A common question for those who have not visited a naturopathic doctor before, is how ND practice is different from what they might be used to in conventional models. The Therapeutic Order guides how the naturopathic principles are applied, and is based on the idea that the human body possesses an inherent drive to heal itself. It posits that the least amount of force be employed in order to promote gentle, safe and long-lasting health and well-being. The Therapeutic Order characterizes the natural progression of naturopathic therapeutic recommendations to maximize patient benefit and reduce the potential for damage or harm. Naturopathic care ultimately focuses on the individual and what is best for them at that moment in time.

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Being disciplined about your coping will make staying at home more successful. Because human beings are social creatures, staying at home due to COVID-19 is challenging and frustrating. Spending almost the entire day inside is not only challenging for your physical health but also for your mental health. The key to coping as well as possible is to stay disciplined and engage positive coping mechanisms. Below, are some tips that will reduce anxiety and stress and improve mood.

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Remember a time when we chose ingredients based solely on how they tasted? Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, it’s no surprise you’re looking to fill your virtual grocery cart with anything that gives your immune system an extra kick in the pants. Eating a bunch of superfoods won’t keep COVID-19 away. But filling your diet with immune-boosting foods is a gold star move for your overall health, regardless. What makes an immune-boosting food? A combo of powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, protein, and plant compounds that help your beautiful bod keep the nasties at bay.

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With no approved drugs for the new coronavirus, some people are turning to alternative medicines, often on the advice of their governments. This is most evident in China and India, both densely populated countries with a deep history and tradition of touting such treatments, and where there’s sometimes limited access to conventional medicine. In China, where the pandemic began, officials made unsubstantiated claims that traditional medicine was key to fighting the virus. In India, where a lockdown of its 1.3 billion residents is underway, the government faced criticism after claiming some treatments might help prevent infections. And in Venezuela, where the healthcare system is severely crimped, President Nicolas Maduro pitched drinking an herbal tea.

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The aging process often brings about various health issues, including chronic low-grade inflammation, sarcopenia and functional decline. The loss of muscle mass between the ages of 40 and 80 is between 30% and 60% and is associated with disability, illness, and death. It is well known that dietary fiber intake has a positive effect on cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

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Acute respiratory tract infections are a major cause of morbidly and mortality. Viruses cause seasonal outbreaks and, as we are seeing now, a worldwide pandemic that is impacting public health as well as the economy. Most of the attention has been focused on isolation, wearing masks, and proper hygiene which are all important; however, public health discussions have not been focused around nutritional strategies to support optimal immune function. This is essential as poorer outcomes are associated with those with co-morbidities, smoking, and the elderly population.

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Red yeast rice (RYR) is neither yeast nor rice, but rather a product of the fermentation of white rice and the yeast, monascus purpureus. It is also a nutraceutical rival to popular statin drugs. The efficacy of RYR as a cholesterol-lowering agent is a function of the constituent monacolin-K, a chemical twin to the popular lovastatin. Like statin drugs, monacolins lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG COA reductase in the liver, thereby impacting the rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis.

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Results from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) that were released this week may shed light on the role vitamin D deficiency may play in acute respiratory infections. Findings from the study present "that vitamin D plays a critical role in preventing respiratory infections, reducing antibiotic use, and boosting the immune system response to infections." Because of these findings, researchers highlight the importance of increasing vitamin D intake through supplementation, sunlight exposure, and vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, fatty fish, and liver.

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How can you improve your immune system? On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Is it possible to intervene in this process and boost your immune system? What if you improve your diet? Take certain vitamins or herbal preparations? Make other lifestyle changes in the hope of producing a near-perfect immune response?

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A paleo diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds — foods that in the past could be obtained by hunting and gathering. A paleo diet limits intake of those foods that became common after agriculture emerged about 10,000 years ago. These foods include dairy products, legumes and grains. Other names for a paleo diet include Paleolithic diet or hunter-gatherer diet.

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