Please check the Health Appraisal Tool (HAT) below to find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to your adrenal glands. Please note: This quiz is not meant as a diagnosis of any disease or disorder if you have concerns or questions about your current health status please contact our office or email us at infinitynorthcorp@gmail.com

ADRENALS (chronic fatigue & exhaustion) The adrenal glands are responsible for what would be like a 911 response in the body. Under acute stress, the adrenal glands are responsible for a variety of physiological func-tions. Real or perceived stress results in a stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and a release of steroid hormones. These chemicals and hormones are released to create an environment where awareness is heightened, blood sugar rises, appetite goes down and general digestion is reduced. The body needs this response to manage acute stress; however, over a long period of time stress can have a tremendous negative impact on the body. Long-term emotional, environmental and physical stress can lead to chronic pain and inflammation, weight gain or loss, depression, anxiety and insomnia, sugar, alcohol or caffeine cravings, diabetes, fatigue, thyroid dysregulation, an increase in infections, heart disease, essential hypertension and hormone disruptions like loss of libido (sex drive) and hypofertility. It’s important to understand that it is not only real or perceived stress that af-fects us, but the environment in which we live, the toxins we are exposed to and the food we eat that play a major role how our body handles stress. It’s common for our patients to come in with a list of symptoms that on their own may not look like much but together can point in the direction of a syndrome of adrenal dys-function or dysregulation. If you have a number of symptoms that are proving to be trou-blesome yet nothing shows up on conventional blood work, consider that you may have adrenal stress. HAT FOR ADRENALS 1. Tend to be a “night person” 2. Difficulty falling asleep 3. Slow starter in the morning 4. Blood pressure above 120/80 5. Headache after exercising 6. Feeling wired or jittery after drinking coffee 7. Become dizzy when standing up suddenly 8. Arthritic tendencies 9. Crave salty foods

12 HEALTH CONDITIONS

PAIN 7 million Canadians suffer from chronic pain. That boils down to 1 in 5. A big problem with chronic pain is, its symptom picture is hard to define and even harder to treat. Once someone is suffering from pain they become susceptible to many other debilitating symptoms of depression, insomnia, irritability, fatigue and a weekend immune system. Unfortunately, you can’t see pain, so unless there is some glaringly obvious reason you have it (like cancer, arthritis or pain from an accident) it’s more difficult to treat from a conventional perspective and simply doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It gets even worse! If you’re a woman, your pain is taken less seriously, even though you experience pain 20% more intensely than men according to a Harvard Medical School study. An even bigger kick is that men are more often prescribed pain medications like opioids where women are prescribed psychological medications. All that being said, from a holistic perspective it’s not such an insurmountable issue. There are 3 important things to know about how we can help. Pain usually occurs somewhere specific in the body (phantom limb notwithstanding) and determining where that location or those locations are is a great predictor of what might be some underlying issues. Pain usually accompanies a certain level of inflammation in the body and there are both conventional and alternative tests to show this. Lastly, intensity and quality of pain tell a great deal about the nature of the pain. These 3 facts help determine a treatment plan that is right for you. Whether you have migraines, chronic back pain, tendonitis/bursitis, muscle and joint pain or arthritis, digestive pain, menstrual pain or pain from old injuries, nerve pain, sinus pain or growing pains, teething pain or colic there are multifaceted approaches with alternative medicine to help rid the body of pain. HAT FOR PAIN 1. Are you reliant on pain-relieving substances to feel comfortable 2. Does your pain interfere with your personal care (getting out of bed, brushing teeth, dressing etc.) 3. Does your pain interfere with your sleep 4. Does your pain interfere with your social life (dancing, games, going out, eating with friends etc.) 5. Does your pain interfere with travelling in a (car, plane, train etc.) 6. Does pain interfere with your job/work 7. Do you feel that pain affects your emotions 8. Have you been depressed since the onset of your pain 9. Has your pain changed your relationship with others 10. Do require support from others because of your pain (taking over chores, meals etc.) 11. Do others express irritation, frustration or anger toward you because of your pain 12. Does your pain limit you from standing or sitting for long periods of time?

HORMONAL (menopause + PMS- menses issues, etc. Infertility?) Complementary and Alternative Medicine has a particular affinity for practical helpful treatments in cases of hormonal dysregulation. Infertility, PMS, Menopausal symptoms, low sex drive (libido), endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), are all con-ditions that can often be treated without having to use conventional hormone replace-ment therapy. The first step in assessing is always a hormone panel. We use both conven-tional serum blood levels and salivary hormone testing as well. Hormonal ups and downs especially regular ones have a particularly negative effect on the organ that is most re-sponsible for managing those hormones, the liver. The liver has 2 phases of detoxification. During phase I the liver breaks estrogen down and during Phase II the estrogen is conjugated or “attached to” another molecule for excretion. There are many reasons the liver may not be able to do this effectively. A lack of nutrients, amino acids and vitamin precursors, an excess of sex hormones (either natural or synthetic) and a toxic load that the liver is already contending with will all affect the way the liver is able to balance hormones. For these reasons, it is one of the first organ systems assessed when a person comes into the office with concerns about their hormone levels. In addition, a common misconception is that the emotional components of a hormonal upset are overreactions. The fact is there is true validity to the emotional upset that goes with the already sometimes debilitating physical symptoms. In Traditional Chinese Medicine each organ is associated with an emotion or set of emotions. The liver is associated with anger, frustra-tion, resentment and depression. It makes the emotional upset during and before men-ses make sense when you look at the body through this lens. HAT FOR HORMONAL DYSREGULATION 1. I have hot flashes, night sweats or both 2. I am more irritable than normal 3. My breast feel tender once a month or more often 4. My libido or sex drive has reduced 5. My menstrual cycle is irregular 6. I’m more tired than normal 7. I find myself bloated and or my ankles are swelling 8. My menstrual flow has increased or decreased substantially 9. I have severe menstrual cramps 10. I crave sweets and or sugar monthly before my cycle 11. I have pain during intercourse 12. I have pain in my abdomen specifically during the middle of the month

SKIN CONDITIONS Itchy skin, blotchy skin, rashes, hives, eczema, psoriasis, acne and skin issues with no ap-parent underlying cause are all treatable with Complementary and Alternative medicine. The skin is the body’s largest detoxifier. Over a lifetime we will shed about 40lbs of skin and when you have a skin condition you wish it would happen sooner than later. There are many underlying causes of skin issues that depend on what exactly you are experiencing. Non-descript skin itching, for example, could be related to an underlying fungal infection (which unfortunately is often undetectable by conventional means). Hives have long been associated not only with allergies but stress as well and if we know one thing well in Complimentary Medicine it’s how to help our body’s manage stress! Psoriasis, Roseaca and generalized inflammation go hand in hand and the often associated partners in crime” hormonal acne and liver congestion” often go together as well. The kinds of testing that are helpful in determining the cause of various skin conditions include live blood analysis, hormone testing, serum blood work and food sensitivity testing. The role of food sensitivities in eczema, for example, is especially well established in children. Many researchers have concluded that nearly 75% of childhood eczema could be resolved simply by eliminating cow’s milk products. Conventionally skin conditions are often treated either with antibiotics or corticosteroids. Although the steroid based creams are particularly effective in reducing itch and inflammation long-term use can discolour and thin the skin. Getting to the root of the problem will take care of it long term even if you need the conventional treatment in the meantime. HAT to determine whether your skin condition may be related to a food sensitivity 1. Did you have colic or digestive issues as a baby? 2. Did you have eczema as a child? 3. Did you suffer from ear infections as a child? 4. Do you have frequent bouts of loose stool or diarrhoea? 5. Did you have asthma as a child and or currently? 6. Do you get bloated immediately after eating? 7. Do your fingernails chip or peel easily? 8. Do you suffer from heartburn or indigestion? 9. Do you crave sweets or sugary foods? 10. Do you have environmental allergies? 11. Do you have chronic nasal drip or sinus congestion? 12. Have you ever had jock itch, vaginal yeast infections or toenail fungus?

MOOD DISORDERS/MENTAL HEALTH Mood disorders are complicated, and they span the spectrum of intensity from annoying to absolutely debilitating. The symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia are so close-ly related even when you have them it’s hard to tell what exactly is going on. Neurotrans-mitter testing is one of the most powerful tools we use to help discover what theunderlying issues are in relation to our mood disorders and necessary for developing an optimally organized treatment plan. The usual conventional treatment for depression alone is a serotonin balancing medication or one that is a combination epinephrine/se-rotonin balancing combination. With neurotransmitter testing we can see exactly what chemical or chemicals are out of balance and treat accordingly. Although anxiety, depres-sion and insomnia can be acute, situational reactions to a life stressor the overwhelming trend is the body’s inability to adapt and move forward. People can be stuck for years in a pattern they may have been the result of a death, a divorce, a financial loss or simply a normal hormonal shift like menopause or the birth of a baby. As with any complementary/alternative treatment plan getting to the root of the issue is paramount to treating it properly. With adrenal and neurotransmitter testing (and/or hormonal test-ing) this is made possible. It’s amazing the number of times a patient who is already taking a medication for depression comes in complaining of the depressive symptomsnot being managed by their medications. A simple test and some additional treatment can take a person from moderately better to feeling fabulous in a few short weeks. Take a look at our Chart of Neurotransmitters to see if this testing may be right for you. (INSERT NEUROTRANSMITTERS 101 Pdf LINK)

HEART HEALTH Cardiovascular (CVD) disease is estimated to be responsible for nearly 40% of the deaths in North America. It’s understood that CVD stems mostly from vascular conditions (high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and thrombosis). A major focus on the causes of atherosclerosis is plaque or fat build up in the vessels). For this condition or the threat of this condition, cholesterol-lowering medications are commonly prescribed. More than 38 million prescriptions were made for the drug class that includes statins, (cholesterol-lowering drugs) last year. The scary thing is the prescriptions are over-whelmingly given mostly to patients who are at RISK for heart disease based on total cholesterol and lipid levels as opposed to those patients with established heart disease. The pro’s and con’s of using statin drugs is a highly established medical debate. The question to be answered before taking statin medications, as with any medication (natural and synthetic), is do the benefits outweigh the risks. When it comes to cardiovascular disease one of the major preventative measures a person can take is to change their diet and increase exercise. Both of these actions have positive benefits on total blood sugar while taking statins actually increase the risk diabetes. The long and the short of it is this, before jumping the drug bandwagon in this case, take a look at the underlying reasons why your cholesterol might be high. Primary hypothyroidism, adrenal cortical dysfunction, poor metabolism and utilization of fats, high blood sugar or insulin resistance, biliary stasis or liver congestion are all things to consider if you have a higher than normal cholesterol level. The addition of simple blood tests will help determine underlying causes and make the treatment much more specific. The fact is CVD is com-plicated and the assessment needs to be much more comprehensive than a simple prescription. HAT FOR HEART HEALTH 1. Aware of heavy and/or irregular breathing 2. Discomfort at high altitudes 3. “air hunger” or sigh frequently 4. Compelled to open windows in a closed room 5. Shortness of breath with moderate exertion 6. Ankles swell, especially at end of day 7. A cough at night 8. Blush or face turns red for no reason 9. Dull pain or tightness in the chest and/or radiate into right arm, worse with exertion 10. Muscle cramps with exertion 11. High cholesterol scores on blood work 12. Bad circulation

THYROID LAURA STAT 1: Worldwide statistics estimate that 200 million people have some form of thyroid disease. (Thyroid Association of Canada) STAT 2: Recent studies indicate that 1 in 10 Canadians suffer from a thyroid condition of one type or another; and of those, as many as 50% are undiagnosed! (Thyroid Association of Canada) BLURB: Worldwide statistics estimate that 200 million people have some form of thyroid disease. In Canada, there is an astounding number of people affected. Recent studies indicate that 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from a thyroid condition of one type or another; and of those, as many as 50% are undiagnosed! The thyroid is the butterfly-shaped gland located in the anterior neck. There are two main hormones (T3 & T4) produced by the thyroid which act on cells in virtually every body tissue. Thyroid hormone is required for the normal development of the brain and somatic tissue in people of all ages and regulates protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism. Most people are unaware that cardiac disease, lupus, reproductive difficulties, diabetes, arthritis as well as many other health issues are associated with a poorly functioning thy-roid gland. And when your thyroid doesn’t function properly it can affect every aspect of your health- from weight gain to depression and decreased energy (see other red flag symptoms to watch out for below). — Weight gain — Depression or Anxiety — Brain fog, poor concentration, poor memory — Cholesterol Problems — Fatigue — Hair loss — Neck swelling, snoring, hoarse voice — Sexual dysfunction — Infertility — Constipation or diarrhoea — Dry brittle hair and nails — Dry and/or itchy skin — Intolerance to cold

VIDEO SCRIPT POINT FORM: STAT 1: Worldwide statistics estimate that 200 million people have some form of thyroid disease. (Thyroid Association of Canada) STAT 2: Recent studies indicate that 1 in 10 Canadians suffer from a thyroid condition of one type or another; and of those, as many as 50% are undiagnosed! (Thyroid Association of Canada) — The thyroid is the butterfly-shaped gland located in the anterior neck — Two main hormones- t3 and t4 — The hormones it secretes are essential to all growth and metabolism. — Blood tests are notorious uch as weight gain — Depression or Anxiety — Brain fog, poor concentration, poor memory — Cholesterol Problems — Fatigue — Hair loss — Neck swelling, snoring, hoarse voice — Sexual dysfunction — Infertility — Constipation or diarrhoea — Dry brittle hair and nails — Dry and/or itchy skin — Intolerance to cold — Most people are unaware that cardiac disease, lupus, reproductive difficulties, diabe-tes, arthritis as well as much other health issues are associated with a poorly functioning thyroid gland — Research has shown that early thyroid assessment can, in many cases, reduce the incidence or severity of these high-profile diseases. — THYROID NECK CHECK: This simple self-check may help identify if your thyroid is enlarged, one sign that you may need further examination by a doctor. Here’s How: — Stand in front of a mirror so that you can see the area of your neck just below the Adam’s apple and right above the collarbone. (this is the general location of your thyroid gland). — Tip your head back while keeping a view of your neck in the mirror — Take a drink of water and swallow — As you swallow, look at your neck. Watch carefully for any bulges, enlargement, protrusions, or unusual appearances in this area when you swallow. — Repeat this process several times — If you see any bulges, protrusions, lumps, or anything that appear unusual con tact your natural health care practitioner or your medical doctor — You may have an enlarged thyroid or a thyroid nodule and your thyroid should be evaluated. — TIP: don’t get your Adam’s apple confused with your thyroid. The Adam’s apple is at the front of your neck, the thyroid is further down and closer to your collarbone.

HAT:

Please check our Health Appraisal Tool (HAT) below to find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to your thyroid. Please note: this quiz is not meant as a diagnosis of any disease or disorder. If you have concerns or questions about your current health status please contact our office at (705) 497-8788. 1. Difficulty gaining weight, even with large appetite OR difficulty losing weight2. Nervous, emotional, can’t work under pressure3. Inward trembling4. Flush easily 5. Fast pulse at rest6. Intolerance to high temperatures OR sensitive to cold with poor circulation (cold hands and feet)7. Mentally sluggish, reduced initiative8. Easily fatigued, sleepy during the day9. Morning headaches, wear off during the day10. Excessive hair loss and/or coarse hair11. Loss of lateral 1/3 of eyebrow12. Seasonal sadness DIGESTIVE ISSUES (gut health) LAURA STAT 1: Surveys have shown that approximately ½ of all Americans have used antacids and that 75% of total antacid consumers are heavy-users, defined as greater than 6 doses per week (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6846300). That is a lot of indigestion! STAT 2: According to statistics Canada 71% of seniors in institutions are on medications for their alimentary system, of that 62 % are prescribed laxatives. The second most prescribed medication for the alimentary system is antacids. That is a lot of digestive system irregu-larity! And seniors aren’t the only ones with digestive issues. Are you familiar with any of the following symptoms? http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2009001/article/10801-eng.pdf Blurb: Heartburn? Bloating? Can’t lie down to sleep? Burning stomach pains? Cramping? Irreg-ular bowel movements? Gas? Upset stomach? These are all symptoms of indigestion and these all can be alleviated with natural medicine. There is no need to suffer through the discomfort, pain, or even embarrassment of some of these symptoms. Your digestive sys-tem starts working before you even take your first bite of food. And your digestive system will be busy working on your chewed-up meal for the next few hours – or sometimes days, depending on what you ate. This process allows your body to get the nutrients and ener-gy it needs from the food we eat. But what if this process does not go according to plans? We are all familiar with that uncomfortable feeling- indigestion! And indigestion leads to decreased or inappropriate absorption of the foods we eat for nutrients and energy. But we have the solutions to target the source of your indigestion and correct it.

Here are some other reasons why paying attention to your gut health is important: — Did you know that 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive system?! — And that 95% of the body’s serotonin (our “happy hormone”) is found in the gut. And because of its ability to impact both our mental health and our immunity, it is critical that we maintain our gut health. VIDEO SCRIPT:

STAT 1: Marketing surveys have shown that approximately ½ of all Americans have used antacids and that 75% of total antacid consumers are heavy-users, defined as greater than 6 doses per week.(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6846300) That is a lot of indigestion!

STAT 2: According to statistics Canada 71% of seniors in institutions are on medications for their alimentary system, of those 62% are prescribed laxatives. The second most prescribe medication for the alimentary system is antacids. That is a lot of digestive system irregu-larity! And seniors aren’t the only ones with digestive issues. Are you familiar withany of the following symptoms? http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2009001/article/10801-eng.pdf

— Heartburn? Bloating? Can’t lye down to sleep? Burning stomach pains? Cramping? Irregular bowel movements? Gas? Upset stomach?— Good food provides nutritional support for your body. And when your digestive system isn’t working as well as it should be the above symptoms may occur.— Your foods should be nutrient-dense and absorbed and utilized to provide you with energy and vitality.— Gut health is so important for our overall health, immunity, and mental wellbeing— Here are some facts about your digestive system that you may not know: — Did you know that 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive system?! — And that 95% of the body’s serotonin (our “happy hormone”) is found in the gut. — Your body is loaded with bacteria, of both good and bad varieties. In fact, about 100 trillion bacteria live inside you -- which is more than 10 TIMES the number of cells you have in your whole body. — The ideal balance between the bacteria in your body is 85 percent good and 15 percent bad. This ratio between the “good” bacteria and the other bacteria is one of the critical factors determining your optimal health, as the good bacteria are essential for: • The proper development of your immune system • Protection against over-growth of other microorganisms that could cause disease • Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients

STOMACH: 1. Heartburn or acid reflux 2. Bloating within an hour after eating 3. Bad breath 4. Stomach upset after taking vitamins 5. The sense of excess fullness after meals 6. Feel better if you don’t eat 7. Sleepy after meals 8. Fingernails chip, peel or break easily 9. Stomach pains or cramps 10. Undigested food in stool 11. Chronic diarrhoea 12. Anaemia, unresponsive to iron UPPER GUT HEALTH (small intestine): 1. Food allergies or sensitivities 2. Abdominal bloating 1-2 hours after eating 3. Airborne allergies (environmental) 4. Sinus congestion 5. Crave bread or noodles 6. Alternating constipation and diarrhoea 7. Wheat or grain sensitivity 8. Dairy sensitivity 9. Feels spacy or unreal 10. Experience hives 11. Crohn’s disease 12. Asthma, sinus infections, stuffy nose

LOWER GUT HEALTH: 1. Anus itches 2. Coated tongue 3. Feel worse in mouldy or musty place 4. Fungus or yeast infections 5. Stools hard or difficult to pass 6. Ringworm, “jock itch”, “athletes foot”, nail fungus 7. Less than one bowel movement per day 8. Excessive foul smelling lower bowel gas 9. Cramping in lower abdominal region 10. Dark circles under eyes 11. Stools are not well-formed (loose) 12. Mucus or blood in the stool

HAT: Please check our Health Appraisal Tool (HAT) below to find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to poor digestive health. Please note: this quiz is not meant as a diagnosis of any disease or disorder. If you have concerns or questions about your current health status please contact our office at (705) 497-8788.

Immune system LAURA STAT 1: Public sector sick days cost Canadians 1$ billion dollars a year and experts say the situation is likely to get worse. Autoimmune disease as a category affects 50 million Americans. It is one of the top ten causes of death in women under the age of 651, is the second highest cause of chronic illness and is the top cause of morbidity in women in the United States. STAT 2: 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system. Blurb: Our immune system protects us against threats and on the whole, it does a re markable job of defending us against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Or perhaps your immune system responds inappropriately: overactive (autoimmune) or underactive (deficiency). Either way improvements in your health system using natural means will go a long way to restoring your vitality. Low Immunity: Do you get sick often and take sick days off from work? Chances are you have a weak immune system. The immune system is the most important system of the body when it comes to preventing diseases. We are all born with different levels of immune systems. Some have a stronger immune system than others. But there are many things that can weaken an adequately strong immune system. Here are the top ten things that weaken your immune system: — Stress — A poor diet — Alcohol consumption — Inadequate sleep — Obesity — Inactivity — Medications — Lack of hygiene — Smoking — Dehydration Auto Immune disorders:There are 100+ known autoimmune diseases, all caused by the common thread that is autoimmunity. The process of autoimmunity is initiated when one’s immune system becomes overactive and, rather than destroy invader cells, such as infections and viruses, targets one’s own healthy cells and tissues causing various autoimmune diseases. Auto-immune diseases can affect any system in the body as seen below:

Asthma is a condition in which the immune system becomes overactive in the airways (bronchi) in the lungs. — Allergies result from the immune system’s overreaction to a non-threatening foreign substance. — In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system produces antibodies that attach to the linings of joints. Immune system cells then attack the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain. — People with lupus develop autoimmune antibodies that can attach to tissues through out the body. The joints, lungs, blood cells, nerves, and kidneys are commonly affected by lupus. — The immune system attacks the lining of the intestines in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing episodes of diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, urgent bowel movements, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the two major forms of IBD. — In the case of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the immune system attacks nerve cells, causing symptoms that can include pain, blindness, weakness, poor coordination, and muscle spasms. — In type-1 diabetes, the immune system antibodies attack and destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. — The immune system attacks the nerves controlling muscles in the legs and sometimes the arms and upper body in people with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Weakness results, which can sometimes be severe. — In psoriasis, overactive immune system blood cells called T-cells collect in the skin. The immune system activity stimulates skin cells to reproduce rapidly, producing sil very, scaly plaques on the skin. — With Graves’ Disease, the immune system produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to release excess amounts of thyroid hormone into the blood (hyperthyroidism). — In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis antibodies produced by the immune system attack the thyroid gland, slowly destroying the cells that produce thyroid hormone. — Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies bind to nerves and make them unable to stimulate muscles properly. VIDEO SCRIPT: STAT 1: Public sector sick days cost Canadians 1$ billion dollars a year and experts say the situation is likely to get worse. STAT 2: 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system. That’s right- 80% — It is our immune system’s job to protect us. So supporting your digestive health is essential to also support your immune system, which is your number one defence system against all disease. — There is some evidence that various micronutrient deficiencies — for example, deficiencies of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, and E — alter immune responses in animals, as measured in the test tube. We all know the importance of zinc for your immune system and we are going to teach you how to test whether your zinc stores are deleted.

TO TEST — Hold a ¼ ounce of liquid zinc in your mouth and swish for 15 seconds — Optimal zinc levels: an immediate, unpleasant taste (strongly metallic) — Mild zinc deficiency: a definite but not strong unpleasant taste is noted in 4-6 seconds and tends to intensify (delayed metallic) — Moderate zinc def: no taste initially, but develops 7-13 seconds. May taste bitter or sweet — Very zinc def: tasteless or ‘tastes like water’. Please click on our Health Appraisal Tool (HAT) below to find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to your immune system. Please note: this quiz is not meant as a diagnosis of any disease or disorder. If you have concerns or questions about your current health status please contact our office at (705) 497-8788. 1. Runny or drippy nose or congestion 2. Catch colds at the beginning of winter 3. A mucus-producing cough 4. Frequent colds or flu 5. Other infections (dental, yeast, sinus, ear, lung, skin, bladder, kidney, etc.) 6. Never get sick 7. Acne (adult) 8. Itchy skin (dermatitis) 9. Cysts, boils, rashes 10. History of Epstein Barr, Mono, Herpes, Shingles, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hepatitis, or other chronic viral conditions 11. Bowel issues- constipation, diarrhoea 12. Fatigue

WEIGHT LOSS LAURA STAT 1: Obesity in Canada is a growing health concern with more than 62% of Canadians at an unhealthy weight and is “expected to surpass smoking as the leading cause of pre-ventable morbidity and mortality”. Belly Fat, in particular, is a big concern as the list of known health concerns triggered by visceral fat is growing and now include dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and colon cancer. This is why waist circumference is proving to be a powerful predictor of all these conditions as well as of mortality. STAT 2: Obesity rates across Canada are at historic highs, with Ontario’s numbers notably above the national average (Canadian Journal of Public Health study). And the microflora (or friendly bacteria) in your digestive system are emerging as a major player in weight management. For instance, your baby’s gut bacteria is linked to his or her future weight, and babies that are breastfed (the source of your first immune-building good bacteria) also tend to have intestinal microflora in which beneficial bifidobacteria predominate over potentially harmful bacteria. BLURB: Obesity rates across Canada are at historic highs, with 62% of Canadians at an unhealthy weight. Belly fat, in particular, is a big concern as the list of known health concerns trig-gered by visceral fat is growing and now include dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and colon cancer. This is why waist circumference is proving to be a powerful predictor of all these conditions as well as of mortality. And new emerging research finds that the microflora in your digestive system is a major player in weight management. Did you know that a baby’s gut bacteria is linked to his or her future weight? So why all of the weight gain? We believe an increase in the consumption of simple carbohydrates is a major part of the problem. Simple carbohydrates (especially wheat as we know it today) trigger a cycle of insulin-driven satiety and hunger, paralleled by the ups and downs of euphoria and withdrawal, distortions of neurological function, and addictive effects, all leading to fat deposition. The extremes of blood sugar and insulin are responsible for the growth of fat specifically in the visceral organs. Experienced over and over again, viscer-al fat accumulates, creating a fat liver, two fat kidneys, a fat pancreas, fat large and small intestine, as well as its familiar surface manifestation around your middle- belly fat. And visceral fat is different, it is uniquely capable of triggering inflammation. The more visceral fat present, the greater the quantities of abnormal signals (leptin, inflammatory signals, etc.) released into the bloodstream. The list of other health concerns triggered by visceral fat is growing and now include dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and colon cancer.. This is why waist circumference is proving to be a powerful predictor of all these conditions as well as of mortality.

Visceral fat not only produces abnormally high levels of inflammatory signals but it is also itself inflamed, containing bountiful collections of inflammatory white blood cells (macrophages). At DMG Naturopathic Clinic we believe weight loss is not just about losing weight, it is about a total healthy lifestyle. We address all of your health concerns and offer various weight loss solutions and nutritional counselling to help you reach your goals. We utilize various tools such as standard blood tests, live blood analysis, acupuncture and dietary suggestions to uniquely and individually address the core of your issue and help you find lasting results, not only with your weight but with your total health. 1. Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S et al. Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008 Apr 16; (2):CD003498 2. Whiteley P, Haracopos D, Knivsberg AM et al. The ScanBrit randomized, controlled, single-blind study of a gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders. Nat Neurosci 2010 Apr;13(2)87-100 3. Niederhofer H, Pittschieler K. A preliminary investigation of ADHD symptoms in persons with celiac disease. J Attn Disord 2006 Nov;10(2):200-4 VIDEO SCRIPT: STAT 1: Obesity in Canada is a growing health concern with more than 62% of Canadi-ans at an unhealthy weight and is “expected to surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality”. Belly Fat, in particular, is a big concern as the list of known health concerns triggered by visceral fat is growing and now include dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and colon cancer.This is why waist circumference is proving to be a powerful predictor of all these conditions as well as of mortality. STAT 2: Obesity rates across Canada are at historic highs, with Ontario’s numbers notably above the national average (Canadian Journal of Public Health study). And the microflora (or friendly bacteria) in your digestive system are emerging as a major player in weight management. For instance, your baby’s gut bacteria is linked to his or her future weight, and babies that are breastfed (the source of your first immune-building good bacteria) also tend to have intestinal microflora in which beneficial bifidobacteria predominate over potentially harmful bacteria. SCRIPT:

— Simple carbohydrates (especially wheat as we know it today) trigger a cycle of insulin-driven satiety and hunger, paralleled by the ups and downs of euphoria and withdrawal, distortions of neurological function, and addictive effects, all leading to fatdeposition.

— The extremes of blood sugar and insulin are responsible for the growth of fat specifically in the visceral organs. Experienced over and over again, visceral fat accumu-lates, creating a fat liver, two fat kidneys, a fat pancreas, fat large and small intestine, as well as its familiar surface manifestation around your middle — belly fat. — And visceral fat is different, it is uniquely capable of triggering inflammation. — The more visceral fat present, the greater the quantities of abnormal signals (leptin, inflammatory signals, etc.) released into the bloodstream. The list of other health concerns triggered by visceral fat is growing and now include dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and colon cancer. This is why waist circumference is proving to be a powerful predictor of all these conditions as well as of mortality. Visceral fat not only produces abnormally high levels of inflammatory signals but it is also itself inflamed, containing bountiful collections of inflammatory white blood cells (macrophages). — At DMG Naturopathic Clinic we believe weight loss is not just about losing weight, it is about a total healthy lifestyle. We address all of your health concerns and offer various weight loss solutions and nutritional counselling to help you reach your goals. We utilize various tools such as standard blood tests, live blood analysis, acupuncture and dietary suggestions to uniquely and individually address the core of your issue and help you find lasting results, not only with your weight but with your total health. HAT: Please check our Health Appraisal Tool (HAT) below to find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to weight management issues. Please note: this quiz is not meant as a diagnosis of any disease or disorder. If you have concerns or questions about your current health status please contact our office at (705) 497-8788. 1. Do you snore? 2. Do you feel depressed or upset about your weight? 3. Do you have a family history of weight-management issues, diabetes, or heart disease? 4. Have you ever dieted or participated in a weight loss programme? 5. Would you consider yourself inactive? 6. Do you currently have, or have had in the past, hormonal issues (PMS, PMDD, PCOS)? 7. Have you ever taken a diet supplement or diet pills? 8. Are your waist measurements over 35 inches in women or over 40 inches in men? 9. Do you have high blood pressure (higher than 140/90)? 10. Do you have high cholesterol? 11. Do you snack after dinner? 12. Do you have a diet low in vegetables?

Infants and Children’s health LAURA – STAT 1: 31% of Canadian children are overweight or obese and only 15% of teenagers in Canada exercise enough to be physically fit. And many of these children are unwell physi-cally and mentally because of this. STAT 2: It is estimated that 10%-20% of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness and that 3.2 million youth (aged 12-19) in Canada are at risk of developing depression. BLURB: The last 40 years have shown a global epidemic rise in children suffering from poor health and chronic health conditions. From food and environmental allergies to autism, asthma, colic, ear infections, colds, flu, ADD/ADHD and other behavioural issues. It is crucial that we decrease any influences that will obstruct or compromise our children’s growth and development while supporting and improving health from within. Naturally healthy kids- that is our goal! Our kid-friendly, health-restoring treatments include diet modification, environmental detoxification, nutritional supplementation, and holistic modalities including homeopathy, naturopathy, and acupuncture. Did you know...? — Women who take probiotic supplements during pregnancy decrease risk of eczema in their babies — Research shows that the nutrient density of foods is declining due to a diminishing number of soil nutrients available when growing food — 1 tsp. of sugar lowers immune function for up to 5 hours — Food additives like tartrazine can aggravate the nervous system and cause hyperactivity, especially in children – they have also been linked to asthma, skin rashes and migraines and is banned in Norway and Austria— 31% of Canadian children are overweight or obese— It is estimated that 10%-20% of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness and that 3.2 million youth (aged 12-19) in Canada are at risk for developing depression— Only 15% of teenagers in Canada exercise enough to be physically fit. Here are some great diet goals to set for your family:— Eat green leafy vegetables daily – be creative and hide them is soups, sauces or smoothies— Have fibre daily in the form of ground flax seeds or chia seeds— Drink half your body weight in water – ex. a 40 lb child needs 20 oz of water daily— Eat a good quality protein (chicken, eggs, chickpeas, fish, beans, etc) with most meals and snacks.— Incorporate fresh garlic and onions into your weekly cooking regime as a good antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal source— Fresh berries and apples are an excellent source of nutrients especially if they are organic and have a lower pesticide level— Limit the amount of juice your child drinks and eliminate pop. The juice drank should be 100% not from concentrate fruit juice.

VIDEO SCRIPT: STAT 1: 31% of Canadian children are overweight or obese and only 15% of teenagers in Canada exercise enough to be physically fit. And many of these children are unwell physi-cally and mentally because of this STAT 2: It is estimated that 10%-20% of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness and that 3.2 million youth (aged 12-19) in Canada are at risk of developing depression — In the past 40 years, in particular, we are seeing a global epidemic rise in children suf-fering from poor health and chronic health conditions. — From food and environmental allergies to — autism, — asthma, — colic, — ear infections, — colds, flu, and — ADD/ADHD and other behavioural issues. — Naturally healthy kids; that is our goal! — Remove toxic products: detergents, soaps, perfumes, artificial colour, artificial flavourings — Include nutrient-dense foods in their diets — Boost their immune systems naturally so they experiencing the vicious cycle of ear infection and antibiotic use, leading to other complications — Getting to the core of their behavioural issues and supporting them with natural products DIABETES LAURA STAT 1: An estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes. With a fur-ther 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or pre-diabetes. (Diabetes.ca) STAT 2: According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, approximately 80 to 90% of peo-ple with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. In a large study, people at risk of type 2 diabetes were able to reduce their risk by nearly 60% by exercising moderately for 30 min-utes a day and by losing 5 to 7% of their body weight.

BLURB: An estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes. With a further 7 mil-lion people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030. In Canada alone, there are more than 9 million people living with diabetes today. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism where the body fails to utilize the ingested glucose properly. The body’s main fuel is a form of sugar called glucose, which comes from food (after it’s been broken down). Glucose enters the blood and is used by cells for energy. To use glucose, the body needs a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Insulin is important because it allows glucose to leave the blood and enter the body’s cells. Diabetes develops when your the body can’t make any or enough insulin, or when it can’t properly use the insulin it makes. There are three main types of Diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. People whose family members have diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes themselves. This is true for both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type -1 Diabetes: Type-1 diabetics account for 10% of diabetics. Type-1 diabetes is usually a progressive au-toimmune disease, in which the beta cells that produce insulin are slowly destroyed by the body’s own immune system. It is unknown what first starts this cascade of immune events, but evidence suggests that both a genetic predisposition and environmental fac-tors, such as a viral infection, are involved. Type -2 Diabetes: The other 90% of diabetics are type-2 diabetics- which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin that is produced. Ninety percent of type -2 diabetics are obese and with every 20% increase in body weight, the chance of becoming diabetic doubles. However, in a large study, people at risk of type 2 diabetes were able to reduce their risk by nearly 60% by ex-ercising moderately for 30 minutes a day and by losing 5 to 7% of their body weight. Gestational Diabetes: The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. It affects between 2 and 4% of pregnant women. Below are risk factors which put you at more of a risk of developing gestational diabetes: — You’re obese (your body mass index is over 30) — You’ve had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy — You have sugar in your urine — You have a strong family history of diabetes — You’ve previously given birth to a big baby — You’ve had an unexplained stillbirth — You’ve had a baby with a birth defect — You have high blood pressure — You’re over 35

Pre-Diabetes: Pre-diabetes refers to a condition in which a person’s blood glucose levels are temporar-ily higher than normal, but yet not high enough to be diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. As many as 6 million Canadians can be considered to have pre-diabetes and many don’t know it. A diagnosis of diabetes type -2 is often made in these individuals eventually. However, if you are proactive about your health there are several steps which can be made in your general health to ensure that type -2 diabetes does not become part of your future. Here are the key steps to regulating your blood glucose levels: — Physical Activity: Regular physical activity helps your body lower blood glucose levels, promotes weight loss, reduces stress and enhances overall fitness — Nutrition: What, when and how much you eat all play an important role in regulating blood glucose levels — Supplementation: Taking natural supplements will help maintain normal glucose levels — Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important in the man agement of type 2 diabetes — Lifestyle: Stress management is essential to your health and its impact is far-reaching when it comes to diabetes treatment and prevention. VIDEO SCRIPT: STAT 1: An estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes. With a fur-ther 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. (Diabetes.ca) STAT 2: In a large study, people at risk of type 2 diabetes were able to reduce their risk by nearly 60% by exercising moderately for 30 minutes a day and by losing 5 to 7% of their body weight. — Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism where the body fails to utilize the ingested glu-cose properly. — The body’s main fuel is a form of sugar called glucose, which comes from food (after it’s been broken down) — Glucose enters the blood and is used by cells for energy. — To use glucose, the body needs a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancre-as. Insulin is important because it allows glucose to leave the blood and enter the body’s cells. Diabetes develops when your body can’t make any or enough insulin, or when it can’t properly use the insulin it makes.

— There are three main types of Diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. — Type-1 diabetics account for 10% of diabetics. Research suggests due to genetics + environmental trigger: ie virus — The other 90% of diabetics are type-2 diabetics- which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin that is produced. — Gestational diabetes: The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. It affects between 2 and 4% of pregnant women. — Pre-diabetes: As many as 6 million Canadians can be considered to have pre-diabetes and many don’t know it. Here are the key steps to regulating your blood glucose levels: — Physical Activity: Regular physical activity helps your body lower blood glucose levels, promotes weight loss, reduces stress and enhances overall fitness — Nutrition: What, when and how much you eat all play an important role in regulating blood glucose levels — Supplementation: Taking natural supplements will help maintain normal glucose levels — Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important in the man agement of type 2 diabetes — Lifestyle: Stress management is essential to your health and its impact is far-reaching when it comes to diabetes treatment and prevention. (increased blood sugar is seen after stress- physical or mental AND in times of Illness) HAT: Please check our Health Appraisal Tool (HAT) below to find out whether the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to your sugar handling. Please note: this quiz is not meant as a diagnosis of any disease or disorder. If you have concerns or questions about your current health status please contact our office at (705) 497-8788. 1. Awaken a few hours after falling asleep, hard to get back to sleep 2. Crave Sweets 3. Binge or uncontrolled eating 4. Crave coffee or sugar in the afternoon 5. Fatigue that is relieved by eating 6. A headache is meals are skipped or delayed 7. Irritable before meals 8. Family members with diabetes 9. Frequent thirst 10. Frequent urination 11. Sleepy in the afternoon 12. Shaky if meals are delayed