DR. MUBINA JIWA
Toronto-based Naturopath Dr. Mubina Jiwa, Bsc., ND is a member of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors and director of Essence of Health. Dr. Mubina is also an Assistant Professor at The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Naturopathic medicine utilizes alternative therapies within the context of mainstream medicine, which help improve the body's ability to heal and maintain itself.
I have always been passionate about health and I really enjoy interacting with people so it was the perfect fit. As a naturopath I get to spend a significant amount of time with each patient, getting to know all aspects of their lives. Also being from an Asian background I was exposed to many herbal and home remedies so it seemed like a natural choice. No pun intended.
Q: In your experience what happens to be some of the more common food sensitivities that people may have?
I was surprised when we did a survey of the top intolerances amongst our patients and pork came out as number one, followed by bananas. I also find that wheat and dairy are big culprits and hard to eliminate due to their prevalence in our diet.
Q: What are some of the symptoms of food intolerances and sensitivities?
The symptoms of a food intolerance can vary dramatically. some people experience bloating and digestive discomfort whilst others get migraines or joint pain. When you eat a food that you are intolerant to, you end up causing a mild inflammatory reaction in your body and this can aggravate any inflammatory condition. So, I usually say, take the foods out and watch and wait to see what improves - chances are there will be some surprises.
Q: With regards to a regular Asian kitchen what are some herbs and spices one should take on a regular basis?
My number one would be Turmeric. It is readily available and has been shown to have many health benefits. Traditionally it has been used as a digestive and as an anti-antibacterial. In recent years we have seen it's strong anti-inflammatory properties, helping with heart health, wound healing and new research is showing that it might be helpful in preventing Alzheimer's as well. It is great to incorporate into your diet on a daily basis but keep in mind for certain therapeutic functions you may need to supplement as you would need to have many tablespoons full to get the desired dose.
Cinnamon is another great spice and my number two pick. If our obesity epidemic continues we will probably see more of it. Cinnamon has been proven to stabilise blood sugar and so is a helpful adjunct for the management of diabetes and glycemic issue.
Q: How do we know we're getting enough fresh fruit every day?
I usually suggest my patients have 1-2 fruits per day. Fruits are great sources of vitamins and minerals but they are also high in sugar. I prefer fruits that have fibre so that it can help stabilize the blood sugar. Apples and pears are good, eaten with the peel of course, are great as well as berries. Berries would be at the top of my list due to their rich colour and therefore anti-oxidant content. However, living in the tropics it might be a little easier to come across guava's, durians and passionfruit - all packed with vitamins and more importantly fibre.
Q: Could you recommend a gentle detoxification recipe?
The best and simplest detox is eating home cooked food that you can be in control over. Trying to use fresh foods and fresh spices and sticking to cooking methods such as steaming, boiling and baking. Try to eat a diet rick in green leafy vegetables and use brown rice as your carbohydrate source. I also recommend a glass of hot water with the juice of a 1/4 lemon first thing in the morning to help detox your liver and kick start your metabolism.
For more on Dr. Mubina visit Essence of Health - www.essenceofhealth.ca
Sources: Essence of Health/Wikipedia
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