Get Cooking this Tasty Tuesday with Seasonal Veggies!

Get to know your winter squashes and how they can help keep the winter colds away!

I know it says winter squash but these veggies like to make an early appearance in the fall. Aside from adding more variety to the grocery shelves and to your tables, these winter veggies are full of nutritious value and can help keep you healthy this season!

Did you know that winter squashes are surprisingly full of goodness: phytonutrients, antioxidants, potassium, fibre, beta-carotene, B vitamins and vitamin C? The nutrients found in members of the squash family are helpful to our bodies in many ways, such as aiding in the proper function of the nervous system, the brain, recovery after exercise, bone health and supporting our immune systems!

This fall and winter, get to know your winter gourds. Try cooking with more squash and keep those pesky cold bugs away! And to be extra sure you don't catch the sniffles, check out Webber Naturals immune support products!

Illustration by Claudia Pearson

Welcome back to Webber Wednesday, with Part II of how to choose the right omega-3 products for your toddlers and school-age children from Webber Naturals' expert, Dr. Stephanie Rubino.

Toddlers & School-Age Children:

• Benefits of Omega-3: Continues to develop a fully functional nervous system, including a healthy brain, healthy eyes and visual acuity, improves behaviour and learning disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), promotes maturation of the immune system, reduces inflammatory conditions such as asthma, childhood depression, & type 1 diabetes, and supports a healthy weight and metabolism.
• Dosage Recommendation for Toddlers and School-Age Children:
  • For children ages 2 to 3, at least 400 mg of EPA and DHA per day.
  • For children over 4, at least 600 mg EPA and DHA per day.

• Product(s) Recommendation for Toddlers and School-Age Children :
  • Lemon Meringue Liquid Omega-3, Plus Vitamin A and 1000 IU Vitamin D (EPA 300 mg, DHA 400 mg)
  • Liquid Omega–3, Super Concentrate with Vitamins A & D (EPA 980 mg, DHA 545 mg)
  • Omega–3 KIDS, Orange Flavour (EPA 100 mg, DHA 50 mg)

Visit us again next Wednesday for Part III of Dr. Stephanie Rubino's tips on how to choose the best omega-3 product for adolescents, adults & seniors!

Image source: Serge the Concierge

Spring and summer can be wonderful seasons... for some of us. To others, they can mean runny noses, itchy eyes and the sinus congestion of allergies and hay fever. As nature comes alive in the Spring, pollens and spores become airborne, triggering a variety of unpleasant symptoms in many people. In addition to hay fever,allergic reactions can include dermatitis, eczema, asthma, hives and anaphylaxis.The causeis an abnormal or excessive immune response to antigens - substances that cause an immune reaction.

These are all attempts by the body to protect itself.

If you name 6 of your friends, chances are one of them (maybe you) has allergies of some kind. Seasonal allergies like hay fever affect about 10 to 15 percent of North Americans.

As a naturopathic physician I see people who have allergic reactions triggered by a wide range of things: foods, pet hair, metals, insects, pollen, mold, dust, chemicals, drugs, dyes, detergent, trees, additives and more. The symptoms can be uncomfortable and debilitating even for the toughest individuals.

Spring hay fever is usually due to tree pollens. Summer hay fever is more often caused by grass and weed pollens. Ragweed pollen accounts for about 75% of the hay fever in the US, but other grasses and tree pollens also trigger symptoms. It's no fun having to stay indoors to prevent allergy symptoms.

Ragweed & goldenrod pollen can cause serious hay fever reactions.

You can reach for pharmaceutical antihistamines, but my patients want natural remedies if they can get them, and if they work. Natural medicinals work with your body so results can certainly vary from person to person. Antihistamine drugs are designed to relieve symptoms but they don't address the source of your allergic reaction.

Natural options include herbs and supplements that boost immunity and/or have antihistamine or anti-inflammatory properties.

What do I recommend? Well, you must understand that I don't treat anyone via blog! However I do know what helps boost your immune system. I usea quality "age and gender specific" multivitamin and multimineral year round. Vitamins C and E, and immune supporting herbals like Echinacea and Oil of Oregano, are immune boosters, as are Omega-3 essential fatty acids.A German study found that people who consumed lots of Omega-3s, in the form of fish, flaxseed oil and walnuts, had fewer allergies.

Depending on your current immune status, support your liver. The liver detoxifies, and strengthens immunity. Milk thistle and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) are supplements that support liver health and function.

Vitamin C, vitamin E, and flavonoids such as quercetin help decrease histamine response. Quercetin is a natural anti-histamine and the most widely distributed flavonoid in the plant world. It effectively inhibits allergic reactions. Quercetin and MSM relieve allergy symptoms in some people.

Bromelain extract from pineapple has anti-inflammatory effects when taken between meals (with meals it acts is a digestive enzyme). Eyebright is an herb that can strengthen the mucous membranes in the sinuses and relieve swelling and inflammation in eyes and nasal passages. Drinking plenty of water and getting antioxidants from green and white teas can also help.

A really strong, healthy immune system can stop allergic reactions before they get started. Do you have a natural allergy remedy to share? I'd love to hear what works for you.

Dr. Joyce Tellier Johnson is a Naturopathic Physician and Educational Services Manager for WN Pharmaceuticals Ltd., makers of webber naturals®.