Author:Vancouver Health Coach

September 12, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Eating Smart with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Knowing what foods to avoid can be just as crucial to your comfort as knowing what foods to eat if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). And if you are one of the 10–15% of Americans who have IBS, then this article is for you. There are several different subgroups of IBS, and many people with the condition react to foods differently as well. For instance, dairy products may upset the stomach and bowel movements of someone with IBS-D (with diarrhea) or with IBS and lactose intolerance, while dairy may be helpful for bowel regulation for someone with IBS-C (with constipation). Although...

September 11, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

The Future of IBS Treatment: What’s in Store for Your Bowels?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of a number of chronic conditions affecting millions of people about which very little is actually known. With no known cause, no specific mechanism, and no single set of symptoms, effective treatments for IBS have been slow in materializing. A cure for IBS is not currently available. But what are researchers doing to make progress? A variety of pharmaceuticals have been released in the past decades to address IBS symptoms, but side effects have often matched the condition’s own discomforts. These drugs have tried to target inflammation, brain-gut interaction, and gut motility, but millions of individuals...

September 11, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Spring Detox With Fresh Dandelions

Dandelions are so common here in BC during springtime. Its Latin name is taraxacum officinale. Before I got involved in the natural health field I would weed dandelions out of my garden and throw them away. Now I treat every dandelion plant in my garden like the treasure that it is. Dandelions are completely edible, plus most importantly, consuming them will detoxify your liver and kidneys. It is a powerful diuretic which, unlike pharmaceutical diuretics, does not drain the body of potassium because it is also rich in potassium. Dandelions also contain vitamin A, calcium, and iron. Remember to avoid eating...

September 10, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, News, Product Reviews By Vancouver Health Coach

Review of Alba Botanica Natural Acnedote

If you are as active as I am, occasional body breakouts are an unavoidable consequence of spending “sweaty-time” each day practicing yoga, spinning, barre-ing, running or whatever your fitness poison may be.  To combat this, I’ve tried a ton of remedies, topicals and body scrubs.  I was using a conventional brand for a while, but natural, organic ingredients and no added parabens or sulfates is really important to me.  This can be challenging though, since I am also sensitive and the essential oils and fragrances in “natural” products can sometimes lead to skin reactivity that results in breakouts too. So, I...

September 10, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food, Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Eating Ayurvedic: A Diet For Everyone

The concept behind food as medicine is that food is a spectrum between nourishment and healing, and given the very large spectrum of foods, there many valid approaches to diet. But when we talk about diet, we need to understand the difference between a diet that nourishes, and a diet that heals. We need to understand how the different qualities of food impacts our health, for good and for ill. There is no such thing as a wrong food, with perhaps the exception of highly processed, refined foods, but only because they are biologically inappropriate (e.g. microparticles). But almost all...

September 9, 2014 In Family Fitness, News, Pet Health By Vancouver Health Coach

Obesity in Pets

Just like in people, obesity has become a significant health problem in our pets. Obesity in pets is associated with diabetes, respiratory issues, arthritis, and decreased life span. Unfortunately people have equated loving their pets to feeding them excessive amounts of food and treats. Keeping our pets at an ideal body condition is a much better way to love them and to help them have a long, healthy life. Food for thought: When trying to manage your pets weight start with the guidelines on the food package, remember they are just guidelines and adjustments will be made based on your pets...

September 9, 2014 In Emotional Health, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Setting Boundries in Our Daily Lives

Setting boundaries is a term that has been floating through the pop-psychology circuit for some time now. As much as it appears like a sophisticated technique to adopt and practice within our relationships, quite simply it is the art of saying no, or setting limits on what you are willing to handle. Unfortunately, there are plenty of folks in the world who are either people-pleasers or afraid of disappointing and hurting others. Being a people-pleaser or worrying about how you affect others means you put yourself last. There’s nothing wrong with being a giving, selfless person, yet how can you bring...

September 8, 2014 In Fitness, News, Product Reviews, Running By Vancouver Health Coach

3 Must Haves for Running Outdoors

Even if the warm summer months have passed, there are many of us who still love to sweat and get dirty outdoors during the damp and colder days. Running outside is fun and a nice change from the treadmill but requires that we be aware of our surroundings. Some of the benefits of running outdoors are; you can run anywhere, enjoy the scenery, get fresh air, and it's generally more challenging as you expend more calories. Here are a couple of items to help you stay safe while running outside. The Gear: Reflective Gear ($10): With less daylight running time, you need gear...

September 7, 2014 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Get Healthy This Fall. Introducing the Vega One Starter Kit

Are you looking to get healthy this fall season? Kickstart your health with 5 days of Vega One. Made from natural, plant-based, whole food ingredients, Vega One is packed with the complete foundational nutrition your body needs to build your day on. Each packet in your starter kit contains: 50% daily intake of vitamins and mineral 15 g protein 6 g fiber 1.5 g Omega-3 3 servings of greens Antioxidants Probiotics And all with less than 150 calories! Vega One is dairy, gluten and soy free, and contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. Use as a delicious,...

September 7, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Gut bacteria could be key indicator of colon cancer risk

In a paper published by the University of North Carolina the authors suggest that the balance of healthy versus pathogenic bacteria in our gut is an important element in the development of colon cancer. This is only the latest in a continual stream of research over the past decade showing the importance of a healthy gut flora. But the benefit doesn't extend to just the bowel. A quick survey on the database of the National Institute of Medicine will quickly show that these probiotic organisms are not only good for the gut, but are equally important in the proper health...