There are many nutrients that can help to improve overall mood and depressive symptoms. A recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at vitamin D intake from foods and supplements in 81,189 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative. It found that women with higher amounts of vitamin D in their diet may lower their risk of having depressive symptoms by as much as 20%.   Vitamin D is thought to affect the function of dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters involved in depression. They conclude that “improvement of vitamin D status holds promise for the prevention of depression, the treatment of depression, or both.”

Taking a deeper look at vitamin D, we know that it is a fat-soluble vitamin known as the “sunshine vitamin.”  Our bodies can produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to ultraviolet sunlight. Vitamin D can also be obtained from our foods and is primarily found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines and other animal sources such as liver, beef, veal, and eggs. Other food options for vitamin D sources include foods that have been fortified with vitamin D such as cereals, yogurt, milk, and orange juice.

Dietary intake of vitamin D may not be enough to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D in the body and therefore regular   supplementation may be needed to support adequate levels. In addition, it is important to have your serum vitamin D levels monitored as vitamin D can accumulate in the liver and fat cells. Groups of people that are more at risk for vitamin D deficiency include breastfed infants, older adults, people with limited sun exposure (such as Minnesotans in the winter), people with dark skin, obese people, gastric bypass patients, and people with medical conditions that cause fat malabsorption, such as those with liver disease, Crohn’s disease, and cystic fibrosis.

There are a variety of effective natural therapies for the treatment of depression and vitamin D may play an essential role. Call Partners in Healing at 763-546-5797 and make an appointment with your Naturopathic Doctor (Dr. Nate or Dr. Nita   Champion) to have your vitamin D levels checked to ensure healthy levels for disease prevention and to optimize the health of your mind, body, and overall mood!

By Nate Champion, ND & Nita Champion, ND

By Dr. Nate Champion, ND

With Fall’s cooler weather, we often resume our “normal” schedules, such as children heading back to school. This is also a common time where the body’s immune system is “weakened” from all the junk food and toxins we’ve consumed all summer. The end result is often becoming acutely ill and this is one of the more frequent times throughout the year where folks “catch a cold”. This acute illness is actually an innate cleansing process where the body is trying to eliminate toxins, purging them from our body!

The good news is there is much that can be done to help support and strengthen your immune system and in turn, your overall health! Some simple ways this can be achieved is through reducing stress in our lives and staying physically active. This can include a simple walk around the block or participating in a local yoga class. The goal is to just get moving! Getting adequate sleep is also imperative. Sleep deprivation suppresses immune system function and has been linked to many mental and physical health problems.

Another way to help enhance immune function is eliminating harmful, unhealthy, and high sugar foods. These include refined, processed foods (white carbohydrates, pastries, desserts, junk food, fast food, sugary drinks, etc.) that are often stripped of their nutrients and high in both calories and sugar. Sugar suppresses the immune system, promotes insulin resistance, inflammation, and leads to weight gain. Focus on eating whole foods and a more plant-based diet. Whole foods are simply foods that are closest to their natural state and have not been processed and refined. Focus more on 100% whole grains such as quinoa, millet, oats, etc. and limiting your wheat intake, along with eating brightly colored and green leafy vegetables that are high in antioxidants. Try some healthy snacks like blueberries, goji berries, chia seeds, raw nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, etc.), and baked kale chips.

So as the seasons change, stay healthy by getting adequate sleep, becoming more physically active, and choosing foods that support and enhance health! There are many other effective ways and strategies to enhance our immune function & improve health.  To learn more about putting these ideas to work for you, call our office today @ 763-546-5797 to schedule a consultation with Dr.’s Nate or Nita Champion, our Naturopathic  Doctors. 

Naturopathic Medicine focuses on whole-patient wellness, where   medicines are tailored to each person’s specific needs and where attention is paid to finding underlying causes, rather than chasing symptoms.  They focus on all aspects of family health, from prenatal care through geriatric care.  Their practice emphasizes prevention and effective self-care strategies. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all branches of medical science, making referrals as indicated and when appropriate. 

 By Dr. Nate Champion, ND

Why should I take a multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplement anyway?

Today’s diets are depleted of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients due to the decreasing quality of our food supply and busy lifestyles

Can a multi-vitamin really keep you younger, longer?

Research has shown that taking a multi-vitamin may indeed keep you younger, longer!! A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that people who take a daily multivitamin had younger DNA. This study found those who took a multivitamin had 5.1% longer telomeres (by modulating oxidative stress and chronic inflammation) than non-users. Telomeres are part of your DNA that protect your chromosomes, and are thought to be a marker of biological aging. The shorter your telomeres, the more your at risk for serious diseases. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1857-63)

Benefits of a complete hypo-allergenic, nutrient rich, highly bioavailable multi-vitamin, multi-mineral, & trace element supplement:

·I    Increased energy and mental clarity

Antioxidants important for cardiovascular, immune, and cellular health

Support various physiological functions, including nervous system health, bone health,   nutrient and hormone metabolism, and glucose utilization

Chelated minerals for optimal absorption

Optimal health and longevity

Improved academic performance 

A recent study in the journal Pediatrics revealed teenagers who consumer higher amounts of the B-vitamin Folate, have higher academic scores compared to teens with lower levels. (Pediatrics. 2011 Aug;128(2):e358-65)

For the month of September, we are running a special (15% discount) on all of our professional lines of high quality multi-vitamins, including children’s, adult, and prenatal.

Call Partners in Healing today at 763-546-5797 or contact us at info@pih-mpls.com!

 (Brought to you by Deborah Simmons, PhD, LMFT)

I have long wondered how nutrition affects our fertility.  This study from The Journal of Reproductive Medicine lends credence to the notion that our high-carbohydrate diet may well explain why some women suffer from unexplained infertility.  My colleagues at Partners in Healing, Dr. Nate Champion and Dr. Nita Champion, specialize in naturopathic medicine and nutrition.  Contact us at 763-546-5797 or info@pih-mpls.com for a holistic team approach to fertility treatment.

Increased Celiac Disease Prevalence in Women With Unexplained Infertility

ScienceDaily (Aug. 18, 2011) — A recent study demonstrated increased rates of celiac disease in women who present with unexplained infertility.

Published in the May-June 2011 issue of The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, the study evaluated 191 female patients presenting with infertility. Each participant underwent serologic screening for celiac disease as well as routine infertility testing. The 4 patients who had positive serum test results were advised to seek evaluation with a gastroenterologist. All 4 patients were confirmed to have celiac disease. They then underwent nutritional counseling to change over to a gluten-free diet.

Among the 188 patients who completed testing, the prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease was 2.1%. While this rate was not significantly higher than the expected 1.3%, the diagnosis of celiac disease in women with unexplained infertility was found to be significantly higher at 5.9% (3 of 51 women). Interestingly, all 4 patients found to have celiac disease conceived within a year of diagnosis.

Though the study numbers are small, the findings suggest that, at least for some women with infertility, dietary measures may help bolster fertility. "Diagnosing celiac disease in an infertile woman would be particularly beneficial if the low-cost (and low-risk) therapy of pursuing a gluten-free diet could improve chances for conception," says lead author Janet Choi, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Center for Women's Reproductive Care at Columbia University. Co-author Dr. Peter Green, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, said that these results should be added to the increasing body of knowledge concerning the impact of undiagnosed celiac disease on women's reproductive health.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nita Champion, N.D., a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, to Partners in Healing.  Dr. Champion received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, one of the finest leaders in educating Naturopathic Physicians in the United States.  Dr. Champion treats patients of all ages with a variety of health concerns.   Her areas of specialization include Family Medicine, Women’s Health (fertility concerns and menopause), Endocrine and Metabolic disorders.  She uses several naturopathic modalities when treating patients with a focus in homeopathy, clinical nutrition, and botanical medicine.   She believes in treating the source of the illness and not merely treating symptoms of that illness.  In doing so, she will develop a treatment plan that is individualized for each unique patient.    

Dr. Nita Champion joins her husband, Dr. Nate Champion, who also practices naturopathic medicine at Partners in Healing.  To schedule and to learn more about naturopathic medicine, call Partners in Healing at 763-546-5797 or email us at info@pih-mpls.com.  Use your Health Savings Account (HSA), to ensure your best possible health.  We look forward to partnering with you!

Watch this video by Dr. Nate Champion, our naturopathic doctor at PIH, offering advice on natural remedies to prevent flu this winter, instead of or in addition to the flu vaccine.   This video plays best on high quality.   To schedule with Dr. Champion, call 763-546-5797.[video: 560x340]

Q:  What is a homeopathic remedy and is it safe?
A:  Homeopathic medicines are made from natural substances and prepared in such a way that leaves them entirely non-toxic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the manufacture and sale of homeopathic medicines in the United States. Due to the process in which homeopathic remedies are diluted, they are safe and free from the side effects that are commonly associated with the use of pharmaceuticals. Conventional pharmaceuticals change the body chemically whereas homeopathic remedies provoke a healing response in the body that restores the body to health. Besides being very dilute medicines, homeopathic remedies are also given in minute doses so it is extremely safe for everyone including infants, children, pregnant and nursing women and elderly. In fact, homeopathy is an ideal therapy for these populations.

Want homeopathic remedies?  Call Dr. Nate Champion at Partners in Healing of Minneapolis at 763-546-5797. 

We are delighted to welcome Naturopathic Doctor Nate Champion to Partners in Healing (PIH).  Dr. Champion brings a wealth of knowledge about naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, botanical medicine, and clinical nutrition to our holistic health center.  Dr. Champion is an expert in treating digestive disorders, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn's Disease). As a result of his own battle with Ulcerative Colitis, he is passionate about helping others who are suffering with these conditions.

Dr. Champion is now scheduling patients of all ages with all kinds of acute and chronic health conditions. He routinely treats children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Some commonly treated conditions include (but, are not limited to) anxiety, allergies, arthritis, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, high cholesterol/heart disease, elevated blood pressure, colds/flus, hypothyroidism, diabetes/insulin resistance, obesity/weight loss, pediatric conditions, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, menopause, prostate conditions, autoimmune disorders, along with many others.  Dr. Champion is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) and the Minnesota Association of Naturopathic Physicians (MNANP).

To schedule with Dr. Champion, call Partners in Healing at 763-546-5797.  Use your Health Savings Account (HSA), to ensure your best possible health.  We look forward to partnering with you!