immune health

TIPS FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY BACK-TO-SCHOOL

As the back-to-school season approaches, many parents are busy buying new clothes, school supplies, and signing their children up for activities. But there is also the transition of sleep schedules, planning for healthy lunches, and implementing some immune supports to help battle the inevitable cold and flu season to come. We get it - this time of year can be both exhilarating and a challenge.

With a few simple naturopathic strategies, you can set the stage for a successful school year. Here are some tips we hope you’ll find helpful.

Restoring Routine: Getting Your Children’s Schedule Back on Track

After long summer days, getting back into a school routine can be challenging, but so important for a great first week back – both mentally and physically. Here are some ways to make the transition smoother:

  • Gradual adjustment - As fun as it is to spend the September long weekend enjoying some last few late nights, a week or two prior to back to school is a good time to start slowly moving the kids to an earlier bedtime. Gradually shift these times by about 15 minutes each day until they align with your school schedule. This helps reset your child’s internal clock without causing undue stress. The earlier sunsets are there to help us.

  • Evening wind-down – Establish a calming bedtime routine to help your child relax before sleep. Activities such as reading, taking a warm bath, and practicing deep breathing can signal to your child’s body that it is time to wind down. And of course – screens off for an hour before bed.

Nutrition for Success: Easy Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Ideas

Proper nutrition is essential for your child’s cognitive function, energy levels, and overall health. There is no singular “right” way to eat depending on unique dietary needs, but here are some tips for balanced healthy meals which include protein, healthy fats, and lots of vegetables:

  • Breakfast ideas - Granola and coconut yogurt, toast and a fried egg, banana with almond butter, almond flour blueberry muffins.

  • Lunch ideas - Wraps made with leftover chicken or beef, pita pizzas with sausage, veggies and cheese, chicken Caesar salad (P.S. – invest in a kid-sized Thermos to keep leftovers nice and warm!)

  • Smart snacks - Veggies and hummus, fruit and cheese, raisins and pumpkin seeds, dates stuffed with goat cheese, rice crackers and almond butter, quick energy balls (Nut-Free).

  • Hydration – A cute water bottle can go a long way. You can make water more exciting by adding in lemon juice and liquid Stevia plus a mint leaf, or strawberries and cucumbers plus a squirt of lime juice. Biosteel is a healthy, sugar-free, color-free option as well. Be creative!

  • Quick dinners - Meal prepping goes a long way towards a less stressful, balanced week of dinners. Sundays are a great time to get the kids involved in washing, chopping, bagging…which can also improve the likelihood of actually eating the healthy meals!

 Crockpot meals are a great way to have dinner ready for any time – beef stew, turkey chili, pasta with meat sauce, honey garlic chicken thighs, butter chicken, or chicken tortilla soup are all great options to start. As an added bonus – if you prefer to have the nicer finish of an oven-roasted meal with the slow cooker convenience, just quickly broil it up for a minute or two to add the brown and the crisp.

Naturopathic Immune System Support: Strengthening Your Child’s Defenses

  • Probiotics – A strong immune system starts in the gut. Back to school is a great time to top up your kids’ healthy bacteria. Good bacteria is found in yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and cultured coconut. You might also consider a high-quality probiotic supplement in chewable form that has added vitamins.

  • Vitamin D – Most children living in Saskatchewan have suboptimal vitamin D levels. A single drop of a vitamin D supplement goes a long way in supporting a healthy immune response.

  • Vitamin C and Zinc – These nutrients are essential for immune health. Encourage your child to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, and bell peppers. Zinc is also anti-viral and found in foods like pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and cashews.

  • Herbal supports – There are many herbs that support the immune system. There are many kid-friendly immune tonics which include astragalus for prevention.

 Back to school season is an excellent opportunity to re-establish healthy habits that will benefit your child all year long. By focusing on a consistent routine, healthy nutrition, and immune supports, you’re equipping your child with the tools for a fantastic year of learning and fun. We are here to help you with personalized, evidence-informed care so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need further guidance.

In good health,

Dr. Darlene Reid, ND

Mistletoe and Cancer Care - It does more than spark a kiss!

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Mistletoe and Cancer Care - It does more than spark a kiss!

A plant commonly associated with the holidays, Viscum album, also known as mistletoe, is a natural therapy used often in integrative cancer care. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on a variety of trees from which it obtains its nutrients. It contains a variety of compounds, the most commonly studied of which are lectins, that have been shown to stimulate the immune system and have anti-cancer effects. Cell studies on mistletoe extracts have demonstrated inhibition of cancer cell growth [3] and increase in immune function parameters, including natural killer cells, which are white blood cells responsible for the destruction of tumor cells [4, 5].

Mistletoe is primarily administered as a subcutaneous injection, and commonly used alongside chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or other conventional treatments in countries such as Switzerland, Germany, and Austria to improve quality of life and manage side effects associated with treatments in patients with cancer [2]. 

Numerous studies have been conducted on the therapeutic use of mistletoe. One of the best methodologically-designed studies was conducted on mistletoe in advanced pancreatic cancer patients, which suggested that patients in the mistletoe treatment group had longer overall survival times compared to those in the control group [6]. The majority of research on mistletoe suggests it supports quality of life in cancer patients and decreases severity and frequency of treatment-related side effects [8, 9]. Mistletoe is generally well-tolerated and safe to use alongside various common chemotherapeutic agents [7].

To learn more about mistletoe therapy, contact us and/or book an appointment with Dr. Dana Kolenich ND!

[1] Pelzer F, Tröger W. Complementary treatment with mistletoe extracts during chemotherapy: safety, neutropenia, fever, and quality of life assessed in a randomized study. J Altern Complement Med. 2018; 24(9-10):954-961. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30247950/

[2] Melzer J, Iten F, Hostanska K et al. Efficacy and safety of mistletoe preparations (Viscum album) for patients with cancer diseases. A systematic review. Forsch Komplementmed. 2009; 16(4):217-226. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19729932/

[3] Eggenschwiler J, von Balthazar L, Stritt B, et al. Mistletoe lectin is not the only cytotoxic component in fermented preparations of Viscum album from white fir (Abies pectinata). BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007; 7:14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17493268/

[4] Büssing A, Rosenberger A, Stumpf C et al. Development of lymphocyte subsets in tumor patients after subcutaneous administration of mistletoe extracts. Forsch Komplementmed. 1999; 6(4):196-204. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10529579/

[5] Beuth J, Ko HL, Gabius HJ, et al. Behaviour of lymphocyte subsets and expression of activation markers in response to immunotherapy with galactoside-specific lectin from mistletoe in breast cancer patients. Clin Investig. 1992; 70(8):658-61. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1392440/

[6] Viscum album [L.] extract in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: a randomised clinical trial on overall survival. Eur J Cancer. 2013; 49(18):3788-97. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23890767/

[7] Weissenstein U, Kunz M, Urech K et al. Interaction of standardized mistletoe (Viscum album) extracts with chemotherapeutic drugs regarding cytostatic and cytotoxic effects in vitro. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014; 14:6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24397864/

[8] Beuth J, Schneider B, Schierholz JM. Impact of complementary treatment of breast cancer patients with standardized mistletoe extract during aftercare: a controlled multicenter comparative epidemiological cohort study. Anticancer Res. 2008; 28(1B):523-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18383896/ 
[9] Tröger W, Galun D, Reif M, et al. Quality of life of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer during treatment with mistletoe: a randomized controlled trial. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014; 111(29-30):493-502. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25142075/


Micronutrient Testing at Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine

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At Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine we proudly offer Spectracell Micronutrient testing, one of the most comprehensive nutrient tests to assess the nutrient stores in your body that will keep you performing at the top of your game.

The Spectracell Micronutrient test allows your Naturopathic Doctor to assess how well your body utilizes 31 vitamins, minerals, amino/fatty acids, antioxidants, and metabolites (listed below).

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Why is this information important?

 Nutritional balance plays a key role in optimal wellness, chronic disease prevention and managing the aging process. Each nutrient in our body is responsible for specific physiological functions that make them unique and irreplaceable. Virtually all metabolic and developmental processes that take place in the body require micronutrients, and strong evidence suggests that subtle vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant deficiencies can contribute to degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As well, evidence suggests that a lack of these vital nutrients may have a profound impact on the body’s immune system. Eating a balanced diet, exercising and taking a multivitamin may not be enough. Every individual is unique and a micronutrient test will allow your Naturopathic Doctor to see where you might be lacking.

Who may benefit from having the Spectracell Micronutrient test?

Spectracell micronutrient testing can be very beneficial for individuals with the following conditions and disease:

            - Cardiovascular disease

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            - Diabetes

            - Neurological disorders/Alzheimer’s          

            - Mood disorders

            - Osteoporosis

            - Fertility issues

            - Cancer

 It may also be helpful to get tested if you feel like you are suffering from a nutritional deficiency or just want to stay on top of your health. Some of the signs and symptoms of a nutrition deficiency include: fatigue, anxiety, weight loss or weight gain, loss of appetite, tingling hands, muscle cramping, vomiting, heart flutter, skin conditions, depression, bruising, reduced muscle mass, muscle weakness, diarrhea, hair loss, digestive problems, numbness, nausea, constipation, impaired wound healing, and low libido.

The cost for this test is 620 dollars, which is pricey, but the results may help you save money in others areas by helping you cut out supplements you are currently taking that are not necessary for you at this time, and re-prioritizing the supplements that are truly addressing your body’s needs. For more information on the Spectracell micronutrient test book an appointment to speak to your Naturopathic Doctor or call our office to book in for a sample collection today!

**content adapted from Micronutrient Testing Nutrition at the Core of Personalized Wellness