Ear Infections and Food Sensitivities

As Naturopaths we have always preached the links between children's diets and the prevalence of ear infections. I typically recommend an IgG food allergy test for my pediatric patients who come to me with a history of recurrent ear infections, eczema, asthma or lowered immunity in general. It's always nice to read a study that supports the link between underlying food sensitivities (typically cow's milk, wheat, dairy, peanut, corn or sugar) This one comes from a clinical journal called the 'Annals of Allergy'. Here are the findings in summary:

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of food allergy in patients with recurrent serous otitis media. METHODS. A total of 104 unselected patients (age range 1.5 to 9 years, mean 4.6 years) with recurrent serous otitis media were evaluated for food allergy by means of skin prick testing, specific IgE tests, and food challenge. Patients who were allergic to food(s) underwent an exclusion diet of the specific offending food(s) for a period of 16 weeks. A non-double blinded food challenge was performed with the suspected offending food(s). Their middle ear effusion was monitored and assessed by tympanometry (Welch Allyn Model 23600) during the pre-elimination, elimination and challenge diet phases. RESULTS. There was a significant statistical association, by chi-square analysis, between food allergy and recurrent serous otitis media in 81/104 patients (78%). The elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of serous otitis media in 70/81 (86%) patients as assessed by clinical evaluation and tympanometry. The challenge diet with the suspected offending food(s) provoked a recurrence of serous otitis media in 66/70 patients (94%). CONCLUSIONS. The possibility of food allergy should be considered in all pediatric patients with recurrent serous otitis media and a diligent search for the putative food allergen made for proper diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

July Specials at the Clinic

For the month of July receive 25% off Olive Baby Skin-saver...great for your beach bag to comfort wind-burn and sun-burned skin!

Also, don't forget to pick up a tube of Badger Sun Screen for the kids!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Are you Happy? It's all in your hands!

I was reading an interesting article yesterday about the fact that happiness is an active process. There is a field of science called 'positive psychology' and they have studied individuals who have ranked themselves as the happiest of the population, and they have gathered the commonalities between these individuals. Turns out, these happy individuals make it happen for themselves with some very concrete and specific actions.
One suggestion made was that we all have a list of the things that make us feel happy inside - a phone call to a friend, playing with the kids, a cup of coffee, a warm bath, listening to happy music. Whenever you're having a bad day, you refer to the list and deliberately take actions to implement one of your 'happy inducing' activities!
Sounds simple enough!

Have a Happy Day!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Gluten-free Egg-free Rhubarb pie!

This weekend we dropped into Barrie Hill Farms and picked up some beautiful fresh asparagus, but I also grabbed some rhubarb to make dessert. I wasn't sure what I was going to make and sort of winged it. I stewed the rhubarb in a touch of water, 1/2 cup of strawberries and a few Tbsp. of sugar. About 20 min (it fell apart at this point).
I then proceeded to make up a recipe for a gluten-free egg-free tart crust. Here's what I used:
1.5 cups all-purposed gluten-free flour (a blend of rice, tapioca, buckwheat, chickpea and arrowroot flour).
1/2 tsp xantham gum
2 Tbsp sugar
6 Tbsp cold butter
5 Tbsp cold water
1/2 tsp salt

I used a butter knife to crumble the butter into the dry ingredients, and eventually it became crumbly. I transferred it into a glass pie plate and packed down the dough to form the tart
I baked the crust for 20 minutes at 375, then poured in the rhubarb mixture. Bake for 20 minutes more. Let cool before serving. Turned out delicious!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Welcome to our New RMT- Now Booking Appointments!

We are very excited to welcome the newest addition to our VFL team – Dawn Martin, RMT

Dawn is now booking appointments for new and existing clients starting June 1st. As an introductory offer, when you book your first 45 minute massage with Dawn, we will add an additional 15 minutes free! This is a great opportunity to meet Dawn and become familiar with her approach to massage.

To learn more about Dawn, please read the bio below - we will be updating our website shortly! Dawn is looking forward to meeting all of you.

Bio: Dawn Martin, RMT
Dawn Martin was born in Toronto, however, spent most of her years growing up in Barrie. After graduating from Barrie North, she headed down south to St. Petersburg College in Florida where she received a full athletic scholarship in basketball. She spent two years there and graduated with an Associate Arts degree geared to science.
After returning to Barrie in 2004 she enrolled in the Massage Therapy program at Georgian College as she had developed a passion for a non-medicated approach to healing. In April 2007 she graduated with honours and received an Academic All Canadian award. By July 2007 Dawn became a member of The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. She spent her first few years practicing in a chiropractor clinic where she helped clients relieve pain, reduce stress, heal injuries while providing home care instructions and educating them about their condition.
Dawn is confident that her knowledge and dedication to the health care profession will more than meet your Massage Therapy needs in a safe and comfortable environment, and is looking forward to meeting you in the near future.

Education

Advanced Diploma in Massage Therapy from Georgian College

Associate and Arts Degree from St.Petersburg College

Specialty

Treatment oriented and relaxation Massage

Pregnancy

Deep Tissue

Athletic injuries

Board Certification-
OSCE (Practical Exam)
MCQ (Written Exam)

Member of:
CMTO (The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario)

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

My 12 minutes of Reflection

One of my favorite places is the back viewing deck at the Algonquin Visitors Centre. It overlooks a winding river and endless forests – no cabins, electricity poles, roads or evidence of human intervention. It is a beautiful scene that always makes be feel peaceful inside. While at the visitors centre, my husband took the kids into the theatre for a 12 minute film on the history of Algonquin Park. I stayed on the viewing deck, enjoying a rare moment to myself (coffee in hand).
I thought back to the last couple of weeks. I had been feeling a lot of stress in my life recently, and had started to feel physical symptoms from it. My immune system crashed and I ended up sick. This is no surprise to a Naturopath! Normally I pride myself on having a really balanced life – I know when my body needs rest, exercise, good nutrition, time with a friend or when I need to be alone. But sometimes stressful situations can have such momentum that it is difficult to stop the situation once it begins. Sometimes it’s not ONE thing, but many small things happening at the same time (as was my case). I am lucky to have people in my life who step in and offer help in various ways – a pep talk, a kind email, help with the kids or a meal, or just words of support. Everyone should have these people in their life – they contribute to your health in a huge capacity even in very subtle ways.
Sometimes getting away from the daily grind is enough to help you see the light and give you a better perspective on things. For me, these 2 days away from home with my family made everything feel more tolerable. Enjoying the fresh air, hikes on the Algonquin trails, seeing the Moose along the road, visiting the logging museum and the various wildlife brought things into perspective.
It is still ‘low-season’ in Algonquin and I was able to stand on the viewing deck alone, which is rare. It was just me and the great unknown. It was grounding. In that 12 minutes I refilled my cup and re-charged my batteries. Without effort, happiness filled my cells.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Delicious Detox Dinner!

This weekend with the nasty weather we had it put me in the mood for cooking! For dinner I made 2 of the recipes from Carol Morley's new book 'Delicious Detox'. We made the 'Quinoa Tabouleh' and 'Mango & Mung Bean salad'. Both were delicious - the layering of flavors was amazing, and is sure to please every family member. I also baked a batch of gluten-free egg-free banana muffins (inspired by my son Jordi, who we recently diagnosed as being sensitive to both eggs and gluten using the IgG food allergy test). Looks like i'll be using more of Carol's recipes since they're all good options for Jordi as well as the rest of the family!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!