Food Friday: Delicata Squash Fries

Last weekend at the farmers market I felt like a kid in a candy store with all the amazing fall produce out! I am extra excited when I find delicata squash, my favourite fall squash that only comes out at this time of year. I already wrote about how I use it in my favourite Moroccan Fall Stew, but here is a quick and delicious way to eat them. I made these fries for a big brunch over the weekend and they were definitely a hit. Delicata squash have very thin skin so you don't need to peel them. They are also a bit sweet like other squash so they pair nicely with a little spice or curry. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 delicata squash 
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
• 4 tbsp mayo 
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking tray with parchment paper. 
2. Half the squash lengthwise and scrap out seeds with a spoon. Slice squash into 1/2 inch half moons. Toss squash with olive oil and salt and spread out on baking tray. 
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes on each side until slightly golden. 
4. Meanwhile while baking, mix mayo with curry powder lemon and pinch of sea salt. 
5. Serve squash with the side of curry mayo for dipping. Delicious!

In health & happiness, 

Dr. Karen

(Photo credit: https://simplylivinghealthy.org/2012/10/08/crispy-delicata-squash-fries/

IBS Diet - Why A lowFODMAP Diet Is Not Advised Long-Term

More and more digestive patients of mine tell me that it has been suggested they go on a low-FODMAP diet (easily fermentable foods) to help/cure their IBS symptoms. Sometimes they are even told to stay on it longterm despite not seeing a big benefit. Unfortunately this is not the best suggestion and can actually cause some long-term side effects leading to worse digestive issues. Only a few digestive condition warrant a low-FODMAP diet, including something called SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and only for a short amount of time. To simplify, SIBO basically means that bacteria have ascending up from the large intestine into the small intestine where they are not supposed to be and cause symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, bloating, gas, and pain. Yes, many patients with IBS do have SIBO, however it is important to accurately test and properly treat, instead of staying on a restricted diet long-term. We want to treat the root cause, not just decrease symptoms.

A low-FODMAP diet keeps symptoms of SIBO under control simply by starving the bacteria in your small intestines. When they don’t have food, they aren’t able to ferment that food and produce unwanted gas. It doesn’t always solve the problem however. Longterm, this can starve the bacteria in your large intestines that have a beneficial role in our gut and overall health as well as potentially set patients up for reoccurrence of SIBO. Studies have shown that a long-term low-FODMAP diet can reduce the diversity and quality of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine.  

Yes this diet can reduce symptoms IF you have IBS/SIBO, however dietary changes alone are often not enough to treat. We want to actually eliminate the bacteria vs starve them into a dormant state. A low FODMAP diet (or similar low carbohydrate diet) is only one portion of my SIBO protocol and should only be used for about 6-8 weeks in the final phase, or short term at the beginning to lessen symptoms. As mentioned, my main goal is to eliminate the unwanted microbes with antimicrobials. This phase does not happen for long as well, only about 6-8 weeks typically.

In the long term, we want to eat FODMAP foods to feed the beneficial bacteria in the large intestines. We also want to keep our diet as diverse as possible to allow greater nutrient density and get a wider variety of nutrients. 

My last point is that SIBO is often a symptom of a deeper digestive problem, therefore after properly treating this condition we then address the root cause, which could be low stomach acid, gallbladder issues, intestinal motility issues, scar tissue, stress and so on. 

Therefore if you have been advised to start a low FODMAP diet, or have been on it for even a few months already, please consider seeing a Naturopathic Doctor like me to consult on whether this is the right treatment path for you, to get tested for SIBO, or to help get to the root cause of your digestive concerns. 

Any questions? I'm happy to help!

In health & happiness,

Dr. Karen

Food Friday: Bumpin' Brassica Bowl

Greens, greens the wonderful food! There are many benefits from eating leafy greens, especially from the Brassica family, which is why I always try to incorporate them into my daily meals. I go a little crazy if I haven't had any greens in a day and actually crave them when I wake up after certain late nights... I highly encourage you to try incorporating some of these other greens into your diet instead of the basic leaf lettuce. 

The brassica (latin name for cabbage) family include kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, collard greens and cauliflower. In addition to being packed full of vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron, they contain several phytonutrients known for their cancer fighting properties and liver detox functions. One I want to highlight is I3C (indole-3-carbinol) that gets converted to DIM in the body to aid in phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification and estrogen balancing. You can take this in supplement form but why not get it from food as best you can. Brassica greens also contain flavonoids which act as an anti-oxidant to fight inflammation. Broccoli, and broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphanes which are powerful nutrients to not only support the liver, but kill H.pylori and other unwanted bacteria in the gut, and is a potential cancer treatment. I could go on but lets get to the recipe!

Ingredients: (serves 2)

• 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar (great for digestion!)
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp dijon mustard  
• 3 cups shredded kale
• 1 cup shredded brussels sprouts 
• 1/2 cup shredded green cabbage 
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 large shallot, sliced and caramelized 
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds, toasted
• 2 tbsp hemp hearts
• 1/4 avocado, sliced 
• 1 soft-boiled egg, halved 
• handful broccoli sprouts - optional (learn how to sprout here)

Directions:

1. In a small blender/magic bullet emulsify the olive oil with the apple cider vinegar and dijon mustard. It should end up slightly creamy and a light yellow colour.
2. Mix shredded kale, brussels sprouts and cabbage together in a bowl. Dress the greens with the dressing, only adding enough to lightly coat the greens, then massage the kale mixture to soften the kale. Add a pinch of salt, then more dressing if needed.
3. Top with hemp hearts, caramelized shallots, toasted sunflower seeds and broccoli sprouts (if using) and gently mix. Top with sliced avocado and egg, adding a pinch more salt. Delicious! 

Look out for recipes like these in my 10-Day Fall Detox Program! Want to get back on track with your health after the summer months? The program starts October 10th but sign up today to claim your spot!

Food Friday: Carrot Quinoa Breakfast Cookies

I think I may be a snack monster! "I'm hungry" may be the phrase I say the most ;) This is probably because I am not balancing my blood sugar effectively that day, simply out of habit or I just enjoy food too much! 

These cookies do the trick for me when I am in that state of mind and my stomach is grumbling. I love freezing them and grabbing one as needed. They are packed full of nutrients from the carrots, quinoa and oats, fat from almond butter and nuts, coconut oil and flax, protein from almond butter/nuts and fibre from whole grains and flax. I see no wrong! (Unless you are on a paleo diet unfortunately.) Remember fat, fibre and protein is what keeps you full for longer and balances your blood sugar. I posted the link to these awhile ago on FB but considering I keep coming back to them I wanted them handy for both you and me. :) 

Depending on how runny my almond butter is, the cookies can be pretty wet before cooking or dry. I add a little more quinoa or oats if it looks too wet, which keeps them from crumbling. If you can eat eggs you may want to try them with 1-2 eggs instead of the flax mixture however I haven't done this yet. The recipe has several ingredients but I find they are a cinch to throw together if you have cooked the quinoa the night before (use the rest in a buddha bowl or salad). Thanks www.loveandlemons.com!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oat flour (made from 1¼ cups whole rolled oats ground in a blender - eg vitamix)
• 1 cup (additional) whole rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2-3/4 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup finely shredded carrots
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 5 tbsp warm water (set aside for 5 minutes)
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup nuts and/or seeds (I used walnuts & pumpkin seeds; pecans could be great)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a glass, combine the flaxseed and warm water and set aside to thicken for about 5 minutes.
3. Use a food processor or a blender to process the 1¼ cups rolled oats into a fine flour and measure out one level cup. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, the remaining 1 cup whole oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and sea salt. Add in the quinoa and then the shredded carrots, stirring until the carrots are completely coated with flour.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the almond butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup and stir well to incorporate. Stir in the flaxseed mixture.
5. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and fold in just until combined. Stir in the walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries.
6. Scoop just under ¼ cup of batter for each cookie onto the baking sheet. (I have used 1/4 cup and they come out pretty big - which I like.) Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
7. When cookies are completely cool, they can be stored in an airtight container or frozen.

Let me know what you think or if you have any adaptations you like!

In health & happiness, 

Dr. Karen