News

November 13, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, Holistic Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Water, Our Critical Solvent

The medical community tends to examine the solutes of the body for imbalances, which is important, but it is critical to also consider the solvent. After all, it is the fluids of the body that transport pretty much everything via the blood, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, urine, synovial fluid, extracellular fluid, tears, and milk in lactating females, and it is obvious that nothing would happen if everything were dry. Fluids are needed within each cell to keep them juicy and round so they can function properly.  Our organs can be considered water balloons sloshing around in the sea of water that is...

November 13, 2014 In Food and Recipes, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

What does free range mean?

In my recent post on my Food As Medicine blog over at Urban Diner, I make the argument that eating meat is not only a normal and natural part of our human diet, but that meat can also serve as a medicine to treat specific diseases.  For example, bones and marrow bones can be boiled to make a medicinal broth that supports the health of the joints and nervous system, whereas liver is an excellent food to promote and support detoxification. While meat and animal products serve as a valuable food and medicine, the challenge for many consumers is to make...

November 12, 2014 In Family Fitness, Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Exercise to Improve Confidence and Self Esteem

If you have ever experienced the heart-thumping, invigorated state of a high-intensity cardio workout, you have likely had that surge of enthusiasm that accompanies blood flow and endorphins. One of the bonuses of having this boost is that your brain accesses a state in which your world feels manageable, and more hopeful. You feel more ‘on top of the world’, and better about yourself. Experiencing an increase in confidence is one of the best pay-offs of exercise. When we feel good, we see the world through brighter lenses. We tend to feel more confident, excited and more assured. When we hold...

November 11, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

Top Fitness Mistakes To Avoid in 2013

If you’re looking to really make that resolution count this year then here are some common fitness mistakes to avoid. Not having a plan It's like the old saying: fail to plan, plan to fail. All too often people go to the gym or workout at home on a regular basis with no real progressive plan. They may have a general idea of what they are doing but nothing concrete. They change and hit the gym floor and then have to make a decision on where to start which usually ends up with jumping on a treadmill or maybe doing some bicep...

November 11, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News By Rich Ralph

Does Coffee Have an Impact on Blood Sugar?

  While some research has indicated that moderate amounts of caffeine may be beneficial in the prevention of type II diabetes, recent literature has indicated otherwise, especially if intake of caffeine is high. A recent article published in Diabetes Care 2008; 31(2):221-2, examined blood glucose levels in those with type II diabetes over a 24 hour period; test subjects were given caffeine pills equivalent to about four cups of coffee per day versus placebo. Those taking caffeine pills showed a significant impact on glucose regulation causing an overall net increase of glucose level over 24 hours of 8%; caffeine also resulted in a significant...

November 10, 2014 In Family Fitness, Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Dogs Make Excellent Workout Buddies

Let’s face it, we don't always have time for 30-45 minutes of cardio, or do we? Any cardio workout is better than no cardio but how do you fit it in on a busy schedule? As we've said countless times before, you need to eat fewer calories than you burn over a period of time to lose body fat. The best way to up your energy expenditure is by doing a mixture of resistance training and aerobic exercise. The problem becomes finding the time to do both. While a session of weight training may take only 20 minutes, a cardio...

November 10, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

EPOC: The Calories You Burn After A Workout

Do you know how many calories you burn during a workout? How about after your workout? Have you ever felt totally energized after a tough workout instead of tired? Do you continue to sweat a little (or a lot) even after you shower. Why is this? Some people call it the after-burn or a workout high. It's technical name is Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption or EPOC for short. EPOC is the increased oxygen consumed after strenuous exercise or activity to reduce the oxygen debt created by said exercise or activity resulting in caloric expenditure. In layman's terms this means the additional...

November 9, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News By Rich Ralph

Advantages to Eating Organic and Local Vegetables

One of the most common misconceptions about eating organic is that it is expensive. Yes, some organic items may have a higher price-point than conventional food, but can you really afford NOT to eat organically? If you are willing to invest a little bit more money now, you could save mountains of money that may otherwise be spent on prescriptions, medication, cancer treatment, and medical bills that can result from the accumulation of toxins in your body from years of eating unhealthy foods. I will admit that it can take some time to adjust to the differing prices. I can remember...

November 8, 2014 In Emotional Health, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Increase Your Energy Tip #2: Clean, Tidy and Let Go!

Ever noticed how you rarely really feel like cleaning? But when you do, you always feel better? I sure do! What I’ve also noticed is that when something is bothering me or I am trying to figure something out in my life - say how to resolve a conflict with someone, or find a creative solution to a problem - cleaning helps. There is something about the state of mind I get into when I clean. Cleaning requires enough focus to keep my mind engaged, but not so much that I can’t think about other things. I find it a meditative...

November 8, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Video, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

Bosu Burpie Pushup: Exercise of the Week

If you haven’t already seen this blue and oddly shaped ball in your gym or fitness studio, you will soon because this fitness item is one of the best to hit the gyms in a long time. BOSU stands for “Both Sides Up” or “Both Sides Utilized” depending upon whether you are talking about the BOSU Balance Trainer (the product) or BOSU (the philosophical approach to exercise). Millions of people from all over the world now train with the BOSU Balance Trainer including many of the world’s top athletes. But you certainly don’t need to be a top athlete to benefit...