By Neil Schachter, MD

Your body has developed a wide range of activities to ward off disease, but while some things we do, like get enough rest, nutrients, and exercise can enhance our natural defences, other things depress the immune function. A healthy immune system means that the protective mechanisms in our blood chemistry and respiratory tract are working well. If, however, you develop infections easily, this indicates that the immune system may be under performing. You can do something about it.

The key to improving immunity lies in protecting and encouraging our natural defence resources. Regular hand washing, good nutrition, plus natural immune system boosters like Cold-fX are all effective, proactive measures. Here are five lifestyle choices that will also make a difference: (more…)

Imagine how the spread of a bad cold, or flu, could devastate an NHL team for weeks and weeks of the hockey season. Even at the best of times, all that vigorous training and hard-hitting play pushes the body of a professional athlete to the limit, including the ability of their immune system. No wonder, hockey greats like Mark Messier are ardently pro-active when it comes to fighting germs. In fact, Messier has such a passion for nutrition, fitness and natural medicine, to his teammates he was also “Dr. Mark”. (more…)

Napping seems to be on the minds of many sleep-deprived Canadians, with recent international studies praising the benefits of the mid-afternoon snooze, whether at home or at work.

But is napping for everyone? The Better Sleep Council Canada advises that if you regularly have trouble falling or staying asleep at night, you should not be taking a nap during the day. But for others, napping can help regain alertness, enhance productivity, and reduce the stress of our busy days. To nap, or not to nap? That is the question.

If you’re considering making nap time part of your daily routine, The Better Sleep Council Canada recommends you to keep these tips in mind: (more…)

If bugs, bacteria and viruses ruled the world, there’s no doubt they would run it like an exclusive club with the motto- resist at all cost. The clubhouse rules would include all sorts of strategies to make sure that members remained undisturbed.

But Dr. Marc Ouellette of Laval University, a specialist in infectious diseases, has made it his mission to decode and break these rules. He wants to guarantee that antibiotics remain effective and that bugs are kept in check.

“In many cases, we are at the last drug, we’re only one step ahead of these rapidly-mutating pathogens,” he notes with some concern.

Bugs and viruses, known as pathogens, have a huge set of tools they can use to thwart efforts to get rid of them. (more…)

Put a smile in your body. Follow these simple steps to good oral health and watch your overall health improve too:

1. Brush twice and floss once every day

2. Eat a well-balanced diet

3. Check your mouth regularly for signs of gum disease and oral cancer

4. Don’t smoke

5. Visit your dentist regularly (more…)

We have all seen the labels on food products that say “organic” but what does that mean? Organic living has come to mean a return to a simpler way of life. We won’t be giving up our televisions and cell phones, but we can learn to detoxify our lives.

When the notion of organic living first burst on the scene, the talk was mainly about the dangers of pesticides. A biologist named Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring (1962) that brought to light the dangers of the cumulative effect of pesticides. Pesticide use was high during the 1950’s and ‘60’s. (more…)

At one time or another in her life, every woman has experienced one. What is it you ask? I’m talking about yeast infections. Any woman who’s had one knows what an ordeal it is to get rid of one. Here are five tips to avoid a yeast infection before it ever starts. (more…)

I have rarely had trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. I know, however, that many of you have reason to be jealous of that part of me, so I have gathered some info on sleep. This is an introductory lesson, and touches on another of my interests – herbal medicine. (more…)

One of the best things that I have done in the last few years is consciously increase the amount of good quality fiber in my diet. I felt better, had more energy, and I lost a bit of weight.

Read on to see what other benefits fiber has. (more…)

I am posting this article in early May. I love this time of the year because it is warm enough to be outside more, and yet cool enough to allow real brisk walks. Walking is my favourite exercise. It allows me to watch the world as I go, and that world is usually an area ripe with nature.

Read on to see why exercising makes you feel good, both physically and mentally. (more…)