This week, ZenQ is taking a break from adventures and settling into a conversation with Dr. Lisa Camilleri, N.D. We’re interested in learning more about conventional and unconventional ways of staying healthy. If you’ve been looking for some practical guidance to help you achieve a health-related New Year’s resolution, check out these words of wisdom!
Kenneth: Most people have family doctors, but not naturopathic doctors. Can you tell us about some treatments that naturopathic doctors can provide?
Dr. Camilleri: Naturopathic doctors look at all factors affecting an individual’s health, including the physical, environmental, emotional, and mental and are trained to design individual treatment plans based on these factors. Treatments may include one or a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, massage, spinal manipulation, specific diets and supplements, botanical medicine, and homeopathy. Some NDs acquire additional certifications such as that in IV therapy, where high doses of vitamins, minerals, and sometimes herbal extracts and heavy metal chelators are injected directly into the bloodstream.
Kenneth: Do you have any tips on staying in shape for people who may not have gym memberships?
Dr. Camilleri: It’s important to incorporate strength, cardio, and flexibility training into your workout routine, and you can do all these things without fancy gym equipment. Many resistance exercises can be done at home with only some floor space and maybe a doorway pull-up bar – for example, squats, lunges, push ups, pull ups, and crunches. For cardio, choose from a fast walk, jogging, cycling, or in winter, going up and down stairs. Stretching does not require any equipment and can be accomplished by following along with a yoga video, or with the help of one of many stretching resources found in books or the Internet.
Kenneth: How important is nutrition in terms of overall health, and are there certain foods we should be eating daily? Are there certain vitamins we should also pay attention to?
Dr. Camilleri: Nutrition is one of the most important factors for overall health. The foods we eat are the building blocks for everything in our bodies, and affect our energy, mood and long term health. There aren’t any specific foods that should be eaten daily, but we should include a variety of organic fruits and vegetables, good quality protein and healthy fats. Everyone is different in their specific vitamin needs, and supplementation would depend on many factors such as diet, environment and activity levels. One to pay particular attention to as we approach winter in Canada is vitamin D. You may want to consider getting your vitamin D level measured to determine how much supplementation is necessary. Optimal vitamin D levels are important for prevention of chronic diseases, such as cancer.
Kenneth: For those who live really busy, stress-filled lives, do you have any practical guidance on reducing stress?
Dr. Camilleri: There are some very effective herbs and supplements that decrease the stress response, which you can try as recommended by your Naturopathic Doctor. Some lifestyle tips are: Write down and complete tasks in order of importance, one at a time; ask for help when feeling overwhelmed; take a break every few hours and go for a quick walk to clear your head; breathe deeply using your diaphragm; schedule time to spend with people who make you smile; and finally, learn, and practice meditation once or twice daily for increased ability to focus and reduced stress.
Kenneth: You practise at a sports medicine clinic. Are these kinds of clinics just for athletes, or can anyone with an injury make an appointment?
Dr. Camilleri: Anyone who is active in some form, and has concerns with pain, new or old injuries, degenerative problems such as arthritis, or someone looking for advice about optimizing their sports or exercise performance with nutrition and supplements can book an appointment. But in addition to this, as a naturopathic doctor I offer help with a much broader range of health concerns. Anyone looking for help in overcoming any health challenges, or in attaining their optimal level of health, is welcome to book an appointment with me.
