Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Turner’s Dairy at the corner of Ontario Street and West 17th Ave

Turner’s Dairy is a new collection of townhomes located at the corner of Ontario Street and West 17th Ave, Vancouver. This project will offer 13 contemporary townhouses, Sizes ranging from 695 square feet to 1,636 square feet. Contemporary and efficient living, designed for the modern family. Progressive meets heritage in these sleekly crafted and thoughtfully created homes. The building’s open and expansive spaces, high ceilings, and vast casement style windows harken back to the lofts and offices that were inhabited by generations of industrial businesses, starting with Turner’s Dairy.

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Sunday, July 29, 2018

Four Weeknight Egg Dinners

Food blogger Izy Hossack makes a Roasted Shiitake Mushroom, Brown Ric and Crispy Kale Bowl recipe

Thanks to Egg Recipes for sponsoring this post

I’ve been getting back into London life since coming back from my holidays a few weeks ago. It’s been busier than I expected – I’ve been assisting on some food shoots, seeing friends and going up to Leeds to graduate (!) which has all been a bit intense. I’m also flat hunting at the moment for me and my boyfriend and it’s making me feel like an adult way sooner than I thought I would have to be, haha.

Food Blogger Izy Hossack makes an Asaparagus Okonomiyaki recipe

Since it’s been a very busy time, quick dinners are a *must* and when it comes to quick veggie dinners, eggs are always The One. I’ve partnered with Egg Recipes recently to produce these 4 weeknight-friendly egg recipes which I hope you’ll enjoy – there are a couple of videos embedded in this post for ya plus the links to the full recipes at the bottom of the page.

Hope you all have a great week (even though it’s going to be swelteringly hot again!!) and happy cooking!

  1. Egg, Crispy Kale & Roasted Mushroom Bowl
  2. Sweet Potato ‘Falafel’ Baked Eggs
  3. Asparagus Okonomiyaki
  4. Aubergine Yoghurt with Spice-Crusted Eggs

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Wednesday, July 25, 2018

The Many Origins of Depression

What Is Depression?

Is depression a flat mood, an inability to participate in ‘normal life activities,’ or unexplained bouts of sadness? In spite of its singular clinical classification, depression looks different for each person. Like Leo Tolstoy noted in his famous novel Anna Karenina, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

While all happy families aren’t necessarily alike, this adage speaks truth in terms of depression. Each person’s depressive symptoms – remember, depression is a symptom, not a disease – depend on their unique circumstances, bodily health, emotional history, and held beliefs. As the serotonin model of depression continues to lose its hold on mainstream psychiatry, a theory of depression as evolutionary mismatch has emerged. In this theory, depression is the result of modern living; we did not evolve in the context of environmental toxins, isolated living, and near-constant stress. Some argue that depression is a response to this mismatch, also called paleo-deficit disorder, and depression is simply a message from our bodies trying to protect us from the madness of the modern world.

However, even the evolutionary mismatch theory of depression relies on the dangerous assumption that all depression is the same: that depression is one disease, with one origin and a universal set of symptoms. Anyone who has been affected by depression will challenge this assumption. Depression can be caused by a constellation of factors that cause chronic inflammation – inflammatory foods, medications like the birth control pill, reduced sunlight exposure, and loneliness, to name a few – and manifest differently in different people. Some of the symptoms that qualify a person for a diagnosis of depression seem downright paradoxical: increased and decreased appetite, insomnia or fatigue, motor agitation or impairment. Even in one person, different depressive symptoms can appear at different times.

A recent scientific review article entitled ‘Depression subtyping based on evolutionary psychiatry: Proximate mechanisms and ultimate functions’ attempts to re-classify depression into twelve subtypes.1 For each of these subtypes, researchers propose different causes for depressive symptoms, as well as potential reasons that these subtypes evolved and purposes they serve. In this framework, depression may be (1) an beneficial adaptation that effectively addresses a specific problem (2) an adaptation that does not solve the problem (3) a byproduct of other adaptations or (4) a general pathological state that serves no purpose and is harmful.

The proposed twelve subtypes of depression

Twelve Causes of Depression, Explained by Scientists

In infection-induced depression, symptoms result from underlying inflammation. This classification is supported by studies showing that anti-inflammatory agents reduce symptoms of depression.2 Further, the ‘sickness behavior’ of chronic inflammation, including social withdrawal, might worsen depression.

Long-term stress activates the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation that creates depressive symptoms. Why would stress activate the immune system? For a good reason, actually – in our evolutionary history, stress meant a higher chance of being wounded, and our immune systems ramped up to protect from infections that could result from those wounds. But nowadays, stress is rarely caused by true danger. Instead, stress comes from working long hours (against circadian rhythms), feeling pressured to meet deadlines, and financial worries.3 The response of inflammation to stress seems to be an evolutionary mismatch; the immune response that served us for centuries is no longer beneficial.

In the ancestral world, loneliness literally meant death. If you were separated from the tribe, you were vulnerable to predators and other forces of nature. Loneliness is a powerful and protective message that impels us to seek the company of others, which was crucial to survival for many generations. While loneliness is admittedly less dangerous now, this fear remains imprinted on us and leads to loneliness-induced depression.

People who have experienced significantly traumatic events are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, which researchers call trauma-induced depression. In fact, one study of almost 700 randomly-selected patients with depression found that 36% of them were also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),4 and a large meta-analysis of 57 studies revealed that the comorbidity of depression and PTSD was 52%.5 Like those suffering from loneliness, people with PTSD show elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers.6

Depressive symptoms can result from conflicts in modern hierarchies, such as the workplace, social groups, and families. Humans and social animals establish hierarchies, and those at the top enjoy many benefits. Therefore, we all want to be at a comfortable hierarchical position to meet our needs. If we don’t reach our desired place in the hierarchy, our self-esteem suffers.

Hierarchy conflicts, such as unemployment,7 bullying,8 and striving for unreachable career goals9 are all associated with depression.

Grief is a common driver of depression diagnoses. Up to 20% of people who lose a loved one and are grieving are saddled with the label of depression. Even in animals, losing a mate, sibling, or offspring leads to depressive symptoms. 10

Similarly, romantic rejection can cause depressive symptoms. Researchers found that after two months, 40% of people who had been left by their romantic partners showed symptoms of clinical depression.11 The sadness following a breakup may indicate true love and disappointment, and these feelings might also help make more aligned choices in future romantic relationships.

Six months after childbirth, 10-15% of women are diagnosed with postpartum depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression include crying, hopelessness, anger, and loss of interest in the new baby. Many studies indicate that mothers who feel that they are receiving inadequate childcare support from the father or her family are more likely to be diagnosed with postpartum depression.12 That is, a mother’s feelings of overwhelm, tiredness, and depletion are often categorized as postpartum depression. It has been hypothesized that the symptoms of postpartum depression may serve as a signal that the mother requires more support.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also called seasonal depression, is a mood disorder that strikes a person at the same time each year, usually in the winter. A person diagnosed with SAD exhibits general fatigue, decreased libido, and increased appetite for starchy foods. SAD is more frequent in people with evening chronotypes, and light therapy can help resolve the symptoms.

Chemically-induced depression is a subtype of depression that results from substance abuse, such as alcohol or cocaine, or a side effect of medications like benzodiazepines. Yes, a side effect of anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications may be more depression. This type of depression appears to resolve when people stop ingesting the drugs or alcohol.13 Furthermore, as many people who feel sad self-medicate with alcohol, alcohol abuse may confound other drivers of depressive symptoms.

Interestingly, evidence is piling up that environmental toxicants, such as heavy metals, neurotoxic compounds, plastics, and pesticides may cause depressive symptoms.14 15

Being diagnosed with a disease like Alzheimer’s, migraine, and cancer increases the risk of also being diagnosed with depression. In fact, almost two-thirds of women who suffer from breast cancer are also diagnosed with depression.16 Of course, the diagnosis of cancer is traumatic and causes many types of anxieties, ranging from financial to emotional, and cancer treatments may cause further injury that adds to the stress burden.

Overall, depression is a meaningless label until you find its personal meaning.

This peer-reviewed article presents 12 research-backed possibilities that could be root cause drivers of depressive symptoms – and there are likely more than twelve. Scientific evidence continues to show that depression is a sign of imbalance, not an inherited genetic condition that you are powerless to change. Imbalances can be caused by inflammatory foods, toxins, medications, life events like trauma, and stress – and taking a one-size-fits-all antidepressant is like turning off the smoke alarm and ignoring the fire. Release the fear and move into curiosity. Commit to lean into your symptoms, realizing that they’re only messages, reduce your toxic exposures, turn down the noise, and explore the root cause of these symptoms for true healing.

References:

  • 1 https://ift.tt/2v6c34x
  • 2 https://ift.tt/2Lqqifg
  • 3 https://ift.tt/2v4tGl3
  • 4 https://ift.tt/2LmU1Wt
  • 5 https://ift.tt/2v6uVQZ
  • 6 https://ift.tt/2Lp9pBW
  • 7 https://ift.tt/2v2vZFn
  • 8 https://ift.tt/2Lmexqh
  • 9 https://ift.tt/2v2F1SM
  • 10 https://ift.tt/1HltL46
  • 11 https://ift.tt/2vdsH2j
  • 12 https://ift.tt/2Lo6PMu
  • 13 https://ift.tt/2v2F0yc
  • 14 https://ift.tt/2mUk8Vr
  • 15 https://ift.tt/2v6ZLJ5
  • 16 https://ift.tt/2Lp9qpu

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Saturday, July 21, 2018

What Is Functional Dentistry?

Do you know that wisdom teeth are supposed to fit in our mouths? That tooth decay isn’t just about eating candy? And that teeth grinding can be a sign of poor oxygenation integrity during sleep?

Meet Dr. Steven Lin, a pioneering nutrition-based dentist who is here to teach us how and why oral health should be the cornerstone of full body health.

Also a devotee of Dr. Weston A. Price, Steven has researched what went wrong as traditional cultures industrialized and began to degenerate into states of chronic illness.

But he has also translated this research into natural healing. Through his book The Dental Diet, and his online Healthy Mouth Healthy Body Program, he is empowering us – particularly parents – to optimize our oral wellness. He teaches simple exercises that can be done at home, and a dietary plan that is very resonant with my own.

In this era of self-healing dogmatic approaches to interventionist medicine are crumbling. Dentistry is no exception.

If you want to learn how to:

  • Avoid braces
  • Widen the palate
  • Resolve apnea and mouth breathing
  • Heal decay

Check him out, beginning with our chat below! And then take a look at his book and his online program.

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Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Wilson by BlueSky in Burnaby

Wilson by BlueSky is a new 39-storey residential highrise development located located at 5977 Wilson Avenue, Burnaby. This project will offer 287 studio, 1- to 3-bedroom condominiums, and 6 townhomes. To compliment the garden-like setting of the Central Park East Neighbourhood, Wilson will boast substantial progressive landscaping with publicly-accessible pedestrian and cycling linkages to local greenspaces.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2018

3 Tips for Tapering Benzodiazepines/Z-drugs

Forewarned, forearmed, to be prepared is half the victory. ~ Miguel de Cervantes

For many people, the prospect of facing benzodiazepine withdrawal is terrifying. For others, the actual process of withdrawal itself may be one of the most difficult things they will ever have to endure. This is due in no small part to the mismanagement of taper programs and the mistreatment of those injured by these medications. This happens, more often than not, as a result of the ignorance and false narratives that surround benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Getting educated and making a plan can help you to avoid the pitfalls that might get in the way of a successful taper. For years I’ve worked to educate benzo victims, their loved ones and even their medical providers about this class of drugs and what it takes to successfully and safely withdraw. I can tell you that those who approach benzodiazepine withdrawal prepared have more success, not only in withdrawing but also in reclaiming their lives. Here are three tips to help you plan for the best possible outcome should you choose to taper off a benzodiazepine or sleep aids.

1. Take Charge of Your Taper

The world’s leading authority on benzodiazepine withdrawal, Professor C. Heather Ashton DM FRCP, has this to say when it comes to designing a taper program:

“The rate of tapering should never be rigid but should be flexible and controlled by the patient, not the doctor, according to the patient’s individual needs which are different in every case.The decision to withdraw is also the patient’s decision and should not be forced by the doctor.”

Reading the Ashton Manual is the most important step you can take toward preparing yourself for successful withdrawal. You can read the Ashton manual here and watch my video series on it here.

There are countless factors at play in any given person’s withdrawal. Each experience is unique; this is to be both expected and respected. If you have been on a low dose of benzodiazepine for a relatively short period of time, you may choose to taper fairly rapidly, perhaps over a period of a few months. If you have health complications or need to hold down a full-time job, you may choose to micro taper daily over a year or two, to avoid being overwhelmed by symptoms. Whatever you choose, there is no right or wrong. Learn the basics, develop a plan and approach your doctor with your decision.

Given that most doctors are unfamiliar with both the Ashton Manual and the research surrounding benzodiazepines, you may need to educate your physician about all this. You can print out a copy of the manual for her or send her links to some of the relevant research . It is also a good idea to take a printed copy of your taper plan to your first visit on the subject of withdrawal. It’s not uncommon for medical professionals to be uncomfortable with the idea that what they have learned might be outdated or completely wrong. Be encouraging, polite and confident in your conversation. Let your doctor know that you’ve got this, it’s under control and his part will be that of a supporting role in your withdrawal and recovery.

A word of warning: If you do happen to develop some of the more severe symptoms that can accompany the discontinuation of benzodiazepines, your doctor may want to add in other medications to treat these symptoms. Even the most bizarre and frightening symptoms are very normal during this process. They are only temporary, lessening, and eventually disappearing, as you recover from the injury the medication has created. You may have to decide whether or not to use other drugs to manage these symptoms. Make sure you have an understanding of the risks and benefits of adding in such medications before you start your taper. This way you can make an informed choice and not be pressured into doing anything you might regret.

2. Build a Support Network

This is where it can be crucial to have your support system in place. Online support groups are filled with helpful information and the personal anecdotes of those who have implemented diverse tapering strategies. These support communities are also a wonderful place to find a mentor, something recommended in the Ashton Manual.

While the majority of people in online support groups will already understand what you’re going through, those you regularly encounter in person may not. One important factor in taking control of your taper, is taking charge of your personal narrative. Unfortunately, the words “withdrawal” and “recovery” or the names “xanax” and “valium” have a stigma attached. Using these words, no matter how carefully you may explain things, may lead to friends and loved ones assuming you are dealing with addiction. If you’re not abusing or using your benzodiazepine for recreation, then this is the last thing you want the people in your life to think.

This isn’t just about reputation. The assumption that you have an addiction can lead family and friends to advise you to rapidly withdraw, check into a detox facility or attend 12 step meetings, all if which are inappropriate when dealing with benzodiazepine dependence. There may also be the assumption your are to blame for any hardship you experience. This unfortunately can lead to a lack of empathy at a time in your life when you may be in great need of compassion from others. You’re not required to give anyone any information you’re not comfortable sharing. General statements such as “I was injured by a medication my doctor prescribed” and “I have an iatrogenic illness which I am hopeful will improve with time” are both true and easier for people to sympathize with. I preferred to use the term “benzodiazepine associated illness/injury”, which was far more true to my experience than the term “withdrawal”.

3. Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best

Remember, not everyone one will experience withdrawal in the same way. People ages 18-80, some of whom have been on benzodiazepines more than 20 years, have been able to successfully taper, some with surprisingly quick recoveries! In my experience, those who do become extremely ill for many months can still alleviate much of that severity by planning for a period of convalescence, along with taking proper care of their minds and bodies.

Studies have shown that benzodiazepines directly impact insulin. Many severe symptoms people experience during withdrawal are directly related to blood sugar imbalances. For such, implementing a diet that is high in healthy fats and protein while eliminating processed sugars and other high impact carbohydrates, makes a huge difference.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re very sensitive to benzodiazepine reductions, you’re probably not going to be able to tolerate substances such as caffeine, msg or other stimulating chemicals during withdrawal and recovery. Learning how to cook healthy, natural meals will benefit you greatly throughout your taper and long after.

If you haven’t already learned techniques for managing anxiety and panic attacks, how to do mindfulness, meditation etc. it’s best to learn these beforehand. You’ll be glad you did. Getting in the habit of regular light exercise can also really help to work out some of the adrenaline surges you might experience as your body adjusts to having less and less medication in your system.

At the end of the day, you won’t be able to control every aspect of your healing. Unfortunately, some people will be unwell for much longer than expected. Here are some other questions to consider as you plan for possible future events:

  • Can your doctor help you request accommodations for your level of disability at work?
  • Can you arrange for child care?
  • Do you know what it would take to apply for disability?
  • Is there someone who can help you manage necessary tasks that might become too difficult to do on your own such as running errands, paying bills, or even driving you to appointments?

These are worst case scenarios. While they’re not easy to think about now, they will be much more difficult to address if you become too ill to even drive to the store for groceries. Preparedness helps remove a lot of the fear from these situations. It will also help you achieve an acceptance of your limitations which will aid in the overall process of healing, both physically and emotionally.

In fact, the biggest piece of advice I can give anyone throughout all of this is “accept, accept, accept”. Accept that things turn out differently than expected. Accept your decision to both start this medication and to stop it. Accept help from others. Accept healing when it comes and setbacks when they inevitably happen. Accept the symptoms you experience as your body’s wisdom in healing you bit by bit. This is all part of the process and it all leads to you getting better. One day, you will look back and be so grateful that you have you back. You’ll realize how much you missed the old you. You’ll wonder how you ever managed to live life so emotionally stunted as you were on the benzodiazepine. You’ll take pleasure in the vibrant hues and beautiful subtleties of the world around you. Accept that life will never be the same, and that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2018

The Science Delusion

There are three philosophical books that make my required reading for life list:

  1. The Book by Alan Watts
  2. Ascent of Humanity by Charles Eisenstein
  3. The Science Delusion by Rupert Sheldrake

What’s incredible about these manifestos is that they gently but steadily deconstruct our collective assumptions about the human experience and expose the vast gulfs of mystery. In fact, Einstein himself said:

“The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.”

The more we open ourselves up to the ways in which we are closed off, the more we can examine, explore, and refine the truth.

Ever heard the phrase, “…the science is settled?” If so, it didn’t come from the mouth of a true scientist. Scientific dogmas create taboos – things you’re not allowed to ask about or talk about, let alone study and research. But science is not a destination…it is a process of discovery. Moreover, it is a means of studying and honoring the wonder around us and within us. When science is bound and arrested by dogmatic beliefs, it becomes an eviscerated religion that can be co-opted for political gain and control.

Rupert Sheldrake is a brilliant renegade physicist with this to say on the matter:

We are, many of us, waking up from a several century long slumber induced by Scientism – the dogmatic belief in the dominant narrative of science as religion. As we wake up to nuance, to new science that defies the old, and to a complexity that often leads us to an awareness of all that we don’t know, those Scientism believers will become more and more uncomfortable. These people may be your family, your doctors, or even your formerly trusted media reporters. They may foam at the mouth and threaten violence at the suggestion that Scientism’s sacred cows (pharmaceuticals, bioengineered foods, industrial chemicals) are not what we have been lead to believe. Stay strong and reconnect to the elegance of a world of natural design, harmony, and regeneration.

In his book, The Science Delusion, he showcases 10 dogmatic beliefs that contemporary science-believer have adopted from 400 years of entrenched and unexamined ideology. He describes these believers as materialists – those who believe that only matter is real. It’s his assertion that these beliefs are inhibiting inquiry and that science is stymied because of the questions we are not allowed to ask when we hold these assumptions as concrete and unchangeable laws.

The materialist perspective is that of purposeless, soul-less survival of the fittest. As Alan Watts says, we are flesh robots on a dead rock in the middle of nowhere. Here are the dogmas he feels should be reexamined:

  1. Nature is mechanical – Living beings fulfill a genetically programmed role.
  2. Matter is unconscious – Stars, plants, animals, water, rocks, and the inanimate around us are just material things and therefore do not and cannot have any of the properties of consciousness.
  3. The laws of nature are fixed – Since the Big Bang, the laws that were set into motion will endure and never change.
  4. Conservation of matter and energy – The total amount of matter and energy is the same, forever.
  5. Nature is purposeless – There is no overarching design in nature and no higher purpose.
  6. Heredity is solely biological – The traits of a species are solely encoded in and passed down through the genes.
  7. Memories are stored inside of the brain as material traces – Despite the scientifically elusive nature of mechanical memory storage, they are somehow encoded in proteins and nerve endings, in the brain.
  8. The mind is inside the head – The mind is physically within the bounds of the head and brain.
  9. Psychic phenomenon, like telepathy, is impossible – Thoughts cannot influence the outside world because the mind is inside an individual’s head.
  10. Mechanistic medicine is the only real medical science –
    Conventional medicine has worked out sufficiently what the nature of the human body is, it’s functioning and pathology and has corresponding interventions to fix it. Alternative or natural approaches, however, are founded in the placebo effect.

He proposes that self organizing systems draw on a collective memory to determine their path forward – this means that the reason a fetus grows into a baby is simply because this has happened before, and it can be drawn upon from the collective. Morphogenetic fields as Rupert calls them, provide a template for new experiences to conform to, based on an outcome that has already existed.

This means that when one person heals from a previously incurable illness, it makes it easier for others to heal in the future, and is the reason I have dedicated myself to supporting more and more seemingly “impossible” forms of healing.

When we bring everything into question, we can dispassionately appreciate where our desire for comfort and security ends and where an independent search for truth begins. To pursue this truth, we must acknowledge where and how science has become a religion. How medicine has become a matter of belief, with a zero-tolerance policy for critical inquiry.

Is Vaccination the Untouchable Sacred Cow?

I do find, however, that there are few intellectuals, clinicians, and professionals who can call vaccination to the proverbial Scientism carpet. I did send him a communication about this, which he said he would review:

I thought to mention that my interest in vaccination didn’t arise from the fact that I’m a physician. In fact, in school we are taught nearly nothing about the subject other than memorizing the schedule of administration (which has tripled since I was a child), despite the fact that this is the one medical intervention recommended (and sometimes mandated) to every human on the planet regardless of personal history, family history, health status, ethnicity, gender, or age.

My interest arose from the fact that I had a baby and needed to make my first informed decision as a parent, a juncture which collided temporally with a prompting through my own health experience to begin investigating dogma in the field of medicine.

The reason that I believe you would personally be interested in this topic is because of what I perceive your life’s work, passion, and mission to be – creating space for science to be what it ought to be: an elegant process of inquiry and discovery.

As I read your book, I looked forward to the “medical” chapter because I am not sure there is a topic on the planet, including controversies in astrophysics and beyond that fits the scientific dogma bill as neatly as the topic of vaccination. Indeed, an intellectual giant such as yourself is admittedly deterred by the signs that are posted on the barbed wire fences reading: those of questioning intellect, enter at your own risk!

I’ll share a couple of scientism-related factoids as pertain to vaccination. Namely, assumptions that do not stand the test of even basic scientific investigation (there are over 225K entries in Pubmed on the subject):

#1: Vaccines are effective

#2: Vaccines are safe

#3: The unvaccinated contract disease because they are unvaccinated

#4: The unvaccinated endanger others

If we can tolerate, for just a moment, the possibility that these are assumptions rather than scientifically verified facts, then we can see that the claims that the “science is settled around vaccine safety and autism” for example, is a clear rallying cry for the militant “skeptics” at the helm of this religion masquerading as medicine. Predicated on 200 year old science, developed conceptually long before our discovery of the double helix, the microbiome, or the concept of epigenetics, without a single true placebo-controlled trial under its belt, vaccination science is fortifying itself against meaningful examination or evolution.

More philosophically, I observe that germ theory and the “anti”/warring posture of medicine over the past 300 years reflected a morphogenetic field, perhaps, of our shared consciousness. That is still present, but we are also being called towards or attracted to a new field…one that is predicated on communion, cooperation, and complexity as exemplified by the discovery of “pathogens” alive and well in all of us, down to the retroviral (~8%) core of our own genome.

I think it would be very possible for you to wrap your mind around the most fascinating aspects of this topic that affects every human alive and I’d be happy to facilitate your exploration. Since you mention it in both your current book and The Science Delusion, it’s clear you appreciate it as an iconic example of health interventions occupying symbolic real estate in the human psyche.

It’s time to get brave in our ability to question institutions that are no longer serving us. Join me as we continue to question assumptions and allow the crumbling architecture of our own intellectual prison cells to finally fall to the ground.

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Sunday, July 8, 2018

Runner Bean Samosas with Pineapple Chutney

Thanks to Vitamix for sponsoring this post

I’m back from my holidays and for once, the sun is actually shining in the UK. Most summers I’m away coincidentally at the time when England gets its WEEK of sunshine so by the time I’m back, I’ve missed it! However, this weirdly long heatwave has coincided with a time when I’ve needed to be in the kitchen a lot so I’m feeling like a toasted marshmallow 90% of the time.

Luckily the evenings are mild enough to not need a jacket but not swelteringly hot i.e. perfect picnic weather. I went for a picnic yesterday in Kensington Palace gardens just around the golden hour with my friend. We had some food and drinks and then wandered down to my favourite gelato shop in London, Odonno’s. It was ideal.


Since everywhere seems to be having some kind of heatwave at the moment, I’m advising that everyone has a picnic. It’s a new rule. You can bake up a tray of brownies, put some kombucha in a chiller bag and make these samosas with a homemade pineapple chutney! I used my Vitamix Ascent Series blender to blitz through the tough strings of the beans for the filling like a dream. PLUS the usually unedible core of the pineapple got blended into a smooth puree for the chutney (yay for reducing food waste!). Now I know the Vitamix is a dream kitchen item to most, I’m very lucky to have one now, but if you watch my instagram page I will be giving one away soon (open to UK residents) so keep your eyes PEELED!!

Have a great, picnic-y week!!

Runner Bean Samosas

makes 12 samosas

  • 220 g (8oz) runner beans
  • 1 white onion, peeled, quartered
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
  • 1 medium potato, grated (skin on)
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin seed
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt
  • 6 sheets filo pastry (defrosted, if frozen)
  • olive oil, for brushing
  • black sesame seeds, for sprinkling
  1. Preheat the oven to 180oC (350oF).

    Cut off the top and tail of the runner beans. Roughly chop them into pieces a few centimetres long.

  2. Add the onion, garlic cloves and ginger to the jug of a Vitamix blender. Blend until finely minced. Add the runner beans and pulse until quite finely chopped. 

  3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the runner bean mixture from the blender jug along with the grated potato. Cook for 15 minutes over a medium-low heat, stirring often, until the potato and onion are softened. Stir in the garam masala, cumin and lemon juice. Season with salt, to taste. 

  4. Cut the sheets of filo pastry in half lengthways so you end up with tall strips a few centimetres wide. Keep the filo pastry covered with a damp cloth whilst you work. 

  5. Working with one sheet of pastry, take a tablespoon of the filling and place onto the bottom of the sheet. Grab the bottom left corner and pull up and over the filling to form a triangle. Grab the bottom left corner of the triangle and pull up and to the right to fold the triangle over. Repeat until you reach the top of the piece of filo. Place the triangle onto a baking sheet which has been brushed with olive oil. (See the GIF in the post for how to shape them if you’re confused).

  6. Repeat with the remaining filo and filling. Once all the triangles are formed, brush with some olive oil and sprinkle on sesame seeds. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Eat warm with the chutney.

 

Pineapple Chilli Chutney

  • 1 ripe pineapple, top and skin removed
  • 50 g granulated sugar
  • 160 ml apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 2 star anise
  1. Chop the pineapple into about 10 chunks (no need to remove the core). Place into the jug of a Vitamix blender with the sugar, vinegar, ginger, salt, turmeric and chilli flakes. Blitz until soupy. 

  2. Pour the mixture into a large pot along with the star anise and place over a medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until it starts to bubble. Reduce the heat so it’s just simmering and leave to bubble away, stirring every now and then to prevent it burning, for 45-60 minutes. It should be thick and slightly sticky. 

  3. Transfer the chutney to a sterilised jar before sealing and letting cool. Store in the fridge as it is less sugary than normal chutneys. 

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Friday, July 6, 2018

Berkeley House by Polygon in Richmond

Berkeley House by Polygon is a new collection of sophisticated apartment homes surrounded by tree-lined streets and convenient walkway located in Richmond. The one, two and three-bedroom residences at Berkeley House are beautifully appointed with gourmet kitchens, spa-inspired bathrooms and light-filled living areas. This is an exciting address with exceptional extras, including membership to the residents-only Berkeley Club, and a short walk to village-style shopping.

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Thursday, July 5, 2018

Altus White Rock by Oviedo Developments

Altus White Rock by Oviedo is a new 12- storey development located at 1526 Finlay Street, White Rock. This project will offer 126 units, sizes range from 828 sqft to 2,776 sqft. Unique to Altus, the architecture takes full advantage of the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding mountains, and all homes enjoy spacious private outdoor spaces. The architectural building design positions the balconies to cascade towards the breathtaking ocean views of the Lower Mainland, from the Fraser Valley to Mount Baker.
Presentation Centre Now Open, sign up today for Floor Plans & Pricing.

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50 Electronic in Port Moody

50 Electronic Avenue is a new mixed-use condo development located at 50 Electronic Avenue, Port Moody. This project will offer 358 mixture of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom condominiums in two 6-storey buildings. A large landscaped green space on the south side offers a variety of resident amenities, in addition to numerous leisure and recreation options literally steps away. And for activities beyond, nearby Moody Centre Station conveniently connects you to downtown Vancouver on the West Coast Express or other destinations in Metro Vancouver via the Skytrain Evergreen Line. 50 Electronic Avenue is at the centre of it all.

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Alexander Square by RDG Management in Langley

Alexander Square by RDG Management Ltd is a new 6 storey condo development located in the historic, yet thriving neighbourhood of Willoughby in Langley. This project will offer an eclectic mix of condominium residences, ranging from Junior 1 Bedroom homes up to 3 bedroom homes. There will be a very limited number of 2 Bedroom + den and 3 Bedroom homes. Alexander Square is where you’ll love to live.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

KB-Approved, Paleo Pancakes

As many of you know, eggs for breakfast can get old quickly. But so can feeling like you need to take a nap two hours after you wake up and eat!

Here’s one of my go-to recipes that my kids love…

Ingredients:

  • Half a boiled/steamed sweet potato; OR roughly half a cup of butternut, acorn or kabocha squash; OR 1-2 bananas
  • 3-4 pastured eggs
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of nut butter; OR 2 tbsp hemp seeds, flax seeds, and/or sesame seeds

Instructions:

  • Blend and spoon silver-dollar size dollops into medium heat coconut oil. They cook quickly!
  • Top with ghee and berries, cinnamon, and a dash of maple syrup.

This serves one adult and two kiddos, but the recipe is very forgiving, so don’t worry too much about the precision of the measurements.

Enjoy!

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7549 Oak Street by Gradual at Oak & 59th

7549 Oak Street by Gradual is a new collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom townhomes located in Vancouver. This project will offer 31 townhomes, five buildings, sharing a common one-level parkade, are a combination of stacked townhouses, back-to-back stacked townhouses, and courtyard roughhouses, of which four are 2.5 storeys and one 2 storeys.

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500 Foster by Amacon in Coquitlam

500 Foster by Amacon is a new 41-storey market condo tower and 6-storey rental lowrise development, located at North Road & Foster Avenue, Coquitlam. This project will offer 304 market residences from 1-3 bedrooms, and 21,700 sq ft of amenity space. 500 Foster thoughtfully provides a range of housing types, unit sizes, and tenures to appeal to a broad mix of households at different stages of life and with varying degrees of mobility.

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1029 Austin by Beedie Living in Coquitlam

1029 Austin by Beedie Living is a new mixed-use 26- and 27- storey towers located at 1029 & 1033 Austin Avenue, Coquitlam. This project will offer 356 mixture of 1- 4 bedrooms condominiums and over 30,000 sq ft of amenity space with a variety of programming to satisfy the diverse needs of residents. Part of the development proposal includes 10 units of non-market rental housing to support persons with disabilities. The site will be redeveloped in two phases with the Safeway completed in the summer of 2019, followed by the towers.

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Aalto Townhome by Intracorp in Coquitlam

Aalto Townhomes by Intracorp is a new collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom townhomes located in Coquitlam. The conveniences of an urban centre are just a few blocks away, while a private amenity building is yours to enjoy with friends and family. Less complexity, more simplicity – that’s life at Aalto. Aalto just a 19-minute drive to SFU, 24-minute drive to BCIT, 12-minute walk to Coquitlam Centre Mall, and 14-minute walk to Lafarge-Douglas SkyTrain Station, where the Evergreen Line takes you anywhere you need to go, including downtown Vancouver in under an hour.

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