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-          Use 100% pure fruit juice

-          Use frozen yogurt or crushed ice instead of ice cream

-          Use almond milk instead of milk or cream

-          Use sparkling water instead of pop

-          Limit juice intake to 4 oz per serving

The following is courtesy of the LCBO (www.lcbo.com/socialresponsibility/mocktails.shtml)

Blueberry Ice

Fill tall glass with ice.

Add 1 oz. blueberry juice and 3 oz. white cranberry juice.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

Baby Belle

Mix 2 oz. pineapple juice, 2 oz. orange juice, and 1 tsp Grenadine.

Top with 2 oz. sparkling water.

Squeeze in ¼ lemon and ¼ lime.

Add ice.

Mango Mash

Peel 1 ripe mango.

Add ½ cup plain yogurt, ½ cup almond milk, and ½ cup ice.

Blend and enjoy.

Lemonade

Combine simple syrup (2 parts sugar with 1 part water; boil gently until sugar is dissolved) with freshly squeezed lime and lemon.

Add ice.

Garnish with fresh mint.

Berry Delicious

Fill tall glass with ice.

Mix 1 oz. mashed raspberries, the juice of 1/8 fresh lime, and 4 oz. sparkling water.

ENJOY!!!

A recent study published in Pediatrics reports that taking 400 mg of DHA (an omega 3 essential fatty acid) during pregnancy and breastfeeding decreases the frequency and severity of coughing, nasal congestion and runny noses in newborns for the first 6 months of life.  Additionally, DHA boosts neurological development in fetuses and helps to prevent postpartum depression.

http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/01/fish-oil-during-pregnancy-fights-colds-among-newborns/#ixzz1Uksi6oYq

There are two main reasons why most mainstream skin care products do not work:

1.       They strip oil from our skin, causing our glands to produce more oil to repair the damage.  This leads to clogged pores and blemishes.

2.       They contain harmful chemicals.

a.       Even if they are ‘unscented, ’ most contain fragrance.  These fragrances are irritating to the skin.

b.      Sodium lauryl sulphate (a surfactant which causes products to ‘foam’) denatures skin proteins, causing irritation and mimics the activity of estrogen.  An increase in estrogen causes a wide range of health problems, from PMS to fibroids to breast cancer.  Furthermore, foaming does not mean you are cleansing better.  Your skin care products do not need to foam!

c.       Parabens (preservatives) are carcinogenic and also mimic estrogen.

d.      Propylene glycol (found in brake and hydraulic fluid) is a strong skin irritant.

e.      Mineral oil (petroleum by-product from crude oil) blocks pores and prevents oxygenation of the skin.

f.        The list goes on and on…

So, what’s a girl (or boy) to do?  Check out the above website to make sure that your skin care products are non-toxic.  Choose organic and natural products and make-up (be careful to read labels because natural does not necessarily mean healthy.)  For a great skin cleansing alternative, try combining organic coconut oil and organic castor oil and gently rubbing it over your face every night before bed.  Too much castor oil can be very drying, so you may have to experiment to find the right combination for your skin type (I have oily skin and use about 30% castor oil to 70% coconut oil.)  The castor oil penetrates deeply to remove dirt and oil build-up from pores.  The coconut oil is nutrifying and contains many minerals and fatty acids for healthy, glowing skin.  End with a hot cloth applied to your face and gently wipe once the cloth cools.  No need to scrub!  The next morning, you’ll awaken with clean skin and should only need to splash some warm water over your face.

Happy cleansing!

To make a pack, soak a piece of flannel in castor oil and place it on the area to be treated.  Cover with Saran Wrap, then apply a hot water bottle over top. Leave on for approximately thirty minutes.  Be aware that castor oil is messy and will stain.

Castor oil should not be taken internally.  Never apply it to broken skin or fresh wounds.  It is also contraindicated during pregnancy and menstruation, and if there is internal bleeding.

As with any new treatment protocol, please consult with your naturopathic or medical doctor to ensure that your health concerns will benefit from the use of castor oil packs.

When starting a detox, you must first consider your present state of health, vitality, and what you want to accomplish.  Detoxes are prescribed for many reasons:

• to rid your liver of toxins from prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco and pesticides
• to re-establish the healthy flora in your gut and improve bowel function (improves digestion and immune function)
• to create a “clean slate” in order to address underlying disease
• to palliate symptoms while addressing chronic disease
• to determine food sensitivities/allergens
• to decrease symptoms of environmental allergies
• the list goes on and on…

If you visit a naturopathic doctor, he/she will tailor the detox to suit your needs.  In general, detoxes include some variation of the following:

• food restrictions
• organic whole foods
• supplements (often herbal tinctures, herbal teas, and fibre)
• hydrotherapy (hot and cold water therapy)
• infrared saunas
• mild exercise
• mindfulness or breathing exercises
• juicing
• lymphatic drainage
• again, the list goes on and on…

A general, non-specific detox usually lasts 5-10 days.  Some of this time may include fasting or juicing, depending on your activity level and lifestyle.  It is unwise to end the cleanse if you are still experiencing detox symptoms (see below), since it is a sign that your body is processing and eliminating toxins.

A common question among my patients is what to expect during the detox.  Again, this varies from person to person, and depends on the length of cleansing and what your presenting health complaint is.  In general, here is a guideline:

In the beginning stages:

• less energy/mild fatigue
• skin rash
• flu-like symptoms (mild muscle aches, nausea, headache)
• exacerbation of symptoms

In the later stages:

• feeling “lighter” and “less weighted”
• diminishing of symptoms felt before the detox was started (will vary from person to person)
• bowel regularity/less bloating
• less sinus congestion/fewer headaches
• weight loss
• increased energy

Who should not do a detox?

• Children and seniors
• Women who are pregnant (the detox is recommended at least 6 months prior to conception)
• Those who are acutely ill

During the detox, you should never feel hungry or unsatisfied.  Your restricted diet or juicing protocol should provide adequate calories and nutrients for your daily activities.  It is important for you to have daily bowel movements to eliminate toxins, otherwise they are reabsorbed and you will end up feeling worse than when you started.

When ending your detox, it is important to gently and slowly reintroduce foods and not immediately return to bad nutritional and lifestyle habits…your body will be overwhelmed.

Finally, a detox helps to erase bad eating habits and teaches how to make healthy and balanced nutrition choices as you learn what foods are good for your system and what foods aggravate.

Happy cleansing!

In contrast, if you are an anxious person experiencing digestive complaints because your body is always in a sympathetic state (fight or flight), drinking carbonated beverages with meals will actually improve your digestion while you work on the cause of your anxiety!

This quote concisely summarizes why naturopathy and osteopathy are amazing forms of medicine.  Each modality focuses on the individual, encompasses body, mind, and spirit, and is concerned with the person’s story:  what has led them to this state of disease, and how does it impact their lives?  As a doctor, I can see 10 people with the same disease, all expressed with slightly different symptoms, and all needing unique and individualized treatments to restore balance and health.  There are no shortcuts to health, and this is why medications often fail.