Vol. 26 January 2012 Issue

In this issue:

1. Happy New Year from Pacific Wellness
2. Lessons from Dr. Mayer’s “Ten Quick Ways to Kill Your Husband”
3. A New Year Resolution Worth Adding to Your List
4. New Moxibustion Research Coauthored by Dr. Tanaka
5. Coconut Cream Seafood Chowder
6. Let Us Help You Achieve a Healthier 2012
7. Seasonal Recipe
8. Comments

Happy New Year

As we welcome year 2012, we would like to wish you optimum health in the new year, expanded awareness of your body needs, intuitive connection of mind-body and many happy visits to Pacific Wellness.  We are here to assist and support you on the journey of looking after your health.

What is your top new year’s wish?  We are certain many of you would say health of your own and loved ones. After all, there is nothing more important than good health.

In every issues of Pacific Wellness Quarterly, we have been providing useful health tips for our readers. In this issue, however, we’d like to take a different approach:

An article, Ten Quick Ways to Kill Your Husband, originally appeared in a Florida newspaper in 1974. It was written by Dr. Jean Mayer, Professor of nutrition at Harvard University at that time. Although nutrition advice or theory changes every so often, for the most part, his advice still holds true after almost 40 years. As the title of the article suggests, Dr. Mayer lists ten unhealthy lifestyle habits that most likely shorten anyone’s life expectancy.  Of course, the real intent of Dr. Mayer was to inform his readers about unhealthy lifestyle with hopes that they would choose a healthy way of living. This is also our intention of introducing his article.

So, we hope you’ll enjoy the article and be sure not to comply with Dr. Mayer’s “recommendations.”  This will help create a healthier 2012 and many years to come for you and your loved ones.

Instead of waiting until December 2012, why not schedule routine massage appointments as of now?  Here are some of the benefits:

• You will improve your health and possibly prevent acute muscle pain
• You will have support to manage your stress
• You will avoid the hassle of squeezing in last minute appointments
• You will not need to compromise your schedule
• You will not need to battle traffic and look for a parking spot

By Victoria Murdoch

(Editorial Note: The seasonal recipe in our newsletter has always been a popular reading.  This special recipe is a contribution from one of our readers, Victoria Murdoch.  We would like to extend our thanks to Victoria for sharing this recipe with us.)

As winter sets in, it’s so comforting to come home and be greeted by the heart-warming aromas of a simple and delicious hot meal.  This chowder is perfect for dinner, lunch and leftovers and you can customize it with your own favourite seafood and hearty vegetables.  So let it snow!  You’ve got a hot meal waiting!

Ingredients:

• Cubed fresh or frozen (thawed) sturdy seafood such as whitefish, (cod, halibut) or shellfish (shrimp, scallops, calamari, lobster)
• Coconut milk
• Juice from one lemon
• Chopped Onions
• Minced Garlic
• Peeled and slivered fresh ginger root
• Chopped vegetables such as carrots, celery, broccoli, green Peas
• Lemongrass shoots.  (To prepare, peel away a few husks from the stick, chop off root end and about 1/3 of the other end.  Chop into 2” shoots.  These are like bay leafs, you leave them in the dish to flavour while cooking, but they are not eaten)
• Dried Basil
• Salt to taste

What do I do?

1. In a large pot, sauté onions on med/low heat in a bit of oil until translucent, add garlic and ginger, and sauté for another minute.
2. Add seafood and sauté on medium until edges are opaque.
3. Turn heat to med/hi and add lemon juice.
4. Add all veggies and mix gently.
5. Add a can of coconut milk (or two if you have a very large pot) and top with water until liquid is just over the top of the mixture.
6. Add lemongrass shoots and a large dose of dried basil.
7. Cover and turn heat to max.  Once chowder boils, turn down to a light simmer. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes or until veggies are tender.
8. Season with salt to taste.

Creamy, delicious, hot and ready; a simple dish for a not-so-simple season!

Wishing you Health and Happiness,

Victoria

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Victoria Murdoch is an actress/voice over talent and hostess who enjoys cooking for her friends and family and sharing her recipes and tips on living gluten and dairy-free on her food blog.

Dairy Free Ginger Cake

By: Melissa Lee, BSc. ND 2012

Even though the holidays are over, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this warming Ginger Cake!

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup safflower oil

1/2 cup fine ground natural cane sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup unsulphured molasses

Zest of 1 lemon

1 cup soy milk

Love

Icing sugar

Method

1. Place the rack in the centre of the oven and then preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease a cake pan with safflower oil (8X11 inch square pan)
3. In one bowl mix the dry ingredients together: whole wheat pastry flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
4. In another bowl beat the oil and sugar until it is mixed well together (about 4 minutes).
   1. Add one egg at a time.
   2. Add the molasses and lemon zest
   3. Add the milk and mix
   4. Add the dry ingredients and mix until all is combine
   5. Add your love
   6. Pour the batter in the cake pan
   7. Bake for 30-40 minutes.  Check at 30 minute mark with inserting a toothpick in the centre of the pan
   8. Let the cake cool
   9. Sprinkle icing sugar on the top and serve

“Let Thy Food be Thy Medicine”

-          Hippocrates

The Benefits of Ginger

Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinale Roscoe has been cultivated in India, Japan and China since the 1500s.  It is used as a seasoning or fragrance in foods, beverages, body products and cosmetics.

Ginger contains several macronutrients such as proteins, fats, fiber, carbohydrates, minerals and phytochemicals.  In particular the active compounds that give ginger its spice and health benefits are known as gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and volatile oils.  These compounds have been shown to help with nausea, motion sickness, and dizziness.  Furthermore, these compounds have been studied for its ability to improve heart health, regulate blood sugar levels, act as a digestive aid, and act as an antioxidant.   So as the benefits may not be so obvious in a ginger cake, try this cake with a fresh ginger tea!

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Melissa Lee is currently a 4^th year intern at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (which is based out of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine).

References

Ali, BH., Blunden, G., Tanira, MO., Nemmar, A.  Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): A review of recent research.  Food and Chemical Toxicology (2008); 46: 409-420.

Butt, MS., Sultan, MT.  Ginger and its health claims: molecular aspects.  Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2011); 51: 383- 393.

Natural Standard, Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). (2011).

Monica, you did an amazing job!  You made my day!  Love you Pacific Wellness Institute!  For sure I’ll be back again!

Sincerely,

Erika A.

Due to major surgery, I have spent numerous years undergoing therapy for my neck / shoulder region.  I have seen numerous therapists over the years, but I find Angela has been the best.  She is very compassionate while being completely competent.  She is very friendly and works on the areas I need.  I would highly recommend Angela to anyone.

Lorrie Easson

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PUBLISHER  The Pacific Wellness Institute, Tim H. Tanaka, Ph.D., Director

CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE  Victoria Murdoch, Melissa Lee, HBSc., ND (Candidate)

THE PACIFIC WELLNESS INSTITUTE  80 Bloor Street West, Suite 1100, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2V1  T. 416 929 6958 F. 416 929 6365

info@pacificwellness.ca  www.pacificwellness.ca

Vol. 25 December 2011 Issue
In this issue:

1. Season’s Greetings from Pacific Wellness
2. Insurance Benefits
3. Holiday Alert
4. Holiday Gift Certificates
5. Clinic News
6. Breaking Free and Improving our Bodies
7. Comments
8. Seasonal Recipe