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Wondering What Supplements to Take While Pregnant?

3/20/2019

Wondering what vitamins or supplements are safe to take in pregnancy? I’ll share the supplements I’m currently taking at 21 weeks pregnant in my 4th pregnancy. Most of these I was actually taking before I became pregnant. Some other supplements I was taking pre-pregnancy I have discontinued and will resume taking post pregnancy. Also I may add in some other things as my pregnancy progresses if new symptoms arise such as heartburn etc. I will share all of those in future posts! Please note this all specific to my needs and not necessarily what every women should be taking. Your needs and doses may vary depending on you...that’s the beauty of individualized naturopathic medicine :)

Because I have a history of pre eclampsia in my first pregnancy, I put a strong emphasis on high blood pressure prevention in my pregnancies.

CoQ10- Coenzyme Q10 has been shown at 200mg from week 20 on to be preventative of pre eclampsia and is overall very important for cardiovascular health and cell energy.

Fish oil- omega 3’s are very anti-inflammatory and also can help maintain healthy blood pressure levels among a whole host of other health benefits. DHA, a component of fish oil is also super important for baby’s brain and neurological development.

Magnesium bisglycinate- magnesium helps with muscle relaxation (for those nasty leg cramps that can happen further along in pregnancy) also helps with sleep, anxiety and reducing blood pressure (my overall favourite mineral).

B complex- The B vitamins are so important for every reaction that happens in the body. Bonus: B6 can help with nausea which really helped me in the first trimester, also a B complex will contain some folic acid (B9) which is important for baby’s spine and prevention of spina bifida.

Probiotic- Probiotics help with immunity and digestion. They lay the foundation for gut bacteria. During pregnancy our immune system is suppressed so we don’t attack baby thus other opportunistic infections such as yeast can overgrow and a probiotic can help keep this under control.

Folic acid- as mentioned above folic acid is important for baby’s spine and nervous system development and prevention of spina bifida. It is best to take folic acid in its active form MTHFR because then your body doesn’t have to do the converting of it and it is more easily absorbed.

Vitamin D- Vitamin D is a hormone that is really important for mood, bone health and immunity as well as a number of other bodily functions. Most North Americans are low in vitamin D and it is worth getting tested to see where your levels are at.

Echinacea- This is my go to herb if I feel like I’m coming down with a cold or flu. It helps to shorten the duration of sickness as well as prevent getting sick. It is one of the safest herbs to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding so it has been my go to through my previous 3 pregnancies as well as this one and throughout nursing. Needless to say I’ve gone through quite a few bottles in the last 8 years

HAD- This is a homeopathic adrenal support. It is known that the adrenal glands take a hard hit during pregnancy due to the demanding physical and emotional stress a pregnancy can bring for mom. Since the safety of adatopgenic herbs (herbs that we use to treat and support the adrenal glands) is not always known I choose to take a homeopathic (energetic medicine) during pregnancy and even at the beginning of nursing before changing to an herbal formula again once baby is a bit older.

Whey Essential All in One- complete protein- this protein powder saved me through all the nausea and vomiting. I just mixed it with ice and cashew milk and I found it soothed my nausea. Most women find carbs are their go to to help with nausea but in actual fact it is protein that can help relieve the nausea and keep the stomach feeling full longer. I take it daily after my workout to help with muscle repair and energy. This particular protein powder also contains a complete multi vitamin thus eliminating my need to take a pre-natal (esp with the extra folic acid and the B complex I take). It also contains digestive enzymes, greens, antioxidant fruit blend, essential fatty acids etc. So helps with energy, immunity, mood, digestion etc.

Collagen- collagen makes up a huge component of our body tissue. This particular collagen helps with elasticity of the skin so I’m hoping this will help with prevention of (any more) stretch marks and wrinkles.

Lastly not pictured here but I, well actually my 3 children, have been rubbing coconut oil on my belly nightly to help keep the skin moisturized so it doesn’t itch as much as it stretches and the coconut oil can also help to prevent stretch marks. It has become part of our bed time routine as they love talking to and waiting to feel kicks from baby! :)

As always it’s really important to check with your Naturopathic Doctor which supplements would be safe and appropriate for you during your pregnancy. I treat lots of women pre, during and post pregnancy and their needs change drastically during each stage so having professional guidance during this crucial, vulnerable time is so important to help you have the best, healthiest and most enjoyable pregnancy!

Dr. Claudia Truglia Bsc, ND
Naturopathic doctor
Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W
Stoney Creek, ON
stoneycreekwellness.ca

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Are you familiar with a 'Mother's Kiss'?

9/10/2018

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I'm sure you are familiar with the kisses we smother our little one's faces with each and everyday but that isn't what I'm referring to here. A 'mother's kiss' is actually a technique that is used to help get an object that has been inquisitively shoved up your child's nose, out of their nose with the least amount of stress possible.

If you haven't yet experienced your child sticking something up their nose consider yourself lucky! Most children will begin to explore their world and their bodies and with that comes they curiosity of their orifices. Why they decide to stick things in them I have no idea. But it can be anything from a bead, to a bean to a lego etc.

I have experienced this twice so far with 2 out of 3 of my children. And boy we're they very different experiences! Had I known about 'a Mothers Kiss' when my then 2 year old daughter decided to nonchalantly shove a bead up her nose it would have saved us hours of panic, ER visits (that's right plural because she wouldn't let anyone touch her to even attempt to remove it), and having to watch her undergo sedation (they had to sedate her to be able to use forceps to remove the bead since she wouldn't let anyone near her). What a traumatizing experience! So you can imagine my panic when just a few short months ago my 2 year old son (it must be a 2 year old thing) turned to me and said 'mommy can you take bead out of my nose'....I dropped everything and holding my breath ran over to him praying he was pulling my leg. I tilted his head back only to see a bright orange bead shoved up his tiny nostril. I'm not going to lie, I started to freak out inside, while trying to remain calm on the outside so I didn't scare him. I was just about to reach for the phone to call my husband hoping he was on his way home from work, when I remembered what they taught us in the ER, if we were ever lucky enough to experience this again...a technique called a "Mother's Kiss'. I grabbed my sons face plugged his unobstructed nostril and blew as hard as I could into his mouth. The bead came down but not all the way. I did it one more time and sure enough out popped the bead. Phew! It worked like a charm! Thank God! And all I could think was I wish I had known to do this the first time. I decided to share this experience so that if you ever experience something similar, and majority will, as apparently this tends to be a common occurrence with these curious little ones, you are more equipped with one of the most effective ways to remove a foreign object from your child's nose.

Here is exactly what you do:
The parent or caretaker places their mouth over their child’s mouth while holding the unaffected nostril closed with one finger.
The parent or caretaker blows into the child’s mouth.
The breath may force the object out.

https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20121015/mothers-kiss-expel-foreign-objects-kids-noses

Dr. Claudia Truglia Bsc, ND
Naturopathic doctor
Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W
Stoney Creek, ON
drtruglia@gmail.com

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How Naturopathic Medicine can Help with Depression and Anxiety

6/11/2018

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It seems to have reached epidemic proportions how frequently I am now seeing and treating mental health conditions in practice. Sometimes its just depression, sometimes it's anxiety but often times it is both of these prevalent mental health conditions that people are quietly battling against. Here are 5 ways naturopathic medicine can help someone suffering from depression and/or anxiety.

1. Diet- The gut-brain connection is so profound! People don't realize how important having a healthy and well functioning gut is for their mental health. Most of our neurotransmitter receptors are found in the gut (oftentimes we now refer to the gut as our second brain). If there is lots of inflammation in that area, caused by eating processed, unhealthy foods, or even foods that are healthy but people are sensitive too, there can be huge effects on mood, memory and concentration. Healing the gut, decreasing inflammation, stabilizing blood sugar levels, and putting in good bacteria are all important to maximize nutrient absorption and keep the balance in brain chemistry.

2. Acupuncture- An ancient Chinese practice that has powerful effects on treating anxiety and depression. Several patients that come in for acupuncture treatments report feeling calm, relaxed, empowered and ready to take on life after treatment. There are several points on the body that can help to balance neurotransmitters, calm the mind, improve sleep and help energy flow better throughout the system.

3. Lifestyle counselling/support system- Counselling can be one of the most effective tools for dealing with anxiety and depression. It allows patients to develop coping skills so that at any point in their life when feelings may resurface they have tools to help them cope with the feelings and emotions. It also helps to get to the root of the feelings and has been shown to have great efficacy especially when combined with the proper medication and supplements.

4. Supplements (in addition to medications)- There are lots of adrenal support supplements which support how we deal and cope with stress, there are also herbs called nervines that help calm the nervous system and act more acutely. We also know that several nutrient and mineral deficiencies can make anxiety and depression worse- things like B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, chromium etc. It is also important to note that several antidepressant and anti anxiety meds can decrease nutrient absorption and compete with certain nutrients. This can mean that being on these medications long term will lead to nutrient deficiencies which in turn can contribute to other symptoms or side effects and even make anxiety and depression worse.

5. Cupping- An ancient Chinese therapy that utilizes suction cups to increase blood flow, support immune function and detoxification. This is great for helping to relax tense muscles especially around the shoulders and neck where most people hold a lot of their tension. These tense muscles can impinge on the cranial nerves making sleep, anxiety and panic worse. Relaxing them with cupping can help to ease feelings of anxiety and improve sleep quality.

These are just touching on some of the therapies I use effectively to treat patients with depression and/or anxiety. Each patient is different and reacts and responds differently to treatment, therefore it is really important to make sure my patients have a specific plan tailored to their individual needs in order to have them receive the most benefit. It is very important to note medications should never be discontinued or adjusted without discussing with your primary health care practitioner.

To book an appointment today email drtruglia@gmail.com or call or text (905)906-9097

Yours in health,
Dr. Claudia Truglia BSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor

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Acupuncture may be your solution to infertility

4/18/2018

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Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that dates back at least 2500 years. It is a very effective treatment for several health conditions but today I want to focus on how acupuncture can help those couples struggling with infertility.

In my 7 years of practice I have treated and helped several couples who struggled with infertility and supported them with supplements, lifestyle changes, emotional support and acupuncture. There are several causes of infertility- in women things such as irregular cycles, hormone imbalance, anovulatory cycles, low ovarian reserve, PCOS, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, thyroid imbalance, stress, poor egg quality, etc. and for men- low sperm count, low motility, poor morphology etc. The most frustrating diagnosis for couples is often 'unexplained infertility'. This is a case where all testing comes back normal and no physical cause of infertility can be identified. In these cases, stress tends to be a huge contributor followed by poor lifestyle habits such as diet, nutrient/vitamin deficiencies, smoking, exposure to toxins just to name a few. No matter what the diagnosis, naturopathic medicine and in particular acupuncture is an amazing adjunct to help support these couples on their journey to conceive. This journey can be very emotionally draining and also puts a lot of strain on couples and thus emotional support and guidance is just as important to address as any physical issues. The more stressed we are the less likely conception is to occur. Our body's have an inherent need to protect themselves and thus knowing that a pregnancy will only place more stress on the body, if a woman is already under tremendous amounts of stress her body will go in to protective mode and prevent a pregnancy from occurring, even going as far as preventing ovulation. Thankfully, as a naturopathic doctor I have wonderful tools that help to support the body's own ability to heal and protect itself so that processes are able to occur as they naturally should.

How does acupuncture help with improving fertility?
- it helps to balance hormone levels, regulate cycles
- improves chances of ovulation
- helps with thickening the uterine lining for implantation
- releases neurotransmitters that induce relaxation and help with sleep
- helps with stress relief by releasing positive endorphins in the brain
- increases sperm count
- some clinical evidence supports that it has helped unblock fallopian tubes

Acupuncture can also support those undergoing fertility treatments such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization). I have done acupuncture on patients pre and post embryo transfer to help ensure the embryo implants and becomes a viable pregnancy.

If infertility is something that you have been struggling with, book your appointment today and find out how naturopathic medicine can support you on this exasperating yet most rewarding journey.

Yours in health,
Dr. Claudia Truglia, BSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor

Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W
Stoney Creek, On
drtruglia@gmail.com
(905)906-9097

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Has this winter got you coughing and sniffling?

1/17/2018

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Well, it's here and we're right in the thick of this extremely cold, snowy, dark, long winter! The cold temperatures have forced everyone to be confined to their homes and other enclosed spaces that are a perfect cesspool of viruses and bacteria. Especially if you have little ones staying cough and cold free is next to impossible! So here are some tips that can help you keep your immune system boosted and on guard to help protect you from catching colds and flus and also help shorten the duration if you do catch one of those nasty bugs circulating around.

1. Vitamin D- not only is vitamin D important to help with mood, but it is also an immune modulator. That means it can help balance out the immune system, boosting it when necessary and balancing it out if it is overactive (such as in autoimmune disorders). Because we don't get enough sunlight in the winter months supplementing with vitamin D is essential.

2. Probiotics- these good bacteria help to the flood the gut with exactly that, good bacteria, leaving little to no room for bad bacteria and virus to infiltrate. In addition to supporting a healthy immune system probiotics also help with digestion, and make vitamins such as b vitamins and vitamin K.

3. Immune boosting herbs- Echinacea, Astragalus, Andrographis, Thyme, Oil of Oregano, Ginseng, are just some herbs that have proven to boost the immune system and shorten the duration of colds and flus. They can be used preventatively as well as for treatment when illness strikes.

4. Make sure you are getting enough sleep- Sleep is essential for helping your body to stay on top of warding off viruses and bacteria. Not having the proper amount of rest can suppress the immune system making you more susceptible to infection and less capable of a quick recovery.

5. Limit the amount of sugar, processed foods, and dairy intake- Sugar is a known immune suppressant. Eating sugar can suppress the immune system for up to 24hrs. That means that during that time if you happen to come in contact with viruses or bacteria you are more likely to be infected. Diary can increase mucus production and secretions and therefore can make a nice breeding environment for bacteria. Congestion can be made worse by consuming milk and milk products so especially when you are fighting off infection it is a good idea to stay away.

6. Increase water intake- Water is so important to flush out circulating toxins or unwanted visitors. Our liver and kidney are our main organs of detoxification and drinking a sufficient amount of water daily helps them to function properly to clear the blood and body of waste products.

Hope these tips help you stay warm and healthy during the rest of this winter season! Remember that supplements and diet suggestions should be considered on an individual basis. No two people are alike and therefore there is no cookie cutter treatment. It's important that you do not self prescribe and seek the advice of your naturopathic doctor to determine which supplements are best for you and which doses would be most effective for you.

Yours in health,
Dr. Claudia Truglia BSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor

Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W, Stoney Creek ON
drtruglia@gmail.com
(905)906-9097

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It's that time of year again...Time to use up your benefits!

9/14/2017

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Do you have naturopathic benefits through your third party (workplace) insurance plans? If you aren't sure you should call and find out if you do and how much money they cover you for per year. If you do, and you haven't used them yet this year, now is a great time to start as most plans renew in January and unfortunately any money that you haven't used does not carry over to the following year. September is a great time of year to focus on detoxification and flu prevention and just being a healthier you, especially going into the colder, darker winter months. Having naturopathic coverage through your insurance is a privilege and a part of your earnings so it is best to take advantage of the opportunity. Why wait, take the time today to seek out if naturopathic medicine is the right solution to help you reach your health goals. I look forward to hearing and meeting you!

Yours in health,
Claudia

Dr. Claudia Truglia Bsc, ND
Naturopathic doctor
Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W
Stoney Creek, ON
drtruglia@gmail.com

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Need more energy? Enter B vitamins!

8/16/2017

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Do you have a hard time waking up and getting going in the morning? Do you find yourself feeling like you could take a nap in the afternoon? Do your muscles ache for days after a work out? Are you feeling stressed out? If so, you may benefit from a B complex vitamin. These are just a few symptoms you may experience if you are deficient in B vitamins.

There are 8 B vitamins and they all play several different roles in the body. The B vitamins are so important for every reaction that happens in our body. They are known as cofactors which means in order for a reaction to occur our body needs to call on a B vitamin to complete the reaction. If you are deficient in your B's these reactions are not happening properly and therefore you feel fatigued along with many other symptoms. B vitamins also play an important role in our stress response. We know that B5 and B6 are very important for our adrenal glands, our major stress organ. They are also very important for the nervous system, blood cell production, liver function, female reproductive system, digestion, metabolism, sleep regulation etc.

B vitamins are depleted with stress, alcohol, poor diet etc. We also know that our soil is more depleted of these vitamins so we aren't getting as much from our diet as we should be.

Some tips for taking a B complex vitamin:

1. A good B complex vitamin will contain a range of b vitamins from B1 to B12. B vitamins work and are absorbed best when taken together in a complex vs. individually.

2. It is best taken with food since some people may experience a bit of nausea on an empty stomach.

3. They should be taken earlier in the day so that they don't give you energy in the evening when you should be sleepy.

4. And lastly, don't be alarmed if your pee looks fluorescent yellow! That's due to vitamin B2 (riboflavin) which causes urine to turn bright yellow. B vitamins are a water soluble vitamin which means your body absorbs what it needs and the rest is excreted through the urine, leaving minimal if any side effects.

Adding B vitamins to my daily cocktail of supplements has had a huge impact on my energy and mood. If you feel this may be something you are interested in book an appointment today and let me help you start reaching your health goals!

Dr. Claudia Truglia Bsc, ND
Naturopathic doctor
Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W
Stoney Creek, ON
stoneycreekwellness.ca

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The Natural Way

4/27/2017

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It has been a while since I wrote a blog explaining naturopathic medicine, what it is, how it works, and what exactly I can do for YOU. So I decided to take some time today to do one of the things I love most about naturopathic medicine, teach. I will teach you about this safe, gentle, alternative medicine, or just refresh your memory if you are already familiar with naturopathic medicine.

I have been practicing naturopathic medicine for 6 1/2 years. What first drew me to this profession was my experience as a student while working as a pharmacy technician. I would see so many people coming in for countless amounts of medications. They would start with one medication and then end up on several more because they had to try to treat the side effect from the previous medication. I started to believe there had to be another solution out there. There had to be a way to help our bodies heal themselves without putting endless amounts of poisons in to our system. That is when I rediscovered naturopathic medicine. I say rediscovered because my mom had taken me to a naturopathic doctor when I was only 12 so I already knew the profession existed I just never realized how amazing it really was.

The main principal of naturopathic medicine is treating the root cause of disease. Doesn't matter what condition or symptoms walk through my door, my mind is always searching for the underlying issue at hand. Symptoms are our body's way of communicating with us. I often describe them to patients as lights on the dash board of a car. The lights tell us there is a problem. Then it is our job to go and figure out where the problem is coming from, what it is and fix it. We can always just turn the light off, pretend it isn't on and that all is ok, but that would be a band aid solution. Even though we can't see the symptoms the underlying problem is still there. This is often times how medications can be used. Thus, years later the problem only gets worse because the root cause was never actually addressed and treated. Now we end up with a whole host of other issues that we need to resolve. Don't get me wrong I am in no way against using medications. There is definitely a time and place where we need them and are very blessed to have them. But it is their misuse that can cause a lot of problems for people.

My job as your naturopathic doctor is to find out the underlying cause of your symptoms and then put together an individualized plan for you. Every person is different so there is never one treatment for all. We all have different genetic make ups, that means we metabolize things differently, we react to things differently and it is important to keep that in mind at the time of treatment. Also things like environment, life style, diet all will play a role in determining your treatment plan.

Another important fundamental of naturopathic medicine is treating the body as a whole. Our mind and body are connected. All of our organs work together and depend on one another. Therefore, it is important to treat all aspects of the body not just the one system where the symptoms may be presenting. There are lots of examples I have for this. One is skin problems. They often don't require treatment of the skin directly at all. I actually focus on treating the organs of detoxification, the liver, the kidneys, the bowels. These are our major organs of elimination. If our body cannot excrete toxins through one of these proper means, it is so smart, it will push them out through the next easiest way which is the skin. It has such a large surface area so it is a simple way to get things out. This may present as eczema, psoriasis, hives, rashes, etc. I often tell patients I don't need you to come in with a diagnosis in order for me to help you. Conventional medicine works on the basis of a diagnosis equals the drug that is prescribed. Instead naturopathic medicine is based on the figuring out the physiology behind the disease state. The symptoms give us clues as to what system is affected and then we are able to treat those organ systems to help the body heal.

I spend lots of time with my patients. I love to teach them about their body, and how smart it is. I teach them about their conditions, their symptoms or their disease state. I explain their blood work to them. I explain how and why they are taking the medications and supplements they are taking. Our body has the ability to heal itself. Sometimes it gets sluggish and overburdened and so it needs help. It is our job to support this amazing natural ability it has and guide it back to health.

Treatments I offer include diet and nutrition plans, vitamins, herbs, homeopathics, acupuncture, Asian medicine, cupping, hydrotherapy (also have training in massage therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation but I often refer out for those services). As I mentioned before it is really important to me that my patients follow through with treatment plans so I make sure we work together to set up a plan that works for their lifestyle and their finances. I like to keep an open, honest relationship with patients so that we can make this work for them. My goal is to help my patients reach their health goals and resolve their symptoms not only by treating their symptoms but by treating the underlying cause of that symptom so that it is permanently resolved. I support them every step of the way and motivate them if they should begin to struggle.

The end results are so rewarding for me. I love being able to make a difference in the lives of patients that have been told they will just have to live with it, that there is no solution for them, that no one knows what they have. Naturopathic medicine is such a wonderful, time tested medicine. Unfortunately OHIP does not cover naturopathic medicine visits. But fortunately many third party insurance plans now offer coverage for the visits..YAY!

Hope you were able to get a better grasp on what naturopathic medicine is and how it can be the solution that you have been looking for to reach your optimal health!

Dr. Claudia Truglia, BSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor
Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. W
Stoney Creek, On
drtruglia@gmail.com
(905)906-9097
stoneycreekwellness.ca

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Love your Liver!

4/19/2017

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Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body. It is a filter, responsible for metabolizing and detoxifying everything you breathe, ingest and essentially anything that comes into contact with your skin. That means it is constantly working and working hard. On top of being our major detoxifying organ our liver also has lots of other jobs to do. It plays a role in hormone break down, cholesterol production, blood sugar regulation, bile production (to metabolize fats) and much more. That means that if the liver is not functioning optimally you will often have lots of signs and symptoms that start to arise. Treatment and detoxification of the liver should be the first step in treating high cholesterol, diabetes, hormonal issues, infertility, digestive issues, skin problems, allergies, neurological disorders and several other diseases/illnesses. Often times a sluggish liver can be the root of the issue at hand. The environment, alcohol, medications and stress can all contribute to damaging and overburdening the liver. In order to be preventative, it is a good idea to do a liver detox, with both food and supplements, at least twice a year (usually fall and spring) in order to reboot and support this important organ. Below are some foods and supplements that support a healthy liver.

Foods That Support the Liver:
Lemon water
Green leafy vegetables (arugula, kale, dandelion, spinach, chicory)
Garlic
Beets and carrots
Green tea
Avocados
Olive oil
Turmeric
Cruciferous vegetables (ie. broccoli and cabbage)

Supplements/Herbs That Support the Liver:
L- taurine
Milk thistle
NAC (N-acetyl cysteine)
Curcumin (found in turmeric)
EGCG (found in green tea)
Dandelion
Alpha Lipoic Acid

Signs and Symptoms Your Liver Isn’t Functioning Optimally
If you have recently noticed any of the symptoms listed below, you could be suffering from impaired liver function. It is particularly important to consider these symptoms if you identify with one or more of the risk factors mentioned above.

Bloating and gas
Acid reflux and heartburn
Constipation
Skin and/or eyes that are yellowish (a symptom of jaundice)
Inability to lose weight
High blood pressure
Moodiness, anxiousness, or depression
Dark urine
Rosacea
Chronic fatigue
Excessive sweating
Bruise easily
Poor appetite

https://draxe.com/liver-cleanse/

It is always best to do any detox under the guidance and support of a health care practitioner. Supplements that target liver function can affect how your liver metabolizes (breaks down) other medications so it is important to ensure that nothing you are taking interacts with any of your supplements or herbals. Check in with your naturopathic doctor and start loving your liver today.

Dr. Claudia Truglia B.Sc, N.D
Naturopathic Doctor
Stoney Creek Natural Wellness Center
50 King St. West
Stoney Creek, Ontario
L8G 1H8
(905)906-9097
www.stoneycreekwellness.ca

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Magnesium= My Favourite Mineral

4/5/2017

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If I had to choose my favourite mineral supplement right at this moment my answer would be magnesium! This one mineral is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. That's right...over 300!! That means that if you are deficient, none of those reactions are happening properly. No wonder you start to feel all kinds of symptoms. Magnesium deficiency can also be linked to hormone imbalance and PMS, fibromyalgia, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, constipation, tension or migraine headaches, anxiety and depression and chronic fatigue, just to name a few.

Magnesium is a muscle relaxant. This makes it successful at treating anxiety, muscle spasms or twitches, sleep, headaches/migraines, high blood pressure and constipation just to name a few. I have had such great feedback with patients when using magnesium for all these different ailments. I personally take it every night before bed and I love it!

Do you ever crave chocolate? Menstruating women often report craving chocolate as a result of PMS. Chocolate is actually high in magnesium which means that chocolate cravings could be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. Other foods that are magnesium rich include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit and more. Because our soil and therefore food is not as nutrient dense as it once was, we may not be able to get high enough quantities of magnesium solely through diet. Therefore, supplementation is often necessary.

So what's the downfall of taking magnesium? Nothing really. At most if you take too much magnesium you may end up with some diarrhea as the body tries to excrete whatever it cannot absorb. Nothing to worry about. All you need do is make sure you are taking a well absorbed form of magnesium or decrease the dose and build up to a higher dose. However, be aware that not all magnesium supplements are absorbed the same way. One of the best absorbed supplements is magnesium bisglycinate. The magnesium is bound to 2 organic glycine molecules making it easily absorbed and utilized by the body. Another bonus is that glycine is an amino acid that can cross the blood brain barrier and actually helps decrease anxiety.

After reading above, do you think you may have a magnesium deficiency? I've read stats estimating up to 80% of Americans are deficient, so most likely you do! To learn more about this unique mineral, the dose you would require and how it can help lead you to optimal health, book your appointment with me today!

Dr. Claudia Truglia BSc, ND

Naturopathic Doctor
50 King St W, Stoney Creek, ON
drtruglia@gmail.com
(905)906-9097
stoneycreekwellness.ca

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Dr. Claudia Truglia

I am a naturopathic doctor with a passion to help motivate and encourage people to feel healthy. My favourite part of my job, aside from watching people become healthier and happier before my eyes, is educating my patients. I love being able to spend enough time with patients that I can teach them how amazing the human body is and every part of our body ties into the next. It is so fascinating how our bodies have the ability to heal themselves and I love to watch people stare at me in awe as I start to make all of their health concerns make sense to them. It is the most rewarding feeling in the world to watch someone who is suffering so much come back and feel incredible after years and years of hopelessness. I love my job! It truly is my passion and my calling.

Dr. Claudia Truglia

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