by Renée Canada Yesterday I got that annoying, telltale reaction that tells me something’s off in my body: a rough rash and puffy sensation around my lips. I remember commenting on it but just chalking it up to my body’s reaction to decreasing my dose of prednisone again. Over the last several weeks as I’ve been weaning myself off the medication, I’ve been having infections and odd reactions in … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada For the last 10 years, I have woken up to a bowl of oatmeal each morning. Before you start groaning—I know some of you are imagining a food that feels (and tastes) like gluey gruel from the moment it enters it your mouth until the time it settles like a brick in your digestive tract. However, let me reassure you that this is no ordinary bowl of oatmeal. First, I begin by chopping … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada One of the joys of summer is the ability to enjoy farm-fresh produce and goods, from strawberries and blueberries to eggs, herbs, honey and grass-fed beef. Across the country, farmers are increasingly congregating to bring the harvest of the season to local residents in their communities. In celebration, United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack proclaimed this week, … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada Yesterday was the toughest day I've had in quite a while. I suppose I couldn't expect that recent reprieve to be anything more than temporary. One could hope with all that they have, and even begin to believe. I know I did. In addition to the itching and burning of the conjunctivitis (pink eye) in both eyes that refuses to go away, the discomfort of the styes and other … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada My eyes have been burning for most of the day, so this will be brief. Start with the not so happy news: one sty has turned to three, my eyes are itching and burning, have a very rare cold sore, rash on face and deceptive sore throat still here more than a week later has me admitting I’m stuck in an autoimmune flare. Good news, the rest of my body has been behaving pretty well … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada Last week, I finally took the big step of firing my rheumatologist. I decided to stop the chemo that I've been on for four months with no significant improvement on my dystonia or the autoimmune diseases we thought were causing it. There had to be a better alternative. After our recent appointment, I told my neurologist that I wanted to try treat my disease naturally. After … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada It’s once again that time when schools are letting out for the calendar year. People are packing up for vacations, and more of us will be taking advantage of the rising temperatures to spend time outdoors. Tuesday, June 21, not only marked the beginning of summer, but also the longest day of daylight. With extra daylight come more opportunities for people to be exposed to the … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada On June 9, Connecticut become the first state in the nation to ban the chemical bisphenol A, otherwise known as BPA, in “thermal receipt paper” that customers receive at retailers, banks and gas stations. The chemical is used as a coating on receipt paper so that it prints in color when heated. BPA is not bound to the paper, as it is to, say, baby bottles, making it easily … [Read more...]
by Renée Canada There has been much debate about the safety of genetically modified, or GM, foods since they were first put on the market in the early ‘90s. The industry has stood by its claim that any potentially harmful chemicals from pesticides added to crops—like soybeans, canola and corn—would pass through the body with ill-effect. However, the results of a study published earlier this … [Read more...]
-by Renée Canada As information continues to flow about how maternal health impacts fetal health, expectant mothers have increasingly more to consider when it comes to diet and their unborn children. Most are aware of the importance of having a calcium-rich diet for developing bones and getting enough folic acid to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. Certain types of fish, like … [Read more...]