mental health

When Did Mental Health Become Sexist?

I’ll be honest – it took me quite some time to write this article, because I feel like mental health is a very intimate and personal conversation. I began to feel like maybe it would be too intrusive and I would be making too many over-generalizations and assumptions (which, I’ll admit, I do for the purposes of getting my point across. Also, I apologize for the excessive use of quotes around words). However, I wanted to write this because I feel so strongly in my heart that men deserve the same care and respect as females, and shame, guilt, silence – these are words that should never be linked with mental health, regardless of sex.

I decided to go ahead with it anyway, because I am grateful. Grateful that I have found my voice, and am able to share it with those who will listen. Grateful, because I know that not everyone is so lucky.

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By Dr. Priscilla Tang, Naturopathic Doctor, ago

Gut Health in Athletes – The Missing Link to Optimizing Performance

Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints in athletes can include vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, and everything in between. These are very common during training and competitions – but why? Athletes work hard to fine tune their “machine” of a body, so they should be “stronger” than the average population, right? It is exactly because of the hard work they put into their goals that makes them more susceptible to gut issues. Strenuous exercise and dehydration influence muscle glycogen depletion and puts the athlete at risk for gut ischemia (reduced blood flow to the intestines) [1]. This is because there is a redistribution of blood flow from your viscera to your skeletal muscle, brain, heart and lungs [1].

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By Dr. Priscilla Tang, Naturopathic Doctor, ago

When Insomnia Becomes A Sign For Deeper Issues (PART ONE)

We’ve all been there – those nights were you toss and turn in bed, just wishing that sleep would finally wash over you. And this starts to happen night after night, and eventually you start to just get used to it. This is just how things are going to be for you; this is your new “normal”.

However, this is your body trying to tell you something. Often times, our body sends us signals and alarm signs, and we just need to learn to listen. Chronic insomnia can be a sign for numerous different health conditions. Here are some of the things that may be influencing your sleep:

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By Dr. Priscilla Tang, Naturopathic Doctor, ago