The Art & Practice Blog
Naturopathic Doctors as Health Advocates?
Walking down University Avenue in Toronto past all the major hospitals, including the Princess Margaret, a hospital that specializes in oncology, one can't help but notice the lines of smokers puffing away outside, in front of the hospital doors, in the frigid...
Finding My Motivation
This morning I dropped J off at the airport as he caught the 8am flight back to Bogotá, Colombia. These past two weeks, where I showed him a bit of my world, after sharing his for two years, in both Bogotá and Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, were a whirlwind of...
Chili Chocolate Chai Latte!
Now that the temperature is dropping, it is important to maintain agni, our digestive fire, in order to keep us energized, warm and free from colds and flu. One of the most amazing herbs for stimulating agni is cayenne pepper. Cayenne has amazing health benefits,...
Uchuva: The Inca Berry or Goldenberry
After drinking Caribbean tap water for about 6 months in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, I ended up with an amoebic infection. Not having a decent healthcare plan in Colombia I had to content myself with visiting the local pharmacist to help me deal with my problem....
Montreal: Art, Coffee and Chocolate
I don't really have an excuse as to why, having been born and raised in Toronto and having studied in Kingston, Ontario, a stone's throw from Montreal, I'd never visited this vibrant city. I finally made the trek with Joe when he came to visit Canada this February....
Get a Winter Glow with Hydrotherapy
One of the best ways I've ever ended a hectic exam-period was by going to the female-only hydrotherapy spa; Body Blitz! Scandinavian (Hydrotherapy) Spas involve putting the body through a series of hot and cold cycles (a sauna/warm bath followed by a roll in the snow...
Toronto Restaurant: Ethiopian House
I was first brought to this little pocket of African culture in the city of Toronto by my good friend, K. I had the good fortune to meet my friend K while studying Life Sciences at Queen's University. K is from a dynamic family background consisting of Armenian and...
Glorious Kale Chips!
Sometimes I wonder about the so-called "health food" that we encounter in health food restaurants like Fresh in Toronto. I mean, what exactly constitutes a health food? Are fried onion rings healthy just because they were breaded with quinoa instead of corn batter? ...
The Kitchen Spa
Maybe it's the stress from being in class for long hours, the assignment deadlines and almost monthly exams we have, but CCNM really takes a toll on my skin. Flawless skin is a tricky thing to achieve, as factors such as stress levels, hormone balance and food...
Creating Balanced Meals: The 6 Tastes of Ayurveda
I'm sure all of you can name the 4 taste receptors that scientists have discovered on the tongue: sweet, sour, salty and bitter. However, Ayurvedic medicine has categorized food properties into 6 distinct tastes. Some of the constitutional doshas require more of...
Gluten-Free Apple Squares
After reading and, therefore, being terrified by the book "Wheat Belly" by William Davis, MD, I decided to continue with my attempt to jump on the gluten-free bandwagon (or just run alongside it from time to time). While shopping with my brother and Nonna at The No...
6 Tips for Falling Asleep
Cortisol, the stress hormone, is released as part of a the Fight or Flight response. You've probably heard the story: back when we were huntering and gathering, when faced with a wild, sabor-toothed tiger, adrenaline was released, our blood vessels dilated, our...
Occupy CCNM!
This common time, Monday, February 6 from 12:15-2:00 pm at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, an OAND Town Hall meeting will be held regarding the Transition Council, to discuss the new legislation for naturopathic doctors in the province of Ontario. As...
Easy Spinach Salad
When people picture "healthy food", chances are high that the first food that comes to mind is salad, especially nutrient-rich spinach salad. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, raw foods require more digestive "heat" to break down and, therefore, are not...
5 Ayurvedic Practices for Digestive Health
According to Ayurveda, disease is a result of poor digestion and poor assimilation of food into the body. Therefore, when we take care to attend to our digestive health, we prevent the occurrence of disease. Here are some tips from an excellent book a classmate lent...
My Top 5 Favourite Health Apps
We've all heard of the potential health implications of spending too much time wired in. Whether it's the radiation from our cell phones, the arthritis that sets in our thumbs, the damage done to our interpersonal communication skills or the strain on our eyes, we're...
Do Unto Others
We've all heard the Golden Rule before: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", and its many variations. But, how valid is this rule and it's impact on leading a happy, healthy and morally sound life? I look at lessons in homeopathy and ayurvedic...
Slow Oats for a Rushed Morning
There are few things as comforting as being greeted by a steaming bowl of warm oatmeal on a cold winter morning. Unfortunately, who has the time to prepare a pot at 6:30 in the morning? Isn't it a shame that we can't all have our own personal chef who prepares a...
Spicy Thai Peanut Soup
One of my favourite dishes for the cold, sluggish winter season is this hearty and invigorating peanut soup. This delicious soup is easy to make and is better (and cheaper) than going to a Thai restaurant. I guarantee you'll serve yourself a second bowl....