Dr. Marisa Hucal, ND
4525 Monterey Ave T3B 0L4 Calgary, AB, Canada

TELEMEDICINE There have been massive adjustments in healthcare worldwide over the past few months to ensure patients are still receiving the care they require during a pandemic. One of the biggest changes: telemedicine. For many of us, a phone or video consult with our healthcare provider, feels foreign. With the foreign nature of it, we may decide to avoid it all together. But let this bea gentle reminder/nudge to NOT put your healthcare goals and needs on the backb...urner because of the recent changes. Yes, telemedicine is an adjustment, but it is here to stay. More than ever our health is foundational, and just like many other healthcare providers, I have pivoted and brought telemedicine into my practice to continue to serve my patients. What does this mean for you? This means you can still access naturopathic medicine through phone or video consults. This means consistency in your healthcare plan. This means achieving your health goals, and making changes to your health while under the supervision of a licensed naturopathic doctor. You are not alone. But this also means, getting used to the new normal of online/virtual visits. It is a change for us all but I am grateful to be continuing to offer this service to all my existing patients at this time. #hucalhealth #yyc #yychealth #hearthealth #cardio #naturopathicmedicine #iamannd #naturopathcalgary #yycnaturopathicdoctor #yycwellness #drhucal #livenaturopathically #functionalmedicine #phonefree #yycnow #yycskin #telemedicine See more

DAIRY and ACNE Another influencing dietary food group for acne development is dairy. 1. Dairy, similar to high glycemic index foods, also stimulates insulin and IGF-1, or insulin like growth factor 1 secretion. This chemical messenger stimulates keratinocytes, and sebocytes in the skin which can drive the worsening of acne lesions. ... 2. Interestingly, research has shown that dairy products like milk have bovine, or cow sources of IGF-1 in it. So not only does milk stimulate our own bodies to produce IGF-1, we are also directly consuming it. 3. Not only do milk products have IGF-1, but they also contain external steroid hormones that are androgen precursors to DHT, a hormone that contributes to acne development. These hormones found in milk are the building blocks to DHT and have the potential to increase DHT, which can go on to worsen acne. 4. The amino acid leucine, and whey that are found in dairy milk also stimulate the sebaceous gland and keratinocytes in our skin leading to downstream effects of plugging your pores. The most recent data supports the link between consuming whole-fat, low fat and skim milk and acne. However, there hasn’t been a significant association shown between cheese and yogurt products at this time. The role of diet is unique to every patient and their skin, but the more we know, the more we can make individualized dietary adjustments to help support the skin you are looking for. **Note: this post is educational in nature and is not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to making any changes to your health routine. PMID:26955297 PMID:31487341 #hucalhealth #yyc #yychealth #hearthealth #cardio #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathcalgary #yycnaturopathicdoctor #yycwellness #drhucal #livenaturopathically #iamannd #functionalmedicine #phonefree #yycnow #yycskin #acne #yycacne See more

EASE These past few months I have been leaning into my routines. Leaning into what has been serving me: nutritious meals, hydration, early evenings, skin care routines, movement, time with people who fill my cup up....and it has all brought a sense of ease into my life. I’m a firm believer that that sense of ease is a great indicator that you are prioritizing what is most essential in the NOW. No, you may not feel like your life is fully balanced but you’re satisfyi...ng what needs attention in your life and health in this moment, and to me that counts as a win. So sending you all some ease in your day! #hucalhealth #yyc #yychealth #hearthealth #cardio #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathcalgary #yycnaturopathicdoctor #yycwellness #drhucal #livenaturopathically #functionalmedicine #yycnow #yycskin #ease See more

SUGAR and ACNE Now although acne is one of the most common dermatological conditions in the Western world, contributing factors have not always been well understood. However, with further research we are now coming to understand the role of dietary factors on acne development and progression. One of the most well known culprits: sugar! ... When we consume sugar our pancreas secretes insulin to deal with the spike of sugar in our blood. In response to this, a chemical messenger, IGF-1 is recruited which goes on to impact the hormone receptors in your skin. To simplify, sugar causes the hormone receptors in your skin to secrete more sebum or oil, and increases the process of hyperkeratinization or the clogging of the pore. Studies after studies have shown that populations that are not exposed to refined sugars and high glycemic index carbohydrates do not have issues with acne development. So what does this mean for my patients with acne? It means we have a discussion about moderating sugar intake, especially refined sugars. When it comes to carbohydrate consumption, no they are not something you have to fully avoid, but I talk about low glycemic index options and complex carbohydrates. You need an individualized approach to dietary strategies when it comes to skin health and that is what I am here for! @unsplash doi: 10.1111/jdv.14998 #hucalhealth #yyc #yychealth #hearthealth #cardio #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathcalgary #yycnaturopathicdoctor #yycwellness #drhucal #livenaturopathically #functionalmedicine #phonefree #yycnow #yycskin #acne #yycacne See more

ACNE One of the most common skin conditions I see in practice is acne. Worldwide, this inflammatory skin condition affects 85% of young adults from ages 12-25, however, in clinical practice we see acne affecting men and women into later stages of their life into their 50s. Development of acne is tightly linked to something called your sebaceous glands and the inflammation within these glands. At the level of your skin, acne can develop because of: ... 1. Excess Sebum Production: sebum is a naturally occurring moisturizing substance produced by your sebaceous glands. For a variety of reasons (hormones, dietary factors, medications, etc) we can have excess sebum, or altered composition of that sebum leading to a thicker substance that struggles to get to the surface of the skin. This sebum can get stuck leading to the development of a zit or papule. 2. Changes in Keratinization: keratinization involves the process of dead skin cells being shed from inside the skin pore, to eventually be deposited on the surface of the skin. If these dead skin cells get stuck they can block the pores/follicles. 3. Dysbiosis on the skin: there are a variety of bacteria found on the skin, one of the most abundant being P. acnes. This bacteria is anaerobic, meaning it thrives in an environment with no oxygen (i.e. a plugged pore/follicle with thick sebum and dead skin cells). So you can see how the above two factors allow this inflammatory bacteria to thrive! Most interesting, research and cohort studies have started to see acne as a Western skin concern, as we don’t see high prevalences in the developing world. This is where questions around dietary factors, hormones, medications, pollution and other Western influences are looked at as driving factors for acne. PMID: 29633388 #hucalhealth #yyc #yychealth #hearthealth #cardio #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathcalgary #yycnaturopathicdoctor #yycwellness #drhucal #livenaturopathically #functionalmedicine #phonefree #yycnow #yycskin #acne #yycacne See more