Bloating, melatonin = heart disease? and quick updates
A shot of wellness - episode 1
I hope your month is off to a great start! This month, we’ve been seeing a lot of patients with bloating and I wanted to share some simple insights and clinic updates with you.
Clinic Updates:
Direct Billing Now Available
Many of you already know this, but we’re now offering direct billing to most insurance companies! That means no more waiting for invoices or submitting claims yourself — we’ll handle everything on the back end for you.
Texting Service Update
Our texting service was temporarily down last month, but it’s now back up and running with a new provider. You can reach us Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. by call, text, or email.
This Month’s Insight: Why So Many Are Feeling Bloated
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a steady rise in digestive concerns among my patients — especially bloating. Diets haven’t changed dramatically, so I’ve been exploring other contributing factors like stress, gut-brain imbalances, and nervous system dysregulation.
If you or someone you know struggles with bloating, here are a few practical tips that can make a big difference:
1. Limit common food sensitivities.
Dairy and gluten are the most frequent triggers I see in practice.
2. Add carminative herbs to your meals.
Lemon balm, peppermint, ginger, fennel, turmeric, and chamomile can help reduce gas and ease digestion.
3. Support your parasympathetic nervous system.
Simple daily habits can help activate your body’s “rest and digest” mode:
Splash cold water on your face in the morning
Take a short walk after meals
Practice deep belly breathing
Gargle water until your eyes start to tear up
Prioritize deep, restorative sleep
Recipe: CCFG Tea for Bloating Relief
This soothing tea blend can help calm your digestive system:
1 L water
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp fennel seeds
¼ inch piece of crushed ginger
Bring to a boil, let it cool slightly, and enjoy 1–2 cups after meals.
Wellness Trends
You may have seen recent headlines linking long-term melatonin use to an increased risk of heart disease and mortality. The headlines sound alarming, but here’s what you should know:
The report wasn’t a peer-reviewed study — it was an abstract, which means it hasn’t gone through full scientific validation.
It was observational, meaning it shows correlation, not causation.
Individuals who take melatonin long-term often already have underlying conditions (insomnia, sleep apnea, chronic stress) that can independently raise cardiovascular risk.
Takeaway:
Short-term, low-dose melatonin remains safe for most adults. Don’t let the headlines deter you — the data isn’t conclusive, and the media often sensationalizes early findings.
Supplement of the Month: MELATONIN
Now, melatonin is a wonderful supplement with various benefits. I’ll share some below with you but… before starting any new supplement, please speak to your Naturopath. All the benefits below have been seen in randomized control trials (the gold standard for showing causation and not association)
Friendly Reminder
We’re nearing the end of the year, which means many insurance benefits will be expiring soon. If you’ve been meaning to book a follow-up or new assessment, now’s the perfect time!
Wishing you a healthy, balanced, and restorative month ahead,
Dr. Sanam Arora, ND
8wellness.ca