Mahalia Freed ND

Stress & Digestion

Thursday, August 26th, 2010 | Events

Stomach in knots? Diagnosed with IBS? Gut instinct trying to tell you something? Listen to your gut!

Living a typical, overscheduled urban life can wreak havoc on your digestive health. Join Drs Mahalia Freed, ND and Angela Warburton TCM to explore the connections between stress and digestion.

You will learn about:

• Treatment of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Preventing bloating, gas, and stomach pain
• What happens in your body biochemically and physiologically when you are “stressed out”
• Stress coping mechanisms; and
• Nutritional, herbal and supplement tips for a healthy and happy gut

Please Preregister via Whole Foods to Reserve your Spot: 416-944-0500

Tags: digestive health

“Listen to your gut” – Stress and Digestive Function

Monday, June 14th, 2010 | Articles

Have you ever had something hit you so hard, emotionally, that you felt nauseous? Have you ever eaten out of sadness, boredom, anxiety?

“Butterflies in the stomach”, “Gut instinct”, “Nervous stomach”;

There are many expressions linking emotions to our digestive tract. In fact, the gut is often referred to as the “second brain.” Rather than being a figure of speech, this is a physiologically accurate portrayal. The gut is innervated by the two branches of the autonomic nervous system, which is controlled by the brain, as well as by the enteric (of the intestines) nervous system, which operates entirely independently. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter famous for its role in treating depression and insomnia, is highly active within the gut and ninety five percent of the body’s serotonin is actually manufactured in the intestines. No wonder people with gut dysbiosis, or an altered balance of bacteria and yeast in the gut, experience mood symptoms! Perhaps it would be more precise to label the gut as part of the brain? In any case, it is clear that the health of our gut affects our mood, and our mood affects the health of our gut.

So, what happens in our nervous system when we are stressed out?? › Continue reading

Tags: digestive health, stress

Introduction to Probiotics

Sunday, October 25th, 2009 | Articles

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Probiotics for health

Literally translated, probiotic means “for life”. Commonly, the term refers to a vast array of beneficial bacteria and certain yeasts available as supplements. Indeed, having a vital and well- balanced population of microorganisms in our digestive tracts is essential. Resident bacteria in the colon synthesize nutrients including vitamin K, essential for blood clotting. Beneficial bacteria and yeast also aid in digestion and proper elimination, enhance immune function, optimize hormone metabolism, support detoxification, create food for the cells lining the digestive tract, and compete with potentially harmful species for space, thus protecting us from infections.

› Continue reading

Tags: candida, digestive health, immune system