Whole Foods in Canada will stop selling non-sustainable fish

An update on where to buy fish:

Whole Foods will stop selling species of seafood from sources that are non-sustainable by April 22, 2013 (Earth Day).  In Canada, Whole Foods stores are working with the SeaChoice organization and their labelling system that shows which species are sustainable harvested.

SeaChoice has a colour-coded labelling system that allows you to see which species are sustainably harvested. Download the wallet sized chart you can carry with you.

I’d love to recommend some local, independent fish shops – please let me know when you find sustainably harvested fish in Vancouver.

Great deal at our clinic – today only through Groupon!

$69 for a Naturopathic Sapphire Microdermabrasion and Cool Light Therapy Treatment at West Vancouver Wellness Centre ($185 Value)

Those fatal second helpings…

“As you contemplate eating that second helping at the next holiday party, consider this: A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine looked at a group of 1.46 million white, nonsmokers between the ages of 19 and 84 over a 10 year period. They found a disturbing correlation between Body Mass Index (weight in kilograms divided by height—in meters—squared) and likelihood of death. People with a BMI between 20 and 24.9 were the least likely to have died within the 10 year period.”

This Good Health article reminds us yet again how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  To determine your BMI, use this online calculator.

With the holiday season here, it can be very easy to pack on an extra 5 or 10 pounds over the month. Remember, it’s not the one or two times of overeating that makes a difference to your health, but what you do consistently over a period of time (for example, the month of December).

Two easy techniques you can use to keep the majority of your eating balanced:

• Use smaller plates. (Trust me it is well researched and it works!)
• Stop when you are 80% full.   Tune-in to your body…that first fullness signal you get is the one to follow.  Allow yourself to go back to the food in 20 min if you’re hungry then.

Happy eating!

Need help choosing healthy fish options?

As a Naturopathic Doctor I guide people in their nutrition.  One of the best foods to eat is oily fish (salmon, mackeral, herring, sardines), mainly because of their high omega 3 content.  Remember that omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory, can reduce atherosclerosis and hypertension, boost the immune system,  decrease depression, support brain health, and the list goes on.

But when it comes to eating fish, unfortunately there are no easy answers to choosing the best option.  Here are the key issues with eating fish:

• Farmed fish are not fed the same nutrients and algae they eat in the wild, therefore reducing their omega 3 content and overall health benefits.
• Many fish farms use antibiotics and use dyes to give fish a “healthy” colour.
• Farmed fish cause a significantly negative impact to the environment.  For example, ocean fish pens allow fish lice, feces and contaminants to flow back into the ocean and are widely accepted to be one of the main causes of destroying wild fish stocks.
• Wild fish stocks are depleted.
• Ocean fishing causes a significantly negative impact to the environment.
• Wild fish is contaminated with heavy metals.

Guidelines for making healthier fish choices:

• There are growing movements in Canada and around the world to improve fish agriculture, including the health benefits of the farmed fish.  Go to Canada’s Seafood Guide (download a wallet sized guide you can refer to when shopping or iphone app) and Sea Choice to keep up to date on the healthiest choices of fish available at this time.
• Avoid buying from farms that use ocean based pens, which are most of them.  Look for farms that use a closed containment system and feed their fish nutrients found in their natural environment, such as with this research farm in Canada.
• Consider this: According to Dr. Mozaffarian from the Harvard School of Public Health, “The cardiovascular benefits of eating omega-3 rich seafood — like farmed salmon — are greater than the PCB’s/dioxin risks by a factor of at least 300:1. Seafood is likely the single most important food one can consume for good health.”  I could certainly debate this, but it is something to consider.
• My research so far has found that Canadian sustainable aquaculture initiatives are only at the research stage and the fish aren’t widely available for purchase (please let me know if you come across a source to purchase these fish from).
• I have yet to find the perfect fish farm, except maybe this incredible fish farm in Spain.  Learn about it here from TED Talks.
• Keep up to date with new initiatives that support sustainable fish agriculture.   Visit these sites to learn about innovative Canadian solutions:
• Sustainable Aquaculture Technology
• Farmed and Dangerous
• Living Oceans
• Pacific Sea Lab
• various research projects

Need help choosing healthy fish options?

As a Naturopathic Doctor I guide people in their nutrition.  One of the best foods to eat is oily fish (salmon, mackeral, herring, sardines), mainly because of their high omega 3 content.  Remember that omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory, can reduce atherosclerosis and hypertension, boost the immune system,  decrease depression, support brain health, and the list goes on.

But when it comes to eating fish, unfortunately there are no easy answers to choosing the best option.  Here are the key issues with eating fish:

• Farmed fish are not fed the same nutrients and algae they eat in the wild, therefore reducing their omega 3 content and overall health benefits.
• Many fish farms use antibiotics and use dyes to give fish a “healthy” colour.
• Farmed fish cause a significantly negative impact to the environment.  For example, ocean fish pens allow fish lice, feces and contaminants to flow back into the ocean and are widely accepted to be one of the main causes of destroying wild fish stocks.
• Wild fish stocks are depleted.
• Ocean fishing causes a significantly negative impact to the environment.
• Wild fish is contaminated with heavy metals.

Guidelines for making healthier fish choices:

• There are growing movements in Canada and around the world to improve fish agriculture, including the health benefits of the farmed fish.  Go to Canada’s Seafood Guide (download a wallet sized guide you can refer to when shopping or iphone app) and Sea Choice to keep up to date on the healthiest choices of fish available at this time.
• Avoid buying from farms that use ocean based pens, which are most of them.  Look for farms that use a closed containment system and feed their fish nutrients found in their natural environment, such as with this research farm in Canada.
• Consider this: According to Dr. Mozaffarian from the Harvard School of Public Health, “The cardiovascular benefits of eating omega-3 rich seafood — like farmed salmon — are greater than the PCB’s/dioxin risks by a factor of at least 300:1. Seafood is likely the single most important food one can consume for good health.”  I could certainly debate this, but it is something to consider.
• My research so far has found that Canadian sustainable aquaculture initiatives are only at the research stage and the fish aren’t widely available for purchase (please let me know if you come across a source to purchase these fish from).
• I have yet to find the perfect fish farm, except maybe this incredible fish farm in Spain.  Learn about it here from TED Talks.
• Keep up to date with new initiatives that support sustainable fish agriculture.   Visit these sites to learn about innovative Canadian solutions:
• Sustainable Aquaculture Technology
• Farmed and Dangerous
• Living Oceans
• Pacific Sea Lab
• various research projects

Do you know your boundaries?

“Putting ourselves first isn’t selfish but a necessary step in life’s growth.  When we have appreciation for ourselves, others will too.  Because we teach people how to treat us.” -Goop newsletter on Boundaries

As a Naturopathic doctor I see many, many patients who either forget or don’t know how to value themselves, and this plays a big role in the progression of their disease.  Monica Berg’s elegant words remind me of the importance of how we treat ourselves inside.

Dr. Shannon’s tips for cold and flu prevention

Wondering what you can do to prevent that dreaded cold or flu?

1.  You’ve heard it before but it can’t be emphasized enough.  Studies show the best prevention is hand washing and proper hygiene.  So wash your hands and your children’s hands on arriving home and after coughing or sneezing.  Occasionally wiping off door handles, light switches, steering wheels, keyboards and commonly handled items will also go along way in preventing germ transfer.

2.  Get enough sleep.  Sleep is when the body heals and people who don’t get enough sleep are at a higher risk of catching a cold.   How to tell if you get enough sleep? If you don’t feel rested in the morning, you aren’t getting enough sleep.

3.  Go outside.  Your body needs a minimum of 20 minutes of daylight per day to make the correct hormones that govern much of your health, including your immune system.

4.  Exercise in moderation.  Research shows that exercising 30-60 min 5 days per week increases immune function and reduces your chances of picking up that cold that everyone else seems to have.

5.  Consider a homeopathic flu shot.  Homeopathic flu shots enhance the body’s natural defences and healing processes.  They are extremely diluted so the risk of falling ill due to the flu shot is nonexistent.  Some brands include echinacea in the flu shot to help give the immune system an added boost.

6.  Use hydrotherapy.  Hot and cold showers cause a change in temperature which then triggers the immune system.  At the end of your regular shower, try 3 minutes of hot and 30 seconds of cold; repeat this hot/cold process two times.  Always end with cold water.

7.  And if you need more…..I can provide you with additional immune support options:

• Laboratory testing for vitamin D levels
• Flu vaccination alternatives
• Nutrient level assessments, along with individualized dietary recommendations for boosting the immune system
• Flu treatments to keep at home
• Treatments for cold and flu recovery

West Vancouver Wellness Centre

Good afternoon,

I am now practicing at the West Vancouver Wellness Centre.  We offer a range of evidence-based, cutting edge, natural approaches for a wide variety of health conditions.  Come visit us on Saturdays for a free smoothie and an opportunity to ask questions about how we can help you take charge of your health.  I look forward to seeing you there!

In health,

Dr. Shannon

Moving to Vancouver, Canada

Hello,
As of July 16, 2010 I will no longer be practicing in London, UK and will open my new practice in Vancouver, Canada in November 2010. Website and email address will remain the same!
I will be away with limited email access until the beginning of November 2010 but if you need to contact a naturopath in London, here are some practitioners I recommend:

Debbie Cotton, Australian trained Naturopath
Appointment bookings: Urban Bliss- 0208 969 3331
Questions: allnaturalcotton@googlemail.com

Rebecca Edwards, Australian trained Naturopath
Appointment bookings: 020 3075 1006

Nigma Talib, Canadian trained Naturopath
Appointment bookings: +44 (0) 207 486 6523
Questions: info@bowskillclinic.com

Hannah Yang, Canadian trained Naturopath
Appointment bookings: 0753 102 1656
Questions: rhythmsofnature@yahoo.co.uk

Shannon Feely, BSc, ND 2010-06-21 11:28:51

Wonderful recipe resource:

Pimp my cookbook Often gluten and dairy free, I’ve sampled some of Mette’s creations myself and they’re excellent!