Dr. Pamela Smith, ND
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What is the difference betwen GMO & NonGMO?

6/29/2016

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​Here in Canada food companies are not made to label whether or not their products contain GMO or genetically modified organisms. For some, this isnt' a big deal but most consumers would prefer to know what their food contains. This "Ask Dr Pam" Q&A answers some of the questions around GMO's and the pro's and con's. 

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Natural Solutions When Living with Fibromyalgia

6/14/2016

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Symptoms tend to manifest differently for different people, here are a few examples of common ways people living with fibromyalgia: 
  • Persistent fatigue, sleep dysfunction, impaired concentration/memory, sensitivity to light/sound/tough, muscle & joint pains/aches without signs of inflammation, IBS, etc.
Fibromyalgia is largely a diagnosis of exclusion, there are some theories as to what an underlying cause may be:
  • Connection with latent viral infections (EBV, HHV-6, CMV)
  • Chronic sleep disturbances
  • Central nervous system sensitivity
  • Under-functioning HPA-axis (hypo-adrenalism, underactive thyroid)
  • Increased intestinal permeability
Risk Factors
  • Family history (3x as likely to develop if mother has FM)
  • Psychological stress in childhood
  • Being female aged 20-60, type A personality

Treating fibromyalgia needs to be multi-factorial, there is no one size fits all. Here are some treatment strategies to consider:

   1.  Dietary Considerations​
  • Avoid refined sugars/carbohydrates (< 10 tsp of sugar/day)
  • Identify food sensitivities—can increase inflammation and exacerbate symptoms
  • Focus on nutrient dense foods
  • Limit/avoid AGE formation when cooking—lower temperatures in presence of water (boil, poach, stew)
   2. Herbs and Nutrients to help support sleep
  • Chamomile
  • Lemon Balm
  • Valerian
  • Jamaican Dogwood
  • Melatonin
  • Siberian Ginseng
  3.  Herbs to Reduce Pain:
  • Jamaican Dogwood
  • Wild Yam
  • St John’s Wart *
  • White Willow Bark
  • Devils Claw
  • Boswellia
  4. Five Strategies to  Reduce Stress:
  1. Find one thing to be thankful for each day
  2. Schedule time for yourself (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
  3. Laugh several times per day & practice mindfulness
  4. Avoid multitasking & burning the candle at both ends
  5. Do your best to eliminate, simplify, delegate, automate!
 
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    Dr. Pam

    Has a special interest in assisting families, moms, and moms-to-be with everyday health concerns.

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