Holistic Health

March 21, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Kitchari: A Healing Food in Ayurveda

Kitchari is the classical Ayurvedic panacea, eaten whenever there is ill health or during a therapeutic regimen such as panch karma and detoxification. Essentially made from rice, kitchari is a universal food found in other cultures, with similar sounding names such as ‘kushari’ in the Middle East and ‘congee’ in China. There are an infinite array of variations, and based on the herbs and spices chosen, can be prepared to reduce vata, pitta or kapha. The following recipe is definitely more Indian-inspired, using herbs and spices to enhance digestion. Prepared with whole grain mung and brown rice, kitchari has a...

October 15, 2013 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Fighting Erectile Dysfunction with a Stroll Around the Block

With all of the commercials out there about “low T” and magic blue pills, it would be easy to think that erectile dysfunction (ED) is curable only by using plenty of meds. The reality for most men is something quite different. Many of the primary causes of Erectile Dysfunction are preventable. Even better, many of these causes have a treatment method in common with a highly effective Erectile Dysfunction treatment: exercise. The link between aging and a decreased sex drive is relatively well-known and not entirely unexpected. When low libido turns into genuine Erectile Dysfunction, however, it can’t usually be attributed entirely to...

August 12, 2013 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Which Hormone Is the Culprit for Fat Distribution?

Contrary to popular belief, hormones play a greater role in weight control than calories do. If you are trying to lose weight, it would make sense to focus your efforts on controlling the hormone responsible for your excess weight. Most people that decide they want to lose weight try the "eat less, exercise more" approach, and a few people get results. Many others just feel hungry and tired, not to mention frustrated. Eating less calories than one burns might work for some, but if the diet is not sufficient in protein, vitamins and minerals, the body will reallocate its resources eating up...

March 4, 2013 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Tackling Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Be In it to Win It

Nearly every person with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) also suffers from fatigue. As many as 9 in 10 experience fatigue that results in some way from multiple sclerosis. The causes of multiple sclerosis fatigue are not well understood, but some sources include problems associated with sleep disruption or depression. Others may experience fatigue that is induced by medications taken for other multiple sclerosis symptoms. Whatever the cause of your multiple sclerosis fatigue, take the advice of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation and Healthline experts to reduce your fatigue. Keep in mind, however, that the sources of multiple sclerosis fatigue may vary from person to person—so the...

March 4, 2013 In Holistic Health, News, Yoga By Vancouver Health Coach

What is Ayurvedic Medicine?

Ayurveda is a holistic healing science that originates from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. The word Ayurveda is the combination on two words, Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge or science. So the definition of Ayurveda is the science of life. This healing science deals with the prevention of disease through a deeper connection with mind and body and is a complete way of life. Good to know: The Ayurvedic philosophy on health is more than just the prevention of disease; it is a life full of energy and balance. With a combination of physical, psychological and...

February 1, 2013 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Eliminating Toxins, Food, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Vegan Noodle Soup for Cold and Flu Season

I love this soup for cold and flu season because it’s simple to make and packed full of immune supportive veggies and spices! I'll give you a quick lowdown before the recipe. Leafy green vegetables such as kale and swiss chard, along with broccoli and celery have a high amount of vitamin C, Mama Nature’s version of antibiotics. Vitamin A assists the liver with flushing toxins from the body to be safely eliminated and a healthy dose can be found in carrots. When you have a cold or flu, inflammation is part of your body’s immune response to fight off bacteria. (This is...

December 14, 2012 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Eliminating Toxins, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Dandruff: The Real Root Cause

Dandruff is a hyper-proliferative affliction of the skin of the scalp, meaning that for some reason the skin has a rapid rate of turnover and flakes off in excessive amounts. Although emboldened with it's own scientific name, Pityriasis Simplex Capillitii (complete with no less than eleven syllables and a double 'ii' thrown in for good measure), the term 'dandruff' is really more of a wastebasket diagnosis, meaning that any number of factors can cause it. But even if they don't fess up directly, those dandruff shampoo manufacturers are betting that it's caused by a fungal infection. Just go take a look...

October 15, 2012 In Food and Recipes, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Building Your Blood Ayurvedic Style: Blood Building Syrup

All systems of traditional medicine make extensive use of the medicinal properties of both fresh and dried fruit, cooked with water to make a compote, or prepared as medicinal jams and syrups, such as blood building syrup. Ayurveda maintains a large class of medicinal jams called lehyas, which means ‘to lick’, referring to the method of administration. While they aren’t exactly like deserts, compotes, jams and syrups are a very pleasant to get the medicine down, and are particularly suited to both vata and pitta conditions. The following Blood Building Syrup is an excellent preparation to help build up the...

April 2, 2012 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

I heart Traditional Chinese Medicine

One of the inside jokes we have as Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners is that TCM has two hearts and no brain. It may sound like it, but it’s really not a dig. In TCM we discuss function more than form. The two hearts are the physical heart and the emotional heart. The “no brain” is because we don’t discuss the physical form of the brain on its own. We discuss the brain as being encompassed by the marrow and that is most linked to the energy of the TCM Kidneys. Long-term memory is also more directed to the TCM Kidneys. Short-term...

March 28, 2012 In Food, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Eating Ayurvedic: A Diet for Balancing Kapha

The diet to balance kapha corresponds to the many of the low-fat, mostly vegetarian diets out there including that recommended by health and wellness guru Dr. Dean Ornish, as well as those who advocate for raw food veganism. This diet is proportionally rich in antioxidant and anti inflammatory nutrients, and typically low in protein and fat. In Ayurveda this diet is suitable for people that have a sluggish metabolism, that tend to gain weight easily on a rich, nourishing diet. This diet is also an excellent choice to promote detoxification, by shifting energy balance in the body towards elimination. As...