respond to threatening cues. Some fears may have an evolutionary basis; ie. fear of poisonous snakes; while other fears may be the result of conditioning from a bad experience, and some fears have no rational basis (phobias). Responses range from freezing at the sight of a clown, to instinctively punching the

Corn is a tough crop- on one hand it is considered one of the most common food allergens, while on the other it is a cheap and accessible base for many processed foods and a popular alternative for gluten intolerant individuals. Corn’s wide use in the food and drug industry is thought to be due to the fact that corn is not a highly ”allergenic allergen”, meaning most people can tolerate it well, and intolerant individuals require a significant amount of exposure before eliciting any reaction. However, corn sensitivities seem to be on the rise, individuals with sensitivity to corn

With the new school year in full swing I seem to be getting a lot of beauty questions. Particularly with skin care. I thought I would share a quick and easy face mask to help you prevent and manage unpleasant breakouts.  Ingredients: 2 (heaping) tbsp. chickpea flour 3-5 drops tea tree essential oil ½ fresh lemon juice from lemon   2 tbsp. almond milk 1 tsp. unpasteurized honey (from a high-quality source) 2 tbsp. olive oil Directions: Mix ingredients to form a smooth paste. Apply a generous layer evenly across face and neck. Leave for 15-20 minutes ensuring it is