Green & Healthy Living

August 18, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Top anti-inflammatory foods

In past articles, I have discussed how inflammation is the underlying cause of most chronic and autoimmune disorders.  The major cause of inflammation in the body is the food we eat so eating anti-inflammatory foods is important for good health. Food allergies and intolerances have been implicated in a wide range of medical conditions, affecting every part of the body: from mildly uncomfortable indigestion, to severe illnesses including celiac disease and diabetes, to developmental disorders such as ADHD and Autism. The inflammatory reaction occurs when an ingested food molecule acts as an antigen, a substance that causes the immune system...

August 17, 2014 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Food, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Raw Vegan Recipe: Brazil Nut Hummus

Raw brazil nuts are one of the lesser-known nuts to Americans, but a staple to Amazonians, revered for their exceptionally high levels of selenium, a mineral that plays a key role in metabolism and for its cell protecting antioxidant properties.  The antioxidants in Selenium help the body absorb Vitamin E, digest protein, and stimulate the thyroid. Just one or two Brazil nuts a day provides enough of this trace element’s Recommended Daily Allowance of 55 to 100 micrograms per day. Among healthy people in the U.S., selenium deficiencies are uncommon. But some health conditions, such as HIV, Crohn's disease, and conditions...

August 16, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

The Power of Matcha Green Tea: DoMatcha Review

An infamous superfood known for its high antioxidant content, matcha green tea has gained popularity in recent years, being called for in smoothie recipes, lattes and even baked goods. Matcha is a ceremonial Japanese powdered green tea, traditionally used by Zen monks to symbolize harmony, purity, tranquility and respect. Matcha comes from the leaf of the tea and has an impressive nutrient profile, containing roughly 15 times the nutrients as a cup of traditional green tea. Matcha is most abundant in vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll and the cancer fighting antioxidant, EGCg (epigallocatechin gallate.) It also contains L-theanine, a mood enhancing, and anxiety...

August 15, 2014 In Emotional Health, Green & Healthy Living, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Choosing a Preventative Approach to Stress Management: Part One

Often we can tell when someone is stressed out simply by what they tell us: “I am so overwhelmed. I have too much on my plate. I can’t handle it right now. I can’t keep up. I’m frazzled” “I’m so stressed out. I’m so stressed out. I’m so stressed out.” Repeating these mantras can make the experience of stress a self-fulfilling prophecy. There’s no doubt about it: the business of life can be stressful. We aim to keep up and maintain a certain quality of life, and often lose our sense of balance in the grind of it all. Frequently we forget to...

August 14, 2014 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Food, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Benefits of Container Gardening

Do you know that gardening activities can burn 300 to 600 calories per hour depending on the level of work you are doing? It is an ideal form of exercise as it combines strength, endurance and flexibility. It helps in stress reduction, lowers blood pressure and relieves muscle tension. In addition to health benefits, gardening is a creator of beauty, wouldn't you feel a sense of fulfillment if you are the one creating it? One way of gardening that's becoming popular is container gardening. This is an approach to gardening where containers are used in growing plants. It's easy and simple...

August 13, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News By Vancouver Health Coach

How to Deal With Seasonal Allergies

The prevalence of those who experience allergies has increased to the degree that many people believe it is “normal” for one’s body to respond in such a way to environmental stimuli. The CBC has reported that one in six Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, are so common they are simply accepted. But allergies are not acceptable because they implicate a weakness in the body to adapt, respond and defend against outside stresses. The body’s inability to handle outside stresses appropriately and, therefore, produce an allergic reaction arises when one’s immune system is compromised (decrease in resilience), or...

August 13, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

What is Candida?

Candida albicans is a yeast that is normally found colonizing the digestive tract and other mucous membranes of the body.  After antibiotic use or periods of immune suppression, this yeast can proliferate, causing a yeast infection in the digestive tract, on the tongue ("thrush"), in the nasal sinuses, vagina, urinary tract and in the folds of the skin.  In addition to causing symptoms ranging from nagging to severe, chronic Candida infection can derange your immune system leading to allergies, frequent infections, and autoimmune conditions. Symptoms of Candida Infection: 1.) Bloating, gas, difficulty digesting many foods, heartburn, chronic indigestion, irregular bowel movements...

August 12, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Green & Healthy Living, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Quitting Smoking: Finally Kicking the Habit?

If one of your goals this year is to quit smoking you couldn't do anything better for your health. As you probably already know quitting is far from easy. Tobacco is the most addictive drug in the world, and nicotine is one of the strongest stimulants known. Several of the most successful methods - acupuncture, hypnosis, nicotine gum, cold turkey, support groups - can work, but are not for everyone. It is important to note that most smokers who quit successfully do it on their own after one or more unsuccessful attempts and most find that stopping cold turkey is better...

August 9, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Misleading Food Labels: 3 Reasons We Don’t Know What We Are Eating

Do we actually know what we are eating?  Seems like a no brainer, right? What we put in our mouth is our choice. We have complete control over what passes through our lips. Well, I am about to argue that that premise is false, and this is why. 1) Fraudulent or misleading food labels. The label says one thing, but the food is something else all together. This is far more common than one would expect. There is the obvious example that recently made the news. People in Europe coming home from the grocery store with steaks labeled "beef", only to find out later...

August 8, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Sun, Heat, Dehydration and Kidney Stones

Kidney stones occur more commonly in the summer, so stay hydrated to avoid one of the most painful conditions there is. Well, with the heat wave we've been enjoying over the past week, I've found myself pondering how to stay comfortably cool, keep the apartment cool enough to be able to sleep, get my vitamin D dosage without burning to a crisp, and focusing on staying hydrated enough. Dehydration creates a number of problems in the body, including increasing blood pressure, accelerating osteoarthritis (the wearing down of joints), and increasing the risk of kidney stones. Kidney stones tend to develop more frequently in the...