Acid Alkaline Balance Foods Chart

Balancing your acid/alkaline ratio is especially critical when you are challenged with the effects of stress. The following table provides a simple list of acid or alkaline forming foods. You can use this information to make the healthiest nutrition choices to support health and stress management.

Aged Garlic Extract and Stress

If the word panacea could be attributed to one supplement, it would be to aged garlic extract. Few, if any, have benefited from as many scientific studies, published in major prestigious journals. None have demonstrated such a wide array of effects, all of which are supported by serious scientific studies. Over 700 scientific publications have highlighted aged garlic extract’s effectiveness.

Arthritis: Natural Approach

Aside from cardiovascular diseases, arthritis is probably the disease that affects the greatest number of people who have reached the golden age. In this article, I will focus on one particular type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, because it is, by far, the most frequent form, with a little over two million people in Quebec suffering from it. (27 million in the US).

Back to the gym - tips on Protein Nutrition

With the arrival of fall and the impetus to go back to the gym, many individuals will want to increase their nutritional intake in order to help their bodies adjust to changes in both weather and training emphasis. In this article I’d like to address protein nutrition, particularly in regards to protein supplementation.

"But I eat well doctor." - Do you?

Since I returned to working full-time in a private practice over two years ago, I have seen how little people’s mentalities have changed in some regards. One of the most frequent comments I hear in discussions and consultations with patients is, "I don't need supplements. I eat well."

Can We Extend Life?

“You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.” George Burns

Conventional Medicine - Why it is Failing

According to certain authors, Western medicine has "failed" or, as Laval University professor Fernand Turcotte writes, "Medicine seems to have lost its direction." Why do you think conventional medicine finds itself in this state?

Degenerative Diseases I - Putting the problem in perspective

A degenerative disease is one in which the body, or certain body parts, degenerate or deteriorate more quickly than anticipated. This type of disease "ages" the body prematurely. What is alarming is the high prevalence of degenerative diseases and disorders in industrialized countries, with their highest concentration being in North America.

Degenerative Diseases II - Natural Prevention and Treatment

It's interesting to note that the approaches to treating and preventing degenerative diseases are more or less the same. Minimize xenobiotics and help the body eliminate them. Compensate for deficiencies associated with accelerated degeneration. Consume a sufficient amount of antioxidants.

Fitness and the Stress of life

When we refer to stress, we generally have the idea of someone who is burnt out and exhausted or one who is over reactive. In this article I’d like to put stress in perspective because stress is an unavoidable part of life. The body can adapt to stress given that the stress is not too great and the body's own adaptive mechanisms have not been reduced in any way.

Food Allergies and Intolerances - Seeing through the confusion

Food allergies are linked to a wide range of disorders and symptoms. They're also often insidious. In fact, unlike traditional allergic reactions, many foods can cause symptoms that develop several hours or even days after ingesting them.

Glucose Problems In Canada

Blood sugar problems are pandemic in North America. More than two million Canadians have diabetes and, according to very conservative estimations, more than 10 million Canadians, (100 million Americans) about one third of the population, is affected by some type of hypoglycemia.

Herbal support for the Prostate

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. The gland is made of two lobes, or regions, enclosed by an outer layer of tissue. As the diagrams show, the prostate is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder, where urine is stored. The prostate also surrounds the urethra, the canal through which urine passes out of the body.

Hypothyroidism

Q: My blood tests are normal, but I think I may have thyroid problems. If this is so, can it be that thyroid problems are at the root of my many symptoms?

Hypothyroidism – 2

In my previous article, I put into perspective the phenomenon of hypothyroidism and listed a number of factors that could lead to the development of this condition. In the article's conclusion, I noted that I would address subclinical - also known as tissue or cell – hypothyroidism, as well as goitrogens, in an upcoming issue of the journal.

Magnesium: The Forgotten Mineral

When I was a child, my parents made me gulp down massive amounts of Milk of Magnesia. (Admittedly, I'm in my late 50s, so my memory might not be so reliable!) I suffered from constipation and hyperactivity and I used to get leg cramps. Milk of Magnesia clearly helped manage the first symptom, and perhaps the others as well. My interest in magnesium stems from that childhood experience. The word "magnesium" originated in the Greek region of Magnesia, where the mineral is found abundantly in the stone.

Mental Illness - Part 2

In the last edition of Vitalité Québec, I addressed the role nutritional deficiencies play in the development or worsening of “mental” illnesses. In this article, I would like to tackle the roles of hypoglycemia and food intolerances and, briefly, that of heavy metal toxicity.

Metabolic Syndrome

Your latest book is titled Syndrome S, is that the same thing as Syndrome X? If not, can you explain to me what Syndrome X is?

The Most Essential Nutrient – It’s Not What You Think

What do you think is the nutritional element most essential to health? Is it a mineral, vitamin, amino acid or a fatty acid?

Multiple Sclerosis

My husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Do you think it is possible to treat this disease using natural methods?

Natural Immunity: The End Goal

In the first edition of my book, Candida Albicans, written in 1980, I suggested that if we didn't sufficiently boost our natural immunity, fungal infections would be nothing compared to the micro-organic problems of the future. We are now grappling with that future with mad cow disease, the bird flu, flesh-eating disease, Lyme disease, the West Nile virus and the infamous H1N1 virus. How can we bolster our natural immunity and protect ourselves from these threats, which will increasingly face in the coming decades?

Nutrition and Mental Illness

My son was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as well as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). I consulted a naturopath who suggested that some of my son’s psychological problems could be due to his diet. Is this possible?

Nutrition and Neurodegenerative Diseases - Part 1

My father has Alzheimer's and my grandfather has Parkinson's - both are neurodegenerative diseases. Is it possible for me to avoid developing these diseases?

Nutrition and neurodegenerative diseases - 
Part 2

As we saw in the first part of this article, degenerative diseases have a genetic component which - despite what we are sometimes told - has a negligible effect on the development of these diseases. We also saw that nutrition has a significantly greater than heredity effect when it comes to the development of Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. In this second part, I would like to address three topics that also contribute to the development or exacerbation of these diseases: water, environmental pollutants and exercise.

Nutritional Theories. Are you confused?

The recent explosion of books on health and nutrition is both encouraging and discouraging. It's encouraging because it shows that people are increasingly interested in living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of themselves. However, it's also discouraging because more and more consumers complain that they're confused by the growing number of conflicting nutritional theories. People are a bit lost, and justifiably so. Should they eat a special combination of foods? Should their diet be based on their blood type? Should they adopt a Mediterranean diet? Should they opt for an Asian diet and eat ridiculous amounts of tofu? These are just a few of the questions asked by consumers, who are increasingly interested in improving their health.

Osteoporosis : Why it Happens and How to Avoid it (Part 1)

I was diagnosed with osteopenia a few weeks ago. Well, my mother fell last winter and broke her hip. She was incapacitated for several months because of this accident. She is only now starting to recover, and very slowly at that. What natural methods can I use to avoid osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis Part II

In the first part of this article, I emphasized the limitations of hormone replacement therapy and the undeniable importance of resistance exercise in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. In the 2nd part, I would like to address the subject of nutrition and its impact on the prevention of osteoporosis. But before I address this, I would like to add two additional points with regard to the use of medicines.

The Paleolithic Diet

My coach strongly suggested I adopt the Paleo diet. What do you think of this popular diet?

Protein Deficiency: Risks, Consequences and Solutions

I recently consulted a dietician who suggested I have a protein deficiency and need to increase my protein intake. But my doctor tells me I don’t have any of the symptoms associated with protein deficiency. Whom should I believe?

Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

The French place great value in taking magnesium to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Is this nutrient truly useful for this? If "yes", where can I get it in food and how should I use supplements, if necessary?

Seasonal Affective Disorder

In the 1980’s, researchers discovered that certain changes in the state of psychological well-being were associated with changes in the seasons. They gave it a name, Seasonal Affective Disorder. People who are affected suffer from a decrease in their sense of psychological well-being and, in the most severe cases, can sink into an actual depression. Although the symptoms and their intensity vary from person to person, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) usually manifests itself in increased moodiness or even depression; low energy levels; a general lack of interest as well as irritability. What characterizes this type of disorder is that it begins with the arrival of autumn and increases gradually until it reaches its zenith at the end of winter. Individuals who are affected by this condition start to experience a gradual improvement with the onset of spring.

Skin Cancer

Human beings never used sunscreen in the past. Don’t you think that using sunscreen could be more harmful than beneficial?

Sleep

Question: I have trouble sleeping. I have tried different approaches, but I still can’t sleep well. Do you have any suggestions for me?

Weight Gain

I love your articles. Nevertheless, I have a criticism to make to you and to most authors who write in health magazines. There are numerous articles on metabolism, hypothyroidism and weight loss, but it’s hard to find anything about weight gain. Being too thin is just as dangerous as being overweight, but you seem to ignore it completely. Would it be possible to devote an article to this topic?

Weight Gain - Part 2

In the first part of this article, I focused mainly on the mathematical aspect of weight gain, i.e. taking stock of the relative balance between calories burned and calories consumed. But weight gain is not only a caloric issue, metabolism also has an influence. Indeed, despite Herculean efforts, some people just can’t seem to lose weight while others are unable to gain any. We all know people who eat very little and gain weight just, as we know, others who can eat like ogres and not gain an ounce!