Green & Healthy Living

August 7, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Hemp Oil, Hemp Hearts and Protein

The verdict is in! I was the lucky winner of Fitness Goop’s contest for articles on healthy living, and I happily accepted my prize: a giant box of goodies from Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils. They were very generous! My package contained a giant container of hemp hearts (no joke—it’s 5lbs), a container of hemp oil, hemp Pro 50 protein powder, hemp Pro Fiber protein powder, a yoga mat and carrying case, and a reusable shopping bag. Score. I pulled all of my loot out and sat staring at it proudly until I realized, “Wait a minute. I’ve never used...

August 6, 2014 In Beauty & Grooming, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Homemade Facial For Dry Skin

'Tis the season when dry skin dominates. You're not alone if you're skin has turned from soft and vibrant to dull and flaky this winter. The good news is you can find natural and easy ways to brighten dry skin at home in your kitchen! Not only is this facial recipe moisturizing, thanks to the beneficial oils from the avocado and olive oil, it's also great for oily and acne prone skin too. Lavender essential oil and raw honey have antibacterial properties that help cleanse pores and remove blemish causing debris. Not to mention, lavender is great for promoting a...

August 4, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

New to Type 2 Diabetes: Finding Peace with a Diabetes Diagnosis

The number of adults in the U.S. with Type 2 diabetes is climbing steadily. Over 25 million people have diabetes, and experts believe that as many as 7 million of them don’t even know it. If you are new to the world of Type 2 diabetes, adjustment to a new diet and lifestyle may be a difficult process. Instead of giving into despair or denial, kick-start your new life with these tips. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of avoiding medication. If you are “borderline” diabetic or if your numbers are considered low, you may be able to stave off...

August 3, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Quitting Smoking Successfully: Recognizing the Positive Intentions behind Your Habit

If you are planning on eradicating your smoking habit, consider what kinds of needs this ritual was meeting for you. Often we feel guilt or shame for engaging in unhealthy habits, yet if we look deeper within, we can recognize that the reasons why we do the things we do are primarily positive. Negative behaviors are born from positive intentions. Would you believe me if I suggested that at one point you began smoking to take care of yourself? If that sounds outrageous, especially in light of research indicating it is a major cause of heart disease and lung cancer, consider the...

August 2, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Supplements By Rich Ralph

How Strong Are Your Bones?

  It’s no secret that calcium is the essential mineral required for strong, healthy bones. North Americans consume more dairy than any other country on the planet, with the exception of India. The women in our country have been consuming an average of 2 pounds of milk each day for the better part of their lives. Why, then, is osteoporosis and bone degeneration so prevalent in North American society? The answer to this is not clear, but there are various theories. One thought is the role Vitamin D plays with respect to our bodies ability to absorb calcium. Vitamin D is produced in...

August 2, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Is Gluten Free a Hot New Trend or Here to Stay?

I’ve worked with thousands of people over my decade or so in the health industry and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped being amazed at the dramatic effect going gluten free can have on someone’s waistline and overall health. Even if you aren’t gluten sensitive, allergic, intolerant, a celiac or even believe in all the gluten hype almost everyone can benefit from going gluten free or low gluten. Why? Well my reasoning might be different than what you are used to hearing… Recently I was involved in a conversation with a couple of trainers who were talking about gluten. Their take on...

July 28, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Visualization and Our Immune System: Using Your Mind to Stay Healthy

The cold and flu season is here. Thankfully, however, there is something you can do to improve your chances of fighting off illnesses and staying healthy.  Long overlooked by conventional medicine practitioners, imagery techniques are an extremely effective, safe, and easy-to-apply healing tool. Promising research in the field of mind-body medicine has found that the brain has the ability to influence the immune system. Imagery techniques like visualization have great potential to affect physiology, and are a useful method anyone can use to help strengthen the immune system and promote healing. What is the immune system and how does it work? The immune...

July 27, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Food Sensitivities, Intolerances and Allergies

Gluten Sensitivity Enteropathy is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that refers to a group of different types of gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other foods derived from these grains. The most extreme subgroup is celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune condition. One percent of Americans are estimated to have celiac disease. When individuals with celiac disease consume gluten, their bodies have an immune response that results in damage to the intestinal villi. Some individuals who experience distress when eating gluten-containing products and show improvement after following a gluten-free diet may have gluten intolerance, instead of...

July 25, 2014 In Food, Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Where do Parasites Live?

Guess what is living in your intestines? Parasites.  You may now be wondering what these freaky little creatures are and why are they choosing to set up camp in your body?  You also may have only heard of parasites in infected animals or in foreign countries. However, parasites are around us everyday no matter the conditions.  These microscopic creatures are on the rise due to an increase in international travel, contamination of water and food supply, overuse of chemicals, mercury and prescription antibiotics. Parasites can negatively effect our health, it's that simple.  However, getting rid of them is not so easy. ...

July 23, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Five Ayruvedic Ways to Fight the Cold and Flu Season

Well, it’s that time of year, and people are dropping like flies from the cold and flu. Why is it that almost everyone succumbs to sickness during that fall, and how can we prevent it? From the perspective of medical science, a cold or flu is caused by one of over 200 different viruses, most commonly one of the rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza viruses or the adenoviruses. Typical symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and fever, and while most people get better in about seven to ten days, some symptoms can last up to three weeks or longer. While...