HILLCREST CENTRE FOR HEALTH
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Welcome to our blog!

Recipe: Roasted Squash/Pumpkin Seeds

10/31/2013

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Ever felt bad about throwing away those pumpkin seeds? Been wondering what you have been missing?

Here is a great way to use them!  Makes a great granola, cereal or salad topping, trail mix ingredient, movie, TV or anytime snack!

What are the benefits? Pumpkin seeds are anti-parasitic, high in fiber and protein and rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamins A & C, folic acid, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc.. No empty calories here!


Ingredients
Raw pumpkin or Squash seeds.
1 Tsp Coconut oil
Salt

Directions
1. In cast iron skillet warm coconut oil over low heat.
2. Place seeds in skillet, salt to taste and stir frequently until golden on all sides. 
3. Let cool and ready to serve!
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Recipe: Pomegranate Pea Shoot Salad

10/31/2013

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Take advantage that pomegranates are in season to whip up this super easy, antioxidant rich, heart healthy salad! 

Did you know? Studies show pomegranate seeds improve blood flow, stop plaque formation, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and are a powerful antioxidant which counteract free radical damage!



Ingredients
1/2 cup Pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
1/2 Onion, sliced
1.5 Cups  Pea Shoots
3 Tbsp Feta, Crumbled OR Slivered Almonds ( 

Dressing
2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tsp Aged Balsamic
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions
Mix dressing ingredients together in a large bowl and add onions. Let sit 10 minutes. 
Seed the Pomegranate- see directions below.
Place all ingredients in the bowl.
Toss and serve!



Seeding a Pomegranate
  1. Cut the crown (protruding blossom end) off the pomegranate, removing with it some of the pale-yellow pith. Take care not to pierce the seeds within.
  2. Lightly score the skin in quarters from stem to crown end.
  3. Immerse the scored fruit in a large bowl of cool water and soak for 5 minutes. Holding the fruit under water, break sections apart with your fingers, separating the seeds from membrane. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl.
  4. Discard skin and membranes. Drain the seeds and dry on paper towels.

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Recipe: The No-cook Overnight Oatmeal

10/28/2013

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No time to prepare breakfast in the morning? Try this recipe! Prepared in minutes the night before, just grab and go in the morning. 

(Though ideally you should be sitting down and enjoying your meals in a relaxed setting for optimal digestions... sorry, just had to remind you!)

Why is this a nutritious breakfast? 
Oats are nourishing to the nervous system and help balance you in time of stress. As a side bonus, the protein in this power packed breakfast will keep your blood sugar balanced throughout the morning and leads to less cravings and snacking at night! Plus, lots of antioxidants and nutrients from the berries. Oh, and its gluten and dairy free too!

Ingredients
3/4 cup rolled oats (Bob's Red Mill is Gluten free)
1/4 shredded coconut (unsweetened)
2 Tbsp goji berries
1/4 cup of chopped almonds 
2 Tbsp hemp or pumpkin seeds
1 cup of unsweetened Almond, Soy or Coconut milk
1 Tbsp cinnamon
A squeeze of raw honey or raw agave to taste, if desired.

For a Chocolate variation: add 1 tsp raw cacao nibs. 
For a Vanilla variation: add 1/2 tsp natural vanilla extract.
For a Mixed berry Variation: add fresh raspberries or blueberries in the morning.
For a Nutty Variation: add pecans, walnuts and cashews.
For a Tropical Variation: add dried pineapple, fresh mango.
For a Fall Harvest Variation: add a Tbsp pumpkin puree, dash of nutmeg and clove & chopped walnuts.
For a Warming Winter Variation: add dried cranberry, chopped pecans, dash of cardamom & candied ginger. 


Directions:
In a Mason jar, place all dry ingredients and give them a stir.

Add milk.

Cover and leave in fridge overnight.

Add a little extra milk in the morning if you like it more liquid.

Yes, its as simple as that!


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Recipe: Quinoa Fritters

10/27/2013

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Makes: 10-15 Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes

This wonderful high protein snack is mineral rich and high in fiber and B vitamins. Perfect choice to stabilize blood sugar and ward off cravings. Makes a nice appetizer or side dish for lunch, dinner or brunch.


Ingredients
2 cups Quinoa
1 Egg
4-5 tbsp Quinoa Flour
1 leaf Swiss Chard
½ Red Sweet Peppers
3 tbsp Pine Nuts    
1 Green Onion
1 Garlic Clove
1-2 tbsp Coconut Oil
Sea Salt & Pepper to taste


Instructions:
  1. In a saucepan add 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water and cook over medium heat for until boiled, then cover and reduce to a simmer until dry. Let it cool.
  2. Mince swiss chard, peppers, pine nuts, onions and garlic and mix in a bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix quinoa flour with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Separate egg yolk from the white part and whisk until stiff. Add the egg yolk as well and whisk again.
  5. Mix cooked quinoa into the vegetables then add the egg and mix.
  6. Add dry ingredients and combine well.
  7. Heat pan on medium low for a few minutes, then add coconut oil. (Can bake at 300C for 15-20 minutes if preferred.)
  8. Spoon mixture into pan, flip when light brown. Serve warm.


Recipe courtesy of Johanna Orrego, Nutritionist.

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Recipie: Thai Soba Noodles

10/24/2013

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Ingredients
1 package soba noodles (Buckwheat)
1 cup snow peas
1 red pepper
1 cup bean sprouts
1 cup pea sprouts
1/4 cup cilantro
1/4 cup cashews
2 stalks green onion
1/4 cup shredded carrots


Sauce
3/4 c coconut milk
1/3 c peanut butter
2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp red thai curry paste
Salt to taste
 
Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside.

Cook soba noodles according to package instructions. Lightly steam snow peas as you are cooking the noodles (1-2 minutes). Run noodles and snow peas under cold water when they are finished cooking to cool them.

Thinly slice (Julienne) red pepper, carrots and snow peas into matchstick sized pieces.

Chop cilantro, pea sprouts, green onion, and cashews.
 
Mix all ingredients together in sauce bowl and serve it cold on a green leaf or in a bowl.
 
There you have it, an extremely tasty gluten and dairy free meal. Makes great leftovers too!

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Warning! Health Canada Recalls Contaminated Enzymes

10/24/2013

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This week a recall came out that affects many of our patients so we thought we would help spread the word. Please continue to share!

 Health Canada has recalled several digestive enzymes due to the discovery that they have been contaminated by Chloramphenicol. Chloramphenicol is an inexpensive antibiotic which can cause rare, but serious side effects of bone marrow suppression and aplastic anemia. Chloramphenicol has also been know to create a resistance to antibiotics over time, thus its use was largely discontinued in developed countries, but continues to be used in underdeveloped nations.

If you are taking digestive enzymes, please check the recall list frequently as new batched are updated: 
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2013/36355a-eng.php

Because the recall spans so many brands, many of them high quality brands like Metagenics, it is believed the contamination happened at the source of the raw materials. They are a handful of raw material suppliers of nutraceuticals in the world, many companies often use the same sources. In this case the supplier was Specialty enzymes & Biotechnologies.

What to do if you are taking a contaminated batch?

1. Stop taking it right away. 
2. Take a multi-strain probiotic short term to rebalance your intestinal flora.
3. If you are breastfeeding, Chloramphenicol passes through breast milk so possibly re-balancing baby's flora may be indicated.
4. Chloramphenicol is metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Make sure your liver is in top shape, some dandelion leaf and root tea would be helpful as the root works on the liver and the leaf on the kidneys.
5. Drink lots of water to flush it out of your system.
6. If you are still worried, consult with your Naturopathic Doctor.


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Toxic honey, another reason to buy local!

10/24/2013

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We came across this article this week "Asian Honey: Banned in Europe, Is Flooding U.S. Grocery Shelves" and thought we would share it with you as many of us may be unwittingly consuming these contaminated products. 
The article states that honey (and bee pollen) coming from India and China was contaminated with heavy metals and antibiotics. Honey from India was now banned in Europe, thus diverting its supply to North America where no ban is in place.

"Food safety investigators from the European Union barred all shipments of honey from India because of the presence of lead and illegal animal antibiotics.  Further, they found an even larger amount of honey apparently had been concocted without the help of bees, made from artificial sweeteners and then extensively filtered to remove any proof of contaminants or adulteration or indications of precisely where the honey actually originated.

An examination of international and government shipping tallies, customs documents and interviews with some of North America’s top honey importers and brokers documented the rampant honey laundering and that a record amount of the Chinese honey was being purchased by major U.S. packers." 

We all know by now that many products coming from Asia are contaminated and it makes sense that we try and avoid these products, unfortunately many of the pollen containing products on the market do not state the source of their raw materials. Just because a product is "Made in Canada" or "Made in the USA" does NOT mean that the raw materials originated in those countries, it just means that's where the product was put together. 


This is why at our Centre we have strict policies on what is sold in our dispensary. Our honey for instance, comes from Carlisle, Ontario, straight from the farm where it is collected and bottled. Our bee pollen comes from the same farm too, they are both raw, unprocessed and free of contaminants. The farm itself is a small family business that was started in 1981 and has been passed on through generations with about 750,000,000 hardworking bees on staff. 
We are proud to support small family businesses like ours, especially when we can reduce our ecological footprint by reducing the distance our products need to travel.

Our goal is to teach our patients and clients to ask questions, read labels, be smart consumers! 

Buying local isn't just about supporting the local economy or being patriotic, its about food safety and confidence in your food supply too!



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    About Us

    Welcome to the Hillcrest Centre for Health a community focused health centre offering a full spectrum of safe and effective health care services and supplements by combining a wellness clinic, healing spa and natural health boutique all in one convenient location!

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  • Home
  • Services
    • Acupuncture & TCM
    • Community Acupuncture
    • Intravenous Vitamin Therapy Lounge >
      • IV Vitamin C
      • Myers Cocktail
    • Infrared Sauna
    • Lab Testing
    • Virtual Kids Naturopathic "Walk-Ins"
  • Herbal dispensary
    • Dried Herbs
    • Herbal Tinctures
  • About us
    • Our Location
    • Our Team >
      • Dr. Alexandra Hurtado, ND
      • Dr. Natalia Ramirez,ND
      • Dr. Andrea Picardo
      • Dr. Al Vieira, ND
      • Dr. Lara Spector, ND
      • Dr. Nicole Henry, ND
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Mississauga Clinic
  • FAQs
    • FAQs Clinic
  • Español
  • Blog