Read on if you are anti-antacids...

I am continually amazed by how important one's gastrointestinal functioning can impact their overall health.  Unfortunately, I am also continually amazed by the mismanagement of gastrointestinal concerns, which tends to create even more health problems somewhere down the line.

More specifically, it almost seems as though antacid medications are being dispensed like it were candy and this may likely be creating more problems than it is treating.  If someone is having symptoms of reflux or burning in their stomach/esophagus, it is immediately assumed that they are over-producing stomach acid.  It is possible to over-produce stomach acid, but it is actually quite a rare occurrence.  In fact, it is much more common to find that these concerns may be a result of under-production of stomach acid and/or poor timing of stomach acid production. 

If your reflux/indigestion is resulting from under-production of stomach acid, then antacid medications (designed to shut down stomach acid production) will cause you to be severely deficient in stomach acid, and this is where further health complications can arise.  Adequate stomach acid is very important for you to digest your food and to allow you to absorb key nutrients, especially iron, calcium, and B-vitamins.  Adequate stomach acid also prevents infectious organisms from colonizing the entirety of our gastrointestinal tract, because these organisms cannot survive in such an acidic environment.

Therefore, inadequate stomach acid levels can directly lead to both colonization ("dysbiosis") of the gastrointestinal tract with pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and fungi...as well as deficiencies of vitamins and minerals that are crucial for optimum cellular and physiological  functioning.  In many cases, antacid medications may provide short-term relief, but will commonly make a problem much worse.  If you are using antacid medications, our Newmarket Naturopathic Clinic can assess your level of stomach acid production, help heal and repair any damage to gastric lining and also assess mineral and vitamin deficiencies and/or dysbiosis resulting from these medications.


Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, Ontario
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com

Colon cancer: early detection is the key.

If you are experiencing symptoms of abdominal pain, change in bowel movement consistency and frequency, blood in the stool, mucous in the stool, getting screened to rule out colon cancer is a good idea so that you can detect any polyps or cancerous changes early.

If you are 50 years of age and older, you should be screened for colon cancer regardless of experiencing those symptoms mentioned above or not.  After screening, you will be given instructions on how to carry out screening in the years to come that is best suited for you.  Screening for colon cancer involves colonoscopy, which is very effective for detecting cancerous and precancerous lesions in the colon and rectum.

Colon cancer is the 4th most common cancer in Canada, but it is the 2nd highest killer amongst all other types of cancer in this country.  With proper prevention and screening methods, it is very likely that we can drastically reduce the incidence of colon cancer.  One interesting finding is that the incidence of colon cancer, as a percentage of the population, is actually greater in Canada than in the United States.  There are some theories as to why this discrepancy exists (eg. Vitamin D status), but there are no conclusive reasons for this.

I encourage all of you to have proper screening methods carried out, if necessary, because early detection is essential.  If you would like to learn more about how Naturopathic Medicine can help you work towards cancer prevention, please feel free to contact me at my office (contact details below).

Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com

Can my symptoms be related to heavy metal toxicity?

There are more and more people entering the doctor's office with seemingly unexplainable symptoms.  These symptoms can vary from fatigue to weight gain to neurological symptoms, and they seem to come about out of the blue because there are no clear causes.  The doctor will perform what seems like a very thorough analysis and will not come up with anything.

Heavy metal toxicity is becoming increasingly prevalent in our society and is a very common underlying cause of a wide array of conditions and/or seemingly mysterious symptoms.  There are lots of heavy metals that we can be exposed to on a daily basis, depending on where you live, where you work, what materials you come in contact with at work/home, what type of foods you eat, where those foods come from, what type of  drinking water you use, etc.  All of these factors play a role in your total exposure to heavy metals that can include aluminum, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, arsenic, barium, and more.

These metals can deposit in different areas of the body and can affect different physiological functions (eg. disrupting enzymatic reactions, hormonal actions, neurological functioning).  Depending on what functions are affected, there can be a wide array of symptoms that manifest.

The good news is that these heavy metals can be detected quite easily using specialized lab testing.  Once certain metals are detected, we can then work towards both decreasing your exposure to these metals and pull or chelate these metals from where they are being stored in your body.  If you are experiencing symptoms that seem unexplainable according to preliminary medical analysis, heavy metal toxicity may be a possible cause.  If you are interesting in testing for these heavy metals, I encourage you to schedule a visit with me at Newmarket Naturopathic.

Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com

How does diabetes begin to affect the eyes, nerves, and kidneys?

This is a great question as diabetes is a growing health concern in our society that can affect any age group.  Many people know diabetes is a serious medical condition and are informed that it involves elevated blood sugar levels; however, many people are unaware as to how unpleasant this condition can become as a result of chronically high blood sugar levels.  Unfortunately, most people find this out the hard way.

Aside from the acute conditions that can result from diabetes, there are also some serious long-term consequences of this condition.  Over time, diabetes will begin to damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys. 

 When diabetes starts to affect the eyes, this is known as “diabetic retinopathy”.  This condition can eventually lead to significant visual impairment.  When diabetes damages the nerves it is known as “diabetic neuropathy”.  This can include loss of sensation, numbness, and also burning or prickling sensations that may be mild or very painful.  A large number of diabetic foot amputations result from this neuropathy.  Diabetes is the leading cause of renal disease and this is known as “diabetic nephropathy”. 

One of the main reasons why these areas of the body are targeted in diabetes is because these 3 tissues lack a specific enzyme.  When other tissues experience a high level of glucose, they will use a special enzyme to convert glucose.  When these 3 tissues experience high blood glucose levels, the glucose will not be converted and will build up in the form of “sorbitol”.  This sorbitol then gets into the cells of the eyes, nerves, and kidneys.  Once this happens these cells begin to swell and become damaged.  When this occurs, there is lots of oxidative damage as well because antioxidants will pour out of these cells.  When enough of these cells become damaged, the tissues themselves become less able to carry out their functions. 

There are some medications that are aimed at addressing these complications; however, these medications may be very ineffective or they may have significant side effects associated with them.  Fortunately, there are many natural treatments that can effectively manage these complications.  If you would like to find out more, you can call or email us or you can visit our Naturopath Newmarket website.

Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com

Should I supplement with flax oil or fish oil?

There are certain fats that our bodies need to carry out many functions; unfortunately, our bodies cannot manufacture these fats from scratch and so we must obtain these fats from our diet. These fats are essential for good health hence “essential fatty acids” or “EFAs” for short.
The EFAs are divided into two categories, the Omega-6 EFAs and the Omega-3 EFAs. Both of these classes of EFAs are very important; however, our typical North American diet already includes plenty of Omega-6 EFAs, therefore, more emphasis is placed on obtaining EFAs from the Omega-3 category.

The image below is the Omega-3 pathway.

As you can see, flaxseed oil is rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid, which must undergo several conversions before ultimately becoming EPA/DHA. However, humans are not great at making these conversions, so we end up with very little EPA/DHA.

The EPA & DHA are the most useful EFAs in the body- wouldn’t it be amazing if we could obtain the EPA/DHA directly, without having make all these conversions? We can!

Fish oils supply us with EPA & DHA directly, without any additional steps. Please consult with your Naturopathic Doctor before supplementing with fish oils for proper dosage recommendations.


Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com

Can you handle the (blood) pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) affects one in every five Canadians and is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. Hypertension has been called the “silent killer” because it occurs without any symptoms. The good news is there are many things you can do naturally to help lower your blood pressure.

“Blood pressure” represents the resistance of the blood flowing through the arteries each time the heart beats. Normal blood pressure is 120 (systolic)/80 (diastolic) and high blood pressures are divided into 4 classes (borderline, mild, moderate, and severe). Blood pressure may normally be elevated during stress or physical activity, but in a person with hypertension, their blood pressure may be elevated even at rest. Dietary and lifestyle changes along with nutritional supplementation can successfully reduce blood pressure in those with borderline to moderate hypertension and prevent the need for a host of blood pressure-lowering medications.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I typically find that hypertension must be addressed using a multi-faceted approach since this condition has multiple causative factors. Here are some heart healthy tips you can implement right now that will have a positive impact on your blood pressure:

Reduce excess weight – obesity causes your body to become desensitized to insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels, which can damage arteries and lead to atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.

Get moving! – exercise is an amazing way to de-stress, strengthen your heart, lose weight, improve your mood, and more. Walking is an easy way to get started, but you can do whatever you enjoy, make it fun!

De-stress – Stress hormones can cause your blood pressure to rise and can lead to atherosclerosis over time. Yoga, meditation, journaling, and exercise are great options for de-stressing.

No coffee – Your coffee is doing you more harm than good. Caffeine can impair your blood sugar regulation for hours and releases stress hormones that will raise your blood pressure. The more you feel you can’t do without coffee, the more you should be abstaining from it.

Garlic and Onions – Sulfur-containing compounds in garlic and onions have been shown to have blood pressure lowering effects. Eat lots of these and your body will love you for it...although others might not.

“Stalk” up on celery – Studies show that one of the compounds contained in celery may have blood pressure lowering abilities. If you have high blood pressure, celery should quickly become your favourite vegetable.

More fish – Cold water fish (halibut, tuna, salmon, mackerel, herring) 3 or more times per week can work wonders for cardiovascular health, including blood pressure. Consult your Naturopathic Doctor if you would also like to add a fish oil supplement.

Hawthorn – This herbal medicine, also known as Crataegus, is very well-known for its ability to improve cardiovascular health overall. It is known to lower blood pressure through its diuretic actions as well as its tonifying effects on the vascular system. Consult your Naturopathic Doctor before using any herbal medicines.

Adopting these changes mentioned above is a fantastic way to begin taking control of your blood pressure and cardiovascular health. There are plenty more naturopathic recommendations that may be very helpful and, if you are looking to reduce your blood pressure for good, at Newmarket Naturopathic Health Centre we are able to provide you with a more comprehensive treatment plan.

Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com

Real weight loss begins with hormones.

Every summer, new weight loss schemes rush onto the scene making many claims and promises. This summer is no different, and many people are planning to exercise more and follow the newest fad diet. Why is it that these diets often fail even when their regimens are strictly adhered to? Let’s get a better understanding of this problem before we discuss its causes. Obesity is the accumulation of excess body fat such that it has an adverse effect on health. It remains a growing health concern and is a risk factor for many diseases. In fact, 23 % of Canadian adults are considered “obese” and 49 % are considered “overweight” (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/).

While many isolate genetic predisposition as the culprit, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Other causes include sedentary lifestyles, over-consumption of foods of poor nutritional value, underlying medical conditions and hormonal imbalances. Exercise is the most crucial aspect of any weight loss plan and is the best medicine for a healthy lifestyle. Exercise will burn calories, stabilize blood sugar levels, improve mood, reduce stress, and encourage detoxification. Consistently performing cardiovascular as well as resistance exercises will yield the best outcomes. There is now an abundance of information regarding dietary regimens and many people feel overwhelmed. Dietary books are created for the masses, not specifically for you, and so it may work for some but not all. Everyone is created differently and so our dietary plans must be tailored to our specific needs.

Achieving hormonal balance is such an important aspect of any weight loss program, but is often overlooked. When hormonal imbalance exists, it is nearly impossible to lose weight effectively and maintain a healthy body weight. Insulin, cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones control blood sugar levels, body fat storage, metabolic rate, and energy levels. These hormones all act in concert, and so one imbalance will affect the whole system. Cortisol is arguably the most important hormone for weight loss because it profoundly affects all other hormones. Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands, secreted during times of stress to increase blood sugar levels. Cortisol elevation is beneficial in acute stressful situations; however, chronic cortisol elevation becomes detrimental. Chronic cortisol elevation eventually results in elevated insulin secretion, poor thyroid hormone function, and decreased production of estrogen and testosterone. This imbalance favours increased body fat storage, making your diet and exercise efforts obsolete.

Any weight loss plan that overlooks hormonal imbalance is incomplete as it is an important factor in obesity. At our Newmarket Naturopathic Clinic these hormonal imbalances can be identified through a health history and lab tests and hormonal balance can be restored naturally through personalized dietary changes, exercise, herbal medicines and nutritional supplementation.

Yours in health,

Dr. Michael Morsillo, B.Sc., N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Nature's Emporium
16655 Yonge St.
Newmarket, ON
905-898-1844
www.drmorsillo.com