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Nutrition & Healthy Eating

12 Week Naturopathic Weight Loss Program

Want to lose weight? Looking for a different approach?

Join the Spring session of the 12 Week Naturopathic Weight Loss Program
guided by Naturopathic Doctor, Erin Balodis

Start date: Week of March 23rd, 2015

Program Includes:

  • Three one-on-one consultations with a Naturopathic Doctor
  • A two week guided ‘kick-start cleanse’
  • Five one-hour group seminars covering topics such as
    • Recognising proteins, fats & carbs – optimizing the basics
    • Understanding the importance of detox and liver health
    • Using supplements to improve your metabolism
    • Addressing issues such as blood sugar regulation, sleep, hormones, and inflammation- for long term success

Cost: $375.00*

For more information and to enroll:
[email protected]
902-832-1411
http://www.erinbalodis.com

*Possibly covered by extended health insurance

Grain-Free Granola Recipe

Here is a grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free recipe. Great for snacking, or if dairy is in your diet, on top of greek yogourt.

Grain Free Granola

Mix together in large bowl:
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup raw sunflower seeds (unsalted)
2 cups pumpkin seeds (unsalted, dry roasted or raw)
2 cups raw whole raw almonds (or cashews)
2 cups raw walnuts
2 cups raw pecans

In measuring cup, mix together:
½ cup honey or maple syrup (honey is a little sweeter; maple syrup makes it a little dryer which is what I typically use)
1/3 cup olive oil (or melted coconut oil – makes it a little stickier)
2 tbsps cinnamon
2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup water

Add wet mixture to dry and stir until it’s all well-coated. Pour onto parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake 350 degrees F (or 335 degrees F convection oven) for 30 (ish) minutes. Stir every 10 minutes. It’s done when it’s all a uniform brown colour. Don’t overbake!.

Cool, and pour back into a large bowl to mix in:

4 cups (total) of:
dried cranberries,
dried apple, raisins (green ones are nice)
chopped dried apricots
unsweetened coconut chips
or any other dried fruit of your choice!

Once completely cool, store in an airtight container. Make sure it’s really, really cool before you put it away.

All measurements are really rough…you could easily go a little more of this or that and it would taste great too!
You could half the recipe and I would decrease the honey and oil by more than half.

Enjoy!

Heart health and CoQ10

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Heart attacks and strokes take 1 in 3 Canadians before their time. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, even more than cancer.

The heart is essentially a large muscle that needs a supply of blood and oxygen to properly carry out is function (to beat and pump blood through our body!). Over time and with certain lifestyle factors (unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol) the vessels that supply the heart muscle itself can become narrowed, and sometimes even completely blocked. This leads to all sorts of heart and circulation problems, including heart attacks and strokes.

Aside from the obvious healthy lifestyle choices like eating right, limiting alcohol, exercising, and not smoking, there are a few other simple ways to improve your heart health. One of those is co-enzyme Q10 or CoQ10.

CoQ10 is a fat-soluble vitamin like co-enzyme, meaning it is needed in the body in order for certain processes to occur. It affects the function of all cells in the body, making it essential for the health of tissues and organs. Co-enzyme Q10 plays a large role in helping the body produce energy. It particularly benefits the most metabolically active tissue- or tissues that are constantly working – like the heart, immune system, gums, and intestinal lining. It is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect the lining of blood vessels from damage that can lead to further narrowing and hardening. Research has shown that CoQ10 can be used along with conventional medications to help treat congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. Some medications have been shown to deplete stores of CoQ10, including; statins- for cholesterol, beta-blockers, and certain classes of anti-depressants.

Since CoQ10 is a fat soluble supplement it is important to take it with a meal that contains some fat. Good quality CoQ10 capsules usually contain some oil to help increase the absorption. For more information on CoQ10 or to know if it would be good for you, talk to your healthcare provider.