There have been a number of food and drug recalls lately.  Most notably, Campbells had to recall 15,000,000 cans of Spagetti-o’s with Meatballs. Apparently, the meatballs were never fully cooked during processing.  That’s pretty scary, but even scarier is that all cans produced since June 2008 are being recalled.  June 2008?  Really?  I am pretty sure that any and all meatballs prepared in 2008 should not be consumed in 2010.  This issue highlights the importance of food safety and security.  Know who produces your food and what they are doing to protect your safety.  And just to be on the safe and healthy side, skip the Spagetti-o’s altogether.

Over the counter children’s medications have been recalled as well.  McNeil is recalling certain lots of Children’s Motrin, Tylenol, Zyrtec and Benadryl.  Why?  Because:

“Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles.”

Wow!  Check your cabinets and make sure your medicine is safe.

Better yet – see your naturopathic doctor, stay healthy, and use over the counter medications only when neccesary.

Stay safe,

Dr. Caitlin

“Do you take insurance?”

I answer this question multiple times a day, everyday.  And the short answer is no.

And the long answer is no I don’t take insurance and that is is good thing.  Why?  Because if I took insurance I would be working for the insurance companies.  And I don’t want to work for insurance companies, I want to work for my patients.

I never want to change what I think is best for a patient to fit into a corporate model of care that is happy to treat disease and will barely spend a penny on prevention.  I never want to squeeze 6-10 patients into an hour .  I never want to be a part of a system that focuses on profits, not patients.

I know that times are tough for a lot of people.  It can be hard to justify out-of-pocket expenses for health care when you have insurance.  However, outside of the insurance model I am free to offer the highest-quality,  personalized care.

Seeing me is a financial commitment.  However it is an investment that offers rich rewards.

In health,

Dr. Caitlin

Hopefully, most of you have been spared from the nasty spring viruses that have been circulating Denver.  For those of you the haven’t been so lucky I wanted to share a safe and effective home remedy for coughing – honey!

A study comparing 2 teaspoons of  honey to children’s cough syrups containing dextromethorphan found  honey to be more effective.  This is great news considering dextromethorphan can cause life-threatening side effects in kids under 4.

Consider using local honey and you might gain some additional protection against seasonal allergies.

I have tried this remedy on myself, my partner and my new puppy and it was effective for everyone

In Health,

Dr. Caitlin

I am so excited to announce that in addition to my main office in the Highlands, Lotus Studio for Acupuncture and Wellness,  I will now be seeing patients at Sweet Beginnings.  Located in historic downtown Littleton, Sweet Beginnings is the place for all your pregnancy and postpartum needs – including naturopathic health care

I will be at Sweet Beginnings every Thursday from 10-6.  I am so excited to join this amazing team!  Call 303-803-5355 to schedule your appointment or set-up a free consultation.

Be sure to come by and visit,

Dr. Caitlin

April in Colorado is unpredictable.  One day it is clear and sunny, the next  day 3 inches of snow are covering your newly planted seeds.  So it is appropriate that spring has been designated national IBS Awareness Month.  Why?  Because if you have IBS your life is extremely unpredictable.  Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition characterized by alternating constipation and diarrhea, and can including significant bloating, cramping and pain.  This condition is extremely disruptive and really affects quality of life.  The prevalence of IBS in the United States is estimated to be around 15%.

The good news is that naturopathic medicine can be extremely effective at finding and treating the many underlying causes of IBS.  While mainstream medicine relies on medications in an attempt control the symptoms of IBS, natural medicine looks for the cure.

Often times we find a food sensitivity is an underlying cause.  Two studies confirm this finding, demonstrating that patients with IBS who avoided the food intolerance –  revealed with IgG blood tests – did significantly better then those that did not.

Naturopathic medicine, acupuncture,  stress reduction and mindfulness techniques – there are many options out there for those with IBS.  Find the  ones that work well for you and your family.

So celebrate IBS Awareness Month by seeking out healthcare practitioners that can help!

I really, really love to garden.

Lately, I have been spending my nights curled up with seed catalogs, lusting over mouth-watering descriptions and anxiously awaiting Mother’s Day – not only because my mom is an amazing gardener who inspires many of my garden projects, but because the second Sunday in May is generally recognized as the “safe” time to start planting tender seeds and transplants in Denver, Colorado.

Last weekend I built a salad table for my backyard.  I have a plot in the Edgewater Community Garden.  And I am super excited to be working on a community herb garden with Eastside Growers Collective (where I also  have an individual plot dedicated exclusively to melons and winter squash – a Cucurbitaceae collection for my botany brethren).  I even started a worm farm – which is a whole other post entirely ..

I may be going overboard

So, to justify my obsession, and  for newbies that may be considering digging in for the first time, or for old-timers that need a few more reasons to justify hours spent playing in the dirt – I complied a few of the many health benefits that can be found in the garden.

Fresh food

Growing your own food ensures that you will have access to the tastiest produce imaginable.  Children will often happily eat veggies straight from the garden that they would never consider eating from the store.  The nutrient content in organic food is higher then conventional and you can’t get more local then the backyard.  Eating your 5-7 servings a day is easy and delicious when you are a gardener.

Sunshine

There has been increased awareness of widespread Vitamin D deficiency over the past few years.  I have been surprised to find out that even in sunny Colorado, many of my patients are deficient.  So before you slather on the sunscreen, consider letting your limbs get some sunshine.  Be sure to keep  your face covered and don’t get burned.  The amount of time you need depends on your skin type, time of day and personal health history.  This is a good topic to discuss with your health care provider.

Exercise

Gardening burns between 200-600 calories per hour.  As anyone who has ever maneuvered a wheelbarrow knows, gardening also improves strength, flexibility and balance.   Gardening a few times a week can decease your chance of developing heart disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes!

Remember to go organic - you wouldn’t want to negate any of your gardening health benefits by breathing in and ingesting toxic pesticides.

Happy digging!

Dr. Caitlin

Happy Friday!

Just posted a new article for the Denver Examiner - 3 Essential Supplements for your Child.

Enjoy!

Happy (almost) St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

As you may have guessed, Dr. Caitlin O’Connor is mostly Irish.  As I prepare myself for the big day, I thought I would share a few tips on enjoying a fun and healthy St. Patrick’s Day.

Eat cabbage

Cabbage is a delicious – often overlooked – superfood!  As a member of the cruciferous family, cabbage is packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients.  Women should line up for seconds, since cabbage contains the powerful indole-3-carbinol molecule that shifts estrogen metabolism in a way that may decrease breast cancer risk.

Drink beer

Sure red wine gets all the press, but a nice glass of beer has health benefits as well.  Stay away from the green-dyed variety and stick with a nice dark brew.  Guniness, my favorite, is known for it’s iron and B vitamin content.  Lactating moms can even enjoy a celebratory beverage – hops is known to increase milk production.

Laugh

Craic is an irish slang term without a straight English translation.  However the basic meaning is to have fun, specifically by spending time  laughing and telling stories in enjoyable company.  There are numerous studies linking laughter to improved health, from a decrease in heart disease and diabetes complications to an increase in immunity and creativity.

So grab your favorite Irish friend and pick up a plate of cabbage and a pint.

Have a healthy holiday!

Dr. Caitlin

Do you have a picky toddler?  You are not alone!  Check out my latest article for the Denver Examiner on Eating Tips for Picky Toddlers.

Enjoy!

Dr. Caitlin

I am currently reading  Dr. William Sears newest offering, The NDD Book.  NDD stands for Nutrient Deficit Disorder and Dr. Sears believes that it is a contributing factor to many of the “D disorders,” from ADHD to GERD to diabetes, that are becoming alarmingly prevalent in kids.  This is my favorite quote so far:

“You put junk food into a child’s brain, you get back junk behavior, junk learning, and junk mood.  It’s as simple as that!”

Now, we know it isn’t always as simple as that.  But, almost always, what we eat matters.  Most medical conditions are a complex blend of genetics and environment.  Often times, we emphasize the genes, which we can’t change, over the environment, which we can.

However, change is easier said then done.  The culture of food in the United States is totally deranged.  Much of what constitutes “food” now would be totally unrecognizable to our great-grandparents.

So it becomes the responsibility of  families to create a culture of real food and pass that legacy down to their children.

So where do we start?  As my patients know, I frequently recommend two cookbooks – Whole Life Nutrition and Feeding the Whole Family.  Both of these books are not only full of family – friendly recipes, but they provide a basic groundwork for whole foods cooking.  Many of us don’t know how to cook whole grains, use dried beans or make tasty vegetable dishes.  No worries, because these cookbooks provide simple instructions that will have you cruising the bulk aisle and perusing new produce in no time.

Get cooking!

Dr. Caitlin