Eating too much is often more than just an issue of willpower. There are a lot of reasons for overeating, many of which scientists now say trace back to brain chemistry and hormonal imbalance. Click here to learn more.
In health,
Could a Hormone Imbalance be Causing you to Overeat?
May 5, 2016
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Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu
August 31, 2015
There are about 1 billion colds in the US every year, with every child catching it 6-10 times a year, resulting in 22 million school days being lost every year!
When it comes to cold and flu season, prevention really is the first line of defense. To keep your body’s defense system–the immune system–in peak condition, follow our immunity-boosting tips to help your body fight off the bugs looking for a host. And, for times when you are feeling ill, the second set of tips can help ease your symptoms and support a quick recovery.
Cold & Flu Prevention Tips
Your immune system is at work 24/7! The best approach to supporting immune function is a healthy lifestyle that includes stress management, exercise, whole foods, nutritional supplementation, and the use of plant-based medicines. On a daily basis, you can take the following steps to help your immune system keep you healthy:
- Wash your hands regularly to help prevent transfer of bacteria.
- Stay clear of people sneezing or coughing. Avoid shaking hands or other close contact with anyone whom you know to be sick.
- Make sure your home and work space are well-ventilated. Even on a cold day, open a window for a few minutes to clear out stale air.
- Follow a consistent sleep/wake schedule so the immune system can repair and recover.
- Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of organic (when possible) fruits and veggies, which contain antioxidants that help the body neutralize cellular damage.
Healing Tips - Rest. Sometimes the body’s only way of getting your attention is to force you to slow down by getting sick. Don’t push through fatigue. Honor your body and sleep/rest as needed to promote healing. Reduce activity at home and at work as much as possible.
- Increase fluid intake to include water, diluted vegetable juices, soups, and herbal and green teas.
- Eat light meals and eat more soup. Whether you choose a vegetarian broth or a heartier bone-broth, soups for healing should be loaded with a variety of herbs and veggies.
- Manage stress. Even just 10 minutes of meditation a day has positive effects on the immune system and promotes a positive mindset.
- Laugh–it truly is good medicine. Patch Adams was onto something when he brought humor to his patients’ bedsides. Read a funny book. Watch stand-up comedy. Share jokes with a friend or your kids. Laughter lowers the stress hormones and elevates your mood–both are good for healing.
Vitamin, Mineral, and Botanical Support for the Immune System
There’s no panacea, but a growing body of research has shown that certain vitamins, minerals, and plant-based supplements can help prevent/curtail the symptoms of colds and flu. Some that you may want to include are listed below.
These are best tailored to your specific needs and health status, with guidance from your doctor.
- Multivitamin and mineral formula
- Vitamin C
- Bioflavonoids, 1000 mg/day
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D, 2000 IU/day
- Zinc, 30 mg/day
- Echinacea, elderberry, and astragalus (tea, capsule, or liquid extract) help prevent common cold and viral infections. Physicians and scientists continue to study the immune-enhancing effects of these and other botanical remedies.
Food for Thought. . .
“He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.”
– Thomas Fuller
In health,
Leave a Comment » | Childhood Nutrition, Diet and Disease, Ear Infections, Immune Support | Tagged: Childhood Nutrition, children's health, dr. gina nick, HealthBridge Medical Center, www.drgina.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
FDA Essentially Bans Trans Fats
June 18, 2015
Naturopathic Physicians have been educating the public and their patients on the dangers of trans fats (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) for 30 plus years based on studies from the 1970’s showing a link between these artificial fats and heart disease.
Finally, the FDA, in an effort to prevent heart attacks and deaths, finalized its determination that the main sources of artificial trans fat are not safe. FDA gave food manufacturers until June 2018 to remove partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) from their products after concluding that the oils are not so-called GRAS, or generally recognized as safe.
It’s hopeful that our government is finally taking action and acknowledging the SIGNIFICANT impact that our food supply has on the state of health of our citizens, and the major economic burden the US shoulders to manage chronic illnesses that can easily be prevented by removing artificial chemicals, excess sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and the like from our food supply.
Research identified a relationship between folic acid deficiencies and birth defects as early as 1965. It was not until 1992 that the United States Public Health Service shared this critical knowledge with the country and recommended that all women of childbearing age, capable of becoming pregnant, consume 400mcg of folic acid per day. It took the scientific community almost 30 years to accept that a nutrient deficiency might cause a gross distortion in human neuronal development and to recommend supplementation. Tens of thousands of children were born during this time with preventable birth defects.
Let’s use common sense, and consider listening to the doctors who pay attention to the research as it comes available rather then waiting 30 years to act on it, and who are tirelessly working to educate the public on the importance of quality food and the power of nutritional medicine to prevent and treat disease.
In health,
Dr. Gina
Leave a Comment » | Diet and Disease, Healthcare Politics, Latest Nutritional Research | Tagged: california naturopathic doctors association, dr. gina nick, drgina.com, FDA bans trans fats, hydrogenated oils, naturopathic doctors, naturopathic physicians, trans fats | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
It’s not all in your head — it’s in your gut, too
June 10, 2015
A new study finds decreased social anxiety among young adults who eat fermented foods. Further evidence of the connection between the gut and mood disorders, and hope for a better alternative to addictive benzodiazepenes.
In health,
Dr. Gina
1 Comment | anxiety treatment, brain gut connection, Diet and Disease, Sickness Syndrome | Tagged: alternative medicine, anxiety, dr. gina nick, drgina.com, HealthBridgeHealing.com, Sickness Syndrome, the gut mind connection | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Please Watch This
September 9, 2014This trailer is worth watching. Let’s pray for leadership in this country that gets this. Changing the way America eats, methodically removing refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, pesticide laden and GMO products, and over-processed high gluten flour from our food supply will make massive changes over the next century in our country in terms of healthcare (particularly chronic diseases and mental health disorders) and the economy. It will take a courageous leader or leadership group to see past the billions of dollars at stake by doing this, with a simple, long term, do-able plan of action, to realize the the return of healthier, happier people and a more robust self-sustaining economy in our country.
In health,
Dr. Gina
Leave a Comment » | Diet and Disease, Healthcare Politics | Tagged: Dr. Gina (Nick) Cushman, drgina.com, Fed Up, HealthBridge Medical Center | Permalink
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ADHD Linked to Allergies and Asthma in Boys
September 25, 2013
Boys diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more likely also to have asthma, allergies and skin infections than youngsters without ADHD, a new study finds, suggesting a possible link between these conditions. Of those in the study, boys newly diagnosed with ADHD were 40 percent more likely to have asthma, 50 percent more likely to have needed a prescription for allergy medicine and 50 percent more likely to have had a bacterial skin infection than other boys. “Our study provides additional evidence to support the hypothesis that atopic disorders, such as asthma and food allergies increase the risk of developing ADHD,” the authors wrote, adding that further research is necessary to determine just how these conditions might be connected. Their results were published in the August issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Read more here.
Naturopathic Medical Doctors have seen this connection for a long time. Inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergies trigger behavioral disorders. To successfully treat ADHD we must address allergies, and additional underlying factors that cause inflammation.
In health,
Leave a Comment » | ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Diet and Disease | Tagged: ADHD and allergies, Dr. Gina, HealthBridge Medical Center, www.drgina.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
Orange Juice and Cancer Prevention
September 23, 2013
In a forthcoming review article from Nutrition and Cancer: An International Journal, a publication of Routledge, researchers review available evidence that links orange juice with cancer chemoprevention. The review article, “Orange Juice and Cancer Chemoprevention” discusses the putative mechanisms involved in the process, the potential toxicity of orange juice, and the available data in terms of evidence-based medicine.
Orange juice has many potential positive effects when it comes to cancer, particularly because it is high in antioxidants from flavonoids such as hesperitin and naringinin. Evidence from previous in vitro studies has indicated that orange juice can reduce the risk of leukemia in children, as well as aid in chemoprevention against mammary, hepatic, and colon cancers. Biological effects of orange juice in vitro are largely influenced by the juice’s composition, which is dependent on physiological conditions of the oranges such as climate, soil, fruit maturation, and storage methods post-harvest. Read more by clicking here.
Oranges grown organically have higher levels of antioxidants and nutrients that help the body to fight off cancer. The more the oranges are processed (e.g. pasteurized, “10% juice”), the lower the levels of cancer fighting chemicals. Fresh squeezed orange juice or whole organic oranges are best.
In health,
Leave a Comment » | Childhood Nutrition, Diet and Disease, Prevention | Tagged: antioxidants, cancer prevention, chemoprevention, HealthBridge Medical Center, leukemia prevention, orange juice, www.drgina.com | Permalink
Posted by Dr. Gina Nick
