CAFFEINE-THE UPS AND DOWNS. HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Millions of us rely on coffee to wake us up, keep us going and improve concentration and focus. But how much is too much and what is the difference between caffeine and coffee. Caffeine is a naturally occurring chemical found in more than 60 plants including coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts and as we…

Travel alerts internationally for polio and measles outbreaks this summer. Check your vaccinations before traveling

Travel alerts for polio worldwide & the resurgence of measles outbreaks in Canada, Europe and Africa, highlight the need for Canadians to get vaccinated before traveling to affected areas. Measles is a virus that can affect anyone and is highly contagious for individuals that have not previously had measles, or have not been vaccinated. As…

Probiotics –Healthy or Hype?

There’s a growing body of research that shows bacteria in our gut is related to many health problems, from common diarrhea and obesity to urinary infections and stress. There is also growing evidence that taking some probiotics- live microorganisms that have health benefits is not a fad and has real health benefits.  Several years ago,…

Vaginal atrophy affects more than 2 million post-menopausal Canadian women

But intimacy does not need to be sacrificed Vaginal atrophy (VA) is a common but treatable condition affecting post -menopausal women.  VA is where the vaginal walls become thin, fragile and inflamed due to the reduction of estrogen that naturally occurs during menopause***. Symptoms of vaginal atrophy include: burning, itching, dryness, irritation and painful intercourse.…

Boning up on Bone Health Treatments

Part 3 As I mentioned in an earlier post, Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. This leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture (broken bones), particularly of the hip, spine, wrist and shoulder.   A fragility fracture is a fracture resulting from a fall from a standing…