Excess weight is a very personal problem. It shapes how you feel about yourself and how others treat you. It has a direct impact on your current and future health. If current trends continue, we could call the first decade of the new millennium the obesity decade.

Almost any kind of diet can lead to weight loss, at least over the short term. Diet trends come and go. High protein, low carbohydrate, low fat, what does all this mean and what long-term effects will it have on our health? In fact, many of these diets can be harmful to our health and even lead to weight gain.

At YS Health Center, our goal is to determine the underlying cause for your weight gain in the first place. Is it due to poor dietary choices, lack of physical exercise, food intolerances, food addiction/bingeing, hormonal imbalances/changes, an underactive thyroid? Since no two people are alike, the program is designed to be flexible in treating each individual case.

Dieting to lose weight has never worked for the long term without an appropriate life-style change accompanying it. At the clinic we have designed a safe and effective weight loss program without the use of appetite suppressants and starvation dieting. We incorporate nutritional counselling, acupuncture and supplements to assist your body in finding its ideal body weight.

If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with our Naturopathic Doctor, Karie Gawenda, please call us at (416)733-2539.

A survey by Consumer Reports magazine says massage therapy is more effective than drugs when treating back pain.

"People know their pain and they know what treatments are effective," explains Mark Bentz, the President of the Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia. "This survey confirms what registered massage therapists have been saying for over 50 years, massage therapy works."

The survey was conducted with over 46,000 Consumer Reports readers in the U.S. and Canada. Other important findings include:

• 28% of massage therapy users with arthritis said it helped them feel much better, the same rating that arthritis users gave prescription drugs. Over-the-counter drugs fared much worse, receiving an approval rating of only 17%

• massage therapy was rated the second-most effective treatment for headaches, close behind prescription drugs and ahead of over-the-counter drugs.

Supporting the immune system is critical to good health. At the same time, good health is critical to the immune system. The best approach to supporting the immune function is a comprehensive plan involving lifestyle, stress management, exercise, diet, nutritional supplements and the use of botanical medicine.

Mind-body: There is a growing body of knowledge documenting the connection between the mind and its influence on physiology of health and disease. Evidence shows that suppression of the immune system is proportional to ones level of stress.

Nutrition: The health of the immune system is greatly impacted by a person's nutritional status. Consistent with good health, optimal immune function requires a healthy diet that:

• is rich in whole, natural foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds and nuts

• low in fat and refined sugars

• contains adequate, but not excessive amounts of protein.

In addition, individuals are encouraged to drink a minimum of 6 8oz-glasses of water a day. Along with a positive mental attitude, a good high potency multi-vitamin-mineral supplement, a regular exercise program, daily deep breathing and relaxation exercises, and at least 7 hours of sleep, one will go a long way in helping the immune system function at an optimal level.

For a more in depth look into your own state of health and how to prevent illness, please call to speak with our Naturopathic Doctor, Karie Gawenda.

Roast Squash and Apple Soup

• 3 lbs (1 ½ kg) butternut squash (or your favourite type)

• 2 garlic cloves

• 2 medium apples

• 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

• salt and pepper

• pinch nutmeg

• fresh thyme or savory

Preheat oven to 350°F
Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Brush the cut side of the squash with olive oil and place cut-side down on a baking sheet. Without removing the skin, cut the hard end of the garlic off and place the exposed end on the baking sheet next to the squash. Peel and core the apples and add to the baking sheet.

Bake in oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the squash is tender. Scoop out the squash and squeeze the garlic out of the skin. Place them and the apples in food processor or blender, puree.

Transfer puree to medium saucepan. Add enough stock to give soup the desired consistency. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg, to taste. Heat soup gently over medium heat. Serve topped with fresh thyme or savory.

Recipe taken from CCNM's Simple Healthy Cookbook.

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