A Look at the Myths and Benefits of Low-Carb Diets

On average, approximately one-third of Canadians are considered to be obese, which is why Canadians are progressively turning to diets to help them lose weight and stay healthy.

For many, the word “diet” can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Healthy eating by way of low-carb diets is a safe and effective way of keeping your body properly nourished, and will also keep you feeling strong and energized in addition to helping you with weight loss in the process.

Of course there are many myths surrounding all diets, with one of the most common myths being that diets that are low in carbohydrates are harder to stick to and will leave you feeling hungry. People often mistake low-carb diets as meaning you have to cut out all of your favourite foods. However, that is just not the case. As with every diet, certain foods must be restricted, but with a low-carb diet in particular the types of foods that you will eat will depend solely upon what your main goals are. It is important to remember that being on a low-carb diet doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on a no-carb diet and have to deprive yourself of certain foods. It simply means that you are choosing to eat fewer carbohydrates and more of the “healthy” fats and proteins. These include grass-fed meats such as beef, port and chicken, wild-caught fish such as salmon or trout, olive oil, nuts, and high-fat dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. If weight-loss isn’t your main reason for wanting to go on a low-carb diet, then you can also include potatoes, legumes, and non-gluten grains such as rice and quinoa in your diet in moderation. Moderation is key to healthy eating and dieting, because when you eat well, you feel well. It is important to avoid sugary soft drinks, candy, gluten-grains such as wheat and pasta, trans-fats, and omega-6 rich seeds, oils, and vegetables like canola oils, cottonseed oil, and corn.

Another common myth about low-carb diets is that they are high in saturated fats, therefore must be dangerous and will cause health problems (such as heart disease) if you eat low-carb on a long-term basis. This has never been proven to be true. In fact, on a low-carb diet, saturated fats like meats and omega-3 rich eggs are encouraged, and have been proven to be beneficial for one’s overall health. In comparison to low-fat diets, low-carb diets have been proven to be the better option to reduce body fat, blood pressure, and also improve symptoms of diabetic patients.

These health benefits are why more and more physicians like Dr. Ali Ghahary are strong supporters of low-carb diets – because not only are they essential in keeping you feeling robust, but they are also easy to manage and proven to be effective.

Summer Health and Safety Tips: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

Springtime leading into summertime and the warmer weather that comes along with these seasons has always been a great excuse for Canadians to get outdoors more often. However, with the beautiful summertime weather that Canada has to offer, that also means higher than normal temperatures and humidity from time to time, and with those higher temperatures comes the increased potential for health risks associated with overexposure to sources of ultraviolet radiation such as sunlight. While temperatures in the summertime will vary across different regions in Canada, the consequences can turn out to be extremely detrimental to your health. By following a few simple steps you will not only avoid an emergency room visit, but also still be able to enjoy the nicer weather.

Overexposure to the sun can cause everything from sunburn to hyperthermia. Hyperthermia occurs when your body is unable to cool itself down to its core temperature (normally between 36.5°C and 37.5°C), overheating as a result. Hyperthermia will present itself in two different ways: As heat exhaustion or as heat stroke. Being in hot weather and sunlight for a protracted amount of time causes these conditions. While heat exhaustion and heat stroke have similar characteristics, they are also differentiated by their symptoms.

With heat exhaustion, some of the potential symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea, muscle cramps, shallow breathing, and profuse sweating. Immediately removing oneself from sunlight and into shade, as well as keeping hydrated, can help to relieve these symptoms. Whereas heat stroke is a serious and potentially fatal condition. The onset of heat stroke can be sudden, and includes symptoms of a body temperature above 40°C, restlessness, hot or flushed skin, deteriorating mental function, unconsciousness, and in some cases can even lead to death. The risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is greater for infants, seniors, and those who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases or lung problems.

To avoid coming down with heat-related illnesses, Dr. Ali Ghahary of Brentwood Medical Clinic recommends that you keep yourself cool and remain hydrated, especially before and after any outdoor physical activity, in addition to paying close attention to local weather reports and avoid exposure to extreme heat conditions whenever possible. If your work includes being outdoors for prolonged periods of time, it is important to take breaks, go in areas where there is more shade (which can be up to 5°C cooler than being in direct sunlight), and always pay close attention to how you are feeling. If you notice any symptoms related to heat exhaustion or heat stroke then you should see a physician right away.

An Introduction to the Biopsychosocial Model

As a family physician in Burnaby, British Columbia, Dr. Ali Ghahary offers comprehensive care to individuals of all ages. Dr. Ali Ghahary uses the biopsychosocial approach to treat clients as complete individuals with multiple contributors to illness and health.

The biopsychosocial model assumes that personal health stems from an integrated web of emotional, physical, and societal factors. Biologic factors include ineffective agents and genetic predispositions as well as hormone levels and a history of physical trauma. These factors contribute to physical as well as to mental illness, just as a person's psychological state may mitigate or worsen a physical condition. For example, emotional depression may predispose a person to alcohol use, which is a known risk factor for liver disease.

Social circumstances may also contribute to both mental and physical illness. A culture that values thin bodies over heavier ones may have a higher rate of anorexia nervosa than that of a society with less emphasis on weight. Further, economic uncertainty in those of a lower socioeconomic status may lead to high levels of stress, which may increase a person's predisposition to disease. Consideration of these factors allows a physician to assess the whole patient and to understand his or her illness on multiple levels, from the cellular to the global.

Injectable Fillers for Cosmetic Purposes

Fillers are designed as an inactive substance that helps active medicine work faster and more efficiently. As an example, fillers are frequently used in capsules or tablets because the amount of the active drug is too miniscule to put them in pill form. Generally, however, when referring to fillers, we a referring to cosmetic fillers that are injected into the skin to treat wrinkles, creases, and scars. These types of fillers are becoming more prevalent amongst individuals in Canada in effort to make skin appear smoother.

Many general practitioners in Canada, including Dr. Ali Ghahary at Brentwood Medical Clinic in Burnaby, BC, use these cosmetic fillers for their patients.

Wrinkle fillers are the most popularly used. These injectable fillers help one look younger with more vibrant and youthful skin, for only a small portion of the cost of cosmetic surgery (i.e. facelifts.) The results of these fillers are more than satisfactory and can last for several months. Injectable fillers like Botox relax the muscles underneath the skin and then fill the lines, creases, wrinkles or scars with one of multiple substances.

These fillers are also uses as “volumizers” to the skin, filling out thin lips, tightening the skin of hands, and plumping the skin around the cheeks and jawline.

Below is a look at a few of the different kinds of fillers that are available for use in Canadian clinics:

• Hyaluronic Acid: This is the most popular type of filler, commonly known as Juvaderm. The results will last anywhere from a few months to over a year. Recent research has found that frequent injections of this particular filler can help the body produce more collagen, which will reduce the number of wrinkles. Additionally, with repeated injections, it is found that less is needed over time.
• Synthetic: This is a very small category of fillers, but includes laboratory-made substances that have nothing to do with anything already found in the skin. There is a much longer lasting effect from this filler, with the product even offering permanent treatment of lines and wrinkles. However, it is important to note that synthetic products come with more side effects.
• Collagen: These fillers are made from collagen extracted from animals. It offers a natural-looking fill, but the results are not long lasting, sometimes breaking down as early as one month after treatment. There is a high rate of allergic reaction to collagen fillers because the source comes from an animal, therefore it is often recommended to undergo allergy testing beforehand.
• Autologous: The most common substance in this category is fat. Your own body fat, that is, which is surgically removed from your stomach, buttocks or thighs. Both procedures (one to remove the fat and another to inject it) can be done in one visit, with a semi-permanent effect. Another option under this category is platelet-rich plasma injections, where blood is drawn from the arm, spun, and then injected into the site. These effects can last anywhere from 12 to 18 months.

As with any product, there are risks and benefits to using fillers, thus it is important to have a discussion with your physician to determine which kind is best suited for you.