GET UP & GO BREAKFAST - DR WENDY CHRISTIEN

Blood is a specialized body fluid that is essential to life. The four main components of blood are red blood cells, plasma, white blood cells, and platelets. Keeping our blood healthy ensures that our organs and tissues can function optimally. For this reason, it is important that we provide our bodies with the nutrients that are necessary to keep our blood healthy.

Dr. Wendy Christien is a dedicated wellness practitioner and health coach with a passion for helping individuals optimize their health and well-being. With years of experience in the health and wellness field, Dr. Christien specializes in personalized coaching that empowers her clients to manage their bodies, improve their lifestyle, and achieve their wellness goals. At Integrated Health Solutions...

Food labels are crucial sources of information that provide consumers with details about the nutritional content, ingredients, and other important aspects of packaged food products. Dr Wendy walks us through the Nutrition Facts Panel, the Ingredients List, serving size and the calories and macronutrients:

Our diets play a significant role in the health of our eyes and our eyesight. Certain nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin and amino acids like taurine and L-carnitine, are essential for promoting good vision and protecting against eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.

Fats are essential macronutrients, but their consumption often stirs debates due to their potential health implications. We explore the pros and cons of consuming too many fats.

When we consume a diet that is high in unhealthy fats and processed foods, and are exposed toxins from the environment, the liver and the gallbladder are overworked which can result in a toxic gut. Too much fat and not enough fiber in our diets puts a lot of pressure on these organs which can lead to gallbladder disease, which is a common symptom of a toxic gut.

This gut type arises from chronically poor digestive processes, the use of antacids, and the subsequent lack of absorption of nutrients which prevents the digestive system from sending nutrients to the organs. Many people with this gut type struggle with acid reflux, a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), bloating and gas.

The immune gut can be triggered by the use of prescription medication, antibiotics, and the consumption of an inflammatory diet. Emotions such as disappointment, grief, and depression can also contribute to symptoms associated with this gut type.

Emotional stress combined with the overconsumption of sugar and carbohydrates stresses the adrenal and thyroid glands as well as the kidneys, resulting in gut permeability and a stressed gut.

This gut type is related to yeast overgrowth which can be caused by contraceptive pills, antibiotics, and other medications, or consuming a high sugar diet or foods that create “dampness” in the body such as bananas, wheat and gluten grains, and dairy products, especially cow’s milk. Chronic anxiety is also a contributor to the candida gut.

Over the next 5 weeks Dr Wendy will look at each of the different gut types in detail. It is important to identify which digestive type most describes the problems that we experience with our guts if we want to be able to address the symptoms we experience and help our bodies to heal and function more optimally. This week, Dr Wendy sets a foundation for the chat over the next 5 weeks.

Many of us believe that we need to make big changes to get any results, but making small, consistent changes can be far more beneficial in the long run. When we try to make drastic changes, it can often be too overwhelming, so we tend to run out of steam and give up before we even get started, but small changes are more sustainable and are much more likely to become new habits.

Not everyone has a problem sleeping, but for those people who do, maybe some new practices nduring the day and leading up to bedtime could help. What is sleep hygiene?

The Christmas season can often be a time of overindulgence. We could all do with some reminders and tips on how to take great care of ourselves so that we can survive the Christmas table as best as we can without setting ourselves back too much.

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion which is caused by excessive, prolonged stress. It occurs when there are constant demands that make you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet all that is required of daily life.

Like our bodies, our brains change as we age. Some of us can find that our memory recall and remembering new information can be more challenging than it was previously. It is important to differentiate between mild forgetfulness and cognitive decline that leads to more serious memory problems like dementia.

Potassium is a mineral that is important for the regulation of muscle contractions and nerve function, and it is also involved, along with sodium, in the regulation of our fluid balance. Every tissue in the body needs potassium so it is therefore an essential mineral.

Our kidneys are located just below our rib cage on either side of our spine. The function of the kidneys, which are bean-shaped and about the size of a fist, is to filter blood and remove waste products and acid via our urine. When the kidneys function well, about a cup of blood is filtered through them every minute. In this process waste products and extra fluids are removed, forming urine, which...

Exposure to chronic mould or mycotoxins can cause an inflammatory immune response in sensitive people. Mould-contaminated indoor spaces can negatively impact human health. An increase in upper and lower respiratory conditions is linked to chronic mould exposure. Mould spores can trigger the production of cytokines and chemokines, which mediate inflammatory and immune reactions. Mould exposure can...

Salt, otherwise known as sodium, is necessary in small quantities for our body functions. Salt helps for the conduction of nerve impulses, the contraction and relaxation of our muscles, and it plays a role in the fluid and mineral balance in our bodies. Too much salt intake can cause health problems including our blood vessels and brains.

Spring is a time of renewal and as the weather starts to get warmer it can be a good time to detox our bodies. Detoxification can help to alleviate the sluggishness that we can feel after eating too many comfort foods over the winter months and to help get our weight back on track. It can also help to lift our mood.

Blood pressure is the term given to the pressure of the blood that pushes against the walls of our arteries as it circulates around our bodies. Last week Wendy focussed on High Blood Pressure. This week she looks at the various types of Low Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the term given to the pressure of the blood that pushes against the walls of our arteries as it circulates around our bodies. The arteries transport blood from our hearts to the rest of the body and this pressure can fluctuate throughout the day. When our blood pressure is measured, the readings are based on two factors. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in the arteri...

Our heart is a very important organ. It is a muscular organ about the size of a fist, located just behind and slightly left of the breastbone. The heart pumps blood through the network of arteries and veins called the cardiovascular system. If it stops or if something hinders its activity, we have a serious problem! What is helpful to heart health?

Sleep is important to keep our bodies well and healthy. Good quality sleep protects our mental health and physical health and has a profound impact on our quality of life. The way we feel while we're awake depends in part on what happens while we're sleeping. Many metabolic processes take place at night while we sleep to support healthy brain function and maintain physical health. If we ar...