40 day Detox

Gluten and Dairy free Apple Pear Crisp

Gluten and Dairy Free Apple Pear Crisp

Ingredients

2 Pears

4 Sweet Gala Apples

1/2 teaspoon of grated orange zest

1 tsp of grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons of Freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice

1/2 cup coconut sugar or 1/4 cup of maple syrup

1/4 cup gluten free all purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp of nutmeg

Topping:

3/4 cup of gluten free all purpose flour

1/2 cup coconut sugar or 1/4 cup of maple syrup

pinch of sea salt

1/2 cup gluten free oats

1/2 cup of coconut butter

*can add another 1/2 cup of coconut sugar for more sweetness

Cooking Method:

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Cut the pears and apples into large chunks

Place the fruit, zests, and juices in a baking dish along with sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg

Combine all topping ingredients in a separate bowl until there are large crumbles and sprinkle on top of fruit

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes and serve warm.

Immune Boosting Soup

The Green Immune Soup by Dr. Light Miller

Georgia Straight: Best of Vancouver Naturopathic Clinic

To our loyal customers,

As many of you know, we were awarded a high honor this year in Georgia Straight’s 17^th annual Best of Vancouver Awards, taking third place for best Naturopathic clinic. What a climb after just three years in the business! Since we opened our doors in 2009, we have had incredible success building awareness about Naturopathic medical approaches to healing and Ayurvedic lifestyle practices. We are true believers in these health remedies and have seen amazing results in our customer’s lives as well as our own. Our dedication and passion have taken us far, but in the end, our meteoric success would not be possible without you, our loyal customers, and from the bottom of our hearts we wanted to say thank you for making this possible. This is your award as much as it is ours.

We want to take this moment to announce an incredible new procedure that we are offering our customers: the Truebalance BHRT program. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy allows us to treat hormonal imbalances that can cause a number of ailments, everything from depression and fatigue to a loss of libido. BHRT optimizes the bodies hormonal levels, creating an environment that is more physiologicly and homeostaticly ideal. This in turn can prevent diseases, slow the ageing process, and improve your all-around quality of life.  Dr. Ron Brown, the medical director of Truebalance, has seen stunning results from this kind of treatment, and we are excited to collaborate with him by offering the Truebalance program.

As we strive to find new and better ways to make Divine Elements Health Centre the best Naturopathic clinic in Vancouver, we know we can count our our loyal customers to take this exciting journey with us.

Sincerely,

Sonya & Nicholas Jensen

P.S. If you felt that we made a real change in your life, we would love to see your review on our Google+ Local Page. https://plus.google.com/105039978112641959046/

Stress free Holidays

Before the holidays we look forward to spending time with those we love and getting together to eat fabulous meals while sharing stories from the year that has just passed. The excitement can sometimes be accompanied by an uneasy feeling of what side effects all that time with ones family will bring. As wonderful as our families are they can sometimes bring with them an underlying hum of stress. Whether it’s due to last minute shopping for gifts or the fear of old patterns creeping up when in their presence, this stress can create silent havoc in our bodies and mind.

So what is Stress and why does it have such a hold on us even in times of joy and giving. If you were to look up the meaning of stress there isn’t a very clear distinction as to whether it is the cause or the effect of the strain on the body or mind. Each of us perceive and receive information differently, therefore, our definition of stress will be different. Since there is no concrete answer to what stress is how does one deal with their perception and reaction to it. We can spend days and weeks in retreats and seminars to learn different stress busting strategies and feel amazing and clear right after, however, it isn’t until we are back in our “stress” environment where we can see if what we have learned can be put into practice. And what better test than the holidays!

Below are some stress busting tips on a physical and mental level that can help you respond with out reaction even in the middle of this season.

Herbs to Reduce Stress and Balance Your Stress Response:

Ashwaganda: the “Indian Ginseng”, this Ayurvedic herb acts as an adaptogen and as a tonic herb increasing the ability of an organism to cope with stress. This herb works to support the adrenal medulla, the part of the adrenals that secretes the hormones adrenaline ( epinephrine) and nor adrenaline ( nor epinephrine), which are responsible for the rapid increase in nervous system and metabolic activity involved in the general adaptation system 

Rhodiola: this is great adaptogenic herb that helps you cope with stress both physically and mentally. 

Ginseng: Mediates through the pituitary gland to tune the adrenal cortex so that phase I of the general adaptation syndrome is more efficient. It increases the adrenals capacity to deal with stress. 

Vitamin B5: the active form of B5, coenzyme A is involved in the Kreb Cycle in the production of ATP, which is required for proper functioning of the adrenal glands. It is also involved in the production of steroids from the adrenals.

Top 5 Stress Reducing foods:

Blueberries: Foods high in Vitamin C aids in steroid hormone synthesis, which is needed to cope with stress.

Brown Rice: Whole grains like Brown Rice and Buckwheat are high in B vitamins which help the adrenals, increase energy, and aid in stress management

Green Vegetables: nourish the body and create balance to help respond to stresses rather than react

Apricots: High in Magnesium. Magnesium has a very calming affect on the nervous system and can help you remain in a more parasympathetic state.

Sweet Potatoes: When under stress the body is depleted in minerals specifically in potassium. Sweet potatoes are high in potassium and are also a great substitute for that carbohydrate craving under times of stress.

Yoga and Meditation:

Enough cannot be said about how yoga and meditation can help you in times of stress. By incorporating a daily practice you can create an automatic response that will engage your parasympathetic rather than your sympathetic nervous system. This can keep you calm through any storm and help elevate others around you to.

Choose what works for you and incorporate a practice into your holiday routine, your body and mind will thank you for it!

Homeopathic Flu Shots and your Immune System

As a culture we have filled our lives with busy schedules full of meetings, activities, shopping for the holidays, and always “doing”. Our body allows us to experience this life and all the systems within the body work together to create balance and strength so we can complete our day to day tasks.  When we don’t give our body a chance to properly rest following periods of vigorous activity or stress (i.e. A normal day!), our immune system in particular has to work extra hard to stay balanced. You may have noticed after a set of exams or any big event in your life, the minute it is completed you begin to feel sick. This is the body’s way of communicating that it just needs a break.  Now in the midst of the flu season it is even more important for us to listen to our bodies and boost our immunity to prevent that crash from happening. A Homeopathic flu shot is just one of those ways you can help boost your immunity. 

Based on the principals of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German Physician (1755-1843), homeopathy is a medical science where the law of similar states, like cures like. This is where symptoms that may occur in a healthy individual can be cured by taking a dilution of a remedy that would trigger those same symptoms.  In classical homeopathy a remedy is found for an individual according to their picture as a whole. That remedy would cover several symptoms that person may be experiencing in both their physical and mental bodies. In Combination Homeopathy, remedies of similar nature are combined based on their synergy to treat common triggers and symptoms such as colds and flus.

Engystol and Gripp are two examples of such combination homeopathy remedies which have been scientifically proven to reduce the severity of symptoms during a viral infection such as the flu as well as provide protection from recurring infections. In 2010, The Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines reported that both Engystol and Gripp were able to inhibit a variety of viral infections from manifesting. Both remedies stimulate type I Interferon, a protein made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. This then triggers an immune response for protection and elimination of the pathogens.

These two remedies can be taken together in the form of a Homeopathic Flu shot which can act to strengthen your immune system to beat any virus that you may come in contact with.

The Homeopathic Flu shot is give on a bi- weekly schedule for up to six injections to fully induce this immune protective response. It is suitable for all ages and is a simple and very effective way to enhance your body’s natural defence system.  Consider the Homeopathic flu shot as an alternative to the conventional flu shot.

Below are Divine Elements top 5 ways to boost your immune system this season….

1.       Food as Medicine

• Vitamin C: Increases production of infection fighting White Blood Cells and antibodies and increases Interferon preventing viruses from entering the cell. Foods rich in Vit C include orange juice, red chili peppers, guava, sweet peppers, grapefruit juice, broccoli, and green peppers.
• Vitamin E: this is a potent antioxidant and immune booster. Vitamin E increases production of natural killer cells these are cells that seek out and destroy germ and cancer cells. Foods rich in Vitamin E include wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and grains such as oats.
• Beta-Carotene: boosts the immune system by increasing natural killer cells, T cells, and is a very powerful antioxidant. Foods rich in Beta Carotene include, carrots, spirulina, dandelion leaf, sweet potatoe, cooked pumpkin, and burdock.
• Bioflavanoids: these are phytonutrients that protect the cells from environmental toxins.  These can be found in red peppers, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits.
• Zinc: this mineral increases the production of White Blood Cells, infection fight natural killer and T cells. Sources include wheat germ, swiss chard, pumpkin seeds, and lima beans.
• Garlic: increases efficiency of antibody production and increases all immune cells in the body. It can also act as an antioxidant.
• Selenium: increases natural killer cells. Sources include brazil nuts, cooked swiss chard, oats, and wheat germ.

2. Immune Boosting Herbal Teas: Echinacea, Thyme, Licorice Root, Lemon Grass, Cleavers, Rose Hips, Peppermint, and Elder Flower

3. Stress reduction and gaining tools to manage stress : yoga and meditation, walking, finding something you connect with and love to do.

4. Intravenous Vitamin and Mineral Therapy: which includes all of the above nutrients, Vitamins C, E, Selenium, Zinc, and B Vitamins.

5. Homeopathic Flu Shots 

These immune boosting tips will help optimize you and your health so you can live a vital life full of energy and balance.

Truebalance Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) program

New to Divine Elements Health Centre:

  We are excited to announce that we are now offering Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy at Divine Elements.  In order to meet your health goals Divine Elements is now teaming up Truebalance, the premier Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) clinic in Canada. We are very excited to work with Doctor Ron Brown OBGYN and medical director of Truebalance to bring his BHRT model to Vancouver.  Find your True Balance with Bioidentical Hormones.

The goal of BHRT is to improve quality of life, balance the symptoms of aging and most importantly prevent disease.  Naturally hormones begin to decline in individuals around the age of 25. We are seeing this process accelerate due to high stress, overwork, xenoestrogens and other toxins in the environment and the food we eat… and the list goes on.. The purpose of this program is to bring people back to physiologic and homeostatic levels using “Human identical” hormones when an imbalance is indicated.

Establishing an optimal hormone balance in individuals is necessary to keep people feeling young, productive and vital for as long as possible. For the most part, the general population isn’t aware that hormonal imbalance can be a precursor for the majority of serious conditions that show up in peoples lives.

Many of these diseases top the list for Mortality charts across North America including: Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and other serious conditions including Osteoporosis, Depression, Cognitive decline etc. The reason BHRT is so far reaching is because it works specifically on three fronts:  improving Anabolic/Catabolic ratio (helping maintain muscle mass among other things), decreasing  Inflammation, and Neuroprotection (helping maintain memory, cognition among other things). Each of these areas are critical in establishing and maintaining health which we’ll get into more detail in upcoming newsletters.

As you know from visiting us, the goal of  Naturopathic Medicine is to create balance in all systems of the body. Blending the Truebalance program together with traditional Naturopathic philosophy and care creates a powerful combination to take you to greater depths of healing and balance.

For more information on the program for yourself, family member or friend, please contact Divine Elements Health Centre.

ph: 604-558-3494

Fall Flu Prevention

As the summer fades away and transitions into the fall, people all over are getting ready for a new season of work, school, growth and change. Through this transition we begin to see longer nights, darker days, increase in stress, and most importantly a decrease in energy and immunity. So how can we make sure we are ready for these changes and opportunistic bugs that will be lurking around the office, the schools, and our homes.

First we need to address the factors that can decrease our immunity. Our last article emphasized the importance of adrenal health and the influence stress, specifically cortisol, can have on our immune system. Our every day actions and activities have a tremendous role on how our body will cope with the on coming fall bugs. Students are staying up late to finish last minute assignments, parents are coping with the new schedules of school, sports and activities, and those at work are fitting as much as they can into a days work….all these actions influence our sleep patterns, our eating patterns, our stress coping mechanisms and in turn our immunity.

This stress that influences our internal environment can come in all different forms. What we eat, how we exercise, how many hours we sleep, how we communicate, and how we choose to support and nurture our selves, all play a role.

When creating an optimal environment of health in the body, start with the basics. Eat a diet rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, and whole grains, while cutting out sugar, processed foods and any known allergens. Sleep before eleven pm making sure you’re getting at least 7-8 hours a night. Wash your hands. Exercise daily, drink sugar free fluids, and do something you love everyday.

More specifically, taking daily supplements such as Vitamin C ( 2-3000mg/day), Vitamin D ( 3000 IU/day), and super foods such as garlic and a green supplement containing spirulina and chlorella can help boost your immune system and energy.

At Divine Elements Health Centre we offer a series of immune boosting protocols including Homeopathic Flu shots, Intravenous Vitamin and Mineral Therapy, supplements and herbs, and a meal plan specific to your bodies needs while considering the change in season and levels of stress to get you ready for the coming season.

Neural-Prolotherapy (NPT): Treating chronic pain and inflammation

What does NPT treat?

• NPT can treat any acute or chronic pain syndrome due to MVA, sports injury, repetitive use injury, strains, sprains, poor posture, surgery scars etc.
• NPT also treats patients experiencing impingement syndromes, restricted range of motion, inflammation and swelling.

What should I expect after the first treatment?

• In the first treatment you will notice either complete or significant removal of the pain
• Range of motion will be restored significantly or completely

How long does the treatment last?

• The first treatment offers pain relief for anywhere from 4 hours to 4 days or longer.
• Each consecutive treatment builds on the previous creating longer periods of relief until complete healing is achieved
• Every patient responds differently and the extent of the inflammation typically determines the period of analgesia.

How many treatments do I need?

• We recommend 6-8 treatments for most patients

How does it work?

• According to Hilton’s Law: the nerve supplying a joint also supplies both the muscles that move the joint and the skin covering the articular insertion of those muscles.
• NPT is administered just under the skin in or close to subcutaneous nerves. These Nerves have been shown to be responsive to glucose, which is responsible for binding pre-synaptic calcium channels inhibiting the release of substance P and CGRP, thereby decreasing neurogenic inflammation
• This allows normal flow of Nerve Growth Factor and subsequent nerve repair with analgesia

Creating space for Awareness

To Breathe is to inspire and sustain life…see what inspires us in hopes of inspiring you…

Most people have probably heard the phrase your team is only as good as your weakest link. Therefore, you are limited by the performance of everyone/every component involved. Well, in our bodies and in life, we can apply the same philosophy. We can only function as optimally as our level of awareness of our body. If we have limited awareness on what it means to be healthy, what it feels like, and what’s involved to sustain and create health, then our performance is greatly impeded. Most of us go about life unbeknownst that each day we choose to avoid our body’s signals, we further detach from what health means and feels like. Each time we do so, we create a new “set point” for what it is to be healthy. It’s like desensitizing our body to disharmony.

In our busy lives we typically override these signals our bodies are trying to give us. We over-medicate, over-indulge, or over-distract ourselves with things outside instead of taking time to look inside.

As we create the space to turn our attention inwards, we experience that we are no longer “trying” to live to be healthy. We become balance, we are harmony, we become vitality and we are abundance.

Join us as we look inside the body to explore the elements, expand our awareness and reconstitute the healed body blueprint…