What's My BMI?

Body Mass Index as a Health Risk Indicator

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value calculated based on your height and weight. It  represents your risk for developing overweight-associated health conditions. 

The higher your BMI, the higher the risk for developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers (including colon, breast, endometrial and gall bladder cancers), heart disease, gall stones, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea (NIH 2010).

BMI Categories:

• Underweight = <18.5
• Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
• Overweight = 25–29.9
• Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

What's Your BMI?

To calculate your BMI, input your height in inches and weight in pounds to use this handy online BMI calculator from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  

If your BMI is greater than 25, view this table to determine what a healthy weight would be for someone of your height. If you're not certain how to lose weight safely, sustainably and permanently, contact your health care practitioner to determine the nutritional, exercise and lifestyle modifications that can help you achieve your goals. Modest, sustainable weight loss can help you enjoy better overall health, energy, stamina, and decrease your risk of serious disease.

Permanent Weight Loss Is Achievable

For more information on how naturopathic medicine can help you achieve your weight loss goals, please   contact me for a free, 15-minute complimentary consultation at my office in Guelph, (519) 822-7075. You CAN feel better!

-Dr. Liz

Can a naturopathic doctor help me?

Complimentary "Meet the Doctor" Visits with Elizabeth Cherevaty ND


Find out if naturopathic medicine is right for you. 

Do you live or work in the Guelph area? Wondering how working with a naturopathic doctor can help you with your health concerns? You're invited to come by for a free, 15-minute "meet and greet" consultation with me at the Meridian Wellness Centre. I'll answer any questions you may have, and you'll get a sense of whether you'd like to work with me as part of your health care team. It's completely free, and if for any reason I feel I can't help you, I'll be pleased to refer you to someone in our area who can. 

Call (519) 822-7075 to book your free, 15-minute introductory naturopathic visit at the Meridian Wellness Centre.

Looking forward to meeting you in the near future!

-Dr. Liz

Naturopathic Doctor
Guelph ON

For more info please visit http://guelphnaturopathic.weebly.com

Diabetes Drug Increases Cardiovascular Risk

A Health Canada public advisory has been issued this week warning people with type 2 diabetes who are taking the drug, rosiglitazone, marketed as AVANDIA^®, AVANDAMET^® (contains both rosiglitazone and metformin), and AVANDARYL^® (contains both rosiglitazone and glimepiride) about the increased risk of adverse cardiovascular (heart-related) events associated with the use of this medication.  Rosiglitazone is a prescription drug  that is added to the treatment regime of people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar has not been controlled by a combination of dietary changes, exercise, and the oral hypoglycemic agent metformin.

Rosiglitazone can cause fluid retention in the body, which can aggravate some cardiac conditions and lead to swelling, weight gain, and worst of all, heart failure. The use of rosiglitazone may be associated with an increased risk of cardiac ischemia (poor blood supply to the heart).  AVANDIA^®/AVANDAMET^®/AVANDARYL^® are not recommended in patients with a history of ischemic heart disease. 

If you are currently taking rosiglitazone, contact your physician immediately to discuss your individual risk/benefit profile as well as other treatment options. Do not discontinue rosiglitazone therapy without  your physician's supervision. 

A PREVENTABLE EPIDEMIC

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease caused by obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary choices. This is a lifestyle-induced epidemic, with 60,000 new cases diagnosed annually in this country (Health Canada 2005). Complications of chronic, poorly-controlled blood sugar include damage to small and large blood vessels leading to blindness, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, ulcers and limb amputations, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. People with type 2 diabetes are also at increased risk of various types of infections. 

THE GOOD NEWS

From a health promotion perspective, Type 2 diabetes is both PREVENTABLE and MANAGEABLE with dietary and lifestyle change if these interventions occur early enough in the disease development process. Botanical medicine and specific nutrient therapy are also helpful in managing type 2 diabetes and preventing complications. 

For your individualized type 2 diabetes prevention or treatment plan, contact your naturopathic doctor. 

Naturopathic consultations are available at the Meridian Wellness Centre by calling 519-822-7075.

-Dr. Liz 

Make Your Own Almond Milk

Is the cost of almond milk, or the thought of trucking litres upon litres of mostly water from California to your doorstep, or perhaps its thin blandness dragging your enjoyment of a dairy-reduced diet into the mud? Here's an easy and cost-effective way to make your own fresh almond milk and can be adjusted to suit just how you like it. I've developed this quick recipe based on a single serving, so multiply as needed based on number of servings desired.

RECIPE

What you'll need:

1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup water (nice and local); or to taste
1/4 tsp. natural vanilla extract (optional)
1/4 tsp. honey or maple syrup (optional)

Soak almonds in water overnight to activate the nuts' natural enzymes. Blend on high. Strain by pouring through a wire strainer* into container or glass of choice. Pour over cereal, into tea or coffee or drink on its own.  Homemade almond milk is a yummy, digestible, cleanse-friendly way to get your calcium boost!

*Tip: use leftover nut bits as a base for pesto, mix into oatmeal, a protein shake or something you're baking....those proteins and fibres are highly nutritious and versatile!

VARIATIONS

Substitute raw cashews or great Canadian hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds) in the same proportions in this recipe for an even creamier texture.  Play with the proportions of nut/seed to water to make your homemade "milk" thinner or creamier and to vary the flavors.  Nuts and seeds are good sources of protein, beneficial oils, and minerals. Enjoy!

Update on Integrative Cancer Care funding competition

INTEGRATIVE CANCER CARE IN CANADA?

Great news: the idea of a Canada's first cost-free complementary cancer care centre has moved on to the semi-final round of voting in the Aviva Community Fund competition. Voting in the semi-finalist round begins December 2, 2010. Each person has 10 days to vote 10 times. The countdown begins!

SEMI-FINAL ROUND VOTING BEGINS DECEMBER 2!

Search for idea #6149, "Whole-Person Cancer Care Regardless of Income" or follow this link to learn more about this project and register to vote beginning on December 2!  It takes just a moment. Your vote will help all Canadians by helping to establish a sustainable, cost-free integrative cancer care centre with the Aviva prize of $100,000 to be matched by both the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF) for a total of $300K in funding.

Vote YES to Cost-Free Integrative Cancer Care in Canada!

Canadians are one step closer to making cost-free, whole-person cancer care a reality through tremendous public support in the Aviva Community Fund competition! The proposal has reached Round 2 of the competition and is sitting in 3rd place!!

"Every three minutes, a Canadian is diagnosed with cancer. Wanting to implement every measure to overcome this disease, the majority (~ 80%) of people turn to complementary and integrative therapies to regain some measure of control over their lives.

Not everyone can afford this care.

With this initiative we are asking for $100,000 from the Aviva Community Fund. This amount will be TRIPLED to a total of $300,000 by equal contributions from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF). All funds will go to providing no cost whole-person care to hundreds of cancer patients in the Ottawa Region.

Success of this initiative will allow the creation of a lasting program delivered to those who would not otherwise have the option. If you are interested in learning more and/or becoming involved, please contact syoung@ccnm.edu.

Cast your vote - every day for the next 9 days - and help make sustainable, accessible integrative cancer care a reality in Canada! Click here to register, then get VOTING!

Every person has 9 days to vote 9 times.

Thank you on behalf of the people with cancer and their loved ones who will benefit immensely from making this project a success!!

THREE INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN CHILD SKIN CARE - AND SOME HEALTHIER OPTIONS

We're trying to get petroleum out of our cars...So why are we still putting it on our kids' skin?

As an ND who works with pediatric patients, I am frequently asked about various skin conditions in kids. Lately I've been scanning product labels on pharmacy and grocery store shelves evaluating whether I'd feel comfortable recommending ANY of these familiar brand-name skin care products to my patients. Based on the ingredients listed, in most cases the answer is an overwhelming "no thanks". From fragrances to heavy metals to artificial preservatives and colours, most of the skin care products available for kids contain ingredients that at best give their livers extra things to detoxify and at worst can be irritating, allergenic, endocrine-disrupting or even carcinogenic.

In addition to fragrances and colors, here are three ingredients that should be avoided in your child's skin care routine (you'll find some healthier suggestions below):

MINERAL OIL

First, let's look at "mineral oil", inaptly named as it actually contains  no minerals, this substance is also known as "paraffin oil" and "liquid petrolatum". As a toxicologist, I found the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) on mineral oil to be interesting, as this material is indicated to be a skin irritant that can cause dermatitis. "Less refined" versions of mineral oil are carcinogenic. Meanwhile, a quick check of the Environmental Working Group's (EWG's) "Skin Deep" cosmetics database highlights concerns of carcinogenicity, organ system toxicity and yet more skin-irritating qualities.

PETROLATUM

Similarly, petrolatum (yes, I have a petroleum-should-not-be-on-our-skin theme here) makes the grade as "expected to be toxic or harmful" and "a high human health priority" by Health Canada's Existing Substances List. Note that it has also been concealed in cosmetic products under the everything-goes, unregulated term, "fragrance".

PETROLEUM JELLY

Then there's the brand-name Vaseline or petroleum jelly. The historical account of the "discovery" of this industrial byproduct as a skin care aid is described on Unilever-Vaseline's web site. But petroleum jelly (yes, jelly made of petroleum) is a waterproof substance leftover from the refining of crude oil - it prevents water from escaping from the skin (hence famed as an emollient/moisturizer) and conversely prevents waterborne microorganisms from infecting the skin from the outside, indirectly allowing the body to go about healing itself (and we LOVE that the body does). These waterproofing properties , though, can be obtained through more nutritive and natural substances than an inexpensive byproduct of the oil refinery industry backed by cuddly marketing.

Petroleum-derived ingredients are known as "occlusive" - that they block the pores. Not ideal. Pores don't like being blocked. What's more, these materials can come pre-contaminated with PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which introduces to baby's skin care regime additional risk of carcinogenicity, allergenicity, and endocrine disruption. 

So what's the "bottom line" for baby's bottom?

First, healthy skin needs to be cleaned with water and a soft cloth, dried gently, and that's it. There is no medical requirement to apply an occlusive, waterproofing, drying, or other substance to baby's bottom between diaperings. Skin can just be skin. If desired though, there are many healthier alternatives to petroleum byproducts. Skip the tar sands and try a sprinkling of corn starch; organic olive oil; beeswax-, olive oil- or coconut oil-based balms with herbs like plantain, comfrey, or calendula; homeopathic combination cremes, etc.

If your child has a skin condition, such as eczema, diaper rash or candida, book a visit with your ND to determine the appropriate treatment. It's best not to suppress skin eruptions with corticosteroids. Rather, look for healing from the inside out. Skin concerns in babies often reflect an imbalance in the baby's diet (or mom's diet during breastfeeding), intestinal microflora (probiotics) and immune system.

Most of the time, some simple changes with the guidance of your ND are all it takes to do great things for your little one's health, skin included. Happy pampering!

-Dr. Liz

References:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient/703977/MINERAL_OIL/
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient/704786/PETROLATUM/
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=726345