Clinic Blog

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) impacts 18-25% of Canadians, one of the highest prevalence globally. Symptoms can include bloating, irregular bowel movements, gas, pain, fatigue, and more. IBS is diagnosed based on the "Rome Criteria", where a person experiences abdominal pain or discomfort and to 2 more of the following:

Sleep is one of the most vital body functions needed to support good health. If we are not getting enough sleep it can lead to emotional unbalance, mental burnout and physical weakness. Lack of sleep throws off our ability to make decisions and even increases the amount of calories we eat during the day.

There is no denying it, the medical system has a long history of racism and mistreatment. From the overt, like medical experimentation on slaves in the U.S and indigenous children in Canada, to the more subtle, like lack of representation of a variety of ethnicities when creating and testing the safety of new drugs.

Springtime has a lot of my patients thinking about diets, cleanses, and what they’re putting into their bodies in general. This self evaluation is definitely necessary to check in with yourself about your personal health goals and what modifications may be necessary, but it’s important to make informed and personalized choices as opposed to what’s presented on the internet or social media.

The first layer of skin on my hands is practically scrubbed off these days. I’ve even developed an internal alarm bell that rings whenever I even consider touching my own face, pushing the walk button, or reaching for a public door handle.

Oxidative stress - we hear this word a lot when it comes to fertility, but what does it mean? “Reactive oxygen species”  (“ROS”) are chemicals generated during many cellular processes. They play a big part in our immune system, energy production within our mitochondria, cell communication and more. When controlled, they are a necessary part of our biology.

I have seen a common phenomenon not only in myself but in the people around me and my patients. I have seen healthy, energetic people go through periods where they lose all motivation and fail to move forward on a clear path. They have no energy, their get up and go, has gotten up and gone! It's not laziness or depression. No matter how hard you push or dig deep into your will power it just feels like too much.

Your microbiome consists of trillions of cells (bacteria, viruses, etc.). They outnumber your own human cells by a lot, roughly 10:1! They play an important role in maintaining a healthy gut barrier. They provide key nutrients to energize the gut cells, secrete a protective layer, and communicate with your immune system regularly. 

I want to talk about one aspect of your microbiome today: "LPS", and how it may impact fertility.