Did you know that there are over 600 muscles in the body? From helping us get out of bed and bring in the groceries, to resisting falls and preventing injuries, our muscles support us in many ways. As we age, we tend to experience a decline in muscle mass, which [...]
From sipping on a glass of orange juice to snacking on juicy strawberries throughout the day, vitamin C is a familiar friend that we rely on to bring health and vitality to our daily routines. Vitamin C is a nutrient powerhouse that plays an important role in supporting our immune [...]
Your heart isn’t only responsible for the beat in your chest, it's also the rockstar behind every breath you take. Our steady companion beats over 100,000 times per day, guiding thousands of gallons of blood to every corner of our bodies. This constant flow acts like a nurturing stream, carrying [...]
With rising trends in meat-free diets and the growing diversity of dietary choices, the pescatarian diet has been gaining momentum. This diet prioritizes foods that provide an abundance of health-boosting omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals that all work in harmony to protect your heart, reduce inflammation, assist [...]
As we go about our day, our immune system is always humming along in the background to keep us safe from infection and disease. To maintain healthy immunity, it’s important to get adequate sleep, keep stress levels down, and eat a healthy diet. Sounds simple, right? But we all know [...]
When it comes to our liver, it really wears a lot of hats. Most commonly recognized for its important roles as part of our digestive system, this mighty organ is actually responsible for over 500 vital functions, all necessary for our overall health. Let’s review some of these roles to [...]
If you’re experiencing low moods, frequent colds and flus, and poor digestion, could it be because you’re not sleeping enough? It’s true: something as easy and luxurious as deep sleep can really be the missing key to vibrant health and wellness. The importance of sleep to overall health Sleep impacts [...]
Keeping the earth happy and healthy is just as important as keeping ourselves in great health. Everything we do, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, has an impact on our planet. That’s why it’s important to make environmentally conscious decisions that will not only benefit our [...]
When someone says, "Wow! You must have a fast metabolism!", they are likely referring to the ability to keep weight gain at bay. But, the truth is, metabolism impacts much more than weight. Metabolic health is the foundation of your overall wellbeing and includes all the chemical processes that keep [...]
It was the summer before the pandemic. My husband painstakingly built my greenhouse with the help of neighbours and then needed the rest of the summer to recuperate (ha!). The seedlings I had sowed with anticipation in wide baking pans under cozy armchairs indoors moved to their new home in [...]
A 2020 poll found that 27% of Canadians between the ages of 35 to 49 find most days to be "quite a bit or extremely stressful". While a certain amount of stress is normal, too much of it can prolong the presence of cortisol in our bodies, adversely affecting a [...]
Vegan diets have seen a rapid surge in popularity, due to the purported health benefits, environmental implications, and a wave of documentaries encouraging an animal-free approach to food. While vegetarian diets eschew meat products, veganism removes all animal by-products from the equation, including milk, eggs, and honey. With the elimination [...]
The B vitamins are a family that often appear naturally combined in the foods we eat. They're commonly known as the B family, or B complex. They work in conjunction with one another for critical metabolic functions, acting as assistant coenzymes to catalyze many chemical reactions involved with nutrient breakdown, [...]
As one of the three macronutrients that make up our diets, fats are an important part of every balanced meal. However, with mixed messages such as "eating fats leads to weight gain" and "too much fat causes heart attacks", adding the right amount of fat to your diet can be [...]
You may be familiar with the phrase "you are what you eat", and it's true! There's a complex relationship between your diet and your emotional well-being. In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health issue related to anxiety or depression. So, how can we support [...]
One of the least controversial diets, the Mediterranean diet claims to decrease weight gain, high blood pressure, cholesterol and even waist circumference! Year after year, experts rate it as one of the healthiest diets in the world! What makes the Mediterranean diet "better" than other diets? Rather than being a [...]
When you hear the word protein, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? We often think of meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy, forgetting there are plant-based foods that are also rich in protein, among other nutrients. If you are looking to explore a plant-based diet, here's everything [...]
If you are interested in optimal gut health, whether for personal or professional resources, you've probably heard of FODMAP and the diet associated with it. But what is the FODMAP diet, and who should adopt its guidelines? Are there any drawbacks to the FODMAP diet? Are onions and wheat still [...]
Time to eat some bacon, right? Wrong. Popular media portrays the ketogenic [keto] diet as a way to lose weight while eating copious amounts of bacon. In actuality, the keto diet is quite different. At its core, the keto diet is yet another version of a low-carbohydrate diet. Carbohydrates include [...]
That is the question… but really, WHAT is the answer? (No seriously, PLEASE tell me if I should still be spreading coconut oil literally all over my life?!) As you may know, coconut oil’s purported benefits run the gamut from being good for the gut & digestive health to supporting [...]
Earlier this week, I planted my second round of seedlings as about half of the ones I had planted in April decided to stay as seeds. I tried to be alertly cognizant of the cool, soothing, wet earth between my fingers. If that means I'll be seen at CanPrev HQ [...]
When you hear someone talk about inflammation, you might think of pain, swelling and redness in the case of acute inflammation. Chronic inflammation, however, is a different story. That’s what we’ll be exploring here. Inflammation Comparison Inflammation is the body’s natural healing response to an injury, an important aspect in [...]
As the largest organ in the body, conditions of the skin is a trusted indication of one's overall health. If you are experiencing skin issues such as severe acne or dermatitis, or flare-ups in your eczema or psoriasis, maybe consider a detox this fall to help settle those symptoms. Eczema This [...]
Bones are what hold us together – without healthy bones, many of the regular movements we make on a daily basis, such as sitting, walking, and lying down, would be difficult. Bone tissue is very dynamic because our bodies constantly remodel it by dissolving and replacing minerals to keep our [...]
The holiday season is here! The days are filled with hustle and bustle to get organized, presents purchased, house cleaned, food prepped, attend social gatherings and orchestrate who will host dinner on Christmas Day. You might not feel your blood pressure rising during all of the hustle and bustle -- [...]
That time of year is here, when the cold bite of winter weather finally seems to be behind us, flowers are slowly starting to bloom, the birds & the bees are all atwitter and, oh yeah – pollen also starts to fill the air! Are you experiencing itchy, watery eyes, [...]
There’s been an uptick in awareness that sugar is the culprit behind an increase in conditions like diabetes, chronic inflammation, cancer and high blood pressure. With many health practitioners now recommend limiting or eliminating refined sugars, many people are taking an extra step and removing or drastically reducing their intake [...]
If you've ever wondered if what you eat and when you eat makes a difference to the effectiveness of your workouts, the short answer is that it does, and it’s a method many professional athletes rely on. It’s called nutrient timing, and here’s how it works. The concept of nutrient [...]
Every time you open a magazine or read a blog, there's always some kind of buzz about food allergies, food sensitivities or food intolerances. These days, it seems that every other person seems to be either highly reactive to foods like peanuts or announcing that they're going gluten-free. Food allergies [...]
From digesting food to impacting your immunity, cognitive health, and beyond, your gut has a say in it all. Learn about the trillions of bacteria and other microbes that live inside of you and how balancing your gut microbiome can help you achieve better health.