Hemp is a strain of the cannabis plant, but it doesn’t contain any THC, therefore it won’t produce any psychoactive effects.
I repeat: Hemp contains little to no levels of THC or CBD, which are the chemicals that are associated with the psychoactive properties of marijuana. Meaning, it won’t give you a “high.”
Hemp Seed Oil has gained popularity in the health food industry lately because it may help you to maintain good health and may actually alleviate symptoms of chronic conditions.
"Good" vs. "Bad" Fats
Myth: “ALL FAT IS BAD FOR YOU!"
Fact: Certain fats, such as hydrogenated oils should be avoided. But the truth is, we need good fat to function properly. We need the right amount of healthy fat or fatty acids in our diet.
The right kind of fat includes “essential fatty acids.” Our bodies can’t product Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs for short) so we need to get them from food. They’re also essential because they’re vital to our cells, and play a protective role against inflammation and chronic disease. In fact, Omega-3 fats may help control autoimmune conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and eczema, and have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke.
Unfortunately, a lot of us are deficient in these essential fatty acids because here in North America we tend to eat a diet high in animal fats, and not enough plants fats (where a lot of these nutrients can be found).
Studies have shown that many common illnesses are related to a deficiency, or imbalance, of fatty acids in the body.
Full Spectrum Omega Supplement
Hemp Seed Oil contains a full spectrum of omegas (3, 6, 7 & 9, SDA and GLA), SDA stands for Stearidonic acid. It’s a special omega-3 fatty acid because it converts to EPA in our body. EPA may sound familiar as it’s an anti-inflammatory that can be converted to DHA, which is important for brain development and health. GLA stands for Gamma-Linolenic Acid. GLA may be helpful for weight management, and helps to balance hormones.
Hemp Seed Oil provides cardiovascular, neurological, immune and hormonal support. It has also been helpful to alleviate skin conditions when ingested or applied topically. Chlorophyll gives hemp seed oil its green colour. This is an important component of Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil as chlorophyll is known to be a natural anti-carcinogenic. Hemp Seed Oil is unique to other oils which contain omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9 because they are present in a perfectly balanced ratio, optimizing therapeutic effects.
Hemp products may provide the following health benefits:
Why try Dr. D's Pure Hemp Seed Oil?
Just one tablespoon of Dr. D’s hemp seed oil provides you with a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals, and the richest and most balanced source of EFAs that nature has to offer!
The benefit of Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is that along with providing all of the essential omegas, it is plant-based, free of mercury/toxins, free of gastrointestinal irritation-causing peroxides, does not disturb the eco-system and does not oxidize or spoil as easily as other popular omega oils. Plus, it is is vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free, and grown and processed in Canada.
Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is cold-pressed at an optimal temperature so it retains its nutrients. And you’ll notice it comes in a dark glass bottle. The dark bottle helps to protect and stabilize the oil, and prevents it from losing its important nutrients. This in turn increases its shelf-life. It is also available in a delicious orange flavour!
If you’re looking for a plant-based source of omega’s that’s easy on the digestive system, Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is a great option.
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
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We are closer now more than ever to reaching that goal with our line-up of high-quality products, including our full-spectrum turmeric supplement, Dr. D's Ultra BioTurmeric, Dr. D's Super 7 Enhanced Topical Pain Relief, Dr. D's Pure Hemp Seed Oil, and Dr. D's Vitamin D3 plus K2 using a revolutionary delivery technology called PolyShield™.
My journey to this point can be traced back to my second year of chiropractic school when my beloved mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Watching her suffer in pain and desperately wanting to help her inspired me not only to study to the best of my ability, but to look outside the box as well.
One of my mother’s oncologists told me that her body was “full of inflammation.” This really stuck with me. When she passed, I made a commitment to aid in the relief of pain and improve the quality of life in as many lives as possible.
After graduating I opened my own multi-disciplinary clinic, creating comprehensive treatment plans designed on an individual basis where my patients were (and still are!) an active participant in their recovery.
Early in my career, I began to take a keen interest in finding ways to help my patients complement treatment while at home.
I also quickly discovered that the majority of my patients were dealing with chronic pain from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and that these conditions were linked to inflammation.
This, and remembering what my mother’s oncologist had said, lead me down a path of rigorous research into inflammation, the role it plays in chronic disease and pain, and how to prevent it.
Turmeric and its powerful medicinal properties soon became a forefront of this research and I gained so much knowledge that I was compelled to write a book, The Power of Turmeric.
After years of dedication and research, the Dr. D’s brand was born!
I am exceptionally proud to bring you our latest innovation, a vitamin supplement using a revolutionary technology called PolyShield™, which will change the way vitamins and minerals are delivered to the body, breaking through the barrier of poor absorption. Our goal is to deliver optimal benefits from these vital nutrients.
My personal mission is to provide the highest quality healthcare products aimed to improve quality of life, alleviate pain and prevent disease.
Stay tuned as I have so much more in store for you!
Sincerely,
Dr. Fabio Di Stefano
President & CEO
]]>Let’s back track a bit. Vitamin D, commonly referred to as “the sunshine vitamin,” is a vital nutrient as it is essential for many biological processes. For more information on Vitamin D specifically, please click here .
Your body has the fascinating ability to produce vitamin D. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays prompt cholesterol in the skin to synthesize vitamin D. In theory, our bodies would be able to produce enough vitamin D without supplementation, however, for most people this is simply not the case.
Here are the reasons why:
1) How much time are you really spending outdoors in the summer?
It is recommended to be outside everyday during peak UVB times, approximately between 11am and 3pm, for at least half an hour; although it is still not known exactly how long sunlight exposure is required to produce adequate daily levels of vitamin D. Another problem here is that many people are working during those hours and/or may not be dressed properly if they are outdoors during that time (ie. one should be wearing a thin tank top and shorts to maximize skin exposure). Sitting next to a sunny window doesn’t count either as UVB rays are blocked by glass!
2) The Sunscreen Dilemma
If you are lucky enough to enjoy the outdoors that often during the summer with maximal skin exposure, you are (hopefully) wearing sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses because as you know, too much sun can lead to heat stroke, sunburns, skin cancers, accelerated aging and eye damage. All of those protective measures are necessary during sunlight exposure; however, they are limiting the UVB rays from getting to your skin and therefore hindering vitamin D synthesis.
3) Melanin
Melanin determines your natural skin pigment. The more melanin, the darker the skin tone. Melanin is like a natural sunscreen as it absorbs UV rays and therefore protects against sunburns and skin cancers. Therefore, those with more melanin require more time outdoors in order to produce adequate levels of vitamin D (is it estimated anywhere between 30 minutes to 3 hours longer).
4) Climate
The further away you live from the equator, the less exposure you are getting year-round to sunshine. For example, a large portion of Canadians get very limited sun exposure between the months of October and March. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D is able to be stored in the fat cells and liver and the body can use it later on in the event that there is low intake. This has been presented as an argument to forego vitamin D supplementation in the summer. However, I have not been able to find any literature on how long these stores last or how much vitamin D intake would be required to supply those stores throughout the summer months if one were to decide to skip the supplement in the summer. (A side note to this is the consideration that since it is a vitamin that is actively stored by the body, it is more likely to reach toxic levels as opposed to its water-soluble counterparts which are more readily excreted by the body. Please see here for the latest guidance on the specific recommendations of intake requirements and toxicity levels for your particular age.)
5) Age
As we age, the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D through sunlight decreases.
So, there you have it: 5 simple reasons to consider taking your vitamin D supplement throughout the summer.
**Please read and thoroughly follow directions on the labels of your supplements, and always speak with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any supplementation.**
But what does that really mean? How do I know if I have “inflammation”? What can I do about it? These are great questions. Let’s take a brief look at each chronic disease separately to tackle these burning questions.
Autoimmune Disease:
An autoimmune disease is an illness that causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack normal body tissues. The specific autoimmune disease is defined by the type of antibodies that are created and which normal body tissues the immune system attacks. Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s/Colitis, and Type 1 Diabetes are all autoimmune disorders, to name a few.
At some point an inflammatory response in the body continued long after it was needed. Essentially, the body perceived an injury or a threat within normal tissue, where of course, no real threat existed, and so a normal, acute immune response became a chronic and maladaptive one. For example, if you have RA, your body thinks your joints are injured so it continues sending inflammatory chemicals to “heal” the area. Rather than healing- since it doesn’t need healing in the first place- it just causes swelling and tenderness, making mobility difficult. You can see how the way to treat any autoimmune disease is to interrupt the chronic inflammatory response thereby stopping it from targeting normal body tissue.
It's important to note that not all inflammation is bad. Inflammation is the immune system’s response to injury, toxins or infection, essentially, that’s how we heal. This short-term, or acute, inflammation is beneficial when it is under control, however, inflammation that persists longer than necessary, in other words, when it gets out of control, is known as chronic inflammation.
How Turmeric Can Help:
Turmeric is one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, as confirmed by over 6000 research studies. After years of extension research with our partner scientists in India, we have developed a breakthrough turmeric formula, Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric, that has been clinically proven to lower inflammatory blood markers and to substantially decrease the subjective reports of pain in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. For more information on this study, visit https://doctords.com/blogs/news/the-research-behind-dr-ds-ultra-bioturmeric
What’s important to know is that turmeric’s anti-inflammatory action does not prevent a healthy, or acute, inflammatory response. It instead helps to regulate the unhealthy inflammation, and helps to return the body’s defense mechanisms back to normal. In other words, turmeric enables your body to move back into the range of a healthy inflammatory response system, so that you have inflammation when you need it and your body can turn off the response when you don’t, thereby preventing the unnecessary harm to your body that is typical of autoimmune disease.
To bring home this point further, I like to use the example of the unfortunately common autoimmune disorders of the digestive system, Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by ongoing inflammation in the large intestine and rectum whereas Crohn’s can affect anywhere along the GI tract. If intestinal inflammation remains untreated, it can decrease your gut’s ability to absorb nutrients from your food, as well as promote the overgrowth of bad gut bacteria such as candida (or yeast). In this way, your gut health is highly related to your overall health. Turmeric, having anti-fungal properties, can prevent candida overgrowth. It also reduces intestinal cell damage and infection in the digestive tract, and can repair ulcers. Turmeric can therefore reduce pain and inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s. When you reduce the inflammation in your gut and balance out the healthy bacteria in your digestive tract, you will be better equipped to absorb nutrients which can help to regulate and improve your immune health. This is a perfect illustration of how turmeric can not only help with the disease or condition at hand, but can also aid the body in returning back to a healthy inflammatory response system…in other words, a healthy, more effective and efficient, immune system.
Alzheimer’s Disease:
There is now scientific evidence showing a direct link between Alzheimer’s and Dementia and chronic inflammation.
What is the process of this terrible condition? It starts with microglia. Microglia are a special part of our central nervous system’s immune response and are constantly on the look-out for signs of infection or toxins, including a protein called beta-amyloid. When these neuro immune cells detect a threat, they become activated to attack the damage, release pro-inflammatory cells, and call on support from other microglia. Normally, this process does not last long, and the activated neuro immune cells go back to a deactivated state of surveillance once the threat passes But in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, research suggests that these neuro immune cells become overactive, increasing their production of inflammatory cells and clear less of the original damage that caused them to be activated in the first place. Therefore, a vicious cycle ensues as microglia begin to cause the neuroinflammation they are designed to defeat…and their ability to clear away damage diminishes! The result is more and more damaged neurons and a buildup of beta-amyloid plaques, which can lead to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions.
How Turmeric Can Help:
Turmeric has not only been shown to break down these plaques associated with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, but also exhibits a very strong neuroprotective effect on brain cells and can even help them to regenerate! In fact, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry showed that of the 40 adults between the ages of 50 and 90 who had memory issues, those who took turmeric daily for 18 months showed a 28% improvement in their memory, and also had mild improvements in their mood, compared to the control group. Turmeric supplementation seems to be a promising adjunct to the little treatment options that currently exist for Alzheimer’s and Dementia…but what’s more effective than treatment is PREVENTION. And I’ve been saying this all along. Preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia, or delaying its onset should be our goal. There is merit to incorporating turmeric supplementation to your health regime to help prevent chronic, maladaptive inflammation and thus chronic disease.
Cancer:
You might be surprised to hear that genetics play a small role in all cancers, and that the significant factor in most cancers is actually lifestyle choices/habits/environmental factors which lead to inflammation. Let us take a moment to explain how inflammation is involved here.
Inflammation is the immune system’s normal response to injury, toxins or infection. This short-term, or acute, inflammation is beneficial when it is under control, however, inflammation that persists longer is known as chronic inflammation. What we are exposed to in our modern lifestyle and our choices… such as smoking, high intake of processed foods, high stress, and environmental pollutants actually increase the systemic inflammation in our bodies as those are all sources of toxins that our immune system continually tries to fight off. Chronic, persistent inflammation causes tissue destruction and scarring, reshaping of healthy or normal tissue, and changes in gene expression, causing cells to undergo transformation and rapid growth. This abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of maladaptive or inappropriate cells in a tissue, known as dysplasia, is a classic precursor to cancer.
How Turmeric Can Help:
There have been countless studies confirming that turmeric has anti-cancerous properties. In fact, cancer rates are lowest in countries that have the highest dietary intake of turmeric among the population. For example, the prevalence of some of the most common cancers (lung, breast, prostate and colon) are as much as 10 times lower in India, where there is a high turmeric dietary intake, than in the US, where there is a relatively low turmeric dietary intake among the population. Turmeric prevents this unhealthy inflammatory cascade and may therefore cease tumor formation, meaning that it stops the transformation from a healthy cell into a cancer cell, like in the case of HPV and cervical cancer. It is commonly accepted that some strains of HPV cause cervical cancer by instigating abnormal changes to normal cervical cells. Turmeric has been found to prevent precancerous changes in cervical cells after being infected by the HPV virus. Turmeric also inhibits the activation of cancer-causing genes. It inhibits the proliferation (or spread) of cancer cells. It also prevents the polyps, or growths, that lead to cancer. For example, turmeric has been found to delay the onset of colon cancer by preventing the formation of polyps on the intestinal lining of people living with familial adenomatous polyposis, a genetic condition that causes the extra tissue growth that precedes colon cancer. Turmeric also blocks angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, to a tumor, thereby cutting off its nutrient supply and suffocating tumor growth. Lastly, turmeric has been shown to help in the efficacy of chemotherapy and to reduce side effects for patients undergoing treatment for breast, thyroid, liver, lung, prostate and skin cancers
Evidence points strongly towards turmeric’s benefits in terms of slowing down, delaying or preventing cancer cells from forming in the first place. Therefore, it is important to speak about turmeric and cancer in the context of PREVENTION. A full-spectrum turmeric supplement should be considered as a daily part of a healthy lifestyle to give your body the best chance at combating future disease such as cancer.
Cardiovascular Disease:
Let’s take a look at the mechanism behind cardiovascular disease. You may be aware that buildup of plaques containing fat and cholesterol in the blood vessels are the precursors to heart attacks and strokes. Your risk is dictated depending on where the plaque build-up (known as atherosclerosis) forms. For example, you would be more predisposed to a stroke if these plaques form in the arterial walls of the brain, or to a heart attack if the plaque forms in or near the arterial walls of the heart. Keep in mind that plaque can form at multiple sites along the arterial walls, so the risk of both may exist simultaneously.
Here is where we get to the connection between atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation...
A large-scale study at Stanford University found that coronary artery disease risk might be linked to genes associated with inflammation. This likely happens because the body will recognize the plaque buildup as a foreign invader as it is not part of a normal blood vessel. Therefore, the immune system kicks in to respond to the threat, but the response is not always adaptive and becomes chronic. This persistent inflammation promotes continued plaque formation, progression and even makes it prone to rupture.
How Turmeric Can Help:
One way to interrupt this chronic inflammatory response is by adding a turmeric supplement to your health regimen. Turmeric can prevent atherosclerosis from forming but can also remove existing plaque- thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The antioxidant power of turmeric can actually protect the heart. For one thing, it provides a mild blood thinning effect, which can prevent blood clots. It does so by inhibiting blood platelet aggregation, or accumulation, which makes it difficult for blood clots to form in the first place. Turmeric has also been shown to induce vasorelaxation, meaning the relaxation of blood vessels, which studies have shown can help lower heart rate and blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular stress. It also has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels, which can take pressure off the cardiovascular system as well. Lastly, turmeric has been shown to reverse heart enlargement and prevent some ventricular arrhythmias, or heart beat irregularities.
Diabetes:
To understand diabetes, a proper explanation of insulin is required. Insulin is an important hormone secreted by the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose- or sugar- in your bloodstream. It either allows the sugar produced from the carbs you eat to be used for energy, or it stores the sugar in the body to use in the future, like between meals or during a workout. As blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases more insulin. In this way, it “regulates” the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Therefore, insulin is imperative to keep your blood glucose levels in normal, healthy range.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to produce insulin (such as in Type 1) or respond to insulin, called insulin resistance, (such as in Type 2) is flawed. The result? An abnormal utilization of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood. The problem with having too much uncontrolled glucose circulating in the bloodstream is that it damages tissues and organs, most commonly: the eyes, the kidneys and the nerves. Now, if you are a seasoned reader of our blogs, you are probably anticipating what’s coming next…Yes. Chronic inflammation is a part of this process.
Chronic inflammation is the maladaptive, continued inflammatory response by our immune system, long after an immediate threat has passed. Basically, it arises when the immune system fails to “switch off” after an illness or trauma, leading to persistent unnecessary signaling that can be harmful to the body. According to the Journal of Gerontology, cytokines, a notorious inflammatory promoter, can interfere with insulin signaling. This results in increased insulin resistance and therefore, spiked blood sugar. The spikes trigger the immune system’s white blood cells to attack, causing further inflammation and faulty insulin signaling, and the vicious cycle continues.
How Turmeric Can Help:
One way to interrupt this chronic inflammatory cycle is by adding a turmeric supplement to your health regimen. There is evidence to suggest that long-term turmeric supplementation can prevent those living with prediabetes from developing the full-blown condition. Turmeric has also been shown specifically to help stabilize blood sugar. Moreover, a 2009 study at Auburn university demonstrated that curcumin, the active medicinal property in turmeric, was up to 100,000 times more effective than the popular medication used to suppress glucose production, significantly benefitting patients with diabetes.
Depression:
Dr. Adrian Lopresti, who is a clinical psychologist and researcher and Murdoch University explains this very well, stating that patients with depression have greater inflammation and oxidative stress, which can affect all major organs in the body, including the brain. In fact, a study found that patients with major depression had elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers in their blood, indicating that they also silently suffered from chronic inflammation. Preliminary data from that study stated that hindering inflammatory signals to the brain may improve depressed mood and increase response to anti-depressant medication. Moreover, meta-analyses of the literature also conclude blood biomarkers of inflammation in patients with depression. Even non-depressed individuals express symptoms of depression when administered inflammatory proteins. As research advances, it has become apparent that inflammatory markers may also be elevated in patients with other neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Allow me to explain this a little further…
Inflammation also affects hormones and other neurotransmitters in your brain such as Serotonin. Serotonin contributes to wellbeing and happiness. As the precursor for melatonin, it helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycles and the internal clock. It is thought to play a role in appetite, emotions, motor, cognitive, and autonomic functions. Inflammation drives down the level of serotonin, which can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety, and problems with memory. It prevents melatonin from being produced, which causes insomnia. It causes dopamine levels to rise, which contributes to insomnia, and feelings of anxiety and agitation. Dr. Roger S. McIntyre, Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto asserted that “curcumin does have an effect on several physiological systems that are implicated in the causes of depression”. Curcumin is one of the most anti-inflammatory components of turmeric. In recent years, several randomized controlled trials have found turmeric to be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder, likely due to its ability to reduce inflammation in the gut and brain.
How Turmeric Can Help:
Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful anti-inflammatory, although in raw form it is difficult to absorb. This is why taking turmeric in supplement form with a high absorption technology is recommended. Dr. D's Ultra BioTurmeric's groundbreaking technology involves an advanced extraction process which results in an all-natural, full spectrum turmeric supplement which remains in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours and exhibits 14 times greater absorption (compared to standard curcumin)! Unleashing Turmeric’s Full Medicinal Potential!
Sources:
Genentech. Autoimmune Disease 101. https://www.gene.com/stories/autoimmune-disease-101
Bayshore Healthcare. Rheumatoid Arthritis. https://www.bayshore.ca/care-by-medical-condition/rheumatoid-arthritis/
Alzheimer Society Canada. Latest information and statistics. https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/Get-involved/Advocacy/Latest-info-stats
PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA, STATISTICS CANADA, CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY, & PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL CANCER REGISTRIES (2019). RELEASE NOTICE - CANADIAN CANCER STATISTICS 2019. HEALTH PROMOTION AND CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION IN CANADA : RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE, 39(8-9), 255.
HERMAN, J & ROSELLI, C. CURCUMIN DOWN-REGULATES NEUROPILIN-1, SEMAPHORIN 3A, CCL2 AND CCR2 MRNA EXPRESSION IN PC-3 CELLS. AACR ANNUAL MEETING. 68 (9). APR 12-16, 2008.
GIORDANO, A., & TOMMONARO, G. (2019). CURCUMIN AND CANCER. NUTRIENTS, 11(10), 2376.
American Heart and Stroke Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics at a Glance. https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/ahamah-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_470704.pdf
Government of Canada. Report from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System: Heart Disease in Canada, 2018. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-heart-disease-Canada-2018.html
World Health Organization. Diabetes. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
Statistics Canada. Health Fact Sheets, Diabetes, 2017. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2018001/article/54982-eng.htm
Diabetes Canada. https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/press-releases/new-diabetes-rates-released-with-urgent-plea-for-governments-to-implement-national-diabetes-strategy
Government of Canada. Government of Canada announces new investment in diabetes research. 2021. https://www.canada.ca/en/institutes-health-research/news/2021/08/government-of-canada-announces-new-investment-in-diabetes-research.html
CAMH. Mental Illness and Addiction Facts and Statistics. https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics
PSYCOM. What is Depression? https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
THE POWER OF TURMERIC: A HEALING AND PREVENTATIVE GUIDE, DR. FABIO DI STEFANO, PUBLISHER PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS, 2018
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
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Acute inflammation can result from exposure to UV rays or contact with chemical irritants or allergens. This type of inflammation is easier to manage, is usually resolves within a matter of weeks, and does not result in a lot of skin damage. Alternatively, chronic inflammation comes from a sustained immune response within the skin itself. This type of inflammation is long-lasting and can cause significant or serious skin damage. This chronic inflammation manifests into skin diseases like eczema, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.
Now, the actual process of skin inflammation is complicated and not completely understood yet, but essentially the same rules apply as with all other inflammatory cascades: there is some sort of stimulus (in this case UV rays, irritants, allergens), which triggers the skin to produce inflammatory cells like cytokines to combat the potential harm from the stimulus, which lead to further inflammatory hormones being called into the area in response. In a healthy immune response, the recruiting of further “back up”, so to speak, would be over once the threat has passed. However, as we have seen with chronic inflammation in all types of disease, the immune system continues to fire. Therefore, the end result of the initial trigger is the amplification of a large, unnecessary inflammatory response, causing damage to the skin. This cascade of inflammation is now being used to explain skin aging.
In fact, chronic, low-grade inflammation is seen as a key player in the process of aging, and has even been given a special, fancy name: “inflammageing”. In this context specifically, the theory is that UV radiation induces oxidative stress in epidermal cells, resulting in damaged cells, causing further inflammation leading to the activation of macrophages (which are like pacman of the immune system that come to eat up waste). A byproduct of these macrophages actually degrade the extracellular matrix, or simply put, they destroy the skin cell. In short- repeated exposure to UV rays overactivates this complex, leading to chronic inflammation and long-term damage to the dermis.
An American study published in 2007 suggested that curcumin- the most medicinal property of turmeric- protects the skin by combatting free radicals and reducing inflammation through a process called nuclear factor-KB inhibition. The study therefore suggests the use of curcumin in treating skin diseases. It has also been suggested in the literature that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric may help psoriasis by controlling flare ups. The National Psoriasis Foundation even states that you can use it as a supplement or by adding it to food. Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy connective tissue can lead to skin scarring, amongst other things. Curcumin's positive effects on scar formation are thought to help manage the effects of scleroderma, as well as acne scarring. Skin creams containing curcumin can help fight acne as it has been shown to help regulate skin sebum production.
Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful anti-inflammatory, although in raw form it is difficult to absorb. This is why taking turmeric in supplement form with a high absorption technology is recommended. Dr. D's Ultra BioTurmeric's groundbreaking technology involves an advanced extraction process which results in an all-natural, full spectrum turmeric supplement which remains in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours and exhibits 14 times greater absorption (compared to standard curcumin)! Unleashing Turmeric’s Full Medicinal Potential!
Sources:1) DermaMedics Professional. Inflammation. 2019. https://www.dermamedics.com/inflammation_id55.html
2) Zhang, S., Duan, E. Fighting against skin aging. Cell Transplant. 2018; 27(5): 729–738.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047276/
3) Thangapazham, RL., Sharma, A., Maheshwari, RK. Beneficial role of curcumin in skin disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:343-57. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17569219
4) National Psoriasis Foundation. Herbs and natural remedies. 2019. https://www.psoriasis.org/treating-psoriasis/complementary-and-alternative/herbal-remedies
5) Medical News Today. Can turmeric help my skin? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319553.php#how-to-use-turmeric-for-the-skin
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
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If you think you are experiencing depression or any mental health concerns, take a moment to ask yourself if you are experiencing any other physical symptoms, particularly digestive issues such as gas, bloating or abdominal pain? Your gut health dictates your overall health, so it was not surprising for me to learn about the connection between gut health and mental health.
When inflammatory proteins signal your brain that something is wrong in your digestive track, this can affect your overall mood. Dr. Adrian Lopresti, who is a clinical psychologist and researcher and Murdoch University explains this very well, stating that patients with depression have greater inflammation and oxidative stress, which can affect all major organs in the body, including the brain. In fact, a study found that patients with major depression had elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers in their blood, indicating that they also silently suffered from chronic inflammation. Preliminary data from that study stated that hindering inflammatory signals to the brain may improve depressed mood and increase response to anti-depressant medication. Moreover, meta-analyses of the literature also conclude blood biomarkers of inflammation in patients with depression. Even non-depressed individuals express symptoms of depression when administered inflammatory proteins. As research advances, it has become apparent that inflammatory markers may also be elevated in patients with other neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Allow me to explain this a little further…
Inflammation also affects hormones and other neurotransmitters in your brain such as Serotonin. Serotonin contributes to wellbeing and happiness. As the precursor for melatonin, it helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycles and the internal clock. It is thought to play a role in appetite, emotions, motor, cognitive, and autonomic functions. Inflammation drives down the level of serotonin, which can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety, and problems with memory. It prevents melatonin from being produced, which causes insomnia. It causes dopamine levels to rise, which contributes to insomnia, and feelings of anxiety and agitation. Dr. Roger S. McIntyre, Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto asserted that “curcumin does have an effect on several physiological systems that are implicated in the causes of depression”. Curcumin is one of the most anti-inflammatory components of turmeric. In recent years, several randomized controlled trials have found turmeric to be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder, likely due to its ability to reduce inflammation in the gut and brain.
Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful anti-inflammatory, although in raw form it is difficult to absorb. This is why taking turmeric in supplement form with a high absorption technology is recommended. Dr. D's Ultra BioTurmeric's groundbreaking technology involves an advanced extraction process which results in an all-natural, full spectrum turmeric supplement which remains in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours and exhibits 14 times greater absorption (compared to standard curcumin)! Unleashing Turmeric’s Full Medicinal Potential!
If you or someone you know is experiencing depression and you are worried about their safety, call Toronto Distress Centres at 416 408-4357 or 408-HELP or Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868, or call 9-1-1 if you suspect immediate danger. Visit www.camh.ca for further resources on where and how to get help.
1.CAMH. Mental Illness and Addiction Facts and Statistics. https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics
2. PSYCOM. What is Depression? https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
]]>In Canada in 2017, roughly 2.3 million people aged 12 and older were diagnosed with diabetes…that was over 7% of the population at the time. In 2021, the Government of Canada reported that over 3 million Canadians, or 8.8% of the population, have diagnosed diabetes. That's a pretty big jump in just 4 year's time. Keep it mind this figure does not include those who are prediabetic, or how are at risk of developing diabetes in their lifetime. Chances are, you either have it, or know someone who has it. Nonetheless, you may wonder: what exactly is diabetes?
To understand diabetes, a proper explanation of insulin is required. Insulin is an important hormone secreted by the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose- or sugar- in your bloodstream. It either allows the sugar produced from the carbs you eat to be used for energy, or it stores the sugar in the body to use in the future, like between meals or during a workout. As blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases more insulin. In this way, it “regulates” the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Therefore, insulin is imperative to keep your blood glucose levels in normal, healthy range.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to produce insulin (such as in Type 1) or respond to insulin, called insulin resistance, (such as in Type 2) is flawed. The result? An abnormal utilization of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood. The problem with having too much uncontrolled glucose circulating in the bloodstream is that it damages tissues and organs, most commonly: the eyes, the kidneys and the nerves. Now, if you are a seasoned reader of our blogs, you are probably anticipating what’s coming next…Yes. Chronic inflammation is a part of this process.
Chronic inflammation is the maladaptive, continued inflammatory response by our immune system, long after an immediate threat has passed. Basically, it arises when the immune system fails to “switch off” after an illness or trauma, leading to persistent unnecessary signaling that can be harmful to the body. According to the Journal of Gerontology, cytokines, a notorious inflammatory promoter, can interfere with insulin signaling. This results in increased insulin resistance and therefore, spiked blood sugar. The spikes trigger the immune system’s white blood cells to attack, causing further inflammation and faulty insulin signaling, and the vicious cycle continues.
One way to interrupt this chronic inflammatory cycle is by adding a turmeric supplement to your health regimen. There is evidence to suggest that long-term turmeric supplementation can prevent those living with prediabetes from developing the full-blown condition. Turmeric has also been shown specifically to help stabilize blood sugar. Moreover, a 2009 study at Auburn university demonstrated that curcumin, the active medicinal property in turmeric, was up to 100,000 times more effective than the popular medication used to suppress glucose production, significantly benefitting patients with diabetes.
For more information on our turmeric supplement and the science behind it, check out https://doctords.com/pages/pns-technology.
Sources:
World Health Organization. Diabetes. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
Statistics Canada. Health Fact Sheets, Diabetes, 2017. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2018001/article/54982-eng.htm
Diabetes Canada. https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/press-releases/new-diabetes-rates-released-with-urgent-plea-for-governments-to-implement-national-diabetes-strategy
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
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or that approximately 2.4 million Canadians aged 20 years and older suffer from ischemic heart disease.
As a matter of fact, heart conditions are the second leading cause of death in Canada.
The numbers are alarming as is, yet they do not illustrate the number of patients and their families who suffer from the debilitating consequences of heart disease and stroke, if the episode was not fatal.
Let’s take a look at the mechanism behind cardiovascular disease. You may be aware that buildup of plaques containing fat and cholesterol in the blood vessels are the precursors to heart attacks and strokes. Your risk is dictated depending on where the plaque build-up (known as atherosclerosis) forms. For example, you would be more predisposed to a stroke if these plaques form in the arterial walls of the brain, or to a heart attack if the plaque forms in or near the arterial walls of the heart. Keep in mind that plaque can form at multiple sites along the arterial walls, so the risk of both may exist simultaneously.
Here is where we get to the connection between atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation...
A large-scale study at Stanford University found that coronary artery disease risk might be linked to genes associated with inflammation. This likely happens because the body will recognize the plaque buildup as a foreign invader as it is not part of a normal blood vessel. Therefore, the immune system kicks in to respond to the threat, but the response is not always adaptive and becomes chronic. This persistent inflammation promotes continued plaque formation, progression and even makes it prone to rupture.
One way to interrupt this chronic inflammatory response is by adding a turmeric supplement to your health regimen. Turmeric can prevent atherosclerosis from forming but can also remove existing plaque- thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The antioxidant power of turmeric can actually protect the heart. For one thing, it provides a mild blood thinning effect, which can prevent blood clots. It does so by inhibiting blood platelet aggregation, or accumulation, which makes it difficult for blood clots to form in the first place. Turmeric has also been shown to induce vasorelaxation, meaning the relaxation of blood vessels, which studies have shown can help lower heart rate and blood pressure, reducing the risk of cardiovascular stress. It also has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels, which can take pressure off the cardiovascular system as well. Lastly, turmeric has been shown to reverse heart enlargement and prevent some ventricular arrhythmias, or heart beat irregularities.
References:
THE POWER OF TURMERIC: A HEALING AND PREVENTATIVE GUIDE, DR. FABIO DI STEFANO, PUBLISHER PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS, 2018
American Heart and Stroke Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics at a Glance. https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/ahamah-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_470704.pdf
Government of Canada. Report from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System: Heart Disease in Canada, 2018. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-heart-disease-Canada-2018.html
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
]]>You might be surprised to hear that genetics play a small role in all cancers, and that the significant factor in most cancers is actually lifestyle choices/habits/environmental factors which lead to inflammation. Let us take a moment to explain inflammation. Inflammation is the immune system’s normal response to injury, toxins or infection. This short-term, or acute, inflammation is beneficial when it is under control, however, inflammation that persists longer is known as chronic inflammation. What we are exposed to in our modern lifestyle and our choices… such as smoking, high intake of processed foods, high stress, and environmental pollutants actually increase the systemic inflammation in our bodies as those are all sources of toxins that our immune system continually tries to fight off. Chronic, persistent inflammation causes tissue destruction and scarring, reshaping of healthy or normal tissue, and changes in gene expression, causing cells to undergo transformation and rapid growth. This abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of maladaptive or inappropriate cells in a tissue, known as dysplasia, is a classic precursor to cancer.
There have been countless studies confirming that turmeric has anti-cancerous properties. In fact, cancer rates are lowest in countries that have the highest dietary intake of turmeric among the population. For example, the prevalence of some of the most common cancers (lung, breast, prostate and colon) are as much as 10 times lower in India, where there is a high turmeric dietary intake, than in the US, where there is a relatively low turmeric dietary intake among the population. Turmeric prevents this unhealthy inflammatory cascade and may therefore cease tumor formation, meaning that it stops the transformation from a healthy cell into a cancer cell, like in the case of HPV and cervical cancer. It is commonly accepted that some strains of HPV cause cervical cancer by instigating abnormal changes to normal cervical cells. Turmeric has been found to prevent precancerous changes in cervical cells after being infected by the HPV virus. Turmeric also inhibits the activation of cancer-causing genes. It inhibits the proliferation (or spread) of cancer cells. It also prevents the polyps, or growths, that lead to cancer. For example, turmeric has been found to delay the onset of colon cancer by preventing the formation of polyps on the intestinal lining of people living with familial adenomatous polyposis, a genetic condition that causes the extra tissue growth that precedes colon cancer. Turmeric also blocks angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, to a tumor, thereby cutting off its nutrient supply and suffocating tumor growth. Lastly, turmeric has been shown to help in the efficacy of chemotherapy and to reduce side effects for patients undergoing treatment for breast, thyroid, liver, lung, prostate and skin cancers
Evidence points strongly towards turmeric’s benefits in terms of slowing down, delaying or preventing cancer cells from forming in the first place. Therefore, it is important to speak about turmeric and cancer in the context of PREVENTION. A full-spectrum turmeric supplement should be considered as a daily part of a healthy lifestyle to give your body the best chance at combating future disease such as cancer.
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
]]>There is now scientific evidence showing a direct link between Alzheimer’s and Dementia and chronic inflammation. What’s truly alarming is that it is no longer just showing up in the older demographic like we once thought, we are seeing cases of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in younger and younger patients.
As always, let’s dive a bit into the pathophysiology, or the disorderly physiological process, that causes this terrible disease. Microglia are a special part of our central nervous system’s immune response and are constantly on the look-out for signs of infection or toxins, including a protein called beta-amyloid. When these neuro immune cells detect a threat, they become activated to attack the damage, release pro-inflammatory cells, and call on support from other microglia. Normally, this process does not last long, and the activated neuro immune cells go back to a deactivated state of surveillance once the threat passes But in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, research suggests that these neuro immune cells become overactive, increasing their production of inflammatory cells and clear less of the original damage that caused them to be activated in the first place. Therefore, a vicious cycle ensues as microglia begin to cause the neuroinflammation they are designed to defeat…and their ability to clear away damage diminishes! The result is more and more damaged neurons and a buildup of beta-amyloid plaques, which can lead to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions.
If you have been following along with our journey at Dr. D's, you already know about my long search to provide something to patients as an extension of my practice to help them get to the root of chronic disease and be healthy for as long as possible. This strong connection between chronic inflammation and chronic disease kept turning up in my research…and so did turmeric.
Turmeric is one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, as confirmed by over 6000 research studies. Turmeric has not only been shown to break down these plaques associated with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, but also exhibits a very strong neuroprotective effect on brain cells and can even help them to regenerate! In fact, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry showed that of the 40 adults between the ages of 50 and 90 who had memory issues, those who took turmeric daily for 18 months showed a 28% improvement in their memory, and also had mild improvements in their mood, compared to the control group. Turmeric supplementation seems to be a promising adjunct to the little treatment options that currently exist for Alzheimer’s and Dementia…but what’s more effective than treatment is PREVENTION. And I’ve been saying this all along. Preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia, or delaying its onset should be our goal. There is merit to incorporating turmeric supplementation to your health regime to help prevent chronic, maladaptive inflammation and thus chronic disease.
Sources:
1. Alzheimer Society Canada. Latest information and statistics. https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/Get-involved/Advocacy/Latest-info-stats
2. The Power of Turmeric: A Healing and Preventative Guide, Dr. Fabio Di Stefano, Publisher Production Solutions, 2018
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
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But what does that really mean? How do I know if I have “inflammation”? What can I do about it? These are great questions that we will try to tackle in the next series of blog posts as it is so important to your current and future health.
Let’s start with an unfortunately common form of chronic disease: autoimmune disease. Did you know that up to 23.5 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease?1 For those of you who don’t know what an autoimmune disease is, it is an illness that causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack normal body tissues. The specific autoimmune disease is defined by the type of antibodies that are created and which normal body tissues the immune system attacks. Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s/Colitis, and Type 1 Diabetes are all autoimmune disorders, to name a small few.
Unfortunately, in clinic we are seeing the number of these cases rising in practice and in fact, 1 in 5 Canadians are expected to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis by 2036.2
If you have an autoimmune disease, do you ever wonder how it developed? Well, at some point, you had an inflammatory response in your body that continued long after it was needed. Essentially, your body perceives an injury or a threat within your own tissue, where of course, no real threat exists, and so a normal, acute immune response became a chronic and maladaptive one. For example, if you have RA, your body thinks your joints are injured so it continues sending inflammatory chemicals to “heal” the area. Rather than healing- since it doesn’t need healing in the first place- it just causes swelling and tenderness, making mobility difficult. You can see how the way to treat any autoimmune disease is to interrupt the chronic inflammatory response thereby stopping it from targeting normal body tissue. For more information on inflammation, please see https://doctords.com/blogs/news/all-about-chronic-inflammation .
So, over the past decade I have been searching for something to provide to patients as an extension of my practice to help them get to the root of pain and chronic disease and to help keep them healthy and well for as long as possible. This strong connection between chronic inflammation and chronic disease kept turning up in my research…and so did turmeric. Turmeric is one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, as confirmed by over 6000 research studies. After years of extension research with our partner scientists in India, we have developed a breakthrough turmeric formula, Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric, that has been clinically proven to lower inflammatory blood markers and to substantially decrease the subjective reports of pain in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. For more information on this study, visit https://doctords.com/blogs/news/the-research-behind-dr-ds-ultra-bioturmeric
Now let’s take a step back for a minute. I don’t want you to think that all inflammation is bad. Inflammation is the immune system’s response to injury, toxins or infection, essentially, that’s how we heal. This short-term, or acute, inflammation is beneficial when it is under control, however, inflammation that persists longer than necessary, in other words, when it gets out of control, is known as chronic inflammation.
What’s important to know is that turmeric’s anti-inflammatory action does not prevent a healthy, or acute, inflammatory response. It instead helps to regulate the unhealthy inflammation, and helps to return the body’s defense mechanisms back to normal. In other words, turmeric enables your body to move back into the range of a healthy inflammatory response system, so that you have inflammation when you need it and your body can turn off the response when you don’t, thereby preventing the unnecessary harm to your body that is typical of autoimmune disease.
To bring home this point further, I like to use the example of the unfortunately common autoimmune disorders of the digestive system, Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by ongoing inflammation in the large intestine and rectum whereas Crohn’s can affect anywhere along the GI tract. If intestinal inflammation remains untreated, it can decrease your gut’s ability to absorb nutrients from your food, as well as promote the overgrowth of bad gut bacteria such as candida (or yeast). In this way, your gut health is highly related to your overall health. Turmeric, having anti-fungal properties, can prevent candida overgrowth. It also reduces intestinal cell damage and infection in the digestive tract, and can repair ulcers. Turmeric can therefore reduce pain and inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s. When you reduce the inflammation in your gut and balance out the healthy bacteria in your digestive tract, you will be better equipped to absorb nutrients which can help to regulate and improve your immune health. This is a perfect illustration of how turmeric can not only help with the disease or condition at hand, but can also aid the body in returning back to a healthy inflammatory response system…in other words, a healthy, more effective and efficient, immune system.
For more information on how you can lead an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, visit our blog https://doctords.com/blogs/news/tips-and-tricks-to-leading-an-anti-inflammatory-lifestyle
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
Sources:
Excerpts taken from The Power of Turmeric: A Healing and Preventative Guide, Dr. Fabio Di Stefano, Publisher Production Solutions, 2018
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Let’s take a brief look at each product individually before explaining the synergistic effects on Joint/Muscle health.
Dr. D’s Vitamin D3 plus K2
Vitamin D is a vital contributor to overall health. Vitamin D is famous for its critical role in healthy bone development and maintenance, but it is also an immune supporter and inflammation reducer. Vitamin D comes in two forms; vitamin D2(ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Humans obtain vitamin D3 from a few animal-sourced foods and sunlight. Vitamin D2 comes mainly from plant-based sources. It is hard to naturally obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from food alone, and considering our long winters and lifestyle factors which keep us from being outdoors, supplementation of vitamin D is highly recommended. What is the difference between Vitamin D3 and Vitamin D2 supplements? Research supports that D3 tends to raise blood levels of the vitamin more and remains in the bloodstream longer than D2. Plus, it seems to be preferred among experts as it is the form that is already found naturally within the body.
Because of all the research behind K2, and the combined protective effects of vitamins D and K, we chose to pair the two, vitamins D3 and K2 (menaquinone-7) in our first vitamin supplement. Vitamin D is a vital contributor to overall health. What is so special about this supplement is that it made with Polyshield Technology™- the first of its kind, GLOBALLY. Polyshield Technology™ stems from the pomegranate peel, which research shows is packed with polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that exist in certain plant-based foods and contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. There are many scientific studies demonstrating the health benefits of pomegranate extracts including antibacterial, antiviral, blood lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory properties. The peel accounts for roughly 60% of the pomegranate fruit, and possesses more antioxidant activity than its seeds, juice and pulp.
Polyphenols extracted from the pomegranate peel are used in this shielding technology to protect the vitamins and minerals. The shield formed protects the core molecules and reduces interaction with the enzymatic reactions involved in metabolism. Due to its optimal stability, the shield allows its nutrients to remain protected as they travel through something called First-Pass metabolism, which is breakdown by the liver.
Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric
If you are not already a turmeric consumer, I invite you to review the list of the potential health benefits provided by turmeric:
The potential health benefits of turmeric are endless as we continue to research and unravel more and more therapeutic potential of this ancient powerful and natural anti-inflammatory. Moreover, Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric, a 100% turmeric-based supplement created with a special technology, exhibited 14-fold increase of free curcumin in blood plasma compared to standard 95% curcumin, according to research published in Material Science and Engineering.
Dr. D’s Pure Hemp Seed Oil
Anyone who wants to maintain good health or alleviate symptoms of a chronic condition can benefit from taking Hemp Seed Oil as it provides cardiovascular, neurological, immune and hormonal support. It contains a full spectrum of omegas: omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9 in a perfectly balanced ratio, optimizing therapeutic effects.
The benefit of Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is that along with providing all of the essential omegas, it is plant-based, free of mercury/toxins, free of gastrointestinal irritation-causing peroxides, does not disturb the eco-system and does not oxidize or spoil as easily as fish oil. Taking Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil replaces the need for fish oil supplements.
Chlorophyll gives hemp seed oil its green colour. This is an important component of Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil as chlorophyll is known to be a natural anti-carcinogenic.
We are proud to say that Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is home-grown, in Peterborough Ontario.
Finally, Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is not only gluten-free and vegan, but it is also pesticide and herbicide free, and is non-GMO.
The Ultimate Joint Health Solution
As you can see, all 3 of these products are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they prevent or slow down damage to cells caused by something called free radicals, which are unstable waste molecules that the body produces in response to stresses such as smoking, processed foods and pollution. This therefore helps to reduce the negative effects of wear and tear on the joints overtime.
Additionally, these products also provide powerful, natural anti-inflammatory activity. Taking anti-inflammatory supplements is imperative for joint and muscle health, as inflammation can be sporadic and end up in joints which can cause pain, stiffness and can even erode the joints if chronic enough.
Most importantly, you can be sure that the technologies behind these products is robust and science-based, meaning you're actually absorbing the powerful ingredients, ensuring your joints and muscles are benefitting from supplementation.
Don't just take our word for it! The University of Manitoba is currently studying the efficacy of the combination of these products and how they can help combat autoimmune disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis in indigenous populations!
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
Vitamin D is famous for its critical role in healthy bone development and maintenance, but it is also an immune supporter and inflammation reducer. Vitamin D comes in two forms; vitamin D2(ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Humans obtain vitamin D3 from a few animal-sourced foods and sunlight. Vitamin D2 comes mainly from plant-based sources.
It is hard to naturally obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from food alone, and considering our long winters and lifestyle factors which keep us from being outdoors, supplementation of vitamin D is highly recommended.
What is the difference between Vitamin D3 and Vitamin D2 supplements? You may have noticed that vitamin D supplements come in either form. While there has been some debate over which is better to consume as a supplement, research supports that D3 tends to raise blood levels of the vitamin more and remains in the bloodstream longer than D2. Plus, it seems to be preferred among experts as it is the form that is already found naturally within the body.
Without enough vitamin D in the body, calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood start to decrease, which leads to calcium being leeched out of the bones to help maintain levels within the blood. This can lead to rickets in children and osteoporosis (fragile bones) in adults.
For more information on Vitamin D specifically, read our blog All About Vitamin D here: https://doctords.com/blogs/news/all-about-vitamin-d
Vitamin K, in contrast, is one which you may not have heard much about. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin found in two forms: K1 and K2. Fat-soluble means it can dissolve in fats and oils, which is why it is absorbed in the body along with fats/oils and is able to remain stored in the body’s fat stores and liver (unlike water-soluble vitamins which dissolve in water only and therefore do not get stored in the body the same way). The main dietary form of Vitamin K is K1 (phylloquinone), found mostly in green leafy vegetables (such as kale, spinach and broccoli) whereas Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is primarily of bacterial origin, present in some animal-based and fermented foods.
Vitamin K is primarily responsible for heart health and bone health. Specifically, the body requires vitamin K to produce a very important protein, prothrombin, which helps blood to clot. Vitamin K2 also provides both an increase in the bone-building process and a decrease in the bone-loss process making it an important component of overall bone health.
For more information on Vitamin K specifically, check out our blog Have You Heard of Vitamin K? at https://doctords.com/blogs/news/have-you-heard-of-vitamin-k
Why Vitamins D and K?! Here is what the research says ...
There has been a lot of research into the health benefits of Vitamin K2, specifically. This may be because studies have shown that vitamin K2 has a more powerful effect on bone health compared to vitamin K1. In terms of bone health, it has been shown that menaquinone-7 (the predominant form of vitamin K2) stimulates something called osteoblastogenesis (meaning the production of osteoblasts, cells that make bone) and decreases something calledosteoclastogenesis (meaning the production of osteoclasts, cells that degrade bone). It has also been shown that the combination of vitamins K and D can significantly increase the total Bone Mineral Density (a measure of how strong your bones are), with a better effect when K2 is used. Another study on postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had similar conclusions, stating that the combined use of vitamins D3 and K2 were useful in increasing Bone Mineral Density in the lumbar spine (in fact, this study found the combination even more protective than vitamin D3, vitamin K2 and calcium supplements alone!). Yet another study (published in October of 2020) suggests that vitamin K2 supplementation may improve bone quality and reduce fracture risk is patients with osteoporosis, potentially even increasing the effectiveness of calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
There is also some research to suggest the important role that K2 plays in heart health. For example, a 2009 study on middle aged men and women found that a higher intake of vitamin K2 was linked with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (whereas there was no association found between K1 and coronary heart disease). Another interesting feature to note about K2 is the protective effect against calcium deposits in the arterial walls. It is widely accepted and beneficial to take calcium in order to promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis. An unfortunate risk of this, however, is that elevated consumption of calcium may increase the risk for heart disease due to the deposit of said calcium into the blood vessels. Vitamin K2 has been found to inhibit this arterial calcification and stiffening. Therefore, an increase intake of vitamin K2 could mean lowering these (sometimes necessary) health risks of calcium supplementation.
Remember- ALWAYS speak to your health care provider to determine your specific benefit and risk analysis before starting or stopping any supplementation! Especially if you are on other medications, such as blood thinners.
Dr. D’s Vitamin D3 plus K2
Because of all the research behind K2, and the combined protective effects of vitamins D and K, we chose to pair the two, vitamins D3 and K2 (menaquinone-7) in our first vitamin supplement. Vitamin D is a vital contributor to overall health.
What is so special about this supplement is that it made with Polyshield Technology™- the first of its kind, GLOBALLY. Polyshield Technology™ stems from the pomegranate peel, which research shows is packed with polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that exist in certain plant-based foods and contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. There are many scientific studies demonstrating the health benefits of pomegranate extracts including antibacterial, antiviral, blood lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory properties. The peel accounts for roughly 60% of the pomegranate fruit, and possesses more antioxidant activity than its seeds, juice and pulp.
Polyphenols extracted from the pomegranate peel are used in this shielding technology to protect the vitamins and minerals. The shield formed protects the core molecules and reduces interaction with the enzymatic reactions involved in metabolism. Due to its optimal stability, the shield allows its nutrients to remain protected as they travel through something called First-Pass metabolism, which is breakdown by the liver.
Most of us understand that regular exercise is the key to good health. One great way to promote health is by supporting our immune system and keeping it healthy.
Regular physical activity decreases the mortality and incidence rates of influenza and pneumonia. It is essential to keep everything (including exercise) in moderation.
High-intensity training, competition and the associated physiological, metabolic and psychological stress are linked with temporary decreases in immune function and, therefore, increased illness risk. Acute exercise (moderate-to-vigorous intensity for less than 60 minutes) may help support through enhanced circulation, allowing the immune system's cells and components to move freely through the body and perform their duties efficiently.
Research continually shows that the more moderate exercise one partakes in, the lower their incidence of upper respiratory tract infections. Walking, running, and swimming are great ways to enhance your health if done consistently.
If you have not been active regularly, start slowly. Try 5 minutes a day to start. Each week increase it by 5 minutes. You will eventually reach an hour a day before you know it.
3) Get adequate sleep.
You may notice that you become ill after a bout of sleep deprivation. This is because sleep is when a lot of the “fight” against foreign invaders happens. If you are constantly having troubles sleeping, speak to your medical doctor. You may also want to try avoiding caffeine after 2 pm, yoga and meditation.
4) Minimize stress.
Stress increases cortisol levels, and a high amount of cortisol can actually compromise immune function. We know that minimizing stress is easier said than done, so at the very least, remember to take some time for yourself to do something that you enjoy to relax and refresh your mind and body.
5) Eat your fruits and veggies!
Your mom was right! Leafy greens and citrus fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals that help your immune system thrive.
6) Consider a full-spectrum turmeric supplement.
Turmeric is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory, but it also has strong antiviral, antimicrobial and even antifungal properties! Of course, it’s always a good idea to add ground turmeric to your soups and other dishes, but since the body is not good at absorbing turmeric on its own, it’s important to take the right turmeric supplement (full-spectrum turmeric) to help enhance that absorption.
Turmeric is very well known for “curcumin.” Curcumin is one of the most important nutrients found in turmeric as it contains the greatest amount of medicinal properties. Curcumin has been shown to improve antibody responses in the body. An antibody is a special protein that binds to any intruder which signals the immune system to respond. It is important to note that curcumin (although very important, yes) only comprises 3 percent of the entire turmeric root! There are over 200 other disease-fighting compounds of the root (which is why it is important to take a full spectrum turmeric supplement). Other turmeric root nutrients such as α-turmerone, ar-turmerone and polar extracts have also been shown to contribute to immune response. (You can learn more about full spectrum turmeric supplementation on our blog entitled Dr. D’s Ultra Bio Turmeric: Whole Root Nutrition).
Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that protect our cells from something called free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are produced when you are exposed to harmful agents such as tobacco smoke, radiation, pollution, etc., and are therefore associated with many diseases. Free radicals are dealt with by our immune system, but not always perfectly. Furthermore, studies have shown that curcumin is effective in the treatment of toxicity and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a contributor to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, and therefore recent studies are looking into how to reduce oxidation therapeutically with curcumin…and even to prevent the disease in the first place! The fact that curcumin is an antioxidant inherently makes it an immune system supporter because it helps to decrease the body’s exposure to harmful agents to begin with.
Turmeric is also an immunomodulator in the sense that it modifies or enhances the appropriate response of the immune system. Studies have shown that curcumin and the other turmeric root nutrients control the growth and cellular response of different immune cells such as dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes. These are all key players of our immune system so we need them to grow and respond efficiently in order for our immune system to be effective. Moreover, α-turmerone has anti-proliferative effects, meaning that it actually decreases growth of (harmful) cells.
Another way in which turmeric is an immune booster is through the modulation of both the proliferation and activation of T cells and B cells. There are many types of these special cells, but what is important to know is that they are extremely important cells of our adaptive immune system (this is the subset of our immune system which gives our defences “memory” in order to respond more quickly to a subsequent attack from a bacteria or virus.).
You know we got you covered with this tip. If you’d like to learn more about our turmeric and how it helps the immune system, click here https://doctords.com/blogs/news/turmeric-the-undercover-immune-booster
7) Don’t skip your Vitamin D!
Did you know that Vitamin D has been used to treat infections before antibiotics existed? For example, Tuberculosis patients were sent to sanatoriums where treatment included exposure to sunlight (a source of vitamin D)! Over the years, there has been a lot of research suggesting that the lower the level of vitamin D in test subjects, the more at-risk for infection they were. One high-quality double-blind placebo study published in 2010 using a nasopharyngeal swab culture demonstrated that a therapeutic dose of vitamin D resulted in a statistically significant (42%) decrease in the rate of influenza infection. It is thought that vitamin D plays a powerful role in the protective effect of innate immunity. You know we have this tip covered for you as well!
8)Take steps to avoid infection in the first place.
We are all pretty much experts of this at this point, but reminders are helpful. This includes ensuring proper handling and cooking of raw meats, frequent sanitization of commonly-touched surfaces, hand washing, and avoiding touching your face.
9) Always touch base with your medical doctor in terms of what else you can do, such as keeping up with your recommended vaccines.
Unsurprisingly, tips for strengthening your immune system are the same as tips for building a healthy lifestyle. Have fun with it and stay healthy!
SOURCE:
Aranow C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 59(6), 881–886. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
Aurea labs. India. Effects of curcumin on immune cells. 2020.
The power of turmeric: a healing and preventative guide, dr. Fabio di stefano, publisher production solutions, 2018
Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical Schools. Feb 15, 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Urashima M, et al. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1255–60. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED
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Research is obviously very important, especially in the medical/health realms. Evidence-based practitioners base their clinical decisions on current evidence (scientific proof, so to speak). There are several different types of research studies, ranging from case reports (an in-depth discussion on one case only) to meta-analyses and systematic reviews (which collect and analyze the results of multiple high-level studies on the same topic to come up with a grand, overarching recommendation). Because of how much they look into current evidence, meta-analysis and systematic reviews are the gold-standard in terms of what practitioner’s trust for guidance in clinical-making decisions.
What type of research makes up sound, robust systematic reviews and meta-analyses? Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. These studies are so important because they eliminate bias or confounding factors within how the research is conducted and how the data is obtained. The less bias involved, the more confident we can be that the intervention studied truly caused (or didn’t cause, depending on what is being investigated) the end result of interest.
Let’s break down how it eliminates bias, using the study with Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric as an example. First of all, subjects could only take part in the study if they all had a similar health status, including being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. (Short side note for those readers who do not know: Rheumatoid Arthritis is a is an autoimmune, chronic systemic inflammatory disorder which mainly affects the joints, causing pain and swelling.) They also could not be on any other drug that would interfere with the study. This is important as comparing patients with multiple different health statuses would make the resulting data less reliable. Before the study was conducted, baseline subjective reports of pain were documented and blood markers for inflammation (ESR, CRP, and RF) were collected from all subjects.
The subjects were then randomized into 3 groups: Group A received 250 mg (a low dose) of Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric, Group B received 500mg (a high dose) of Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric and Group C was the placebo group (who received 500mg of food grade starch). All groups took their capsules over a period of 3 months twice daily 30min after meals, which is another element of similarity between the groups decreasing the chance for co-founding factors to enter into the study and skew results. What’s more important than the randomization and standardization, however, is the placebo group itself. The placebo subjects were still consuming a capsule just like all other participants, but, this treatment was inert and had no actual biological effect. A placebo group is so important in the final analysis of data, because it is the component of the study that allows the results seen in the treatment groups to be attributed to the intervention (in this case, Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric). Moreover, the placebo group and both treatment groups were unaware of which group they were in (also referred to as “blinded.”) Therefore, any notion of “I am on a supplement, I must be feeling better” or “This is just a starch pill, it won’t do anything for me” becomes a non-issue, and therefore standardizes the subjective reports of pain from the subjects at the end of the study. Lastly, researchers were also “blinded” to which subject was in which group until the end of the study. When all parties are blinded, the potential effect of personal bias, opinions, or feelings towards a particular component of the research is eliminated and the data collected becomes more valid.
Now that we understand why we can trust the methods behind the study, here are the results:
Therefore, we can confidently conclude that this product can be used as an analgesic (pain-reliever) and anti-inflammatory agent for the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Wow.
So, what to take from all this? The quality of this study is exceptional, which means that we can be very confident in the results, and the benefits it can have on your life. If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, here is some concrete data to show that this product can help. If you don’t have Rheumatoid Arthritis but do suffer from pain, the study highlights the benefits of this product in a population with unfortunately high levels of inflammation (which causes pain), and if it worked so well with them, it will likely work for you too. If you (hopefully) don’t suffer from any pain at all, you can learn more about how this product decreases chronic, low-grade inflammation which ultimately helps prevent chronic disease…All About Chronic Inflammation – Dr. D's (doctords.com)
For a link to the study, click here
Always thoroughly read and follow directions on the label and speak to your medical doctor or pharmacist before taking this product, especially if you are already on other medications or suffer from medical conditions.
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
]]>Unless you have a confirmed deficiency or your own health care professional has told you otherwise, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) according to Health Canada for most adults is around 1000 IUs. In fact, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) per day (ie. the highest daily level of intake that is likely to pose no risk of negative health effects in most individuals) is 4000 IUs, also according to Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/vitamins-minerals/vitamin-calcium-updated-dietary-reference-intakes-nutrition.html
All our products contain unique delivery systems which provide greater absorption and sustained release compared to other supplements; ensuring you get the best quality product that stays in your bloodstream longer. Absorption/bioavailability should always be questioned when considering a supplement. Other supplements may need to add higher levels of D3 to their product in order to make up for lower absorption. You can also refer to our blog to learn why in most situations, less is more: https://doctords.com/blogs/news/multivitamins-less-is-more
I have seen D3 in liquid form. Why would I take your capsules instead?
Our product is offered in capsule form because it is the most stable way of delivering the vitamins to the bloodstream and then the target sites of the body. This stability is what allows for its advanced absorption and sustainedrelease. Sustained release is important because it allows the vitamins to be released over a prolonged period of time, meaning that they won’t be metabolized quickly and excreted from your body shortly after you take the supplement. Sustained release of vitamins is not as evident when administered in a liquid form. Therefore, with our supplement you are absorbing more and reaping optimal benefits from the powerful vitamins within.
What is PolyShield TechologyTM?
PolyShield TechnologyTM is a unique formula which will revolutionize vitamin and mineral supplementation by providing enhanced absorption and sustained release. This innovative technology stems from the pomegranate fruit. Extracts of the pomegranate, specifically the peel, are packed with antioxidants. PolyShield Technology involves the extraction of these special pomegranate peel antioxidants, which are then used to shield vitamins and minerals. Due to its optimal stability, the shield allows its nutrients to remain protected as they travel through breakdown by the liver, resulting in:
- Increased potency
- Enhanced absorption
- Sustained release
What are the health benefits of vitamin D3?
Vitamin D is a vital contributor to overall health. Vitamin D is famous for its critical role in healthy bone development and maintenance, but it is also an immune supporter and inflammation reducer. Vitamin D comes in two forms; vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 . Humans obtain vitamin D3 from a few animal-sourced foods and sunlight. Vitamin D2 comes mainly from plant-based
sources. Without enough vitamin D in the body, calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood start to decrease, which leads to calcium being leeched out of the bones to help maintain levels within the blood. This can lead to rickets in children and osteoporosis (fragile bones) in adults. It is hard to naturally obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from food alone, and considering our long winters and lifestyle factors which keep us from being outdoors, supplementation of vitamin D is highly recommended.
Why vitamin D3 and not D2?
Research supports that D3 tends to raise blood levels of the vitamin more and remains in the bloodstream longer than D2. Plus, it seems to be preferred among experts as it is the form that is already found naturally within the body.
What is vitamin K2?
Vitamin K is primarily responsible for heart health and bone health. Specifically, the body requires vitamin K to produce a very important protein, prothrombin, which helps blood to clot. Vitamin K2 (specifically menaquinone-7, the predominant form of vitamin K2 found in our product) also provides both an increase in the bone-building process and a decrease in the bone-loss process making it an important component of overall bone health. Research has shown that the combination of vitamins K and D can significantly increase the total Bone Mineral Density (a measure of how strong your bones are), with a better effect when K2 is used. For more information on this important vitamin, please see our blog: What is vitamin K?
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What happens if you take a lot of vitamins and your body doesn’t need them? First of all, if you take everything at once, it can be counterproductive as one supplement might affect the absorption of another.1 Also, your liver and kidneys have to break down and filter everything you eat and supplements are no exception. The more you take, the harder your liver, kidneys and digestive system have to work. Vitamins can put undue strain on your liver, and even cause liver damage if you don’t need them.2 Excess vitamin supplementation can be toxic and inflammatory.3 For example, if you are taking a vitamin B complex and your urine turns bright yellow, that means you have enough of it already and your body is filtering it out. In other words, your kidneys are working harder than they need to. I’ve heard people say, “That’s how you know it’s working.” No- that’s how you know your body’s working…too hard! Similarly, too much vitamin D can be as bad for you as too little- excess amounts can be bad for your heart.4
Vitamin supplements are harder to process than food because they usually exist in an unnatural, concentrated form that the body doesn’t readily recognize. This can push your body into oxidative stress.
So if you’re taking something “just in case” but it’s not helping to reduce inflammation or helping to fight free radicals, you might be inviting harmful effects by introducing extra work for your body. Then, not only does your body have to attack all of the free radicals that it’s already dealing with, it now has to breakdown all of the supplements and filter them out too!
Vitamin supplementation can also disturb your body’s regular processes. For example, if you replace your body’s own enzymes with something external, it might start shutting down its own internal supply of those enzymes. Your body can become dependent on it, which isn’t a good thing. You want to support your body’s natural healing processes, not replace them.5
The bottom line is: If you don’t need to be taking vitamins, the research suggests it’s better not to take them. Do your best to keep your body in a state of balance. Don’t throw off your body’s natural equilibrium. There are people who live to be over 100 years old in different parts of Europe without taking vitamin supplements. They regularly eat a Mediterranean diet, which is abundant in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and healthy oils. This diet keeps their inflammation down. They are proving to us that we don’t need to take all these added vitamins and supplements in order to live longer or to have a better quality of life.
As you may recall from the blog…the only reasons you should be taking supplements are to supplement a deficiency, to reduce or prevent inflammation, and to build up your body’s supply of antioxidants.
Turmeric is a supplement that is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.6 In fact, it’s the most tested and proven supplement that fulfills both of these health-promoting functions.
Get the full story! Grab your copy of Dr. Di Stefano’s book, The Power of Turmeric, here.
An excerpt from Dr. D’s book, The Power of Turmeric, Less is More chapter.
You may have heard from your doctor or healthcare practitioner, or from friends or family, that taking supplements is a good idea in order to supplement your nutrition and make sure you’re not missing anything in your daily intake of minerals and vitamins…and that proper nutrition is a good part of any treatment plan.
While all of these things are true, do you know that the vitamins and supplements you’re taking every day are helping to improve your health and protect you from inflammation and disease? Vitamin and mineral supplements are extremely important and helpful ways to get proper nutrition if you are deficient in them. It is truly wonderful that we have the ability to supplement our diets with the vitamins, minerals and nutrients our bodies aren’t getting enough of otherwise. I am in complete support of taking vitamins and minerals if they are truly something your body needs.
However, most people do not know whether or not they are deficient in vitamins or minerals, and they are taking them anyway. Do you know why you’re taking what you’re taking, and what it is doing in your body? Are you taking a ton of supplements every day, because you’ve heard that it is a good idea to take them? In addition, if your children are taking supplements, do you know what they’re taking and how they might be impacting their bodies?
Patients usually tell me they take some supplements sometimes, and others at other times…and that they often forget to take them. They’re not even taking the vitamins on a consistent basis, and they have no idea what they’re taking and why.
These blogs are about education. I want to help you discern which supplements will indeed help your body, improve your health, and protect you from chronic inflammation that leads to disease.
Here are the three reasons you should be taking vitamins or other dietary supplements:
1) To supplement deficiency
2) To reduce or prevent inflammation
3) To build up your body’s supply of antioxidants
If you are deficient in a vitamin or mineral, and you aren’t getting enough of that micronutrient from your food intake, it is important that you take it in supplement form.
The second and third reasons for taking supplements are also very important: inflammation leads to disease through the oxidation of healthy cells and the production of free radicals (see blog: All About Chronic Inflammation – Dr. D's (doctords.com) for more information on this topic specifically). An important take way is: if a supplement is giving you defenses against inflammation or free radicals, it is worth taking. If, however, what you are taking is not doing either one of those two things, and you are not deficient in that vitamin or mineral, it might be doing your body more harm than good.
I’ve heard many people say, “I take a multivitamin once a day to make sure I’m filling in any gaps in my nutritional intake”. Although this seems like a logical strategy, the reality is, multivitamins do very little to support your overall health and they can do more harm than good. There is very little (I haven’t seen any myself) research to support multivitamins, while there is quite a bit of research that has shown them to be either ineffective or harmful. For instance, in a systematic review on the benefits and risks of mineral and vitamin supplementation for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancers, “limited evidence [was found that] supports any benefit from vitamin and mineral supplementation…two trials found a small, borderline significant benefit from multivitamin supplements on cancer in men only and no effect on cardiovascular disease.” 1 In addition, the U.S Preventative Services Task Force indicates that “evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of supplements of vitamins A, C or E; multivitamins with folic acid; or antioxidant combinations for the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease.”2
A series of clinical trials and observational studies done to assess the risks and benefits of multivitamins concludes that, “results to date are not compelling concerning a role for multivitamins in preventing morbidity or mortality from cancer or cardiovascular disease” 3. Additionally, in a randomized, controlled trial on multivitamin supplementation and cognitive function among men over 65 years old, long-term daily multivitamin use did not provide benefits to cognitive function.4 In another trial investigating vitamins C and E in the prevention of prostate cancer among men aged 50 +, “neither vitamin E or C supplementation reduced the risk of prostate cancer or total cancer.”5
In clinical trials investigating the efficacy of multivitamins and the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women, a “Women’s Health Initiative study provided convincing evidence that multivitamin use has little or no influence on the risk of common cancers, cardiovascular disease or total mortality in post-menopausal women.”6
David Bender, senior lecturer in biochemistry, perhaps sums up the research best: “the answer to the question of whether we should take a multivitamin tablet everyday must be that unless our intake is inadequate as a result of a poor diet then supplements will probably do us no good.”7
In conclusion: If you are not deficient and follow a relatively good diet, you probably don’t need to be taking a plethora of supplements. Find out from your healthcare practitioner if you are indeed deficient, first.
Get the full story! Grab your copy of Dr. Di Stefano’s book, The Power of Turmeric, here.
Research shows that daily consumption can:
- Support cardiovascular health
- Support the immune system
- Support gut health
- Relieve pain associated with joint & muscle inflammation
- Have liver protective activity
- Regulate blood sugar
- Modulate PSA
- Have neuroprotective activity
Turmeric in its raw form is poorly absorbed by the gut. It would take a lot of turmeric consumption over years to optimize its extraordinary health benefits which is why it is recommended to take turmeric with high absorption in a supplement form!
Even if you know very little about turmeric, you may have heard about “curcumin,” something it is very well known for. Turmeric and curcumin are often used interchangeably and are a source of common confusion.
Turmeric is an ancient spice that comes from the Curcuma longa plant. Curcuminoids, compounds extracted from the turmeric root, are important nutrients. Curcumin is the most important curcuminoid as it contains the greatest amount of medicinal properties. Curcumin is therefore a very special component of the entire turmeric root but it is not the same thing as turmeric. Most of the research over the last 10 years have focused on just curcumin.
What most people do not know is that curcumin (although very important, yes) only comprises 3 percent of the entire turmeric root!
One of the other powerful ingredients outside of curcumin is called aromatic-turmerone (ar-turmerone, for short). This ingredient has also been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties, but particularly in the signalling pathways of microglia.
Let’s take a step back to explain inflammation in order to really appreciate the benefits of turmeric, and its components such as ar-turmerone.
Inflammation is the immune system’s normal response to injury, toxins or infection. This short-term, or acute, inflammation is beneficial when it is under control, however, inflammation that persists longer is known as chronic inflammation. Chronic, persistent and systemic inflammation can be largely a consequence of lifestyle choices such as smoking, high intake of processed foods, high stress and environmental pollutants as these are all sources of toxins that our immune system continually tries to fight off. Chronic, persistent inflammation causes tissue destruction and scarring, reshaping of healthy or normal tissue, changes in gene expression, and much more. This maladaptive type of inflammation can be applied to any body system and is the source of all disease.
Now that you understand a little more about the immune system, let’s chat about microglia. Microglia are the immune cells of the nervous system. Picture “pacman” eating up harmful invaders. For whatever reason, as described above, something can spark chronic, persistent inflammation in the nervous system (specifically, the brain). The more maladaptive inflammation we have, the more havoc it can wreak on the carefully balanced system it is harbouring within. Microglia, for example, is a hallmark of neuroinflammation and is associated with various neurological diseases (dementia/Alzheimer’s and depression) and stroke. This means that ar-turmerone can actually stop any maladaptive inflammatory signalling cascade caused by microglia, so that they are left to function properly (ie. only target harmful invaders). Furthermore, research is showing that ar-turmerone may increase the number of neural stem cells in the brain, which play a role in the regeneration of tissue that has already been affected by neurodegenerative disease and stroke. Research has also shown that ar-turmerone has protective effects on hippocampal cells from any indirect neuronal toxicity induced by activated microglial cells. Hippocampal cells are found in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory formation, and therefore associated with learning and emotion. Therefore, ar-turmerone is showing promise in offering neurological benefits in cases of brain injury and neuroprotective benefits against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
A few other compounds include: alpha-turmerone and beta-turmerone, turmeric oil, demethoxycurcumin, 5’-methoxycurcumin, and dihydrocurcumin. These are also powerful antioxidants and have similar yet unique properties to curcumin. All of them work together synergistically for impressive medicinal results.
The whole turmeric root, and not just curcumin, is very powerful and has been used traditionally across medicinal systems for centuries. That is why we created Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric to be a full-spectrum turmeric, meaning it includes much more than just curcumin!
A full-spectrum turmeric supplement means that it contains curcumin PLUS the other 200+ powerful nutrients. If you are only taking curcumin, or are on a supplement that does not state that it is full-spectrum turmeric, you may be missing out on some of the health benefits.
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
]]>It is important to note that Hemp contains little to no levels of THC or CBD, which are the chemicals that are associated with the psychoactive properties of marijuana.
Due to its full spectrum of omegas (3, 6, 7 & 9, SDA and GLA), Hemp Seed Oil provides cardiovascular, neurological, immune and hormonal support. It has also been helpful to alleviate skin conditions when ingested or applied topically. Chlorophyll gives hemp seed oil its green colour. This is an important component of Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil as chlorophyll is known to be a natural anti-carcinogenic. Hemp Seed Oil is unique to other oils which contain omegas 3, 6, 7 & 9 because they are present in a perfectly balanced ratio, optimizing therapeutic effects. The benefit of Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil is that along with providing all of the essential omegas, it is plant-based, free of mercury/toxins, free of gastrointestinal irritation-causing peroxides, does not disturb the eco-system and does not oxidize or spoil as easily as other popular omega oils.
As a maintenance protocol or if you are experiencing mild pain/inflammation, the recommended dosage is 1 tablespoon per day. For people who are experiencing advanced inflammation or have a medical condition, the recommended dosage is 2 tablespoons per day. Feel free to take Dr. D’s Hemp Seed Oil at any time of day, with or without meals as it is a food itself. Enjoy alone or add it to your favorite soups, salads or shakes! Most people describe the taste as “nutty” or “earthy” however we also have our new natural orange flavour which is becoming increasingly popular. Do not cook with it as high temperatures will destroy the oil’s nutritious properties. You should also refrigerate it after opening.
Hemp Hearts are small seeds, also referred to as Hemp Seed Hearts or Hemp Seeds, with a delicious nutty flavour and are packed with protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fatty acids such as omegas 3&6. What’s unique about Hemp Hearts is the protein content. Proteins serve many vital functions in the body, but their main function is to supply amino acids for the growth and maintenance of healthy tissue. Hemp protein contains all 20 amino acids, including a sufficient supply of the 9 essential ones which our bodies cannot produce (hence the term “essential”). It also lacks a specific type of carbohydrate which is notorious for causing abdominal discomfort and gas.
Hemp Hearts are rich in vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, iron, zinc & B vitamins. The health benefits of Hemp Hearts include brain and nervous system, cardiovascular and immune support. They can also aid in digestion. Hemp seeds provide more omegas compared to flax seeds. Hemp seeds also do not spoil as easily, provide more balanced omegas, and have a richer profile of essential fatty acids.
In case you were wondering, yes, Hemp Seed Oil comes from Hemp Hearts. So, if you’re already using Hemp Seed Oil in your soups, salads and smoothies, you may be wondering if there would be nutritional value added in introducing Hemp Hemps to your diet as well. The answer is: ABSOLUTELY!
The reason is because Hemp Seed Oil is cold pressed from Hemp Seeds, and although the omegas are well preserved in the process, the content of fibre and protein is not. It is important to note that the oil contains a higher, more balanced ratio of omegas compared to the seeds, while the seeds contain a richer profile of fibre and protein. Consuming both daily therefore offers optimal benefit.
Dr. D’s Hemp Seed products are not only gluten-free and vegan, but also pesticide and herbicide free, and are non-GMO.
Enjoy!
*THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS IS STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION OR YOUR GENERAL HEALTH. ALWAYS THOROUGHLY READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELS OF YOUR SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR MEDICATIONS. NOTE THAT THE CONTENT IN THESE BLOGS MAY BECOME OUTDATED AS NEWER RESEARCH IS PUBLISHED.
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The pandemic has been devastating in countless ways worse than the topic I am about to dive into, so I hope it doesn’t come across as insensitive. I am discussing it here to draw attention to issues that may be lingering in the background of your busy life that you may be unaware of, or have thought about but may be thinking you’re the only one…well that is simply untrue!
The whirlwind surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt everywhere- including our busy Sports Injury and Wellness Centre in Thornhill, ON, Canada. With every new lockdown, emergency order or change in provincial restriction, we continue to safely provide chiropractic care and registered massage therapy to patients who confirm that these services truly are essential.
Over the last year I have noticed new trends in aches and pains that can be traced back to the pandemic and the lifestyle changes that have been brought about by it. Here is a short list of tends I have seen (generally speaking, of course!).
1) New (or worsening) neck pain
Patients have been coming in with higher than their usual neck pain intensity, or are experiencing neck pain for the first time in their lives. The most common cause is traced back to stress. Most people have experienced some form of stress because of the pandemic, and many people “carry their stress in their shoulders.” This simply means that tension is causing them to hold their shoulders up towards their ears, which causes certain musculature such as the trapezius to work overtime and eventually become strained. Stress also affects breathing. We tend to breathe more shallowly when stressed and hence do not engage the entire rib cage, leading to overuse of the upper ribs and upper rib musculature, in turn causing neck and/or upper back pain. Lastly, without an office or school desk to work on, patients are hunched over screens for hours on end day in and day out all over their homes, including slouching on their beds or couches which will certainly strain muscles and joints. This is especially true for children and young adults who were suddenly put in front of screens for learning, in addition to their recreational screen time.
2) New (or worsening) low back pain
Similarly to neck pain, patients are coming in with new or worsening low back pain. There are multiple reasons for this which can be traced back to the pandemic as well. First of all, the lack of proper ergonomic home office set ups are forcing people to sit in awkward positions for hours on end without lumbar support. Secondly, strengthening and mobility exercises for the lumbar spine (which help to stabilize the spine and keep the joints lubricated, preventing injury and stiffness) had been slowed down or stopped (due to gym closures, for example).
3) New extremity pain
Once the world started to open back up and people resumed their old physical activities (such as soccer, tennis, golf and hockey), flare ups of old injuries (and brand-new ones!) surfaced. This is largely due to the fact that we went from doing a lot of sitting for months then all of a sudden, without warm-up or slowly building up endurance/strength, we went straight back into our regular activities. Although I certainly appreciate the eagerness to regain fitness, this is a surefire way to cause injury.
4) New foot pain!
The only trend that truly caught me off guard during the pandemic: a rise in foot pain and conditions! I believe this is because we went from being out and about every day wearing shoes (anything from running shoes to heels) to suddenly wearing NONE! All day. Everyday. The support under our feet had been removed- again suddenly- without any chance for our intrinsic feet muscles to build up tolerance or endurance to their brand-new stressors. Although we weren’t partaking in as much physical activity, we were still getting around our homes. Months and months with lack of supportive footwear has caused a host of issues, namely, plantar fasciitis. Moreover, since the feet are the foundation of our joints and spine, I have found that this issue has also instigated strains and sprains in other areas as well, include knee pain and low back pain.
5) Weight gain
Many patients have sadly noted their weight gain since we saw each other last. Stress eating is usually their reasoning but I tend to remind my patients of a few other factors as well. Unfortunately, some people with physically demanding jobs had been forced to stop working during the pandemic (even temporarily) and that sudden decrease in caloric expenditure can be enough to cause weight gain. Of course, the lack of being able to formally work out at the gym or on sports teams is another culprit of weight gain. There is another less obvious factor, however: less commuting. Although less commuting thankfully means less time spent sitting in traffic or on the subway, it also means less walking to the train or walking from the parking lot and up a few flights of stairs, etc. The pandemic also meant no laps around a busy mall and no dancing at a concert or at a wedding. A lot of little ways that we expend calories were removed from our lives, unexpectedly.
We have lost a lot over the last 18 months, that’s for sure. But there is always time to focus on what we have gained. Perhaps more time with loved ones, or time to reorganize your life and set new goals and priorities.
Luckily, if one or more of these trends resonate with you, they can be managed or reversed with some dedication. Start by setting up a proper working station. A few tips include: make sure your screen stays at eye level, with arm rests supporting your elbows at 90 degrees, with both feet flat on the foot. A lumbar support while sitting is usually recommended as well (it can be as simple as a couch cushion on the small of your back). Wear running shoes inside your house. Take breaks to walk around and stretch. Go slow and steady when getting back to sport or fitness, making sure you are taking time for a proper warm up and cool down. Of course, it is best to speak with your healthcare practitioner for more targeted advice regarding your specific condition. Check out our Pain Management collection for products you can purchase to help you with your aches and pains, including Dr. D's Super 7 topical pain relieving (all natural!) roll-on.
Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that the bodies need to develop and function normally. Despite this, micronutrients cannot be produced by the body and are therefore derived from food. Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in nutritious, naturally occurring or minimally processed foods. A growing number of emerging technologies are being applied to maintaining the bioavailability, metabolic function, and health-promoting effects of vitamins through their stability and bioaccessibility in foods.
Every day, the body produces skin, muscle, and bone. It churns out rich red blood that carries nutrients and oxygen to remote outposts, and it sends nerve signals skipping along thousands of miles of brain and body pathways. It also formulates chemical messengers that shuttle from one organ to another, issuing the instructions that help sustain life. But to do all this, the body requires some raw materials. These include at least 30 vitamins, minerals, and dietary components that the body needs but cannot manufacture on its own in sufficient amounts. In general, vitamins and minerals perform a few functions - boosting the immune system, supporting normal development, and helping cells and organs function [1].
IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS
A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" that supplements the diet. A dietary ingredient in a product may be a vitamin, mineral, herbal extract, amino acid, or it may also be an enzyme, a glandular, a tissue, a hormone, or even another metabolite. Extracts and concentrates of dietary supplements are also available, as well as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, and powders. Vitamins and minerals are being depleted day by day due to the current lifestyles. Modern life, lack of exercise, and consumption of processed foods cause a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals. All vitamins and minerals are not perfectly absorbed into the cells when the body is not functioning optimally. Some of them are destroyed in the stomach and intestine, some are excreted back, and some do not enter into the cell. The micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals are often difficult to absorb. To protect the body from certain diseases, vitamin supplements are essential for enhancing the body's function. Stress can also increase the body's need for certain nutrients, which can be obtained through supplements [3]. Additionally, antioxidants or supplements can prevent aging and cellular damage. The ability to perform better, lose fat and gain muscle is improved when consuming more essential nutrients than the body can absorb from an average diet. The body takes most of the nutrients from food. Some nutrients, however, such as B12, are harder to come by. This is especially true for vegans and vegetarians, as some of the nutrients our bodies need only come from animal products.
By consuming supplements, more demanding lifestyles or medical conditions can be met in terms of their nutritional needs. Stress, medical complications, and energetic living can all increase the need for very specific minerals or vitamins. We can also benefit from supplementation when we are eating the wrong type of food. We are experiencing a deep imbalance in our food supply from the use of chemical fertilizers, depleted soils, refining, preservatives and additives. According to USDA tests, spinach had an average iron content of 158 milligrams per 100 grams in 1950[8]. The average amount of iron found in spinach is 2.7 milligrams per 100 grams. It's just not the same as it used to be. There are other cases like this as well. Similar statistics can be found throughout the food supply chain. We can make great strides in correcting these food supply deficiencies by supplementing the diet.
IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN D3
Vitamin D3 is also known as cholecalciferol, a vitamin of the fat-soluble vitamin D group, and it is often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”. During its circulation, it provides a means for calcium and phosphorus to be absorbed into the body, thereby maintaining bone health. This nutrient plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system as well as promoting mood, heart health, and weight loss.
Fig: - the structure of vitamin D3
Vitamin D can be obtained through diet and supplements, and skin produces it after being exposed to sunlight. A chemical reaction is triggered in the skin when ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun hit special vitamin-D receptor cells. This chemical reaction produces vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 can also be used as a natural supplement or as a prescription medication to treat diseases associated with a lack of vitamin D. In nature, it is found in oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel, red meat, egg yolks, milk and milk products and fortified foods such as some fat spreads and cereals [2].
Fig: synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion, adaptive immunity, and cell proliferation while stimulating insulin secretion, innate immunity, and cellular differentiation. Due to its role in immunoregulation, vitamin D3 has been described as having a dual function as a secosteroid hormone for the regulation of calcium homeostasis in the body, as well as a compound that is essential for immune response maintenance. Maintaining a healthy immune system requires plenty of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency weakens the immune system, allowing infections to thrive. This was reported in an article published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine in 2011. Because of this, the authors of this review argue that supplementing with vitamin D may benefit people suffering from autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D has a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of about 15 to 20 micrograms for adults, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Vitamin D is important in regulating calcium levels in the body and maintaining phosphorus levels. These factors play a role in bone health. The intestines need vitamin D to stimulate and absorb calcium and reclaim calcium from the kidneys. Children with rickets, caused by a weakening of the bones due to vitamin D deficiency, have a bow-legged appearance. Likewise, vitamin D deficiency can result in osteomalacia in adults. This condition results in poor bone mass and muscle weakness. Over 53 million people in the United States suffer from osteoporosis as a result of vitamin D deficiency, for which they seek treatment or are at an increased risk.
Researchers have found that people suffering from clinical depression are often deficient in vitamin D. There is no clear evidence as to whether the deficiency contributes to depression or whether depression changes behavior (e.g., diet, time spent outside) and therefore causes the deficiency. Researchers have examined the effect of vitamin D on the brain, and they have found possible mechanisms of action that may shed light on how a deficiency could lead to depression. Increasing vitamin D levels may also help alleviate symptoms, according to research. Researchers published a study in Molecular Psychiatry in 2014 that found low levels of vitamin D in the bodies of participants suffering from depression. Furthermore, depressive symptoms occurred more frequently in people with low levels of vitamin D. According to the researchers who conducted the study, people with depression may benefit from vitamin D supplementation as a cost-effective treatment.
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk are directly related to latitude. A lack of vitamin D3 has been linked to hypertension, heart disease, and congestive heart failure, as well as associated with inflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-10. The effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk were not consistent in two randomized trials. Researchers found that several times each week for three months, UVB radiation reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures by six millimeters Hg in patients with hypertension (as opposed to the general population).
CURRENT ISSUES WITH VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENTS
It is a practical and low-cost method to treat a deficiency of Vitamin D by using oral supplements. Although the development of Vitamin D3 oral administration is limited by its lipophilic nature and low solubility in gastrointestinal fluid, which equates to poor bioavailability. Moreover, the degradation of Vitamin D3 by light, air, and heat should also be considered during manufacturing, storage, and use. In a moderate climate, supplementing with Vitamin D3 should be done every day for most of the year. Therefore, patient compliance could be low. Thus, new Vitamin D formulations are needed, especially those with prolonged release. Vitamin D3 is released from the food supplements and accumulates in micelles produced by bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract. It enters the enterocytes via passive diffusion through an unsaturated mechanism [5]. There are three transmembrane proteins necessary for oral Vitamin D3 absorption in the intestines that primarily perform cholesterol transporter functions. It is then incorporated into chylomicrons, which are activated by the liver and kidneys. Absorption of nutrients is blocked in the intestines when lipids are insufficient [4]. To improve Vitamin D3 bioavailability, it is important to enhance the water solubility [6]. Several studies have been reviewed by Grossmann and Tangpricha (2010) that have evaluated the effects of oil, cellulose, lactose, and ethanol vehicles on the bioavailability of Vitamin D3 in supplements. Vitamin D3 has been demonstrated to have more oral bioavailability and a greater 25(OH)D effect in a vehicle based on oil compared to a powdered (lactose or cellulose-based) or an ethanol-based vehicle [6].
For adults, the standard recommendation for Vitamin D3 is 1000–2000 international units (IU) per day [4]. It is ideal for encapsulation into drug delivery systems because of its high activity (1 IU equals 0.025% of a gram), relatively low daily requirements (25-50 g/day), and high lipophilicity. In addition, most carriers are lipophilic, and in general, the more lipophilic the active, the better encapsulation efficiency, and the lower the unwanted release. Despite the introduction of encapsulated Vitamin D3 in 1993 [8], several disadvantages still exist, preventing the application of Vitamin D3 supplementation and food fortification. In addition, encapsulation technology may involve high temperatures during the preparation, which would reduce the Vitamin D3 activity, or may involve toxic solvents, which could potentially cause adverse side effects in final products. Another disadvantage may be a low loading capacity and incomplete encapsulation that results in little protection against UV exposure due to absorption on the carrier surface [9]. The instability of some delivery systems is also a serious technological issue. There are numerous variations of pH, ionic composition, interactions between ingredients and storage conditions that affect the pH, ionic composition, and preparation methods of food and beverage products.
MAJOR DRAWBACKS OF EXISTING VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENTS
We know this very well - fruits and vegetables are naturally good and contain vitamins and minerals in most bioavailable way. The vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables are always full of polyphenols which not only protect them from degradation but also increases their bioavailability. Dr. D’s conceived this concept and formulated an innovative technology for dietary supplements.
PolyShield technologyTM provides the best sustained delivery system for enhancing vitamin and mineral absorption into the body. Polyphenols are antioxidants present in some plant species and have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Pomegranate polyphenols are used as a shield to encapsulate vitamins and minerals to be delivered directly to the target site. Due to the high stability of the polyphenol matrix of the pomegranate peel, the encapsulated matrix protect vitamins and minerals from the enzymic reactions during metabolism, and the matrix is deactivated in the liver to allow release of the nutrients into the targeted tissues. As a result of the high stability of the PolyShield, vitamins and/or minerals are safely transported through the site where metabolism occurs. The product obtained from this technology has increased absorption capacity and is highly stable [10].
At least one vitamin and mineral are mixed with the polyphenolic matrix and homogenized to allow encapsulation of the vitamin or mineral in the polyphenolic matrix. The shielding protects the core molecule and reduces its interactions with enzymes, enabling consistent and stable delivery of vitamin and mineral active components to the target site. A further advantage of this polyphenol shielding technology is that its molecules can be released slowly over time, or at specific intervals. Therefore, vitamins and minerals are encapsulated within the polyphenolic matrix to provide controlled delivery.
Importance of PolyShield TechnologyTM:
Let’s back track a bit. Vitamin D, commonly referred to as “the sunshine vitamin,” is a vital nutrient as it is essential for many biological processes. For more information on Vitamin D specifically, please click here .
Your body has the fascinating ability to produce vitamin D. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays prompt cholesterol in the skin to synthesize vitamin D. In theory, our bodies would be able to produce enough vitamin D without supplementation, however, for most people this is simply not the case.
Here are the reasons why:
1) How much time are you really spending outdoors in the summer?
It is recommended to be outside everyday during peak UVB times, approximately between 11am and 3pm, for at least half an hour; although it is still not known exactly how long sunlight exposure is required to produce adequate daily levels of vitamin D. Another problem here is that many people are working during those hours and/or may not be dressed properly if they are outdoors during that time (ie. one should be wearing a thin tank top and shorts to maximize skin exposure). Sitting next to a sunny window doesn’t count either as UVB rays are blocked by glass!
2) The Sunscreen Dilemma
If you are lucky enough to enjoy the outdoors that often during the summer with maximal skin exposure, you are (hopefully) wearing sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses because as you know, too much sun can lead to heat stroke, sunburns, skin cancers, accelerated aging and eye damage. All of those protective measures are necessary during sunlight exposure; however, they are limiting the UVB rays from getting to your skin and therefore hindering vitamin D synthesis.
3) Melanin
Melanin determines your natural skin pigment. The more melanin, the darker the skin tone. Melanin is like a natural sunscreen as it absorbs UV rays and therefore protects against sunburns and skin cancers. Therefore, those with more melanin require more time outdoors in order to produce adequate levels of vitamin D (is it estimated anywhere between 30 minutes to 3 hours longer).
4) Climate
The further away you live from the equator, the less exposure you are getting year-round to sunshine. For example, a large portion of Canadians get very limited sun exposure between the months of October and March. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D is able to be stored in the fat cells and liver and the body can use it later on in the event that there is low intake. This has been presented as an argument to forego vitamin D supplementation in the summer. However, I have not been able to find any literature on how long these stores last or how much vitamin D intake would be required to supply those stores throughout the summer months if one were to decide to skip the supplement in the summer. (A side note to this is the consideration that since it is a vitamin that is actively stored by the body, it is more likely to reach toxic levels as opposed to its water-soluble counterparts which are more readily excreted by the body. Please see here for the latest guidance on the specific recommendations of intake requirements and toxicity levels for your particular age.)
5) Age
As we age, the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D through sunlight decreases.
So, there you have it: 5 simple reasons to consider taking your vitamin D supplement throughout the summer.
**Please read and thoroughly follow directions on the labels of your supplements, and always speak with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any supplementation.**
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin found in two forms: K1 and K2. Fat-soluble means it can dissolve in fats and oils, which is why it is absorbed in the body along with fats/oils and is able to remain stored in the body’s fat stores and liver (unlike water-soluble vitamins which dissolve in water only and therefore do not get stored in the body the same way). The main dietary form of Vitamin K is K1 (phylloquinone), found mostly in green leafy vegetables (such as kale, spinach and broccoli) whereas Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is primarily of bacterial origin, present in some animal-based and fermented foods. Because Vitamin K is fat-soluble, it’s important to eat your greens with some fats (such as avocados or hemp seed oil! Learn more about hemp seed oil here.
What does Vitamin K do?
Vitamin K is primarily responsible for heart health and bone health. Specifically, the body requires vitamin K to produce a very important protein, prothrombin, which helps blood to clot. Vitamin K2 also provides both an increase in the bone-building process and a decrease in the bone-loss process making it an important component of overall bone health.
Signs of Vitamin K Deficiency
Important to note here is that the human body’s gut bacteria can produce Vitamin K. This process can be destroyed by antibiotic use, especially long-term use of antibiotics. Therefore, those who are using antibiotics long-term and suffer from a poor appetite may be at risk for deficiency and therefore should speak to their doctor/pharmacist about Vitamin K supplementation.
What the Research Says
There has been a lot of research into the health benefits of Vitamin K2, specifically. This may be because studies have shown that vitamin K2 has a more powerful effect on bone health compared to vitamin K1. In terms of bone health, it has been shown that menaquinone-7 (the predominant form of vitamin K2) stimulates something called osteoblastogenesis (meaning the production of osteoblasts, cells that make bone) and decreases something called osteoclastogenesis (meaning the production of osteoclasts, cells that degrade bone). It has also been shown that the combination of vitamins K and D can significantly increase the total Bone Mineral Density (a measure of how strong your bones are), with a better effect when K2 is used. Another study on postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had similar conclusions, stating that the combined use of vitamins D3 and K2 were useful in increasing Bone Mineral Density in the lumbar spine (in fact, this study found the combination even more protective than vitamin D3, vitamin K2 and calcium supplements alone!). Yet another study (published in October of 2020) suggests that vitamin K2 supplementation may improve bone quality and reduce fracture risk is patients with osteoporosis, potentially even increasing the effectiveness of calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
There is also some research to suggest the important role that K2 plays in heart health. For example, a 2009 study on middle aged men and women found that a higher intake of vitamin K2 was linked with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (whereas there was no association found between K1 and coronary heart disease). Another interesting feature to note about K2 is the protective effect against calcium deposits in the arterial walls. It is widely accepted and beneficial to take calcium in order to promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis. An unfortunate risk of this, however, is that elevated consumption of calcium may increase the risk for heart disease due to the deposit of said calcium into the blood vessels. Vitamin K2 has been found to inhibit this arterial calcification and stiffening. Therefore, an increase intake of vitamin K2 could mean lowering these (sometimes necessary) health risks of calcium supplementation.
Remember- ALWAYS speak to your health care provider to determine your specific benefit and risk analysis before starting or stopping any supplementation! Especially if you are on other medications, such as blood thinners.
Dr. D’s Vitamin D3 plus K2
Because of all the research behind K2, and the combined protective effects of vitamins D and K, we chose to pair the two, vitamins D3 and K2 (menaquinone-7) in our first vitamin supplement. Vitamin D is a vital contributor to overall health. Please see our blog on Vitamin D for more information.
What is so special about this supplement is that it made with Polyshield Technology™- the first of its kind, GLOBALLY. Polyshield Technology™ stems from the pomegranate peel, which research shows is packed with polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that exist in certain plant-based foods and contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. There are many scientific studies demonstrating the health benefits of pomegranate extracts including antibacterial, antiviral, blood lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory properties. The peel accounts for roughly 60% of the pomegranate fruit, and possesses more antioxidant activity than its seeds, juice and pulp.
Polyphenols extracted from the pomegranate peel are used in this shielding technology to protect the vitamins and minerals. The shield formed protects the core molecules and reduces interaction with the enzymatic reactions involved in metabolism. Due to its optimal stability, the shield allows its nutrients to remain protected as they travel through something called First-Pass metabolism, which is breakdown by the liver.
June is Thyroid Month in Canada. Thyroid disease is very common but sometimes not picked up in patients right away. As a result, they experience a variety of symptoms without understanding the underlying cause. As always, at Dr. D’s we aim to raise awareness of all types of health concerns in order to hopefully help improve pain, quality of life and prevent disease in as many lives as possible.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into some facts about the thyroid.
What exactly is the thyroid?
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck. It is responsible for secreting hormones (called T4 and T3) which are essential to growth, metabolism, development and regulation of regular bodily functions. Iodine is the main constituent within the thyroid hormones. We must obtain iodine in our diet in order to be able to produce these hormones, which is why salt and bread in some parts of the world are fortified with iodine. In contrast, too much iodine can cause problems in those who have an overactive thyroid.
You may have heard about goiters in relation to the thyroid gland. A goiter is actually the enlargement of the thyroid and it may be linked to thyroid disease.
Types of Thyroid Disease:
Because the hormones it produces are so essential, disarray in the production or secretion of the thyroid gland can cause a wide variety of symptoms and conditions. Also, it is important to pick up on it along with your medical doctor and get it treated because uncontrolled thyroid disease can result in serious consequences.
There are 2 main presentations of thyroid disease: Hypothyroidism (an UNDER active thyroid) and Hyperthyroidism (an OVER active thyroid).
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:
It is important to note that the symptoms of thyroid disease in each patient may be different depending on several factors, including the underlying CAUSE of the under- or over- active thyroid gland. A person may or may not have all or even any of the symptoms with thyroid disease; and on the other hand, a person may have many of these symptoms without a thyroid issue. This is precisely why thyroid diseases are difficult to detect and awareness of them must be made.
***You must speak with your medical doctor if you suspect you may have a thyroid condition to make sure it is ruled out or to treat it if you do have one.***
Let’s have a look at the underlying causes of hypo- and hyper- thyroidism.
Causes of Thyroid Disease
Autoimmune Disorders
An autoimmune disease is when the immune system mistakenly attacks normal body tissue, as if it is some sort of threat. These are the most common causes of thyroid illness.
1) Graves’ Disease
With this autoimmune disease, the thyroid gets tricked by something called the Thyroid Stimulating Antibody, which looks similar to the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (a healthy hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid to produce T4 and T3). This results in excessive production of thyroid hormones and therefore, HYPERTHYROIDISM. Graves’ disease is fairly common, affecting 1 in 100. Graves’ disease may undergo times of remission, but it is most of the time a lifelong condition which needs to be continually monitored and treated with medications to suppress the thyroid function within a safe range.
2) Hashimoto’s Disease
Hashimoto’s is even more prevalent than Graves’ Disease. It is the opposite of Graves’ as it actually leads to the destruction of thyroid cells and eventual failure of the thyroid gland, leading to HYPOTHYROIDISM. It is due to a dysfunctional immune response whereby inappropriate antibodies bind to the gland and cause inflammation.
Thyroid Nodules and Thyroid Cancer
A nodule is a growth of abnormal tissue. Nodules of the thyroid are quite commonly cysts which may be benign or malignant (ie. cancerous). This is why they are always investigated/biopsied. The majority of thyroid cancers have a positive prognosis when treated. Once again, it is important to speak with your medical doctor with concerns about thyroid illness.
Turmeric and Autoimmune Disease
A fascinating fact about turmeric is that it can stimulate an immune response when necessary, but it also has been shown to have immunosuppressive effects. Why would we want to suppress an immune response, you ask? Because like so much else in life, too much of a good thing can often lead to bad. There are many diseases that arise when the immune system mistakenly overreacts- this is the basis of autoimmune disease. Other examples of autoimmune disease includes Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohn’s Disease. Essentially, turmeric seems to possess a natural genius; knowing when and how to stimulate the immune system when needed, yet suppressing it when it is being overdriven.
Read more about Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric on our blog entitled Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric: Whole Root Nutrition
A common source of confusion we see in practice is between two common types of arthritis: osteo- and rheumatoid.
Perhaps the easiest way to explain the distinction is to separate the differences into categories:
Causes
Osteoarthritis: A Degenerative Joint Disorder |
Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Autoimmune Disorder |
This is a breakdown of the cartilage that protects the joints. Cartilage is important as it allows the bones of the joint to move easily against each other. Its breakdown causes the bones to approximate and eventually rub together. This leads to inflammation, pinching of nerves and other structures, pain and lack of mobility (stiffness). |
An autoimmune disease is when the immune system mistakenly attacks normal body tissue, as if it is some sort of threat. In the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, the body mistakenly thinks the lining around the joints (synovial fluid) is a threat (like a virus, for example) and attacks it. This causes inflammation, pain, lack of mobility and destruction of the joint that can lead to deformity. |
Risk Factors:
Osteoarthritis: “Wear and tear” |
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Spontaneous |
|
|
Symptoms:
Osteoarthritis: Localized |
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diffuse |
Pain is limited to the affected joints (overall bodily symptoms are uncommon). Stiffness is usually worse in the mornings or after inactivity. Pain is asymmetrical: can have pain in both knees but one is usually worse than the other |
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a full-body disease. As a result, may not only affect the joints but can also cause lung, heart and eye issues. Can also be accompanied by:
Pain is symmetrical: experienced on both body parts (ie. knees) at the same time.
|
Both experience pain, stiffness and inflammation around the joints.
Treatment
Osteoarthritis |
Rheumatoid Arthritis |
Normally, anti-inflammatories are prescribed in both cases but in RA, the treatment may also involve immunosuppressants to help stop the body from attacking the joints. Conservative care such as chiropractic and massage therapy along with exercise and supplements such as turmeric can also help in the management of these conditions. |
A little more about turmeric. Turmeric has been associated with the following health benefits:
Turmeric has been shown to support natural pain relief:
Turmeric has been associated with helping to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with a variety of health conditions, such as arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sports pain and many other painful conditions.
Turmeric has been shown to reduce inflammation:
Part of your body’s immune response, inflammation is how your body protects itself and starts the healing process after an infection or injury. Without an inflammatory response, infections, injuries (even minor ones), and any damage to tissue would not be able to heal. However, chronic (in other words, maladaptive or long-standing) inflammation has been associated with the development of several diseases over time and turmeric’s chemical properties have been shown to help reduce such chronic inflammation. Additionally, turmeric has been associated with preventing the onset of chronic disease and even preventing inflammation from becoming chronic. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory medicine.
Turmeric has been associated with Arthritis support:
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a painful autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorder that causes inflammation of the joints and can lead to mobility issues. Osteoarthritis is another common type of arthritis. It is not an autoimmune disorder; however, inflammation plays a role in this condition as well. The main symptoms of arthritis are stiffness, swelling, redness and joint pain, which typically get worse with age. Turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are believed to remedy oxidative stress, which has been associated with the degradation of cartilage in both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Dr. D's turmeric curcumin supplement, Ultra BioTurmeric, has been clinically proven in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to significantly reduce inflammatory blood markers and pain reports in patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis?! With a dose as low as 2 turmeric capsules per day! Check out the published study here.
Inflammation is the immune system’s normal response to injury, toxins or infection. It is a defence mechanism, when all is well. Short-term, or acute, inflammation is beneficial when it is under control, however, inflammation that persists longer is known as chronic inflammation. What we are exposed to in our modern lifestyle and our choices like smoking, a high intake of processed foods, chronic stress, alcohol, and environmental pollutants actually increase the systemic inflammation in our bodies as these are all sources of toxins that our immune system continually tries to fight off.
Chronic, persistent or long-term inflammation lasts for periods of months to years. Generally, the extent of chronic inflammation can vary, but it may lead to things like tissue destruction and scarring, reshaping of healthy or normal tissue, changes in gene expression, and much more. Briefly put, it leads to disease.
Please refer to our blog entitled All About Chronic Inflammation for more information on this critical topic.
It is clear that chronic inflammation is bad for our health. But how do we go about reducing this inflammation and give our bodies the best chance against developing disease, or managing it if disease is already present?
Here are some habits to BREAK in order to lead an anti-inflammatory lifestyle:
1) AVOID REACHING FOR:
2) SMOKING- In case you needed another reason to quit, smoking is linked to inflammation in the bloodstream, putting you at increased risk of cardiovascular events.
3) STRESS, STRESS, STRESS- The connection between stress and inflammation is quite complicated. Simply put, stress disrupts the delicate balance of the immune system, making it less apt at defending you from illness and disease. It is important to try to decrease stress in your life, as best as you can.
Here are some habits to CREATE in order to lead an anti-inflammatory lifestyle:
1) EAT MORE FISH- Aim for twice a week. Fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines are loaded with powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acids, omega 3s.
2) SNACK ON NUTS AND SEEDS- Eat about a handful of walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios or almonds a day. They are high in good fats, protein and fiber and therefore may contribute to weight loss because they keep you nice and full.
3) REACH FOR FRUITS AND VEGGIES- Especially darker or vibrant coloured fruits and veggies as they contain more inflammation-fighting properties. It is recommended to consume 9 servings of fruits and veggies per day. One serving is equal to 1 cup of most veggies and fruits or 2 cups of the (raw) leafy green variety.
4) DON’T PASS ON THE BEANS- Beans, particularly red kidney beans and pinto beans, are loaded with fibre and phytonutrients, which may decrease CRP (an inflammation marker in the blood).
5) WHOLE GRAINS OVER WHITE BREAD- Aim for at least 3 ounces of whole grains (one ounce is equal to ½ cup cooked brown rice or one slice of whole-wheat bread). These grains are full of fibre, which not only keep you full but can lower that CRP marker again.
6) GET MORE SLEEP! We all know sleep is good for us. But why? Well, it is largely due to the fact that our immune system is hard at work; helping to repair injury, wounds or illness from the day. This is an example of positive inflammation as in those who have “healthy” sleep (approx. 8 hours a night) the inflammation fades back to normal levels before waking. However, in those who do not get enough sleep, the inflammation carries over into the day as the self-regulating system that shuts it off, fails.
7) EXERCISE! Yet another obvious pointer, but here is why. Inactivity has been shown to INCREASE inflammatory markers in the bloodstream. On the other hand, individuals who exercise not only have lower levels of inflammatory markers, but they also have an increase of anti-inflammatory biomarkers in their bodies! Click here to check out our blog on Moving Well as an Older Adult for guidelines and tips on how to get started.
8) WEIGHT LOSS- Studies show that losing weight decreases inflammation in the body. The good news is, performing the other pointers on this list should help with this category.
9) ADD A FULL-SPECTRUM TURMERIC SUPPLEMENT TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE- Turmeric is an ancient spice that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine; a natural anti-inflammatory medicine. Learn about why a full-spectrum turmeric supplement is so important on our blog Dr. D’s Ultra BioTurmeric: Whole Root Nutrition.
Vitamin D is famous for its critical role in healthy bone development and maintenance, but it is also an immune supporter and inflammation reducer. Vitamin D comes in two forms; vitamin D2(ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Humans obtain vitamin D3 from a few animal-sourced foods and sunlight. Vitamin D2 comes mainly from plant-based sources.
It is hard to naturally obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from food alone, and considering our long winters and lifestyle factors which keep us from being outdoors, supplementation of vitamin D is highly recommended.
What is the difference between Vitamin D3 and Vitamin D2 supplements? You may have noticed that vitamin D supplements come in either form. While there has been some debate over which is better to consume as a supplement, research supports that D3 tends to raise blood levels of the vitamin more and remains in the bloodstream longer than D2. Plus, it seems to be preferred among experts as it is the form that is already found naturally within the body.
Wonder which foods naturally contain vitamin D? Here is a quick list-
As you can see, few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, which is why a lot of food is fortified with the vitamin (like orange juice, milk, and cereals).
Without enough vitamin D in the body, calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood start to decrease, which leads to calcium being leeched out of the bones to help maintain levels within the blood. This can lead to rickets in children and osteoporosis (fragile bones) in adults.
Some common signs and symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include:
🔹 Fatigue
🔹 Slow wound healing
🔹 Low bone mineral density
🔹 Frequent or recurrent infections or illness
🔹 Chronic bone and/or muscle pain
🔹 Depressed mood
🔹 Hair loss
🔹 Dry eye
Always remember that too much of a good thing can also be harmful. For example, too much vitamin D can lead to calcium deposits throughout the body, which can lead to calcification of the kidney and other organs including the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
Click here to find out much vitamin D you require and what amount would be considered dangerous for you!
It is important to ensure you are getting adequate Vitamin D in your diet, as the benefits are plenty, including:
🔹 Strengthens Bones and Muscles
🔹 Supports Immune System
🔹 Reduces Inflammation
🔹 Supports Oral Health
🔹 Supports a Healthy Pregnancy
🔹 Can help battle depression (particularly, seasonal depression)
🔹 May reduce the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis
Looking for a vitamin D3 supplement? Read all about why you should pay attention to Dr. D’s Vitamin D3 plus K2 powered by the REVOLUTIONARY Polyshield TechologyTM on our blog here ... including the impressive results of the product’s very own pilot study!
What are Hemp Hearts?
Hemp Hearts are small seeds, also referred to as Hemp Seed Hearts or Hemp Seeds, with a delicious nutty flavour and are packed with protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fatty acids such as omegas 3&6.
Right off the bat I am going to mention one important point: Hemp Hearts do not contain any THC or CBD, so there is no psychoactive component to these nutrient-packed small seeds.
What’s unique about Hemp Hearts is the protein content. Proteins serve many vital functions in the body, but their main function is to supply amino acids for the growth and maintenance of healthy tissue. Hemp protein contains all 20 amino acids, including a sufficient supply of the 9 essential ones which our bodies cannot produce (hence the term “essential”). It also lacks a specific type of carbohydrate which is notorious for causing abdominal discomfort and gas.
Hemp Hearts are rich in:
▪️ Vitamin E
▪️ Magnesium
▪️ Phosphorous
▪️ Potassium
▪️ Iron
▪️ Zinc
▪️ B vitamins
Health Benefits of Hemp Hearts include:
▪️ Brain and nervous system support
▪️ Cardiovascular support
▪️ Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
▪️ Improves skin conditions
▪️ Provides immune support
▪️ Aids digestion
In case you were wondering, yes, Hemp Seed Oil comes from Hemp Hearts. So, if you’re already using Hemp Seed Oil in your soups, salads and smoothies, you may be wondering if there would be nutritional value added in introducing Hemp Hemps to your diet as well. The answer is: ABSOLUTELY!
The reason is because Hemp Seed Oil is cold pressed from Hemp Seeds, and although the omegas are well preserved in the process, the content of fibre and protein is not. It is important to note that the oil contains a higher, more balanced ratio of omegas compared to the seeds, while the seeds contain a richer profile of fibre and protein. Consuming both daily therefore offers optimal benefit.
* (Excuse the side note but if you are taking Hemp Seed Oil, please know that it must be refrigerated after opening and should not be used to cook with as high temperatures destroy the nutrient content.)*
If you are looking to buy Hemp Hearts, here are some reasons you should consider Dr. D’s Hemp Hearts!
1) Guaranteed freshness. We offer guaranteed freshness as our Hemp Hearts are only processed on demand, when ordered. Until then the hearts remain in the hull(shell), preventing exposure and oxidation, in order to preserve the integrity, taste and nutritional value of the final product.
2) We only use the highest standard of cultivating protocols. We use UV-C lights instead of the classic irradiation method to prevent contamination as the classic method damages the enzymes and proteins of the seeds. The use of UV-C lights to eliminate pathogens/bacteria is considered to be the safest method to eliminate pathogens while maintaining the integrity of the crop, producing only the highest of quality seeds: a live food rich in enzymes and proteins. This allows for optimal absorption and nutritional benefit.
3) Our traceability program. Traceability is a method which tracks a product from production to consumption. It allows transparency across the platforms from the farms to your kitchen table and helps to ensure standards and regulations are upheld. Having a sound traceability program therefore improves food safety control as issues can easily be detected and rectified. See our blog on our traceability program of turmeric for more information on this topic.
4) We are home-grown! We only use Canadian-grown Hemp Seeds and never outsource our seeds from outside of Canada. We are Health Canada Licensed and our seeds are grown and processed by approved cultivars in Peterborough, Ontario!
Dr. D’s Hemp Hearts are Raw Shelled and Ready to Eat! Simply sprinkle on yogurt, soups and salads or add to dips and smoothies for an easy way to get your daily dose of protein, fibre and vitamins! Enjoy!
Menopause occurs because the body slows down the production of two important hormones produced by the ovaries: estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen controls the menstrual cycle and is important in childbearing. It also plays a role in protecting bone health and keeps cholesterol under somewhat of a control. Progesterone is especially important in the early stages of pregnancy as it keeps the uterine lining optimal for implantation of the fertilized egg. It also plays an important role in regulation of the menstrual cycle.
It would only make sense that as these hormones start to decline in production, many things start to change in the female body. During the process, the body’s metabolism changes as well, meaning that it begins to use energy differently. As a consequence, fat cells change and women can experience weight gain more easily. The decline in estrogen can also cause bones to become less dense and therefore can cause an increase in fracture risk.
Menopause can also be induced by a hysterectomy or surgical removal of the ovaries and with the abrupt stop in hormone production, symptoms occur immediately.
Common symptoms of menopause include:
There is some good news. Research suggests that curcumin, the most powerful medicinal property in turmeric, can help women who are experiencing some of the unpleasant effects that come with the hormonal shift during menopause. The following is a brief synopsis of what the literature is saying on the topic.
Curcumin and Hot Flashes/Night Sweats:
In a randomized controlled trial (a high-quality study), 93 post-menopausal women were studied. The first treatment group received oral capsules of curcumin (500 mg), the second treatment group received oral tablets of vitamin E (200 IU/day), and the third group (control) received placebo twice a day for eight weeks. The participants completed the hot flash checklist (which assessed their symptoms) one week before the study, and 4 weeks and 8 weeks after it. The first significant effect of curcumin on hot flashes was seen after just four weeks. The results showed that curcumin supplementation taken at that dosage and frequency significantly reduced hot flashes in post-menopausal women. (In case you’re wondering, the women in the Vitamin E treatment group also experienced a decrease in hot flashes, but not until the 8-week mark).
Curcumin and Metabolism (Weight Control):
Curcumin’s potential to improve lipid (fat) metabolism changes associated with hormone deficiency in menopause has already been shown in animal studies. Abdominal fat and total blood cholesterol were lower in rats without ovaries who received curcumin treatment compared to those who did not receive curcumin treatment. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (which just means, a high-quality review of high-quality studies on human) concluded that curcumin intake among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders was correlated with a significant reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight (amongst other things). Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase your risk for things like diabetes, heart disease and stroke and includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels and abdominal fat. Although these studies are not specific to weight gain due to menopause or hormonal changes, the positive changes that curcumin played in those individuals who struggle with weight is significant enough to hypothesize that it would give promise to any individual experiencing challenges with their weight.
Curcumin, Sleep and Mood Changes
Serotonin and dopamine play a role in sleep regulation and are considered “happy hormones”. Unfortunately, their production is also decreased as estrogen is deprived during menopause, so sleep difficulties and mood changes are 2 symptoms of menopause which seem to be related.
There have been a few animal studies looking into the effect curcumin has on sleep, for example, in one study researchers discovered that curcumin protected 72-hour sleep-deprived mice from the symptoms of sleep deprivation. A randomized controlled trial in humans found turmeric to be an effective and safe treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in those without suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders. Again, although these study subjects did not experience hormonal-induced changes, one can hypothesize that the positive effects on mood via curcumin supplementation will also be found in those suffering mood changes due to hormonal shifts.
Overall, more research is needed to confirm the effects on turmeric and menopausal symptoms, but preliminary data definitely suggests its benefits.