Dr. Leena Sripada, ND

Dr. Leena Sripada, ND
Naturopathic & Ayurvedic Doctor

Monday 18 July 2016

What's the Craze with Coconuts ?!

by Dr. Leena Athparia, ND

If you grew up in a tropical country (or if you were lucky enough to grow up in a country without cold winters!) coconuts were probably no big deal. They grow everywhere, they are used in cooking - from drinks to desserts to curries.

In North America, if you didn't grow up from a tradition where coconut was used, you probably enjoyed coconut as a delicacy - as shredded coconut dusted on cakes, or as an ice cream flavour, or in an exotic Thai curry.

However, in the past 5-10 years in North America, the coconut craze has kicked in with coconut-products catching your eye no matter where you are. It seems like coconuts are becoming a one-stop meal from coconut "meat" to coconut water to coconut sugar. You can eat it hot, you can eat it cold, you can enjoy roasted or raw. The coconut's versatility has helped it's popularity rise.

Did you know that coconuts are being used for the following?


  • Coconut oil
  • Coconut butter/cream
  • Coconut flour
  • Coconut sugar
  • Coconut milk (milk alternatives)
  • Coconut whipped cream
  • Coconut yogourt
  • Coconut ice cream
  • + external coconut based oils and creams


If you love coconut, this might be great news ! If you don't, it seems like it's getting harder and harder to avoid !  So what's the big deal about coconut? Isn't it rich in fat that will clog your arteries?

While coconut may be an over-marketed miracle food, and while you may not want to substitute everything with coconut, there are certainly several amazing benefits to consider.

A few Benefits of Coconuts:


  • Coconuts are cooling in nature. In Ayurveda, coconuts are beneficial for Pitta types as they have cooling properties.
  • Coconut flesh is a delicious alternative to dairy (or rice/soy milk): coconut cream, coconut milk or whipped cream
  • Coconut water is rich in electrolytes to help hydrate you in summer heat and works as a natural electrolyte drink alternative.
  • Coconut oil has amazing anti-viral & anti-fungal properties due to the presence of lauric acid.  It is rich in MCT oil (medium-chain triglyceride oil) claimed by many companies to help you burn fat, and support the brain & nervous system.

What's best for my constitution?


If you have a Kapha constitution, coconuts are generally not advised on a regular basis as they are cooling and heavy. Individuals with a Vata constitution can general enjoy coconuts in the summer, but best to avoid in the winter due to the cooling properties. Modifications for Vatas can include cooking coconut and adding warming spices such as cinnamon or ginger to neutralize their cooling effect in the body. Pitta types generally tolerate coconut products well.

While coconut has saturated fats, these are naturally occurring fats which are healthy in moderation versus hydrogenated vegetable oils such as margarine. However, if you have specific health concerns such as cholesterol or weight gain, it is always best to work with a practitioner rather than self-prescribing high doses of coconut products. Too much of a good thing may not be good so moderation is key.

Try something new - experiment with coconut recipes this summer and let use know what you think !


Recipes


  • Coconut-Mint Chutney:



  • Homemade Coconut Yogourt:

One of my favourite dairy-free, probiotic-rich coconut yogourt recipes !
View recipe here: http://www.ishafoundation.org/us/blog/homemade-coconut-yogurt



If you want to know more about your Ayurvedic constitution and what kinds of foods are best for you, contact Dr. Leena Athparia, ND for more on naturopathic medicine & Ayurveda. To book an appointment, contact Naturopathic Foundations at 905-940-2727 (Markham) or Yuri's Village at 416-466-5773 (Danforth).  A complimentary 15 min meet n greet is available to learn more how Naturopathy and Ayurveda can help you.


Wednesday 13 July 2016

Keep Cool this Summer - Ayurveda Tips


Do you look forward to summer, and then find yourself feeling irritable and exhausted once the temperatures rise? Does your skin breakout with the heat? Do you crave air conditioning and cool drinks? If so, your Pitta may be out of balance.

According to Ayurveda, of the three bio-energies (ie. doshas) that exist in nature (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), Pitta is highest in the summer as it holds the energy of fire and water.  Dosha bio-energies are composed of the 5 elements and not only exist in the environment, but also within you. If your constitution is dominant in Pitta, summer heat can further cause Pitta to accumulate – on the physical, mental and emotional levels.

Summer is the season of sun, heat, intensity and fire – a celebration after the cold winter months. Depending on your constitution, summer may either aggravate your innate tendencies or compensate for your imbalances.  For example, if you struggle with cold hands and feet in the winters, you will likely enjoy warm summer temperatures.  If your body generally heats up quickly, you may find it challenging to tolerate summer heat.


How Do I Identify if my Pitta is imbalanced?

You need to first understand your original constitution before understanding what is out of balance. Everyone is born with a unique constitution and needs individualized care to regain their original state of balance.  Online dosha quizzes can be a fun tool. However, they do not reveal the complete picture of your constitution.  A Naturopathic intake incorporating Ayurvedic assessment includes physical exam (including tongue & pulse diagnosis) and complete health history to identify your balance of Vata, Pitta & Kapha. Furthermore, skilled practitioners can identify which organ system or tissue is being impacted by Pitta.  For example, if Pitta accumulates in the mind, you may feel more angry or short-tempered, but if Pitta has increases in the blood, you may experience high blood pressure. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, tailored treatments can target the root cause of your health concern and assist in restoring balance.

Pitta can accumulate in the mind, specific organ systems, channels or tissues and can manifest as health concerns such as:

What Can You Do?

While increased Pitta is not life-threatening, if left unattended, chronic disease can develop over time. For example, if you consistently eat spicy and acidic food (which increases Pitta), occasional heart burn may develop into daily heartburn and progress into a painful ulcer. The good news is that Pitta imbalance is easy to detect in the early stages with tongue & pulse diagnosis, and can be addressed with diet & lifestyle, herbs and therapies.  Summer is the ideal time to address Pitta-related imbalances before they develop into more severe conditions.

During the summer months, your focus should be to balance Pitta. Below are some general tips that can help keep your Pitta in check.

Tips to Stay Cool this Summer and Pacify Pitta:
  • Choose foods that are cooling energetically such as: cucumbers, dark leafy greens, mint and melons.
  • Choose flavours that are bitter, astringent & naturally sweet – fresh local greens make great salads and ripe, juicy fruits make a delicious summer snack.  Minimize flavours that are excessively spicy, sour and salty.
  • Try incorporating coconut into your diet (coconut water, oil, cream etc.)
  • Stay hydrated & avoid ice cold drinks. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, cold drinks are not advised to help you cool down.
  • Avoid overexerting yourself and plan your exercise away from the hottest time of the day
  • Be sun smart and stay out of direct sun during peak hours (~11 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
  • Observe situations where you are controlling or pushing yourself or others.  Bring awareness into surrendering and allowing.
  • Enjoy essential oils with floral tones such as jasmine, rose or lavender.

If you think you may have a Pitta imbalance, summer is the best time to address it. Once you understand your unique constitution, steps can be taken to harmonize yourself with the changing seasons under the guidance of your naturopathic doctor and Ayurvedic practitioner.  Making simple but consistent changes to your lifestyle and diet, in correlation with the change of seasons will allow you to experience your full energy and vitality this summer.


Dr. Leena Athparia is a naturopathic doctor with specialized training in Ayurveda and can help you identify your constitution to guide you on a customized health plan – whether you have specific health concerns or just want to promote general wellness. Please contact Naturopathic Foundations at 905-940-2727 or email lathparia@naturopathicfoundations.ca to book an appointment with Dr. Leena Athparia ND.