The Green Door Health Centre

05/15/2018

Feel like snacking late at night? Go for a walk instead! The simple act of walking can help:

- Improve your mood
- Improve your overall balance and coordination - Maintain a healthy weight
- Strengthen your bones and muscles
- Prevent/manage various preventable conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

Tonight, instead of crashing on the couch try going outside for a 10 minute walk around the block. Next time make it a 11 minute walk. The more you walk, the greater the benefits. It's as simple as that.🌱

04/14/2017

Tea Tuesday: Valerian! Also known by its Latin name, Valerian Officinalis. Native to Europe this plant gives off a musky odor that many find offensive. The tea itself gives off a similar yet lessened more palatable odor and is sourced from the roots of the valerian plant.

For thousands of years valerian was greatly valued as a bit of a cure all. Over time its calming effects became its most valued effect. Often it was given for insomnia, to ease nervous tension and as a calming sedative. Believe it or not valerian was used by conventional medicine up until the early 1950s when it was replaced by prescription medications such as Va**um and dropped from the National Formulary of the United States.

Today valerian continues its long standing use as a herbal sedative. Often combined with other medicinal herbs such as hops and lemon balm, valerian is used in the treatment of nervousness, insomnia and anxiety.

Researchers studying valerian believe that it owes much of its therapeutic effects to two compounds: valerenic acid and valerenol. These two compounds are found to bind strongly to GABA-A receptors. GABA is one of the major inhibitory neurotransmitters in the body and GABA-A is the target receptor for many drugs used to aid sleep or to reduce anxiety such as benzodiazepines.

Overall valerian is safe to consume, as it has a wide dosage range and is found to not be habit forming. Regardless, like with any plant used for medicinal purposes you should always check with your health care provider first to see if its right for you.

04/03/2017

Exercise machines can often seem like a quick and easy fix at the gym, allowing us to target specific muscles and power through our workouts faster. Sometimes that simplicity can do more harm than good leaving us at an increased risk of injury. To help you navigate the gym and avoid potential injuries here are our top 5 exercise machines we feel you should avoid using at the gym. https://www.thegreendoorhealth.com/blog/2017/3/9/5-exercise-machines-you-should-avoid-using

Exercise machines seem exceptional in practice due to their ease of use, but that simplicity often has us parking our butts on seats often isolating a single muscle. This can result in a lower caloric burn and a loss of potential muscle gain per rep. More importantly, exercise machines can

02/22/2017

Did you know that calcium is one of the most abundant minerals in our body? The recommended daily intake of this mighty mineral is about 1000 mg's per day, which is equal to consuming about three 8-ounce glasses of milk a day. What if you can't drink milk or just don't like it? Don't worry we've got you covered. Check this month's blog post about our top ten non-dairy sources of calcium. https://thegreendoor.squarespace.com/blog/2017/2/6/top-10-non-dairy-sources-of-calcium

The recommended daily intake of this mighty mineral is about 1000 mgs per day, which is equal to consuming about three 8-ounce glasses of milk a day. That's all fine, but what if you are lactose intolerant, vegan, have a sensitivity to milk or just don't like the taste of dairy products? Well,

01/26/2017

Suffering from heartburn? Ads would have use believe that this is due to having too much stomach acid, but it can actually be caused by not having enough stomach acid. Check this month's blog post from The Green Door Health Centre to find out more!

When you turn on the TV nowadays, stomach acid issues seem to be everywhere. Ads would have use believe that it is nothing more than an annoyance that gets in the way of our favourite foods. In fact, many people think that their stomach acid levels are too high when in reality it might be the opposi...

01/12/2017

With the new year now in full swing it's very easy to get overwhelmed with all the talk of diets and full body cleanses. You almost feel left behind if you don't join or do something. My advice, ignore what everyone else and the media says you should be doing. Take a moment to yourself and think, what do I want to do for myself this year? Maybe it's a trip you've been wanting to take, someone you want to reconnect with or maybe you really want to go through a bit of a cleanse. Whatever you want to do, you do it for you! Make 2017 your year and forge your own path!

And if you need a little help along the way our door is always open at The Green Door Health Centre!

12/07/2016

Here's what's in season for the month of December in Ontario! Winter has come!

11/30/2016

Your path may be very different compared to others around you. What might have worked for them might not work for you. Don't let that discourage you. We are all individuals and thus follow different paths. Don't wait for the new year to find your path.

Many extended health insurance plans cover many of the services offered at the Green Door Health Centre. With the end of the year fast approaching much of that coverage will be lost at the end of December. Use that coverage to book with us and let us help you find your path.

11/22/2016

Tea Tuesday: Calendula! Also known by its Latin name, Calendula Officinalis. Originating possibly from southern Europe and Northern Africa it often stands out due to it's vivid yellow to orange flower colouration. The tea itself is sourced from the flowing heads of the calendula plant, and has a somewhat sweet and salty flavour.

For centuries, calendula has been used for its ornamental, culinary and cosmetic properties. It wasn't until around the 12th century that it was used medicinally. Traditionally it was mainly used as an external remedy for skin conditions, infections and minor wounds. Internally it was used for upset stomachs and stomach ulcers.

Today calendula is used to treat many of the same conditions as in the past. Applied externally, often in creams and ointments, it is used for skin ailments, such as eczema, acne, minor cuts and burns. Internally it is often used to help heal gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Research has shown its anti-inflammatory effects and effectiveness in helping to heal wounds appears to owe itself to triterpeniod compounds that inhibit a variety of bacteria and possibly act as an antioxidant.

Those allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family should avoid calendula use as it may result in an allergic reaction. Like with any plant used for medical purposes you should always check with your health care provider first to see if its right for you.

11/16/2016

Here's what's in season for the month of November in Ontario! Winter is coming!

11/07/2016

What are your health goals? Write them down and internalize them. Pick one and take that first step to reaching it. It could be as simple as changing your double double order to a single or putting your phone down before you go to bed. The most important thing is that you've taken that first step.

At the Green Door Health Centre we are here to help you reach those health goals. Bring in your list and let us help guide you on your health journey!

10/25/2016

Tea Tuesday: Lemon Balm! Also known by its Latin name, Melissa Officinalis. Originating from southern Europe this member of the mint family fills the air with a minty, lemony scent when its leaves are brushed. A very scent that is known to attract honeybees! The tea itself gives off a lemony scent and is sourced from the leaves of the lemon balm plant.

For over 2000 years lemon balm has been cultivated as a bee attracting plant and was valued through the centuries as a culinary and medicinal plant. Lemon balm was used to treat wounds and fevers in addition to easing digestive upset, anxiety and sleeplessness.

Today lemon balm is mainly used for tension, anxiety and poor sleep. Often being combined with other calming herbs such as Valarian, studies in children and adults show its value as a calming agent and sleep aid. This same calming effect allows lemon balm to be used as a digestive aid to gently relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal track easing minor spasms, bloating and gas.

Even more exciting is recent research into its use in the treatment of oral herpes and fever blisters. Scientists have identified several compounds that actively block the herpes simplex virus.

Lemon balm is safe and well tolerated by all ages. Even so, like with any plant used for medical purposes you should always check with your health care provider first to see if its right for you.