Melissa Rodriguez

You have probably heard of spring cleaning for your home, but have you ever considered spring cleaning your body? Day to day and month after month, many of us consume foods that aren’t good for our health; perhaps it’s too much fat, too much sugar or too many processed foods. Maybe we’re eating the same types of foods on a daily basis; this can prevent us from getting the vast array of nutrients we need to optimize our health. Take advantage of the change of season to do a short cleanse.

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If you have a second, check out this really great video from an interesting website called Give Me a Second. The purpose of this site is to educate women about the importance of getting a second opinion, when it comes to seeking treatment for the below medical conditions: 

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I definitely don’t consider it my place to tell a patient whether they should get the flu vaccine or not. As a naturopathic doctor I view my role as a consultant. I provide the facts and figures, and my patient can then decide what they consider to be the best course of action for themselves. Of course I give my professional opinion, but I am well aware that I could never force a patient to exercise, eat brown rice or even take a vitamin. My personal philosophy is that patients need to be well informed in order to make the best decisions for their own health.  I think this applies to all forms of treatments, whether someone is taking homeopathic medicines or antibiotics. It’s important to know the benefits as well as the possible side effects, especially because often times the side effects can be counteracted. Using the example of antibiotics, if a patient takes “friendly” bacteria such as Lactobacilus Acidophilus during the course of their treatment, they can avoid possible unpleasant side effects like diarrhea, gas and bloating.

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One of my favorite drinks is green tea. In China one can find a seemingly infinite variety of this tea, based on when and where it’s picked, as well as what happens to it after it’s harvested. I love its light, refreshing flavor and delicate aroma, but what I love even more is the vast number of health benefits this tea can provide.  

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These days there is an overabundance of sunscreens on the market: Creams, sprays with or without retinol, with SPF30, 50, 100! How do you choose one that is safe and effective for you and your loved ones? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
 
A good sunscreen should block out both UVA and UVB light, in other words it should be labeled as broad-spectrum. Most sunscreens do a good job of blocking UVB, but aren’t so great when it comes to UVA.

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Summer means lazy weekends, hot temperatures and outdoor activities. Good sun protection is important to prevent dehydration, burns, and the development of skin cancer. Children need to be especially well protected because their skin is thinner and more sensitive. According to the Canadian Cancer Society children and teenagers who get a severe sun burn before the age of 18 are at an increased risk of getting skin cancer as adults.

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6. An apple a day…

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? The truth is that we have to eat a lot more than just an apple a day to stay healthy. We must consume plenty of different fruits and vegetables to benefit from the many vitamins, minerals and enzymes they contain. I like to tell my kids that they need to eat a rainbow of foods. Our plates should be filled with colour; the orange of squash, the red of tomatoes, the purple of cabbage and the green of bok choy. Living in China we are very lucky to have such a wide selection of fruits and vegetables to choose from. Add variety to your diet and try something new. The Canadian Food Guide  recommends eating seven to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day! See what the World Health Organization has to say about the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables.

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My son has been home from school with pinkeye for a few days now. It must be going around because there were other children in his classroom who also had it. But what exactly is pinkeye, and how bad can it be?
 
Pinkeye (it even sounds kind of cute) is usually not serious, just irritating. It's an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye -- the thin protective membrane that covers the eyeball and the eyelids. That’s why the medical term is conjunctivitis. Here is a good website that describes the various types of conjunctivitis and explains when to see your pediatrician or M.D. Since I am currently dealing with a viral pinkeye let’s talk about conjunctivitis due to infection.
 

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