Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Has The Right Idea

Love these Sunday mornings when I can relax a little and take my time with the papers. This morning Chris and I went out for breakfast and decided to buy the NY Sunday Times to peruse through while eating.

There was an article that caught my attention in the front section (not the SundayStyles section as usual!) for 2 reasons. One because it was about Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and one of my good friends works there as a plastic surgeon, and two because it was about an executive chef that works there that caters to the needs of young patients. "Goodbye, neon Jell-O and watery broth!"

From my perspective healthy eating is a necessity all the time but especially in times of sickness and disease. It never made sense to me that patients in hospitals were being fed garbage. Nothing nutritious to actually give them strength and support. Even though a long time ago, I still remember my grandma and great-aunts and uncles in hospitals and seeing mashed potatoes and gravy and Jell-O. What the....????

The article says that Sloan-Kettering patients can actually order meals from one of 75 room-service menus - kosher, halal, vegan, low-sodium, etc. One of the pediatric oncologists even noted that eating well can speed recovery and keep patients off intravenous nutrition.

Cancers and chemotherapy can often result in mouth sores, nausea and vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Having certain dietary restrictions is also pretty normal in these situations. The chef will meet with pediatric patients and their parents to discuss food preferences. How wonderful to be able to make a child with cancer happy because the hospital could provide a meal that was not only suitable nutritionally but also something like his/her mom would make at home.

Love it.

Hamilton Day!

I'm just about to go on CHML 900 Hamilton radio to chat about detox. (8-8:30 am)....

Later today I'm super excited to go to Hamilton's Goodness Me on the mountain to do a cooking demo from 1-3 pm.

Of course I'll have to find some time to drive through McMaster University and Westdale, and swing my old running trails in Cootes Paradise.

Oh the memories!! Gotta run!!

Delicious Detox on Amazon

Yippeee! I can't believe I'm on Amazon!!

Holidays are around the corner and more people are scooping up Delicious Detox here at the clinic as stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, and more. The love and support from my patients and friends has been wonderful!! Thank you!!!!

To check out the cookbook on Amazon, write a review, tell family or friends far and away where to purchase the book or whatever.... check out amazon.com and search Delicious Detox or follow this direct link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=delicious+detox+&x=0&y=0

And to my wonderful designer, Kerri Kenny: I can look at those lemons and pomengranates all day!

Telomeres and Longevity!

I was chatting with someone at a meeting on Thursday about anti-aging and she mentioned there was something on CNN that morning about how doing certain things can increase the length of your telomeres (part of your chromosomes) to increase health and longevity.

Here's the list from author Thea Singer:

1. Don't diet (increases cortisol) but eat wisely.
2. Bust belly fat.
3. Eat pistachio nuts.
4. Take Omega 3s.
5. Do exercise you enjoy and do it regularly.
6. Meditate.
7. Be optimistic.
8. Hang out with friends.
9. Sleep.
10. Dance.

Surprise, surprise.... good diet and lifestyle are key.
Here's the link to the story: http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/11/%E2%80%98stress-less%E2%80%99-author-shares-how-women-can-do-more-age-less/

Whole Person Cancer Care Center

One of my colleagues, Dugald Seely, in conjuction with CCNM and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has applied for some funding from Aviva in a competition. My other colleague Shelley Gibbs recently blogged about it... here is the link. I think this a fabulous idea and if you have a chance to vote in the competition take a couple of minutes and follow the aviva link.

http://shelleygibbsnd.wordpress.com/2010/10/26/whole-person-cancer-care-regardless-of-income/

Coconut Oil and Detox Day .....

We just had Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes from Delicious Detox. I think it's day 12 of our detox ... few more days....

I usually use sunflower oil in the cast iron pan to cook the pancakes but today I wanted to use coconut oil and it was delicious. It made the pancakes crisp up nicely on the outside and made the pancakes just a little bit sweeter.

If you have never used coconut oil in your cooking or baking go out and buy some expeller pressed organic coconut oil (I'm using Spectrum right now). It will be solid at room temperature unless your house is a sauna and then the oil will turn more into a liquid. Coconut oil is a medium chain triglyceride (fancy name for fat) and is super high in lauric acid, which is naturally found in high amounts in breastmilk. It is because of lauric acid that coconut oil has a multitude of benefits including weight loss, heart disease prevention, and immunity, as it is anti-viral and anti-bacterial.

Love using coconut oil with my athletes as well. By incorporating coconut oil into their diets, athletes are able to train harder and longer without decreasing their immune system as typically happens with peak training.

So use it for stir-fries, cooking pancakes, spreading on your beets when roasting them in the oven, in baking as a replacement for butter or just buy Artisana's Coconut Goji Bliss and eat it by the spoonful as a dessert... Mmmmmmmmmm....

Thai Yoga Massage

Yesterday we were sitting reading all the papers as is our Saturday mornings, and I happened upon a little 'musthave' in the National Post's Toronto section about Thai yoga massage.

At Zawada Health we currently have 6 massage therapists(2 currently on mat leave), and 1 specifically that does Thai yoga massage. Kelly Yutronkie has been a registered massage therapist for 7 years and has additional certification in Thai yoga massage. The first time I had it done, I wasn't sure what to expect as there were no oils and had my yoga clothes on. It wasn't nap-inducing like a regular massage, it was actually energizing with a twist of relaxation. Kelly stretched me through several rhythmic movements and applied pressure on certain acupressure points or meridians. She guided my body using her own body weight, with arms and legs to enhance the stretch.

It's a great cross between massage and yoga AND because it's done by a registered massage therapist at Zawada Health, your benefits will cover it!