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  • Blog, FUNC MED

    6 TIPS TO BEAT JET LAG

    how to beat jet lag

    Jet lag is basically our body’s own way of letting us know that it’s out of sync with local time. And it can be a real pain in the you know what when you’re trying to embark on a lovely holiday. After all, planning a vacation is stressful enough without worrying about how to beat jet lag too. Between coordinating everyone’s calendars, packing, planning excursions and booking hotels, we don’t want to throw jet lag in the mix on top of it all! We want to make sure that jet lag doesn’t get in the way of you enjoying your next holiday!

    Why does jet lag happen?

    Jet lag happens when the body’s natural circadian rhythm doesn’t match up with the external environment. This happens as a result of travel across time zones. Essentially, jet lag happens when changes in our environmental cues (such as light, temperature and meal times) conflict with our body’s existing patterns. In a way, it’s our body’s response to something unnatural. Sure, it’s common these days to hop on a plane and travel long distances, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal to our physiology. When you think about it, we’ve only had the opportunity to travel across time zones via airplanes for a few decades. This means that humans haven’t evolved to be able to adjust quickly to these rapid changes in time. Even a quick trip across one time zone can cause jet lag and affect our body!

    Jet lag can show up in many different ways. It can mess with our sleep, hormones, appetite, energy levels, immunity, stress, digestion, sex drive and more. Changes in our sleep cycle can also throw off our circadian rhythm, aka our internal body clocks!

    Here are some tips for how to beat jet lag when you next travel:

    1. Practice sun training

    Research has shown that light exposure before, during, and after you fly can affect your ability to sleep. As a result, this impacts the severity of our jet lag. To optimally synchronize our body clocks when we arrive at our destination we should stare at the sun when it’s rising, have it directly above our head at 12pm each day, and watch the sunset. Watching the sunset while on vacation? Is there anything more relaxing anyway? Doing this is actually strategic, as it sends the correct signals to our brain, thus alerting our body that it’s either time to be awake or asleep.

    2. Adjust your sleep hygiene

    Sleep hygiene refers to the things you implement to promote a healthy sleep. In preparation for our new time zone, we want to make sure that we’re not exposed to light during night time in our new destination and are awake in the morning of our new destination. Since light exposure at specific times can help regulate our circadian rhythm, we can slowly start to train our body’s a few days before our travel plans. This may look like staying up a little later or go to bed a little earlier. We can also do this on the plane ride over. To help us sleep, we recommend doing things like getting a sleep mask and ear plugs, avoiding blue light (aka staring at a screen) a few hours before you plan on going to bed, and practicing relaxation techniques.

    3. Stay extra hydrated

    Ever notice how on a plane you tend to get dehydrated? Dehydration can worsen the symptoms of jet lag. Dehydration is very common while traveling by air, so make sure to stay adequately hydrated when you travel. Moreover, try to avoid caffeine and alcohol before, during and after your flight. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol actually disturbs our sleep. And since you might be adjusting to a new sleep schedule, caffeine will also keep you awake, in addition to dehydrating you! Our favourite way to take our hydration “to go” is by using a Berkey water bottle to filter out any impurities from the water fountains at the airport. PLUS, it saves us from buying the over-priced plastic bottles!

    4. Upgrade your melatonin supplement

    Many people, especially frequent travelers, take melatonin to support their sleep in order to beat jet lag. If you’re not familiar with it, melatonin is the hormone in our body that is released at night to help us sleep (that is, if our circadian rhythm is in check). For an external temporary sleep support, we recommend Insomnitol Chewables to support a deeper, restorative sleep. These tablets also contain vitamin B6, inositol and l-theanine to further help calm brain activity to help you fall asleep and STAY asleep.

    5. Switch up your eating habits

    When traveling to a different time zone, changing the time we eat and the amount of food we eat is important. Try planning your meals to coincide with your new time zone as much as possible. In the first few days of traveling, we recommend sticking with smaller meals – It’s important to avoid having large meals because our digestive enzymes, which help break down and digest food, are also on a circadian clock so our digestive system might not be primed to digest a huge portion when our body thinks it’s the middle of the night.

    6. Practice grounding

    Another great idea for how to beat jet lag is grounding. Grounding, also known as “earthing”, refers to making direct contact between your bare feet and the ground. According to many wellness experts, the benefits include helping you soak up the earth’s negative charge. This in turn is known to reduce inflammation, refresh our mind and body, promote better quality sleep and even help with jet lag. So needless to say, if you’re going somewhere warm, going for a barefoot walk on the beach is a good idea! If you’re not traveling any time soon, don’t worry! There are other grounding techniques like eating root veggies or listening to relaxing, calm nature sounds such as waves crashing or birds chirping that have similar benefits!

    If you implement any of these tips, let us know how it goes!

    About The Movement Boutique in Toronto – Pilates, Chiropractic, Functional Medicine

    TMB The Movement Boutique Located on Yonge Street in Toronto, The Movement Boutique serves the areas of Summerhill, Rosedale and Yorkdale with Pilates classes and much more. Our philosophy is centred on a holistic, multimodal approach to health, grounded in the latest therapeutic techniques and clinical research. Our approach: Optimal health cannot be attained through a single therapeutic lens; injuries are often the result of a constellation of lifestyle issues, including dysfunctional movement patterns, trauma, nutritional deficiencies or destructive habits of mind.

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  • Blog, FUNC MED

    What’s The Deal With Gluten Anyway?

    Does anyone else feel like gluten has become the food villain of the decade? So the question is…is it just a trendy fad or is it something we should actually be concerned about? Are there gluten free diet benefits? Like most food trends, navigating what your friends are doing, what’s trending online and what’s actually going to make a positive difference for your health can be tricky (read: impossible). Think you’re off the hook because that muffin you ordered was gluten free? Think again!

    What is gluten?

    Gluten is a general term for the “sticky” protein molecules found in some grains: gliadin and glutenin. It has a glue-like consistency that gives bread it’s elasticity when baked and it’s also often used as a binder or filler in processed foods. Why is gluten problematic? Gluten has been shown to spike levels of the protein zonulin in the gut, leading to leaky gut syndrome. This gut permeability allows undigested food proteins and bacterial endotoxins to pass into the blood stream, activating an inflammatory-immune response in your body. Wheat has the highest concentrations of gluten proteins and is the most common in our diet.

    In addition there are other gluten-containing grains, such as spelt, kamut, rye, barley and oats. Oats themselves do not contain gluten but are often processed in the same facilities as gluten products (unless specifically saying “gluten free oats” on the label). As such, a gluten contamination of oats can be enough to trigger a reaction in the body. Many common foods that contain gluten include bread, crackers, cereals, sauces, pastas, doughs, wraps, buns, dressings and pastries.

    Why does it seem that gluten-related health issues are suddenly popping up everywhere? Are there gluten free diet benefits?

    Reactions to gluten run on a spectrum. On one end there’s celiac disease, and then there’s gluten intolerance and non-celiac gluten sensitivity at the other. Research has shown that the prevalence of all three has been growing. Celiac disease in particular, has rates doubling every fifteen years! But the question stumping a lot of people is, why? Gluten has been around forever! Why all of a sudden are there gluten free diet benefits?

    For starters, the gluten that our grandparents ate years ago is very different than what’s available to us today. It’s estimated than 5% of the proteins found in wheat are “new proteins” that aren’t found in the original wheat plant due to hybridization and other modern production practices. These days wheat also contains MORE gluten molecules than they once did. Many gluten-containing foods, like popular commercial bread brands for example, already contains wheat flour (which is gluten containing), but more gluten itself is then added to extend the shelf life and make it more appealing to the consumer (softer, more pliable etc.). Don’t believe us? Check the ingredients list!

    Another factor that comes into play is modern agricultural practices. Our increased use of pesticides and the introduction of other toxins have not only depleted our soil of nutrients, but have increased the amount of chemicals in our food and environment. Cue leaky gut, intestinal damage and a susceptibility to food sensitivities. Not to mention wheat is one of the most heavily sprayed crops, most commonly being sprayed with glyphosate (also known as the leading ingredient in the pesticide called “round up).

    What’s the bottom line? Wheat is not what it once was. In addition, the intersection of many different factors in our food, environment and lifestyles have created the perfect storm for gluten reactions.

    Should everyone avoid gluten?

    Have you ever heard of a gluten deficiency? No? Well, that’s because it doesn’t exist! Evidence shows that at the end of the day, gluten doesn’t benefit anyone. One particular 2015 study looked at patients with active celiac disease, celiac patients in remission, patients with non celiac gluten sensitivity and patients with no gluten-related complaints. They found that exposure to gluten in all four groups lead to SOME level of intestinal damage. In other words, everyone has some type of reaction to gluten after consumption.

    Some people may only experience subtle symptoms because they’re able to repair and recover from the damage more quickly than others. Meanwhile other people’s symptoms are more obvious. Symptoms are also wide-ranging. Mood changes, to skin reactions, migraines, stomach aches, brain fog and joint pain are just a few. From a clinical perspective, if we know gluten is causing damage on even a small scale, it would be recommended to take it out of the equation because over time, small amounts of damage to the intestines can lead to more series issues.

    5 tips to adopt a gluten free diet and reap the gluten free diet benefits

    Don’t worry however because there’s good news! With gluten being the talk of the town these days, gluten free resources are becoming increasingly abundant in our society. From restaurant menus, to online recipes and cookbooks, there’s no shortage of gluten free alternatives. If you want a gluten free life, here are some tips to make the gluten-free diet benefits more accessible to you. We talk about this all the time!

    GLUTEN FREE TIP 1: Find substitutes that you love

    There’s no shortage of alternatives out there! Do your research and learn about what’s available. For example, you can use almond flour in your baking instead of refined flour and find healthy, gluten free brands that won’t trigger any symptoms. Need help with this? TMB’s got you covered with our health coaching services.

    GLUTEN FREE TIP 2: Check with restaurants in advance

    If you’re going out for dinner with your friends and feel weird or intimidated about asking the server about gluten-free options in front of the group, call the restaurant ahead so you know what to order! Most restaurants have plenty of gluten free options on their menu, and they’re happy to accommodate any and all dietary restrictions!

    GLUTEN FREE TIP 3: Have resources available in your home

    If all you have in your cupboards is gluten-filled foods, then that’s what you’re going to be eating! Add gluten free items to your next grocery list so you can stock your home with healthy alternatives. It might also be worth getting a few gluten-free cookbooks and pick some new favourite recipes!

    Just be careful to always check the ingredients list. Aka just because it’s “gluten-free” doesn’t mean it’s healthy!

    GLUTEN FREE TIP 4: Plan your meals ahead of time

    If you’re in the middle of running errands and have a social gathering to make it to in a rush, you’re more likely to make a pit stop and grab takeout, which might mean processed foods that contain gluten. If you plan out your day and bring a pre-packed meal with you, you’ll be more prepared when hunger strikes! Meal prepping can also help you stick to a gluten free diet instead of reaching for a bagel at work.

    Side benefit: Taking out processed foods from our diets (many of which are gluten-containing) and replacing them with nutrient dense foods is another reason you’ll likely feel better after going gluten-free!

    GLUTEN FREE TIP 5: Remind yourself how you feel when you eat gluten

    Before you dive into that bowl of pasta, remind yourself how you’re going to feel after. Will you be bloated? Would your stomach hurt? Do you get tired and have to go to bed early? Will your skin become inflamed? This can help motivate you to make healthier choices.

    Want to take a step in the right direction towards moving, feeling and looking better? Join our FREE 3 Day Clean Gut Detox Program! During the course of the 3 days, you’ll get a small glimpse of what to expect in the full 21-Day program. One of the cornerstones of the 21-Day Clean Gut Detox is education – We don’t just tell you what to do (like avoiding gluten, for example), but we also tell you why you’re doing it and how these recommended changes will support you on your health and wellness journey. The Clean Gut Detox emphasizes the consumption of whole, unprocessed, gut optimizing foods as well as various lifestyle changes & bio-hacks that can help you transform your health and wellness from the inside out.

    About The Movement Boutique in Toronto – Pilates, Chiropractic, Functional Medicine

    TMB The Movement Boutique Located on Yonge Street in Toronto, The Movement Boutique serves the areas of Summerhill, Rosedale and Yorkdale with Pilates classes and much more. Our philosophy is centred on a holistic, multimodal approach to health, grounded in the latest therapeutic techniques and clinical research. Our approach: Optimal health cannot be attained through a single therapeutic lens; injuries are often the result of a constellation of lifestyle issues, including dysfunctional movement patterns, trauma, nutritional deficiencies or destructive habits of mind.

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