by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jul 23, 2013 | Allergies, Autoimmune, Detoxification, Diet, Digestion, Food, Health, Nutrition, Skin health
There are many types of immune cells in our bodies and various groups that they belong to: leukocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, etc. Some of the major contenders, and the ones that are involved in autoimmune disease and allergic conditions, are a type of lymphocyte called the T cells. T cells can be divided into more groups: among them cytotoxic, “killer” T cells and helper T cells.
The helper T cells have a role in presenting inside invaders to B cells and other cells of the immune system, while the killer T cells kill the bad guys directly. The helper T cells can be divided into two more groups: Th1 and Th2 (the h stands for “helper”). Th1 cells are involved in the first part of the immune system, showing the invaders to macrophages, which eat the invading pathogens, Pacman style, while also sounding the call that the body has been invaded and recruiting more immune cells to the scene. The Th2 cells show the invaders to other lymphocytes, the B cells, which make antibodies, providing the body with memory of what to do when the same invader strikes again.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jun 28, 2013 | Detoxification, Digestion, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Salad
Arugula is in season right now; everyone’s gardens are blossoming with it and that’s fantastic news. Its pretty, delicately shaped leaves and interesting, spicy bite combines well with any summer salad recipe. It provides flavour and punch to a nutrient-rich profile of fat soluble vitamins, calcium and carotenoids. Plus, there’s something about it that just makes me feel fancy.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jun 19, 2013 | Cooking, Dessert, Diet, Digestion, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Healthy Baking, Nutrition
“Great cookies!” Someone exclaimed as I passed around the tupperware container. And, as is custom at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, home of the famous elimination diet, they added, “Are they gluten-free?”
Little did this particular colleague know, these cookies aren’t just gluten-free, they’re grain-free, dairy-free and egg-free. What’s the secret ingredient? It’s not almond flour, as most grain-free recipe experts might suspect, but chickpeas. Yeah. So, before you stop reading, just try them, they’re easy to make and you’ll be able to fool your friends (and maybe even yourself) too.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jun 3, 2013 | Detoxification, Diet, Digestion, Food, Gluten Free, Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Skin health
Resolving to be healthier? If you’ve ever related to the sentiment, “I’m going to start drinking green sh#% and jogging“, here’s your chance to start (well, minus the jogging). Introducing a summer-appropriate, thick and green (so it must be healthy) smoothie! This is a protein-rich smoothie that contains two servings of greens, healthy fats, fibre and plenty of phytochemicals and antioxidants, which are great for your skin, your brain and digestive systems.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | May 28, 2013 | Cafe, Detoxification, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Health, Preventive Medicine
That is often the health question… On this blog I have openly admitted to loving coffee. Throughout the course of applying my studies in naturopathic medicine to my own life, I’ve been able to make necessary changes to my diet and have watched the way I eat evolve quite dramatically over the past three years. I was once a vegetarian, who ate a carb-heavy diet, full of pasta, and now I follow a whole foods diet, free of diary, gluten, processed foods and refined sugars. There is one thing I’ve been unable to give up for good, however, and that’s coffee.
I can go time without it and often put myself to the challenge to do so. But, while it’s been over a year since I’ve bitten into a baguette, I just can’t say good-bye to coffee forever. And should I even try? When it comes to coffee, there are few foods that receive more mixed messages with regards to the health benefits or risks. Here are some of the pros and cons to visiting your favourite local beanery.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Apr 23, 2013 | Cooking, Dessert, Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Healthy Baking, Nutrition, Recipes
So, you’ve probably heard of black bean brownies before. However, just like “therapist”, black bean brownie is not a protected title. There are just as many varieties of recipes as there are hits for “black bean brownie” on google. Some have flour, some barely contain beans, some are full of sugar to disguise their “healthy-ness.” However, I hope this recipe, which I created as a modified version of the White Bean Blondies, is deserving of Black Bean Brownie certification.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Apr 11, 2013 | Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dessert, Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Nutrition, Recipes, Student
Our last day of Primary Care, a third year course that is both the most educational course of the year and the bane of our existence, our group decided to have a pot luck. In the spirit of bringing something healthy, guilt-free and yummy to get us through our last weeks of class, I decided to try making these guys: chocolate chip white bean blondies. In true naturopathic spirit they are made of whole foods and are grain-free, dairy-free, contain no eggs or preservatives and are low in sugar. It’s important to chow down in a guilt-free manner from time to time.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Apr 2, 2013 | Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Health, Nutrition, Paleo, Recipes
Health food needs to be grab-able. I believe that, if people are going to make lifelong changes to their diet and health, eating should be made as simple as possible. I think that many of us start the day off right and, because we forget to plan our snacks, we reach for that bag of salty, greasy potato chips to keep our blood sugar up and keep us going through a long, stressful day. That’s why it helps to have a snack list: a list of things that we can easily prepare and eat when we’re hungry and the only thing we’re crunching is time.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Mar 18, 2013 | Colombia, Dessert, Diet, Digestion, Food, Health, Jungle Medicine, Nutrition, South America
While traveling in South America, people sometimes ask me what I do for a living. Unlike some of the reactions I sometimes get in North America, when I tell people from South America that I’m a naturopathic medical student, I usually get warm, excited responses.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Mar 5, 2013 | Dessert, Diet, Digestion, Elimination Diet, Food, Food Sensitivities, Gluten Free, Health, Nutrition, Recipes
Being on a diet makes it hard to snack, especially when on the road. Any true Canadian will tell you that no road trip is complete without a stop at Tim Horton’s, our favourite roadside coffee hub. And, of course, no Tim Horton’s coffee is truly satisfying without a delicious box of “Timbits”, or assorted doughnut holes, by its side. Every Friday, while teaching English in the summer, I would bring in a box of Timbits for my students to sample some “authentic Canadian cuisine”. They loved them, not surprisingly. Sadly, most people on a naturopathic diet – whichever naturopathic diet you follow – can’t eat Timbits, which are basically little balls of gluten and sugar. But don’t despair, this snack makes a delicious grain-free, whole foods substitute. And the best thing about these coconut-covered balls? They’re good for you!
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