My Favorite Back to Fall Teas

My Favorite Back to Fall Teas

Dr. Alisha Rawji ND

Cinnamon almond milk matcha tea: great for when you’re feeling like you need a pick me up!

  • Start with 1 cup of almond milk, steamed in a saucepan or with a milk steamer. Note that you can also use cashew or rice milk (although it will likely not be as creamy as the almond milk).
  • Mix in 1 tsp of matcha powder (organically sourced if possible).
  • Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.
  • Sweeten if you would like with ½ tsp of honey/manuka honey.
  • Mix and enjoy!

 

Honey Ginger and Lemon tea: change of season cold/flu season/sore throat/feeling stuffy!

  • Grate or finely shop up around 1 tablespoon of pure/organic ginger (peeled or unpeeled).
  • Add ½ to 1 tablespoon of lemon.
  • Pour 1 cup of boiling water over ginger and lemon mix and let is steep for 3-5 minutes.
  • Optional: mix in half a handful of goji berries, to add some antioxidant support
  • Use strainer to pour the liquid portion into a mug.
  • Add ½ – 1 teaspoon of honey/manuka honey to taste, and sip slowly – enjoy!

 

Dairy Free “Golden Milk” Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Tea: overall health wellness and energy!

  • 1cup of almond milk steamed in a saucepan or with a milk steamer.
  • ¼ cup of pumpkin puree (organically sourced if possible).
  • ½ – 1 teaspoon of organic turmeric powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder
  • ¼ nutmeg powder
  • Add 2-3 drops of vanilla, caramel or unflavoured stevia.
  • Add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil or ghee until full melted.
  • Mix all contents, pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!

 

 

 

Docere Presents Anti-inflammatory Chicken Stew

Docere Presents Anti-inflammatory Chicken Stew

Turmeric is a wonderful herb, that can reduce inflammation and promote circulation. This chicken stew recipe is very warming and nutritive. Great to cook in large batches or even freeze. With busy back to school schedules, this recipe could easily be done in a crockpot to save time and make life EASY!

Anti-inflammatory Chicken Stew

1/4 cup Coconut Oil

10 oz Chicken Breast (skinless, boneless, diced into chunks)

2 Yellow Onion (medium, diced)

1 tsp Turmeric

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Cardamom

1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 1/2 tsp Sea Salt

3 Tomato (large, diced)

1/2 cup Parsley (finely chopped and divided)

2 tbsp Raw Honey

1/3 cup Organic Raisins

Heat coconut oil over medium heat in a large pot or saucepan. Add chicken, onion, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 15 minutes.

Add tomatoes, half the parsley, honey, and raisins. Cover and cook for another 15 minutes.

Uncover and serve immediately. Garnish with remaining parsley. Enjoy!

Liver IV Therapy and Hangovers

Liver IV Therapy and Hangovers

by Dr. Alisha Rawji ND

IV therapy stands for Intravenous Therapy. Vitamins and minerals are administered directly into the venous system which allows for 100% absorption into the body via the blood stream, and into the cells via diffusion. The Liver IV, is wonderful for speeding up the cleansing and detoxification processes of the liver, especially if one has been exposed to toxins such as environmental pollutants, or excessive alcohol consumption for example. Especially after  wild stampede party or company bbq…

 

When alcohol breaks down, it forms compounds called aldehydes. Aldehyde build-up in high amounts in the bloodstream can be toxic to the liver, and when it builds up too much, can cause many of the typical hangover symptoms such as: nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, fatigue, weakness, irritability, headaches, muscle and body aches, loss of memory, and loss of consciousness.

 

Glutathione, is the most abundant antioxidant found in the body. It is very poorly absorbed orally, and therefore it is very commonly added as a liver detoxification agent in an IV therapy protocol. Taurine and Magnesium also have added benefits for not only liver detoxification, but also for brain function and overall health.

 

When aldehydes build up, glutathione gets depleted. Glutathione is also known as the ‘mother of all antioxidants’ – and it truly is. It is vital in detoxifying (turning over toxic agents into non-toxic forms) in the body, and works within liver cells to do this. Glutathione is absolutely vital, therefore, in liver detoxification by clearing toxic aldehyde buildup in the liver, and is, very important in the prevention of hangovers symptoms. Glutathione is also very well researched in the management of liver disorders and is known to have anti-aging and antioxidant effects. As well, it is very poorly absorbed orally (by mouth); therefore IV therapy (or injections) are the most effective ways to administer glutathione into the body.

 

Finally, alcohol works as a diuretic, which means one will excrete fluid at a high rate through urination. This causes a large amount of dehydration, due to loss of both water and electrolytes, as well as water-soluble vitamins such as B-vitamins, vitamin c, magnesium, and other trace minerals. This rapid elimination can further exacerbate vitamin and minerals deficiencies; which is why, replenishment via IV therapy can greatly help liver health due to excessive drinking, and can also be helpful for elimination of toxins from the body, in general.

 

For more information, or to find out how to book in an IV therapy treatment, contact Docere Wellness Centre at [email protected] or call 403-452-6262.

 

Docere Wellness Presents Easy Kale Salad

Docere Wellness Presents Easy Kale Salad

Don’t be afraid of KALE! It is a healthy dark green leafy green that will taste amazing when prepared in this salad. A summer go to with it’s easy prep and tasty goodness.

Easy Kale salad

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1 Garlic (clove, minced)

1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

4 cups Kale Leaves (stem removed, thinly sliced)

1/4 cup Pistachios (chopped)

 

Add the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and nutritional yeast to a small bowl and whisk to combine.

Add the kale to a large bowl and drizzle the dressing over top. Massage with your hands to ensure it is evenly coated. Divide between plates. Top with pistachios. Serve as a side to your favorite entre.

 

Leadership Lessons from my Littles: Acting with Integrity

Leadership Lessons from my Littles: Acting with Integrity

By Amanda Delamer, MSc, CPCC, ACC

My husband and I always know where our kids stand on any particular topic – they do not hesitate for a second to share what they are feeling, chime in with their two cents or express themselves fully. They don’t know it yet, but they are choosing not compromise on what they value and what they know in their hearts to be true. And wow, they are so honest about it. They are acting with integrity.

As much as we would prefer to be on the same page as we are getting ready to leave the house (or the park, or the pool, or from soccer, or after gymnastics…), we would not change a thing. As a parent, what a gift to witness your children fully and completely owning and expressing what is true for them. They are not concerned about us not liking them or being upset with them – instead, they just let themselves be “all in” with being honest. Whether they know or not, it is them acting with integrity. And while challenging at times, it is so very refreshing.

And when our places of integrity are not in agreement – our little people are amazing at using our own lines right back at us and say with confidence, “it’s okay if we have different opinions” or “we can different opinions”. Love it!

So, when do we start choosing not to live fully in integrity? What makes us decide to not speak up when we disagree with something or someone, or when we are witness to something that we are not okay with? What makes us nod “yes”, when inside we are thinking “heck no!”?

And what gets in the way of us not acting with integrity? For me, I notice that the thoughts of “careful, they might not like you if…” or “don’t rock the boat” or “pick your battles” are frequent saboteur voices that pop up.

Bottom line, when we act with integrity we are making a choice to fully honour ourselves and the people or circumstances we are faced with. Our kids need us to model integrity, and lead by example.

Go forward kidlets! Live with integrity, have a voice, be true to yourself. We will do our best to not ask you to tone it down, and to stay out of your way. Oh, and thank you for modeling integrity for us adults!

Amanda Delamer is a self-awareness and fulfillment coach. Amanda coaches and supports people in living healthy, balanced and joyful lives. She coaches and honours the whole person – mind, body and spirit. Her clients experience fulfillment in all parts of their lives – health, family, relationships, career, and beyond – and they value and appreciate that all parts of their lives are connected, and we all have responsibility in and for the world around us. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband and three children.