Health Tips

Many people are concerned that their bodies build up toxic levels of nasty substances and have to be periodically “cleansed” or “detoxed” to avoid negative health consequences 1. For the most part, this is completely untrue! There are only two noteworthy exceptions: a build-up of heavy metals such as mercury or lead which can be…

DHEA, or dihydroepiandosterone, is an often-overlooked hormone when it comes to aging. Its secretion begins to decrease after the age of 30, and has diminished by 60% by age 55. Most of the body’s DHEA comes from the adrenal glands, with the remainder coming from either the ovaries in women or testicles in men. There…

Most people know that melatonin is important for sleep, but did you know it is also an important anti-cancer hormone? That’s right! Melatonin is critical for Natural Killer cells surveillance of cancerous cells1. Production of melatonin declines as we age such that by age 40, we have only half the levels we had at age…

Many, if not most, of my patients will admit that stress is playing a significant role in their health. Some people tell me there’s only two times when they feel stress: daytime and night-time. Others tell me they get up in the morning and greet their partner with: “Good morning! Let the stress begin!” As…

There is a particular anti-aging molecule found in every one of your cells, called glutathione. It is the body’s most powerful anti-oxidant, manufactured in all of our cells but particularly important in the liver. People who are most physically active have the highest levels, and this is directly linked to having fewer illnesses1. You may…

Thyroid is a very important metabolic hormone. The levels of this hormone tend to slowly decline after the age of 40, but can certainly decline earlier due to excess stress, nutritional deficiencies, or if one’s own immune system develops antibodies to their thyroid. As well, many processed foods (bread, pasta, sports drinks) contain bromine which…

It has been said that chronic inflammation is both the cause and the effect of the diseases of aging. This is because inflamed tissues produce large amounts of “free radicals” which cause DNA damage. Constant exposure to inflammation reduces our cells’ ability to repair themselves, leading to tissue breakdown and even cancer. Acute inflammation, on…

An apple is an apple, right?  Wrong!  Many people don’t realize how much commercial agriculture has changed over the years.  New pesticides and fertilizers have been introduced, and ground never lies fallow so soil becomes depleted of nutrients.  I’m not even going to touch on the GMO controversy here.  Sure, the government has outlined “safe”…

Chances are, you know someone with dementia.  It is devastating to watch a loved one gradually lose their mental capacity as memory fails, independence is lost, and personality changes.  Currently more than half a million Canadians suffer from Alzheimer’s-type dementia, and as the population ages this number is expected to over the next thirty years.  A…