In this episode, Dr. Lisa discusses how to tell if you are burnt out and on “survival mode” (and so many of us are, unfortunately!). She uncovers the harmful effects of not resting/activating the parasympathetic nervous system, along with ways to prevent burnout. Listen in to discover ways to “fill up your own gas tank” so that you can start feeling your best and living your best life.
What’s Else is Happening?
Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing session for expecting parents looking to decrease fear and anxiety to support their natural instincts around labour and birth is next month. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register
Join Dr. Lisa’s new Facebook group Wild Woman Adventures Toronto if you want to get out in nature, connect with other women and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Activities include: sunrise/sunset SUP, tree-top trekking, a new moon workshop and more!
We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Disclaimer: The information provided is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.
In this re-released episode from October 2021, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni are discussing everything you need to know about vitamin D. Vitamin D isn’t just needed for bone health – it is crucial for your immune health. Also, could low vitamin D be the cause of your aches, pains and low mood?
Vitamin D deficiency is still underdiagnosed, under prevented and under treated in between 60-90% of the worldwide population. In Canada 59% of population are vitamin D deficient (below 75 nmol/L).
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is best absorbed as a supplement when taken with food.
What increases your risk of experiencing vitamin D deficiency?
Dark skin
Obesity
Older age
Malabsorption
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (due to malabsorption and inflammation)
Sunlight overprotection and/or deprivation
Chronic use of prednisone and other anti-inflammatory steroid derivatives, anticonvulsant medications (due to upregulation of liver detoxification, promoting excretion of vitamin D and metabolites)
Why should you care about vitamin D?
Vitamin D plays many roles in the body! It’s not just for bone density, which can decrease as estrogen decreases in perimenopause and menopause.
Vitamin D is known as a pro-hormonesynthesized in the skin and activated in the liver and kidneys. Cholesterol is its precursor.
Why do you need vitamin D in your body?
Reduces cellular growth
Improves cell differentiation
Regulates and controls genes
Reduces inflammation, risk of cancer, autoimmunity
Reduces muscle aches/pain, fibromyalgia
Improves mood (and energy)
Enhances bone health
“The most common manifestations of vitamin D deficiency in adults is:
Depression
Infection
Chronic Pain”
Alex Vasquez (vitamin D monograph available at academia.edu)
Low vitamin D status or deficiency can manifest as:
Bone and muscle pain
Fatigue
Depression
Infections/dysbiosis
Frequent falls and cognitive impairment
Statin intolerance and myalgia
Preterm birth
How does vitamin D support your vagina?
Research shows that vitamin D supports the proliferation of vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. After using a suppository with 1000IU vitamin D over 8 weeks, vaginal pH decreased, while vaginal dryness and pain significantly reduced.
You can think about your skin and mucous membranes (including epithelial cells and immune cells) are like bricks in a wall, with tight junction proteins acting like mortar and weather proofing or waterproofing provided by antimicrobial peptides, as well as lysozyme and secretory IgA, on surfaces.
Mucous membranes are present in your mouth, digestive tract, genitourinary tract and respiratory tract. Strengthening your exterior barrier defenses prevents infection.
Research shows that people with low vitamin D levels are 27-55% more likely to get an upper respiratory tract infection. Higher doses of vitamin D are more protective, improves lung function and decreases inflammation.
Synergistic nutrients for vitamin D include:
Magnesium – cofactor in the synthesis of vitamin D from both exposure to sunlight and dietary sources
Vitamin K2 supports getting calcium into bones and teeth
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) produced in skin and consumed in diet, preferred form for supplementation.
Food sources provide low amounts: fatty wild fish like mackerel, herring, sardines, trout, salmon, cod liver oil, egg yolk, milk, soy milk, fortified foods, beef liver, cheese
Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) produced by irradiating fungi and mushrooms, less efficient precursor to biologically active 1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), also potentially less effective and more toxic.
Some examples of research using cod liver oil as a source of vitamin D:
study with 10 patients with multiple sclerosis over 2 years, daily supplementation of 1000mg calcium, 600mg magnesium and 5000IU vitamin D (from 20g cod liver oil) reduced number of exacerbations with an absence of adverse effects
studies with cod liver oil showed significant reductions of type 1 diabetes, while a study of more than 10,000 infants (less than 1 year of age) and children with 2000IU of vitamin D daily reduced incidence of type 1 diabetes by almost 80%
How do you know if you’re getting enough vitamin D?
Get your blood tested!
Reference ranges for serum 25 (OH) vitamin D3 in adults can vary:
Example:
Deficiency: <20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L)
Insufficiency: 20-40 ng/ml (50-100 nmol/L)
Proposed optimal: 40-65 ng/ml (100-160 nmol/L)
Excess: >80 ng/ml (200 nmol/L)
Proposed updated ranges:
Depletion: <20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L)
Insufficiency: <32 ng/ml (80 nmol/L)
Marginal sufficiency: 30-40 ng/ml (75-100 nmol/L)
Sufficiency: 40-50 ng/ml (100-125 nmol/L)
Proposed optimal physiologic range: 50-90 ng/ml (125-225 nmol/L) – based on levels found in pregnant rural Africans, lifeguards in USA/Isreal, farmers in Puerto Rico
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – for more info, see Episode 47
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – for more info, see Episode 71
What Else is Happening?
Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing monthly info session for expecting parents looking to trust their instincts and their body during labour and birth. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register
Dr. Lisa’s Wild Collective begins again in 2023. You can get on the waitlist at wildcollectivetoronto.com
Today’s Mama Must Have:
Dr. Lisa is a big fan of board games for lots of family fun, including Despicable Me Minion Game of Life, Mousetrap and Don’t Make Me Laugh.
Dr. Toni loves her emulsified vitamin D drops plus vitamin D/K for the whole family.
Email us or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this presentation is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.
In this episode, Dr. Lisa walks through the benefits of using a vacation departure plan and vacation optimizer plan. Do you ever feel like you need a vacation after coming home from vacation? Being intentional around your holidays can make your time away more enjoyable, plus you get to avoid the stress and burnout that can happen before and after vacation time! You need and deserve time off, so listen in to make it work for you to fill your cup and feel re-energized.
In today’s episode, we cover:
What is included in a vacation departure plan
Wrapping up work tasks
Do it, defer it or delegate it
Automated vacation responder for email
Tech detox plan
What is included in a vacation optimizer plan – the fun part!
3 words to describe your ideal vacation
Rest vs. activity
Relationships
Where to eat
Nurturing your mind and heart
Find the 5-4-3-2-1 mindfulness meditation with Amy Fowler at Episode 96
Dr. Lisa loves her Kitchen Aid food processor for making coleslaw, salad dressings with ginger, smoothies, energy balls, coconut milk ice cream and one-bowl crepes.
What’s Else is Happening?
Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing session for expecting parents looking to decrease fear and anxiety to support their natural instincts around labour and birth is happening this fall. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register
Join Dr. Lisa’s new Meetup group Wild Woman Adventures Toronto if you want to get out in nature, connect with other women and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Activities include: sunrise/sunset SUP, tree-top trekking, a new moon workshop and more!
Dr. Lisa’s Wild Collective in Fall 2022: get on the waitlist: wildcollectivetoronto.com
We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Disclaimer:The information provided is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.
In this episode, Dr. Toni discusses why it’s so important for perimenopausal mamas and their kids to get enough iron. Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide and is crucial for optimal energy, mental health, sleep and brain function.
What is the Difference Between Iron Deficiency and Anemia?
Iron deficiency is a broad term and refers to low iron stores that do not meet the body’s iron requirements, regardless of whether anemia is present or not.
Iron deficiency anemia is when hemoglobin levels fall below the laboratory reference range.
Iron deficiency without anemia is when iron storage falls below ideal levels, but anemia is not present.
What are the Top 5 Reasons Why Iron is so Important?
Reduce fatigue and increase energy
Iron helps move oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and helps your muscles store and use oxygen
Reduce heavy periods
low iron can impact your clotting and be a factor in your heavy periods, creating a vicious cycle
Mental Health
Being anemic can increase your risk of a mental health diagnosis and can increase your risk of experiencing an anxiety disorder, depression, psychotic disorders
Taking iron supplements if you’re anemic can reduce your risk of developing psychiatric disorders
Taking iron supplements of iron if you’re not anemic can decrease the risk of future mental health diagnoses
Anemic mothers were less responsive and had negative feelings towards their children than non-anemic mothers
Low hemoglobin is associated with postpartum depression
Low ferritin is linked with more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms
Brain and cognitive performance
Iron deficiency (with and without anemia) has been connected to poor cognitive performance in adolescents
Low maternal iron intake at the time of conception is associated with a greater risk of autism in the offspring
Low iron intake during the second trimester has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring by 30%
Infants born with low serum ferritin have been shown to have poorer recognition memory, poorer school performance, difficulty with planning and attention and a higher risk of cognitive and socio-emotional problems including anxiety and depression into young adulthood
Sleep and restless legs
Being anemic can increase your risk of a mental health diagnosis and can increase your risk of experiencing a sleep disorder
Taking iron supplements if you’re anemic can reduce your risk of developing a sleep disorder
Restless Leg Syndrome is associated with low iron levels
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency?
Pale skin
Fatigue
Cold hands and feet
Slowed growth and development
Poor appetite
Abnormally rapid breathing
Behavioral problems
Frequent infections
Unusual cravings for substances like ice, dirt, paint or starch
How can you Test your Iron Status?
Blood work can test for levels of:
hemoglobin (as part of the Complete Blood Count)
circulating iron and transferrin saturation – needs to be above 20%
ferritin (iron stores) – needs to be above 35
You can still be iron deficient if your levels of the above fall within the lab’s reference ranges!
How can you prevent iron deficiency in yourself and your kids?
Serve iron-rich foods – after beginning your baby on solids
Don’t overdo milk
Enhancing absorption – with foods rich in acid like vitamin C (ascorbic acid), such as citrus fruits, cantaloupe, strawberries, bell pepper, tomatoes and dark green vegetables, or apple cider vinegar.
Consider iron supplementation – unfortunately, an iron-rich diet does not provide enough iron to correct iron deficiency or anemia
Food Source:
Iron content (in mg Fe) per 100 g
Animal sources (bioavailability about 20%)
Liver (pork or veal)
18
Dry beef
9.8
Shells
8.0
Egg yolk
5.5
Beef fillet
2.3
Trout
2.0
Chicken
0.7
Plant sources (bioavailability about 5%)
Wheat bran
16.0
Sesame seeds
14.6
Soy beans
9.7
Lentils
8.0
White beans
7.0
Dried apricots
5.2
Spinach (limited due to oxalate content)
2.7
Whole grain bread
2.4
Green beans
1.0
Source: SPOG Pediatric Hematology Working Group
Today’s Mama Must Have:
Dr. Toni is a big fan of aloe gel to soothe the skin.
What’s Else is Happening?
Dr. Toni’s next HypnoBirthing session for expecting parents looking to decrease fear and anxiety to support their natural instincts around labour and birth is happening this fall. Join her at https://www.hypnobirthingcalgary.com/register
Join Dr. Lisa’s new Meetup group Wild Woman Adventures Toronto if you want to get out in nature, connect with other women and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Activities include: sunrise/sunset SUP, tree-top trekking, a new moon workshop and more!
We’d love you to subscribe, leave us a review and a 5-star rating if you enjoyed this episode.
You can also support us by visiting our Patreon page.
Please tell your perimenopausal mama friends about us, too!
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Disclaimer:The information provided is not meant to replace treatment with a licensed health care practitioner. It is for informational purposes only. Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or other licensed health care professional to determine which treatments are safe for you.
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