Rheumatoid arthritis - possible causes and ways to reverse it

Everyone I know who has arthitis has discomfort. My grandmother treated hers 50 years ago with accupuncture. It might have helped but it didn’t make it go away. My strengths as a Plant Based RHN are: analysis/detective work (I always loved Sherlock Holmes), and compassion with a dose of thinking outside the box. Nutritional Science afterall, is a science. I like to look at the possible causes of a disease or condition and then consider which ones might be reversed, in whole or in part, without the use of drugs or surgery, if possible. The basis of Holistic Nutrition is to look at the Body, Mind and Soul as a whole. Let Food Be Thy Medicine. I have observed that Diagnose, Operate and Medicate seems to be the default in our standard medical system. I believe that diet and Lifesyle are a huge factor in this equation and yet it seems to be extremely over looked by mainstream doctors. If I were to have a formula, it would look something like this….

Arthritis = inflammatory foods -anti-inflammatory foods + (pesticides in food, water and air) - (food source heavy metal chelators such as spirulina, barley grass and cilantro) + (pathogens & Viruses) - (removing the foods from our diet that pathogens feed on such as: soy, corn, eggs, dairy, pork, mercury in fish and seafood, poultry, and msg) + stress - meditation + (xenoestrogens, flouride, inhaled and ingested plastic particles, SLS, and PVCs) - filtered water - (inhaled fresh air: clean oceanside air & mountain air) + alcohol - (green time in a park) + exposure to EMFs - (consistent light exercise) - (positive social interactions with other people +/- animals) - (joyous activities which increase seratonin such as: listening to your favourite music, playing an instrument, watching a funny movie, going bowling or having a friendly games night of scrabble with friends) + (overeating + obesity) - (prayer and spiritual contentment) + (approximately 5-15% genetic pre-disposition) + (exposure to radiation/x-rays and nuclear contamination) + (contaminants and dormant diseases contained in vaccines we’ve received) + (physical injury from accidents and overuse of specific joints) + (chronic lack of adequate restful sleep) + (chronic nutrient deficiecies and dietary excesses and macronutrient imbalances) + (an overburdened and inefficient liver)….

My list is not even inclusive as I’m sure I’ve missed a few things. Thats a pretty LOOOOONG equation but I think it needs to be long because we all grew up in different environments, ate different foods, have different stress levels, get varying amounts of exercise and have different physical and mental experiences. What does your doctor say when you ask what caused your arthritis? Is any of the above referred to? What do you think of that formula? What does your gut say about it? What about your common sense? Do you think you have a deficiency of anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers or could you possibly be a little kinder to your body and make some changes that did not involve medications?

All prescriptuion drugs have negative side affects but everyone I’ve talked to who is taking presecriptions for R.A. doesn’t seem to be aware of the long term negative health affects on the liver, the immune or other body systems. Obviously someone in pain does not have a deficiency of pain killers but that seems to be the treatment for many people. Do you want to treat your condition by masking it or maybe try somehing different, something Holistic that might reduce your symptoms naturally? Have you ever had an analysis of your diet by a RHN? Do you know what nutrients you may be deficient in and what you may be consuming in excess to the detriment of your health? In the field of holistic nutrition we acknowledge that we work with allopathic practitioners not against them. So why is it then, that most R.A. patients have not had a conversation with their doctor about the variables in my above equation?

If you or someone you know suffers from arthritis and wants to try a different approach, please contact me for a new perspective.

Kendra B Corttni, RHN, VLCE,

What can a Holistic Nutritionist do for you?

You may have some ideas about what a RHN can do for you…or maybe you don’t . Let me explain what I have to offer; First I’ll give you some informtion on my experience, education, and areas of specialty:

1) I completed the RHN program as CSNN which included the following topics which I was tested on in my Board Exam in 2021:

-Fundamentals of Nutrition- the basics (which are not that basic to many people). For example it is a common belief that dairy is the best source of calcium for humans. The science actually shows that countries consuming the most dairy have the highest incidence of bone fractures (hips and wrist) and that the better source of calcium is dark leafy greens like kale, arugula, and collard greens. A RHN can suggest easy ways to increase your calcium consumption from plants, AND explain other relevant factors in building strong bones such as weight bearing exercises.

-Human Anatomy and Physiology: - knowledge of body systems (there are 11), how they function and what can go wrong. The 11 systems are: Muscular, Urinary, Respiratory, Digestive, Endocrine, Reprorductive, Skeletal, Integumentary, Nervous, Cardiovascular and Lymphatic. Something interesting I learned in my RHN training is that many people think the appendix has no function in the body, yet this organ's role is actually squirting out probiotics into the small intestine to maintain healthy gut bacteria levels. Interestingly allopathic scientific research shows that those without an appendix have trouble maintaining a healthy gut biome. This may cause an increase in the likelihood of Crohn’s Disease. Can a RHN help you with alleviating Crohn’s? Yes.

-Nutritional Symptomatology: Looking at body symptoms and how nutrition can have a positive impact. Analysis is of excesses, imbalances or deficiencies of; fiber, aminio acids, fats, macro and micronutrients, antioixidants, hydration, prescription medications, free radicals, sleep patterns, impacts of physical and mental stress, organ analysis and prioritization from the weakest to strongest, as well as habits such as smoking, alcohol, caffeine consumption and more. My intake forms collect data which sheds light on which organs are functioning the best and which are having challenges.

-Hormone Health: this may sound like a buzzword, but one can have a level of a specific hormone (ie: progesterone) which is too high or too low. RHNs work at a subtle level and can detect possible hormone imbalances from intake forms and questionnaires which may reveal hormonal imbalance symptoms. We then recommend dietary and lifestyle changes which can help put aforementioned hormone back in balance by lowering or raising it without drugs. We also look at environemtnal contributors which may have a negative impact such as xenoestrogens and EMFs.

-Biochemistry and Epigenetics: Nutrition is a science and an ever evolving one at that. What makes certain groups of people (in the infamous Blue Zones) have typically longer lifespans and better health? It’s part diet, part lifestyle, spiritual connection/belief system as well as our social connection with others. My Nutritional Studies through the Colin T Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies covered, in its epigenetics program: the 3 stages of cancer. This was a completely science based program and was quite fascinating; as it looked at what can cause cancer cells to turn on, grow, spread and what may reverse these stages.

-Epigenetics: is the study of how behaviour and environment can influence how your genes work. Many people believe that cancer is genetic. The science shows that perhaps we have genetic weaknesses that can affect our gene expression. When we are continually run down mentally and/or physically, eating low nutrient density foods, and exposed to environmental toxins, they can accumulate in our body and can compromise our health. My area of speciality is avoiding exposure to these toxins by analyzing your intake of food and personal care products, and suggesting ways for gently removing them from our body through dietary and lifestyle behaviours. Some of these may just turn into healthy habits that you choose to keep for life. One example to improve your body’s resilience is to add wheat grass to your smoothie to remove stored arsenic from the body. One way to stop consuming arsenic is to eat organic foods whenever possible because conventional crops are typically sprayed with pesticides which are made from…..arsenic.

Pathology and Nutrition: It is so powerful to know that we do have lots of control over our body and our health. If we look at how diseases may have begun, then we can look at ways of reversing that damage. The human body is so incredibly adaptive and wants to be healthy. There are many things we can do to be kind to our body and mind. We all have a chronological and biological age. Some sources say we can be 10 years younger biologically if we take that special care and investigate ways to nourish ourselves and eliminate behaviours that are aging. We won’t live forever but there are many ways to improve the quality of our life while we are here.

VLCE: I am a graduate of the Main Street Vegan Academy in New York 2018 (look for a future blog on this topic)

Plant Based Nutrition Certified: e-cornell T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies New York 2017

My areas of specialty: Respecitng our bodies, the animals, and the planet we live on through compassionate and sustainable dietary and lifestyle choices. Helping my clients transition to a 100% whole plant foods diet is best for the planet and as I can demonstrate, provides more than enough protein to meet your needs. More illnesses are caused by an excess of proteins and fats in the diet, than by a deficiency. If you are eating a varied diet and enough calories your are very likely getting all the protein you need. I can also help you evaluate how much protein you are consuming and how much you require for your unique situation.

Holistically improve your immune system

What may be weakening your IMMUNE SYSTEM, and what can you do to OFFSET that?

Here’s a list to consider…

1) (-) CAFFEINE: (in excess, OR if used when you haven’t been getting enough good quality sleep), can contribute to activating the HPA axis, which is part of your neuroendocrine system (hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands). If you are stressed or tired and you use caffeine for a kick of energy or focus, consider that this may activate the Fight or Flight State which shifts your body into basic metabolic functions but will likely compromise your immune system and digestion.

(+) Substitute with: Roasted Dandelion Root Tea. I’m not a coffee drinker but the roasted aroma reminds me of coffee. The bonus is that it is a liver detoxifier which is also beneficial for a better functioning immune system. I noticed that I felt a subtle increase in calmness and contentment from this tea.

Add in: Is it at all possible to go for a quick walk around the block or run an errand when you are just glued to your computer with a task you’ve classified as ‘Urgent”? This little break can also help you reduce stress and prevent a compromise of the immune system.

2) LACK OF SLEEP- Most certainly may have a negative impact on hormones and your immune system.

Add in: A Cat nap OR just sitting or lying down with your legs elevated. This can refresh & revitalize your body and mind even after just 15 minutes. Caution - just so it doesn’t turn into multiple hours of slumber, set a a quiet alarm on your phone so you can get back to what you were doing.

Substitute: non-caffeine and non-stimulating desserts (avoid chocolate) too close to bed time. Sip on peppermint tea instead and have a banana as your ‘dessert’ which is rich in sleep inducing nutrients such as: tryptophan (the happy inducing amino acid), magnesium, vitamin B6 and potassium.

3) REFINED SUGAR AND PROCESSED FOODS deplete us of B-vitamins and slow down transit time for waste removal from our colon, think ‘constipation.’ It takes energy to remove waste products from the body and if you are constipated or dehydrated you will increase your toxic load and your body will have less energy to use for building your immune system’s T-cells and B-cells.

Add in: pre-washed radishes (a powerful and effective treat for your liver which LOVES bitter foods) which you can dip in hummus. Try bright red cherry tomatoes which are mother nature’s power-orbs containing vitamin C and lycopene for feeding your weary mind and body. Another substitution for a cookie or high sugar treat, could be a delicious serving of tropical fruit such as papaya, pineapple, mango or grapes. For brain health have 4 or 5 walnuts which are full of omega 3’s and are also an ingredient for constructing healthy hormones and a strong immune system.

4) DEHYDRATION; slows everything down, and can make you feel tired and decrease your ability to concentrate. Every body system is slowed down in a state of dehydration and we don’t want to slow down our immune system, allow excessive waste to build up in the body or be low on energy. The oxygen in water is so energizing, I recommend it as a pre-workout or pre-exercise power boost.

Add in: a routine of drinking a glass of water when you wake up in the morning, 2 glasses between breakfast and lunch, ideally 30 minutes before or after you eat. Then another glass of water an hour or so after you eat dinner, and one more before you go to bed. Add in your favorite roasted dandelion, rooibos or peppermint tea and upto 8 oz of kombucha per day in addition to your water consumption. You be the judge of how effective this works for you. It’s estimated that 80% of North Americans are in a constant state of dehydration and low energy often mistaken for hunger.

5) ELECTRONIC DEVICES; (EMFs) during the day can induce lethargy, anxiety, and lack of concentration as well as keeping you awake at night if you were exposed within an hour of going to sleep at night. This is a stress to the body, and YUP if it excessively stresses your body it depletes your immune system.

Add in: I wear an Iyashi Shieldlite Pendant or bracelet if I’m on my computer for extended periods of time. See: www.iyashiSource.com. for more information or YouTube videos on this topic which provide a more technical explanation of the science behind this technology. I wasn’t a fan of the “look” of the bracelets, so I bought a black one in the largest possible size and I wear it as an anklet which is kind of cool looking.

substitute with: try disconnecting from the internet when you don’t need it to be on, in order to reduce your overall EMF exposure. Wear blue light glasses when looking at your device or buy one with a special protective shield to reduce EMFs. Try “Forrest Bathing” which simply means walking in forested areas or a nearby park to help dissipate some of that electron

To sum it up; there are many variables that affect our immune system. We want to limit our stress so that our body is able to complete all the metabolic functions needed to perform at an ideal level. If we periodically experience high stress, dietary compromises or lack of sleep (doesn’t that include everyone at one time or another?) we can implement lots of positive changes that may have a positive immune building effect.

Eating mostly raw foods

Ever wonder how you would feel on a Raw or ‘more’ raw plant based diet?
We’ve tried it and can share the Ins and Outs of giving your body what it needs
This week we shared lunch with Brian “The Raw Guy” at one of our favorite vegan cafes: Indigo Age. We discussed Brian’s journey to vegetarian (for 2 years) and then his transition to veganism.

Brian has been a mostly raw vegan for over 10 years. How did this transition to giving up animal products and cooked food start? He was on a political tour of a slaughter-house (kill room) in Saskatchewan where he saw the gruesome treatment of a cow being prepared for market and ‘bled’. The sad thing is that in the United States alone, approximately 8 billion animals are killed and eaten by humans each year. The fact is no mater how humane we might believe it is, there is no nice way to kill an animal. If there was, what method would you choose for yourself, if you were in the animal’s place? That’s what compassion is all about; treating others the way you would like to be treated.

So, Why Raw? The major advantage to eating raw foods is that they contain live enzymes which make it easier for you to assimilate the nutrients from your food. It also keeps vitamins and minerals alive if they haven’t been killed at high temperatures. Plus Raw foods are naturally delicious.

Do you remember when you were a kid and your parents told you; “Oh the cow, pig, chicken, (insert the name of the animal they want you to eat, here) doesn’t feel any pain when they’re being killed”. Well, that was a big – fat – lie. Animals can see, hear, smell and feel incredible emotional fear, and physical pain. They can also be extremely compassionate and nurturing just like us. Think about how your cat senses when you aren’t feeling well and stays by your side. After Brian’s up front and personal experience, he immediately stopped eating meat. It was out of compassion. If we expect others to have compassion for us, shouldn’t we have compassion for others.

Soon after going vegan, Brian received the cookbook: Raw Food Real World by Mathew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis. i also have that book and highly recommend it. Brian started out on his venture as an organic farmer in the Lower Mainland in B.C. and is now a successful Vegan Entrepreneur who makes his products with Love. These are all organic and include 6 different flavors of kale chips, raw seed crackers, delicious spreadable cheeses, flax crackers, macaroons (cacao, matcha and almond) as well as gourmet Cacao avocado pudding. These are all great foods to any raw vegan could add to their diet

A typical raw day could go something like this:

Breakfast: green smoothie or smoothie bowl topped with sliced fruit and sprouted raw cereal, chia seeds and hemp seeds for protein and omega 3’s (no fish oil needed).

Snack: celery sticks and almond butter or some vichyssoise with a bag of kale chips

Lunch: Pad Thai bowl using zucchini as noodles

Dinner: Mixed green salad with shredded beets and carrots, add some sprouted mung beans and cover with tahini dressing

Dessert: Raw key lime pie

If you’re interested in following a more raw diet, let us custom design you a cholesterol lowering, delicious meal plan with substitutions for your favorite dairy or animal based foods.

Detoxing

For the body and the mind

Detoxing... oh what a scary word. Is it really as scary as it sounds though? Well no, actually detoxing is probably the best thing you could do for yourself! Whether its detoxing your body for physical health or even mental clarity, reducing that toxic load can be just what you need to help kick start your health.

Did you know that your brain health is just as important as your gut health? Over one half of your nerve cells are actually located in your gut, which is why researchers have recently started to identify the gut as our “2nd brain.” So its vital that we keep it nourished. We are subject to air pollution, water pollution, and foods grown with or exposed to pesticides. The only variables we can really control are what we eat, and those following an organic plant based diet with a variety of foods from all the food groups have the lowest exposure to pesticides, metals and hormones. The 12 Raw Vegan Food Groups are:

-vegetables - fruits - leafy greens - seeds - nuts - grains - sprouts - plant based fats - sea vegetables - fermented foods - unprocessed sweeteners

Detoxing goes much deeper than just eliminating harmful toxins from your body. in fact, it has many benefits for your health. Aside from promoting weight loss, detoxing can also health increase the body’s blood circulation, improve sleep, increase energy, reset your circadian rhythm, clear brain fog and improve libido. Who doesn't like the sound of that? The list certainly doesn't end there, but instead of talking about the all the good stuff, let's maybe think about the negatives. Oh wait… there are none, as detoxing is a win-win for everyone, if done right. Preparing for a detox is important as it should not make you feel worse if done properly.

How to prepare for a dietary detox:

Give up dairy, refined sugar, packaged foods, fried foods, seafood, animal products, caffeine, pop, and alcohol for one to two weeks prior to starting a cleanse. Consult with your doctor if you are taking any medications to get the Go Ahead for a dietary make-over.

So, let's look at the science of detoxing and how it works. Our body is always looking for ways to detox, we detox everyday through eliminating wastes, ie. poop, sweating, sneezing, urination, nasal discharge etc….It’s a mechanism of our body to get rid of wastes.

We get toxins from breathing in polluted air, pesticides in our food, and drinking water contaminated with metals such as lead and aluminium. and other poisons. Interesting fact; the most concentrated food source of pesticides and environmental wastes, is animal products. We’ve all heard of the Dirty Dozen. It provides a list of the 12 most contaminated conventional fruits and vegetables. It’s quite ironic though that the dirtiest items of all are actually animal products; such as meat, fish, seafood and dairy.

Consider the polluted oceans that sea life live in. Do farm animals drink filtered water? I doubt it. Think about the fact that if only 1% of humans eat organic food, then you certainly must realize that farm animals are not eating anything organic and in some cases the food they eat is deplorable. Pesticides and metals concentrate in their organs and fat, just like they do in our body. We are what we eat but we are also what our food ate….

There are everyday cleaning products which could be making us sick. A good place to start eliminating them is to switch to unscented and biodegradable laundry detergent, shampoos, and dish soap. Dr. Bronner’s produces castille soap which is very versatile and can be used to wash your hair and your dishes at different dilutions. It’s also better for the oceans, the sea-life and our one and only planet. A polluted planet affects everyone. To scan the barcode of your product before you buy it and see how the EWG, Envronmental Working Group rates it, download their app and carry it with you to the store. This should be used on make up products too. We want to use cruelty free products, with vegan ingredients, that contain zero endocrine disruptors and no harmful xenoestrogens.

Toxins may not sound like the biggest problem but they accumulate over time and contribute to most, if not all, of the negative symptoms we experience. From the sluggish feeling we experience during the day, headaches, upset stomach, inability to concentrate or insomnia. One may just assume that its normal but it’s not. Toxins do interfere with ones mental and emotional well-being, so if you don't find yourself in the ideal state of mind this could be a contributing reason to why. 

We should all make room for self improvement and one way is by showing our organs just how much we love them by giving them a break whenever possible. Giving up alcohol, smoking, animal products and packaged foods is a great place to start.

Make detoxing fun for you, don't restrain yourself if it feels like you're going to go crazy without certain foods for that duration of time because that’s only going to negatively impact you emotionally. The body just wont let go of excess fat if it feels like its starving so it’s important to eat enough. Start with baby steps, we all take them at the beginning. 

One of the best detoxes, after you’ve mastered a whole foods plant based diet for a few months is; the “Master Cleanse” by Stanley Burroughs, reason being all the excellent feedback. The concept is; 

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice 

• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup (up to 2 tbsp if you want drop less weight) 

• 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper 

• 8 ounce spring water

Mix and drink 8 to 12 glasses throughout the day, eat or drink nothing else except water, herbal tea, peppermint or chamomile tea. Keep the lemonade in a glass container not plastic (as this can release different toxins into mix) or make fresh each time. Remember to rinse mouth after each glass to prevent lemon juice from hurting your enamel. Try this for 1 - 3 days and let us know how it went for you, we love to hear your feedback. The best part is you don't have to always be in detox mode because it is important to make sure you are getting proper nourishment from whole foods as well.

It is recommended to detox at least twice per year just for proper maintenance of the body. So let’s unclog these rusty pipes and get a head start to the new and improved you. If you want to hire a professional holistic consultant to help you detox your home and pantry, please see our “Services Page”.

Wishing good health always. 

Healthy Cats eat fresh treats

Yes my cat likes to snack on fresh, raw organic apricots, bananas and raspberries. I didn’t force them on him, I simply offered, he tried them and liked them. In a world where cat treats contain very processed and completely inorganic ingredients, this is a much healthier choice. I saw a 2016 documentary called: ‘Pet Fooled’ which I recommend to all pet lovers. Most people assume that the billion dollar pet food industry has our cat or dog’s best interests in mind when they make meat based pet food. But, what if they were just in it for the money? Gasp! no, they don’t sell pet food to make billions of dollars do they?

Can we agree that in the world of business, large corporations are in business to make money, and lots of it? What if that industry was self-regulated, or only minimally regulated by a government agency too busy to do a thorough job of monitoring these products?

I love my cat and I want him to have the healthiest life possible. so I did some research…

• I watched the 2016 documentary DVD: Pet Fooled

• I read the book: Obligate Carnivore by Jed Gillen

• I listened to the Exam Room podcast produced by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine entitled: Can Dogs and Cats be Vegans? with Dr. Armaiti May, DVM (doctor of Veterinary medicine)

• I researched online and discovered several companies that had been producing vegan pet food for decades. See: Benevu.com,

• I’ve listened to what the educated progressive veterinarians have said. For a list of some of these see: www.vecado.ca

• BiteSizeVegan.com Can Pets be vegan? What’s really in Pet Food? (Extensive foot notes, references and research to support her findings.)

CompassionCircle.com sells the products: VegeCat and VegeDog which are amino acid and ph buffering nutritional yeasts, in a package with a recipe booklet to make your own vegan cat and dog foods from 100% organic ingredients that you buy yourself like: lentils, chic peas, seitan, rice, oats etc…You can even add your own herbs and seasonings like curry, cumin, and turmeric or oregano, fresh basil leaves and dill. The nice thing is that you can feed your pet (animal) without killing another animal so it’s cruelty free and supplies all the nutrition your cat or dog needs without the unwanted ingredients found in animal products. Lets face it, if less than 5% of the world’s human population eats organic foods, do you really think that pig farmers or beef producer’s are feeding their animals organic foods? Heck no! And the most concentrated source of pesticides are in animal protein such as beef, yogurt, ice cream, eggs and chickens.

So if we look at the situation logically, the healthiest food to feed our cats and dogs is home made organic nutritionally complete plant based foods.

Our cats and dogs, whether wild or domesticated are now consuming multiple poisons in their food supply, which includes: contaminated water, air pollution and concentrated animal proteins that contain pesticides and veterinarian medicines. We are what we eat and we are also what our food ate. If a cat is eating kibble made from the 4 D’s (dead, diseased, dying or disabled pigs, cows or chickens), then they are no longer eating a natural healthy diet. We can make their food healthier again and reduce animal cruelty with a mostly organic and 100% plant based diet.