Friday, June 26, 2009

Baron Baptiste Inspired Power Flow

Last night I went to my first official power flow yoga class. Whoa.... definitely not a class for beginners. It was also my first time to a studio called Leewi on Lakeshore and Mississauga Rd in Mississauga.

It was a good reminder that it good to shake things up in your fitness routine. I'm always saying how important it is to increase your food repetoire and try new veggies or try something crazy like quinoa; however as far as my exercise routine it's always the same thing! Awful! I like my morning moksha yoga classes a few times a week and then a run or two or a bike ride.

Anyway the studio was beautiful and the instructor was great at adjusting everyone's postures throughout the class and sequencing or flowing the postures together. It was strange not to have a mirror in front of me and really have to think of my alignment. The first half of the class was great, then there was a little incident with another person in the class having to leave and the balancing postures started. I was done. Never had to take a time-out like that.... it was pretty much savassana and childs pose for the rest of the class.

So clearly I have to go back and really do the full class!!!!! I also can't wait to go back to Edmonton and take one of my sister's power flow classes. Angela just got back from level 2 Baron Baptiste training in Montana.... And she really is the best yoga instructor!!!!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Baby Massage and Global TV

If you have an unhappy baby, whether it's gas, constipation or teething or anything in between, a massage can help. One of the first things a parent can try, is to give baby a little abdominal massage.

Check out the following link as Global TV was back at Zawada Health to interview one of the massage therapists, Helene Roby, about the benefits of baby massage.

http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/ontario/Family+Health+with+Beatrice+Politi/762729/story.html

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Carrot Quinoa

Chris and I just got back from a quick run before we meet our friends for brunch. We got soaked on our way back but at least we got out there!

I'm just making a grocery list as we're having some friends over for dinner tonight. Searching through the fridge to see what we have I see the leftover carrot quinoa from last night.

I tried a new recipe last night. A patient told me about it as it was from Oprah's magazine or show or something.

After rinsing and draining the quinoa, I toasted it for 5 minutes in a saucepan and then put it aside. I then put a couple of teaspoons of olive oil in the saucepain with some diced onion (1/2), diced celery (5 ribs), and diced zucchini (1). I let it heat through for 5 minutes and then added 2 cups of bottled carrot juice (Bolthouse) to let simmer for a couple of minutes. I added back in the quinoa, along with some salt and pepper and a 1/2 tsp of nutmeg. I just let it all simmer for 20 minutes until it was cooked! We had this with salmon (with fresh dill from my planter!) and a fresh Ontario tomato and some kale and cabbage salad.

Definitely a keeper of a recipe. It was delicious and I'm sure it'll be even better today with all the flavours blending nicely. I'll try some different veggies next time or see what it tastes like without the nutmeg.

Ok back to my menu for tonight.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Jane Fonda and Exercising

Jane Fonda just had a knee replacement. All those years of high impact aerobics catching up with the best of them I guess..... cross-training was a term back then I guess!!!

I heard this on 680 AM this morning on my way to work and got that familiar 'warm fuzzy' feeling. Immediately I remembered being 10 years old trying to do all the Jane Fonda moves in front of the tv..... then I graduated to doing the 20 minute workout every morning, (while wearing leg warmers of course), and then purchasing Kathy Smith's fat burning workout on VCR tape!!!

I know alot of my patients don't like exercising and it's so hard for them to get into a routine to be consistent because they think it's a chore. For me it's something I grew up with so it's nothing for me to think about exercising - it's not about fitting it in, it's just something I do like people brush their teeth.

I understand how difficult it must be to make exercise a part of your life in your 30s, or 40s, or 50s onward. This is why all parents must introduce activity at a young age... kids must see their parents being active too..... it's key to make those routines young. However it's never too late! Even if it is getting outside for a 10 minute power walk every morning, or skipping for 10 minutes after work, or biking around the block everyday. Being active doesn't mean going to the gym every day for 2 hours; but it does mean planning for 10 minutes of formal activity every day along with your active daily living, like walking up the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking far from the door etc.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Norwex and Cleaning

I don't mind cleaning a toilet or scrubbing tubs or some baseboards. Maybe it was seeing my mom on her hands and knees cleaning floors when I was growing up or her quest for streak-free windows ... not sure.

I always loved that fresh clean smell when cleaning, until I learned how bad those chemicals were for our health! Then I switched to all the 'green cleaners' and was disappointed with how the majority of them cleaned things. I've been pretty happy with Seventh Generation, using not only their detergent and dish soap, but their shower and glass cleaner as well....UNTIL I tried Norwex cloths.

A patient had told me about them so I bought 2 from her - a general blue one and a yellow glass one. Wow. I didn't know what to make of them at first because all you do is use water. The cloths remove 99.9% of bacteria AND the best streak-free windows ever. I don't use them in the bathroom - I've been using more vinegar and water and the Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner for this room - but definitely in the kitchen and living room and bedrooms!

In last months newsletter I wrote about some different natural cleaners and totally forgot to mention Norwex!!!!

Happy cleaning!

Friday, June 12, 2009

The Disappearing Male

This is so scary. As a healthcare practitioner that sees alot of patients as a last resort I'm never surprised in the health concerns I see from day to day. However the rate of infertility among couples, male and female, over the last couple of years that I have seen is staggering.

One of my best friend's and colleague, Anna, saw a documentary on CBC on the disappearing male last night and forwarded the link to me as we are both seeing this increase in practice. CBC did a great job in putting this story together on how a class of common household chemicals, called endocrine or hormone disrupters are changing sperm counts and male birth rates. It's something we as NDs are aware of when treating male infertility among all the other factors that can be part of the picture - poor nutrition, alcohol, sugar, and of course stress!

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2008/disappearingmale/

No Need for KFC

Ok I haven't seen KFC on a diet diary for a long time but this week I saw it twice. AHHHHHHHHH!

I always say there are always options..... if you are going to KFC for some crispy fried chicken because it's a fast food restaurant nearby - stay away. There is always a better option - most chains carry salads or lower fat menu items. There may be a pita place, a sushi place, a Japanese stir-fry place, and of course there is always a Tim Hortons for soup and/or half a sandwich.

If you are going to KFC for the fried chicken because you are craving fried chicken, you can always make a healthier version at home. One of the best things you can do is use corn flakes or brown rice flour or panko (Japanese bread crumbs).

If you have never made 'fried chicken' at home all you have to do is cover the chicken with some plain yogurt for a few hours and place the topping in a separate bowl. You can add sea salt and pepper, parsley, lemon zest, or some ground nuts to the crumbs/cornflakes/flour.

Roll the chicken pieces out of the yogurt and in the toppings to coat, place on baking sheet and in the fridge for an hour. Remove and put in preheated oven (350) and bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Healthy Golf Treats?

Are you kidding?!? I was shocked.

Chris came home from golfing at The National and told me last night they ACTUALLY had healthy snacks! Yogurt, granola, fruit, AND smoothies!!!! You could put protein powder in your smoothies and everything. That's fantastic ...

Too bad it's a members-only club and women can only golf a couple days a week as a guest of a member!

Maybe I'll open up a 'healthy golf cart' business....

Monday, June 8, 2009

Goji Bliss

OH MY!!!!

This is one of the most delicious things I have tasted in a while. Alexis brought me a little gift this morning! It's this raw spread called Goji Bliss by Artisana that is organic coconut meat, organic goji berries, and organic agave syrup all blended together in this delicious creamy spread. She bought it at Whole Foods on the weekend.

I could seriously eat the whole jar... wow ... great to spread on my buckwheat pancakes on Saturday morning or on a rice cake as a snack or just as a sweet treat after dinner... AND healthy, healthy, healthy. Lots of calories and fat but it's good fat and you don't need much. (Just a bit of willpower!!!)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Hindu Wedding and Spicy Chickpeas

Last night Chris and I went to Lisa and Alvin's wedding. Lisa is the chiropractor at the clinic... they've been together for 14 years and last night we witnessed their wedding ceremony!

After a 2 1/2 hour traditional Hindu ceremony, we lined up for a vegetarian food feast. Chickpeas, dahl, pumpkin, pakoras, and of course rice and naan, among other treats.

The food reminded me of a quick curry dish - Spicy Chickpeas with Ginger - that's easy and tasty.

Heat 3 Tbsp sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium heat and then add 1 large onion that has been diced, stirring unitl browned (15 minutes). Lower the heat and add 1 bay leaf, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 Tbsp grated ginger, 2 tsp ground coriander, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground cardamom, and 1/2 tsp sea salt and pepper. Mix together and add 2 peeled and diced tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or wtaer and 2 cans chickpeas. Simmer until liquid is reduced so the sauce is thicker and then season with the juice of 1/2 lemon and sea salt (if necessary).

Off the golf!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Red Latte at Cherry Bomb

Mmmmmmm .... I'm thinking about the red latte I had on Saturday.

If you are ever in the west end of Toronto on Roncesevalles, a street originally filled with Polish kielbasa and Polish bakeries, go check out Cherry Bomb cafe. The street is now starting to be filled with cute restaurants and hippie coffee places and original clothing stores. A Rowe Farms store also just opened for organic and free-range meats!

On Saturday, after our bike ride, Chris went out to get us a treat. He brought me back a rooibus soy latte from Cherry Bomb and it was delicious. If you have never had rooibus give it a try. It actually has more antioxidants than green tea but is caffeine-free. So if you are sensitive to caffeine but want a healthy herbal tea that packs a powerful antioxidant punch, rooibus is a great alternative. Starbucks has one called African Red Bush and Second Cup has a vanilla rooibus that is also nice and soothing.