News

October 2, 2014 In Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

5 Ingredient Plantain Pancakes

  If you’re in search of a gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and grain-free but off-the-hook delicious pancake recipe, look no further. Plantains are becoming increasingly popular by many who experience food sensitivities and discomfort when eating grains. They are similar to a banana, although starchier and less sweet. Being slightly higher in calories they contain more minerals than a banana and can be enjoyed in several different ways. This recipe is fool-proof and you will not be dissapointed. Unlike some, these pancakes are easy to flip and stay together. Make them as obnoxiously large as your pan or as tiny and cute as you’d like....

October 2, 2014 In Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight By Crystal Di Domizio

Health Benefits of Eating Local

Have you ever taken a bite out of a big red strawberry, only to find that the inside is white and it lacks the rich and juicy flavour that you remember as a child? Chances are this strawberry was grown thousands of kilometers from your home. The main reason for this flavourless phenomenon is that the fruits and vegetables that are shipped from other parts of the world are usually harvested prematurely in order to sustain the long journey around the globe, from farm to plate. When produce is picked before it’s had a chance to fully mature, the nutritional value...

October 2, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Bring Your Own Boot Camp

Boot Camp programs are popular this time of year as a means to prepare for the very dreaded BATHING SUIT SEASON. Sure, it’s great if you can convince yourself that this is the Summer you’re not going to allow a few rolls and dimples to ruin your day at the beach. But let’s face it – unless you gave it your best shot before pouring yourself into Spandex (a material obviously woven by Satan’s handmaidens), you’re not going to fully enjoy the warmth of the sun on your Back of Many Creases. It’s not necessary, however, to hand your money over...

October 1, 2014 In Fitness, News, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

Core Stability Bridging (Part Two)

This is the second of a three part series of Core Stability Training. All of the exercises can be made more difficult using external resistance from balls and stretch bands as well as balance equipment like half foam rolls, wobble boards or balance pods. The trunk muscles help transfer energy from the legs through the core (trunk) to the upper body and arms. This is especially important in rotational or asymmetric swinging sports like tennis, golf and soccer. Begin with Base Work (see the previous article Basework & Bridging: Part One) Start by lying on your back with knees bent up to...

October 1, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Animal fats: The Joys and Pain of Eating Meat

Through the year, Vancouverites enjoy a multiple array of restaurants to choose from with which to satisfy their culinary appetites.  Foodies and those who simply love to be “out and about” will often try a new restaurant weekly, sampling a variety of foods from exotic India, spicy Thai, or succulent Mediterranean. While Vancouver boasts a large number of vegans and vegetarians, there are those amongst us who are die-hard meat lovers.  For those in the latter category, a juicy steak is simply heaven!  While their taste buds are no doubt tickled to fulfillment, what is often not considered, is the effect...

September 30, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Is Natural Choice Always the Best Choice When it Comes to Health?

My dog has fleas. Creepy crawlies are getting me in the night! Despite my best efforts to deter fleas from my dog, she got them. I can’t SEE them, but she has bites and is scratching. And I have bites! I recently got back from a trip to California, during which time I stayed at a not-so-swanky hotel, so my initial fear was that I brought bed bugs home with me. But no – thank God – we’re just dealing with fleas. That said – Still very gross! Upon moving to the Lower Mainland, I did everything a yogi dog owner...

September 29, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Chiropractic Explained

Chiropractic is the most widely used natural health care in North America, though probably the most misunderstood. It is based on the understanding of the self-healing capabilities of the human body. The body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. The nervous system is the master control system of the body and is responsible for maintaining the function of every muscle, organ, cell and tissue. Therefore, if there is any interference in how the nervous system is working, the body loses its ability to heal and self regulate. A chiropractor’s role is to eliminate any interference to your nervous system, thus allowing your...

September 29, 2014 In Family Fitness, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Avoiding Choking Hazards: Family-First Fitness

Schedules are packed and parents are trying to do the best they can for their children and themselves while facing severe economic restraints. But some choices pertaining to fitness and healthy living are nonsensical; and by making smarter choices for themselves, parents will also be making safer choices for their children. Health Canada recently put out an advisory to parents regarding the Fisher Price “Little People” toys, as some of the figures produced prior to 1991 present a choking hazard.  While it’s great we have a government that tests and monitors consumer products for our protection, shedding light on the choking...

September 28, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

Does the Label Organic Deliver on its Promise?

What does the word “organic” conjure up for you in your mind? For me, ten years ago before I began to research food, “organic” meant over-priced, blemished fruits and veggies. I certainly didn’t understand why anyone would pay extra for what I thought must be subpar produce. Of course, I had never seen an organic apple at that time - I just believed they would be full of worms, since no pesticides were used. Later, after I’d actually gone into a store that sold organic produce, and found my first organic apple to not only be blemish free, but also to...

September 28, 2014 In Emotional Health, News By Vancouver Health Coach

Looking Through the Johari Window: At Self Perception

As Robert Burns famously (and with Scottish flair and inflection) put it: “O would some gift the Power gie us, to see ourselves as ithers see us”. Only slightly less famously, two psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, developed their own tool for exploring the world of self-perception and perception by others. Taking the Brangelina form of their names, they called it the Johari Window, which they propose has 4 panes:     Known to Self     Not Known to Self   Known to Others    Open    Blind   Not Known to Others      Hidden    Unknown               The Open Quadrant represents information that is readily seen or easily inferred about someone: for example, walking past a stranger you...