Posts by Dr. Johann de Chickera
What is Heart Rate Variability and Heart Math?
We’re so used to tracking all sorts of information which tell us all sorts of health information – like blood pressure, number of steps, calories, heart rate, blood sugar. What if we could have data which tells us about our resiliency, behavioral flexibility, stress, anxiety and depression? Well Heart Rate Variability does just that, and…
Read MoreWhat’s the Difference between Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Counsellors, Psychotherapists and the other Mental Health Practitioners?!
When it comes to mental health practitioners, there is usually a bit more confusion from patients and practitioners alike with respect to how they all integrate into healthcare, and how you can access these services and which practitioner may be best suited for the needs of the patient. Although there is significant overlap between the…
Read MoreChromium Picolinate for Diabetes
Chromium is an essential trace element. It is important in human physiology as it enhances the effects of insulin. We call this an insulin sensitizer, which would consequently reduce glucose levels. There is a lot of research on chromium, some showing benefit and others showing no effect. The most significant thing when looking at efficacy…
Read MorePomegranate Juice for Diabetes and Heart Disease
Pomegranate juice contains antioxidants that have many anti-atherosclerotic properties. In other words pomegranate juice would be helpful in people with heart disease, including diabetics with heart disease (since diabetics have increased risk of coronary heart disease). There is quite a lot of research on the scientific databases (pubmed). Here is a highlight of a few…
Read MoreMagnesium for Diabetes Prevention and Treatment
Magnesium is one of the most important nutrients for human health. It’s involved in so many processes, including diabetes and blood sugar management. The Normal Insulin Response If you review basic blood sugar and insulin physiology, you’ll remember the underlying physiology of type 2 diabetes is that the cell doesn’t respond to insulin appropriately, and…
Read MoreAtherosclerosis in Diabetes
The pathology of atherosclerosis in diabetics is the same as anyone else, it involves the same inflammatory processes, and many of the same risk factors [4]. There are a few specific things that differ – and those things will be highlighted in this article. Cholesterol in Heart Disease The role cholesterol plays in heart disease…
Read MoreBlood Vessels in Diabetics
It’s well established that the presence of diabetes increases the risk of certain cardiovascular events. The goal in working with a Naturopath is to reduce these risk factors, so do not worry! Vascular Complications in Diabetics Diabetes is associated with atherosclerosis, neuropathy, and retinopathy. The key here – is that these risk factors can be…
Read MoreFish Oil for High Triglycerides in Diabetics
Diabetics with cardiovascular disease risk factors (hypertension, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides) have to be extra diligent with managing their blood vessels and reducing inflammation. Having higher blood sugar with more inflammation can increase risk of cardiovascular disease. What are Triglycerides? Next to cholesterol, triglycerides are the most important measurement on a lipid panel. They…
Read MoreThe Abnormal Blood Sugar and Insulin Response in Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is also referred to as Insulin Resistant Diabetes. This article will show you what that means. If you need to recap the normal blood sugar and insulin response, click here and then come back to this article. What is Blood Sugar? When you eat food, it starts off in the digestive tract.…
Read MoreBCCA’s For The Treatment of Concussion
BCAAs are Branch Chained Amino Acids. They are Leucine, Valine, and Isoleucine. They are simply called branched chained aminos because their physical structure is a branched molecule. These amino acids are essential – meaning they have crucial roles throughout the body and must be obtained through diet or supplementation. Roles of BCAAs BCAA’s play vital…
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