Saturday, August 29, 2009

New & Improved Camellia Oil Formula by Plant2Body Organics


As many of you know I have always recommended the most simple and natural products for skin care, and over the years I have recommended Camellia oil exclusively for use as a daily moisturizer - day and night. I myself have used nothing but Camellia oil on my skin - I like that it is deeply absorbed and doesn't leave a greasy feel, I like that it is suitable for all skin types, and I like that the oil is one of the most similar to our own skin oils.
This past year my friend (and fellow naturopathic doctor), Carol Zawada, and I have discussed that we would like to make a Camellia oil based skin moisturizer with the addition of a couple beneficial ingredients. After months of testing various blends, we have selected a combination of 3 natural and organic ingredients that we are confident our patients will love. We have called our company 'Plant2Body Organics' and the blend is called 'Nourishing Serum'.
Plant2Body Nourishing Serum is a natural and organic serum made entirely of plant oils (Camellia oil, Perilla Oil and Vitamin E) that are known to deeply penetrate the skin and nourish it from the inside. This blend of oils contains antioxidants and vitamins which help protect the skin from free-radical damage and are known to restore and rejuvenate both skin and hair. Nourishing serum helps skin retain moisture and look radiant. Excellent treatment for minimizing fine lines, stretch marks and scars. Contains NO chemicals, parabens or fragrances.
For those of you that liked the Camellia oil in the past, I'm excited for you to try the Nourishing Serum! It will be available at the clinic by Thursday of this week.


Dr. Anna Falkowski, HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Tea consumers may have younger biological age

A new study is showing that the cells of regular tea drinkers may have a younger biological age than cells from non-drinkers, according to new research from China.
"The antioxidative properties of tea and its constituent nutrients may protect telomeres from oxidative damage in the normal ageing process," wrote the authors in the British Journal of Nutrition.
For the complete study click here.

Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent.

Another reason to switch one of those cups of java for a green tea!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Friday, August 21, 2009

COMING SOON!...I'm very excited

Over the last few months I've been working on a body wash, and needless to say this has been one of the toughest yet rewarding projects. Soap is really tricky because most of them contain foaming agents (which are chemicals AND they dry out skin), thickening agents and of course perfumes or essential oils to mask the smell of the actual soap. I have finally decided on a completely pure Castile soap that's actually made with 100% olive oil (unlike most other soaps that use coconut oil or other seed/nut oils). The soap is normally a very watery consistency (although EXTREMELY potent), so I also set out to find the perfect bottle for it. I was very happy to discover that it worked amazingly in a foamer bottle, which takes the liquid and converts it into a beautiful soft foam simply by adding air. Brilliant! I've been using this soap around the house and on my kids, and i'm very happy with the results. It's gentle on the skin and leaves it very soft - I don't hesitate bathing my kids daily (and we all know they need it in the summer!). The best part is that it's suitable for 'Head-to-Toe' use. I wash my kids hair with it and it comes out shiny and clean. I use it myself as a face wash, and the results are great - it removes make-up without drying the skin. Also makes makes an excellent hand soap. I can't wait to share it with everyone. I should have the labelling done and the soap bottled in the next week or so! Stay tuned!

Dr. Anna Falkowsk HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Yummy Breakfast Idea!

Recently I came across a raw muesli recipe and decided to give it a try. This is such a simple and flexible breakfast option, and best of all - the kids LOVED it! There are no exact measurements in this recipe - use as much or as little of each ingredient as you like. These are all just options, so play with the recipe based on what works for your family. I purchased all my ingredients at the Bulk Barn, which allows you buy just what you need. Here are some options for your muesli:
-Spelt flakes
-raw cashews
-raw almonds
-raw sunflower seeds
-raw pumpkin seeds
-dried apricots
-dried goji berries
-dates
-raisins
-coconut flakes
-dried cranberries
If you don't like big pieces, briefly chop the fruit/nuts in a food processor. Place all ingredients in a large glass jar or tupperware and keep in a dry and cool environment. To serve, use some of the your muesli mixture and add seasonal fresh fruit (I like peaches, blueberries and raspberries). Add almond milk or soy milk. This was such a hit for both my kids, and what a wonderful way to start the day! This is a great nutritious and naturopathic snack for kids going off to school!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Help Support Emmanuel's Wish Walk-a-thon!

Emmanuel's wish will be hosting a 5km walk-a-thon in Barrie to help raise money for a project they're working on in Haiti. I love the work they do and have decided to make Olive Baby a supporter of the Emmanuel's wish foundation, so I will be doing the 5km walk as well. I am asking everyone to help support this wonderful cause, which has a strong focus on impoverished children, by donating any amount of money for this event. To donate and for more details please go to:

http://www.olivebaby.ca/walkathon.php

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Healthy Chips & Dip

As most moms know, kids like anything you can dip. The other day my 3 year old asked for salsa and corn chips (which he'd had the previous weekend at our friends house). I decided to make it more nutritious and more like a 'meal' by adding a few extra ingredients. I diced up an avocado, and added 1/2 cup of black beans into a bowl. I covered these with a mild salsa (this one had tomatoes and corn), and then gave them a gentle stir. I served the dip with organic blue corn chips. The kids LOVED it (so did I), and couldn't get enough (even my 18 month old was in on the dipping!).
This is such a great snack - the avocado is full of brain-healthy omega-3 fats and magnesium, the black beans are a good source of folic acid, b-vitamins and fiber, and the salsa is full of lycopene. The chips had a decent amount of fiber in them as well, and are far better than potato chips or crackers.
I'm definitely going to pull this recipe out again for a quick and easy naturopathic snack for the whole family! This would be great for a movie night. Enjoy!

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Clinic Director
Vitality for Life Health Center
www.vitalityforlife.ca

Dr. Anna Falkowski HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director
info@vitalityforlife.ca
www.vitalityforlife.ca
Twitter: @NaturoDoctor
We're On Facebook!