In holistic healthcare, inflammation is often recognized as a root cause for many chronic and acute conditions. The four major signs of inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, and pain. Using food as medicine can be very effective for management of chronic inflammation symptoms. The first step is to minimize foods in the diet that promote inflammation, which include sugar (including honey and high-sugar fruits), grains, and processed vegetable oils like canola oil and peanut oil. The next step is to focus the diet on high quality, nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, high quality animal protein, turmeric, and healthy fats.

Ingredients:
– 1 ½ c water (if too thick add another ½ cup)
– 1 ½ c carrots (cut in 1” chunks before measuring), or fresh carrot juice
– 1 green onion
– 5 Tbsp coconut (shredded, unsweetened)
– 1 tsp turmeric
– ½ tsp sea salt
– 1 Tbsp lemon juice
– 1 date
– 2 Tbsp fresh lemongrass (finely chopped)
– 1 Tbsp fresh ginger (finely chopped)
– 1 avocado –half to blend and half cut into pieces for topping
– 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro
Blend all ingredients, except avocado and cilantro, until smooth. Add half avocado and blend. Pour into serving bowl. Makes 3 ½ cups. Sprinkle top with avocado pieces and minced cilantro.
From Uncooking with RawRose by Rose Vasile. Available at your local Rawthentic Eatery.

Place ½ cup of roasted sesame seeds, squeeze ½ lemon, 1t sea salt and ¼ cup olive oil in a food processer. Blend until paste. Add; 5 cloves crushed garlic, ½t cayenne pepper, 2T chili flakes, ½t black pepper, squeeze in the other ½ lemon, and 1 can drained & rinsed organic chickpeas. Blend and slowly add approx. ¼ c water to the consistency. Garish with paprika.

Kayla MacDonald, R.H.N., on-staff Nutritionist for Edible Island Whole Foods Market

Creating a solid foundation for a well balanced diet is vital to achieve optimal nutrient status, while meeting your daily fibre, protein and fat requirements for good health. In general, our dietary focus should be to include high quality proteins from a variety of sources, healthy fats including omegas, saturated fats and unrefined plant based oils, and of course, a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.

It is widely accepted that eating fresh produce is one of the most important components of a healthy diet, and a good rule of thumb is to eat “from the rainbow”. This means eating a variety of vegetables of different coloured flesh – everything from reds, oranges and yellows, to deep blues and purples. This is because each colour generally has a corresponding nutrient that it is rich in – for example, orange foods tend to be high in beta carotene, and dark blue or purple foods such as blueberries are highest in antioxidants. The deeper pigmentation of the fruit or vegetable is often indicative of the nutrient density of the food. One colour that is particularly beneficial to include on your plate is green.

Greens include everything from culinary herbs to sprouts to dark leafy greens. These mineral rich vegetables are loaded with calcium and magnesium, which are essential for structural (bones, joints) and dental health. Magnesium also acts as a muscle relaxant, which relieves muscle cramping and restless legs, and is often beneficial for anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Greens are also high in B vitamins, particularly folate, which is important for DNA and RNA synthesis, cell division, and prevention of birth defects. Greens are vital for vegans or vegetarians, as they contain both vitamin K and iron, two of the most common deficiencies in plant based diets. Greens are also high in fibre, but low in sugar and carbohydrates, which makes them perfect for balancing blood sugar, improving insulin sensitivity, and aiding weight management. Fibre also helps promote proper digestion and elimination.

Incorporating more greens into your diet does not have to be a chore. I get it, not everybody loves kale – in fact, the plant gets a bad reputation, often because it’s picked when it’s woody, bitter and out of season. Baby kale or winter kale is a much more tender, sweet option than woody curly kale grown in the heat of summer. But the options are endless – try spinach, different lettuces, mizuna, arugula, mustard greens, dandelion greens, broccoli leaves, watercress, chard, collards. Depending on the green, they can be eaten raw, steamed, or even placed strategically in foods so you can’t taste them. This can be a great option for kids (or stubborn husbands) – try blending spinach or lettuce into a fruit smoothie, or adding a handful of greens into your next soup or spaghetti sauce. Zucchini muffins count, too!

The first step to optimizing your overall health is adding more plants into your diet. Always opt for fresh, seasonal foods that have been grown locally. Start with adding a few cups of greens to your plate every day, whether that be cooked, raw, blended, stir fried, or stewed. Greens powders, liquids, and capsules are also available, which are a great option for picky eaters or busy bodies who aren’t always able to get time in the kitchen. But as always, health and nutrition begins on your plate!

Kayla MacDonald, R.H.N.

Q: I want to do some tricky hikes this summer. My partner and I plan to do some scrambles and I really need my reading glasses to see the maps. Is getting progressives worth it for this?
A: Your optometrist or optician can take a look at your prescription and records to see if it would work for you. I often tell my patients that progressive bifocals are built for convenience, so that you don’t have to keep switching between reading glasses and far distance glasses. Some newer designs of progressives are made for comfortable vision in difficult situations like steep stairs or uneven terrain, and they’re easier to get used to than ever. As a bonus, full-time glasses can not only enhance your vision, but also protect your eyes from ultraviolet light and become darker in bright conditions if you so wish.

Jane Warren Campbell, in her book “Conversations with a Tree”, states that, “Love is the unconditional appreciation for all life, it is the acceptance of who you are and the allowing of others to be who they are. Love is the foundation to happiness. If you do not truly love yourself, deep inside, you will not create the life you dream of.”
Trees have a bounty of love for all and are worth having a conversation with. Seek out a tree, hug it, talk to it, lay your back and head against its trunk, and you will receive love, wisdom, and healing.

In holistic healthcare, inflammation is often recognized as a root cause for many chronic and acute conditions. The four major signs of inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, and pain. For management of chronic inflammation symptoms, using food as medicine can be very effective. The first step is to minimize foods in the diet that promote inflammation, which include any type of sugar (including honey and high-sugar fruits), grains, and processed vegetable oils like canola oil and peanut oil. The next step is to focus the diet on high quality, nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, high quality animal protein, turmeric, and healthy fats.

Kombucha is known for its ability to help aid in digestion, stimulate metabolism, and decrease infections, and studies have shown that along with probiotics and antioxidants, kombucha also offers a variety of vitamins and minerals. One study conducted in the Republic of Macedonia in 2001 looked at the mineral and water-soluble vitamins in kombucha that was made with 0.7% sucrose and 5 g/L of black tea. The researchers found that the kombucha contained vitamins B1, B6, B12, and C, along with minerals like zinc, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and cobalt, all of which contribute to better health.