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Natural Remedies for Diverticulitis: Soothing Your Gut the Gentle Way

Diverticulitis can be painful and disruptive when small pouches (diverticula) in the colon become inflamed or infected. While severe cases may require antibiotics or surgery, many people with mild to moderate symptoms seek natural remedies to reduce inflammation, support healing, and prevent flare-ups. If you want to gently soothe your gut, consider the following natural remedies and lifestyle strategies that may help. Going plant-based is one of the best dietary approaches for managing diverticulitis because it emphasizes high-fibre, anti-inflammatory foods that support digestive health and reduce flare-ups. Whole plant foods—like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains—help keep the digestive system moving smoothly, preventing constipation and the pressure buildup that can aggravate diverticula. A plant-based diet is also naturally low in saturated fat, which has been linked to increased inflammation in the gut. By avoiding processed meats and dairy, which may irritate the colon, and focusing instead on fibre-rich, gut-friendly choices

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Health

The fight of my life

It all started when I was 35. I went for a run and mid-way through my foot started killing me, with pain right in the toe and metatarsals. I stretched it, rubbed in some pain lotion and moved on, or so I thought. Question: What was causing my foot so much pain? I went to my doctor and he gave me a cortisone injection directly into my foot. It did feel much better for the short term and thought that I was on my way, but I was wrong. My foot continued to be in so much pain that I had to go back to the doctor; he sent me for blood tests to test for arthritis. It was great news to find out that I didn’t have arthritis at all when my blood test came back negative -- but what was causing all the pain? I still hadn’t been
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Health

Aging and arthritis in Canada

A common myth amongst Canadians is that arthritis is a disease of aging, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. While it is often worse as we age, early detection can help along with other tactics. So if you’re older, get your children tested as it can make a huge difference for them and yourself. Over 6 million Canadians are affected by arthritis and most commonly, osteoarthritis. Women also suffer more than men from what can be a debilitating chronic condition with over 60% of Canadians with arthritis being women. Women are affected most because their tendons and joints are more elastic due to childbirth and it is also believed that the drop in estrogen levels after menopause plays a key factor. For men, they are mostly affected in the hip joints. September is arthritis awareness month in Canada and the Canadian Arthritis Society is launching a national awareness

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Health

Dangers of artificial sweeteners in new research

Saccharine, aspartame sucralose. They’re in just about every “diet” soft drink and all kinds of other everyday beverages from fruit drinks and many foods as well. Some new research recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences is now the first to show the pathogenic effects of these widely used sweeteners. It appears that they have a significant effect on two types of gut bacteria, E. coli (Escherichia coli) and E. faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis). Senior author of the paper Dr. Havovi Chichger, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: “There is a lot of concern about the consumption of artificial sweeteners, with some studies showing that sweeteners can affect the layer of bacteria which support the gut, known as the gut microbiota.  “Our study is the first to show that some of the sweeteners most commonly found in food and drink – saccharin, sucralose and

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Health

Arthritis and natural health

If you’re suffering from joint pain or osteoarthritis, don’t despair. These natural supplements, home remedies and healthy foods can help you control the pain so that you can live life to the fullest.  The process of inflammation is actually a good thing. In theory. It is your body’s way to protect itself from unwanted invaders, like bacteria and viruses.  But here’s where it gets tricky.  In some diseases – like arthritis – this natural defence system (your immune system) triggers inflammation when there are no unwelcomed visitors to fend off.  These types of autoimmune diseases trick your body into thinking that your tissues are somehow under attack, causing damage and a lot of pain.  Inflammation can be either short-term (acute) or can last a long time (chronic). Chronic inflammation can last for months or even years, long after that initial trigger is gone. That means chronic pain with very little

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Health

Gut health & anti-inflammatory meds

Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts take Ibuprofen and similar medications to help them exercise in the face of aches, pains and minor injuries. A note of caution: This practice can be harmful to your digestive health. Having played sports my entire life, I have taken my fair share of Ibuprofen for the usual aches and pains, at least until several years ago when my naturopathic doctor suggested that it might be causing my eczema and digestive problems. Developed in the 1960s, Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain and inflammation. She called my condition “leaky gut,” where some material from the gut (the gastrointestinal tract) leaks out into the bloodstream rather than being digested normally. A leaky gut, I learned, increases a person’s susceptibility to infections and autoimmune diseases such as eczema, and is related to atherosclerosis, chronic heart failure, allergies, autism and inflammatory-induced metabolic diseases

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Healthy Recipes

Cumin Hummus

Hummus is the perfect high-fibre and protein snack to keep you full for your afternoon hustle. Pair this delicious plant-based spread with your favourite vegetables or crackers. Easy and fast to make! SERVES 3-4 PREP TIME:10 MINUTES INGREDIENTS 1 can (organic) chickpeas 3-4 raw cloves of garlic (organic) 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (preferable vegan) 1 juiced lemon 1 Tsp freshly ground cumin seeds 1⁄4cup of Tahini sauce 1 Tbsp hot sauce Pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Garnish with tomatoes and parsley. Sprinkle a dash of cumin powder on top as a garnish.

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Health

How to keep inflammation at bay

Don’t let joint discomfort compromise your exercise routine, which is one of the best ways to prevent chronic medical conditions. THE amount of research demonstrating the benefits of physical activity to body and mind is staggering. Recently, a team of experts in movement science referred to physical activity as a “super-drug” for the prevention and treatment of chronic medical conditions. Who could argue this truth? I see it every day in my transformational consulting practice. The story of chronic, low-grade inflammation is a story of the immune system, as well as the physical and nutrition elements, and all three are connected. Sedentary behaviour and unhealthy dietary choices can ratchet up low-grade inflammation, including the production of pain-promoting and mood-compromising immune chemicals called cytokines. In my new book, Your Health Destiny (HarperOne, 2015), I underscore that just the right amount and type of exercise is critical to healthy immune system functioning. Dietary

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