Dear Dr.Kim
Each fall, I get achy joints, low energy and foggy thinking. Do you have any suggestions for what I can do to help me feel better? I feel pretty good during the spring and summer.
P.D. Victoria
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Dear P.D.
Thank you for your question and reaching out. Each person has a unique health history, constitution and habits so it could be hard to say for sure but the following are some suggestions.
It has been my experience that some patients’ health aggravates in the dampness of the fall and winter on the westcoast. It can be from the prevalence of allergies or sensitivities to mold and mildew but maybe more than that, from what I feel to be fairly common –a picture of a relative overgrowth of yeast (candida is one common type). Yeast live naturally with in and on the human body but they can become overgrown and cause people to feel unwell. Yeast feed off carbohydrates and sugars and flourish with consumption of beer, wine and cider. Yeast are also opportunistic and when the system is depleted, drained or out of balance –yeast will thrive.
There are several great natural anti-fungal nutrients that you can take orally such as grapefruit seed extract, garlic and caprylic acid. You can take these for at least several months to help pivot your system. You can also supplement with a good probiotic each day to help replenish the good guys –which help you digest food, produce vitamins and compete against yeast and unhelpful microbes. As yeast feed off carbohydrates, it is important to consider your nutrition and whether it will need to shift to help you reach your health goals and a better microbial balance. Look to avoid sugar, limit too much fruit (especially high sugar fruit such as tropical fruits), avoid fermented alcohol (beer, wine, cider), limit lactose, and moderate grains. Focusing on nutrition that balances protein against a rainbow of vegetables will help ensure that you are not feeding fungal overgrowth. Working towards reducing yeast can take some time but it is well worth the effort as fungal overgrowth can undermine wellbeing in more ways then one.
Other considerations are to make sure your lab numbers are robust and optimal for iron, B12 and Vitamin D. These nutrients help to ensure that your immune system is strong and will fortify you against a fungal take over. Zinc is another nutrient that can help support strong immunity.
I hope this information helps you stamp out the dampness that may be bogging you down.
“Health from the inside out.”
Dr. Kimberly McQueen BSc, ND is a Naturopathic Physician in Victoria, BC. In addition to her clinic work she has been a consultant to the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, Camosun College, Rugby Canada and Rowing Canada. P:778.433.4935 and www.kimmcqueen.com . Kim McQueen is one of the Co-founders of the nourishing Supershake, Rumble. See www.drinkrumble.com
