Toronto Naturopathic Doctor and IV Vitamin Therapy Clinic
Higher Health Naturopathic Centre and IV LoungeArticles by: Admin
Brain Fog

Brain Fog

Brain fog is a term used to describe a wide variety of symptoms that can include feeling forgetful, mentally sluggish, and having trouble concentrating. It can be caused by many different things such as stress, anxiety, poor diet, and sleep deprivation.

If you’re experiencing brain fog there are some things you need to avoid and there are many things you can do to help clear it up.

The symptoms are pretty clear, so let’s dive into how you can avoid brain fog and then some things you can start doing right away if you do have brain fog!

How to Avoid Brain Fog.

If you’re looking to prevent brain fog, it’s important to identify the root cause of your symptoms. Here are the five most common causes of brain fog and how you can avoid them:

Poor Diet

A poor diet is one of the most common causes of brain fog. If you’re not eating a balanced and healthy diet, your brain won’t be getting the nutrients it needs to function properly. This can lead to symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and mood swings.

To avoid issues caused by poor diet, make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive caffeine.

Lack Of Sleep

If you’re not getting enough sleep, brain fog is one of the most common side effects. When you don’t get enough rest, your brain isn’t able to function at its best. This can lead to problems with concentration, focus, and memory.

To avoid brain fog due to lack of sleep, make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Establish a regular sleep schedule and avoid using electronic devices before bed. A pro tip is to make sure you get outdoor light exposure first thing in the morning, even if it’s cloudy. This will set your circadian clock.

Stress And Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can be a major cause of brain fog. When you’re stressed out, your brain is working overtime to produce cortisol and other stress hormones. This can lead to problems with focus, concentration, and memory.

To avoid brain fog caused by stress and anxiety, make sure to practice relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga. Make time for self-care tasks like massage, aromatherapy, and journaling. And make sure to talk to a therapist if you’re struggling with anxiety or stress.

Medication Side Effects

Certain medications can cause brain fog as a side effect. If you’re taking medication and you’re experiencing brain fog, talk to your doctor about possible alternatives.

Environmental Toxins

Exposure to environmental toxins can also cause brain fog. Things like air pollution, cigarette smoke, and chemical fumes can all have a negative effect on your brain health.

To avoid brain fog caused by environmental toxins, try to limit your exposure to these things as much as possible. Install a quality air filter in your home, avoid smoking, and steer clear of chemical-laden products.

What can you do to help alleviate brain fog?

There are many different things you can do to help clear brain fog and improve your cognitive function.

Get Enough Sleep

One of the most important things you can do for brain health is get enough sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain fog is likely to worsen. Aim to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.

Manage Stress And Anxiety

Chronic stress and anxiety can take a toll on the brain and lead to brain fog. To reduce stress and anxiety, try practicing relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation. A simple breathing exercise you can do almost anywhere is; breath in your nose counting to 4. Hold it for a count of 7. Let it out through your mouth at a count of 7. Do this 3-5 times and it will lower your stress response.

Avoid Brain Fog Triggers

If you know that certain things trigger your brain fog, try to avoid them as much as possible. This might mean avoiding caffeine, nicotine or alcohol, or steering clear of large crowds or stressful situations. Once you’re aware of your brain fog, you will start to notice what makes it worse

Eat A Healthy Brain First Diet

A healthy diet is essential for brain health. Make sure to include plenty of brain-boosting foods like omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, B vitamins, antioxidants and herbs like ginkgo biloba and gotu kola.

Take Supplements

If you’re struggling to get all the nutrients you need from food alone, consider taking supplements. There are a number of supplements that can help improve brain function.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health. They help protect the brain from damage and improve cognitive function. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in foods like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help keep the gut healthy. They’ve also been shown to improve brain function. Probiotics can be found in foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.

B vitamins are essential for brain health. They help improve cognitive function and protect the brain from damage. B vitamins can be found in foods like beef, poultry, eggs, and legumes.

Herbal supplements like ginkgo biloba and gotu kola are known for their brain-boosting effects. They help improve cognitive function and protect the brain from damage. Herbal supplements can be found in health food stores and online.

One of our fastest treatments for Brain Fog is IV Drip Therapy.

Our clinic offers IV drips for brain fog and mental performance that are made up of the highest quality ingredients available at therapeutic doses.

The key benefits of an IV Drip for brain fog and mental performance are:

  • Decreases neuroinflammation, which is often a cause of brain fog
  • Nutritive for brain health – improves cellular health and provides building blocks for neurotransmitter production
  • Supports detoxification; clearing waste from your system

Unless specified, every IV Drip at Higher Health starts with the following base ingredients before we add on for your specific goal:

  • Vitamin C
  • Magnesium
  • Calcium
  • Trace Minerals (Chromium, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc)
  • B Vitamins (B1,B2, B3, B5, B6, B12)
  • Amino Acids (which promote cellular repair and optimal function)

To help with  brain fog and mental performance, an IV drip will also include the following:

Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and plays a large role in supporting mental performance. Low levels of vitamin C have been correlated with an impaired ability to think and remember. In addition, several studies have shown that individuals with dementia may have lower serum levels of vitamin C. Increasing intake of vitamin C has shown a protective effect on thinking and memory during aging.

Glutathione – Glutathione is our master antioxidant and helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. Research suggests that oxidative stress and inflammation near the brain, spine, and nerves (central nervous system) can increase the risk of dementia. Supporting detoxification helps reduce brain fog associated with free radicals and increases mental clarity.

NAC – Working as glutathione’s sidekick, n-acetyl-cysteine supports the antioxidant pathway, neutralizing free radicals that contribute to brain fog. It regulates glutamate levels in the brain, which is an important neurotransmitter involved in memory, learning, and behaviour.

Carnitine – Acetyl-l-carnitine can help improve memory and mitochondrial function. It has shown to prevent age-related cognitive decline and improve aspects of learning. Carnitine supplementation improves mental functioning in older individuals experiencing memory loss.

Vitamin B12 – Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with memory issues, confusion, and dementia. It is involved in the development of the brain as it maintains healthy blood cells and nerve cells. Vitamin B12 supplementation has shown to improve cognitive function in individuals who are deficient.

B6 – Vitamin B6 is an important cofactor in the production of several neurotransmitters that have an effect on memory and cognitive function. Research has found high doses of vitamin B6 to be beneficial for inattention associated with ADHD, demonstrating its effect on mental performance and focus.

B5 – Vitamin B5 is essential for healthy brain function and has shown to slow the progression of memory loss. It has shown to improve memory and support the nervous system through the production of neurotransmitters. Vitamin B5 is important for mitochondrial health which ensures the production of ATP (energy) for our brains.

Magnesium – Magnesium is a critical nutrient in support of brain health. It has shown to improve both short and long term memory, as well as reduce the risk of memory loss associated with advanced age. Research has found an association between magnesium deficiency and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

If you have any questions about how we can help you with brain fog or your health in general, please book a free intro consultation with one of our naturopathic doctors. *available only for Ontario residents.

References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29252056/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19131473/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30551349/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20454891
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1365868
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11244289
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20454891

Hormone imbalance

Hormone Imbalance

Hormone Imbalance, Why Does It Happen And What Can You Do?

A hormone imbalance can turn your life upside down. Some people think certain things happen just because we get older and excuse them away. That is not always the case. If you have a hormone imbalance, chances are there is A LOT you can do about it!

In this article we’re going to look at:

  1. What are hormones.
  2. The top 5 things that cause a hormone imbalance.
  3. The symptoms to look for in a hormone imbalance.
  4. How to check your hormones.
  5. What can you do to balance again?

Hormones are critical chemical messengers that control our body’s communication pathways, affecting many aspects of our health. Every part of our body has a job it needs to get done, and our hormones help ensure that job gets completed.

Hormones are secreted by exocrine glands such as the pituitary gland, the adrenal glands, the thyroid, the ovaries/testes, pancreas, etc. They work together to form one large communication center within our body, called the endocrine system.

Without hormones, our body would be unable to grow, to use energy from the food we eat, to regulate our mood or reproductive processes. Even a minor hormone imbalance can lead to widespread symptoms, similar to when we drop a stone into a body of water and watch the ripple effect.

Let’s Look At The Top 5 Causes Of A Hormonal Imbalance

Stress

Our bodies are designed to respond to stress acutely by activating our “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system. One of the main hormones in this reaction is cortisol, one of our steroid hormones. Unfortunately, we tend to see people who are under constant sources of stress, putting this nervous system into overdrive. 

In our for our bodies to meet the demands of this chronic stress, it preferentially uses cholesterol to make cortisol instead of some of our other stress hormones like progesterone. This may lead to symptoms like changes in mood, weight gain, and PMS like symptoms. 

Women are more sensitive to a hormonal imbalance than most men, and chronic stress can negatively impact fertility since our body does not feel reproduction is a priority in times of stress. Our adrenal glands, which secrete cortisol, have a distinction relationship with the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland as well, called the HPA axis. When we see this relationship altered, we also see other hormones affected as well like thyroid hormones, melatonin, and insulin.

Irregular Sleep Habits

Most of our bodily functions are synched with our sleep-wake cycle, our hormones included. This means that the release of certain hormones naturally fluctuate throughout the day. Hormones that are under clear circadian control include melatonin, cortisol, our sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and epinephrine. 

Unfortunately, it’s all too common to see people get caught up with day to day tasks, and put sleep on the back burner. This can not only cause a hormone imbalance, but also affect almost every physiological process in our body! Quality sleep needs to be a priority for happy, healthy hormones. We cannot reiterate this enough!

Nutrition

In regards to nutrition, one of the major things that can affect hormone imbalances in blood sugar levels. When we eat a meal high in sugar of refined carbohydrates, we see both a spike in insulin, and a decrease in sex-hormone binding globulin. Sex-hormone binding globulin’s main role is to bind excess hormones in the blood; therefore, when this goes down, free hormones go up. One of the major ones in this case is testosterone (hello androgen excess). 

Androgen excess is something that we see often in individuals who have PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome. If you feel that you rely on processed carbohydrates or sugary foods to provide energy throughout the day, you may have dysregulated blood sugar.

Chronic Inflammation

When we think about inflammation, we most often think about what happens to our tissue post-injury. This kind of inflammation; however, is very different. Chronic inflammation is a systemic level of inflammation that occurs throughout the body in response to prolonged periods of stress, alcohol, toxin exposure, and food sensitivities to name a few. 

Acutely, inflammation is a good thing to help initiate healing and protect the body; chronically however it can lead to many problems. There is an area in our brains that regulates our hormones, and these receptors respond to inflammatory mediators that are being released in inflammatory states. 

For example, in response to this, our brain sends signals to the adrenal glands to pump out more hormones, like cortisol. Our body typically likes to be a tightly regulated system, with everyone in balance to operate at its best. When we get an overproduction of one hormone, we often see other hormones suffering as a response leading to a hormonal imbalance. 

Environmental Toxins

Our environment is a major source of chemicals that have been found to have endocrine disrupting properties. One of the most common endocrine disrupting chemicals are xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens mean that they have the ability to modulate estrogen’s activity throughout the body by binding to estrogen receptors. 

These chemicals can be found in your personal care products, make-up, plastics, receipts, and other products that touch our food and skin. These include known xenoestrogens such as parabens, BPA, phthalates and triclosan. It’s hard to avoid these chemicals completely in today’s day and age but there are some things that we can do to lessen our exposure, and chemical burden. 

This includes looking for products that are made without these ingredients, ditching plastic for glass, and avoiding the handling of paper receipts. In addition, using apps such as “Think Dirty” and “EWG” can help to identify products without these endocrine disruptors.

What Exactly Does A Hormonal Imbalance Feel Like?

You might have a combination of some of these symptoms…

  • You feel wired but tired at night
  • You feel anxious, have difficulty focusing, or feel like you have brain fog
  • You feel your mood is all over the map
  • You are losing your hair more than normal, or you start to notice clumps falling out
  • You may get food cravings for chocolate, chips, or sweets that feel difficult to manage
  • Acne along the jawline and lower cheeks
  • Rashes or hives for no reason
  • You feel constantly drained, fatigue, or that your ability to bounce back is not what it once was
  • Your back, joints, and muscles ache or joints are inflamed without an apparent cause
  • Your menstrual cycles are irregular, painful, heavy, or you’re no longer ovulating at all
  • You may be premenopausal or post-menopausal and may be suffering from hot flashes, night sweats or mood swings
  • You may wake each night, typically between 1-4am, with racing thoughts and difficulty falling back asleep
  • You feel your sex drive is non-existent, and have no desire for intercourse
  • You have been gaining weight or have difficulty losing weight even though your routine has not changed
  • Your digestive system has been out of whack, ranging from difficulty passing bowel movements to very loose stools

Did you find yourself doing a mental checklist of one, or more of these things? Then you’re in the right place. 

Have you been told that these things are “normal”, part of aging, part of being a woman, etc. but want more for your health? We want you to feel better than fine, to challenge the status quo. We want you to aim for higher health, and to feel fantastic doing it.

Some of these symptoms can be linked to other health conditions as well, we recommend speaking with your naturopathic doctor to identify the root cause of your issues.

How Can I Check For A Hormone Imbalance?

There are 3 types of hormone tests available.

  • Saliva-This hormone test kit can be delivered and done at home.
  • Blood-Requires a lab visit or we can send a lab tech to your home.
  • Urine-This hormone test kit can be delivered and done at home.

DUTCH Test:

The DUTCH test is one of our favorites and stands for the Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones. It measures several different hormones, their metabolites, and certain neurotransmitters, by collecting a small amount of urine on a piece of filtered paper four times a day. 

This package is then mailed to the lab, and the results will be received by your Naturopathic Doctor in approximately 4-6 weeks. A comprehensive assessment, and tailored treatment plan will then be made by your Naturopathic Doctor to get your hormones back in synch. An individualized treatment plan may include dietary + lifestyle recommendations, supplementation, and herbs.

The main hormones measured in the test include:

  • Cortisol
  • Cortisone
  • Estradiol
  • Estrone
  • Estriol
  • Progesterone
  • Testosterone
  • DHEA
  • Melatonin

Blood test:
Many hormones including but not limited to estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, fasting insulin, and thyroid hormones can be tested through blood tests. Some of these hormones are taken on certain days of your cycle for the most accurate results, while others can be taken at any time.

Salivary testing:
Some hormones such as cortisol can be tested via salivary testing, at different points throughout the day to assess the rate and rhythm at which your body is secreting them.

Hormone imbalances can change your life! That’s why it is important to pay attention when you start feeling different. There are many things that could be causing these hormonal changes, so don’t just assume its part of getting older.

The right diagnosis will help put everything into perspective for YOU.

From there you need a plan to addresses where your hormones are too high or too low that will include:

  • Lifestyle recommendations and expert education to help you balance your hormones as fast as possible.
  • Check in and coaching calls. We’re there as you need support and guidance. You will not be doing this alone!
  • A supplement plan focused on your hormonal health balance.
  • Possible Red Light and IV Therapy as well.
  • A custom meal plan that focuses on balancing your hormones while tasting great.

Are you ready to take control of your hormones? Book a free consultation with one of the Naturopathic Doctors at Higher Health today.

References:
https://dutchtest.com
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22945636/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30304113/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17410596/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31581598/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30868921/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29852783/

Decisions

Naturopathic Doctor or a Medical Doctor?

When it comes to your health, it’s important to make sure you’re seeing the right kind of doctor. So should you try naturopathic medicine  instead of a medical doctor? Here’s what you need to know.

When people are first introduced to me, I am often asked if seeing me will replace their medical doctor.

A medical doctor’s job is primarily to fix. The medical doctor works within a system designed, above all, to triage and treat symptoms and sicknesses.

Medical doctors trained in a specialty will treat a symptom or sickness depending on their specialty’s training. That means the treatment occurs in isolation—your treatment for the most part, begins and ends with the symptom or sickness treatment.

Once a year you have your annual medical doctor appointment and you discover your cholesterol is high. Most people will leave that appointment with a prescription to help lower their cholesterol with a pharmaceutical medication.

And this is better than not addressing it at all. In an ideal situation, the time would be taken to understand the root cause of the issue and try to fix it from there.

This is a huge challenge for medical doctors working within the government health care system. They do not have the time and are doing what they can within the constraints they are working in.

Meanwhile, a naturopathic doctor’s job is primarily to care, support and optimize your health. The naturopathic doctor addresses your overall wellness. The benefit is that we look at your health through a wellness lens, helping you answer: How can I feel my best?

If someone is getting sick a lot. Naturopathically, we are interested in understanding all contributing factors to catching the cold. We ask: How often does the person get sick in a year? If frequently, we would want to build up their immune resistance. We would also address any digestive health concerns, which often correspond with a cold or flu, as well as adrenal health, which correspond to stress, sleep, hormone balance, and more.

Nutrition (including micronutrient status) and lifestyle are likewise key in any naturopathic consultation, even if you “just have a cold.”  At our clinic we would also discuss how IV drip therapy could help as well.

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians notes, “Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges. They diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illness to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person’s inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to identify underlying causes of illness, and develop personalized treatment plans to address them.”

The good news is we don’t have to pick one or the other!

Naturopathic medicine and conventional medicine are complementary, not mutually exclusive. They are both primary care providers. They both rely on the same science, research, and evidence-based foundation to medicine. The advantage comes from not choosing one or the other, but from having both options to support our wellness.

One of the draw backs that keep more people from seeing a naturopathic doctor is that it’s not covered by government health plans like OHIP in Ontario.

People going to a naturopathic clinic are often paying out of pocket. Fortunately, more and more insurance companies have naturopathic medicine as part of their coverage. Depending on your plan that amount can range from $500 to $2500 a year.

You would also want to check with your accountant as in some cases you can deduct health related expenses from your income tax.

What I like best about being a naturopathic doctor is that I get to really connect with my patients, spending the time needed to understand all aspects of their wellness—their main health concerns, past experiences, and overall life goals, as applied to their health.

An initial consultation lasts approximately 90 minutes, and forms the foundation of our work together. It is a health discovery session where we fully investigate all aspects of his or her health, lifestyle, and medical and family history. It’s important to investigate and understand all health concerns rather than look at them in isolation.

If you’re looking for a doctor that can help you fix an immediate issue, a medical doctor is probably your best bet. However, if you’re interested in working with someone who can care for and support your overall health, naturopathic medicine may be the right choice for you.

If you want to work with a Naturopathic doctor and cannot pay of pocket,  be sure to check with your insurance provider to see if they are accepted.

You can also book a free call with one of our team to find out more about how we can help you achieve optimal health.

References:

https://www.cand.ca
https://naturopathic.org

Fountain of youth sign

Anti-Aging Tips

We all know that we age – but have you ever wondered what you can do to slow down the process, and to live both well and longer?  What if there were therapies and tools that existed that could drastically slow down the aging process, perhaps even reverse it. Reversing aging by removing wrinkles, helping blood vessels and skin become elastic again, and recharging our mitochondria. Intrigued?

Many people believe that we age because our bodies wear out. The theory goes that because our bodies operate 24/7, day in and day out, that eventually this causes wear and tear, degeneration of our cells throughout many organs and body parts, and inevitably death. 

The problem with this theory however, is that it is way too simple. Here is a Toronto Naturopathic Doctor’s perspective on aging and what you can do about it. 

So…What causes aging?

Aging is a natural part of being a living species, but we have come to understand that there are a lot of factors that accelerate and contribute to the aging process. The effects of aging are what most do not look forward to – frailty, immobility, wrinkles, skin damage, and the cascade of chronic and degenerative illnesses. 

While we cannot stop aging process altogether, we most certainly can seek health and vibrancy well beyond the years of what we anticipate. The idea of glowing skin, shiny hair, and a flexible strong body that is capable of what we still want to do.

Here are the top 9 common and leading causes of aging:

  • Shortening of telomeres: Telomeres are protective protein structures found at the ends of chromosomes to help prevent degradation. Shortening of telomeres is associated with aging, but we have research to suggest we can modify how quickly the telomeres actually shorten.
  • Loss of energy production from the mitochondria: One of the main roles of the mitochondria is to produce energy for our cells all throughout our body. As we age, our mitochondria becomes less efficient in producing energy for a variety of reasons. There are a lot of modifiable risk factors we can control to help keep our mitochondria healthy longer!
  • Loss of stem cells: Stem cells are extremely important to help replace lost cells due to turnover, injury and disease. However, as we age their function declines and this factor contributes to degeneration and dysfunction. It’s a fascinating area of up and coming research!
  • Accumulation of senescent cells: Think of senescent cells like “zombie-cells”. They are non-functioning cells that linger in the skin and other tissues. Although they can be protective in some instances, the accumulation of these cells has been linked to aging and preventing healthy cell turnover and repair.
  • Aggregation of proteins: This is the process of misfolded proteins, and causes the proteins to cluster affecting their ability to properly function. This is involved in aging, but also a number of neurodegenerative diseases as well. We have clean-up crews that would help clean up these misfolded proteins, but the older we become the less efficient these clean-up crews work, perhaps our environment is accelerating the amount of misfolded proteins we have, and all of a sudden our body can no longer do its job properly leading to an accumulation of these proteins.

    They have been linked to Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease when accumulated in the brain, slower reflexes in the nerves, heart failure in the heart, strokes when accumulated in the vessels, and decreased elasticity in the lungs.
  • Collagen Breakdown: Both the quality and quantity of collagen plays a major role in the skin’s appearance, the health of your hair and nails, as well as your joints. As we age, the body starts to produce less collagen. This can appear as the skin becoming thinner, drier, and less elastic. Targeting treatment to slow down the breakdown of collagen, and support its quality can help make you look younger again!
  • Glycation: Glycation occurs as a result of too much sugar intake, and these excess glucose (sugar) molecules link to structures like collagen and elastin in the skin. Glycation causes the skins proteins (collagen, elastin) to lose their ability to function normally. The fibers become rigid, and have a reduced ability to regenerative contributing to cracking and thinning skin.
  • Inflammation: Acute inflammation is needed to help fight against foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. However, chronic inflammation has become a hot topic amongst many chronic conditions we see in clinic, including accelerated aging. Chronic inflammation impairs the cells ability to heal and regenerate, it promotes inflammatory pathways and can lead to redness, irritation, sensitivity, and damage to the tissue all which affect the process of aging.
  • Oxidative Stress: Oxidative stress occurs when the amount of free radicals exceeds what are body is able to neutralize via antioxidant pathways. Free radicals are very reactive small molecules, and can damage virtually any molecule or cell in the body. Our bodies have been designed with internal antioxidants, but often due to our environment, and lifestyle it is not enough to protect our skin, mitochondria, and organs from damage. We have the ability to reduce our oxidative stress by making conscious lifestyle decisions, and also supplementing with extra antioxidants to help our body’s defense.

As you can probably guess, although a lot of these processes are a natural part of aging, what we do and what we expose ourselves to can affect the rate at which they happen. 

This is where Naturopathic medicine shines, and can address your internal physiology, lifestyle and environment, to give you the tools to help your anti-aging process.

IV Therapy and Anti-Aging

IV Therapy can be a big help with your anti-aging through two main processes:

  • By Providing a high dose of antioxidants which can have a direct anti-aging benefit

  • IV Therapy Contains several key ingredients which can act as a nutritive for cellular health, slowing down aging and promoting cellular repair. 

Let’s take a look at some of the specific anti-aging ingredients more closely.

Vitamin C : Vitamin C slows down age related telomere shortening in human skin cells. It is a cofactor for elastin and collagen production in blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and skin. Vitamin C helps reduce oxidative damage in the body, which plays an important role in aging. Applying it topically has shown to improve skin elasticity and hydration. 

Magnesium : A deficiency in magnesium has been correlated with accelerated aging of human endothelial cells and fibroblasts (cells that help make collagen and repair the skin). Magnesium helps with cell regeneration and repair, an important component of anti-aging. 

B Vitamins : B vitamins have shown some benefit with skin aging, specifically with age spots and hyperpigmentation. Deficiencies in B vitamins can cause dry skin, acne, and wrinkles. 

NAC : N-acetyl-cysteine is a go-to nutrient for anti-aging, as it helps replenish glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is considered the master antioxidant. By supporting the antioxidant pathway, it can help reduce aging at the cellular level.

Glutathione : Glutathione helps reduce oxidative damage to brain cells associated with aging. Its detoxification action improves the health of cells helping to slow the process of cell aging. Glutathione helps protect the skin from damage that can cause wrinkles and has shown to improve skin elasticity. 

MSM : MSM helps reduce inflammation which is associated with cellular damage and can cause premature aging. It has shown to reduce visual signs of aging such as wrinkles. MSM plays a role in collagen production and works well when taken alongside vitamin C.

Carnitine : Acetyl-l-carnitine has shown to protect cells in the body from age-related degeneration. Research demonstrates its effects on the brain, where it improves memory, cognition, and mood. Carnitine supports the function of our mitochondria which often declines throughout the aging process.

Lifestyle Modifications and Anti-Aging
Here is a list of things you can start doing today to help with your new anti-aging regiment. 

#1. Don’t smoke, or quit smoking. The chemicals used in making both cigarettes and smoking alternatives such as vaping  damages our cellular DNA, and accelerates the aging process.

#2. Intermittent fasting can help turn on longevity genes. This doesn’t mean skipping meals, or under-eating, but it does include time restricted eating (typically a 8-10 hour eating window) which gives our body time to repair and regenerate instead of using its energy to consistently digest and breakdown food. Make sure to talk with your Naturopathic Doctor first before starting intermittent fasting.

#3. The food we eat and use to fuel our bodies is crucial. A diet rich in healthy fats, anti-oxidants, can help activate our longevity genes, battled oxidative stress and inflammation, and slow down the aging process. This also goes to say that minimizing/avoiding processed foods and refined sugar can also help us achieve the extended vibrant health we seek.

#4. Prioritize a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the time for which our body takes to restore and repair itself. Lacking quantity and quality sleep can severely impact the rate at which we age. If sleep is something you’re struggling with, our team of Naturopathic Doctors can help figure out the root cause, so that you can wake feeling rested and refreshed.

Although we can’t prevent aging altogether, there are lots of tools we have to slow down the aging process. Have you considered adding in IV therapy as part of your anti-aging tool box? We encourage you to book a free consultation with one of our Toronto Naturopathic Doctors at Higher Health to how IV therapy may be beneficial for you.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370421/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00138/full
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29104718/ 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20388094/ 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26467067/ 

Gut health

Gut

Improve Your GI  Health with IV Vitamin Therapy

Gut health is a critical part of whole body health. As we know, the state of our gut and our body’s microbiome is imperative for overall wellness amongst many systems in the body. It’s fair to say that a healthy gut is a driving factor for a healthy you. Your gut isn’t just your stomach, it’s actually a catch all term referring to your gastrointestinal tract as a whole.

Your gastrointestinal system actually begins in the mouth, and includes your esophagus, stomach, and intestines. All food is ultimately broken down in the gut, making it very important to take care of and ensure it is operating a peak efficiency. In addition, your gut is a driving factor for immune health, metabolic health, mental health and hormones.

Why should you care?

As we continue to learn and as research continues, we are just beginning to understand just how complex gut health and the gut microbiome is, and its relation to systemic health. When we think about gut health we can start with the basics.

All food that we eat is broken down in the gut into molecules that our stomach can absorb, allowing them to enter into the blood stream and be delivered as nutrients throughout or bodies and to cells. In order for this process to work smoothly, a healthy digestive system is necessary.

A healthy gut is one that contains an appropriate proportion of “good” bacteria, immune cells that can protect against infectious agents, one whose protective barrier is preserved so that the tight junctions in the mucosal gut wall can effectively and selectively control what passes through its layers – keeping pathogens and toxins out, while allowing nutrients in.

When healthy, this also allows proper communication with the brain through nerves and hormones which helps support our mood, general health and overall well-being.

What are some signs and symptoms of gut health issues?

Gastrointestinal disorders can wreak havoc on one’s quality of life, especially during flare-ups for disorders such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

An unhealthy gut may cause local symptoms such as:

  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Indigestion
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Acid reflux

other systemic symptoms include:

  • Headaches/ migraines
  • Joint pain
  • Skin conditions
  • Brain fog
  • and Mood disorders

Long term consequences of poor health can include the inability to digest your food properly, food sensitivities, problems sleeping, regulating your mood, altered energy levels, and issues regulating hunger and satiety.

Poor gut health has also been found to be implicated in autoimmune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.

You can see why taking care of this is so important.

How does IV therapy help?

IV therapy offers a way to improve your gut health by bypassing oral supplementation. The absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients can be impacted when we suffer from digestive disorders.

When trying to supplement by mouth, we are depending on our digestive system to properly absorb it so that it can enter the blood stream and target cells at an appropriate dose to have an effect.

As you can imagine, there are a lot of possible limitations with oral supplementation when things are not working optimally.

In addition, certain nutrients have a maximum dose at which they can be absorbed by the digestive tract when supplemented orally (for example Vitamin C). IV Vitamin therapy bypasses the GI tract altogether, and therefore the challenges that may come with intestinal absorption.

IV Vitamin therapy delivers optimal and carefully selected therapeutic doses of nutrients directly to the bloodstream, and therefore acting as a direct highway to deliver these nutrients where we need them; our cells.

In addition, there are specific vitamins and minerals that can be added to your IV Vitamin bag to enhance nutrient absorption, provide high doses of anti-inflammatory nutrients notably for inflammatory bowel conditions, nutrient specific for gut healing and repair, and nutrients to help reduce pain and cramping. 

Specific IV Nutrients for Gut health

Some key nutrients for digestive health that may be included in your IV bag are:

Glutamine – Glutamine strengthens the barrier that is present in our intestinal tract, and reduces inflammation, both of which helps to prevent leaky gut. It improves the immune function of our GI system which is important for overall health. Glutamine is beneficial for food sensitivities (by addressing inflammation) and is a key ingredient for chronic GI conditions, including IBS, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis.

Taurine : Taurine plays a large role in digestion and metabolism. It supports the liver in producing bile salts which break down fatty acids, primarily cholesterol, in the intestine. It improves the digestion and absorption of fats.

Selenium : Selenium can help improve digestion and reduce malabsorption in the GI tract. It strengthens the gut’s response to inflammation, preventing damage to the gut lining. Deficiencies in selenium are correlated to higher oxidative damage in the GI tract, which can lead to different various GI disorders.

Zinc: Zinc is a critical mineral for a healthy gut. It has shown to be beneficial in treating conditions such as diarrhea and leaky gut. It helps to stabilize the gut lining and promote repair of gut tissue.

Bicarbonate : Bicarbonate helps to neutralize acidic environments in our GI tract, which has a protective effect on our gut lining. It is also a key anti-inflammatory nutrient used in your IV treatment.

Amino Acids : Amino acids are fuel for the lining of the small intestine and are the building blocks of our intestinal proteins. There is research to support several amino acids for gut-related diseases, as they support gut lining integrity and overall function. 

While some clients will do an IV Drip as a stand alone treatment, we usually recommend IV Drip Therapy as part of a treatment plan that also includes making the most out of your preferred diet, supplements, and lifestyle choices.

If you’re interested in finding out how our Naturopathic Doctors can help you, click here for a free consultation.

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302292/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26848182/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494512/ 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11840007/ 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18670730

Healthy Nails, Skin and hair

Healthy Nails, Skin, and Hair!

How Can IV Therapy support healthier nails, skin, and hair?

Beauty starts from within, and healthy looking hair, skin, and nails is often a reflection of how things are working inside your body. There’s only so much you can do topically or externally to revitalize your appearance; the real magic happens when your cells are happy and your organs are in harmony.

Looking for healthier, more radiant hair, skin and nails? Let our Toronto Naturopathic Doctors introduce you to IV Vitamin Therapy the ultimate source of food for beautiful skin, hair, and nails.

How Does IV Vitamin Therapy work?

IV Vitamin Therapy also known as an IV Drip,  delivers optimal levels of individualized vitamins and minerals directly into your bloodstream, so that your body and cells can use it immediately.

This bypasses the absorption step needed in the digestive tract, and means you can get higher therapeutic levels of nutrients, faster and more efficiently.

How can IV Therapy support healthier nails, skin, and hair?

There are many ways an IV Drip can help your have heathier hair skin and nails. We’re going to list them out, and if they get a little technical, you can always contact us and we’ll answer all your questions.

You can book a free consultation by clicking here.

Hydration is a key factor!

Your hair and skin cells need a steady supply of water and hydration to keep the cells happy and healthy, so that they can grow and shine.

Without proper hydration, your hair can start to become thin and brittle, it can shed and break.

Your skin can become dry, flaky, and cracked, and it can make wrinkles more pronounced or cause your skin to sag in areas you do not want it to.

IV Vitamin therapy not only delivers important vitamins and minerals, but it also can help rehydrate your body simultaneously, talk about a win-win scenario!

Targeted Vitamins and Minerals that help nails, skin, and hair.

Your nails, skin, and hair, have very particular nutrient needs to keep them looking their best.

Collagen!

We know that collagen is an instrumental protein involved in the maintenance of healthy hair, skin and nails by providing strength and structure.

So How Do You Make Enough Collagen to Shine?

In order for your body to produce collagen it needs cofactors including Vitamin C, zinc and copper. Vitamin C is the cofactor for two important enzymes called prolyl hydroxylase, and lysyl hydroxylase which help to stabilize the collagen molecule and give structural strength to the cross-linking of collagen.

Basically, when you’re not getting enough Vitamin C, your collagen will suffer.

In addition to supporting collagen production, Vitamin C has some other major roles in terms of skin health. Vitamin C is a major constituent of both the epidermis and dermis layers in the skin.

Unfortunately, aging as well as sun damage and pollutants can deplete and cause a decline in Vitamin C within these layers of skin.

But that’s not all….you’re going to need a few more nutrients to get the Collagen you need.

Copper.  This activates an enzyme called lysyl oxidase which links collagen fibers with other supporting fibers, an important process involved in collagen maturation.

Zinc also plays a role in activating proteins essential for collagen synthesis, including the activation of collagenase which allows the cells to remodel collagen during wound healing.

Elastin is also another type of protein found in the body that plays an important role in skin health. Elastin has the unique characteristic of snapping back into place to maintain its original shape.

Collagen and elastin go hand in hand to help maintain our skin’s texture and shape.

In addition to our skin being stronger, adequate levels of these proteins also help it look more youthful. Similar to collagen, elastic requires the co-factors Vitamin C, zinc, and copper in its production.

IV Vitamin Therapy can help promote collagen and elastin production by delivering the nutrients needed to support these processes, in a fully customized super powered blend tailored for your individual needs.

We’re not done yet. Another important vitamin for healthy hair, skin and nails is Biotin.

Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, and part of the B vitamin family, works to improve the infrastructure of our hair skin and nails.

Biotin has been found to be help support hair growth in women who have thinning hair.  A biotin deficiency can also result in a number of skin issues including dry, cracked, and irritated skin.

If your Nails feeling a little fragile? Biotin can help in growing healthy, strong nails when supplemented appropriately to prevent fingernail splitting and brittle nails.

Biotin is a vitamin that can be added to your customized IV Drip formula to promote the health of your skin hair and nails from the inside to out!

Our nails, skin, and hair are vulnerable to free radical damage.

Free radicals are unstable molecules, contributing to cellular damage in a variety of ways. When free radicals accumulate, they can cause cell damage leading to wrinkles, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.

Anti-oxidants are important because they help reduce and stabilize these chain reactions, so that they do not cause damage to our cells.

Let me introduce you to the team captain of anti-oxidants; glutathione.

Glutathione is known as the “master” antioxidant in our bodies, and is a critical component to achieving the glowing, radiant skin that is sought after.

Glutathione is made up of three different amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine and is a heavy hitter in terms of preventing cell damage and death. It keeps our mitochondria strong so they can produce energy, helps our liver in naturally detoxifying toxins and waste from the body, and also protects our DNA against damage.  Glutathione repletion is a keynote of our healthy skin, hair, and nail IV Drip!

When you re stressed out, your hair can thin and fall out.

In addition, stress can contribute to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. Being in a constant state of fight or flight can deplete your energy and nutrients, making you feel drained and worn out.

These are signs that your adrenals need some tender loving care, and your micronutrients need to be replenished!

As every individual is unique, we can tailor the nutrients in your IV vitamin bag to help mitigate the toll stress is taking on your body and cells.

At Higher Health, our Naturopathic Doctors are trained to individualize your IV Drip therapy directly to your individual needs. Looking for healthy skin, hair and nails? We have an IV Drip for that.

Book your free consultation today to discuss how IV therapy can help you glow from the inside out! Click here now and book.

References:

https://europepmc.org/article/med/1764357

https://europepmc.org/article/med/2648686

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509882/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33871071/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26362110/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31627309/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23949208/.

GERD image

GERD

What is GERD?

Belching? Bloating? Indigestion? Are you suffering from any of these symptoms?

Shortly after eating, do you notice a burning sensation in your chest? If so, you are likely experiencing HEARTBURN, the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)!

In this article we’re going to cover:

  • What Causes GERD
  • Why GERD is a problem that cannot be ignored
  • The Symptoms of GERD
  • What you can do to treat GERD

Before you get into this article, if at anytime you want to book a free consultation to speak with a Naturopathic Doctor about GERD, click here.

GERD is one of the most prevalent digestive disorders that occurs when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus. The reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus irritates the esophageal lining and results in the symptom classically known as heartburn. Occasionally, GERD can be asymptomatic or present with atypical symptoms such as a chronic cough or post-nasal drip.

 Why is it a problem – what causes GERD?

 Most individuals will experience the sensation of heartburn at some point in their life and when it becomes a more frequent problem, it is diagnosed as GERD. The majority of research suggests that GERD is caused by a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a muscular ring that connects the stomach to the esophagus.

An optimally functioning LES acts like a door and is closed at rest to prevent the acidic stomach contents from refluxing into the esophagus and opens when swallowing to allow food to get into the stomach. Inappropriate relaxation or poor tone of the LES causes stomach contents to re-enter the esophagus, resulting in the symptoms of GERD.

Spontaneous relaxation of the LES is usually triggered by gastric distention after eating, and that is why most people tend to experience acid reflux after eating a large meal. GERD may also be caused by gastric outlet obstruction, a hiatal hernia, decreased esophageal motility, medications, alcohol, tobacco, obesity, pregnancy and food sensitivities.

 What are some of the symptoms of GERD?

  • Burning sensation in the chest
  • Acid regurgitation
  • Sour/bitter taste in mouth
  • Indigestion
  • Bloating
  • Belching
  • Bad breath
  • Tooth decay
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat

Symptoms of GERD usually occur shortly after eating and for some people, reflux can be worse at night.

Untreated GERD can lead to serious complications such as Barrett’s esophagus, esophagitis, esophageal strictures, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, so it is crucial to seek the care of a qualified health care practitioner especially if you are experiencing any accompanying red flag symptoms (ex. unintentional weight loss, severe chest pain, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding).

What are some of the diseases associated with GERD?

  • Asthma
  • Cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia
  • Sleep disorders: obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia
  • Psychological disorders: major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders
  • Gastrointestinal disorders: decreased esophageal motility, gastric outlet obstruction, hiatal hernia
  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
  • Obesity
  • Type II diabetes

How can Naturopathic Medicine help?

 GERD can usually be diagnosed based on symptoms and history alone, however your doctor will decide if it is necessary to send you for any further diagnostic testing.

The typical naturopathic treatment protocol for GERD consists of a combination of 5 key steps: lifestyle modifications, avoiding triggers, soothing the gastrointestinal tract, strengthening the lower esophageal sphincter and supporting digestion.

  1. Lifestyle Modifications:
  • Adjust your eating habits– Individuals experiencing symptoms of acid reflux should eat smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overeating. Eating large quantities of food can cause distention of the stomach and cause spontaneous relaxation of the LES, resulting in acid reflux. You should also eat meals at the same times every day to establish routine and avoid eating too quickly as this is proven to aggravate symptoms of GERD.
  • Avoid eating before bed– If you are someone who experiences symptoms of acid reflux at night, avoid eating 3-4 hours before bed. When lying down, our bodies are not in an optimal position for digestion due to gravity, and therefore can result in acid refluxing into the esophagus. Therefore, it is also beneficial to go for a walk after consuming a meal.
  • Elevate the head of the bed– Raising the head of the bed by 20cm with a block or using a wedge pillow is an effective way of reducing symptoms of nighttime reflux. Sleeping with your head and chest elevated can prevent the acid from refluxing into the esophagus.
  • Weight management– Being overweight can cause or exacerbate symptoms of GERD due to the increased intra-abdominal pressure. There is an association between increased BMI and severity of acid reflux symptoms thus weight management is key in overweight patients experiencing symptoms of GERD. Speak to a Naturopathic Doctor to discuss healthy long-term weight loss strategies and a plan that is right for you.
  1. Avoid triggers:
  • Identify triggers and remove them– With the help of a Naturopathic Doctor and a diet diary you can identify potential triggers of your acid reflux. This can be accomplished by tracking what you eat, monitoring when your symptoms of reflux occur, and eliminating potential triggers from your diet.
  • Research has identified certain triggers that are more commonly associated with GERD. The list below is a good starting point to try removing from your diet. However, this list may not apply to everyone and that is why it is important to identify your own triggers.
  • Common Triggers of GERD
    • Coffee
    • Chocolate
    • Spicy foods
    • Sugar
    • Dairy products (milk, eggs)
    • Tomatoes
    • Lettuce
    • Peppermint
    • Carbonated beverages
    • Citrus fruits
    • Fried foods and high-fat meals
    • Alcohol
    • Tobacco
    • Pork
    • Gluten, brewer’s yeast
  1. Protect and soothe the gastrointestinal tract:
  • As GERD can be very irritating to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, it is important to protect the gastrointestinal tract from any further damage and soothe any irritation.
  • Naturopathic doctors often use demulcent herbs such as marshmallow and slippery elm as they contain mucilage that coats the gastrointestinal tract to prevent any further acidic damage to the esophagus and also soothes any symptoms of heartburn the patient is experiencing. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is another great demulcent that can be used to protect and soothe the gastrointestinal tract, and can be consumed before or after meals.
  1. Strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter:
  • As mentioned above, a weakened or dysfunctional LES can result in esophageal reflux. Interestingly, melatonin has a functionally important role in the gut and therefore melatonin supplementation has been studied as a treatment for GERD. Melatonin has many different mechanisms of action and can be an effective treatment for GERD by decreasing stomach acid, increasing mucous production and stimulating the contractility of the lower esophageal sphincter.
  1. Digestive support:
  • Individuals suffering from GERD tend to have trouble digesting their food. Many factors can contribute to decreased digestive function such as stress, food sensitivities, and poor eating habits. In order to properly digest our food, our bodies need to be in a parasympathetic rest and digest state. Therefore, it is crucial to manage stress, enjoy your food, and chew slowly while eating to experience optimal digestion.
  • If you need more digestive support, bitter herbs such as gentian are consumed before meals to prepare the body by stimulating digestion. Some patients with more pronounced gastrointestinal symptoms may also benefit from digestive enzymes to further break down foods so they are more easily absorbed.

Before starting any supplements or a treatment plan, it is important to get assessed by a Toronto Naturopathic Doctor to see if GERD is the cause of your symptoms and what the best treatment plan is for YOU!

You can book a free consultation by clicking here.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140167/

https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/related-conditions/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728193/

https://n.neurology.org/content/88/16_Supplement/P3.057

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557452/

https://journals.lww.com/gastroenterologynursing/Abstract/2019/01000/Gastroesophageal_Reflux_Disease__Pathophysiology,.3.aspx

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27250962/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16738270/

https://www.nhpassist.com/conditions/heartburn

Crohn’s disease symptoms

Crohn’s Disease

Understanding Crohn’s disease from a Naturopathic Doctor’s perspective. What are the symptoms and treatments that can actually help.

In this article we will cover the following for Crohn’s Disease:

  • What is Crohn’s Disease
  • What Causes Crohn’s Disease
  • Top Symptoms Of Crohn’s Disease
  • How to Test For Crohn’s Disease
  • What a Naturopathic Doctor Can Do To Help
  • How IV Drip Therapy Can Help Crohn’s Disease

 Before you get into this great article, if at anytime you want to talk to one of our Naturopathic Doctors about how they help with Crohn’s disease, or how IV Drip Therapy can help you can book a free consultation by clicking here.

Crohn’s disease is a lifelong illness and can severely impact one’s quality of life. It can be tricky to manage, and can often leave individuals feeling discouraged and hopeless affecting not only their physical health but also their mental, emotional, and social health.

If you are suffering from Crohn’s disease, please know that you are not alone and that your feelings and emotions are very real. A Naturopathic Doctor approach to medicine is to assess the whole person, and look at how a disease may be affecting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of an individual.

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing disease which belongs to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) family. Inflammatory bowel disease includes a group of conditions that inflame and attack the lining of your gastrointestinal tract.

When the gastrointestinal tract in inflamed, it makes it difficult to perform its job of breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.  Crohn’s disease can affect the gastrointestinal tract anywhere starting from the mouth, all the way to the rectum; however, it most commonly affects the terminal ileum (the end of your small intestine that intersects with the large intestine) and portions of your large intestine.

What Causes Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s is a very complicated disease, and unfortunately there is no single cause that we know of yet.

What we do know is that the immune system plays a significant role, and that when your immune system is not working the way it should be, this can make your symptoms and flare ups happen more often, and be more severe.

Many inflammatory markers have been identified in Crohn’s disease, indicating a state of “chronic inflammation” within the GI tract.  Patient’s with Crohn’s disease commonly have an onset of symptoms between the ages of 20-30 years of age, or around the age of 50 years.

Although these are the most common ages we see people being diagnosed, it can occur at any age. There are no significant differences between the occurrence of Crohn’s in males and females; however, there is a strong genetic risk with the strongest risk factor being having a parent or sibling that was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

We also see a higher prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, in those who smoke cigarettes, use NSAIDs frequently, and in those who eat a low fibre/vegetable diet or a westernized diet high in animal meats, dairy, and refined sugar.

What are some of the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?

 Taking a very detailed clinical history is important in diagnosing Crohn’s disease as the presentation varies from individual to individual, and the symptoms can mimic other illnesses or diseases.  Below are some of the signs and symptoms that someone with Crohn’s disease may experience:

  • Abdominal pain, typically in the right lower quadrant. Can be dull or crampy, and mild to severe
  • Urgent Diarrhea
  • Incontinence
  • Nocturnal awakening to use the bathroom
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Extra-intestinal manifestations including but not limited to:
    • Eyes: Painful vision, blurry vision, redness
    • Oral ulcers, mouth or tongue pain
    • Joint aches / arthralgia
    • Skin manifestations including painful and/or purple bumps

 

What Are Some Of The Tests For Crohn’s Disease?

 There are many different tests a doctor may perform to determine whether you may be suffering from Crohn’s disease, and the extent of the disease.

These include:

Blood Tests:

  • CBC with differential
    • White blood cells may be elevated with inflammation or infection
    • Red blood cells/ Hemoglobin may be decreased in anemia
  • Nutritional status:
    • Iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, iron-binding capacity
      • Decreased absorption or increase iron loss to assess for iron deficiency anemia
    • Albumin and prealbumin level
      • Decreased with poor nutritional status and with protein-losing enteropathy
    • Vitamin D status
      • May be decreased secondary to malabsorption, or if your doctor started you on corticosteroid treatments for your Crohn’s to monitor for impaired metabolism
    • Elevated inflammatory markers : erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)

Stool Test:

  • Markers of inflammation
    • Fecal lactoferrin and calprotectin levels
      • Helpful in determining inflammation within the bowels and gut

Endoscopy/ colonoscopy:

  • Procedure to visually assess the intestines and any presence of disease

Imaging (CT or MRI):

  • May be used as additional tests to rule in/out disease or if bowel complications are suspected

 

How can Naturopathic Medicine help?

As mentioned earlier, naturopathic medicine focuses on a whole body and individualized approach. Both the signs and symptoms and how it impacts one’s quality of life can vary dramatically from person to person, despite having the same disease.

A Naturopathic approach aims to reduce both the severity and frequency of episodes, to reduce the complications of the disease and minimize the need for surgery, to assess and correct any nutritional deficiencies, and support the individual’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health in healing.

Naturopathic treatment can be integrated with your conventional treatments to help optimize outcomes and minimize adverse effects.

Your Naturopathic Doctor will assess any obstacles to cure, and what may be aggravating your immune system for it to be attacking your gastrointestinal tract.

This could include:

  • Dietary changes
  • Eliminating food sensitivities
  • Minimizing environmental toxin exposures
  • Reducing oxidative stress

One notable sensitivity in Crohn’s disease is that to baker’s yeast, and eliminating any sources of this in one’s diet can have profound affects for an individual. Food sensitivity testing may be indicated, and part of a larger discussion within your treatment plan.

Your Naturopathic Doctor will also have a discussion around strategies and tools to reduce inflammation and promote the healing of your gut.

Low dose probiotics may be helpful to lessen symptoms of relapses and lengthen remission times in those with Crohn’s disease. Apoptogenic herbs may be an excellent addition as well to help your body cope with stress, and to buffer the systems that may be depleted by both the disease process and pharmaceuticals.

Mind-body therapies may also be discussed to help support your mental and emotional health, the gut-brain axis, and to encourage empowerment, resiliency, and improve quality of life.

To correct any nutritional deficiencies, your doctor may recommend certain vitamins and minerals or the addition of IV Drip vitamin therapy.

Oral absorption of vitamins and minerals can often be impaired in individuals with Crohn’s disease due to the inflammation of the tissue; IV vitamin therapy is absorbed directly into the blood stream bypassing the gut and any absorption issues there. In addition, several conventional treatments and pharmaceuticals further deplete key nutrients. Important ingredients for the IV vitamin bag may include zinc, selenium, magnesium, trace minerals, B12, and Vitamin C to replenish any deficiencies, reduce inflammation, and to support optimal immune functioning.

An IV drip set up to help digestion would have the goal of:

  • Enhance nutrient absorption (bypass digestive limitations)
  • Provide high does of Anti-inflammatory nutrients
  • Give you nutrients specific for GI healing
  • Help reduce pain and cramping
  • Replenish electrolytes

This IV Drip would include:

Glutamine – Glutamine strengthens the barrier that is present in our intestinal tract, which helps to prevent leaky gut. It improves the immune function of our GI system which is important for overall health. Glutamine is beneficial for food allergies and chronic gut conditions, including IBS, Crohn’s, and colitis.

Taurine – Taurine plays a large role in digestion and metabolism. It supports the liver in producing bile salts which break down fatty acids, primarily cholesterol, in the intestine. It improves the digestion and absorption of fats.

Selenium – Selenium can help improve digestion and reduce malabsorption in the GI tract. It strengthens the gut’s response to inflammation, preventing damage to the gut lining. Deficiencies in selenium are correlated to higher oxidative damage in the GI tract, which can lead to different GI disorders.

Zinc – Zinc is a critical mineral for a healthy gut. It has shown to be beneficial in treating conditions such as diarrhea and leaky gut. It helps to stabilize the gut lining and promote repair of gut tissue.

Bicarbonate – Bicarbonate helps to neutralize acidic environments in our GI tract, which has a protective effect on our gut lining.

Amino Acids – Amino acids are fuel for the lining of the small intestine and are the building blocks of our intestinal proteins. There is research to support several amino acids for gut-related diseases, as they support gut lining integrity and overall function.

Find out how naturopathic medicine can help you with your Crohn’s disease. You can book a free consultation and speak to one of our Naturopathic Doctors by clicking here.

References:

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11840007/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494512/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18670730/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29688466/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28573652/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32872272/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304
https://www.sfadvancedhealth.com/blog/integrative-treatment-crohns-disease-symptoms

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Treatments

Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Treatments And What You Can Do About It Starting Today!

In this article we’re going to cover:

  • Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
  • What causes Fibromyalgia
  • What Nutrients You Can Take To Help Fibromyalgia
  • How IV Therapy Can Help

Fibromyalgia affects 2% of Canadians, with about 80-90% of those being female…that’s close to 600 000 women in Canada!  Even with these numbers some Doctors still dismiss Fibromyalgia as being ‘all in your head’.  This is definitely NOT the case!

If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you are not alone.

Before you get into this article, if at anytime you want to speak to one of our Toronto Naturopathic Doctors about Fibromyalgia we have a free consultation call available. Click here to book one.

Before we get into Treatments, let’s take a look at the Fibromyalgia Symptoms.

What Are The Top 10 Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

  • Pain
    • Can be felt in one area or many areas throughout the body
    • Can be made worse when firm pressure is applied to soft tissues, or sometimes with gentle pressure such as a hug
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Mood changes (irritability, anxiety, depression)
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Brain fog and Memory issues
  • Gastrointestinal issues (constipation, diarrhea, IBS)
  • Sensitivity to bright light, loud sounds, and smells
  • Headaches

What causes Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

Fibromyalgia symptoms may develop after an illness, trauma, or a stressful or emotional experience; although, this is not always the case often leaving the cause unknown.

Research suggests that for people with fibromyalgia, the body’s pain messages are delivered in an abnormal way; the volume gets amplified and turned up putting the nervous system into overdrive.

The brain has difficulty processing this amplified message, which has been linked to the chronic and widespread pain experienced by people.

In addition, dysfunction (when things don’t work as well as they should)  within a few key systems seem to be a recurring theme for those with fibromyalgia.

These include dysfunction within the mitochondria- the energy powerhouses of the cells, the master switchboard – the hypothalamus, and dysfunction within the immune system.

Mitochondrial dysfunction, or impaired energy production can help explain the lack of energy, fatigue, and muscle shortening seen with people who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Dysfunction within the hypothalamus can cause abnormal controls signals leading to disrupted sleep, which then affects hormones, rest, and tissue repair.

In addition, abnormal control signals also affects the way the brain perceives the pain messages.

Furthermore, immune dysfunction leads to altered balance within the immune pathways resulting in excess inflammation.

The big question that remains is, why does this dysfunction occur?

Unfortunately, we do not have all the answers to this question and research continues to develop.

What we do know is that a combination of factors can lead to these systems being damaged including genetic defects in metabolic and detoxification pathways, external stressors from things like infections, toxins, heavy metals, and mental or emotional trauma.

Using IV therapy As A Treatment For Fibromyalgia

IV therapy can be an amazing treatment as part of a client’s treatment plan, alongside lifestyle and nutritional changes.

It can help to fortify and restore dysfunctional systems, and to aid the body’s detoxification pathways. IV therapy bypasses the gut, delivering nutrients directly to cells to increase cellular nutrient concentrations, supporting healthy metabolism, and waste removal.

IV Therapy can also help provide immediate support as dietary and lifestyle changes may take time for individuals to implement and see results from.

The overall treatment goal with fibromyalgia is to eliminate, strengthen, and restore. It is important to help the body eliminate and minimize triggers that could be affecting the key systems identified earlier.

This includes triggers such as stress, infections, toxin / heavy metal exposure, allergies and intolerances. Strengthening systems such as the immune system, adrenals and gut become an important next step.

The immune system’s primary role is to defend the body from invaders; however, an increased production of some of its soldiers, cytokines, can lead to an imbalance and the chronic inflammation seen in fibromyalgia.

Removing both physical and psychological triggers can help lower cytokine levels, alongside additional supports to help reduce inflammation.

Common hormonal imbalances include cortisol dysregulation, sex hormone imbalances, and thyroid disorders – identifying these issues, removing triggers and restoring homeostasis to these pathways can have profound effects.

Healing the gut is another key part of treatment, as a leaky gut has been implicated for many patients with fibromyalgia. Targeted nutrients can help heal and tune up the energy powerhouses, the mitochondria, to restore cellular energy.

Given the complexities of this condition and how unique it is to each individual, the IV Therapy treatment plan will look different for every person.

Important Nutrients Targeted in IV Therapy For Fibromyalgia:

Here is a list of potential nutrients that would be included in your IV Therapy treatment and how they help with fibromyalgia relief.

Copper: Copper deficiencies can affect how pain is perceived in the body, heightening the response. In addition, a copper deficiency has been associated with increased incidence of infections, and immune dysregulation.

Magnesium: One of the most common mineral deficiencies in those with fibromyalgia. It is a cofactor in hundreds of enzymes, including those involved with energy production in the mitochondria.

A deficiency also can cause excessive muscle tension, muscle spasms, and restlessness.

Additionally, it plays a role in nerve conduction and function, and the regulation of emotional reactions. It has been found that IV supplementation with magnesium can dramatically increase serum levels compared to oral supplementation, and increase the amount that is able to enter into cells.

Selenium: A deficiency with selenium has been associated with muscle pain, playing a role in modifying free radical damage to cells.

Zinc: An important mineral for proper immune function, and the development of white blood cells (the soldiers in our immune system army).

Vitamin C: IV Vitamin C has been shown to improve pain, improve fatigue, and help improve detox pathways. With oral supplementation, the amount of Vitamin C that can be absorbed is limited. IV Vitamin C allows for much larger doses to be administered, allowing for a greater amount to enter into circulation and reach our cells which is where we see benefit.

Glutathione: Glutathione is our master antioxidant in the body. It has anti-viral properties, and is also key in helping to make sure our bodies can eliminate toxins effectively. Glutathione levels can become depleted after accumulated exposure to toxins, heavy metals, and infections and thus become even more critical to replenish in these situations. In addition, it also plays a role in the overall function of muscle tissue.

Taurine: Taurine is an amino acid that helps to control the concentration of certain minerals in our cells (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chlorine). Taurine supplementation, alongside magnesium can have an additive muscle relaxation effects.

Carnitine: L-Carnitine is an amino acid that plays an essential role in energy production and optimal mitochondrial function.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: A key antioxidant in helping to regulate glutathione levels in the liver and other tissues, assisting in our body’s detox pathways. Alpha Lipoic acid has also been found experimentally to help regulate cytokine levels, and thus reduce inflammation.

Vitamin B5: Required for energy production.

Vitamin B6: Helps to normalize thiamine levels, and can be helpful for muscle spasms. It is also required for the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin, our feel good neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter has been found to be low in those with fibromyalgia.

Vitamin B12: Has been shown to help reduce muscle cramping and muscle pain. In addition, it also plays an important role in ensuring optimal function of the brain and nervous system.

B-complex (thiamine, niacinamide, riboflavin, B5, B6): Has been shown to decrease pain at the level of the pain receptors.

Folate: A deficiency in folate has been linked to peripheral neuropathy. Malabsorption of folate has also been found in those with GI disturbances (leaky gut, IBS).

NAC: A glutathione precursor that can help assist the body’s detox pathways, and reduce inflammation.

Overall hydration provided by the IV Drip formula can also be beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia. Dehydration has been found to aggravate many of the symptoms experienced by those with fibro. Our Naturopathic Doctors have been trained on how to adjust the osmolarity of the IV solution, to allow water entry into the cells for proper rehydration and optimal benefits.

Additional Nutrients that are Important in Fibromyalgia:

Vitamin D: Research has found that the majority of fibromyalgia patients are deficient in Vitamin D. Achieving optimal levels of Vitamin D can help reduce musculoskeletal pain, assist in hormone balance, and in optimal immune functioning.

CoQ10:  CoQ10 plays a crucial role in how cells produce energy. Some research has indicated that supplementation with CoQ10 can help restore mitochondrial function, optimize energy production, and reduce the symptoms experienced with fibromyalgia.

Iron: Research has shown a possible association between fibromyalgia and decreased ferritin levels. Iron is a cofactor for both serotonin and dopamine production, involved in the etiology of fibromyalgia. Repletion of iron stores (ferritin levels over 40, optimally between 50-75) either by oral supplementation, or injectable when warranted, can help replete both mitochondrial and hematologic iron stores.

Our Naturopathic Clinic in Toronto has care providers and Naturopathic Doctors that have experience in helping people with fibromyalgia reduce their pain, and improve their energy.

You are not alone in this fight, and there are treatment options for you! Speak to a member of our team today to see how IV therapy and naturopathic medicine can help you feel in control again.

You can book a Free Consultation and speak to a Naturopathic Doctor by clicking here.

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17515022/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894814/

https://www.carepath.ca/living-with-fibromyalgia/

https://rheum.ca/resources/publications/canadian-fibromyalgia-guidelines/

https://cwhn.ca/node/40784

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/57006

https://ndnr.com/pain-medicine/benefits-of-iv-micro-nutrient-therapy-for-fibromyalgia-and-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/

Energized Woman

IV Drip for Energy

IV Drip for Energy

An IV Drip for energy is one of the more requested IVs that we do in our Toronto IV Lounge.

This article will share:

  • How an IV Drip for Energy works for you
  • What goes into your IV Drip and why it can help you
  • We’re going to talk about the causes and symptoms of chronic low energy
  • We’re going to get a little technical on how are cells make energy and the mighty mitochondria

Before you get into this article, if at anytime you want to speak to one of our Toronto Naturopathic Doctors about an IV Drip, we have a free consultation call available. Click here to book one..

Is “I’m so tired” consistently a part of your daily vocabulary? Fatigue and low energy are one of the most common complaints we hear at our Naturopathic clinic. Our busy lifestyles and constant on the go schedules, running from one place to another often leaving our gas tanks empty.

People will often say that they need that extra cup of coffee in the afternoon just to make it through the day. Some people identify feelings of physical exhaustion, stating that they just want to lie down on the couch after work, and feel like they can’t get up the remainder of the night.

Others identify feelings of mental exhaustion, that feeling of “blah”, a lack of motivation, brain fog, and feel like they are going through life on auto-pilot.

It’s Not Normal To Feel Tired All The Time

Sometimes fatigue can be temporary, because maybe you lost some sleep with a sick child, or trying to finish a project at work, or maybe were battling a cold and just feel a little sluggish.

However, constantly feeling like you’re running on empty can be a sign that a deeper root cause is at play.

IV drip therapy can help provide you with the vitamins, minerals, and targeted nutrients you need to replenish your energy stores. IV therapy bypasses the digestive system, and is delivered directly to your blood stream so that cells can get the boost of energy they need quickly.

How an IV Drip can help boost energy

IV therapy formulas can specifically be made to replenish nutrients, and the helpers that mitochondria need to function properly. This may include B vitamins, Vitamin C, carefully selected amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. Not only can this provide all the helpers our mitochondria need to produce energy, but it can also correct for any overall underlying deficiencies so our cells are healthy and happy.

In addition, glutathione, the master antioxidant, can neutralize harmful free radicals to help prevent further damage to our cells, while also assisting detoxification pathways in the liver.

At Higher Health, our Naturopathic Doctors have specialized training to customize an IV formula specific to your needs, and to help boost energy, taking action against low energy.  You don’t have to continue relying on coffee to just make it through the day.

What Would Go Into Your IV Therapy Drip for Energy?

We start with a Higher Health base bag which includes:

Vitamin C
Magnesium
B Vitamins
Amino Acids (which promote cellular repair and optimal function)

From there we add on the nutrients to target more energy! The amazing thing about IV Drip therapy, is that when we’re targeting more energy, you’re also getting nutrients that help with your immune health, sleep, brain fog, digestion, pain relief and quite a few other conditions!

Here are the add ons to your IV Drip for Energy.

Additional Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and prevents our DNA from damage. By supporting detoxification in the body, it ensures the health of our cells where we can utilize energy more efficiently.

B5 – Vitamin B5 is essential for producing energy from food in the form of ATP. It plays a role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which provide us with energy.

B6 – Vitamin B6 is a cofactor in several pathways in our bodies, meaning we use it for a variety of functions. It plays a role in energy production by supporting the production of ATP.

Carnitine – Carnitine works as a shuttle where it transports fatty acids into the mitochondria (the part of the cell where we house our energy) for cellular respiration. It helps metabolize ketones and convert amino acids into energy for our bodies.

Amino Acids – Branched-chain amino acids are essential nutrients that our muscles break down to supply our bodies with energy. We require adequate levels of amino acids to provide our tissues with energy.

NAC – By replenishing glutathione levels in the body, N-acetyl-cysteine supports the antioxidant pathway which helps clear oxidants from the body. When oxidants are built up, they can cause fatigue as a symptom.

Glutathione – Glutathione is our master antioxidant that helps clear free radicals (oxidants) from the body. Similar to the function of NAC, glutathione neutralizes oxidants which results in more energy available to our cells.

What Are The Root Causes of Low Energy Anyways?:

There are several reasons why you may be feeling fatigued, and/or that have less get up and go compared to your usual self.

Some of these include:

  • Poor diet and exercise habits
  • Medications
  • Anemia (Iron, B12, folate deficiency)
  • Illness or weakened immune system
  • Chronic pain (ie fibromyalgia)
  • Mental health concerns (anxiety, depression)
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Stress
  • Sleep disorders
  • Thyroid disorders

Your Toronto Naturopathic Doctor will complete a full assessment, and detailed history to identify what may be cause of your fatigue. They can customize your IV drip therapy treatment with carefully selected nutrients to replenish and supplement according to your health concerns.

Symptoms of Low Energy and Fatigue:

When someone has low energy the first thing that comes to mind are exhaustion, and the desire to sleep. However, there are a plethora of symptoms one can experience.

These can include:

  • Lack of concentration or focus
  • Brain fog
  • A tendency to drift off during the day
  • Headaches
  • Moodiness including irritability
  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Muscle weakness
  • Unrefreshed sleep upon waking
  • Impaired decision making and judgement
  • Chronic tiredness or sleepiness

How Our Cells Make Energy

Our bodies make energy in form of something called ATP. ATP is the molecule that the body uses as energy currency in every cell, like spending money to buy food, gas, clothes, etc. This molecule is made by what is known as the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria.

Think of mitochondria as tiny energy producing organelles, that live in each and every one of our cells, with their own DNA and protective cell membrane. Some cells that use a lot of energy, like muscle cells, have thousands of mitochondria, where other cells have only hundreds such as the skin.

We need our mitochondria to be working optimally, in order for ours bodies to function properly and to have the energy it needs to work at its best. Mitochondrial dysfunction is often at the root of low energy and fatigue. Even a slight decrease in the production of energy from our mitochondria can produce symptoms like physical weakness, fatigue, and brain fog.

Mitochondria take macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins) from the food we eat, and convert it into the energy currency, ATP, through what’s known as the Krebs Cycle, and the Electron Transport Chain.

These two processes are complex biochemical reactions that occur in our cells, involving many steps, enzymes and co-factors. Co-factors are like helpers, and they help the enzymes at each step of the way to be able to do their job and continue through the cycle. Without these cofactors, all comes to a halt and adequate energy cannot be made.

Which Helpers are Needed for the Mitochondria to Make Energy?

  • B vitamins, but especially B1, B2 and B3
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Manganese
  • Glutathione (the master antioxidant)
  • NAD
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Carnitine

What can impair mitochondrial function?

Medications, Pesticides, Plastics and Toxins:

Certain medications and things like pesticides, plastics, and toxins need to be modified by the liver in order to be eliminated in the body. This process is called “Phase 1” detoxification, involves a family of enzymes called Cytochrome P450 and takes place in the mitochondrial membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. Some of these substances inhibit the family of P450 enzymes, while others promote it.

When there is an imbalance in this system, it uses a lot of energy and can cause excessive oxidation. Oxidation damages mitochondria, affecting their primary responsibility of producing energy for the cells.

Heavy Metal Exposure:

Heavy metals are things like mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, and arsenic. These specific metals inhibit the Kreb’s cycle in the mitochondria. Recall, Kreb’s cycle is one of the most important biochemical processes the mitochondria uses to help produce energy. In addition to that, heavy metals also increase reactive oxygen species which can further damage the mitochondrial membrane, and subsequently energy production.

Free Radical Damage:

When cells need more energy, the mitochondria step up to the plate, working in overdrive and in turn can become overworked. Think about this in times of stress, your body in a constant fight or flight, requiring excess energy to keep it going. When you’re younger, mitochondria can divide and replicate quickly, in an attempt to increase energy demands. However, over prolonged periods of stress, or as we grow older, the mitochondria can’t keep up. They become burnt out.

They start to break down. They can begin to “leak” electrons across their membranes as they become damaged, leading to the formation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species. As mentioned earlier, reactive oxygen species can further damage the mitochondria, ultimately leading mitochondria that are ineffective energy producers. In addition, we know that reactive oxygen species can also wreak havoc elsewhere in the body.

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197458015004728

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12891154/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13668-3

https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/energy-and-fatigue

https://www.health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard-health-publications/boosting-your-energy

https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/energy-boosting-supplements