by with Jamie Bussin and Dr. Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND

On the September 12 (2020) episode of The Tonic talk show, Jamie Bussin interviewed Dr. Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND, discussing the health benefits and science behind probiotics. The following is an excerpt from their dialogue.

What should you be looking for when selecting probiotics?

When you look for a probiotic, there are a lot of products to pick from. Below is a quick summary of things we recommend you to consider when selecting one.

by Dr. Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND, and Dr. Heidi Fritz MA, ND

Theanine is an amino acid analogue of L-glutamate and L‑glutamine and is found naturally occurring in green tea. Its chemical name is L‑gamma-glutamylethylamide, or N5‑ethyl-L‑glutamine. Theanine is absorbed in the small intestine, and can be hydrolyzed to glutamate and ethylamine, or it can remain intact as theanine. Another fate of theanine is to be metabolized by glutamate decarboxylase to yield gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Theanine can also cross the blood-brain barrier and have direct neurological effects. Theanine has long been regarded as the constituent of green tea responsible for calming effects, counteracting the stimulatory effects of caffeine.

by Dr. Chelsea Azarcon, BSc, ND

Hitting the hay, sawing logs, catching ZZZs—these are terms we use to describe sleep, but what is happening is more like a well-timed orchestra’s performance. Areas of the brain work in concert; some turn on and some turn off, directed by cues from light and chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. However, recent research suggests that sleep is not a process confined to the brain but that can receive input from the entire body, most prominently through the immune system.

by Dr. Elena Zarifis, BSc (Hons), ND

The human body is estimated to be colonized by around 38 trillion bacteria, with the colon housing the densest and most metabolically active populations of bacteria. Having a diverse colony of bacteria has been shown to be paramount for optimal health overall, not just intestinal health.

Of particular interest for this article is that studies have linked having a reduced microbial diversity to having a predisposition to allergic airway diseases.

by Guillaume Landry, MSc, Naturopath

It was only a matter of time before a formal human clinical study supported the countless appeals from the scientific community to administer vitamin D to patients with COVID‑19. Just completed, the results confirm what previous study correlations proposed: Vitamin D, particularly safe and accessible to all, delivers resounding health benefits.

by Neil Abbott, BSc, MBA

by Guillaume Landry, MSc, Naturopath

Today, treatment with probiotics (from “pro‑,” meaning “for,” and “bio,” meaning “life,” hence “for-life”) has become one of the pillars of contemporary naturopathy and is a must for many gastrointestinal, rheumatological, neurological, hormonal, and mental health conditions.

However, when it comes time to choosing a probiotic that’s right for you, standing in front of shelves increasingly occupied by an array of diverse products, a question remains: Will the probiotics provided in traditional, vegetable or gelatin, capsules deliver all their claimed benefits?

By Liam LaTouche, ND

Overview of Meditation

The term “meditation” can mean different things to different people: One person may get the image of a monk sitting cross-legged silently in a monastery; another may simply consider closing their eyes at their work desk and taking a few deep breaths; while someone else may recall the chess player in the park with attention so focused, nothing could distract her.

These examples all reflect meditation in the context of how the term is used in our society today. A quick Google search will connect you with mindfulness meditation, loving kindness meditation, meditation in motion, body scans… and the list goes on. Taking this into consideration, meditation can be thought of as a group of mental and emotional training regimens used to cultivate balance and wellbeing towards a number of ends.^[1] 

Liver Detoxification

Watch the replay by Dr. Melanie Kusznireckyj - available now!

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