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Allergies and Food Introduction

Digestion and the immune system: How delaying food introduction can prevent allergies + eczema in your child Allergies are the 3rd most common chronic disease among children, and eczema is present in over 10% of kids. This epidemic of atopy, a person’s predisposition to developing allergic symptoms has caused health care practitioners to look beneath the skin for solutions for our children. Starting in infancy, parents can prevent the development of allergies and eczema in their child. Pregnancy During pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, mom’s should avoid foods that are highly allergenic (eggs, peanuts, cow’s milk), and any other foods...

Resisting self-consciousness in group fitness activities

When it comes to achieving goals, a lot of people respond well to external accountability. After all, how can we rely on our own self-discipline 100% of the time, when we are feeling, responding creatures with all sorts of moods and fluctuating motivations? Because it can be all too easy to justify one's way out of a workout on any given day, some choose joining a structured group setting to keep them on track: boot camps, running clinics, 30 day challenges, and group personal-training packages. Yet there are others, who although dream of accessing that group accountability magic, are afraid. Afraid...

Nut-Milk for Heart Health and Diabetes

Did you know that nuts and seeds can protect your heart? They contain arginine, an amino acid that helps improve blood flow. (Which could also prove useful on date night, wink wink.) Studies have shown that when nuts (or nut milk) were substituted for an equal amount of carbohydrate in participants’ diets, heart disease risk dropped by 30%. Another study on cholesterol found that compared to a low-fat diet recommended by the American Heart Association, the addition of a handful of pecans a day greatly improved cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels, while low-fat dieters continued to suffer. The risk of type 2 diabetes...

Do You Need Therapy?

Although you might enjoy therapy – who wouldn’t like having someone’s undivided attention and invitation to talk about themselves without need for reciprocation – do you need therapy? While deciding the answer to that question is an inside job each of us has to do for ourselves, if someone were asking me to answer it for them, I would want to know a couple of things: the nature of the issues they have experienced or are currently experiencing, and the quality of the support they currently have available to them. Ultimately, that’s what a therapeutic relationship is, high quality support to...

Natural Methods for Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is more than just the “Winter Blues.”  It is a form of seasonal or temporal depression that typically affects people during the winter months of longer nights and less sunlight.  If you suffer from SAD, there are many alternative therapies that can naturally help you improve your mood and reduce depressive symptoms, even if you already use a light box for treatment. Improve your mood with food.  Certain foods have proven relationships to brain function.  Healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, and lean protein are essential parts of a healthy diet...

When Does Alcohol Become Bad For Your Health?

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used stimulants.  Even with economic stress, bars were and have continued to run smoothly.  People can’t wait to have that post-work beverage after a long and challenging day.  I definitely don't disagree with this - I think moderate consumption of alcohol is fine.  But I am talking 2 glasses a week.  Why?  Don't be foolish - alcohol consumption has many, many short and long-term side effects in the body.  Yet people find it therapeutic at times.  This is because alcohol releases GABA, a neurotransmitter which has a calming affect.  Are there any foods...

Ask The Expert: Healthy and Fit Travelling Tips

Ask The Expert is a health & fitness advice column. If you have a question for one of our Fitness Goop experts, please email [email protected]. This question was asked by Jennifer from Vancouver B.C, Canada. My work requires that I travel and spend time away from home. I am finding it very difficult staying healthy while travelling from one city to another. I am feeling fatigued, having a hard time making good food choices and having a hard time working out without my own gym. What advice can you give for avoiding getting sick and keeping fit while travelling?” Hi Jennifer, first...

Stress and Digestive Issues

Did you know that the reason your gut may be rolling may be due in large part to stress? Whether it is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcerative colitis, or simply a stomach ache before you are about to give that really important speech, stress may be playing a significant role in the health of your stomach. If you are hiking in the woods, you round a corner and come face-to-face with a grizzly bear, your body is not going to prioritize digestion at this moment. Instead, it’s going to go "Oh sh*#t" - quite literally! If you were given enough of a...

Nutritional Celebrities – 4 Superstar Supplements

After reading several research findings and trends in nutrition, a common theme begins to emerge. Maintain a healthy diet and you will increase your chances of staying healthy. However, is it possible to get all the necessary nutrients by simply eating healthy? With changes to our food supply such as packaging and processing and damage to our soil where fruits and vegetables are grown, even the most health conscious person may be lacking in some of the most basic nutrients. As a general rule, supplements should be taken only after considering your own unique situation. Consult first with a knowledgeable health...

The ABCs of Smart Training: Part 1

When designing a training program, it is wise to follow the concepts outlined in the ABCs of smart training. Apply them during all training and encourage them in daily activities. Following the ABCs will help increase training potential, improve skills, decrease recovery time, and minimize potential for injury. If you are new to exercises or have any injuries or aches and pains it would be best to get clearance from your Physician before beginning this or any other exercise program. The exercises may look easy but when you are beginning they may be more difficult than you thought. A1–ATHLETIC STANCE AND...