Adapt your nutritional needs as you move through life

 At this time of year, change is all around us. With every sunny day, flowers are blooming, and the leaves are gently opening, announcing the arrival of spring. As we go through life, constant modifications happen within our bodies too. I find that you only notice the change when you look at photos, meet

Common excuses we use for not eating healthily

 We are sure you already understand the importance of eating healthily. Balanced meals that contain the necessary nutrients we need for good health can improve our life chances. However, there are those of us that tend to eat foods that are less than healthy. There are all kinds of reasons

The health benefits of keeping your body well hydrated

 With spring well and truly here, we are spending more time outdoors and for most people the warming temperatures encourage us to be more active. We are largely made up of water (about 70 per cent) therefore it stands to reason that for our bodies require good hydration to function properly. However, it

Heart health: eat well, move more, and live long

 February was Healthy Heart Month, so here are a few fun facts regarding our heart. Did you know that your heart is roughly the size of your fist; it pumps about 115,000 litres of blood a day and weighs less than a pound? Its most important role is to pump

Simple satisfying soups

 The fourth of February was Homemade National Soup Day. To celebrate this, I will be looking at the value of adding homemade soups to your meal planning, how you can easily increase your vegetable intake, as well as lifestyle and health benefits of soup. I firmly believe that good food does

Tips and tricks for eating healthy during the holiday season

 Although this holiday season will be like no other we have ever had there is still a strong sense of wanting to celebrate. We are looking forward to the holidays with its festive foods and taking time to connect with friends and family, even though we will be forced to do our

Mushrooms: An amazing source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants

 With the fall well and truly with us, there are many foods that nature provides us with before the cold of winter. One of these foods which are not often talked about is mushrooms. Although you will find mushrooms amongst the fresh produce in the grocery store, they are not a

3 simple ways to improving your blood sugar levels

 Our bodies are constantly requiring energy to function, our main of energy coming from carbohydrates (sugars). We often hear people talking about needing a sugar ‘boost’ or ‘rush’ when they might be tired or about to tackle a difficult and long project. However, what if instead of having that burst of energy followed by

Fabulous fibre is good for your gut and your overall health

 Previously, before we were able to refine foods and process them, fibre was found in nearly everything we ate, from fruits and vegetables to whole grains, and legumes. However, today these foods are often refined and processed with the fibre being removed and if we eat too much of these foods, we often

Staying hydrated through summer

 With the hot weather here to stay, it is so important to make sure that we remain properly hydrated, it especially important for young children, the older population and those with chronic health issues. You may well wonder why is it so important to keep well hydrated? Our bodies are

Get to know healthy sugars and enjoy the sweet things in life

 Are you someone who is trying to cut down on sugar and would love to have a sweet treat, but you are not sure what you can eat? Is the sweet treat aisle of the grocery store daunting because of the labelling of foods? Is the treat with “no added

Watch out for residual sugars in your summer drinks

 Lockdown has resulted in many changes to how we live, one is the blurring of our work with week with the weekend, which was previously marked on Friday evening with friends and a drink. However, these blurred boundaries have the result for some in drinking during the week as well

Tower Gardens — an interview with urban farmer Becky Black

 As Canadians have kept to themselves this spring, and have thought more about their groceries and eating habits, some have been buying Tower Gardens to grow herbs, vegetables and more at home. Local representatives, Becky Black, grew up on a Southern Ontario dairy farm; she says she’s glad to know

Cow-free milk — favourite non-dairy alternatives

 This week saw World Dairy day look at the value of dairy in our daily lives and health. For those of you that are lactose intolerant or are just looking for other options, then this article is for you. When looking at the world around us, we are some of

More than simply a sweet treat: The magic of honey

 The 20th of May was World Bee Day and what better way to honour the work that the busy bees do than to share the many virtues that honey possesses, from helping to heal wounds to using it to relieve coughs and colds. Yet with all its qualities, it is

Low calorie and high fiber: The beauty of beans and legumes

 As we slowly head into spring, I find that the way that we eat starts to change as we are looking for lighter, cooler meals that are easy to digest. It is a time of year when I start to increase my intake of legumes. This week, I will be

Cut through the confusion — get to know carbohydrates

 Last week, we looked at proteins and what they are made of; this week, we are examining carbohydrates: what they are, their role within our body, and our health. What foods are considered carbohydrates, and what is the difference between refined carbohydrates (sometimes referred to as simple carbohydrates) and complex

Get nutty for nuts — the health benefits of this superfood

 Growing up, nuts were not really part of my diet other than eating them in a trail mix or at Christmas time. However I have found that in the past few years, I have learned to use them in other ways and really appreciate what they have to offer for

Food for allergy relief – anti-inflammatories and good fats

 Although we are still home and staying safe, one of the things that I find helps to keep me grounded, is seeing that Mother Nature is still on course. Spring is most definitely on its way and with it the allergies that can make our lives quite uncomfortable at times.

Boosting your children’s immunity

 With the world we are living in today it is more important than ever before, that we really start to look after ourselves, not just by staying home but by improving what we eat. If you think about it, no athlete will go into a competition without some sort of

Boosting the immunity of the elderly

 If you or family member have a vulnerable immune system this article is for you. We will be looking at the various ways in which our immune system protects us and how we can very simply support it through lifestyle and nutritional changes. Due to the current circumstances, we hear a

Canada’s Food Guide doesn’t work for everyone

 By Heather Keller “What do you think of Canada’s Food Guide?” is a question I have been asked a lot since Health Canada launched new guidance on how the nation should eat last year. The Guide recommends a plant-focused diet but not to the exclusion of animal products — an

The value of whole grains 

 This week I will be looking at what exactly is a whole grain, the difference between whole grains and refined grains and the value of them in our diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, they are linked to lower risks of diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.  I will also

Eating for hydration 

 During the winter months there is a strong tendency to forget about being well hydrated, it is something we think of more during the hot summer months. This week, I will be looking at the ways we lose fluids as well as some subtle signs and symptoms which can be as a result of

Crazy quirky quinoa

 Who hasn’t heard of quinoa the ‘super food’ with so many amazing qualities? Is it as good as they claim? I’m going discuss the various reasons why this food should be a staple part of our diet. We often refer to quinoa as a super grain although botanically speaking it