Dr. Ryan Nakama ND

We will be closing our office as of tonight - if you require supplements through our naturopathic department, we will be open until 7:15pm tonight for anyone needing to grab their minimum two week supply of supplements.

We will be in touch via social media over the next couple of weeks to communicate with you all when we plan to reopen and if people need access to supplements during that time, we will do what we can to accommodate while keeping everyone’s health at the forefront of our minds.

Be safe, everyone. We’ll be in touch.

Some insight into a sometimes controversial practice.

Using Ice / Cold Water Immersion After Workouts Will Impair Muscle and Strength Gains, as well as Vascular Adaptations There are proven acute regenerative benefits of both cold water immersion and cold application after exercise... cool? Not so cool, no. Two recent studies demonstrate: In the long run both will impair your gains.

Orthorexia or 'eating oh-so perfectly that it becomes unhealthy'.

Whether this term ever acheives diagnostic status, the reality is that this attitude appears to be becoming more and more prevalent. Of course, this is a complex issue.

On the one hand, eating a standard american diet (SAD), is not conducive to good health, so some attention and consciousness around food and eating is necessary to be any sort of healthy.

But if food choices prevent someone from attending parties or family events, if they become isolated then those can be red flags. Two people can be eating the same foods but have completely different attitudes and behaviors around them.

Food is nutrition, but it is also much more than that. It is social, it is connection, it is celebration, it is enjoyment.

One of my instructors once told me: "It's better to share a hotdog with a friend than always eating rice and beans alone". Do your best most of the time. Make changes that move you towards better health but don't be afraid or upset at a slip-up. When you choose to eat something, eat it with gratitude and enjoyment.

In general, I work with patients to promote a more inclusive diet, that encompasses an "eat more" mentality. Eat more greens, eat more seeds, eat more variety etc.", rather than an "eat less" restrictive focus. Eating more of many things begins to out-crowd the types of things that are less conducive to wellness.

Finding what works for you is the most important thing.

'Orthorexia' vying for classification as mental disorder as more people become obsessed with 'clean eating' Whether it’s a ‘real’ mental disease or an imaginary one, the behaviours and consequences are certainly real, according to a new study’s author

"Doctors are warning that millions of Canadians are taking a commonly prescribed class of drugs used to treat acid reflux much longer than the recommended two-month period, upping the risk of a number of health-related side-effects."

"The side-effects associated with taking proton pump inhibitors over the long-term include an increased risk of bone fractures, an inability to absorb nutrients, kidney damage, stomach infections and even a higher risk of dementia."

It can be difficult to get off of these medications because they are so effective. An abrupt discontinuation also often causes "rebound reflux" which can make people feel like they still have the original issue.

Your doctor or pharmacist can likely help you with a plan to taper down, and a naturopathic doctor can help identify and treat the underlying cause of GERD, reflux and heartburn.

Millions of Canadians using acid-reflux drugs for too long, risking health side-effects Doctors are warning that millions of Canadians are taking a commonly prescribed class of drugs used to treat acid reflux much longer than the recommended two-month period, upping the risk of a number of health-related side-effects.

Being away from home is one of the most common nutrition challenges we hear about.

Whether you're heading off for a vacation, or simply away from your regular routine, here are a few of our favorite tips for eating well on the go.

For more "on the go" eating tips, check out: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/eat-well-on-the-go-infographic

Cortisone injection vs. Prolotherapy Dr. Ross Hauser discusses the difference between cortisone and Prolotherapy injections and when each therapy would be best utilized. Unfortunately, cortisone...

Increased availabilty to help you stay healthy for the Holidays. (and a great opportunity to use up your benefits before they reset!)

Some hard truths about self-care. What do you think?

This Is What ‘Self-Care’ REALLY Means, Because It’s Not All Salt Baths And Chocolate Cake Did you use the right filter for that ‘gram of your impeccably prepared acai bowl?

See what we're all about at East Meets West Health Centre!

Team-Based, Patient-Centered Care What makes East Meets West Health Centre different? We're all about our patients and clients, building a team of skilled practitioners around your needs and goals.

Here’s why Canada may be in for a miserable 2017-18 flu season A miserable flu season may be in the works as influenza arrives on Canada’s doorstep, experts are warning.

Yes, life is busy. But you're worth it! Self-care is vital.

"I rearranged the hierarchy of my needs to reflect the fact that I’m a human being, a husband, a father, and then a physician. I learned that I must take care of myself before I can care for anyone else."
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1615974

Breaking the Stigma — A Physician’s Perspective on Self-Care and Recovery — NEJM Perspective from The New England Journal of Medicine — Breaking the Stigma — A Physician’s Perspective on Self-Care and Recovery

SIX08 Health Inc. SIX08 Health is disrupting the traditional healthcare industry through a unified, patient-centric ap

clients.mindbodyonline.com

Are you feeling "off" and don't know why? Get a second opinion from a Naturopathic Doctor. Naturopathic Medicine at East Meets West Health Centre.