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Friday, February 27, 2015

Delicious Raw Pasta Recipes

Eating raw is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, but in the winter we find ourselves craving heavy carbs, especially pasta.  Here are some recipes for some vegan pastas where vegan carbs replace the starch of pasta noodles and that still have the mouth-feel and fullness factor of pastas made from grain. 

Remember too that eating raw means exactly that so you won't be boiling water, frying or broiling a thing to make any of these delicious raw pasta dishes.

Cinnamon Beet Pasta

Serves 4-6
10 cherry tomatoes
1 large red beet
5 red stems of Swiss chard, chopped
1 handful of cilantro
1 handful basil, shredded
Sprig of fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
6 large zucchinis

Cut zucchinis into pasta using a vegetable pasta-making machine called a spirolizeror a mandolin so that they resemble long noodles.  Place the zucchinis into a drainer to drain.
Blend the other ingredients until smooth. Put the pasta in the bowl and pour it over the pasta and serve.

Calories: 1284   Fat: 79g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 373 mg Carb: 26g Dietary Fiber: 7g Sugars: 22g Protein: 8g.


Mock Mac N' Cheese
Serves 4

Noodles:
Orange Cauliflower

3 organic zucchini, julienned into noodles

Sauce:

2-cup cashews
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup spring water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon shallots, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon apple cider or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon cracked black paper

Preheat oven to 115 F. Julienne the zucchini into long strips so they resemble noodles.

Blend with the rest of the ingredients until creamy.  Toss with the noodles in a shallow dish.

Dry out the raw dish for 1 hour. It will still be raw but with less water in it which gives the dish its texture.

Calories 510   Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 18 mg  Carb: 357g  Dietary Fiber: 4g  Sugars: 9g  Protein: 8g.


Mushroom Walnut Pasta
Makes 4 servings

Sauce:

6 sundried tomatoes, plumped in water
5 black olives, chopped
2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
2 tablespoon pine nuts
1 tablespoon walnut oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
6 garlic cloves, chopped
several fresh basil leaves
dash of sea salt

Pasta:

1 medium zucchini, spiralized or julienned into thin noodles
8mushrooms, sliced

Walnut topping:

1/4 cup walnuts, soaked and dehydrated
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 garlic clove, minced
a pinch sea salt
fresh cracked ground black pepper

Combine sauce ingredients in a food processor.  Toss with mushrooms and zucchini.  Process walnuts, yeast, garlic and sea salt until you have a crumble.  Sprinkle over pasta and sauce and serve.

Calories: 974   Fat: 62g Cholesterol: 0g Sodium: 1192 mg Carb: 37g Dietary Fiber: 13g Sugars: 30g  Protein: 21g.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health 

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Natural Ways of Treating Bronchitis

Winter is definitely bronchitis season and many people find themselves succumbing to a bad cough all season long. However, there are ways of treating this type of chronic cough without the condition becoming so alarming that you need to huff on a Bronchodilator all day or take Corticosteroids.  

Studies have also shown that antibiotics are not an effective treatment for chronic bronchitis which is the kind of ailment that seems to stick around all winter and spring for some people.

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is the inflammation or obstruction of the bronchi, the medium sized breathing tubes that lead to the lungs. 

Bronchitis can either be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infection, which can be bacterial, viral Chlamydia, mycoplasmal or caused by a combination of agents.  It typically follows an upper respiratory infection.

Chronic bronchitis is not necessarily caused by infection and is generally part of a syndrome called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically as a persistent cough that produces sputum (phlegm), for at least three months in two consecutive years.

In both acute and chronic bronchitis there can be a build up of mucus plus coughing, fever, pain in the chest or back, fatigue, sore throat and a case of the chills. 

The cough may be expectorating, in other words – mucus is coughed up. The cough can be wet or dry and wheezing may be present.

Causes of Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by an infection, which can be bacterial, viral Chlamydia, mycoplasmal or caused by a combination of agents.  It typically follows upper respiratory infections.

Chronic bronchitis results from chronic irritation of the lungs such as exposure to cigarette smoke or other noxious fumes. Allergies may also cause chronic bronchitis.

Environmental factors may also play a role. People who live or work in unhealthy environments or who are exposed to too much dampness, cold or dust are more vulnerable to bronchitis than most.

Self Care is Crucial

If it has a viral cause then treating it with antibiotics may make it worse.

Resting in bed during the early stages when fever is present is highly recommended. You should also drink plenty of fluids including water, herbal teas and soups.

Adding moisture to the air by using a humidifier, vaporizer or a pan of water may help. Applying a hot water bottle on the chest and back may also help aid in sleeping and reduce inflammation.

A common treatment for chronic bronchitis is a bronchodilator, which helps to temporarily open constricted bronchii (bronchial tubes.) Short-term acting bronchodialator medications relieve acute attacks of coughing and wheezing. Long-term acting bronchodialotor medications contain steroidal compounds that help relieve chronic conditions.

Above all stay away from smoke and second hand smok!

Taking Care of Your Lungs 

Most cases of acute bronchitis are self-limiting with full recovery in a matter of weeks. Most cases are resolved in twenty to thirty days.  In some cases however the condition can lead to pneumonia. This is more likely to occur in people who also have a chronic respiratory disease.

Over time chronic bronchitis causes the heart and lungs to work harder which can lead to conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, enlargement of the heart and ultimately heart failure. Chronic bronchitis might also cause chronic asthma to develop as well.

Our naturopaths at the Pinewood Natural Health Centre can recommend herbs, natural expectorants, homeopathy, massage, nutritional support and acupuncture that can help  a great deal with this often hard-to-beat condition.





Saturday, February 21, 2015

Healing Breathwork for Overeating, Addictions and Emotional Blocks



Breathwork also known as holotropic breathwork is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Stanislav Grof, M.D., Ph.D. and Christina Grof that assists with healing and reaching states of psychic awareness. If you find that sticking to your diet has emotional roots or that you are doing it to deal with events that trigger and trauma and then overeating, then you might be interested in pursuing this type of breathwork in order to try and clear yourself of the blocks that are sabotaging your efforts to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

How "Heavy Breathing" Works

Breathwork also takes it cue from Asian and Far Eastern disciplines that use the breath as a way of healing body mind and soul.  Breathwork is practiced in meditation as a way of calming oneself down and regulating metabolism.  Breathwork is practiced as a part of Yoga or Meditation classes which are readily available in most communities, yoga centres and YMCA facilities.

However, for a real physical, emotional and spiritual cleansing you might want to go one step further into what is called holotropic breathing.The Grof  method  is a little more intense. It combines hyperventilation and relaxation while listening to evocative music in a supportive setting. The state of consciousness thus brought forward is said to activate the natural inner healing process of the individual's psyche, bringing him or her a particular set of positive internal experiences

Additional elements of the process include "focused energy release work" and mandala drawing or other art techniques, such as working with clay.  This therapeutic treatment can be done in groups or in individual sessions.

As in more traditional therapies, participants may revisit unresolved conflicts, repressed memories, and re-experience them. This helps to clear the problem trauma, especially as it relates to subtle ways that trauma is held in the body. This may assist with physical healing because it helps to release the emotional blocks associated with overeating, addictions and self-sabotaging behaviours in general.

Results and Effects

Individuals who practice breathwork find themselves able to improve four main aspects of the self – Sensory and Somatic, the Biographical and Individual Unconscious, the Perinatal, and the Transpersonal.  The result is an organic approach to recovering body wholeness that works very well with the limited calorie and healthy lifestyle choices that accompany taking care of your health in a more holistic manner in general.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Breast Implants And Auto-Immune Disorders

Have you had breast implants and now are experiencing symptoms of toxicity.  There have been concerns ofr years that silicone implants can  rupture and cause auto-immune disorders.  Silicone gel filled implants are no longer legal for plastic surgeons to place in a person’s body, but women still travel to countries where they are legal, sometimes with effects on the immune system.

These implants were replaced with saline filled implants but they have also been known to cause auto-immune disorders. They also cause hardening of the breast and other cosmetic problems that were also typical of silicone filled implants.

 Breast Implant Concerns

Saline Breast Implants On X-Ray
The classic concern with impamts  is that  the contentsmay rupture and cause autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and lupus erythematosus. Both diseases are fatal.

Appearance-wise some women experience capsular contracture, which is the shrinking of the scar tissue around the implant. This can cause painful hardening of the breast or a distortion  its appearance.

Another risk to implant surgery is the formation of calcium deposits in the tissue that surrounds the implants. This causes the breasts to become rock hard and there may be pain and infection as well.

Sometimes the implant can shift around. This can result in an implant with unnatural look. This is sometimes referred to as migrating breast implants. 

Loss of nipple sensation is also common, especially if the incision point for the implants was made around the nipple area.

An x-ray machine cannot read through implants. The plastic inserts interfere with mammography readings and therefore making it more difficult to detect breast cancer.

It is also not a good idea to get breast implants if you are planning on breastfeeding. Although the implants themselves do not interfere with the process the breasts are often compressed in a way that encourages less milk production.

Breast implant surgery also has many known risks that are commonly associated with any type of surgery including complications from general anesthesia, infection, hematomas, and skin tissue death resulting from the treatments.

Toxic Effects of Breast Plants

People who may have cause for concern about their implants may experience autoimmune-like disorders such as swelling of the joints, swollen glands, fatigue, headaches, muscle weakness, rash, nausea, vomiting, hair loss and swelling of the hands and feet.

If you have any of these problems, there are tests that can be done to detect levels of antibodies to silicone that presumably indicate a leaking or ruptured implant and there is nutritional support and a lifestyle protocol that can help with auto-immune disorders of all kinds.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.