Vitality For Life

Detox Day 14 - Final Day - Winners Announced!

2012-01-22T14:14:00.001-08:00

YAY!!! You did it! Well if that was your first cleanse, I hoped you learned a lot, and I hope that you will do another one in the near future! How often? I recommend once per season, but we usually tailor a plan for patients that suits their health goals.
Thank you for participating and spreading health to your friends and families! I hope you enjoy your coffee tomorrow (black of course) - it will taste like the best coffee you've ever had! Continue to savor your foods, enjoy every bite, and continue to probe your relationship with it!

Drum-roll please.....

The winners from our facebook page are as follows (I will contact you directly):

30 min massage with Jasmine - Ingrid V.

Customized facial with Lauren - Lisa M.

Thank you for 'Liking' us and sharing our messages!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 13 - One more day!

2012-01-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

Another weekend of eating clean! During my grocery shopping yesterday I splurged on some exotic fruit - Dragon Fruit and a Red Pomelo. It's nice having something different and special to try when you can't have your regulars.
Challenge - try something new at least once a week. Many of patients have never had quinoa, kale, avocado etc. Why not challenge yourself to learn about one new food per week and try a recipe to incorporate that food (in some instances you may not need a recipe and can just try the food in it's natural form, like the new fruits I purchased).
Enjoy this experimentation as a family, and figure out what is a keeper and what you don't care for, but I encourage you to keep an open mind and broaden your nutritional horizons!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 11 & 12 - Are you carbohydrate sensitive

2012-01-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

I'm discovering that blogging daily is a BIG challenge for a busy mom of 3! So today I'm grouping 2 days together to address one HOT topic. Insulin resistance. In north america our diets are leading many adults AND children towards obesity. This is largely due to inactivity, but also the carbohydrate rich diet that we eat. I'm talking about 'simple carbs'(bread, white flour products, baked goods, candy), not 'complex carbs' (found in whole grains, veggies and fruit). Our population is becoming insulin resistant because of all the sugars we consume, leading to midsection weight gain (the most dangerous type). Many of you may be noticing that although you've had 'some' weight loss on your cleanse, you may still have excessive fat in the midsection. Some of my patients require very specific dietary work to decrease their insulin secretion and re-sensitize them to this hormone. The more your body releases insulin (the 'fat storage' hormone) the more fat you'll produce (usually in the tummy). At VFL we offer the Healthy & Active program which targets this problem specifically - ideal for those patients that suffer from a variety of conditions like blood sugar abnormalities (type II diabetes), PCOS, hypothyroid, menopause or have just reached a weightloss plateau. This program is based on you blood work and specific food lists and quantities are calculated for you. For more information about this program please email me directly (anna@vitalityforlife.ca). Some of you may just need to implement some of the principals from our Healthy & Active program, which we can decide together based on your needs. Maybe you just need to discuss some Metabolism Boosters with me. Just know that there IS hope for those struggling with achieving a healthy weight - I have seen it in my patients over the years and believe there are several safe and effective strategies to help you achieve a healthy weight that will last a lifetime!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 10 - Make a Plan!

2012-01-18T07:46:00.000-08:00

You're in the final days of your 14 day Challenge - so what are you going to do when it's over? go out for wings and beer? I wouldn't suggest it! Plan on easing out of your detox slowly - introducing the eliminated foods back in gradually, not all at once. If you have learned from your detox that you probably have some underlying food allergies, then talk to your naturopath about a plan to help you discover which foods are the ones that are causing you a problem (we do a specific re-introduction schedule for this issue).
Now that you have re-trained your taste buds to be off sugar and accept healthier foods, and now that you have some healthier new recipes under your belt, why not continue building on these accomplishments? Speak to your Naturopath about a long-term plan that will continue using some of your new skills - clean out your pantry and continue to 'Eat Clean'. Why not continue healthy eating at least 80% of the time? can you live with that? Maybe now it's time to tackle your exercise goals as well. Studies find self-esteem is built through the act of accomplishing your goals! Set realistic goals, accomplish them, and you'll be more likely to move forward. Your health team is there to support you and keep you on track! Enjoy your last few days of the cleanse and make the most of it!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 9 - Pamper yourself

2012-01-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

During this cleanse you may have realized how much comfort food brings to your life, and you may have realized the type of relationship you have with food. Many of us are emotional eaters - eating when we're happy, eating when we're sad, eating when we're bored! Often when we are nourishing ourselves with comfort foods, we are really just looking for 'nourishment' in our lives - filling a void. Some people are missing love, companionship, hobbies, self esteem - many mothers eat after their kids are in bed and they finally get some 'alone' time! Knowing these things is the start to figuring out what we can do differently with our negative food relationships. I challenge you to 'nourish' yourselves in other ways. Use the cleanse to experiment with things that make you feel good. Instead of eating that cookie at night, treat yourself in other ways - take a relaxing bath, read your favorite book, meet up with a friend for tea, call your mother - whatever fills your cup! And why not 'pamper' yourself with a big reward now that you're almost done your cleanse - book an appointment for a massage, or a spa therapy. You deserve it!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 8 - Challenge - go Veggie!

2012-01-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

My challenge for you today is to go vegetarian today - whether you are on detox or not. Explore different protein options - chickpeas, lentils, hummus, bean soups. I encourage patients to have 3 vegetarian Days weekly if possible, or at least 3 vegetarian dinners for those who really struggle. It's not that meat is bad persay, but most patients are not eating 'clean' meat (pasteured, grass-fed, organic) and they are over-consuming it, both in portion size and frequency. It also takes up space in our diet in lieu of fiber and anti-oxidants (such as found in veggies, beans, nuts and seeds). So create a more balanced approach to your diet by incorporating more vegetarian options. Here is a great vegetarian crockpot curry recipe:

Ingredients
• 1 13.5-ounce can coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Few dashes hot sauce
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1-inch knob ginger, peeled and grated
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 large eggplant, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 14-ounce can chick peas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 head cauliflower divided into small florets
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Throw all these in the crockpot and set for 4-6 hours. Serve with brown rice and:
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges, to garnish
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced, to garnish
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, to garnish
• 1 cup chopped toasted peanuts, to garnish
• 1/4 cup mango chutney, to garnish

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 7 - Halfway there!

2012-01-16T07:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a day behind so i'll blog twice today. Yesterday was a nice relaxing day -had a visit from my parents (who are also on the cleanse) and got to enjoy a potluck of detox-friendly foods. We had rice paper salad rolls full of shredded carrots, avodado, cucumber and cilantro with a delicious spicy almond dipping sauce (from Delicious Detox). We also had two kinds of sweet potato salad -one was warm with mung beans, roasted onion and an olive oil and lime dressing, and the other was cold with diced cucumber, cilantro and the same dressing. Dessert was black berries, pineapple and pomegranite.

Hopefully you are noticing your pants feel looser at this point! Going gluten-free makes a big impact on the midsection - people feel less bloated, and have probably greatly reduced their amount of bread intake which leads to weightloss. I challenge you to try to continue with eating less breads - get away from the sandwich lunch! Bring leftovers instead - soups, stir-fries etc. Use crackers, wraps and whole grains in the place of bread, and try to keep some of them gluten-free. Eating this way not only gives you more energy, leads to weightloss, but also decreases the development of allergies against gluten!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 6 - Get those Zzzzz's

2012-01-14T07:06:00.001-08:00

It's the weekend and you might be tempted to stay up later than normal - this is not a great idea while on your cleanse. Getting to bed well before midnight helps your organs of elimination recover, rests your adrenals and sets you up for optimum hormone balance. I find it virtually impossible to help patients lose weight when they are staying up late at night - if affects your secretion of growth hormone, which is our fat burning hormone.
Tip - Every hour of sleep BEFORE midnight is worth TWO after midnight. So getting 8 hours of sleep is better if it's from 10pm-6am, then it would be from 12pm-8am. Ideally I like people to be in bed by 10pm, and definitely lights out by 10:30pm.

Weekend Tip - treat yourself to buckwheat pancakes. There's a great Recipe for them in Delicious Detox. They're Gluten/Egg/Dairy-free and delicious. This morning I made them with peach and blueberry sauce. It felt like an indulgence and was very satisfying.

Don't forget to drink your Green Tea to get that metabolism going!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 5 - Weekends can be tough!

2012-01-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

If you've had a fairly easy week, you may find come friday that the mental aspects of a cleanse really hit you. Weekends are usually a time to relax, enjoy time with family and of course MEALS!! I too find this a challenge, but my suggestion if to plan a few fun/enjoying things for yourself - a movie night, a hike, maybe a shopping trip - anything that keeps your mind off your usual 'treats'. You can also switch the mind frame and enjoy some 'detox-friendly' treats - so for tonight's movie night I will be cutting up some fresh pineapple and pomegranite and enjoying nature's treats!
Keep in mind, at this point you're probably not having a physical craving, but a mental one (the 'habit' of enjoying those chips at night). Stay strong, tomorrow is another day!! Enjoy your new energy and glowing skin - your body will thank you!

My dinner tonight -
1.brown rice pasta with cilantro pesto
2. A saute of shallots, kale, bok choy, beet greens and grated beets

Dessert - I splurged and had a medjool date! I really wasn't craving anything sweet and felt pretty full after doing two smoothies throughout the day.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 4 - Are you eliminating? BONUS PRIZE DAY!

2012-01-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

So hopefully your headache is gone and you've broken free from your addictions by day 4 (although it doesn't mean it's easy).
Today I want you to check in with yourself to see if you're 'eliminating' your toxins properly. During a cleanse it's vital that you're dumping the toxins OUTSIDE the body, not just into your organs of elimination. A simplified checklist is
1. Are you having daily bowel movements
2. Are you peeing at least every 2-3 hrs
3. Are you sweating enough (at least 1.5 hrs per week)

If you answered no, then you need to figure out a way to meet those standards - drink more, move your body more, eat more veggies - or speak to your Naturopath if you're struggling and need some suggestions!

Quick Recipe (this was my dinner last night - very yummy)
Cook your brown rice in a rice cooker. Rinse a can of black beans (or if you're organized, soak dried beans overnight, cook and use those).
Lightly saute one diced onion and 1 garlic clove in olive oil. Add 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, and 1/2 tsp each oregano and basil (dried). Add your 2 cups of cooked brown rice and 1-2 cups black beans. At his point you can add any extra veggies like baby spinach, grated zuchini, diced peppers, chopped kale. Cook until warmed through and serve.

Bonus Prize - Like our Facebook post TODAY and be entered to wine a FREE 1/2 hr. Massage with Jasmin!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 3 - Just Move It!

2012-01-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Don't forget, just because you're on a cleanse doesn't mean you stop exercising! Moving your body helps your body get rid of toxins through perspiration and also improves oxygenation, bowel elimination and liver function!
Your Challenge - move your body DAILY for 20 minutes during the rest of the cleanse. I don't care 'what' you do - shovel the driveway, jog, yoga, ski, hike - just get your heart rate up for 20 minutes! In addition, aim for at least 1.5 hours of sweating every week.
All you busy moms need to find time for exercise as well. I put one or two kids into a jogging or bike stroller and run around the neighbourhood on the days that I can't 'get away'. Another option is an exercise video OR some core/resistance training that you can do right in your bedroom while the kids play! Make it a priority.

Recipe: Creamy Quinoa Porridge
This is a great protein-rich way to start your day!
Rinse 1 cup of quinoa in a collander under cool water. Place in a pot with 3 cups of almond or rice milk and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. Add additional milk if desired, and sweeten with a SMALL amount of honey or maple syrup. You can add fresh or frozen blueberries if you like. Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Day 2 - Headache anyone?

2012-01-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

So today is Day 2 - you may have had an excellent day yesterday and are wondering why today you're experiencing a headache! This is normal, most detox reactions happen between day 2-4, headache being the most common. This is your body withdrawing from your addictions (caffeine, sugar, white flour etc).
My tip #2 - increase your water intake. Get 50% more than you usually do. I also recommend having 1-2 cups of green tea to offset the coffee withdrawl headache!

Last night for dinner I made a fabulous recipe from Delicious Detox (Carol Morely's book - available at our clinic) - the spring green tuna pasta dish. I used the fennel, tuna, pesto and brown rice pasta but didn't have asparagus - it was still DELICIOUS (see pics of my boys loving it). I served it with a spinach salad. This meal is so good you don't feel like you're on detox.

Today before work i threw together a simple soap with onion, carrots, celery, sweet potato, red kidney beans, organic chicken broth, oregano, basil and about 4 cups of kale and beet tops. Super tasty! Make leftovers so you don't have to cook constantly!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

14 Days of Detox - It's On!!

2012-01-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

So today is day one here at the clinic - what day are you on? The VFL team is currently doing a detox for 14 days. What does this exactly mean? it's a different process for different people. A detox in any regard is removing things from your diet that are unhealthy, addictive, allergenic, or over-plentiful. Some people will do a really strict detox removing anything from sugar, dairy, gluten, alcohol, coffee and all processed foods, whereas others may simply challenge themselves to remove one or two of these items for an extended time. Obviously the more toxic your diet or the more addicted you are to these things the tougher the detox is! That is why we usually recommend using a detox supportive product like Mediclear or Metabolic Cleanse. These products help you stay on track and ward of food cravings. They also help the liver function well during a detox, and support the bowels (if you are constipated, a cleanse needs to be tailored to you). I don't recommend doing an unsupervised detox/cleanse if you've never done one before, however if you want to challenge yourself to doing something simple like removing all refined sugars for two weeks, then go for it!
For myself and many others it means coming off the excess sugars from the holidays. It's amazing how quickly you can become addicted to sugar!! It can sneak into the diets of even the most clean eaters and naturopaths as well!!
So tip #1 for coming off sugar. Initially the craving will be there, so incorporate the following to help:
1. Add cinnamon daily - it can help increase insulin sensitivity, reducing cravings
2. when a craving hits, drink some water with 1-2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
3. add 1 oz of pine nuts to your diet
4. have some fruit - it's sweet but comes with fiber. Add 20 raw almonds along with your fruit.

Lastly, be sure to write down your goals for the next 14 days, and share them with someone that will hold you accountable. Better yet, ask your family/friend/colleague to do it with you!
Ok, good luck over the next 14 days and remember, we're here to support you!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

14 Days of Detox Give-Away!!!

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since January is our official detox month at VFL, we have decided to make it fun for everyone. We will be posting recipes and challenges every day for 14 days starting Monday January 9 on our FACEBOOK page. We are making it into a contest - simply 'liking' our page and 'sharing' it with your friends is all it takes, and you will be automatically entered to win our pampering prize - an Individualized Facial Treatment with our Professional Spa Therapist Lauren - to be booked at your convenience! As an extra incentive to join us daily on facebook, we will be doing several other surprise give-aways during the '14 Days of Detox'! Prizes will include a free half hour Massage with Jasmin, Spa Therapies and Olive Baby products! By joining us you will be spreading good health and encouraging others.
So once again here are the steps:

1. Go to our FACEBOOK page
2. 'Like' us
3. 'Share' our page
4. Join us daily!

As easy as that! So join us starting Monday for the 14 days of detox!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Detox Support!

2012-01-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

Since January is 'Detox' month at VFL we are encouraging you to use our facebook page as a place for support and discussion. If you are doing a cleanse this month, feel free to share your thoughts and challenges on our facebook page and I will check and comment regularly to help you out! There is strength in numbers and being part of a group let's to greater success! So join us this month and share your detox comments!
As a side note all our detox products will be on sale this month to help you out (see our newsletter for specific details!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T09:34:00.001-08:00

I am so thankful to all of you that have let us into your lives this past year. I am filled with joy as I think about all the lives that have been changed - new babies have been welcomed into the world, major weightloss accomplishments achieved, energy has been gained, pain has been minimized, and hopefully lots of heart disease, cancer and diabetes has been prevented! We encourage you to keep up with your efforts, and bring your family and friends on board for 2012! Spread the word of good health to those you care about!

I am excited about the New Year at VFL. We are welcoming Lauren (our office manager) as our Professional Spa Therapist. Lauren is bringing some wonderful treatments to VFL to help not only pamper our clients but restore/treat good skin and body health!
We will also be participating at this years Women's Show on Saturday and Sunday (January 7 & 8) at Bradford Greenhouses - come visit our booth! We will lots of prizes to give away and our water bottle referral program is going strong for January!
We are pleased to announce that our RMT services are now full time to better meet your needs, and we are officially 100% online for ALL service bookings (Naturopathic, Chiropractic, Massage and Spa Services).

From our entire staff at VFL we wish you and your family a Happy and Health New Year!!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Amazing dessert...and Healthy too!

2011-11-30T15:06:00.001-08:00

Ok all you ice cream lovers, this ones for you. When I saw this recipe in 'Best Health' magazine I didn't believe it but I thought I'd try it. I gave away my magazine before I had a chance to write down the exact measurements, but it turned out amazing. Here is what I did:

-Cut up 3 ripe banana into large chunks and freeze
-take out the bananas and put into a food processor
-add approximately 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 cup almond milk (or coconut milk or other substitute), and a couple tablespoons or maple syrup or agave syrup.
-blend until smooth and serve.

This tastes just like a rich chocolate ice cream with a hint of banana. I am going to try different variations next time, like adding strawberries or blueberries. This dessert will satisfy the biggest skeptic!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Patient Appreciation Month & Gift Ideas

2011-11-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us, in case you haven’t noticed from the decorations in every store. So this year why not give the gift of good health. Unlike other gifts that might never get used or will be returned, this gift is always well received! We have something for everyone, from all natural soaps, baby and anti-aging products to gift certificates for a range of service. Shopping for a regular client? Why not stuff that stocking by stocking up on their favourite products and supplements. Help a loved one discover a healthier life style with a gift certificate and reward yourself too! For every new patient referral receive one of our fabulous BPA free water bottles as a thank you gift!
And while were on the topic of appreciation, December is client appreciation month! Which means the staff at Vitality will be bringing in delicious home made treats all month. So while you’re using up the last of you insurance benefits enjoy a tasty treat as a thank you for a wonderful year!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Welcome Jasmin Hayle RMT!

2011-11-17T07:04:00.000-08:00

We are happy to announce the addition of a new RMT to our team. Originally from Stratford, Jasmin moved to Barrie in 2006 to follow her passion by taking the advanced massage therapy program at Georgian College. She graduated in 2009 and has been working as a full time registered massage therapist ever since.
Jasmin stands out with her sweet and accepting manner and creates comfort with people of all types. Her clients love her kind personality and skill with her technique. We are very excited to welcome Jasmin to our team! Read more about Jasmine in her bio on our website vitalityforlife.ca or just come on in a meet her in person!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Cold and Flu Season is HERE! Get your tips here!

2011-11-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

As you know good cheer isn’t the only thing that is contagious at this time of year. Colds and flu are just as prevalent as wrapping paper in the months ahead. So here are our best tips to stop those germs in their tracks and leave you free to enjoy the holidays. Prevention is key, which is why we highly recommend the Homeopathic flu shot which boost your lymphocytes, helping your immune system fight any illness it comes in contact with. We also encourage our clients to come in when they are sick! Fight your impulses to cancel; Naturopathic doctors can treat your symptoms in a variety of different methods from botanical tinctures to nebulizer therapy (for coughs). It could save you a trip to the walk in clinic and a more rapid recovery. Stay on top of your supplements, I know it’s hard with that shopping list to remember your vitamins, but a healthy body fights illness faster and more successfully then a deprived one. Chiropractic Adjustments can boost your immune system as well, so visit Dr. Sarah if you haven't done so recently!
For more information visit our website or call the clinic at 705-733-2033

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturoDoctor

Breast Feeding Support - I can help!

2011-10-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

Breast Feeding is one of my favorite topics, one which is much talked about among nursing moms, but as I'm now realizing, not talked enough about among pregnant women! Case and point - My Sister-in-Law had a beautiful baby boy 6 days ago. There was much preparation leading up to the event - all steps were taken to have an ideal healthy pregnancy and a well-planned home birth. I remember a couple weeks ago having dinner at her house and asking 'so, are you ready for nursing?', and the reply was something along the lines of 'oh, yeah, that won't be an issue, I just have to prepare for labor and the rest will be fine'. In case you're wondering, i'm writing this blog post with her blessing:)
Anyway, in the last 6 days the nursing has not been easy. My sister-in-law had indeed read about nursing and what to expect,viewed videos online, but reality is often quite different, and without the right guidance and support, nursing can be a REAL issue. I have been to her house most days since his birth, working on latch. If you've never nursed, you may be thinking 'it's easy, it's natural'...think again! If you ask my sister-in-law, she'll tell you that the experience has not been easy, and not one that naturally fell into place. We are constantly trouble shooting with baby, and have made great progress, but it continues to be something that is worked at diligently at EVERY feed. We are working on increasing milk supply, increasing his interest in nursing, and of course LATCH (the most important element). It's like learning to drive a car - there are various elements that need to be learned at the same time to make it all come together! Mom and baby are still getting to know each other and figure out how it all fits . She is being persistent. She knows how important it is for him to get breast milk. Many women would certainly give up in the face of such incredible stress, especially during an already stressful period of having a newborn at home, and healing from labor. I am now realizing that when i hear a patient tell me they didn't nurse because 'it didn't work' or 'baby didn't want it' or 'baby was too hungry' or 'i didn't make enough milk', these are all just situations where mum didn't get the right support (I realize there are certain situations were mum truly couldn't nurse, so please don't take offense to my statements). As a mother and naturopath, I have decided through this experience that I will devote myself to helping women nurse. I too am guilty at focusing my appointments on pregnancy and birth, but not discussing enough about nursing, which is actually often the most draining element! Being such a close part of this experience with my sister-in-law has taught me a valuable lesson and has fed an inner passion to further help mother and babies!
I was asked to write this post by my sister-in-law because of her difficult experience, and her hope is that it can help other women obtain adequate support in nursing, if they need it (and to know that I can help!).

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.
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New Product Launched!

2011-09-19T14:53:00.001-07:00

I'm very excited to announce the launch of our new product - Olive Baby Bottom Cleaner.
I have been using it for over 3 years on my own diaper table and have finally gotten a chance to bottle it! It a spray that can be applied to baby's bottom with each diaper change - either with conventional wipes (for soothing and extra intense cleaning) OR with cloth wipes to reduce waste and save money. The gentle ingredients are safe to use on even irritated baby bottoms. As always, no essential oils, fragrances or chemicals were used. It's great for travelling - the bottle fits easily into purses or diaper bags, and can be used as a hand cleanser in a pinch! You can also pre-moisten paper-towel or cloth wipes and take with you in a ziploc.
I love this product and I hope you do too!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Founder
Olive Baby
www.olivebaby.ca

Follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/olivebaby
Follow us on Twitter: @olivebaby

Olive baby is a line of 100% natural baby skin care products. Formulated by a Naturopathic doctor (and mother) with sensitive skin in mind. Olive oil is nature’s perfect skin moisturizer and is the foundation for our products.

Busy Schedule, Going with it!

2011-08-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

I know people are following my food intro schedule for Clara, so I'm finding time for updating, but it's tough! Our life is certainly hectic to say the least - 2 self-employed people, 3 kids, and my husbands 'part-time' life as a triathlete!
Anyway, because life is so busy I am not stressing about how much or how fast we intro, but focusing more on the quality of food. There have been days that I don't give any solids - I have allowed her bowels to catch up with the newness of solid food, which has been a good approach. Clara isn't 100% into food yet, which is normal. Most of her nutrition still comes from breast milk, which is how it should be still!
So since i've last written I've tried grating some frozen liver into her sweet potato (at the last stage of cooking before using the hand held mixer). The first day she didn't take to it much, but after a couple days of not having it she took it no problem. Liver is great for the iron that babies start to need more of at 6 months, but on days that she's not having that I throw a few leaves of organic baby spinach into her purees, an egg yolk or some green peas. I personally can't stand liver - not the taste OR the smell, but I realize it's nutritional value! I'm so surprised that a baby tolerates it! She loves avocado with banana, mango or blueberries, but i'm trying to hold back on the sweets in preference for developing her other tastes (in particular leafy greens!). When peaches were in season I let her share my peach (no skin, but she's use her gums to work on it - she LOVED the flavor). I also let her suck on a watermelon slice. Giving food in this manner is more 'baby led weaning' as it's not in puree form but more in it's natural state. I'm still cautious about choking so i don't allow many foods in this form. Clara seems to grab at the things that she 'shouldn't' be having yet - breads in particular, so i pull those away from her, which goes against baby led weaning! So I would say all is well, and we're going with it! Another update soon!

On a side note, I'm so happy to see all the recent weight-loss success stories in my patients. I love it when eating clean becomes a way of life for people and pounds start to melt away! These life changes is what I live for as a Naturopath!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Baby Food Intro Books and Baby Led Weaning

2011-08-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

So here's part 2 of my food introduction with Clara. So as I was saying, we're doing things differently. It's part Weston-Price Foundation, part Baby-led weaning...but don't get overwhelmed by the terms and theories, there's a large portion that's just plain intuitive!
So if you're overwhelmed and not sure where to start, definitely visit a few websites such as http://www.westonaprice.org/and http://nourishedkitchen.com/ to find out the basic thoughts on this approach.
My patients probably know that my favorite book for children's nutrition is 'Whole Foods for Children' by Jude Blereau. I love this book because it discusses the importance of healthy fats being introduced into the diet from day one. Many other resources just recommend veggie or fruit purees without any added fats - when you think that breast milk is nearly 50% fat, it makes sense that we include healthy fats in foods as well. Babies need it for their developing adrenal glands and brain. The book takes you through food introduction into the toddler years and beyond. It discusses soaking grains (making them more digestible) and fermenting (developing healthy gut bacteria). I also like the fact that the emphasis early on is veggies, meat and fruit, then later on the gluten-free grains like quinoa, amaranth etc.
Looking back my middle child already had a healthy intro to foods than my first child - we did veggies and fruits first, and left grains till later, but I wish I had done more fats and nourishing foods like egg yolks, liver and broths! When I look back on my last pregnancy, I'm convinced that the reason it was my best (felt the best, great energy throughtout) was that I ate LOTS of healthy fats in my diet - it became by 'Aha' moment with my last pregnancy. I'm talking about avocado, raw nuts/seeds, nut butters, fish oils, lots of flax seeds, coconut oil and olive oil. Those around me couldn't believe my energy levels. Even post-partum I've had more energy than I've ever had with the other kids. So eat your fats!!
Yesterday Clara didn't get any solids (part of baby led weaning is not stressing about food intro since baby is still getting most of their nutrients from milk - it needs to be laid-back and enjoyable, not forced). I need to go to the farmer's market and get more veggies for her - I want her experience with veggies to be positive, so it means getting the sweetest, freshest in-season veggies. Today I put some banana slices in her tray, but they just slipped out of her hands! So I finally gave in and mashed them! I also pulled her carrot/apple/coconut oil puree out of the freezer and gave her that. I'll try to post more shortly but I think this is a good start for resources!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Baby Food Intro - 3rd time around!

2011-08-03T12:23:00.001-07:00

So my third child Clara is 5.5months old and is REALLY interested in foods - grabbing at anything that comes within reach of her little body. It's been 5 years since my first child had solids introduced into his diet, and i'm certainly doing things differently this time around. As a 'new' mom I fell into the trap of introducing grains as a first food, but after several years of experience, research and experimentation I'm doing things differently. The enzymes to properly break down grains (amylase) are not developed until closer to 10 months, and gluten is one of the tougher ones to break down so that one can be save for closer to 12 months.
My patients know that I'm now recommending 'nourishing foods' be introduced first - these include a big focus on healthy fats, veggies and organic meats. It's very similar to the recommendations of the Weston Price foundation.
So examples of Clara's first foods will be sweet potato with egg yolks or coconut oil, avocado, various veggies with added fats and liver (we have a frozen organic liver which we will be grating into various foods for a source of iron, vitamin A, zinc and various other vitamins). I will be updating my progess as I go, and will share my experience if I can.
Today I let Clara sample a puree of organic carrots with touch of apple, and a warm egg yolk mixed in (soft boil an egg and scoop out the runny yolk). She gobbled it up. A note about egg yolks - unlike the protein-rich whites which are not recommended until 1 year of age, the yolk is high in essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). VERY good for the brain development in children!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

What's the #1 Food Making you Fat??

2011-06-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Researchers believe that Potato Chips are the biggest culprit for weight gain in the US! The reason that these salty snacks are more responsible for weight gain than desserts and other treats is that people 'can't eat just one'. The average person seems to consume well about the standard serving size, often consuming an entire bag in a sitting. This habit is responsible for an average of a 2lb weight gain every year!

So how do you avoid your salt craving? why not try a moderate portion of popcorn made in coconut oil with a bit of sea salt? or a handful of raw almonds?

If you are a chip-addict, your best bet is to not buy them in the first place so you're not tempted to open the bag!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

The Last 3 months

2011-06-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, I feel like i'm always full of ideas of what I want to blog about, but there has been so little time lately! My hand are certainly full right now with my third child, going back to work, and having moved to a new home less than 2 months ago - there's just never a moment to sit down and blog (never mind a quiet moment to myself!).
Here's just a few things that I wanted to blog about:
1. Microwaves: I have always known that they are not healthy. They kill the nutrients in our foods and create electromagnetic radiation that is dangerous when they are on. Even though I knew all this, I hadn't considered getting rid of mine! Well...during the staging of our old house, we decided to get rid of it for extra counter space, and guess what, we've not returned it to the kitchen in 3 months! I don't miss it, and it's amazing how much better food tastes when you reheat it stove-top or in the oven. We do have a small convection toaster oven that works great for this purpose. I challenge you - try not using it for a week and see if you really need it!

2. Exercise: during the MOST chaotic time of my life I took on a 60 day exercise program - I did it despite every thought and feeling that I didn't want to do it. Something inside of me said 'just do it'. My family supported the decision. I started the 'Insanity' DVD's which are an intense series of workouts that you can do in your home without any equipment. I did them religously starting one month after having my baby. I did them during our move, surrounded by boxes! It really was 'Insanity':) If I hadn't commited to the plan, my exercise would have been sporadic. My point is - there's ALWAYS excuses. I don't want to hear it. You NEED to exercise. You feel better, you get more energy, you sleep better. Period. Do something, whatever works in your life. For me, this works for now - my baby watches me jump around like a lunatic, my boys put on their gear and exercise with me! sometimes they just play around me. That's what my life is like right now, and I do what I can! "Insanity" keeps me sane!!
If you need ideas how to fit exercise into your life, talk to me, we'll figure it out!

Ok, that's it for now! hopefully i'll be posting more frequently in the coming days!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Bean Cookies - who knew??

2011-03-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

As I've been off on a short maternity leave with my daughter, I've had plenty of time to watch tv while I cater to my newborn nursing, cuddling, rocking to sleep etc. In fact, I've been watching a LOT of Food Network (one of my favorite indulgences). The other day I watched the Spice Goddess make some lentil cookies. The recipe looked wonderful and I have never used cooked beans in cookies. I decided to give it a try. I didn't have the same green lentils that she used, so in my first attempt at the cookies I used adzuki beans, and the second time I used mung beans. Both turned out amazing. I am assuming any 'small' bean is suitable since they're milder and easier to digest than larger beans. The first time i made the recipe I used an egg like required, but the second time I didn't (I substituted 1 TBSP of ground flax seed in a couple TBSP of warm water) and there was no difference!
These cookies are wonderful. My friend Denise dropped by the day I made them and she would vouch for these tasty cookies:)
These are a wonderful way to sneak beans into your child's diet - they are high in fiber, protein and folic acid.
Here is my recipe:
whisk or use your blender to mix the following until smooth:
1.5 cups cooked beans (green lentils, adzuki or mung)
3/4 cup butter (softened)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg OR 2 TBSP ground flax seed in 3-4 TBSP warm water (let sit 2 min, the add to mixture)

In a separate bowl combine your dry ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour (or substitute a gluten-free one)
1 1/4 cup whole oats
1/2 cup flax seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
optional: 1/2 cup pumpking or sunflower seeds

Mix your dry ingredients into the wet ones and mix together until incorporahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifted. Spoon your mix onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, flatten gently with your hand, and bake at 350F for 22min. Remove from oven and cool at least 10 min - the cookies will harden as they cool so don't overcook them! Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

It's a Girl!

2011-02-27T11:59:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that it's been almost 2 weeks since my daughter Clara was born! I know many of you have been asking Renata for details, so here we go!
I was 11 days overdue when Clara finally decided to show up. For me the wait was intolerable. I had been doing all the methods knows to encourage labor, but as the midwives kept reminding me, sometimes babies have their own timeline. This was certainly true in our case. It may have been the fact that our house hadn't sold yet and my younger sons birthday was looming, because Clara waited until the day after Lucian's birthday AND a house offer came in before she showed up! She was finally born on Valentine's day!
I went into labor around 3:30am. We called my parents to pick the boys up, and then we called the midwife to tell her to be on standby. Within 20 minutes I realized my contractions were getting intense, so we called our midwife Andrea back and had her come to the house. We prepped all our things for the homebirth, and let nature take over. With this pregnancy I really wanted to try laboring in the tub, which I finally had a chance to do, and I must say it was WONDERFUL. The warm water caused the contractions to feel less intense, and this was my method of pain management until the last stage of labor, when it became too intense to stay in the tub (roughly 6cm dilated). My entire active labor was 2.5 hrs by the midwives calculation, and Clara was born a healthy 9lb 13oz which surprised us all - she was larger than both my boys! I feel extremely blessed to have had three successful homebirths, and I must say I couldn't have done it without the help of the extremely capable and knowledgeable Barrie Midwives - I have absolute confidence and admiration for this group of wonderful women.
I am now enjoying my short maternity leave with my little girl and my family, and am feeling well - each day feels a little better as I get my energy back and fall into a 'new' routine. Thank you all for your kind words and well-wishes! I'll be seeing you back at the clinic shortly!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Delicious Treats for those with Allergies!

2011-01-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

I have meant to post this for some time - we have recently discovered a wonderful allergen-free bakery in Barrie called 'For Goodness Bakes'.
They do the most delicious baking for people with various allergies - egg, peanuts, gluten.
I was lucky enough to sample their cupcakes and raisin bread, and I'm telling you it would have fooled anyone - they were the best cupcakes I've ever had! Anyway, I was thinking of all those patients of mine that are children with allergies, and this bakery would make wonderful treats for those special occasions for them.
There website is http://forgoodnessbakes.ca/

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

The Nesting Phase

2011-01-19T05:27:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a little while since the last blog, but I've had lots on my plate in the last month! I'm currently 2 weeks away from my due date and having been working hard to finish up projects, check in with patients, prepare for my home birth, and of course -trying to sell our home! Yes things are a little 'hectic' and stressful to say the least! It's not something I would recommend people take on all at the same time, that's for sure!
It's funny how during this time your natural instincts still can take over and create a 'nesting phase' in preparation for life's big change - the addition of a new member to the family! Yes, I have been cleaning, organizing, cooking, making lists, and stock piling on everything (both at the clinic and at home)!
Should our plan work out, this would be our third home birth, so you would think we'd have it all figured out by now, but I have learned over the years that birth is one of those things that can't quite be predicted - each one is different, just like the child! We only hope to have a safe and healthy delivery, whatever that means for us, and however the plan unfolds (my husband has been reminding me of this).
Anyway, for those that need to contact me, I will be at the clinic until the end of next week (Friday Jan. 29) and then I will be taking a few weeks off with the baby until April. The clinic of course is still open for business with Dr. Sarah and our RMT's maintaining their busy schedules! Should you need supplements, Renata will be happy to help you during our regular office hours!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Cinnamon Buns

2010-12-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a cinnamon bun recipe in a magazine, and tailored it to up the fiber. These came out great, and were even gobbled up by my husband who supposedly 'doesn't like cinnamon buns'. Kids LOVED them, and they are low in sugar, so they make a great snack. You can even play around with the type of flour you use - next time i'll try spelt and buckwheat I think. These are great to have on a cold day!

Cinnamon Buns

Dough:
2.5 cups Whole Wheat flour
1 cup whole oats
¼ cup ground flax seeds
1 TBSP baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ cup brown sugar
½ cup cold butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup almond milk (or other milk alternative)

Filling:
¼ cup brown sugar
4 TBSP melted butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup raisins or mix of chopped dried fruit
½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Add milk (may need to add a few more TBSP. if it’s too dry). Transfer to floured surface. Knead with floured hands gently until it’s pliable. With a floured rolling pin (or hands) work into a 10x16 inch rectangle. Spread the topping over entire surface except a 1 inch border along the length. Roll into a long log, sealing the seam. With serrated knife cut into 1 inch rolls. Transfer each roll (lay flat) to a buttered 8 inch square pan. Bake at 400 for 40 min.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Christmas Sale and Gift Ideas

2010-12-06T15:41:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder that we are having some great sales at VFL for the month of December. Some are listed in our newsletter, but you can always pop into the clinic to pick up your stocking stuffers for those health-conscious individuals on your list. Some great ideas include:
-Olive Baby Gift Basket
-Health related books from our Toonie bin ($2 books)
-Massage therapy gift certificate
-Soaps and skin products

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Vitality for Life Healthy Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Busy Time of Year

2010-12-06T15:29:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to blog but the last few weeks have seemed particularly busy, so I've been putting it off! I thin part of stress management is prioritizing, so I've had to put my time and energy elsewhere, even though I've had many great ideas for blog topics.
My own life right now is really hectic - we just put our house on the market, and between a pregnancy and 2 small kids life seems really busy right now. It's been a reminder for me to take extra good care of myself. One of the things I've managed to do during this hectic time is to make sure i'm still exercising - even just 30 min. three days a week seems to keep me feeling good. There are days when getting out for a walk seems like the bottom of my priority list, but once I get out there I'm really thankful for doing it - the fresh air and natural daylight is immediately uplifting. I am also careful to make sure i'm meeting my nutritional needs, at least 80% of the time. Every day I think about my veggie intake, healthy fats, and protein for energy. Knock on wood, I'm surprised how great I'm feeling, even as I enter my eighth month of pregnancy.
As as a side note, at the clinic we recently obtained a pregnancy pillow which we use for massage and chiropractic work on pregnant women. I have had a massage in it, and it was heaven to lay face down. Last week I had my first chiropractic adjustment in it, and once again it made the experience so much better. Even just laying down on it seemed to relieve some of the tight muscles in my lower back, and Dr. Sarah was able to access my trigger points more effectively. I encourage any pregnant woman to come it and try it out, it's fabulous.
Ok, that's it for now, I hope everyone is managing their stress during this busy time, and remember to not over-book yourselves to get the most out of your holidays! Read our December newsletter for more tips on stress management this holiday season!

Dr. Anna Falkowski, HBSc, ND
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

VFL in SNAP magazine!

2010-11-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

SNAP recently visited our clinic during our Fall Open House and did a small write up and photo for the event.
Here it is:
http://www.snapbarrie.com

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Olive Baby at the Baby/Toddler Show

2010-10-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Baby & Toddler expo at the Molson Centre - I just wanted to thank everyone that stopped by to say hello at our booth! It was lots of fun, and it was great to get feedback from mom's that we met at last years event and have been using the Olive Baby products for the past year. Lots of great stories were shared!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Baby& Toddler Show this weekend!

2010-10-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

If you're in the Barrie area this weekend, come and visit us at the Baby & Toddler expo at the Molson Centre (October 16 & 17). There will be great entertainment for the kids, lots of giveaways and much more. This is a fun way to spend a few hours on the weekend with the whole family. Olive baby will have a booth, and we will have a great sale on several products ONLY this weekend as a show special. Come try our samples and pick up our newsletter!
I hope to see you all there!

For more show info visit:
http://www.mbmshows.com/baby_toddler_expo.html

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

We are Hiring!

2010-09-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

Vitality for Life is looking to fill our position for an Office Manager, and we wanted to share this opportunity with our patients and any of their family or friends that may be interested!

This individual should have great customer service/people skills, and be a responsible and organized person with enthusiasm. They should be able to use basic computer programs such as microsoft word/excel (we will train them on our accounting software); should be able to type proficiently and know their way around a computer.
General duties will include booking appointments, receiving phone calls and maintaining inventory.

This person will work full days Mondays-Thursdays.

If you are interested in this position or know of someone that would be a great addition to the VFL team, please pass on this information!

All resumes and inquiries should be directed to anna@vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Non-invasive support for Flu-Season

2010-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here we are again - kids are back in school bringing home their nasty viruses to the whole family! Fall is generally a busy time for people with a huge change in routine, less sunlight, and a compromised immune system. It's time to start thinking about boosting your immune system for the winter months ahead.
A good start is the basics of good eating habits, taking your supplements (include vitamin D if you're not on anything else!!), lots of rest, better hygiene and staying hydrated. In addition, it's time to book your homeopathic flu support (in gargle or injectible form). We recommend taking one dose per month for 3 consecutive months starting October or November. Gentle enough for children and pregnant women!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Picking your own Apples & Plums

2010-09-08T05:17:00.000-07:00

Every fall we enjoy going to our local apple orchard as a family to pick apples. The boys love running in the orchard and sampling the different varieties. This season our favorite local organic orchard didn't have a crop, so they are closed for the season. Boy, you take these things for granted until they're gone! Anyway, we went on a quest for another orchard - we had to drive somewhat further, but we found the perfect orchard in the collingwood area, near the rolling hills of the scenic caves. It's called Oaklane Orchards, owned by a lovely couple that was very happy to help us out (it was a rainy and windy day, and we were the only ones brave enough to pick our own!). We were also pleasantly surprised to see that they had pear and plum trees.

We picked a bunch of plums - as you can see by this picture of my little guy, the boys enjoyed themselves despite the weather! When we got home I made several jars of plum jam, and it was quite tasty! (I added 1/2 tsp of cloves, which I think makes it extra yummy). Anyway, for anyone in the area in the same predicament, here is the contact info for the farm we went to:
Oaklane Orchards, RR 2 Clarksburg, ON N0H 1J0, Clarksburg
phone: 519-599-5841
email: oaklane@georgian.net

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

IronMan Canada - Our Return

2010-09-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

I just got back from our trip to Penticton B.C. for Ironman Canada, and my head is still spinning! It’s hard not to be affected by such an intense journey. Being surrounded by 2800 ironman athletes and their support crews (families/friends/coaches) for a week was an incredibly inspiring experience. It’s difficult to put into words but I’ll try. Behind each athlete I saw the year of intense dedication and training that it took to get them to that one event. Behind each athlete I saw their family’s dedication as well. I saw the hours of training, the injuries, the mental & physical fatigue that I’m sure each one endured, and of course the belief in themselves. Behind each one there was a ‘story’. The athletes came from all walks of life and from all over the world. They were young, they were old. They were mothers, fathers, grandparents and everything in between. This is what is fascinating about the sport – there is no limit to ‘who’ can become an ironman, there is just the drive they all share to become one. After some lengthy conversations with Carlos about what it had meant to do the Ironman, I realized for HIM it was not really about the swimming, biking and running – it was about the challenge of seeing what your body is capable of, and the mental obstacles (and will-power) to accomplish these goals. That is what makes an Ironman. Over the course of our stay in Penticton we had the opportunity to meet some of the other athletes and families and many of their stories were incredibly inspiring. There were athletes there that were doing the race for loved ones that they lost this past year, and this was the most heart-breaking of all.
This was Carlos’ first Ironman, and we did not know what to expect. Upon arriving to BC the preparation started almost immediately – bikes had to be re-assembled (and in our friend Peter’s case fixed!), registrations needed to be completed, supplies for each transition area had to be gathered, and there were daily ‘short’ training sessions and meetings with coaches leading up to the event. This was during the 3 days prior to the race. Race day was a long and draining day for both athletes and spectators. We were up at 4am to prepare for the 7am swim start. There were THOUSANDS of people at the starting line, and I couldn’t catch a glimpse of Carlos over the crowds – I just saw a huge swarm of athletes running for the water when the gun went off.

I was hoping he was ok – last year a swimmer drowned. I didn’t see him again until he completed an amazing 4km swim (out of the water in 1 hour) and was on his bike speeding down main street. I would not see him again for 6hrs! During the 180km bike course the athletes were caught in an unpredictable extreme weather condition up in the mountains – heavy rain and winds posed a huge challenge for them. Carlos said he was freezing cold, and the drops of rain were painful at 80km speeds coming down the mountain. We had no idea how they were doing up there, and therefore it was a stressful 6hr wait! When I finally caught sight of him finishing his bike ride I was hugely relieved. At this point many of the athletes didn’t look so well!

Carlos was off for the last 42km run, and I was at least hopeful that he wouldn’t be injured in an unpredictable way (there was still the risk of the body shutting down, kidney failure, fainting, and of course muscle strains).

In this second picture you can see me and my son Jordi trying to run alongside Carlos, but that didn't last long - we couldn't keep his pace!

He completed the marathon portion in 4hrs and 20 min. His final time to complete the ironman was 11hrs and 50min. This is great for a first timer. I was incredibly proud and relieved to see him. He felt ‘ok’ at the end of it (aside from the general fatigue, stiffness in his legs, and blood seeping through his shoes
Many athletes were stumbling across the finish line completely incoherent.
We are still in the post-ironman ‘cloud’, coming back to reality. Carlos is eating non-stop and I told him we have to support his adrenals through this post-ironman fatigue. I am still in awe of what he accomplished, and how we came together as a family to help make it happen. It has been a strengthening and bonding experience for us, one that pushed us to the extremes. It made me appreciate how a family unit has to function together, and all need to support each other towards specific goals (whether it be to eat healthier, run a 10km race, or lose 20lb – it’s always easier when everyone is on board).
Lastly, I have to say a huge thank you to our support team (family and friends who were there with us through this journey – your kind words of encouragement have been much appreciated), and Carlos’ coach Sara Gross (http://www.mercuryrisingtriathlon.com) who was an integral part of this last year. Her knowledge, support and friendship helped Carlos achieve his goals through her hundreds of emails. Sara actually coached Carlos mostly online – through daily workout assignments, analysis of his training, and nutritional advice. Her experience was invaluable and pushed Carlos beyond his comfort zone to achieve new heights in his training. He is truly thankful for all that she has done, and I know that seeing her along the course in Penticton gave Carlos strength.
If you’re interested in hearing the details of the race from Carlos himself, you can read his blog post here http://carlostriathlon.blogspot.com/2010/09/ironman-canada-2010.html?spref=fb
In summary - go after your dreams with the same dedication of an Ironman – I now believe that anything is possible!

IronMan Canada - Our Journey!

2010-08-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Some of you already know that for the past year my husband has been training for IronMan Canada. It has been a huge goal of his, and as a family we made the decision that he would do it this year. For those of you who are not familiar with this event, it is a long distance Triathlon race organized by the world triathlon corporation consisting of a 4km swim, 180 km bike ride, and then a marathon (42km run). It requires a LOT of training and dedication for an athlete to build up their endurance and stamina to accomplish such an event, and it can be a daunting undertaking. For the last year, I have watched my husband train relentlessly - swimming, biking and running crazy distances, often more than once a day. I have been in awe of his undying motivation. Once he set his mind on the goal, it was like there was nothing that going to get in his way. He just did the work. He put in the time. He never let his daily emotions, mind set or over-all well-being determine whether he would do a work-out...he always seemed to keep the big picture in mind, and didn't miss work-outs (except when he was truly sick). He put to rest many of my own doubts about what a person is capable of. He taught me that it really is just a mental state - you have the choice to make excuses (i'm tired, it's raining, I rather watch tv, I rather sleep in) or to make yourself a priority.
If you had asked me 4 years ago whether he would be here today - i would have said 'no way'. Carlos was not 'built' to be a runner. He was facing the daily go-train commute to toronto back then. Leaving home at 7am, coming home at 7pm. He was mostly sedentary. Our life has changed greatly since then. When we had our first son, Carlos left his job and took the leap of starting his own website consulting and design business. We just believed that it would work out, and we have made it work for our family. We are extremely fortunate to have the flexibility in our jobs to allow for such extreme workouts, but I think most people can fit in 'something' into their daily lives (it doesn't have to be the IronMan!). Carlos first started with short-distance triathalons several summers ago, and gradually got more and more into it. I watched his body completely change over the last few years, it was quite remarkable really. He lost a lot of weight without completely changing his diet (a few modifications were made, mostly with the change in career!).
For the IronMan, Carlos made the decision to workout on his own time - he woke up at 5am to go swimming, and would do his other workouts during his work time, or early on the weekends. Our kids think it's normal that their parents exercise, and they too love riding their bikes, and doing running laps of the playground pretending they are in a race. It has had a very positive effect on them. Anyway, this year has been an incredible journey for our family, and in 2 days we leave for Penticton, BC for the big day - IronMan Canada. I am extremely nervous and excited for Carlos, and hope to write more about the big day upon my return - I feel I have so much to share, but don't have the time to write about it all!
Good Luck Carlos!!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Mung Bean Soup

2010-08-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I winged a mung bean soup (adapted from Delicious Detox) because i didn't have all the ingredients necessary for the exact recipe. It turned out great. A note about Mung beans - because they're small, they're more digestable.
Ingredients:
3 cups mung beans
2 medium onions
3 stalks celery
2 carrots
3 cloves garlic
1 large sweet potato diced
water
oregano, basil, bay leaf, salt and pepper and Bragg's liquid seasoning to taste

Soak your mung beans in hot water for 3 hrs, rinse and strain. In a large pot use a little olive oil to sautee the onion, celery, garlic and spices. After a few minutes add the mung beans, sweet potato and enough water to cover the whole soup by about 3 inches (the mung beans expand). simmer for 30-40 min, puree with a hand blender and adjust the seasonings to taste.
I served mine with a dash of tobasco and a spoonful of my plain home-made yogurt. Yummy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

My Farmer's Market Inspiration

2010-08-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we headed to the farmer's market before our busy weekend had started. I was inspired by all the beautiful colors of veggies, fruits and flowers that were available this time of year. After talking to some of the farmers about their favorites, I packed up a variety of new veggies that I hadn't tried before. Part of healthy eating is exploring new flavors, keeping an open mind and not being intimidated by new things. If you have never cooked something before, ask! I received lots of tips on the farmer's favorite way of preparing some of these varieties.
As you can see from the pictures, I went home with blue potatoes, pattypan squash, golden beets, a rainbow of various other larger beets, red lettuce, turnip, a rainbow of carrots, a variety of plums (from Niagara)and our favorite local honey (Lavender Hills).
So this week I will be trying lots of new recipes, but also really keeping it simple. On saturday we were heading out to a BBQ, and I was bringing a salad. I made the salad from the red lettuce, red onion, peppers, cucumber and the golden beets (these I peeled and boiled in a salted water like you would a potato - they were tender in about 10 minutes or so, but a larger beet would take longer). I cooled the beets, sliced them and put them on the salad. They looked beautiful! I also ate the rest of them while they were still warm with a pat of butter - the flavor was amazing. My little guy shared them with me.
I made a simple dressing for the salad - olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper, honey.
It tasted great and looked colorful. I look forward to more fresh produce today!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Making your own fermented Pickles

2010-08-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I'm a fan of fermentation for reasons I've already explained in previous posts. Recently I made several batches of traditional Polish pickles, which happen to be fermented! So my old family recipe actually has many health benefits, which is awesome.
Here's what you need:
1 basket of baby cucumbers
6 or so long stems of dill
6 or so cloves of garlic
whole black pepper
water
Pickling salt

This will make approximately 3 large jars. Prepare your brine stove-top. Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the jars you'll be using, and add approximately 2 Tbsp salt for every jar you'll be using (the saltier the brine, the slower the fermentation but less likely chance of molding).Bring to a boil and then take off stove.
Wash your cucumbers. Into the bottom of each jar put 2 slices garlic cloves, a few pepper kernels, and if like spice, some dried chili peppers. Next put 2 whole dill stems (just fold them to fit them into the jar), and stuff the jar with as many pickles as possible (they can't be loose or they'll float to the top, causing molding).
Top each jar with enough hot brine to cover the pickles by at least 1/2". Cover and store put aside in a warm part of the kitchen, but away from sunlight. Let sit at least 5 days, and transfer into the fridge once the pickles are as tangy as you like them! They seem to get better every day, and make a wonderful snack!
For more details, this is a link to a great site on fermenting!

http://www.wildfermentation.com/resources.php?page=pickles

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Make your own Organic Yogurt!

2010-08-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Since reading the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle I've been inspired to hit the kitchen more than normal! I have had this yogurt recipe for months but finally just decided to try it. Patients often complain about the cost of organic dairy products, so this ones a sure hit for those watching their pocket books. I made this recipe yesterday and had my home-made organic plain yogurt with granola for breakfast this morning. It was yummy. It tastes the same, just a bit more liquid than the store bought stuff (but they often use fillers or gelling agents to thicken it).
Here's what you need:
2 L of organic milk (2%)
1/3 cup plain organic yogurt (as a starter)
cooking thermometer
crockpot
ice

Set your crockpot on low or medium to warm it up while you prepare your milk.
Warm the milk in a large pot on your stove-top up to 185 degrees (stir constantly so it doesn't burn), then pour into a glass bowl, which you'll immerse into a sink full of cold/icy water. Cool the milk to 110 degrees (takes about 5 minutes).
Pour the milk and 1/3 cup yogurt into your crockpot, stir, cover, wrap your crockpot in a towel and UNPLUG it. Wait 8 hrs, then stir the contents. It's technically ready to be moved to the fridge, but you can wait 2 more hours or so to thicken it up (it will get more tangy the longer you wait). Transfer to opaque containers, and move to your fridge. It's ready to eat once it's cooled!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Welcome Mark McAllister, RMT!

2010-07-21T04:54:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to welcome another addition to the VFL team, Mark McAllister RMT. Mark is now accepting new and existing clients, so make your appointment today!
Having two Registered Massage Therapists offers our clients a greater variety of massage styles and techniques to choose from, so try them both!
To learn more about Mark, visit www.vitalityforlife.ca and read his bio.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Beach time and Exercise!

2010-07-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend we headed to the beach to spend a relaxing morning together. I packed a small picnic for the kids, and brought their sand toys and water stuff. My husband Carlos is training for Ironman this August in BC, so on most days he does some sort of training. We found a great way to incorporate a workout for both of us while enjoying the beach. He started by doing an open-water swim, followed by a run while I played with the kids, and then we swapped. I normally wouldn't do this sort of swim (in a wetsuit in the deeper waters of the lake), but it was amazing, and a great workout - my first 'real' swim in my new wetsuit, which takes some getting used to. I then did a short run as well. I felt great after, and the combined cross-training left my body feeling completely spent.
We then spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying being outdoors. When planning such an active family outing, don't forget to bring extra water and nutrient-packed snacks, especially not such hot and sunny days as we've been having.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Eggless French Toast

2010-07-19T10:16:00.001-07:00

On the weekends when we get a chance to have a nice breakfast I try to make something like gluten-free egg-free pancakes, but I wanted something different this past sunday. My 4 year old Jordi is sensitive to eggs, so we avoid using them. At first I thought french toast would be impossible, but then I found a simple recipe that doesn't require using eggs, and it was delicious!
For the liquid ingredients, blend the following in a food processor or hand blender:
1 ripe banana
2-3 oz. of almond milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

soak your bread in this mixture and cook like you normally would your french toast, just don't turn your heat up too high because the banana sugars tend to burn quickly!

Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Maternal Vitamin D levels

2010-07-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

I was just reading an interesting in the Integrated Health Care Practitioners Journal about Vitamin D levels in women who are pregnant or nursing. They estimate that pregnant women at latitudes similar to those of southern Canada are roughly 42% deficient at the time of delivery.
Studies show that "higher levels of maternal vitamin D have been associated with improved fertility, lower risk of gestational diabetes, lower risk of cesarean section and improved birth outcomes such as birth weight and early growth"
In infants studies show that higher levels of supplementation can help reduce the risk of adult diseases, as well as the risk of Type I Diabetes.

All great reasons to continue with the vitamin D!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Ear Infections and Food Sensitivities

2010-06-28T10:51:00.001-07:00

As Naturopaths we have always preached the links between children's diets and the prevalence of ear infections. I typically recommend an IgG food allergy test for my pediatric patients who come to me with a history of recurrent ear infections, eczema, asthma or lowered immunity in general. It's always nice to read a study that supports the link between underlying food sensitivities (typically cow's milk, wheat, dairy, peanut, corn or sugar) This one comes from a clinical journal called the 'Annals of Allergy'. Here are the findings in summary:

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of food allergy in patients with recurrent serous otitis media. METHODS. A total of 104 unselected patients (age range 1.5 to 9 years, mean 4.6 years) with recurrent serous otitis media were evaluated for food allergy by means of skin prick testing, specific IgE tests, and food challenge. Patients who were allergic to food(s) underwent an exclusion diet of the specific offending food(s) for a period of 16 weeks. A non-double blinded food challenge was performed with the suspected offending food(s). Their middle ear effusion was monitored and assessed by tympanometry (Welch Allyn Model 23600) during the pre-elimination, elimination and challenge diet phases. RESULTS. There was a significant statistical association, by chi-square analysis, between food allergy and recurrent serous otitis media in 81/104 patients (78%). The elimination diet led to a significant amelioration of serous otitis media in 70/81 (86%) patients as assessed by clinical evaluation and tympanometry. The challenge diet with the suspected offending food(s) provoked a recurrence of serous otitis media in 66/70 patients (94%). CONCLUSIONS. The possibility of food allergy should be considered in all pediatric patients with recurrent serous otitis media and a diligent search for the putative food allergen made for proper diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

July Specials at the Clinic

2010-06-23T04:38:00.000-07:00

For the month of July receive 25% off Olive Baby Skin-saver...great for your beach bag to comfort wind-burn and sun-burned skin!

Also, don't forget to pick up a tube of Badger Sun Screen for the kids!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Are you Happy? It's all in your hands!

2010-06-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

I was reading an interesting article yesterday about the fact that happiness is an active process. There is a field of science called 'positive psychology' and they have studied individuals who have ranked themselves as the happiest of the population, and they have gathered the commonalities between these individuals. Turns out, these happy individuals make it happen for themselves with some very concrete and specific actions.
One suggestion made was that we all have a list of the things that make us feel happy inside - a phone call to a friend, playing with the kids, a cup of coffee, a warm bath, listening to happy music. Whenever you're having a bad day, you refer to the list and deliberately take actions to implement one of your 'happy inducing' activities!
Sounds simple enough!

Have a Happy Day!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Gluten-free Egg-free Rhubarb pie!

2010-05-24T15:56:00.001-07:00

This weekend we dropped into Barrie Hill Farms and picked up some beautiful fresh asparagus, but I also grabbed some rhubarb to make dessert. I wasn't sure what I was going to make and sort of winged it. I stewed the rhubarb in a touch of water, 1/2 cup of strawberries and a few Tbsp. of sugar. About 20 min (it fell apart at this point).
I then proceeded to make up a recipe for a gluten-free egg-free tart crust. Here's what I used:
1.5 cups all-purposed gluten-free flour (a blend of rice, tapioca, buckwheat, chickpea and arrowroot flour).
1/2 tsp xantham gum
2 Tbsp sugar
6 Tbsp cold butter
5 Tbsp cold water
1/2 tsp salt

I used a butter knife to crumble the butter into the dry ingredients, and eventually it became crumbly. I transferred it into a glass pie plate and packed down the dough to form the tart
I baked the crust for 20 minutes at 375, then poured in the rhubarb mixture. Bake for 20 minutes more. Let cool before serving. Turned out delicious!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Welcome to our New RMT- Now Booking Appointments!

2010-05-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to welcome the newest addition to our VFL team – Dawn Martin, RMT

Dawn is now booking appointments for new and existing clients starting June 1st. As an introductory offer, when you book your first 45 minute massage with Dawn, we will add an additional 15 minutes free! This is a great opportunity to meet Dawn and become familiar with her approach to massage.

To learn more about Dawn, please read the bio below - we will be updating our website shortly! Dawn is looking forward to meeting all of you.

Bio: Dawn Martin, RMT
Dawn Martin was born in Toronto, however, spent most of her years growing up in Barrie. After graduating from Barrie North, she headed down south to St. Petersburg College in Florida where she received a full athletic scholarship in basketball. She spent two years there and graduated with an Associate Arts degree geared to science.
After returning to Barrie in 2004 she enrolled in the Massage Therapy program at Georgian College as she had developed a passion for a non-medicated approach to healing. In April 2007 she graduated with honours and received an Academic All Canadian award. By July 2007 Dawn became a member of The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. She spent her first few years practicing in a chiropractor clinic where she helped clients relieve pain, reduce stress, heal injuries while providing home care instructions and educating them about their condition.
Dawn is confident that her knowledge and dedication to the health care profession will more than meet your Massage Therapy needs in a safe and comfortable environment, and is looking forward to meeting you in the near future.

Education

Advanced Diploma in Massage Therapy from Georgian College

Associate and Arts Degree from St.Petersburg College

Specialty

Treatment oriented and relaxation Massage

Pregnancy

Deep Tissue

Athletic injuries

Board Certification-
OSCE (Practical Exam)
MCQ (Written Exam)

Member of:
CMTO (The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario)

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

My 12 minutes of Reflection

2010-05-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places is the back viewing deck at the Algonquin Visitors Centre. It overlooks a winding river and endless forests – no cabins, electricity poles, roads or evidence of human intervention. It is a beautiful scene that always makes be feel peaceful inside. While at the visitors centre, my husband took the kids into the theatre for a 12 minute film on the history of Algonquin Park. I stayed on the viewing deck, enjoying a rare moment to myself (coffee in hand).
I thought back to the last couple of weeks. I had been feeling a lot of stress in my life recently, and had started to feel physical symptoms from it. My immune system crashed and I ended up sick. This is no surprise to a Naturopath! Normally I pride myself on having a really balanced life – I know when my body needs rest, exercise, good nutrition, time with a friend or when I need to be alone. But sometimes stressful situations can have such momentum that it is difficult to stop the situation once it begins. Sometimes it’s not ONE thing, but many small things happening at the same time (as was my case). I am lucky to have people in my life who step in and offer help in various ways – a pep talk, a kind email, help with the kids or a meal, or just words of support. Everyone should have these people in their life – they contribute to your health in a huge capacity even in very subtle ways.
Sometimes getting away from the daily grind is enough to help you see the light and give you a better perspective on things. For me, these 2 days away from home with my family made everything feel more tolerable. Enjoying the fresh air, hikes on the Algonquin trails, seeing the Moose along the road, visiting the logging museum and the various wildlife brought things into perspective.
It is still ‘low-season’ in Algonquin and I was able to stand on the viewing deck alone, which is rare. It was just me and the great unknown. It was grounding. In that 12 minutes I refilled my cup and re-charged my batteries. Without effort, happiness filled my cells.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Delicious Detox Dinner!

2010-05-10T05:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend with the nasty weather we had it put me in the mood for cooking! For dinner I made 2 of the recipes from Carol Morley's new book 'Delicious Detox'. We made the 'Quinoa Tabouleh' and 'Mango & Mung Bean salad'. Both were delicious - the layering of flavors was amazing, and is sure to please every family member. I also baked a batch of gluten-free egg-free banana muffins (inspired by my son Jordi, who we recently diagnosed as being sensitive to both eggs and gluten using the IgG food allergy test). Looks like i'll be using more of Carol's recipes since they're all good options for Jordi as well as the rest of the family!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Where does your food come from?

2010-04-26T04:45:00.001-07:00

This weekend I finally got the opportunity to watch the movie 'Food Inc.' I've been wanting to see it for a LONG time and CBC finally aired it, and it's now available for viewing on their website (for those of you interested). It was an eye-opening depiction of the actual sources of our food - especially animal products. It exposes North America's industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers' rights. It made me cringe. On Saturday morning my husband and I were inspired to go to our local farmers market, which we haven't attended in a long time.
The farmer's market experience was amazing - we actually saw the people who grow/make our food and had the opportunity to speak to them about their process. These local and environmentally responsible food sources not only taste better but are more nutritious because they are not mass-produced. My son talked to the bee-keeper who gathered our honey. Another lovely lady shared her process for baking the gluten-free brownies I purchased for my son. Another farmer was passionate about the different varieties of breads him and his wife baked for that day. It was a wonderful opportunity to pick the 'best' of what was available (each vendor had his specialty after-all). We vowed to do this on a regular basis and buy as much as we can from these local sources - not just for the health of the community but the health of our family as well. The food was enjoyed by all!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Fermenting to Heal the Gut!

2010-04-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

Recently my (Polish) friend Carol and I were talking about how we remember our mothers fermenting things like cabbage and sour milk in jars on the kitchen counter-top. We couldn't recall exactly how they did it, so I had to do a little investigating. I've always been interested in trying it because of all the wonderful health benefits to fermenting (the various lactic acid bacteria that ferment your food are wonderful for restoring a healthy gut flora, which as a Naturopath I know to be the foundation for good health and a healthy immune system).
I tried a very easy recipe for fermenting cabbage. Shred 1/2 to 3/4 of a cabbage (i used red) into a glass bowl. Sprinkle with 2 TBSP pickling salt (not iodized, which kill the bacteria). Pound the cabbage slightly to release the juices. Place into clean mason jars (pack it in tight). Cover with filtered water, leaving 1 inch at the top. Close the jars and let sit 4-7 days on your counter. Be careful opening the lid once fermentation has taken place because it will fizzle over and the lid may pop off from the gases! Eat a few TBSP/day, or add a few TBSP of the liquid into your fruit smoothies (great way to get the kids to eat it). This is a powerful probiotic, and wonderful for kids suffering from ear infection, allergies, or those who have taken Antibiotics and now have a disrupted gut flora.
Here's a couple websites for more info!
http://www.rawmom.com/raw-mom-blog/archives/1079
http://www.healingcrow.com/ferfun/ferfun.html

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

'Delicious Detox' finally on the shelves!

2010-04-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for a book that I could confidently recommend to my patients to help them on their quest to good health and as a support during their Detox. My good friend Carol Morley has finally published this much awaited book called 'Delicious Detox - Fast and Easy Recipes to Boost Energy and Improve Health'.
It will help anyone that wants to eat delicious meals during their detox, or simply to change their eating habits. It is complete with shopping list, weekly menu plan, and really user-friendly recipes! Carol is one of the best cooks I know, and I've tried many of her meals - they're always healthy and delicious!
I will be recommending this book to anyone doing a cleanse or wanting to increase their healthy recipe repetoire! It will be on Vitality for Life's shelves for $24.95 - but during the rest of April, as a detox promotion, you will receive $2.00 off!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Olive Baby Spring/Summer Newsletter is Here!

2010-03-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already signed up for our Spring newsletter, you can do so now on the bottom right hand side of the Olive Baby homepage (www.olivebaby.ca).
You don't want to miss our upcoming issue which which contains the following articles:
-Staying Healthy on Vacation
-Onion Poultice instructions
-Benefits of Olive Oil
-Facts about Calendula
-The Fertility Anti-Nutrient

Happy reading!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND.
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitality for Life is an integrative health clinic in Barrie, Ontario. We offer the services of a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractor and massage therapists.

Banana Bread

2010-03-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was in the mood for baking, so the kids and I made this delicious and healthier version of Banana Bread. I love that it has tonnes of fiber (from the flax seeds) and is not overly sweet or dense. There were a few steps that the kids were able to help with, like mashing the bananas and mixing it all up, which was fun for them, and not overly messy for me! I've done both the egg and egg-free version, and don't notice a real difference.

Anna's Banana Bread
3 or 4 ripe bananas – mash with fork
1/3 cup melted butter
¾ cup brown sugar
1 egg (OR 1 TBSP oil & 1 TBSP water)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cup whole wheat flour (or alternative flour like rye, spelt, barley or kamut)
3/4 - 1 cup ground flax seed
Optional:
½ cup raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts or almonds

*if you find batter too dry, you can add applesauce, soymilk or water

Preheat oven to 350 F. With wooden spoon mix butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and salt into mashed bananas. Add flour, baking soda and any of the optional ingredients, mix. Pour batter into 4x8 inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. I like to sprinkle whole flax seeds and/or raw sunflower seeds on top. Bake 1 hr. Cool before slicing. Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Fun for the Kids, Great workout for you!

2010-03-09T15:39:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was such a beautiful and sunny one that we realized the snow will soon be gone. We took advantage of it by getting outdoors and enjoying some last minute tobogganing at our favorite hill! As I was climbing the hill after each run, dragging the sled (with 4 year old attached), I realized what a great workout I was getting. My heart was pumping, my legs and gluts were burning and I was sweating! I was thinking that it would make for a great 'Biggest Loser' challenge - how many times can you make it up an icy hill dragging a 50 pound child on a sled! Anyway, for those of you struggling to find time for exercise, get outside with your kids and get creative. There's many activities like toboganning that serve double purpose - the kids are having a great time and you're getting your daily exercise. Climb the monkey bars, chase a soccer ball, play tag, ride a bike, run with the stroller. It's all the little things that add up!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Roasted Beet Salad

2010-03-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

I know, I'm Polish and therefore should eat a LOT of beets. I do love them, but I leave the cooking part to my mom - I just find them too difficult to peel. That being said, i recently discovered a very easy way to make them, and I think it's going to open the beet horizon for me! Beets are so good for you - they are full of iron and are considered a 'liver' food, which supports the liver in detoxification.
So here's what I did - wash them and place them on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet (cut off the greens first of course). Drizzle in olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt,pepper, and rosemary (optional). cover with the foil to create a sealed pouch. Bake at 400 for 1 hour or until tender. Let them cool, then put on some rubber gloves and push the peels off (or use a knife if they're not falling off). Cut them into wedges, and put in a bowl with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss. This can marinate for a few days and you can use as needed. I was using them for lunch for 3 days straight - I served them over a bed of organic baby spinach, a handful of raw sunflower seeds, and a TBSP of goat cheese. DELICIOUS!!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Delicious Quinoa Chocolate Cake

2010-02-22T05:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend we were all craving something a little chocolatey, and I came across a great recipe from the Planet Organic cookbook. This turned out to be a really moist chocolate cake and was a hit with the kids.
Chocolate Quinoa Cake

This healthy cake brings together the chocolate of the Mayan empire with the protein-rich Quinoa of the Aztecs to create a rich, yet delicate treat.
Ingredients:

1 cup Quinoa, rinsed
2 cups Apple cider or juice
3/4 cup Butter
2/3 cup Fair trade cocoa powder
3/4 cup Rice syrup
3/4 cup Pure honey
1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups soy milk
3 Eggs
2 cups Quinoa flour
1 cup Unbleached white flour
1 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Sea salt
1/3 cup Hazelnuts, toasted and ground fine

*I substituted the rice syrup/honey with ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup honey and ¼ cup agave syrup. I also used 3 cups dark rye flour instead of the quinoa flour and white flour. You could use any variation of flours (spelt, kamut, rice etc). I also used pecans instead of hazelnuts.
Method

Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare quinoa by rinsing under water for one minute. Drain. In a medium-sized sauce pan, bring the apple juice to a boil and add quinoa. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered for 20 minutes or until all juice is absorbed and quinoa is soft. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and set aside.

In a mixer, cream butter, cocoa, rice syrup, honey and vanilla. Add eggs and mix until combined. Combine flours, baking powder, salt and nuts and add alternately with milk, stirring by hand until well combined. Fold in cooled quinoa and spread batter into a greased or lined baking pan.

Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely before icing. Use the Chocolate Glaze recipe on page 21 for an added touch of flavour.

Yields 10 servings.

Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Discounted Cloth Diapers in Barrie & Chickaboo!

2010-02-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while shopping at Lotus Natural Living Boutique on Dunlop st. in Barrie I noticed that
all of the Happy Heinys Cloth diapers were 40% off! This is a great deal - Denise (the owner) wants them all gone to make shelf space. There is a great selection of prints and colors. They're fabulous for any mom of young children or as a gift for someone expecting.
While you're in the store, check out the Chickaboo line of organic baby clothes - they were created by another friend and colleague of mine, and the 'yoga baby' prints are especially adorable.
Happy shopping!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Grilled Veggie & Chickpea salad

2010-02-18T11:58:00.000-08:00

The other day I made a fantastic and easy grilled veggie meal. I used my panini maked (a grill with 2 pieces that 'sandwich' whatever you're grilling). I sliced sweet potato, red pepper, portabello mushrooms and red onion and brushed with olive oil. I grilled these until tender. When you pull the veggies off the grill, slice into bite sized pieces.
In a bowl I mixed a generous amount of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and 2 cloves of crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Add 1 can of chickpeas (rinsed). Add the veggies and mix to coat. Serve on its own of over a salad of baby spinach. The longer it sits, the better the marinated veggies taste.
Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

'Cheesy' Popcorn

2010-02-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

The other day I made some popcorn as a snack for my kids. They asked if I could make it 'cheesy' (they've tried smartfood brand in the past and loved it, but of course it's really not that healthy for you). My naturopathic solution was to add 2 Tbsp of nutritional yeast sprinkled overtop of the popcorn. This is a trick I learned from a nutrition professor several years back, and it's really a tasty treat. Nutritional yeast (not the leavening yeast you use in baking) has a nutty/cheesy flavor and is packed full of vitamin B12, minerals and protein. This makes for a great supplement for individuals on a vegan diet which can be low on B12.
Anyway, my kids loved it, and I was happy that they had a healthy boost from their snack!
Nutritional yeast can be found in the health food section of your grocery store.

Dr. Anna Falkowski, HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Onion Poultice for Earaches!

2010-02-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

This weekend my 4 year old got his first earache. He was complaining of the pain, and it was coming at intense intervals every few minutes. I didn't have my otoscope at home but assumed it was an ear infection. I started to give him a botanical tincture that I keep at home, but I also wanted to get at the pain quickly. An onion poultice is something I commonly recommend, but had never had to use on my own kids! I was amazed at the results. After one treatment, the pain in his left ear never returned. Later that evening the right ear started to hurt. My son was in tears. I did the poultice over that ear right before bed, and again, it never returned and he slept through the night. I was reminded about the healing power of nature. Normally, antibiotics would have been advised, and anytime you can avoid them, it's best to do so!

This is a simple traditional remedy for earaches due to inner ear infections or even swimmer’s ear. The onion can help kill the infection while the heat is soothing an provides instant relief for children complaining of an earache.

Instructions:

Cut an onion in half. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and place the onion (cut side down) on the olive oil. Cover with a lid. Heat over medium heat for a few minutes until the onion is heated through and becomes softer. Place the onion in a clean dishcloth, and cool for just a minute so that it will not burn the skin. Have your child lay down and place the onion over their ear firmly for 10 minutes. Some of the oil will seep through. The oil is healing. The onion fumes will enter the ear and soothe the ear drum.

Dr. Anna Falkowski, HBSc, ND

Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director

Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Olive Baby for After-Sun Care

2010-02-09T12:49:00.001-08:00

On our recent trip to Cuba I was sure to pack a jar of Olive Baby Body Butter. It came in handy for the whole family. We used to for the chaffing my son got after wearing wet shorts all day at the beach, to help soothe red skin after too much sun, and to help stop the itching of the bug bites we all got on our legs. I also used it for the dry skin we got after too much exposure to sand and ocean water!
I had read somewhere that moisturizing your hands stops the transmission of bacteria that you may come into contact with (they prefer dry skin), so I was sure to moisturize during our travelling days where the airplane air is particulary drying.
Now that we're back, our tans are becoming dry and itchy, and I'm finding that a little bit of Body Butter after showering helps stop the skin from peeling.
I've had patients take it on holidays as well and said it worked as a multi-purpose skin soother.

Dr. Anna Falkowski, HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

From Cuba to Winterfest!

2010-02-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

We recently came back from a week in Varadero Cuba - our first family vacation somewhere warm since the kids were born. I was SO apprehensive about the entire experience, and nearly made myself sick with worry leading up to it. I must say it turned out to be a fabulous experience! No one got sick thankfully (I was sure to give probiotics and Allimax garlic pills daily), and the weather was fabulous. I can't believe the difference in mood and health from a good dose of vitamin D!! As Canadians i'm convinced that we are all at alarmingly low levels, which of course affects our moods and immunity.
Travelling with kids is certainly a different experience - you give up the fancy dinners and lazy cocktails on the beach, but you replace it with fun in the sun, swimming, dancing, and kids shows! The best part was the un-interupted family time (no emails to answer, no telephone calls, no distractions). It was the best family bonding experience. I watched my kids bloom - Jordi tackled some of his fears of trying new things, and Lucian started to communicate much better stringing several words together at a time. My other concern was how we would all sleep in the same room for the week. This was one of the most amazing revelations to me. We pushed two of the beds together (I think they were slightly bigger than twins, but not quite doubles), and I slept with Jordi on one side and Lucian on the other (he was on the wall side so that he wouldn't fall off - at home was still sleeping in a crib). Carlos slept on a cot. Anyway, it took one night for everyone to find their groove, but the rest of the week I was amazed at how peacefully I slept with my kids. Normally at home we have such different schedules that we wouldn't be going to bed at the same time, making co-sleeping difficult. Surprisingly, neither of them woke up at night the entire week!! Maybe that's the answer for kids who don't sleep the whole night through - they just need the security of having their parent with them, which is a natural instinct. Anyway, it was a great learning experience for all of us.
We got home just before the Barrie Winterfest, so this morning we dressed up and ventured out into the cold to enjoy some more family time. It was really great this year, and once again the kids had fun (minus the cold hands).

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Inspirational thoughts for 2010

2010-01-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

In May of 2009 my childhood friend Alyson was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She approaches her journey as a cancer survivor with strength and optimism that her treatment will be successful, and her story will be an inspirational survivor story. Alyson created a website to help chronicle her journey. I am constantly amazed by her insight and strength. She has been an inspiration to all who know her during this journey. Alyson recently posted an amazing entry about her New Years Resolutions, and I would encourage everyone to read it:

http://alysonwoloshyn.com/resolving-to-have-smart-character/

Please feel free to pass along Alyson's website to anyone you know who may be going through a similar journey or would benefit from Alyson's wisdom.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 14 – A Sweet Ending!

2010-01-18T05:08:00.000-08:00

Today I feel great. I feel calm, peaceful and content. I feel a sense of accomplishment, and I feel stronger. Not only physically better, but stronger mentally – like I said, a cleanse is really 90% mental. It’s a big goal for people and a great mental reward when they achieve it. Today doesn’t feel at all like a struggle. We took the kids for a walk on lakeshore, and popped into Second Cup to warm up. The sweet aroma of coffee definitely smelled appetizing, but it wasn’t a big deal (knowing I’ll get one tomorrow helps). The kids had their hot chocolates and on we went. It was a nice family outing for a bit of fresh air.
Breakfast – Mediclear smoothie with strawberry, banana and water. Green tea. Oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins.
Lunch – leftover Asian Soup and some Halibut from the other day.
Dinner – We treated ourselves to a night out for sushi. Technically sushi is ‘ok’ as a detox food, however I wouldn’t do it ‘during’ the cleanse because of how many restaurants add some ‘bad’ stuff to it. I knew soya sauce contains wheat, but my friend Carol told me some facts I didn’t know – they add mayo to most rolls, and food coloring and preservatives into wasabi. Well, we still ate pretty clean. Our kids had some chicken teriyaki but stayed away from meat and had the vegetarian and fish based rolls, and some seaweed salad. What a nice meal! I’ll be drinking some more greent tea this evening.

We all do cleanses for different reasons. Many of my patients do it to kickstart a weightloss program, others do it for more energy, some do it to figure out their gastrointestinal issues (it’s a good way to get people off allergenic foods and then wean them back in slowly while watching for old symptoms). Whatever your reason, you will experience many benefits, and I encourage everyone to do one big cleanse every year, and then a few mini ones seasonally. For myself, I did it to prove a point to myself (because it has been a while) and to be a good example to family, friends and patients (who rely on me for health information). A cleanse can be a daunting task, but with the right planning and support it’s absolutely an attainable goal. And like anything else in life, it takes practice to get good at it – at first it may be a struggle, and will ALWAYS be a challenge (no matter how many you do).
As a note – if you are looking for weightloss with the cleanse, you can’t go too heavy on the grains. For myself that wasn’t a goal so I didn’t watch portions (I just listened to my body to let me know when I had eaten enough) – but I did still let go of the few holiday pounds that I had put on. Carlos as well lost around 7 pounds, even though he ate a lot and didn’t let himself get hungry (he ate quite a bit of carbs – rice, crackers, dates etc). He also maintained his strength and was able to continue his strict workout program, which even I was fascinated to see!
I remember when I did my first cleanse over 10 yrs ago the feeling of wanting to cram all the ‘bad’ foods back into my diet as soon as I was off the cleanse. I don’t feel like that anymore. I would urge anyone doing a cleanse to slowly incorporate things like dairy and wheat. Watch for how you feel with each introduction. You may be surprised to see how lethargic you become, or the headaches that may come back, or how ‘full’ and bloated you start to feel, or constipated, or the insomnia that starts back up. You’ll notice how that cookie tastes so sweet all of a sudden. Learn from this experience, and make a mental note of how food makes you feel. That is the true learning experience!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 13 – I’m seeing the light!

2010-01-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

Today was much better mentally than yesterday. I know that tomorrow is the last day, and I can handle that. People are often tempted to quit a few days early – there’s always a good ‘excuse’. But I urge you to hang in there and use this opportunity to test your mental endurance! You will have an amazing sense of accomplishment by sticking with your intended cleanse duration, and it will make your future cleanses feel more realistic and doable! I’m feeling pretty good about myself today, knowing I’m in the home stretch, and that I had an amazing detox with NO bad food.

Breakfast – Mediclear smoothie (mango, strawberry, water). Green Tea. Oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon and almond milk.
Lunch – Asian Soup: sautee 1 onion, 3 celery, 3 carrots, pinch of chilli peppers in olive oil. Add 2 cloves garlic (minced), 2 L water, Bragg’s liquid seasoning and tamari to taste. Let simmer for 20 min. Add rice noodles (I used very thin vermicelli ones) and several handfuls of baby spinach. Cook 1 more minute and remove from heat. Before serving add 2 Tbsp lime juice and 2 Tbsp sesame oil. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
Snack – green tea, strawberries and pomello.
Dinner – This was a mish mash of stuff: guacamole, hummus, red peppers, celery and carrot sticks, rice crackers.
Snack – chamomile tea and papaya.

Oh, and I didn’t get that cold I felt I was getting. I do feel a little more tired than normal, and something may be lingering, but so far I’m doing ok. Everyone around me is sick, so I’m sure my body is trying to fight an infection.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 12 – Am I done yet?

2010-01-15T16:19:00.001-08:00

Today wasn’t fun in terms of the cleanse. I definitely was feeling ‘done’. Being this close to the end I feel like I want to race to the ‘finish’ line, but the days of course are just as long! It’s just that monotonous feeling of not being able to enjoy the old favorites, especially since we’re starting the weekend. I’m feeling mentally tired, like I don’t want to think about it anymore, and just unwind. My husband is great at cheering us on, and today he mentioned that there’s only 2 more days and it’s no big deal. I guess he’s right!
You may be feeling that way as well, so don’t be discouraged. It’s normal, and old habits die hard. For me, being away from the house and out with a friend took me out of routine, which can cause a problem for people. I was in Toronto longer than expected and was starving – the nuts and fruit are great as a snack, but not as a lunch! I should have brought more food or came back home earlier.

Breakfast – Mediclear smoothie (mango, strawberry, water). Green Tea. Rice-millet cereal with almond milk
Snack – raw almonds and pecans. Banana. Green tea. Caramel Rooibos tea (it sounds decadent, but it’s not when you don’t put anything in it!).
Lunch – Rice tortilla with hummus, spinach, onion, orange peppers. Small bowl of black bean soup.
Snack – peppermint tea
Dinner – Halibut, mashed sweet potato, peas
Snack – chamomile tea

I feel like I may have a cold coming on, so I’ll be going to bed early tonight – I’m feeling worn down. I’ll also be garling with salt water, loading up on vitamin C and zinc and doing my botanical tincture. Hopefully I’ll wake up healthy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 11 - Food makes us feel good!

2010-01-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

Yoga was fabulous last night – I felt the best I ever had during a class – I had great energy and I was well hydrated. I was thinking what a great companion hot yoga is for cleansing, as the sweating intensifies the process, and brings an inner awareness to the body (which is already heightened during a detox).
I have to admit that I’m missing coffee. It’s clearly not a physical response, since any true ‘addiction’ to it would have been broken in the first few days. I’m just looking forward to that little pleasure in my day again! I was thinking about food and how it plays some an emotional role in our lives – certain foods are associated with happy memories, our childhood, relaxation, dinner parties, picnics and so on. Going 2 weeks without a reliance on these comfort foods is a big deal for people, and it’s usually the source of stress during a cleanse. Like with many other things in life, it’s good to challenge these ‘addictions’ and beliefs surrounding foods, and see what you might discover about yourself. You’ll hopefully come out of it with fewer food hang-ups and realize what’s truly important and what you can do without in your diet. For me, I know I can do with fewer night-time snacks during the week (maybe save them just for movie nights), I can drink more green tea, I can have less wheat, I can eat more avocado. But I won’t give up my cup of coffee!

Breakfast – Mediclear smoothies with mango, strawberries and water. Green tea. Bowl of rice-millet cereal, raisins and almond milk
Snack – hummus and 5 rice crackers.
Lunch – brown rice and stirfry (from last night) – I threw a handful of chopped red cabbage in there for extra color.
Snack – plum
Dinner – Mediclear & water. Large salad with romaine, carrots, celery and white kidney beans. Dressing was olive oil, balsamic vinegar.
Snack – guacamole & rice crackers and a few slices of papaya. Chamomile tea.

Tomorrow I’m meeting a friend in Vaughn and will be gone for several hours, so I’ll need to make sure I bring something with me – It’s doubtful that I’ll find anything decent to eat at the mall!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 10 - feeling balanced

2010-01-13T11:57:00.000-08:00

I’m loving this time of year. No, not the weather, but the change in pace. December was very hectic at the clinic and at home, but now things have slowed down and are allowing me a much needed breather (especially during a cleanse). It’s nice to catch up on paperwork and finally finish (most) of my ‘government stuff’ for 2009 in preparation to see my accountant! I find I’m more relaxed and more patient these days, which is how it should be all the time!
I’m feeling really good at this point. I was thinking that I no longer wake up thinking that ‘I’m on a cleanse’. It actually feels like any other day, except for the fact that I wouldn’t willingly start my day off with a cold smoothie in the middle of winter! Aside from that, I can’t believe how ‘normal’ this all feels. Another example of how adaptable the human body is. Actually, my body not only feels like it’s adapted, but like it’s thriving.
If you’re doing your first cleanse, or if your diet was very different from the foods you’re eating on mediclear, you may not feel this way, so don’t feel guilty if you don’t. It takes some long-term change or at least a few cleanses under your belt before you reach a comfort zone in this area. What I love to hear from my patients is that the cleanse ‘really wasn’t that different from how I normally eat’. That would be the ultimate goal – trying to eat 80-90% of a whole foods clean diet. At that level you should really feel a difference in your overall health, and when sustained for several years, you will actually feel like a different person (on a cellular level – the body takes about 7 years to completely regenerate every cell).
Breakfast – Mediclear smoothie (mango, strawberries, banana, water), Green tea, then rice-millet cereal with raisins and almond milk.
Lunch – hummus and rice crackers. Strawberries. Grapes. A Big salad with all sorts of veggies and red cabbage – the colors are magnificent. The dressing was olive oil, rice vinegar, tamari, sesame oil, pepper. This was all eaten over the course of 4 hrs or so, not all at once! Another green tea.
Dinner – mediclear with water. I stirfried sliced portabello mushroom, garlic, and a whole head of beet greens in olive oil. Served on brown rice. I will eat this after Yoga tonight.
Before yoga I will have a snack of some raw almonds and a peach.

I’m very excited because tonight I’m heading off to Hot Yoga again (this time with a friend) for another 90min class. I can’t wait to feel the difference of doing 2 sessions in one week – this is such a luxury for me because of the distance (studio is in Vaughn). Off to sweat out the rest of the toxins!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 9 – This year I will ‘do’ less

2010-01-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

I had a great night sleep last night. The first one since I started the cleanse. I didn’t talk much about this, but starting the second day into the cleanse, I had several nights of insomnia between the hours of 1:30-4:30, usually lasting 2 hrs. It was very frustrating, and I figured it had to do with the cleanse, but I don’t remember having that symptom in the past. After speaking to my colleague, she confirmed that she too had experienced it in her practice. From a Chinese medical perspective, ‘liver time’ is between 1-3am. This is when the liver is most active going through it’s many functions and regenerating. It makes sense that during a cleanse, which is geared for our livers, you may be awake during the livers busy time! Isn’t the body incredible?? Well anyway, it finally passes a few days ago, but I was up with my sick son, so didn’t reap the benefits of a good nights sleep until last night. What a difference!
Breakfast: Mediclear smoothie (strawberry, mango, banana, water). Green tea. Millet-rice cereal with raisins and almond milk.
This morning I stopped at starbucks on my way to work and ordered a venti Zen tea – apparently they’ve switched their Tazo teas to a full leaf tea in a silk tea bag, which is supposed to be more flavorful (and also costs more, ha ha). Anyway, I enjoyed that during a busy morning in the clinic, had some blackberries, strawberries and peach slices for a snack and then for lunch I had leftover spaghetti squash and roasted veggies.
Mid afternoon snack – rice pudding
Dinner - Mediclear drink (I was at work so just mixed it with water – not delicious). Black Bean soup (see previous blog for recipe).
Tonight for a snack I think we’ll have some fresh papaya.

I have enjoyed almond milk so much during this cleanse that I’m definitely switching over. We’ve always used organic soy milk as a family, but recently I’ve become convinced that it’s just too controversial to use just soy, and I can’t be entirely certain that It’s not having a negative impact on my boys, so It’s peace of mind just to make the switch. I will continue to use soy milk for the occasional latte (because it’s creamier and froths well), and for baking. I’m not concerned about using it in small amounts.
Exercise – Yesterday Carlos did a swim and a run, and then another swim this morning, and he said he didn’t feel a negative impact from the detox on his training (although he still feels the symptoms of his cold, but they’re all above the neck, and everything below the neck he said feels great!).
Comment: Looking back at this cleanse, I probably would not do it at the peak of winter. Although technically it’s a great time to do a cleanse because the holidays are so indulgent, from a bigger perspective, in Canada it’s WAY too cold to be eating too many raw veggies and fruits at this time of year – I was cold the entire cleanse! It’s too bad, but the reality is, energetically it’s not great. I had to be creative, and as you’ll have noticed I didn’t eat many (if any) raw salads, but focused more on roasted veggies, soups, and adding veggies to my grains. If you were to pick one time of year to do a cleanse, it is said that end of March/early April is the best time energetically because it goes along with the earth’s changing energy and the shift into Spring, which is a time of cleansing. That being said, some people need it more often, so it’s just important to still adjust the diet according to the season!
My other insight is the following – I was reflecting on 2009 and realized how much stuff I ‘did’. I’ve always been a person that looks ahead, tackles new projects and fulfills my need for creativity and growth. I am thankful to have had a year that fulfilled those needs, but my hopes for 2010 are that I will not ‘do’ as much. I would like to enjoy my accomplishments by not moving on to the next ‘project’ or idea, but rather develop and nurture what already exists, both at home (my family) and professionally. It reminds me of something I once heard - that a person who is not truly thankful for what they already have, cannot be given more in life. This is the year I will count all my blessings, and enjoy them!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 8 – Strictest Diet today

2010-01-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

Today marks the height of the cleanse with one day of nothing other than veggies, grains and fruit, and 3 Mediclear smoothies. So no dietary ‘proteins’- all come from the mediclear.
Today I’m feeling the effects of yesterday’s yoga – my body is gently hurting everywhere. Not a bad feeling, just a realization that I have muscles on various body parts that I’m not normally aware of! I was also really thirsty all day yesterday. Last night was a terrible night for us because my older son was up with a cough and fever, so we’re not feeling rested today. We’re just laying low today because Jordi is still not feeling well, which works out great for allowing some rest on my part.
Breakfast – mediclear smoothie with banana, strawberries and almond milk. Green tea. 30 min later I had oatmeal with 1 Tbsp molasses (for iron and sweetness), raisins, almond milk and chia seed.
Mid-morning I had a few strawberries and blackberries.
Lunch – mediclear smoothie (mango, strawberry and water). 30 min later I made the following:
Roasted veggies – peel and cut into large chunks: sweet potato, beets, carrots, onion. Drizzle in olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 425 for 45-60min (until tender).
Spaghetti Squash – cut in half, discard seed. Lay face up on baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt and pepper. Bake at 425 60min. use a fork to scoop out the center (will look like spaghetti). Serve the roasted veggies on a bed of the spaghetti squash. This was a delicious, hearty and warming lunch.
Another Green tea.
Snack – a little of the leftover rice pudding from last night.
Dinner – Mediclear smoothie. I’m not very hungry for another full meal. I’m going to do the guacamole and rice crackers again, and then a new batch of rice pudding for tonight as a snack. I’ve been really cold, and that’s what I’m craving.
Tomorrow is back to 2 smoothies and re-introducing legumes, which is great. Today wasn’t bad however – the biggest challenge was fitting in 3 smoothies!
Ok, so here’s a brief comment about exercise while on a cleanse. It’s good to do something to help the effects of detox (improves circulation, flushes the liver and kidneys not to mention sweat glands). Intense exercise may not feel good during your cleanse – listen to your body. The detoxification process itself is taxing and fatiguing, so don’t overdo it. I was going to use my husband as a guinea pig to see what he felt like during his training while on detox (he is currently training for Ironman Canada in August); however he developed a cold the night before our detox, so has had to modify his workouts to be less intense than normal. So far he has not complained about not having enough energy for working out, but like I said he’s doing far less then normal. I certainly have felt a little below normal in terms of capacity for an intense workout. I didn’t push the speed on the treadmill (although I did a decent amount of time).

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 7 – Hot Yoga, and Relationship Detox!

2010-01-10T16:29:00.001-08:00

We decided to celebrate the midpoint of our cleanse with an excursion to Hot Yoga (Moksha). We did a 90 min class, and boy was it tough. On any given day Hot Yoga is an intense mental and physical feat, but on a detox it’s certainly amplified. You sweat out every pore, and every cell in your body vibrates with the intensity of the postures. It was incredible. When attempting hot yoga it’s important to hydrate BEFORE class, and to drink at least 1-2L during the class. Even though we were hydrated (and even added Emergen-C to our water), we both said we felt faint at the end of the standing series. In this case you just go into child’s pose until you feel ready to re-join the class. I love this style of yoga because it doesn’t compare to ANY other exercise I’ve done in my life in terms of a whole body work-out. I also feel that many of the poses help connect me with my years of rhythmic gymnastics. Not to mention the stillness of the mind that yoga requires – today it certainly was a challenge to keep the mind in the present, and not let it drift off into the past or future. Our instructor was great about reminding us to come back into the present.
At one point I found myself thinking about a conversation I had with a patient this week. We are both moms of young kids, and she made the point that in our generation, our kids only stay with us for a brief period (unlike past generations where children often lived with their parents until they married, and sometimes even created multi-generational homes). She went on to say that now more than ever it’s increasingly important to nurture our relationship with our spouses, because before you know it, our kids are gone and you’re left with your life-partner. If you don’t make a point to spend some time together, you may very well disconnect over the years and be left with someone you don’t even know. This is very true. I have several patients in their 50’s struggling with their relationships and dealing with ‘empty nest syndrome’. I have never seen myself as someone who will struggle with her kids leaving home (I guess we’ll see!), but I also don’t want to be questioning my marriage in the future. What I’m trying to say is that as much as it may not seem important or a priority, you need to make little efforts to be a couple. Today during my yoga class I was thankful that it’s an experience I can share with my husband, who luckily shares my passion for health and wellness. Our 45 min drive to and from yoga was a wonderful opportunity to catch up outside of the everyday chatter about the kids and work. So, this detox is also about cleansing relationships!
On the same note, at this point in the cleanse it’s mostly mental. My friend and colleague Carol has always said that a cleanse is 10% physical and 90% mental, and that’s true. We’re not fighting cravings, it’s just about endurance now. We’re reflecting on our day to day choices, asking ourselves what healthy habits we can continue to incorporate, what will we compromise on, and what are our long term priorities. It’s like a lifestyle over-haul, particularly if you’re able to do the cleanse with your partner. We certainly understand that our choices are seen by our children, and they model our behaviors. It’s important to me that my kids value their health and wellness, so it’s my job to teach that to them.
Here’s my day:
Breakfast – Mediclear smoothie with strawberry and banana, then millet-rice flakes, raisins and almond milk. Green tea on the way to yoga.
Big mistake – didn’t pack snacks for after yoga, we were ravenous by the time we got home!
Lunch – quinoa from yesterday served with baby spinach with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Jasmine green tea after lunch.
Snacks – Mediclear smoothie (mango and almond milk); pomegranate and some other fruit
Dinner – I wasn’t very hungry so ate guacamole (1 avocado, diced onion, lime juice, salt and pepper) and a handful of rice crackers. Carlos at the leftover quinoa dish.
For a snack this evening I made the rice pudding from the Mediclear recipes – I sampled it and it’s amazing.
I’m very tired this evening probably because of yoga. I won’t be up late!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 6 – Weekends can be tough

2010-01-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

It’s Saturday and when I woke up this morning I longed for my cup of coffee while my kids watched cartoons. Notice I said ‘longed for’, not ‘craved’. At this point it’s not cravings, it’s more a mental game. It’s the ‘routines’ we’re used to, and adapting a new way of doing things. Once I actually had my morning shake and settled down on the couch with a warm mug of green tea, I found myself to be really content. I dreaded this weekend, knowing it’s usually a time of either social eating, or simply a movie night with my husband in which we may make some of our favorite snacks and enjoy a glass of wine. I don’t intend to give that up, and that’s not what a cleanse is about. It’s more about giving the body a break, learning about your body and how it functions, trying new healthy recipes, re-training your taste buds, and exploring ultimate health. My energy is awesome. I have not had the mid-morning or mid-afternoon lows that are normally experienced when eating gluten or drinking coffee. Digestion – fabulous (I won’t give details). My stomach is feeling much better today – yesterday I overdid it by consuming hummus, lentils, black beans and chick peas all in the second half of my day. The peppermint tea did the trick.
If you asked me what’s the toughest part of the cleanse, I’d hesitate to answer. In a way, the first 4 days are the toughest with the change in routine and the physical symptoms of detox. Once you get through that, you get a momentum going that makes things simple. On the other hand, for some people the second week is tough because it takes more energy to be so diligent with planning and executing healthy meals all day long. It DOES get easier the more cleansing you do, because you find tips and tricks to get you through it.
Cravings – I’m going to be honest – none. Like most people, I expected sugar cravings, but they were not an issue at all. Having a date or a bit of honey in tea is OK if you get them, and the chromium in the Mediclear helps your body be more sensitive to insulin anyway.
My sister-in law asked me to include some pictures of the foods and portion sizes in my blog. I will do my best, but It’s tough getting THAT organized! Portions – for rookie cleansers, I don’t worry about portions. Listen to your body, and eat what you need without stuffing yourself. Don’t deprive yourself – that’s not the point. Your body will be burning through the food more efficiently anyway because it’s such a clean diet, so weightloss is normal. If you’re looking for extra weightloss during the cleanse, just don’t go as heavy on the grains/crackers/pasta – do more veggies!
Breakfast – Mediclear shake with mango, strawberries and almond milk, then green tea. Then I had 2 rice cakes with almond butter, banana slices and honey.

Snack – a split a mango with my kids
Lunch – brown rice and curry from yesterday
Dinner – Second Mediclear smoothie with strawberries and almond milk. 20 min. later I made Quinoa pilaf: bring 3 cups water with 3-5 Tbsp Bragg’s seasoning to a boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, 2 cloves crushed garlic and simmer 20min or until almost soft. Meanwhile cube a sweet potato, drizzle in olive oil and bake at 425 25 min. Add broccoli florets, can of chickpeas (I used red kidney beans because I was out), and sweet potato. Cook until broccoli is soft and quinoa is cooked. I also made a side of grated carrot, grated apple, olive oil, salt and pepper and l tsp lemon juice.
I think we’ll watch a movie tonight, and will have a cup of tea and maybe guacamole with rice crackers, or a mango.
I want to touch on exercise, but I may do it tomorrow when I have more time. Today was a good day. Off to put the kids to bed!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 5 – Busy day, a true test

2010-01-08T17:47:00.001-08:00

Today was somewhat crazy for me – I felt like I was on the go from the moment I got up until the evening. It’s a challenging day to be on a cleanse, but it was fine in the end.
Breakfast – mediclear shake with mango, strawberries and almond milk. I worked out shortly after – 37 min on the treadmill, mid-intensity walk/run, 520 cal burned.
I ate oatmeal with pecans and raisins shortly after my workout, and then took the kids to the pool, which is exhausting at this age (especially in the winter!).
Lunch – black bean soup from yesterday, veggies and hummus. Finally a green tea!
Dentist appointment, then a cup of vanilla rooibos with almond milk
Dinner – 2nd Mediclear shake, then real food - brown rice with a curry. Sautee 1 onion, 2 minced garlics, 1 tbsp curry. Add 1 head of cauliflower florets, 1 cup water, I can coconut milk, 1 cup red lentils and Bragg’s seasoning to taste. Cook until cauliflower is soft and lentils are cooked and add 1 cup frozen peas and a large handful of baby spinach. Cook a few more minutes until heated through. Really tasty!
I had some papaya and berries for dessert. We ate dinner early tonight, so I may make some guacamole with rice crackers as a snack this evening, and peppermint tea.
Today my stomach felt the effects of having so many bean products – this is something I usually advise patient to work up to, or it can become painful. Peppermint tea helps!
Ok, off to unwind!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 4– Feeling good!

2010-01-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

So the headache went away some time during the night. I went to bed at 9pm, read for 30 min and went to sleep. Got a decent night sleep, and feel refreshed today. SOOO much better than yesterday.
Breakfast – Mediclear smoothie with frozen mango, strawberries, blueberries, almond milk and banana…really good and creamy with this recipe. Followed by my green tea (I won’t be forgetting this after yesterdays headache!), and then 30 min later my millet-rice cereal with raisins, banana and almond milk (I’m really enjoying this option).
On my way to work I popped into Starbucks and prepared myself for the beautiful aroma of my old friend coffee. It did smell great, but didn’t elicit any strong cravings (unlike yesterday). I ordered a venti Vanilla Rooibos with a little honey. Really nice warming drink. I have noticed that I’m colder than usual during this cleanse, which can be a common experience. The reason behind it is energetics – the foods we consume on a cleanse (more raw veggies and fruit) are colder energetically than meats & and fried foods. Coffee is also very warming energetically - in small amounts it’s great for ‘cold’ individuals, but detrimental to ‘hot’ individuals (ie. Those who have high blood pressure, obesity, over-active thyroid etc). So when you take away the ‘hot’ foods, the body can become colder. That’s why exercise becomes more important, warming spices (garlic, ginger, cayenne, cinnamon), and teas (Rooibos is warmer energetically than green tea, but lacks the caffeine). It’s all about balance!
Lunch – leftover trout & veggies from dinner yesterday, with the addition of the brown rice I made last night, tamari and sesame oil for added kick.
Another green tea and a plum as snacks. I’m feeling really FULL today, not hungry. The other days I was definitely ravenous and ate huge portions of everything, so I think it’s stabilizing now and I’m not needing as much.
Dinner – Carlos made a brown rice pasta dish. He sautéed onion, garlic, red pepper, 3 chopped dates, and handful of chopped pecans all in olive oil. Salt and pepper. Add to cooked pasta. It was really good. For lunch her had a black bean soup (check previous posts for recipe).
I finished the day with a peppermint tea to help with bloating. Going to bed early again!
I want to remind people to DRINK YOUR WATER. This is very important while cleansing – get at least ½ your body weight (in pounds) in ounces. You can count green tea and herbal tea towards that count. The reason being is that it helps keep the bowels moving and kidneys flushing the toxins. Because of the large amount of fiber on the Mediclear cleanse, some people will experience increased bloating or stomach discomfort initially, which will subside after your body adjusts to the change within a few days (typically).

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 3 – yeah, this is what I remember!

2010-01-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

Detox Day 3 – yeah, this is what I remember!
So I was too quick to be excited about the lack of headache – it came with a vengeance today. There are most certainly a number of factors involved in why I got it – last night I had a TERRIBLE sleep – I think I was awake for 2 hours tossing an turning for no apparent reason (although my mind was also very active) AND I forgot to drink my morning green tea (so possibly it’s delayed caffeine withdrawl). I also am sure it’s just the withdrawl of the various other ‘drugs’ in our diet (I’m referring to gluten, sugars and dairy mostly). My body feels great, but the headache intensified during the day. I ended up taking a nap at the same time as my boys at noon, which was great, but as I sit here it’s still there.
Breakfast – Mediclear shake with blueberries and almond milk, followed by my millet-rice flakes with raisins and almond milk.
Workout – 35 minutes on the treadmill, varying between walking on an inline and running at 6-7 intensity. Just to give you an idea of total intensity, I burned 500 cal, so it was just a mid-intensity workout. I didn’t push myself because it’s early in the cleanse and the body is already dealing with a lot.
My mistake was not having a snack after the workout, and taking the kids to Costco right after – by the time we got home and played in the snow, I was starving. Luckily I made a quick lunch – rice tortilla spread with roasted red pepper hummus (bought at Costco – it’s a good one), topped with baby spinach, peppers and cucumber). The tortilla doesn’t wrap well, but it folds fine (it’s a little different texture than the wheat ones). I had a few extra celery sticks, and a few berries and a medjool date (these are delicious plump dates, high in fiber and satisfy a sweet craving). At Costco I bought frozen mango and strawberries for our shakes, the dates, portabello mushrooms and rainbow trout.
After my nap I had a few rice crackers with guacamole (avocado and lime juice mashed together), and a few bites of fruit.
Dinner – I made a feast because I had the day off, and prepped it early in the day. I marinated portabello mushroom caps in balsamic vinegar, garlic, olive oil and tamari. I got 2 whole rainbow trout which I seasoned with crushed garlic and lemon slices (inside the fish) and baked them in the oven – 425 for 45 min.
I also baked cubed sweet potato and brussel sprouts drizzled in olive oil, sea salt and balsamic vinegar (same setting as fish). I used my Panini grill to do the mushroom and also some asparagus (it just takes a few minutes of grilling). Great dinner. I also steamed more brown rice for tomorrow.
So typically, day 2-4 are the worst, so I just need to make it through one more potentially miserable day, and then the detox reactions should be gone!
I will go to bed early tonight, because the fatigue feels so much worse when you’re detoxing!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 2 – where’s the headache I was expecting?

2010-01-05T16:51:00.001-08:00

Knock on wood, I still don’t have a headache. I really thought it would come today, as it usually does for most people (one of the most common ‘detox reactions’). I think I may have really stayed on top of my green tea consumption, and warded off the caffeine-withdrawl! I had 3 cups yesterday, and 3 today.
I knew today would be a challenge with my 4 year old going back to school. Our morning pace was hectic, and I had to avert a tantrum from my son (he’s not wanting to go back to school). I too went back to work after a week off, which is stressful as well with all the year-end paper work! Despite all this, I felt really stable today, with great energy during the day.
Breakfast – Mediclear shake with blueberries and almond milk, then a green tea. 30minutes later I had my millet-rice flakes with raisins and almond milk. Around 11am I had a bunch of black berries and strawberries and a green tea, and then 1pm my lunch – brown rice from yesterday – I added frozen peas, coconut butter, tamari and organic baby spinach. I assembled all this in the morning, and at work I microwaved it for 2 minutes. It was really tasty. Carlos apparently made hummus, rice crackers and veggies for his lunch. We have dinner together when I get home from work.
Mid afternoon I had a green tea and tried a Vega Whole food Bar – I only ate about half because it wasn’t all that great AND it was rich. I’m normally not an energy bar person (I prefer real food), but I thought I’d try it as I got it in my stocking for Christmas
I had a few almonds as well.
Dinner (this was prepared by Carlos, so I didn’t have control over the veggies content, but you have to give up some control when someone else is making your meal!) – brown rice pasta with a drizzle of sesame oil and tamari, and a salmon steak sautéed in tamari and garlic. Delicious.
I will be watching the Biggest Loser tonight (LOVE that show), and I’ll be wanting a little treat, so I’m going to make a ‘decadent’ tea – vanilla rooibos with almond milk – it’s a hug in a mug, very satisfying. Can’t wait. I might add a touch of honey, we’ll see.
I thought doing a cleanse with kids to worry about would be tough, but in a way it’s easier. They keep me so busy and force me to be super organized with my meals. They’re eating their own breakfast and lunches, but will eat whatever we prepare for dinner, so no big deal! I last exercised on Sunday, and tomorrow morning is my next work out, so we’ll see how I feel then!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Detox Day 1 - here we go!

2010-01-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

I admit – it has been a while since I’ve done a formal cleanse. As a naturopath I try to maintain a very balanced diet for my family, and the last few years I’ve been either pregnant or nursing (not an ideal candidate for a cleanse). That being said, I recommend cleanses on a regular basis to my patients, and it’s time that I did one as well. This is a great time to do one since the holidays did see an over-abundance of ‘not so great’ foods, and it’s a great way to get back on track.
My husband is right on board with it, so we’re tackling it together AND a handful of our friends came right on board when they heard what we were doing. This is the best situation for anyone on detox – having a support group doing it with you!
So we’re doing the 2 week Mediclear program, which is a very user-friendly program. It’s dairy/wheat/gluten/caffeine/sugar-free. Basically, a wonderfully whole-foods diet with the elimination of many allergenic foods. Yes, we will all feel miserable in the first 3-4 days (detox reactions such as headaches, foggy-head, irritability, lethargic), but a few days in and we’ll start to reap the rewards!
This cleanse is different than others for me in that I’m going to do my best to share my experience in this blog. It will provide others with support during their own cleanse, and it will take you inside the day to day life of someone doing a cleanse.
For me, the hardest part of doing a cleanse is giving up my morning coffee. This is my ‘luxury’ and something that is not so much a ‘pick me up’ but rather an emotional experience. I relate my coffee to the ‘calm before the storm’…a moment of stillness for myself before I get on with my day. I’m sure you all have those things in your diets as well. SO, remove the temptation. I put away my coffee machine and accessories last night. Out of sight, out of mind I will be replacing my morning coffee with a Mediclear Shake, followed by breakfast and a green tea to help with caffeine with-drawl.
Today Breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal (cooked stove-top with whole oats, water, raisins) and some almond milk in it. I added a drizzle of maple-syrup because this early in the cleanse I still crave a little sweetness. I sprinkled some chia seeds on it for added fiber.
After my shake and green tea, I actually didn’t miss my coffee.
Lunch – I was quite prepared for this meal because the kids side-tracked me, but after eating a small handful of raw almonds I felt fine enough to cook my lunch and feel starving. I made a big batch of brown rice in my rice steamer before I left for the grocery store in the morning, so this was already prepped. I diced one large sweet potato, drizzled in olive oil and baked it for 25min at 425 in my toaster oven. I used half my brown rice (saved the rest for tomorrow), added my sweet potato, added 2 tbsp of coconut oil, 2 cloves crushed garlic, a few spoons of tamari (like soy sauce), one can of chick peas, and one red pepper diced. Mix it all up and season to taste. I served it on a bed of organic baby spinach with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It was DELICIOUS! This is the type of meal you may need to prepare in advance because the rice and potato took a little while to cook.
I had a few black berries and strawberries after lunch, again a luxury you can treat yourself to during a cleanse! And then another cup of green tea. Feeling amazing at this point – energy is really good despite my missing my coffee this morning!
At the grocery store this morning I picked up a few things to make this week easier. The health food section at zehrs is awesome, and I was able to find brown rice tortillas, Nature’s Path organic Gluten-free Millet & Rice flakes (for a good breakfast alternative), and 2 varieties of rice crackers (read the ingredients to make sure they don’t contain wheat). I also bought lots of treat fruit like black berries, strawberries, mangoes and organic apples. Lots of veggies of course – broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts, asparagus etc. and of course several cans of chickpeas, black beans and white kidney beans. They will be my protein in various rice or quinoa dishes, and I will also make them into hummus as a nice snack with my rice crackers or veggies!
Dinner – I had a big salad at my mom’s house, and then the same meal as lunch at home. I was actually pretty stuffed by the last meal. Before bed I will have a chamomile tea. I think this was one of the best detox day 1’s that I’ve ever had. I think that keeping busy is key (I didn’t watch tv or lounge around), and getting lots of sleep helps you not mistake fatigue for hunger. Last night I went to be at 9:30, tonight it may be 9pm!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

My weekend in nature!

2009-12-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was a cold weekend in Barrie, but it was also very beautiful with all the snow. After being inspired by an episode of Bear Grylls (man vs. wild) on friday night, we decided to have our own family adventure out in the snowy woods! We dressed warm, brought a sled and packed a backpack full of warm tea and snacks. We hiked out into the woods on the Simcoe County trails, and made a fun game out of it for the kids. My four year old loves to pretend to be Bear Grylls, so he was picking up sticks and dried leaves along the way to make a fire and roast his 'cariboo':)
We actually did go off the path a little way and made a lovely fire! It was amazing to experience that with our kids, who were thrilled. We had our warm tea and snacks, and everyone was in great spirits. A lady that works for the Simcoe Trail system even took our picture, stating that they were trying to promote more families getting outdoors, and that our little scene would make a lovely picture for their website! http://www.simcoecountytrails.net/
I too try to promote families getting more active together (especially in nature), so it made my day as well.
Having the sled was great because when the snow got too deep or the kids got tired, we just pulled them along in it. It was a great day, and the kids crashed for a nap when we got home! It was a great start to the holiday season!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

HOLIDAY HOURS

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

CLOSED on December 24th to 28th
Open by appointment December 29th
CLOSED December 30th
Open by appointment only on Dec. 31st
CLOSED on January 1st
Open by appointment only on January 2nd
Back to normal schedule January 5th

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Sunday lunch & dinner

2009-12-14T06:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my fridge looked barren, but I managed to create some good meals for the family.
For lunch, I wanted to do a salad but had no lettuce of any type BUT I had a head of red cabbage. I shredded the cabbage, diced 1/3 of an onion, grated 2 carrots and added a few shredded brocolli florets. For the dressing I used Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of agave syrup. Mixed it all up and served with a sprinkling of sunflower seeds and a small handful of dried chowmein noodles for a little crunch (kids love this).

For dinner I had some frozen salmon steaks which I cooked on the frying pan with olive oil, garlic, orange juice and soy sauce - the liquid cooked off and the salmon had a nice glaze. I diced a turnip and boiled it in saled water. Drain and serve with a pat of butter or flax oil. I roasted some potatoes with garlic and olive oil, oregano and salt & pepper.
For dessert the kids ate frozen blueberries which we all picked this summer at Barrie hill farms. They really love this frozen treat!

Two wonderful and healthy meals with not option in the fridge!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Nature Deficit Disorder

2009-12-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to blog about this since the OAND convention, but just didn't have the time. Last night I had the privelage of talking the Barrie's Holistic Mom & Dad's group. The discussion was about 'Boosting your Child's Immunity', and I mentioned how many factors are involved in immunity. One of which was 'fresh air'. Getting outside into fresh air and sunlight are so important on many different levels - mood regulation, better sleep, oxygenation and of course immunity.
'Nature deficit disorder' is a term coined by Richard Louv which describes our children's lack of outdoor play, which is responsible for many behavioral disorders that we're now seeing in adolescents. Our children are finding an increased number of indoor activities - television, internet, video games - and are not participating in as many outdoor, unorganized activities as they have in the past. They are disconnected from the environment, and from nature. This is becoming a problem on so many levels for our children, that it's time to make some changes. Encourage kids to walk to school, to play outside, to engage in outdoor sports, and to go 'explore' (within your comfort level). As a family, it's important to engage in these activities together to role model them for your kids - take weekend hikes, go tobogganing, go to the playground, go camping, whatever is in season!
Limit time spent indoors and set guidelines about TV and computer use. The whole family will benefit!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Olive Baby reviewed in Mompreneur Magazine!

2009-11-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited that Olive Baby products were reviewed by the editor of Mompreneur Magazine in their Holiday edition (December). Mompreneur Magazine can be found in Indigo and Chapters Bookstores across Canada, so hopefully it increases awareness to parents who have children (or other family members) with skin sensitivities! This is the first time Olive Baby has received any kind of media attention, so i'm very excited about it!
You can check it out in their online version, page 47 of the 'current issue'
http://www.themompreneur.com/

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

What a weekend! Where do I begin...

2009-11-17T11:19:00.003-08:00

This past weekend I attended the annual OAND convention, where David Suzuki and many other wonderful speakers shared with us the huge impacts that the environment is having on our health (or ill-health). I have always known that as a Naturopath it was my role to teach respect for the environment, but now more than ever I realize that Naturopaths need to be ambassadors for environmental health issues. There was so much grim information given, but I think it'll take me a few weeks to sort through all my thoughts and figure out a 'user-friendly' way to share it with my patients and the public.
One surprising finding was to hear that high fructose corn syrup is a huge source of mercury! Who knew! Apparently many of the major players like Coca-cola, Heinz, Kraft and Quaker are still using it in their food products for lack of a better source of cheap sugar. The Obama government is pushing to have these companies find alternatives by 2012 (don't hold your breath)!
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136879.php

Another eye-opener was to hear how dangerous cell phone use was to the brain - I mean, i've always known it, but to see Brain images of cell phone users made it real, and to hear how particularly devastating it is for children was a shocker. After hearing their research, i'm keeping my kids far away from any cell phones (including mine) until they are MUCH older. In many countries they're banning cell phone use to kids under 12 (some 18), so it seems in north America we're a little behind!
http://www.livescience.com/technology/091112-cell-phone-brain.html

Luckily, I also learned that there's things we CAN do to protect ourselves, and that's something I'll have to write a few patient hand-outs about.

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Vitamin D and Cancer - Globe & Mail

2009-11-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

This is a very interesting article on the benefits of vitamin D for various cancers, including Breast Cancer. Interestingly, 80% of women diagnosed with Breast Cancer have vitamin D deficiency - another reason to take a supplement, especially in our climate.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/doctors-start-to-include-vitamin-d-in-fight-against-cancer/article1352956/

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

The Dreaded Fever!

2009-11-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

This week i've been seeing an increased number of sick kids coming to the clinic. With many childhood illnesses, one of the most common symptoms is fever. I know this is a huge concern for parents, but fevers are one of the most feared and misunderstood mechanisms in the body. I encourage parents to think of fevers as a good thing. They are your child’s tool at fighting infection! It raises their internal temperature to help kill the virus or bacteria, and usually only last a day or two. It is a natural and protective mechanism, and is more frightening than harmful. Parents oftern run for the tylenol prematurely, feeling like suppressing the fever is 'treating' the illness. This is not the case. We WANT the child to have a fever, and we want to manage it within a ‘comfort zone’ that is age appropriate. We don’t want to suppress a fever, but rather keep the child comfortable by offering lots of fluids, a cool cloth, a luke-warm bath or the appropriate supplements to support them. Contact your Naturopath when your child has a fever, as they will provide you with the guidance and support you may feel you need while managing the fever!
Kids may lose their appetite during a fever. Don’t push solids, just ensure plenty of liquids. Helpful herbal teas for fever include chamomile, red clover, rosemary and peppermint. We lose heat through the skin, so dress your child appropriately to their temperature. Call your doctor if your child’s fever lasts more than 3 days or has concerning symptoms of lethargy, changes in behavior, stiff neck, difficulty breathing, constant vomiting/diarrhea, has developed a rash, is inconsolable or has a fever above:

Infants under 3 months: fever over 38.5 C (101.4 F)

3 months – 2 years old: fever over 39 C (103 F)

Over 2 years old: fever over 40 C (104 F)

Note: Teething rarely causes a fever above 38.5 C (101.4 F).

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

H1N1 - the theme of my day!

2009-10-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

So today seemed to be all about the H1N1 virus- on the news (of course) and at the clinic everyone was talking about it. The media is certainly scaring people because we don't have many details about why certain populations are getting sick, and why it can hit so quickly. Nor do we know much about the H1N1 vaccine and it's side effects. I had several patients call today about their homeopathic flu shot, and people are also taking home the Guna-Flu homeopathic flu treatment. I'm still advising people to stay healthy - practise good hygiene, sleep well, eat well, stay hydrated, avoid sugars, and support their immune system (many ways to do this). Don't forget to wipe down your door knobs, telephones and keyboards at home (tea tree oil or CleanEssentials Natural Cleaning spray is great for this). I'm still treating this like the seasonal flu, just doing the flu prevention a little earlier into the season than normal. Remember, get facts from various sources, don't just accept what you hear on your local news channel or the radio! Media tends to dramatize things, but the facts usually haven't changed!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Baby & Toddler Expo Oct 17 & 18

2009-10-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

Come visit the Olive Baby booth this saturday and sunday at the Barrie Baby & Toddler Expo at the Molson Centre! We will have amazing specials on all Olive Baby products and gift baskets made up with the entire set of Olive Baby products at a great discount. These gift baskets are ready to take to baby showers or make amazing Christmas gifts for any parent! This event will be fun for the kids as well, with live performances by Toopy & Binoo. Hope to see you all there!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Green Tea Good for the GUT!

2009-10-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

We have always known that green tea is one of the best medicinal foods - lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, aids digestion, speeds up metabolism and is a powerful antioxidant.
Now researchers at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo concluded that green tea’s antioxidants may protect against gastric cancer and may include compounds that fight bacteria that have been linked to stomach cancer. The studies followed more than 219,000 men and women 40 years and older, who were followed between 7 and 11 years. Overall, about four in five of the participants reported drinking green tea daily, with about one-third drinking five or more cups per day.

Make a cup of green tea a part of your day and experience the health benefits!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Easy Dinner for a busy day!

2009-10-05T04:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a fun but busy day for our family, but I wanted to make sure we sat down to a healthy sunday night dinner (saturday we were at a birthday party and the kids didn't eat a lot the good stuff - it's all about balance!). I knew we would be out of the house in the afternoon and wouldn't be home until dinner time, so it meant I had to do some quick prep work during their afternoon nap. I cut a butternut squash in half and placed it cut side up in a large lasagna dish. I sprinkled with nutmeg and cinnamon, a pinch of salt and drizzled with olive oil. In the same dish I put a few sweet potatoes cut in half, cut side down. I set my oven on 'delay cook', so it would start about 45 min. before we came home. Cook this for 45 min. at 400C - you can add a pat of butter and a little brown sugar if you like. When we got home I quickly boiled a small pot of brussel sprouts (cut in half) until tender. This was served as is - very tasty. For protein, I cut a corner - I used pre-frozen turkey meatballs and warmed them up in my home-made tomato sauce. All in all, it was a great dinner, and I was happy that the little guys ate some orange and green veggies! It was quick and easy, it just took a little planning!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Fabulous Garden Harvest Soup!

2009-10-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

My friend Terri Ann inspired me to make a crockpot soup with things out of my garden. I have SOOO much swiss chard and kale that I don't know what to do with it, so this soup recipe was perfect (and EASY).
Throw the following ingredients into your crockpot and set for 4 hours on med/high:

-4 cloves garlic chopped
-1 large onion diced
-2-3 stalks celery chopped
-3 carrots diced
-1 large bunch of kale chopped
-1 large bunch of swiss chard chopped
-1 large sweet potato diced
-3-4 turkey sausages (take the casings off and crumble in the pot)
-Bragg's liquid seasoning (a good sized 'squirt', roughly 1/4 cup)
-1/2 tsp red chili flakes
-1 can red kidney beans
top up with water but not quite enough to cover all your greens, as they will wilt and make more water in your pot! Very comforting on a cold day...Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

H1N1 Flu Prevention

2009-09-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

One of the hot topics this season is of course the swine flu and what we need to do to avoid getting it. One of the things I tell my patients is that we need to look at the H1N1 virus like all other flu virus' and practise good prevention. The only real difference is the popultion it seems to hit more, which is the middle age instead of young and old (but anyone can get it). To date, symptoms have been for the most part mild, so the fear we were experiencing several months ago was probably blown out of proportion. One of the interesting facts that has come to light in a recent Canadian study is that individuals who have gotten the flu shot in previous seasons may be at higher risk for getting the H1N1 form of the flu! And of course Health Canada is now promoting the H1N1 flu vaccine as well as the basic flu shot later into the season. Again, what will studies show in the future? For generally healthy individuals, I have some basics I would suggest to protect you and your family:
1. Good hygiene - wash your hands several times a day with soap and water.
2. Moisturize! studies have shown that moisturized hands are less likely to spread germs!
3. Eat well, avoid sugars
4. Stay well hydrated - your mucus membranes are your first line of defense against virus'
5. Make sure you immune system is strong - if you get sick often, see your Naturopath to discuss the MANY options for a strong immune system
6. Vitamin D - studies are showing it may be the vitamin of choice for flu-prevention!

In addition, I highly recommend one of the many homeopathic options for flu-prevention. Children are prime candidates for this type of approach because they respond very well to homeopathic remedies, which are a gentle, safe and natural way to increase the immune response. Guna-Flu, Gripp-Heel and Engystol are just a few of the remedies we offer at the clinic for prevention and treatment of the flu. These come in a gargle, tablet or flu-shot form.
Speak to your ND about the option that would be right for you!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca