In the complex world of healthcare, ensuring you receive the right care can be challenging. By prioritizing personal care, responding promptly to emergencies, scheduling regular check-ups, choosing wisely for hospital treatment, planning ahead for medical care abroad, and managing chronic conditions effectively, you can take control of your health journey. Empower yourself with knowledge to advocate for your needs and achieve optimal health outcomes.
Read More
Blood is very important to the brain.
Even though the brain makes up only about 2% of your body’s weight, it uses a staggering 20% of the body’s blood flow and oxygen supply.
This may not mean much to you, but let’s take a look at why you should pay attention to the flow of blood to your brain and who’s most at risk.
Read More
Could our modern lifestyle be preventing us from getting the quality sleep we need?
We all know that getting quality sleep is important - I’m sure you’ve felt the ramifications of a poor night’s sleep the following day (or two).
Last week I shared why sleep is so important to our health and what happens when we sleep. If you missed it, check it out here.
This week, read on to discover the health benefits of quality sleep and what you can do to get a better night’s rest.
Read More
How many hours of sleep do you typically get each night? Do you wake feeling rested?
Sleep accounts for up to 33% of our lives. We know it’s important and feel the ramifications when we don’t get enough. But what exactly happens when we sleep? And how does our sleep affect both our physical and mental health?
Read this week’s post to find out!
Read More
Regular readers of mine may have seen me use the term “antioxidants” from time to time but do you know what they are and why they are important?
I figured it was time to address the buzzword of antioxidants. It's been quite popular in the media and online lately, and I want to make sure that you get the right information where antioxidants are concerned.
Yes, antioxidants are super-healthy. And yes, we should be eating foods full of them. But, when it comes to supplements, the evidence is not so great.
Read this week’s post to discover the science and health benefits of antioxidant foods and supplements, as well as which delicious foods contain them.
Read More
Today, we’re talking tea!
Tea boasts some great health benefits - which is why we have been drinking it for thousands of years. Its antioxidant abilities make it heart-healthy, brain-friendly and can reduce our risk of developing certain cancers and diabetes.
But, does the type of tea matter? Is green tea that much healthier than black tea? And what difference does adding milk and/or sweeteners do to it?
In today’s blog post, I give you the goods on green tea vs. black tea. And the healthiest way to drink your tea.
Read More
Ever wonder what makes a sweet potato sweet? Curious if sweet potatoes are healthy?
Have you been on the hunt for a sweet potato fry recipe that isn’t soggy or disappointing?
Wonder no longer and look no further! Check out this week’s blog post to discover more!
Read More
Carbohydrates. Are they really the enemy?
Carbs have been demonized as of late. After all, they are largely to blame for the world’s obesity epidemic and the multitude of health problems that follow.
But are all crabs created equal?
Read this week’s post to discover the truth about carbohydrates before you swear off this misunderstood food group completely.
And as always, I welcome your feedback. Drop me a line and please share and like us on Facebook and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Read More
Omega 3s are membrane components. They surround every one of your cells to give them energy. Omega 3 fatty acids do many positive things for our health, including increasing the functionality of our eyes, brain, lungs, immune system, and heart.
As your body does not create omega 3s, you must get them from your diet. This is why they are called “essential” fatty acids.
The most crucial omega 3s are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). These can be naturally found in foods, such as:
Fish: salmon, tuna, sardines
Oils: soybean oil, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil
Nuts and seeds: chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseeds
Most people don’t consume enough omega 3 fatty acids. Rather, they consume an abundance of omega 6s.
In general, omega 6 fatty acids are inflammatory while omega 3s have the opposite effect. It should come as no surprise, then, that omega 6s are more prevalent in a Standard American Diet and are consumed in staggering ratios of up to 40:1!
Read More
Have you or someone you love suffered from brain hypoxia? It affects oxygen flow to the largest part of the brain and can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.
Many people are at risk for hypoxia, including swimmers, divers, athletes, and mountain bikers.
Brain injuries sustained during these activities or otherwise are some of the most dire injuries that can occur to any person. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent death. Often, ongoing treatment post-surgery is required to regain all or most brain function again.
It's a tough and trying road, but it can be done.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about brain hypoxia and what you can do about it.
Read More
Looking for a healthy way to spruce up your Easter? If so, I urge you to try this recipe for my healthier carrot cake muffins… with cream cheese icing of course.
Once I perfected this recipe, it quickly became a favourite in our household (and that of our friends!).
The recipe is simple, yet the cupcakes are moist and super decadent! No one can resist them!
Not only are they delicious, but they also contain healthy components.
Read More
Inflammation. It’s not just for health headlines; It’s a fact.
Scientists are measuring levels of inflammation in our bodies and finding that it can be devastating for our health. This is especially true when it becomes chronic, but even low levels of inflammation on a chronic basis can create problems and lead to disease.
Inflammation is often thought of as the root cause of all disease. This makes sense when you consider that it has been closely linked to obesity, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes - just to name a few.
As I’ve discussed often, inflammation is a vital part of our immune system's response to injury or infection. It’s our body's way of triggering the immune system to spring to action to repair damaged cells or tissues and defend our body against foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria.
Without inflammation, wounds may become septic and infections deadly. But if the inflammatory process continues for too long, or if inflammation occurs in places where it’s not needed, it can become a problem anywhere in our body or brain.
Luckily, a healthy diet and lifestyle can help keep inflammation under control.
Read More
Not all stress is bad. In fact, stress can save our lives. Your natural fight-or-flight response is crucial to help you get out of a dangerous situation alive.
And even the hormones produced in response to stress, including cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine, aren’t always bad either. Their levels change throughout the course of the day in response to various challenges you face, including waking up in the morning (yes, that is a form of stress), dealing with traffic, managing an unruly child, or being showered with a birthday surprise.
During times when you feel stressed, various hormones (cortisol included) are released. And once the stressful event is over, levels should return back to normal.
This form of acute (or temporary) stress usually won’t mess with your health too much. It is your body’s natural reaction to circumstances, and, as discussed, can be a good thing.
When the “threat” (a.k.a. “stressor”) is gone, the reaction subsides, and all is well.
It's the chronic, or long-term stress that's a problem.
You see, your body has specific stress reactions. If these stress reactions are triggered every day or many times a day and cortisol levels are never allowed to subside, your health will pay the price.
This kind of stress (and the stress hormones that go along with it) can have a huge impact on every aspect of your health.
Let's dive into this "stress mess.”
Read More
