The holidays are meant to be a time of great joy and cheer, but sometimes they can be downright stressful. Especially, when we aren’t planning enough time for ourselves. That’s why I wrote this week’s blog. While the holiday season will always be a little hectic, not sticking to your healthy habits can result in you feeling run down (or even worse…sick!) over the holidays. Here are a few tips to keep you working out and eating right this holiday! Tips for Working Out During the Holiday • Pencil it In. You are less likely to skip your workout if you make a point to pencil it into your calendar. Look over your plans for the holiday and figure out when and where a workout could fit in. • Keep it Short. You don’t have to run a marathon. Schedule a quick HIIT circuit or a walk with the family to keep your body moving. • Get the Family Involved. After all, there’s nothing like skating or tobogganing to get you in the holiday spirit. Tips of Eating Healthy During the Holidays • Try Your Best. Let’s face it, it’s hard to eat clean during the holidays. If you do happen to fall Read more…
It’s that time of year again: allergy season. Are you one of the millions of Canadians suffering from: • Itchy, watery eyes; • A runny nose; • Constant sneezing; or • A wheezy cough? Common springtime allergens like mold spores, pollen and grass can cause an array of symptoms. When allergy symptoms strike, many people automatically reach for antihistamines but do they really work? The truth: Allergy medications serve to temporarily relieve symptoms, but do nothing to address the underlying cause. Ever wonder why some people are affected by seasonal allergies while others aren’t? An allergy is not caused by the allergen itself, but by the immune system’s inability to fight off the adverse effects of the allergen. In other words, the immune system is too tired, stressed or weak to fight off the allergen. So, allergies = poor immune function. The good news is, there are natural ways to beat seasonal allergies and improve your immune function. So, before reaching for over the counter meds, try some of the natural strategies below! Natural Allergy Relief 1. Eat Right. A healthy diet is key to a healthy immune system. Eat more fresh, whole foods and do your best to avoid sugar and Read more…
Headaches are a difficult health issue to walk around with. Mostly, because they’re an invisible problem. They don’t make noise like indigestion or show on your skin like eczema. Outsiders can’t tell that they are there, yet the symptoms that accompany headaches are often debilitating for sufferers.
Best Fats for Cooking
Are you confused about which fats are good and bad? I do not blame you – there’s a lot of conflicting information about fats out there. Some myths just won’t die. The biggest one is that eating fat leads to weight gain. While recent studies show that’s not true, we still see books and articles advocating for low-fat diets for faster weight loss. Fats play a major role in weight loss and overall health. They help absorb other nutrients you consume, balance hormone levels, maintain cell structure and much more. However not every type of fat. Eating bad fats (trans fats, and hydrogenated oils) can lead to heart disease, high cholesterol, weight gain, depression and other diseases. Not only should you know which fats are healthy and which are not, but you should also know which fats are safe to cook with. Some fats are better consumed in their room temperature state as they react with the heat and become unhealthy fats. What are the Best Fats for Cooking ? When you’re cooking with high heats, you would want to use oils that do not oxidize or go rancid easily, as these can cause harmful free radicals that are damaging Read more…
A number of people choose the new year as the time to set new goals for their lives and make new years resolutions. Sadly, by the end of January, most people have given up on their new goals. We believe that this SMART Guide will help you to successfully stay on track and achieve your goals. Your goals need to be SMART: (using the word SMART can help you remember these tips) Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely First, write down all the goals you would like to accomplish in the new year. Then, take some time to think about each one of them and decide the ones that are the most important to you. Do not take on to many at one time, but make specific, realistic goals and choose one or two to work on first. SPECIFIC: Once you have decided on what goal(s) you’d like to achieve, try to define it as precisely as possible. You should write down all the reason why this specific goal is important to you. MEASURABLE: If you can put a number on your goal it will be easier to evaluate or measure your progress. For example, if you want to lose weight, how Read more…
The North American lifestyle is one of the most fast pace lifestyles in the world. People often have excuses for not having enough time to exercise, sleep enough, eat healthy, or simply just take care of themselves period! The one thing that I think people really overestimate is how easy it is to cook a quick and healthy meal every day. It is 2015 and the sources for this information are endless. Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and just googling the World Wide Web will suffice. Social media has had a huge impact over the years on how people find information. This also includes great information like healthy recipes anyone can easily find on any social media outlet. Here are a few quick ideas you can look up online. If you’re the type of person who loves to snack and has a sweet tooth, a great idea found on Pinterest is frozen yogurt-covered blueberry bites. Dip Blueberries in Greek yogurt then lay them out on a cookie sheet. Put it in the freezer for 15 minutes (it is recommended to keep them in there for 1 hour to insure they are all frozen) then pop them off the cookie sheet and put Read more…
How Processed Meats Can Cause Cancer
Have you heard the news? Processed meats including cold cuts, bacon, hotdogs, chicken nuggets, pepperoni, beef jerky and corned beef, to name a few, can cause cancer!….Is anyone really surprised? I think not. The American institute for cancer research (AICR) released an article about the link between processed meat and cancer in on August 7th 2014. On October 26th 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially identified processed meats as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning the quality of the evidence firmly links it to cancer. Red meats fare a little better, falling into Group 2A (foods of substances that probably cause cancer), a category that also includes the toxic pesticide DDT, the chemical weapon mustard gas and the insecticide malathion. What is causing this? The problem with all these foods isn’t what type of meat it is (ex: white meat versus red meat, pork or beef) it is the way it is treated. Meat that’s been smoked, salted, cured or changed in any process to enhance flavor or make it last longer is what has health experts especially worried. Even in small amounts, eating cold cuts and other processed meats on a regular basis increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Read more…
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Natural Solutions for Digestive Issues
Digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, and acid reflux affect more than 20 million Canadians every year.
Are Headaches Ruining Your Life?
Don’t let headaches ruin your life. These simple life changes can make a world of difference.