Tag: Womens health

Eating for Energy

March 9, 2022

How’s your sleep?

It’s a question I ask every client when we first start working on their nutrition goals. It’s a funny one to ask because almost everyone answers it like this ‘Good! I think…well I’m not sure.’ My follow-up question is then ‘Do you wake up feeling rested?’ and 99% of the time the answer is no.

Seven to nine hours of sleep per night is what is recommended for your health. But the important piece that is missing from that statement is how rested you feel upon waking up, and how is your energy throughout the day. In this week’s blog I will tackle the much needed topic of eating for energy.

There are two main pieces to the puzzle when discussing eating for energy. The first is getting our insulin levels in check and the second is eating specific foods to help fight off fatigue and increase our energy. Let’s start with insulin.

Insulin is an anabolic hormone, meaning it likes to build things. And not great things like muscle, rather it likes to build things like belly fat and cancer. Getting our insulin balanced is key to ensure we do not become insulin resistant. If that happens, excess glucose in the blood reduces the ability of our cells to absorb and use blood sugar for energy.

If left untreated, insulin resistance can lead to a host of chronic diseases including Type 2 diabetes, strokes, obesity, chronic heart disease, breast and colon cancer, depression and dementia just to name a few. When we balance our insulin, we avoid blood sugar level highs and crashes, in turn leveling out our energy as well.

Secondly, there are various foods that we should include in our nutrition regimen to help keep our energy on point. Caffeine and naps shouldn’t be what keeps you going. And in fact, shouldn’t be needed at all if you are getting adequate, quality sleep and are eating the right foods.

There are specific foods that are important when talking about eating for energy. Here are my top ten for you to definitely include:

  1. Whole foods – we want to stick with whole and avoid overly processed foods as these will slow you down with the trans fats, additives, sodium, and preservatives
  2. Fresh fruit and veggies – so nutrient dense and great for energy overall
  3. Non-caffeine bevvies – caffeine gives an up and down energy vibe
  4. Lean proteins or veg-based proteins – added saturated fats in meats slows down the digestive process giving you less energy for other bodily functions
  5. Whole grains and complex carbs – these will give your body the energy to fulfill all functions – not just physical activity but things like your heart pumping and brain working
  6. Nuts and seeds – best thing for fatigue! Variety is key and raw and unsalted is best
  7. Water – this helps facilitate the energetic processes of the body in turn boosting energy
  8. Bananas – potassium, fiber, and vitamins pack a punch for lots of natural energy boosting needs
  9. Oats – filling fiber and protein help regulate insulin levels
  10. Chia seeds – give prolonged energy due to carb content, healthy fats and fiber

It is important to remember that decisions that we make throughout the day affect our health not only short term but long term as well. When we consciously choose foods that are going to positively affect our bodies, create nighttime habits and routines that positively affect our sleep, and choose activity that positively affects our minds and bodies, we will do much better not only today, but for many years to come. There is no quick fix when it comes to your health. Your health is in the daily decisions that you make. Choose wisely.

Interested in learning more? Check out Andrea’s Nutrition Coaching Programs here! 

Best You Nutrition Reset

November 10, 2021

Without our health, what do we really have? It’s a question I have been pondering a lot lately. I recently spoke to a group of national team managers for a large Canadian company about what “healthy” means to them. To each individual, it really means something different. And that can definitely change as we age. What healthy means to you in your 30s is probably not the same in your 40s, 50s and 60s. The changes in our life go hand and glove with our priorities, and that includes the priority of health.

For this reason, I have developed an excellent program about the key pillars of health. This online and live program is launching in January of 2022, and I honestly can’t wait to deliver it. The four week Best Your Nutrition Reset will teach you how to modify your eating and lifestyle habits to supercharge your health. While teaching you how to have a healthy relationship with food, additional benefits you can expect include weight loss, increased energy, better sleep, feeling healthy again and much more. The time is NOW to reset, renourish and reclaim your health!

Details:
Dates: Sundays in January – January 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2022.
Time: 12pm CST
Where: Zoom!
Cost: $159 for ALL FOUR SESSIONS!
Tickets: Purchase on Eventbrite here

I have carefully chosen four topics that I know are the most important for a long, healthy and happy life. Topics include:

     1. Digestive Health
     2. Weight Loss
     3. Hormone Balancing
     4. Immunity Health

But it is more than just four group sessions. I am truly dedicated to help you achieve your health and nutrition goals for 2022. I will work along side you, in the trenches, smashing those goals and feeling great again. I will do that by also including:

     • 25 minute one-on-one coaching call with me
     • Weekly Emails including Session Notes, Weekly Tasks, Recipes, Recommended Readings and More
     • The BYN Food & Mood Journal, an effective tool to help track your journey to greater health

Wondering what this is really all about? Here are more details about each session to help you decide if this is the program you have been waiting for.

Session 1 – Digestive Health
The two keys to a long, healthy life are a clean digestive system and a strong immune system. Our digestive system is in charge of providing all of the nutrients that we eat to our cells, organs, muscles and more. It needs to be an absolute priority when talking about your health. This session will teach you how the digestive system works, how it affects your stress levels and mental health, and leave you with tactical ways to repair your gut lining so that bloating, gas, digestive upset and all the rest of it is a thing of the past.

Session 2 – Weight Loss
News flash! The idea that all you need to do is eat less and workout more DOES NOT WORK for weight loss! This old-age way of thinking has been myth busted. This session will teach you what really DOES work, how our bodies’ weight gain and loss system works in conjunction with our insulin levels, how stress affects our weight, and how to turn your body into a fat burner instead of a sugar burner. This session is truly a game changer!

Session 3 – Hormone Balancing
Hormone imbalance symptoms can include unexplained weight gain, acne breakouts, fatigue, changes in sex drive, depression, joint pain, and irritability. Ensuring women are understanding what role nutrition plays in the balancing of their hormones is key. But when was the last time a healthcare professional talked to you about your hormones? The time is now to understand what role your hormones play in your physical and mental wellness and how food can help balance it all.

Session 4 – Immunity Health
Our immune system is our body’s natural defense system against foreign invaders such as colds, flus, viruses and disease. A strong immune system is key to both short term and long term health. Is yours in check? This session will teach you about the best (and worst!) food and lifestyle choices you can make to strengthen your immunity. Don’t we all want to live a long, happy and healthy life? This session can help you do it.

The passion I have for my clients and the nutrition work that I do really makes me feel connected to the world. I am on a really terrific path of health and happiness  and I want YOU to join me. If you think you’re ready to do it, please join me for the Best You Nutrition Reset and book your spot today here.

Your Healthy Liver and Why It is SO Important

July 11, 2021

Your liver. You need it to live…but do you know why? The main purpose of your liver is to clean your blood, digest your food and rid your body of toxic substances. We want our liver to get rid of things as quickly as possible, but how quickly that happens can largely depend on your lifestyle choices.

Here is how your liver works: Raise your arm and have your palm facing you. From your elbow to your palm is the ‘stuff’ your body wants to get rid of, and is the vessel to take it to your liver. Your liver is your palm of your hand. Ideally, your liver will detoxify the waste and excrete it out your fingers. But sometimes there are blockages in your liver that stop things from leaving so quickly. And when the liver can’t get rid of things quickly enough and is being overworked, it will slow down and recycle things into the blood. The items that are recycled into the blood are estrogen and cholesterol. If this is happening often or for a long period of time, hormone imbalance and high blood pressure can be the result.

A big sign about how well your liver is working is through a fatty liver test with your doctor. If you liver enzymes are high. Elevated liver enzymes often indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the liver.

Another important thing to keep note of is your bowel movements. You should be having well formed, easy to pass bowel movements one to two times per day.

Signs that you liver might need some extra love include: fluid retention, skin breakouts, sore/red/stingy eyes, waking up between 2am – 4am and being extra hot, lumpy breasts that swell around your period, PMS, always being really hungry, not hungry for breakfast and always craving coffee in the morning, digestive issues, increased body fat and cellulite in ‘new’ places, poor energy, more short tempered than usual.

Now that we understand the basics of the liver, what can you do to make it function optimally for your body? Here are a few things that can negatively affect your liver:

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Over prescribed medications
  • Pesticides
  • Cosmetics
  • Trans Fats
  • Refined sugar
  • Viruses
  • Cholesterol
  • Estrogen

From a nutritional point of view, there are lots of things we can add to our diet to help. Nutrient dense food is really important for liver health. Salmons, berries, beets, spinach and quinoa just to name a few. Here is a list of specific foods we should be adding to our days for optimal liver health:

  • Beets
  • Beetroot juice
  • Phytoestrogens like flaxseed and whole organic soy
  • Dandelion tea
  • Nettle tea
  • Lemon
  • Coffee (in balance)
  • Grapefruit
  • Blueberries
  • Cranberries
  • Grapes
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Fatty fish such as salmon
  • Olive oil
  • Nuts
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger
  • Supplements to include:
    • Chlorella
    • Vitamin E
    • Milk thistle supplement

So there you have it. Like with any nutrition changes you are taking on, it is always a good idea to speak with your doctor or health care practitioner to ensure it is right for you!

Interested in learning more? Check out some of my nutrition programs here!

 

What’s Your Health IQ?

April 26, 2021

You may not a be health expert, but you do have some idea about what “healthy” is, right? Or do you? Health information can be tricky – there are so many conflicting opinions, new information shared, “diets” or ways of eating, recommendations from government and other professionals or experts. How do you know what is right and what is just smoke? This True or False Quiz will have you answer some basic questions about health. Not trends or specific personalized recommendations but general things about health that everyone should know.

1) Vegans tend to be deficient in protein and iron as they do not consume any animal products.
2) Carbs, like rice and potatoes, make you fat.
3) Everyone should take a multivitamin.
4) Eating potatoes are healthy – regardless of how they are cooked.
5) Stress can stop you from losing weight.
6) Red wine is healthy.
7) Hormones are only important as they relate to women and menopause.
8) Adults need 6 hours of sleep per night to be healthy.
9) Sugar is sugar. It is all the same.
10) Meditation is a complicated practice that requires a minimum of 60 minutes per day to be effective as a way to reduce stress.
11) If you have been overweight and sedentary your whole life, getting healthy now will not improve your longevity.
12) Drinking water and staying hydrated is only good for your skin and weight loss.

Here are the answers!

1) FALSE: Although arguable more difficult or inconvenient for those following a vegan diet, vegans have to be vigilant in ensuring they choose foods rich in iron and protein such as dried beans and legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and wholegrain cereals and breads. The key is to ensure there is some present at every meal and snack.

2) FALSE: This has been an ongoing misconception for years. Carbohydrates are actually one of the three main building blocks (macronutrients) that make up all food. Protein and fat are the other two. These macronutrients are essential for the body to function. What is important when you are choosing carbohydrates is what nutrients they have in them – to ensure they are providing the most benefit to yours body.

3) TRUE and FALSE – This one is tricky. It mostly depends on what your diet is like. If you are able to get all of the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs through food, then you probably don’t need one. However, most people tend not to be as “perfect” in their food intake – let alone have the time to cook all of that food – necessary to check off all of the vitamins and minerals on a daily checklist.

4) FALSE: This one should be easy to answer. HOW food is cooked or prepared is just as important as the type of food you eat. For example, with potatoes, a baked potato (without all of the “fixins” like butter, sour cream, bacon) is much healthier than French fries which are deep-fried and full of saturated fat and sodium.

5) TRUE: Stress can lead to unhealthy stressed induced behaviors such as overeating, exercising less, emotional eating and sleeping less. When our bodies are in chronic stress response, meaning we are stressed about 70% of the time, our cortisol levels are in a constant heightened state. When this happens, are cells are inflamed leading to chronic inflammation. Our body holds onto things, like fat cells, when we are chronically stressed and chronically inflamed. This makes it next to impossible to lose weight when we are chronically stressed out.

6) TRUE: YES! (thank goodness given the past year!) Research suggests that drinking an occasional glass of red wine is good for you. It provides antioxidants, may promote longevity, and can help protect against heart disease and harmful inflammation, among other benefits. Just remember though that this is limited to red wine (not all alcohol) and a glass of wine (5 oz) – not half or full bottle – per day!

7) FALSE: Hormones are so much more that something teenagers are full of and menopausal women wish didn’t exist (ha ha!). Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues and organs to help them do their work. They affect growth and development, metabolism, sexual function and mood. When they are out of balance, they can lead to weak bones, diabetes, weight gain and a list of other problems.

8) FALSE: Sleep is SO important to be healthy. It is recommended that adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Babies, young children, and teens need even more sleep to enable their growth and development. People over 65 should also get 7 to 8 hours per night.

9) FALSE: The biggest different between sugars are “natural sugar” – those found in foods such as fruits and veggies and “added sugar” – those that are added to a food during the manufacturing or cooking process. Natural sugars have fewer calories and less sodium with a higher water and nutrient content than added sugars. Added sugar on the other hand, does not contain protein or fiber, which causes your body to digest them even faster and spike your blood glucose levels which are linked to major health issues.

10) FALSE: A huge stress reducer, meditation is often misunderstood. Meditating doesn’t mean you have to be a hippie or a yogi or a zen master! In fact, the process of meditating is straightforward and easy: simply sit and practice. You can do it anywhere and it can be as quick as 5 minutes. There are many apps such as ‘Calm’ and videos on YouTube that can help you get started. You will be glad you did!

11) FALSE: Don’t let your past define you. It is never too late to make a change to be healthy. Anytime is the best time to make YOU a priority and put your health at the forefront. Be brave. Ask for help. You got this!

12) FALSE: Although drinking plenty of water can help improve skin appearance and weight loss, it does so much more than that. Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work. It is essential to the healthy function of every system in your body, including your heart, brain, and muscles.

 

So? How did you do? If you got all answers correct – amazing! You are well aware of what your body needs for optimum health. If you didn’t get all correct but got most – good job! Keep educating yourself on what you can do to take your health to the next level. If you didn’t answer any correctly or just a few – don’t worry!! The fact that you took this quiz is evidence that you are aware of your own health – which is better than most people. Now you just need to learn more and perhaps get some additional help to get you where you want to go.

No matter where you scored on this quiz, remember no one is perfect. Everyone is at a different stage in their health journey. Congratulations on taking steps like doing this quiz, reading our blog and newsletter and choosing YOU!

If you ever need some more personalized, detailed assistance in your nutrition and healthy lifestyle, contact Andrea at Best You Nutrition.

5 Steps to Improve Your Digestive System and Strengthen Your Immunity

November 13, 2020

I must admit, as an Integrative Nutrition Coach, two things that I am a smidge obsessed with are digestive health and immunity health. The greatest part is that they totally go hand in hand. The reason is because 70% of our immune system is found IN our digestive system. In turn, if you want a stronger immune system, (and really, who doesn’t?) the key can be found in your gut.

Digestive health is something I am super passionate about working on with my nutrition clients. It affects the way we feel physically – think bloating, gas, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea; it affects the way we are feeling emotionally – anxiety, depression and mental health are all connected to our gut health; it affects our energy levels – always feeling tired, sluggish, low energy or just not in the mood for life. If these are issues that you are dealing with, I am hosting a Virtual Digestive Health Workshop and would love for you to join. See here for more info! 

When the microbiome in our gut is balanced with good bacteria, it boosts immunity, prevents disease, and supports emotional well-being. There is such a strong connection with our digestive health and our brain, including overall emotional and mental health. In this week’s blog I wanted to give you my five best actionable tips to get your digestive system on track, and help you on your way to a healthier life!

  1. Take a good quality probiotic. This will provide good bacteria to your tummy setting you up for success. Taken first thing in the morning with water on an empty stomach is what I would suggest. Probiotics can be taken by babies, kids, adults and seniors and I would encourage probiotics to be the taken at all ages and stages of life. My favorite? Pearls Acidophilus by Nature’s Way.
  2. Increase your intake of probiotic and prebiotic foods. I am a huge fan of the concept of ‘crowding out’ when it comes to our nutrition. By this I mean not thinking of all the things that you CAN’T have, but rather all the amazing foods you can add in. In turn, the good food fills your plate and your day and there is no room left for the not-so-good stuff. You crowd it out! For probiotic, think kimchi, yogurt, quinoa, kombucha and artichokes…lots of that ‘pickled’ kinda vibe foods. When it comes to prebiotics, we’re loading up on fiber, fruit and veggies. Some of the best are onions, garlic, bananas and blueberries.
  3. Take Digestive Enzymes. In the beginning, you will want to take one of these before every meal, but once your digestive enzymes are all caught up and working for you, you’ll only need them once in a while. Before a heavy meal or before you eat something you usually don’t – like a dinner out or something off the beaten path of what you usually eat.
  4. Drink up the Apple Cider Vinegar – this is one of my favorite items to really help with your digestive system. While it is definitely a flavour to get used to, diluted raw organic apple cider vinegar will have your tummy and your immune system happy as a clam. A little goes a long way, so about an ounce diluted in water first thing in the morning will really help you out.
  5. Increase your intake of foods with Glutamine. These foods include beets (which by the way, are pretty much the Earth’s gift to humans in my books!), spinach, cabbage and parsley.

You may notice I didn’t talk about what to REMOVE from your nutrition plate to help with your digestive system. There are a few obvious ones such as sugar, refined carbohydrates, and soda. But there might be quite a few other foods that you may need to remove to improve your digestion. We are all bio-individuals, meaning what works for me might not work for you. For example, eating Greek yogurt might be great for my digestive system, but wreak havoc on yours. With so much in nutrition we have to do what works and feels best to us as individuals.

Remember, if you want to learn more about getting your digestive system on your side with the help of food, join me at my upcoming virtual Digestive Health Workshop! 

Binge Eating Disorder

July 20, 2020

Eating disorders is a near and dear subject to my heart. As a woman who is always doing my best to cheer women on, how could it not be something that is? In Canada, approximately one million women have an eating disorder, and it is one of the leading causes of mental health issues resulting in premature death in our country. It affects girls and women of all ages. Did you know that 81% of 10-year-old girls are afraid of being fat? And 51% of 9 and 10-year-old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet.

Recently, through my education at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, I listened to a lecture by Amy Pershing, the Clinical Director at the Center for Eating Disorders and Founding Director of “Bodywise,” a comprehensive treatment program for binge eating disorder (BED). Binge Eating Disorder, or BED, is an eating disorder that I had personally never heard of before, and was shocked to find out that it is the most common eating disorder in North America by 5 times. This week’s blog is to share some of the knowledge I learned as it may be helpful to our readers both personally or for someone they love.

Those with Binge Eating Disorder are often viewed by outsiders as people with low self-esteem, a lack of willpower, depressed and that it is not a ‘real’ eating disorder. What is important to remember here is that shame does not create sustainable change. Shaming anyone into doing or changing anything simply does not work. In fact, it typically does the absolute opposite.

Approximately 30% of those diagnosed with BED are NOT overweight nor obese. I find this a really interesting point, as many would assume binge eaters would definitely overweight. But that is not the case. I feel it is important for our readers to know should they worry someone in their life might be dealing with this disorder. But what DOES it mean to have BED?

In a nutshell, there is a lack of control and ability to stop the food eating binge, and tremendous amounts of guilt and shame go along with the binge. To be diagnosed with BED, three of the following must also be happening:

  1. Eating more rapidly than normal
  2. Eating until uncomfortably full
  3. Eating large amounts of food when not hungry
  4. Secretive eating
  5. Feeling disgusting, depressed or guilty after a binge

The above actions must happen one or more times per week for three months, and is not associated with bulimia nor anorexia. This is an eating disorder in and of itself.

Other than the obvious negative feelings about oneself that comes with BED, there are also numerous health issues that can also happen. These include but are not limited to:

  • PCOS – Polycystic OvarySyndrome
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Over production of cortisol (‘stress hormone’)
  • Sleep apnea
  • Asthma
  • Stress
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Sleep deprivation

People who are suffering from Binge Eating Disorder see food in a different way, meaning they have a relationship with food that is not necessarily healthy. Often food is used for emotional regulation, self-punishment, distraction, boundary setting, soothing, rebellion, or using food subconsciously.

There are many reasons why BED can happen, and what I feel is really important to know is that it can happen to people of all ages and lifestyles. Young kids who are forced to ‘grow up quickly’ often use food as a sense of comfort and secretly eat to feel loved. Athletes after finishing a competition or are in ‘off season’ often binge eat as they are feeling the need to rebel or take control of food off the playing field or stage. People who restrict their food intake for what appears to be healthy reasons may binge weekly on a ‘cheat day’. All of these are examples of BED, and it is not simply ‘overeating once in a while’. It is an eating disorder associated with mental health that needs to be worked on with a professional.

A statement of assumption in the lecture that really stuck out to me was this:

            Thin is always better.

            Thin is always possible.

            Thin people are better people.

None of these three sentences are true. None of these three sentences have value. But they are seen as truth in our society all too often. Being thinner will not make all of your problems go away. And bullying someone based on their body size or weight is never okay. You never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors, so I ask for you to move through your day with kindness and love, and know that it isn’t always sunshine and roses for everyone each day.

If you or someone you know may be affected by BED or any other eating disorder, please ask for help. Here is a great place to start:

How to Live Your Healthiest Happiest Life

May 19, 2020

Something I have always had a huge fascination with is centenarians and longevity. What can we all do in our day to day living to live a longer, healthier and happier life. This Spring I started my Integrative & Holistic Health and Nutrition Coaching certification and I was over the moon excited when one of the guest lecturers was Dan Buettner. Dan is the person behind the ‘Blue Zones’ which not only focuses on longevity secrets in terms of what you as an individual can do, but also how you can transform your community to live longer and better.

Dan, in partnership with National Geographic, has researched communities around the globe that have the highest life expectancy. Blue Zones are places in the world where people not only live longer, but healthier as well than anywhere else on earth – without medication or disability. To date, five Blue Zones have been identified:

  • The Italian island of Sardinia
  • Okinawa, Japan
  • Loma Linda, California
  • Costa Rica’s isolated Nicoya Peninsula
  • Ikaria, an isolated Greek island

So, what’s the secret? This is the part that I love. The number ONE indicator of how long you will live is how long you THINK you will live. It’s your attitude. Your positive spirit. Your optimistic outlook. And a close second? Your DAILY fruit and vegetable consumption.

In fact, 80% of the factors that determine your longevity are to do with lifestyle and environment, with the remaining 20% via your genetics. There are a few common denominators that they have found across the board with the five Blue Zones:

  1. Natural Movement – moving every single day. Not a specific type of ‘workout’ but natural movement like walking and yard work.
  2. Daily Ritual of Prayer – this doesn’t have to be faith based. Meditation or naps to help reduce your stress can also work. I think the key here is that it reduced your stress. We know that stress can cause everything from weight gain to cancer, so ensuring we do what we can to keep it low is really important.
  3. A Strong Sense of Purpose – I love this one. Do you have a strong sense of purpose? Do you wake up every single day with a positive intention or goal? Are you tuned in on why you are here on earth? And pardon the cliché, but do you know what your why is?
  4. Eat Wisely – the interesting thing about the diets of the five Blue Zones is that there isn’t a magic item that everyone was eating. They were eating mindfully. They were eating until they were 80% full. They were eating plenty of fruits and vegetables every day.
  5. Plant-based Diet – the five communities that were studies all had this in common. Very little meat, lots of beans, nuts, fruit and veggies. They ate their biggest meal in the morning. They pre-plated their meals rather than family-style, which had them eating less.
  6. Connection – while we can have the healthiest food on our plate, if we don’t have healthy and strong connections, we are not ‘getting it’. With all of the Blue Zone communities family was NUMBER ONE. Who you spend your time with is a key factor in your health and longevity.

I think this is some really good food for thought (insert obvious nutrition joke here). While what we are eating and how much we are exercising are important, they are not the be all and the end all. My favorite take-aways? Your attitude is the number one life expectancy indicator, so wake up happy, grateful and optimistic. And of course, the common denominator about connection and community. It is wonderful to have a positive attitude for your own health and wellness, but when you can take it one step further to those you love, you are really winning at the health and wellness game. And for parents, pre-plating your kids food can help ensure they are eating enough fruit and veggies at every meal.

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Eating Nutrient Dense Food – What It REALLY Means

February 3, 2020

A few years ago, I made a significant shift in my thinking as it relates to my health. When we think about health long term and making sustainable decisions that can last a life time, the idea of constantly counting and measuring our food can be not only overwhelming but exhausting in its own right. Rather, making decisions about the food that you eat should be simple. Eat nutrient dense real food. Food should be something you enjoy cooking, eating and digesting, not something that you and your body have grown to hate.

But what does it mean to eat ‘nutrient dense food’? This is simply the amount of nutrients you get for the amount of calories you take in from a given food. High level of nutrients with low levels of calories is the goal. And ‘nutrients’ are macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).

The easiest way for me to think about this is how much processing has to go into this to make it something I can eat. Is it a fairly simple food? Can I pick it from a tree or garden? If so, it’s usually bang on. When I am making decisions at the grocery store I think to myself – is this going to help me on my healthy journey or create issues or blocks for me? Think about how eating this food is going to make you feel – is it easy for me to digest? Will it support a strong immune system? Will it help me with my energy and sleep? Nutrient dense food will do all of this and more.

So, what are the best of the best? Here are my top nutrient dense foods:

  • Salmon
  • Kale
  • Garlic
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Berries, especially blueberries
  • Eggs
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Green Veggies, especially Broccoli
  • Nuts
  • Legumes
  • Quinoa
  • Spinach
  • Avocado
  • Seeds, especially Chia Seeds and Hemp Seeds
  • Red Peppers
  • Cauliflower
  • Asparagus
  • Beets

Equally as important to WHAT we’re eating is what we’re cooking it in and topping it with. You can have great intentions by eating salad every day, but if you’re deep frying a piece of chicken in corn oil to put on top of your salad and dousing it is high sugar, high calorie dressing, you’re missing the health boat. When I look at the calorie count for restaurant salads I am blown away. Many are over 1500 calories…FOR A SALAD!! Yes, you’re getting you veggies in, but need to be mindful of how you’re getting them in too.

Making at home salad dressings is a great way to keep things on the up and up. Using apple cider vinegar, healthy oils such as avocado oil, coconut oil, hemp oil or extra virgin olive oil are a great base. Adding seasoning that is low in sodium is a great way to pack in the flavour. And you can never have enough Turmeric by the way…it’s loading with tons of health benefits.

When cooking meat or veggies, the same rules still apply about what we’re cooking things IN. Cooking spray or corn oil are crap. Stick to any of the above suggested oils or try ghee or butter. Remember – real is good, fake is bad.

When you’re adding sauce to your food, be sparing. Especially with store-bought sauces. Did you know that BBQ sauce has on average 12 grams of sugar per serving and ketchup has 8? These are HIGH! Same goes for salad dressing – you take away your ‘good meal’ idea when you cover it is sugar. Four grams of sugar is approximately one teaspoon of granulated sugar. And who only puts one serving of something usually on things? Portion control is key for sure here too.

Here’s what I think it really comes down to. When you are choosing your food, you are choosing for health or not for health. It’s not a statement of judgement. It’s simply the truth. That doesn’t mean you’re never allowed to have a piece of cake again. But when you are making your meals and choosing your food, be mindful of is this healthy for me? And even more specifically, is this going to support my immune system strength and my digestive system health? If yes – put it in the cart. If not, make another choice. It really is all about our choices and how they affect the way we feel inside and out.

Our Top Skincare Tips for Women Over 35

January 5, 2020

Aging is a fact of life. And if you’re lucky, you’ll be blessed to do it for many, many years. But let’s be real – most of us want to stay looking young and having that fresh-faced glow. From genetics to lifestyle factors, there are so many elements involved in maintaining younger looking skin. A few key lifestyle factors include daily exercise, not smoking, limiting your alcohol intake, sleeping eight or more hours per night, and keeping your stress levels low.

At 42, I definitely look younger than I am. I am often asked what my secret is to younger looking skin. The above lifestyle factors are definitely important, but some specific nutrition and skin care regime moves really help. In this week’s blog, I will share my favorite anti-aging skin care tricks with you.

Nutrition plays an important role in how your skin looks. Caring for your skin from the inside out. To me, that means few if any refined or processed foods, little to no sugar, little to no meat. Things to add would include eggs, avocados, hemp seeds and coconut oil. Drinking plenty of water to keep you skin hydrated is also really important. Overall, increasing the antioxidants in your diet with fresh fruits and veggies is also key.

Next, the weather elements can wreak havoc on your skin in Canada. Think about how your hands feel on a cold day if you forget your mitts. They feel dried out, sore, and even cracked. The same thing happens to our faces and necks if we don’t cover up. In the summer, the sun can do tons of damage too. Ensuring you use a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or more is key. Cover up with a hat and high-quality sunglasses, or stay in the shade if you can – the more exposure to the sun the older our skin will look.

In terms of skin care, I try to keep it simple. One of the most important things we can do for our skin is to ensure we wash our faces and remove all of the makeup every single night before we go to bed. I try my best to be chemical free in my home and with my skin care products, so ensuring I use a gentle wash that is glycerin, paraben and sulfate free is important. I also like to read the ingredients to see what is really in there.

Next, I use a gentle exfoliator two to three times per week. In the summer, it is really important to do this at night NOT during the day, as that leaves your skin wide open for more damage. I use ‘Everyone for Every Body Face Exfoliator and Mask’. It’s super affordable and gentle on my skin…I have sensitive skin, so that is important when I am looking for great skincare products. Exfoliating gives your skin a young glow and leaves your face feeling fresh and healthy.

Once my skin is clean, I use Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion. It is a true game changer for great skin. The purpose of this step is to take away flakes and refine pores to showcase a clearer complexion. It removes dead cells from the surface of your skin helping moisturizer immerse deeper into your skin.

Once every week or two, I like to use Brie’s Botanicals Renew Serum. I have oily skin, so my face works best if this is used about every ten days. Her entire skin care line is really terrific, she is a local Winnipeger and a total gem of a human. If you haven’t used any of her products, I would strongly recommend checking them out here.

The final step is moisturizer! I honestly sometimes feel like I have tried the majority of what is in Sephora for this one. I need something that is not going to clog my pores, is anti-aging, has an SPF (daytime), and has little to no chemicals in it. I’m sort of high maintenance! For daytime, I use Origins Plantscription SPF 25 and I absolutely love it. For nighttime, I found this super cool Canadian company called Annanda Chaga Mushrooms. From my many years in the sun and not always protecting my skin, I started getting brown spots on my cheeks in my late 30’s. I wanted to do something about it that wasn’t going to chemically peal my face off! This company has a terrific nighttime moisturizer called Chaga Mushroom Skin Cream. I’m obsessed. Use this code to get 10% off your order if you’re interested in trying them out.

Every person’s skin is different. While we all want to have beautiful, glowing skin, it is also important to remember that we earned every single one of those laugh lines and wrinkles and they are beautiful.

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Losing Weight After 50

June 26, 2019

It may seem like as you get older, losing weight gets increasingly difficult. It’s easy to blame our age or slower metabolisms as to why we aren’t looking or feeling as good as we want. Well unfortunately this is no longer a good excuse. Even though your metabolism may have slowed down, your weight gain is mostly due to being less active and having muscle loss. Fortunately, these are two things we can do something about.

Do we have the time and energy to work out as much as we did when we were in our 20s? Ummm no. Those were the days when we didn’t have kids, weren’t in the thick of our careers and had much more free time.

But now that we are in our 40s and 50s, we have to make our health a priority. We have to carve out time and pay attention. We have to set goals and get to work.

Here are a few things to do to help you be successful in achieving your fitness or weight loss goals:

  1. Set more than one goal. Don’t just set a goal based on the scale. Set goals to include a fitness component (example: jogging non-stop for 20 minutes) anda nutrition component (example: drinking 6 cups of water a day). Setting a variety of goals will help you feel more frequent success and positivity and help to keep you staying on track.
  2. Talk to the professionals. First of all, consult your doctor to ensure you are healthy enough to start an exercise program or if you have any specific issues that need to be considered such as IBS, Diabetes, or injuries (current or past). Make sure you are honest with all professionals you consult about your issues as this will ensure you are safe and programs are tailored to you. Some people you may want to consider hiring either for a one time or multiple sessions include personal trainers and dieticians/nutritionists. Let’s face it, if we were experts in these areas we wouldn’t be needing to get some help here. These pros can make the process much more enjoyable and increase your likelihood of success.
  3. Get moving – more often. Seems pretty basic but it’s a big move. Take the stairs, walk around on your coffee break, plan a coffee walk with a friend rather than sitting and sipping. These will all help to increase your metabolism.
  4. Workout. A few things about working out:
    a. Do something fun – whether it’s a dance class or swimming, find something that you enjoy doing – it will make all the difference.
    b. Buddy Up – whether it’s a friend or family member you meet for your workouts or a group fitness class, getting your sweat on with others makes you more likely to stick with it as you are accountable to others.
    c. Add weight lifting to your routine. This is especially important as we get older. Not only does this help with maintaining muscle to aid in keeping our weight gain at bay, it also helps with balance.
  5. Nutrition is so important! This is probably going to make the biggest impact on your weight loss. A few things (other than talking with a certified dietician/nutritionist) to consider:
    a. Be mindful about what you are eating, how much and when. It’s easy to scarf down an entire bag of chips subconsciously while watching Netflix!
    b. Increase your protein intake. Getting enough high-quality protein in your diet is not only important for weight loss but also critical for stopping or reversing age-related muscle loss. Some examples include lean meats, protein shakes, beans and legumes.
    c. Drink lots of water – try to have this be your more frequent drink of choice!
    d. Eat whole, nutrient dense foods – vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, poultry, fish, legumes, and whole grains, are packed with nutrients essential for maintaining a healthy body weight, such as fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
    e. Cook more at home and eat out less. Know what you’re eating. Eating out often usually means eating high fat, sugar and salt and highly processed foods. This will likely save you money too!
  6. Sleep! Not getting enough quality sleep may harm your weight loss efforts. Many studies have shown that not getting enough sleep increases the likelihood of obesity and may hinder weight loss efforts.
  7. Finally, be patient. Just because you start on a path to a better, fitter, healthier you, doesn’t mean it is going to happen quickly. It takes time. But it WILL happen. Just be patient.

Just because you haven’t made yourself a priority in the past, doesn’t mean it has to stay this way. You are worth the effort.

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