Movember: Promoting Men's Health Awareness Through Moustaches

The whole idea behind Movember was a dumb guy idea...but the awesome thing about dumb guy ideas is that every other guy gets them and loves them.

Movember was supposedly started over beers by a few blokes in Melbourne, Australia in 2003. The idea was to grow your mo (moustache) for the month of November (starting with a clean shave on October 31st), to raise awareness for men's health. This event has now ballooned into a worldwide phenomenon supporting prostate cancer awareness, the ugly stat being that 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Last year, the Movember charity raised $47 million worldwide, with Canada being the second largest fundraising country worldwide behind Australia. Good on ya, mates.

Being a healthcare provider and a fellow member of the male species, I observe and understand the difficulties men have in taking charge of their health. In growing my pathetic excuse for a moustache (mind you, I did start a week late...) I am supporting the brotherhood of men (the Mo Bros) throughout Toronto and the world to raise awareness for men's health.

Men do tend to struggle with being proactive in their health and getting check ups from their health professionals. I admire women for taking charge of their health and being on top of annual physicals and bloodwork, and being courageous enough to try to find out if anything is amiss in their body. I also admire women who bring (or sometimes drag) their reluctant male partners into the office because they care. And, of course, I admire all the men who are brave enough to go on their own for a health check up, are open to listening to messages their body is telling them, and take a proactive role in preventing disease...as opposed to visiting the doctor after a problem has already arisen.

To the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (not women with moustaches as some people think, but women who support the promotion of men's health through the Movember movement), here are a few health reminders for the dudes in your lives:

1. Get your annual bloodwork and physical done...and yes, annual means EVERY year
2. If you don't have a family doctor yet, take the time to find one that is accepting new patients...try the website for the Health Care Connect which helps Ontarians find a family health care provider.
3. Check your testicles every month for any unusual lumps (takes 2 minutes)
4. Over 50? Time for a colonoscopy and prostate exam.
5. 45 years old with a family history of prostate cancer? Time for a prostate exam.
6. Eating plenty of vegetables and fruit will not make you less of a man.
7. If you avoid soy products because you are worried you will grow breasts, know that beer is also estrogenic like soy.

Although my version of Movember, so far, should be renamed Dirtyupperlip-ember and Aileen is supporting only the reason behind this, but not necessarily my new look, I'm happy to keep going with this until November 30th in support of men's health.

Happppy Movember!

How to Make Yourself More Happy AND Burn Some Excess Calories



SING!!!  That's right!!  Belting out your favorite tune not only helps to release endorphins, your brain's natural feel good chemical, it can also burn up to 100 calories in an hour!  Shake your booty while singing and instantly double that calorie count.


Being Korean, I am lucky to have a karaoke gene encoded in my DNA.  This does not mean that I am an amazing singer...it just means that I have no shame when it comes to belting out a tune in private or in public.  Makoto is half Japanese so I was convinced that he would also be a karaoke star but it took a little persuasion to get him to come out of his shell.  On our first trip to Korea, I dragged him to a karaoke bar (Asian Karaoke bars are a little different....you rent private rooms....this is mostly because we are all mic hogs and sharing the stage with a large group of strangers and having to patiently wait our turn would be out of the question).  At first, he insisted on just listening to me while he shook the tambourine and drank soju.  Maybe it was the liquid courage or the discovery that he could karaoke to Eminem, Snoop Dog, CCR, Metallica, The Backstreet Boys and, of course, Vanilla Ice but the man is now addicted.


Subsequently, we now own both Rap Star and Sing Star for our PS3.  The greatest thing about karaokeing is that you quickly realize that you don't have to be a good singer.  It's all about having fun and just letting go!  So start the day with singing your favorite song in the shower (the acoustics are faaaaaaaaaaantastic) or organizing a karaoke night with your friends!  Toooooooooooo much fun!

Happy Halloween!!!

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN!!



A lesson from Tom Green: Laughter and Testicular Cancer

Tom Green was in Toronto this past week as part of his North American standup comedy tour.

Having grown up in Ottawa, and listening to his late-night college radio show and then seeing him around downtown pulling hilarious pranks on unsuspecting bystanders for his Rogers' Cable TV's The Tom Green Show, was awesome.

I wasn't sure how he would do at standup, since I've been used to him doing performance comedy, pranks or hosting guests on his talkshows. I somehow convinced Aileen to come along to join the fun, but felt added pressure that Tom not resort to bringing out roadkill to hump on stage, or I would have a very disappointed wife.

After waiting in line in the rain for a good 20 minutes in front of the Phoenix, we were hoping for a really good show. The opening act was actually hilarious, and then Tom came running up from behind the crowd and didn't let up for a high-energy amazing performance. I couldn't stop laughing for the whole 90 minutes. Best part was that Aileen was busting a gut laughing as well. Phew...thought I would be hearing about "the *real* romantic night when Makoto dragged me to see Tom Green" for decades to come. Happy wife, happy life.

Anyhow, it's been a stressful and busy few weeks, and I think laughing our brains out was the best prescription we could have had. I think neither of us would have imagined anytime before that night, that Tom Green would actually be therapeutic. They do say laughter is the best medicine, and sometimes it's easy to forget when you are too busy to laugh. I have to remember to keep passing this advice on to others, and refer to Dr.Tom Green, Dr.Russell Peters, Dr.Chris Rock or one of the many other docs with mics.

Another lesson from Dr.Tom Green was about his survival through testicular cancer. He says "Sometimes I think about my battle with cancer, and think, I wouldn't trade if for anything...and then I think, well, I would trade it for my right testicle. Wouldn't mind getting that back!"

I recall his "Cancer Special" on MTV's The Tom Green Show in 2000 that tried to make light of his experiences dealing with doctors and surgery through his cancer treatment. Was great that he was educating the public through humour. He had a frank and serious moment in the show when he touched on this again, appreciating that he survived cancer, and reminding all the men to check their nuts.

So guys, don't forget to do a quick nut check every month in the shower.

There's not a lot of tissue to palpate (no matter what you want to believe), so it won't delay your morning by more than a minute or two. Ensure that there aren't any strange lumps or masses, and if there is anything you feel that is not normal, consult with your physician.

Prognosis is good if caught early, and main demographic is fairly young (20-35 yrs old), but can happen at any age. And, no, it does not make you any less manly if you see your doctor more than once every five years.

Thanks for the awesome time, Tom!

Amazing Olive Oil!! How to incorporate Olive Oil Into Your Life!

Those who know me are well acquainted with my obsession for olive oil.  I. Love. Olive. Oil.

Olive oil is an important source of monosaturated fatty acids...the good type of fat that helps to decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase HDL (good cholesterol).  It also protects your heart, decreases the risk of colon cancer, helps to heal ulcers and keeps your skin glowing and moisturized! 

It also is SUPER YUMMY!!  My favorite is Kalamata Olive oil....it has an extra amazing fresh and fruity taste to it!

But...not all olive oils are created equally and it's a very fragile oil so here are some guidelines:
1.  ONLY buy Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and it must be cold pressed.  Organic?  Even better.
2.  Stovetop - only heat olive oil at the 3 or 4 setting...maximum. 
3.  Oven - only heat olive oil to 350F...maxium. 

So basically, EVOO is best eaten in it's natural, raw state.  Here are some of my favorite ways to use EVOO:
1.  Pour it on toast.  Makoto and I pour Kalamata Olive Oil over toasted Dimpflmeier 7-Grain toast almost everyday.  Add a dash of sea salt and freshly ground pepper for a boost of deliciousness! (If you're feeling extra fancy and want to have a very Parisian lunch, top with chopped basil and sardines (yes...sardines...The French eat sardines the way us North Americans eat tuna...if you like tuna, you will love sardines).

2.  Pour it over pizza (yes...Makoto and I eat pizza!  Life would be so boring without pizza!  There are so many crust options (thin, gluten free) and topping options now!) - I learned this while visiting Italy.  The pizzeria's would insist on pouring fresh olive oil over my pizza.  At the time (I was 16yo), I was completely afraid of the added fat from the olive oil but now realize that olive oil is a form of GOOD fat that has many beneficial health properties and helps me to burn bad fat.  Try it...you will never eat pizza again without pouring olive oil on top!

3.  Add a heaping tsp to your smoothie or yogurt - it blends instantly into your smoothie/yogurt and boosts your snack with a dose of antioxidants!

4.  Chop up all the leftover veggies in your fridge and spread them on a baking sheet.  Drizzle EVOO, fresh chopped up herbs, sea salt and fresh ground pepper over them and bake at 350F for 30-45min (or until veggies are tender). 

5.  Pour a 1/4c of EVOO into your next bath...add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil if you're feeling extra fancy.  Soak for at least 20min.  When you come out of the bath, towel dry and just massage the oil left on your body into your skin.....your skin will feel baby soft.

I even designed Sprout Botanicals Nipple Balm with olive oil as the main ingredients due to it's healing and moisturizing properties (http://sproutbotanicals.com/product_detail/item/olive_nipple_balm/)

I heart olive oil forever!

BEDBUGS! How to be proactive in preventing an infestation

Seems like these days everyone's major fear for their home and personal comfort is a bedbug infestation. In the last few years, there have been huge increases in incidences and almost daily articles in the newspaper about new areas of infestation, including major sports stores, cinemas and high-end hotels. Most of us feel that there is not much we can do about this, but hope for the best... and in the awful case that we do get infested, get our home treated by an exterminator.

Aileen's natural baby care line has a natural outdoor spray, which contains essential oils that can function as a bedbug repellant, and can be ordered online or purchased at several health food stores, including The Big Carrot. Of course, nothing is a guaranteed prevention for bedbugs, but this helps in being proactive instead of feeling helpless.

You can visit the Sprout Botanicals website for product information.

Below is what we recommend to patients regarding a bedbug prevention protocol and evidence that natural essential oils function to repel blood-sucking arthropods.

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Following is a link to a 2006 research paper from the Journal of Medical Entomology, an article entitled "Repellency of Oils of Lemon Eucalyptus, Geranium, and Lavender and the Mosquito Repellent MyggA Natural to Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Laboratory and Field."

The tested product contained essential oils of lemon eucalyptus, geranium and lavender and was tested on ticks which are blood-feeding arthropods, as are bedbugs. Repellancy effects were substantial.

Sprout Botanicals Outdoor Spray's ingredients are known to be effective in deterring mosquitoes and blackflies, should also logically function as a preventative measure to repelling bedbugs. It is not a guarantee to prevent bedbugs, but as evidence shows, does function as an effective repellent for blood-feeding arthropods.

Sprout's Outdoor Spray contains essential oils of eucalyptus, geranium and lavender, which not only smell great, but are also the same oils tested in the 2006 study. Although it is called an Outdoor Spray it is completely safe to use indoors and inhale as it is 100% chemical-free.

Bedbug prevention can be implemented in the following ways:

1. Sprayed uniformly on mattresses (covers and sheets removed) every 2 weeks. Allow a few hours for mattress to air dry before re-covering with linens.
2. Carried in your bag or purse to public places prone to bedbug infestations (theatres, cinemas) and sprayed on the seat before sitting down.
3. Sprayed on your clothes after having been seated in a public place.

Good luck, and don't let the bedbugs bite!

Quick and Easy Lemon Lentil Soup

After a crazaaaaazy September, Makoto and I are happy to be spending most of our time in Toronto this month. We realized how much we love our house and we missed seeing our wonderful neighbors. We are dedicating our weekends to “winterizing” our house, cleaning up the garden and hosting a few dinner parties.

When things get busy, and especially when we’re travelling, we eat out 3 meals a day. So it’s time to get back on track and we decided to do so by making some easy to digest, high in protein soups.

I made this quick and easy Lemon Lentil Soup and it provided several hearty lunches…especially when had with toasted organic Dimpflmeier Sunflower bread (drizzled in kalamata olive oil with a dash of cracked black pepper). YUM.

Lemon Lentil Soup
(Adapted from The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook)
2 onions
5 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
2 cups red lentils, rinsed and drained
8 cups vegetable stock or water
5 cups of baby spinach, chopped
1 small handful fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Sea Salt to taste

1.  Chop onions and gralic and saute in coconut oil until soft (5-7min).
2.  Add the red lentils and vegetable broth/water.  Cover pot and simmer for 30min (or until lentils are cooked through).
3.  When lentils are cooked, add chopped spinach and parsley along with the lemon juice and sea salt.  Simmer on low for another 5 minutes.
4.  Cool soup and purree if you'd like but it tastes just as yummy as is :)