Dr. Samantha Zahavi, ND

APPLE CHIPS I don’t know about you, but we ordered a ton of apples from grocery delivery while we #stayathome but a large package of them was sadly already going bad - bumps, bruises, some mush ! So we decided to make MEATY apple chips. Most apple chip recipes call for super thin slicing and 2 hours in the oven on a lower setting. These were cut thicker and we cooked them at 350F until they were golden brown on each side. Flip half way. I sadly can’t tell you exactly how l...ong it took because things were hectic but just keep an eye on them (I’ll remake them again too and post the time) but really it depends what thickness you choose!! I think it was around 10-15 mins on each side? . . TOPPINGS: we used EVOO spray, cinnamon and a sprinkle of sea salt and vanilla extract. Other ideas include pumpkin spice, nutmeg, brown sugar, coconut flakes, anything, go wild!! . . What recipes have you been making at home lately? Post below, love new ideas! . . . DoctormomND . . #applechips #bakedapplechips #homemadeapplechips #covid19snacks #stayhome #kidsnacks #healthysnacks See more

Welcome to the world- my first Virtual Naturopathic Doula baby is here! . Congratulations to this beautiful-inside-and-out Mom and Dad on the birth of their incredible beautiful and sweet baby boy!! Working with you throughout conception, pregnancy and now post-partum (and over the last 3 years as a patient :)) was truly special for me. You are two of the warmest, kindest, genuine hearted people and Im so honoured to have been a part of your educators and doctors team. Thou...gh I sadly couldnt attend your birth live due to covid-19, Im so incredibly proud of the hard decisions you were able to make and the strength and perseverance you showed. Wishing you a cozy, sweet family quarantine with your new bundle of joy!! Thank you again for including me on your journey - as you already know it meant the world to me. . . . If youre #pregnant and looking for a Doula, Im offering a Virtual Naturopathic Doula service with access to video visits (education, prenatal care, planning, treating underlying health conditions, etc) and a VIRTUAL DOULA GUIDE Helping your partner support you through labor and delivery! With this guide youll get access to: ACUPRESSURE point locations for at home use in LABOR INDUCTION, PAIN RELIEF, BABY POSITIONING and STRESS/ANXIETY TECHNIQUES. Position changes for mom Partner support techniques for PAIN RELIEF Words of encouragement and coaching techniques for your partner to help you through each stage of labor This and more in conjunction with 24hr chats with your ND (me) around the time of labor and delivery, video and voice calls during labor and postpartum Post partum visits include vaginal or c-section healing support, breastfeeding support, nutrition/mental health support and prevention of post partum illness. DM if you have any questions! . . . #doula #naturopathicdoula #pregnancy #covidbaby #postpartum #breastfeeding #naturopathicdoctor #healthypregnancy See more

In case you missed our instagram LIVE Video today @andreagracewellness and I discussed how you can best support your body/mind at this time from home! We also answered some questions you all had regarding infant nutrition, supplements to take and more! Video is still available until tomorrow around 2 pm on @andreagracewellness profile! Any additional questions can be sent to either one of us through a DM! Thanks to everyone who swung by today and to @andreagracewellness for being the loveliest host!

APPLE CHIPS I dont know about you, but we ordered a ton of apples from grocery delivery while we #stayathome but a large package of them was sadly already going bad - bumps, bruises, some mush ! So we decided to make MEATY apple chips. Most apple chip recipes call for super thin slicing and 2 hours in the oven on a lower setting. These were cut thicker and we cooked them at 350F until they were golden brown on each side. Flip half way. I sadly cant tell you exactly how l...ong it took because things were hectic but just keep an eye on them (Ill remake them again too and post the time) but really it depends what thickness you choose!! I think it was around 10-15 mins on each side? . . TOPPINGS: we used EVOO spray, cinnamon and a sprinkle of sea salt and vanilla extract. Other ideas include pumpkin spice, nutmeg, brown sugar, coconut flakes, anything, go wild!! . . What recipes have you been making at home lately? Post below, love new ideas! . . . DoctormomND . . #applechips #bakedapplechips #homemadeapplechips #covid19snacks #stayhome #kidsnacks #healthysnacks See more

Homemade High Protein Gummies have been saving me lately! Being home always leads to more snacking but being busy with the kids/with work etc can make it tough to pull together quick healthy snacks! I have one or two throughout the day and another couple at night, its only slightly sweet but the texture of a gummy and great protein source! You can also choose to add sweetener if you like, such a maple syrup, stevia, etc. I recommend staying away from white sugar and artifi...cial sweeteners, esp if you have an autoimmune disease, are looking to lose weight or have a gut disorder. But really its a recommendation to all ! . . Ingredients: 1) juice of choice- 2.5 cups 2) 7-8 tbsp unflavoured gelatin powder (I used Great Lakes brand, 11g pure protein/tbsp, 0% any other macronutrients) 3) Optional Add Ins: vanilla extract, peppermint extract, orange extract, lemon juice, concentrated powders (spirulina, chlorella, turmeric, Goji berry, etc) and/or sweeteners. . . HOW TO: 1)mix half the juice into a bowl with 5 tbsp of gelatin. 2) pour remaining juice into pan and simmer on medium-low, then dissolve in remaining 2-3 tbsp of gelatin. 3) Pour add-ins of choice into pan and dissolve. 4) Mix hot contents into cold juice in the bowl 5) Stir well and pour into gummy or ice molds (silicone recommended) Refrigerate for an hour or more or until firm. 6) Pop out and enjoy!! Keep refrigerated! . . . Took 10 minutes max to put together! Kids also love doing this. Let me know if you try it! . . . DoctormomND Adapted from and inspired by the amazing @juliedaniluk on @themarilyndenisshow! See more

For a free 15 minute consult, for booking a virtual appointment or more information on how naturopathic medicine may help you, please head over to www.doctormomND.com, id love to chat and hear your story! I want to send out a warm thank you to @stellaehabib, you are such a warm, genuine, hard-working, positive person with an incredible ability to tap into peoples visions for their website and organize it accordingly .Working with you has been such a pleasure, even more ...wonderful that you happened to be my very first Naturopathic patient many years back. What a relationship weve built! Thank you for recommending another warm-hearted, inspiring talent, Amber @creatinglight.studio whos envisioning sessions and bright photography skills truly helped my dream vision come to life. You guys make an amazing team, keep it up! Thank you for all your hard work - couldnt recommend you guys to others enough!! See more

For those of you with IBD who missed this video from @crohnscolitisfoundation with Dr. David Rubin and Dr. Andrew Grossman, here are the highlights: 1) 41 cases of covid-19 in IBD patients reported. 10 have been hospitalized (wide age range >20), majority have recovered and 31/41 of those people did not require hospitalization. More male than female cases (similar to non IBD cases) and only 1/41 of these patients were <20 years old! . 2) No shortage of medications, not a c...oncern! . 3) Protecting yourself for infusions: make sure you are symptom free, screening in place, wear a mask, distance yourself as much as possible. In home injections, might be worth doing it yourself rather than being exposed to a nurse going from home to home. . 4) Virus can enter thru gut, ensuring remission is important. Inflammation and holes in the gut may increase risk. Maintaining remission inducing diet and staying on medications essential. . 5)Immunosupressive drugs do not appear to increase risk of contracting virus much more that general population at this point, drugs might even have a theoretical protective effect by lowering the over active immune system response that may worsen symptoms of covid-19. . 6) Elective procedures like routine colonoscopies cancelled but there are other ways to track disease states that dont require a hospital visit. STAY in touch with your GI doctor via telemedicine, especially if noticing symptoms of disease flare. . 7) GI symptoms (diarrhea) may occur with COVID-19 in many people, accompanied by fever. Look out for these symptoms together with cough, sore throat etc. . 8) Take care of yourself to reduce flares, staying in remission important. Stay in touch with healthcare providers even if office is closed, stay in touch with family and friends. Many IBD patients already understand the feeling of isolation sadly, and thus, may be actually better able to cope with these difficult time away from others. . . . Thank you @crohnscolitisfoundation for organizing this informative and uplifting discussion. . Reach out if you need help reducing stress or flares . #IBDcovid19 #guthealth #coronavirus #IBD #crohnsandcolitis See more

With all thats going on right now, its a good time to take care of ourselves and boost our innate immunity. Here are a few of my favourite #preventative recommendations: ~ GARLIC - directly stimulates immune factors: lymphocytes, natural killer cells, immunoglobulin production, boosts phagocytosis and macrophage activity - the immune cells that capture and eat the bad guys (bacteria, virus, etc) to protect us from invaders and illness. Antimicrobial and highly anti-viral, ...aiding in prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. ~ High Dose Vitamin C - deficiencies in VC increases infection risk. Enhances B and T cell (immune cells) production. Shows beneficial effects in prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. I like LIPOSOMAL VIT C for its increased bioavailability and absorption. ~ KOREAN GINSENG (panax, or red) - has potent antiviral properties that have shown to improve immunity against rhinovirus, RSV, flu, HINI, herpes, etc in some in vitro and in vivo animal studies. Who knows if these anti-viral properties may benefit response to COVID-19. Might be worth a try! ~ ELDERBERRY - beneficial for respiratory illness and contains antiviral properties that have shown to decrease length and intensity of influenza symptoms. May be worthwhile in prevention, but more short term prevention. ~ .ZINC is crucial for the development of innate immune cells (NK and neutrophils) and necessary for macrophage production and phagocytosis. Lack of zinc can interfere with T and B cell maturation. Zinc supplementation can help decrease incidence and duration of GI illness and lower respiratory tract infections in adults and children. ~ .LIMIT SUGAR: after eating sugar, our immune system decreases in its ability to attack foreign pathogens (mainly bacteria) for a few hours. Imagine that! ~ OTHER: contrast hydrotherapy (alternating hot/cold water in shower with always ending on cold) and wet sock therapy can improve immune activity and boost circulation and lymphatic drainage. ~ EAT-SLEEP-MOVE WELL too of course! Wash hands! .. Xo DoctormomND See more

When the family is sick or seem to be getting sick, I spoon feed them cloves of garlic wrapped in Manuka honey. Here are a few of the reasons why: Side note: one time my 18 month old ate 7 whole garlic cloves in one sitting at the start of an illness! He woke up feeling much better. His breath on the other hand...

Loving these lists of recommendations, by the famous Aviva Romm, to slow down for a short period each day, week and month to do something for yourself completely undistracted. Take a look and try it out. We all need that time to ourselves to refuel so we can be our best selves tomorrow, for ourselves and for our loved ones.

Healthy lifestyle modifications are a primary treatment in Crohns and Colitis as a Naturopathic Doctor. Not only are these changes important for lowering intestinal inflammation (IBD) but also systemic or widespread inflammation in the body (higher in IBD sufferers) which can increase risk of heart attack by 25% in some cases according to recent study. Young patients with IBD seem to be 12x more likely to suffer from heart attack than young people without IBD. This article also highlights some other interesting info thats worth a read for IBD patients and their families.

Reheating Safety Tips for the Health of your FamilyI choose to reheat food for babies and kids in a pan over using a microwave, mainly because microwaves tend to reheat unevenly leaving some areas cool and others very hot. I also find pans to preserve the natural flavour of foods better. My husband loves to use NON STICK PANS but are they SAFE Non-stick or Teflon pans should be safe, especially when used at low or medium temperature. However, Teflon pans used to conta...in a cancer causing chemical called PFOA, something you definitely dont want in your family home. Since 2013, Teflon or Non-stick pans have been made without this harmful carcinogen. Its a good idea to ensure youre only using non stick pans purchased after this time. Even after purchasing updated cookware, stay away from broiling foods in non-stick cookware, anything above 570F/300C still causes toxic fumes to be leaked into your home air. Its also a good idea to never heat an empty pan (as temperatures can escalate quickly when empty) and to open a window or put your stove fan on to reduce exposure to any toxic substances. Using other forms of non-coated cookware like stainless steel is always a good option for reheating as well. Have questions about reheating food for babies or other family members? Ask ! Happy Thursday! -Dr. Z See more

Healthy Savoury Waffles These are sweet potato-chicken waffles. The past two weeks, myloving 2 year old has been saying NO to meat!! I needed to get creative to get some good protein in him tonight. He kept asking for more waffles, it was a success I had to share! These are great for picky eaters, the chicken was completely hidden. Try it out: INGREDIENTS: -2 raw sweet potatoes shredded (4 cups) -4 eggs ... -1 tsp garlic powder -1 tsp salt -1 tsp onion powder -2 tbsp coconut flour + extra for thickening if required -1 large precooked chicken breast cut into 1/4 (small) pieces -can add fresh or dried chives -maple syrup for drizzling DIRECTIONS: mix all dry ingredients together. Whisk eggs and combine with dry. Coat waffle iron with coconut or avocado oil and add 1/4 cup of batter to each griddle square. This recipe makes 7-8 small waffles. -Stay tuned for more savoury waffles! Broccoli + cheddar would be delicious. Any other ideas? Post in comments and Ill try to make em! See more

Learn the most common contributors to breast cancer (and other cancers) as well as helpful lifestyle changing tips to prevent cancer and disease from the brilliant, Dr. Mercola. Very thorough and informative article, I recommend this read to all men and women.

#Repost @avivaromm with @get_repost Bladder infections are super common over half of us will have at least one at some point in our lives, up to 20% of all women have some urinary discomfort or a bladder infection every year, and as many as 20% of us gals will have a recurrence 6 months after a bladder infection. Thats a lot of bladder infections! The most common symptoms of a bladder infection are frequent (and sometimes terribly painful) urination, urgently needing ...to pee, aching, cramping, or pressure above the pubic bone (that bony ridge down low in the front of your belly), and feeling tired, unwell, or low energy (malaise). You might notice blood in your urine (or on your toilet tissue), something up to 40% of women with a bladder infection experience. In a bladder infection, symptoms usually come on pretty suddenly, and there is no fever with a bladder infection. In contrast, kidney infection symptoms generally come on gradually, and there is usually fever, chills, nausea, and low back pain. Antibiotics are important for kidney infections, but bladder infections in healthy adult women who are not pregnant can often be treated naturally. They can make you feel awful enough to have to miss work, and untreated, can progress into more serious kidney infections which can make you really sick. This tile has my quick go-to remedy - cranberry-d-mannose, which is very effective for preventing and even treating mild early symptoms of a bladder infection and preventing the need for antibiotics. To learn more about UTI prevention and natural approaches, including a Root Cause approach, head over here. https://avivaromm.com/treating-bladder-infections-naturally/ #herbalmedicine #naturalremedies #uti #bladderinfectiion #womenshealth #takebackyourhealth See more

GF/V/DF homemade pizza using my no fail bread in previous post! Topped with: organic tomato sauce, basil flakes, chopped up chicken from last night, cherry tomatoes, zucchini and @daiyafoods cheese. -Baked on 350 until cheese melted, around 10 mins -Finished product above and pre-baked version to the

No fail GF/DF/V 3 ingredient quick bread or pita... This is a fast, healthy and super easy replacement for bread, pita and wraps. Its very hard to mess up and I make it by eyeballing it, hence theres no exact recipe but heres what you do! -mix chickpea or garbanzo flour in a bowl with water until the consistency matches that of pancakes. Sprinkle with a little bit of olive oil, too. -In addition to the 3 main ingredient above, add spices such as salt, pepper, garlic pow...der, rosemary and zataar for flavour. You can really add any type of spice you want to give it different flavours! -Pour into pan coated in avocado oil and heat on each side for about 3 mins on low (2-3 on dial). -This is great on its own or used as a base for pizza (see next post) or even served with hummus, cheese or labaneh -see insta stories for step by step! See more

Meal prep!swipe for Tahini Lemon Salad Dressing and recipe is below. Throughout this pregnancy Ive been feeling like theres isnt time to eat as healthy as I used to. Always eating on the run makes me feel like Im not feeding this baby enough greens and sometimes protein, too! Im always preparing food for my toddler but the thought of making a salad for myself and actually sitting down to eat one just seems way too long with the limited time I have. I decided to do ...this in advance and it works great. It also feels like Im eating takeout which kind of makes it way more fun to eat! Salad: baby arugula, brown rice, chickpeas, pepper, avocado, cucumber, goat feta, green apple and roasted squash. Dressing: 1/4 cup tahini, 2 tsp minced garlic, juice of two lemons, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 cup of water to thin (or more if desired), 2 Tbsp EVOO, salt pepper and Zataar to taste. This is roughly enough for 3-4 salads this size. See more

Pizza Rolls: Quick toddler dinner thats always a favourite in my house! -sprouted grain wrap -organic tomato sauce -finely chopped spinach and basil -cheese or DF cheese depending on childs diet -salt, pepper, garlic pepper Lay ingredients in wrap, roll tight and put in pan until cheese melts. Let cool and cut into bite size rolls.

The microbes baby are exposed to at birth may set they platform for their future health and risk of chronic disease. For babies born by c-section, microbial or vaginal seeding is a proposed method of setting their immune systems up for success.

Fall Butternut Squash SoupSee insta for play by play Ingredients: 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves peeled, 1 butternut squash cut into cubes, handful of fresh parsley, 2 small or 1 large apple, 2 carrots and 1 celery. Spices: sea salt or herbamare, pepper, 1 tsp dried thyme, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, powdered ginger and pumpkin spice mix if you have it for additional yumminess! Steps: 1) roast (425 F, 35 mins) cubed butternut squash smeared with olive oil, sea salt and a dash of... cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, ginger and pumpkin spice. 2) Sautée roughly chopped onion in olive oil in a pot until they sweat 3) roughly chop carrots and celery and add to pot. Cover with water until just covering veggies and simmer with lid on for 10-15 mins. 4) Add roasted squash and pot ingredients to blender and blend as you pour in chicken broth until you reach desired consistency 5) Add apples, parsley and 1 tsp of thyme and blend 6) season to taste with additional salt and pepper. See more

Having a cold sore or even a history of herpes is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. The herpes virus lives inside most people laying around quietly, even when we can't see physical symptoms, without causing us adults much issue. However, babies immune systems are immature and this virus can leave them extremely ill or worse. Please be cautious and don't kiss those little ones, especially when they are newborns. Its best to ask the parents to be sure, even if you are family!

The prime time to spend time talking conversationally with your toddler is between 18-24 months. Even if they can't fully respond, give them the space to 'answer' your questions!

Trying for a baby can be fun but it can also be frustrating for some. Did you know that it takes a healthy young couple an average of 6 moths to conceive? Trying for over a year may be considered as infertility of some kind. However, some people simply dont understand how and when to try for pregnancy and need to learn more about their bodies, hormones and menstrual cycle. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, stress, chronic disease management and psychological well-being may also all play a role in conception ability. Male lifestyle factors must be considered as well. To learn more about fertility and natural fertility therapies, please feel free to contact Dr. Samantha Zahavi, ND. Contact info

Good morning friends! #coffee #bliss #coconutmilkstir #villicote #NAG #IBDcofee

~#MommyMonday~ Q: Can you still drink coffee in pregnancy? A: The answer is yes, you can! Thank goodness! These helpful charts can help you tailor your coffee order throughout pregnancy. Moderation is key, however, in preventing potential miscarriage and/or harm to baby. Its important to ensure youre not consuming more than approximately 200 mg/day. That not only includes coffee, but other sources like pop, chocolate, caffeinated teas,... decaf coffee (no, its not completely caffeine free), and even some protein bars. Note: when going to STARBUCKS, opt for dark roast instead of light/blonde roast as it contains less caffeine per oz. When drinking brewed coffee, 200 mg is equivalent to

#feedyougut #feedyourbrain #nutrition #balance #mentalhealth

Microbiome Monday Do you suffer from Crohns or Colitis? Current research explains why the Vitamin may help regulate inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, specifically those of the gut. Here are some reasons why: Vitamin D is thought to act as an immunoregulator, meaning in it plays a role in the immune system and may potentially influence autoimmune disease as well. This is the reasoning behind its use in the treatment of many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. ...Deficiency in Vitamin D leads to dysbiosis of the microbiome and severe colitis Individuals with higher serum vitamin D levels are less likely to have IBD Immunity cells in the gut contain vitamin D receptors (which might explain how vitamin D acts as an immunoregulator) Vitamin D effects the production of two proteins involved in protecting our intestines from foreign invaders/microbes, thereby influencing our immunity and the diversity of our overall microbiome. Vitamin D is easy to use, safe and cost effective! Just a little reminder to take your prescribed vitamin D today, it might be more beneficial than you think. (Please only take as prescribed by your medical professional.) See more