Author:Vancouver Health Coach

May 18, 2012 In Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Cucumber, Mint & Blueberry Smoothie

Celebrities seem to dictate food trends for weight loss: low-carb, gluten-free, vegan and now juicing. And juice bars are sprouting up in every major city across America. So what really is the buzz? Just like any healthy diet, it is about eating more fresh plants in their natural state. I love the idea of juicing but not the cleanup and I don’t live near any organic juice bars. My solution? Smoothies of all colors: green, pink, yellow and today purple, made quickly in my blender at home. This invigorating Cucumber, Mint & Blueberry vegan smoothie delivers not only taste but also...

May 1, 2012 In Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Health Coaches Can Promote Wealth, Too

Do you have a spare $100,000 in your retirement account? That’s the average amount a retiree will likely spend on healthcare as they age, according to recent research from Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research. Fortunately, you can adjust your asset allocation strategy—today—and lower your risk of huge bills later in life. Invest some of your cash in a health coach. Licensed or certified health coaches are health and nutrition experts who can help you develop a regimen to achieve goals like losing weight, lowering cholesterol or boosting your immunity. They may also be doctors, physicians' assistants, or nurses. Many people seek medical intervention after...

April 30, 2012 In Family Fitness, News, Spotlight, Yoga By Vancouver Health Coach

Yoga After Pregnancy: Get in Shape with Peaceful Postnatal Practice

Starting a physical activity program after pregnancy provides numerous physical and mental benefits to new mothers, and yoga is an excellent form of exercise for this special time in life. In general, new mothers should wait six weeks after giving birth before starting a fitness program. It is important to get approval from a physician before starting a new program of physical activity, particularly if the baby was delivered by c-section, or if there were complications with the birth. Pregnancy has profound health effects on a woman’s body and mind, and practicing yoga helps her regain physical strength and fitness...

April 2, 2012 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

I heart Traditional Chinese Medicine

One of the inside jokes we have as Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners is that TCM has two hearts and no brain. It may sound like it, but it’s really not a dig. In TCM we discuss function more than form. The two hearts are the physical heart and the emotional heart. The “no brain” is because we don’t discuss the physical form of the brain on its own. We discuss the brain as being encompassed by the marrow and that is most linked to the energy of the TCM Kidneys. Long-term memory is also more directed to the TCM Kidneys. Short-term...

March 28, 2012 In Food, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Eating Ayurvedic: A Diet for Balancing Kapha

The diet to balance kapha corresponds to the many of the low-fat, mostly vegetarian diets out there including that recommended by health and wellness guru Dr. Dean Ornish, as well as those who advocate for raw food veganism. This diet is proportionally rich in antioxidant and anti inflammatory nutrients, and typically low in protein and fat. In Ayurveda this diet is suitable for people that have a sluggish metabolism, that tend to gain weight easily on a rich, nourishing diet. This diet is also an excellent choice to promote detoxification, by shifting energy balance in the body towards elimination. As...

March 7, 2012 In Food, Food and Recipes, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Eating Ayurvedic: A Diet for Balancing Vata

The diet to balance vata is similar to the many of the high-fat diets out there, including the Atkins, Weston A. Price, ketogenic and Paleolithic diets. In Ayurveda a high-fat diet is used to help regulate a fast metabolism, to help put on weight and balance the nervous system. It is useful to nourish the body, enhance fertility and prevent aging. High fat diets are also useful to slow a strong appetite, and when eaten with lots of vegetation can be an effective weight loss strategy for some. Here is a sample of a vata-balancing diet, taken from Food As Medicine:...

March 2, 2012 In Fitness, News, Running, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Tips For Running Your First Marathon

The 2011 Chicago Marathon along with the New York City race marked the start of the marathon season with more than 80,000 runners between the two races attempting to complete the 26.2-mile or 42.195 kilometers marathon distance, according to Huffington Post. Whether you are a walker or a runner, if you are interested in participating and completing a marathon, with the proper training and nutrition you will be able to finish the race. The first step is selecting the marathon in which you wish to participate. If this is your first marathon race, whether you are interested in walking it or...

February 1, 2012 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

The Burpee: An Endangered Exercise?

There are many exercises designed to work your whole body: dead lifts, back squats and over-head squats, etc…. All of them are great exercises and each of them make you work extremely hard and can develop your body. But you need a gym to go to or equipment at your home to do these. What do you do if you can’t get to the gym or afford the equipment? Stop working out? I do not think so. There has to be an exercise that you can do that works the whole body, includes cardio, strength and core work, portable and be...

January 18, 2012 In Food, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Raw & Vegan Coconut Oil Recipes for Health: Energizing Coconut Peach Melba Smoothie

How can you easily incorporate coconut oil into your daily diet and enjoy its health benefits? Try this raw and vegan Coconut Peach Melba Smoothie. Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of healthy medium chain fatty acids, which help stimulate your body’s metabolism, aid in weight loss, improve cholesterol levels and protect us from disease due to the oil’s anti-microbial properties. To reap the numerous health benefits coconut oil has to offer, the recommended daily intake is 1-3 tablespoons. One of the easiest ways to consume 1 tablespoon per day is in a smoothie. This energizing vegan Coconut Peach Melba Smoothie...

January 16, 2012 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

Basic Beginner’s Workout with Resistance Bands

This article will provide suggestions for resistance band basic exercises. This simple resistance band workout can be done in the comfort of your home--remember, this or any sample exercise program cannot be implemented correctly without first talking with your doctor to make sure you are cleared to begin a new exercise program. Begin with a 5-10 minute warm up of light cardio (walking in place, elliptical trainer, etc.) Beginners: Perform each exercise for 1 set of 15 repetitions, resting when you need to, using enough weight that you can only complete the desired number of repetitions (15). Do this workout 2-3 times...