I have partnered with an MBA student who is using my business as her research project.  The research project is to understand the barriers and attitudes toward mental health care in order to look at growth strategies to create a full time practice.

One of the tools that is used for the research project is a confidential survey.  This is where I need your help.  Please take a few minutes of your time to fill out the attached questionnaire.  In addition, please forward on to those who will fill it out.  The more people we get to fill out the survey the more data will be available for the research project.

Thanks for your help,

Nicole Meier, ND and Natalie Haynes

http://app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/barb-rru-mba/mba-omp/?code=

So this contest includes any client of Cornerstone Health who commits one act of fitness everyday throughout the month of February (minimum 15 minutes).   An exercise log must be submitted at the end of the month (either through email, or in person) and a name will be drawn from the eligible entries.  The winner will receive $100 for use at Cornerstone for any product or service from any practitioner.   As promised, my exercise log will be posted weekly on the Cornerstone site for your reading pleasure.  Good luck!

Wednesday, February 1^st:  Today I had commitments from 8am until 9pm and only managed a 30 minute walk/jog with my dog Louisiana (Weezie for short) (moderate)

Thursday, February 2^nd:  30 minute walk with Weezie (easy) and 60 minute spinning class (intense) at my gym, Staying Alive Fitness in Acton.

Friday, February 3^rd: 60 minute yoga at Studio 2 in Georgetown (moderate)

Saturday, February 4^th: 60 minute “Box-fit” class at Staying Alive (intense)

Sunday, February 5^th: 60 minute brisk walk with Weezie (sore back from yesterday’s exercise)

How’s your fitness log coming along?

Recently, Dr. Mark Hyman, MD, who is the chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine was again a featured guest on the daytime talk show Dr. Oz.    Dr. Hyman is a family physician, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader in functional medicine. Dr. Hyman serves as Chairman of the Board for The Institute for Functional Medicine, and was awarded its 2009 Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Award.

Nicole Meier, ND is a proud member of the IFM, and incorporates a functional medicine philosophy into her daily practice.

Nicole is seen here with Dr. Hyman at the 2011 IFM Conference.  From left:  Jill Valerius, MD (Alaska), Nicole Meier, ND, Mark Hyman, MD, Teri Jaklin, ND

I guess I’m holding a grudge.

Then I got to thinking about something our counsellor Natalie says – “who is your mirror?”  When you have conflict with a person in your life, it likely reflects a part of your own personality that you don’t like.  I thought about that suddenly, in that moment during the conference, and realized (with a sick feeling in my gut) that Natalie is absolutely right.  The feeling was dark, uncomfortable and sat in my abdomen like an ugly black ball.  I KNOW that these feelings are toxic, and that they play a role in disease.  We may not be able to explain it physiologically or academically, but we know that it is true.  Healing your emotional self is as important, if not more important than your physical body.

Which brings me to my real point – what am I doing, or, what are you doing to heal your emotional self?  Every day I am struck by the incredible commitment and passion that so many of my patients hold for their physical health.  This pursuit of wellness is very outward – very tangible.  You eat well, you exercise, you take supplements, participate in a detox once or twice a year, maybe see an osteopath and massage therapist for your structural self…  But what about your emotional and spiritual health?  How do you address that?  Does it strike fear in your heart to even consider it?  It does in mine.  What a daunting task!  It would be so much easier to keep “fixing” what is obviously broken – your diet, your supplements, your exercise routine.

This year, in 2012, perhaps it is time to take a first step toward tackling that intangible spiritual-self.  What does that look like for you?  For some, it will be attending church more regularly, prayer and quiet contemplation.  For others it may be talking to a counsellor and healing a specific area of their life – a relationship perhaps.  For others, seeking spiritual guidance and energy work opens the door to finding your true-self.   No matter what method you choose, it is undeniably essential to your ultimate wellness.

When I created Cornerstone Health, I wanted to work with professionals that reflected all aspects of wellness and health.  I thought that having one health professional in each area would be sufficient to meet the needs of my patients.  It is interesting to me that we now have three different professionals who specialize in emotional and spiritual wellness – the need is so great for this kind of care.  I am extremely impressed and proud of the work they do.  As many of you can attest, your health reaches a new level after this kind of healthcare (I like to call it spirit-care).  Unresolved emotional issues are massive roadblocks to your complete and ultimate health.  I really and truly believe that these old injuries fester, grow and eventually cause disease.  It really is the missing piece of your wellness puzzle.

Yours in health,

Nicole

Eileen has over 25 years of professional counselling experience, assisting clients with diverse challenges, including depression, anxiety, addiction, grief, fertility, family dynamics, the workplace, physical disabilities, and life transitions.

Eileen is a Registered Rehabilitation Professional and Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counsellor.  She holds program certificates in Rehabilitation Counselling (Seneca College) and Death and Grief Studies (Center for Loss and Life Transition, Colorado), and is currently in fourth-year psychotherapy training at the Gestalt Institute of Toronto.

Please contact us at (905) 702-1944 to book an appointment with Eileen.

Not surprisingly, the survey indicates that naturopathic medicine helps contribute to reduced use of prescription drugs, along with fewer visits to doctors and hospitals.

You can read the results here:

http://www.ccnm.edu/ontarians_say

When my clients tell me that they eat (ahem) frozen vegetables, they always look rather ashamed, as though they were admitting to a chocolate or potato chip habit.  While locally grown vegetables in season are clearly the gold standard, frozen vegetables shouldn’t get a bad rap.  Some studies show that the nutrient content of a flash frozen vegetable is actually superior to the same vegetable imported from out of country.  The unfortunate consequence of living in a northern climate is a lack of fresh food for more than half the year.  So rather than buying that $6 wrinkled red pepper or wilted broccoli from Mexico in January, try some of what I call “emergency vegetables”.  Quick, convenient and usually pretty tasty (particularly the peas), a frozen vegetable is better than no vegetable!

We need to recognize that providing our kids with choices like pop and chips for lunch is akin to giving them a choice about wearing a seatbelt, or a ski helmet.  Dangerous health behaviours shouldn’t be an option for children.  The only difference between these behaviours is one will kill you more quickly than the other.

I came home tonight to find that my husband had sliced fresh lemons and limes into a glass water jug and filled it with ice and filtered water (I hope he washed them! - ed. yes, he did – .).  It was delicious and incredibly refreshing.  Then I started to remember some of the other concoctions we have come up with over the years.  My kids love chlorophyll water.  Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants and is incredibly nourishing and alkalinizing.  I like the Nature’s Sunshine brand with the hint of peppermint that makes your water minty fresh (bad breath solution).  How about fresh mint (bruised) and frozen strawberries?   You can also “ice” herbal tea after it cools for a calorie and sugar free twist on water.  You get the idea – stay hydrated!

But what about you?  What do you do, actively to take ownership of your own health?

Check out the poll below, and let us know!  We’d love to hear from you.  And if one (or both!) of your top two strategies aren’t on the list, send us a comment using the link below, and we’ll add it!