Naturopathic Newsletter November 2008

November, 2008

I would like to introduce you to the latest addition to the wellness team at Paciencia Holistic Center, Line Nantais. Line has joined the team as my administrative assistant to aid and assist me in providing the best level of care for my patients and the community. 

From September to December, the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue exit (#39) from east bound highway 20 will be closed. Patients coming to the clinic off the Galipeault Bridge will have to take the Morgan Rd. Exit (#42), and either take the lakeshore to Ste-Anne's, or get back on west bound highway 20 and exit at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, it is my responsibility to focus on preventative medicine to improve the health and welfare of my patients today, as well as  tomorrow. As a result, there is no escaping a lengthy discussion on dietary recommendations with virtually each and every initial consultation. Unmistakably, during the course of this discussion, the topic of organic food comes up, and the most popular question is: 

Considering that:

(a) the organic food industry is not strictly regulated in Quebec, and

(b) the cost of organic food is considerable higher than non-organic food, and

(c) organic food is not easily available living in Quebec,

this is a valid and worthy question to be explored in this newsletter.

The average North American consumes approximately 5 lbs of pesticides annually from non-organic produce. Research has shown that a number of pesticides are carcinogenic (cancer causing), and contribute to a toxic load on the body that is often involved in the development of chronic illness. 

The "dirty dozen" consists of the list of fruits and veggies that are most toxic,  containing the highest amounts of organophosphates. It is generally recommended that these fruits & veggies be avoided unless from a reliable organic source.

Peaches

Apples

Bell peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Pears

Chilean grapes (and wine)

Spinach

Lettuce

Potatoes

Non organic sources of animal products, from butter to yogurt to beef to eggs to cheese, are layden with vaccines, steroids and hormones. Whether used to decreased the possibility of infection or to increase the rate of growth in the animal, these modern farming methods are ingested by us. Aside from the environmental consequences, it is obvious and logical that such practices will influence human physiology. A simple example is the stimulation of cancer cells by growth hormone.

Support local farmers! With so much concern about fuel prices and the effects of oil industry on the environment, "food miles" is a concept that needs to be considered. The consideration here is how many miles did my food have to travle before arriving on my dinner table? This can be greatly minimized by supporting our local farmers. Throughout Quebec, more and more local organic farmers continue to pop up on the horizon. From Senneville to Ile-Perrot to the Eastern Towships to the Laurentians, one not need to go too far to get the good stuff!

The reason why I chose to dedicate this month's newsletter to organic food is to discuss reason #4, nutrient content. I have heard many individuals and patients express their belief that organic is only a more expensive version on non-organic, not offering any further benefit. A look at the following recent research may change that false belief.

In March 2008, Dr.Charles Benbrook and colleagues at the Organic Center published a meta-analysis outlining the nutritional details of organic food's superior status by reviewing 100 peer-review studies and conference proceedings.

This meta-analysis established that organically grown fruits and veggies contain higher levels of the following nutrients than their conventional counterparts:

ANTIOXIDANTS

VITAMIN C

some POLYPHENOLS

This buzz word has been flying around the alternative and complementary medical community for several decades with much important placed on their ability to decrease the development of chronic diseases, including: stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and coronary heart disease.

Benbrooke's team found that, in general, organically grown produce contains 30% higher levels of antioxidants that conventional produce.

The USDA trend data shows a 20% decline in vitamin C in 43 garden crops between 1950 and 1999. This decline is largely due to modern agricultural practices, such as pesticide use. 

The largest and best studied polyphenols are the flavonoids, which include several thousand compounds, among them the flavonols, flavones, catechins, flavanones, anthocyanidins, and isoflavonoids.This group has been associated with the positive health benefits of a number of foods, including: berries, tea, grapes/wine, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, walnuts, pomegranates, yerba mate.

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER from 9:30-11am on Tuesdays at West-Island Women Center, I am giving a 10 week course on  Women's Health

DECEMBER 8th at 7:30 I will be lecturing at a stress management and wellness solutions lecture taking place at TD Waterhouse located at 

755 St Jean Blvd