Belmont Health & Wealth is pleased to introduce a new feature to our company blog: Guest Blogger! On occasion, we will feature someone we work with in our organization and give them the opportunity to discuss the things they do and services they provide. Belmont's first Guest Blogger is Dr. Amanda Hennigar, a registered Naturopathic Doctor who practices at Bespoke Clinic in downtown Halifax, NS. Dr. Hennigar has been to Belmont before to host a "lunch and learn" for Belmont staff, and we are fortunate to have her coming for a second visit today, to give a talk on stress!     We recently had the opportunity to have a great Q and A session with Dr. Hennigar; check it out! How much does lifestyle really affect health? When the human genome was discovered, it was hailed as the key to unlocking the future of our health. If you had a gene for a disease you had a predetermined likelihood of getting it. Further research has shown that it's not that simple. While an estimated 10% of diseases arise due to the presence of specific genes, the other 90% of disease is now understood to be dependent on something called the exposome. The exposome is the sum of all exposures and lifestyle habits that one experiences in their life. The exposures that make up our unique exposome dictate which genes get turned on and off, thus changing our disease risk. Francis Collins, director of the US National Institutes of Health, once summarized the relationship between genetics and the exposome simply,

"Genes load the gun, but the environment pulls the trigger."

The exposome can be broken into these categories:

• Microbiome: includes the balance of bacteria, viruses and fungi in your body. That balance is altered by everything from what you were fed as a baby to how much stress you experience.
• Diet: Alters the microbiome, inflammation and nutrients have impacts on how genes are regulated
• Activity: Physical activity predicts health. Sitting really is the new smoking
• Chemical: Heavy metals, medications and toxic chemical exposure
• Emotions: Emotions have measurable effects on our health
• Sleep: Sleep deprivation is a torture technique that is highly effective for knocking people off their game. Did you know that if you're getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night you are at risk for the negative effects of sleep deprivation?
• Infections: Viral, bacterial and fungal infections can take a toll on the body leading to chronic disruption of our systems.

How can a Naturopathic Doctor help you achieve your goals? The news that the exposome is what has the most impact on our health is actually really good news! It means that even if you have a family history of a disease or an existing illness, that what you do now can have a profound impact on if you develop that condition and others. Naturopathic Doctors are experts at lifestyle medicine and it's where my patient's and I work together to get the most impactful results for them. We assess the factors that make up their exposome and prioritize what can be supported first with a plan that works for them. Does insurance cover the costs associated with naturopathic treatment? Many private and workplace insurance programs cover treatment with a Naturopathic Doctor. Plans reimburse visit costs up to the plan limit and in the way that they dictate. Supplements and extra testing are not covered. A quick call to your insurance provider can let you know what your benefits are so that your treatment plan can be designed with your coverage in mind. How do I know if Naturopathic Medicine is right for me? I saw many practitioners on my journey to health and wished that I could have just had a chat with them before making the decision to become a patient. As such, I offer 15 minute complimentary consults for you to be able to ask questions about your case and understand how I can help. In the meantime, feel free check out my blog and sign up for the monthly newsletter to keep up to date on the latest posts and updates.   Dr. Amanda Hennigar is a Naturopathic Doctor who practices at Bespoke Clinic in down town Halifax, Nova Scotia and is a passionate writer and speaker. She is a graduate of The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), a fully-accredited 4-year full-time professional program in Toronto and holds a Finance Degree from St. Francis Xavier University. She is licensed to practice in regulated provinces after completing the comprehensive Naturopathic Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) in Oregon. She has a general family practice and treats from a functional and ancestral health view. Special areas of interest include fertility, burnout, gastrointestinal complaints and autoimmune disease.

 

References:   http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/exposome/

Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/guest-blogger-dr-amanda-hennigar/