Do you know that we have natural brain chemicals that affect our mood?
In our last blog, we discussed three common neurotransmitters involved in mental health: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine as well as how they work.
This week, let’s take a closer look at natural foods and supplements that can support each of these key neurotransmitters.
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Do you know that we have natural brain chemicals that affect our mood?
They are called neurotransmitters. Two common ones you’ve most likely heard of are serotonin and dopamine. But do you know what these neurotransmitters are and how they work?
In honour of mental health awareness month and our continual quest to shed additional light on the topic of mental health, this week we’d like to take a closer look at a few key neurotransmitters and their effects on mood.
Keep reading to discover which neurotransmitters are related to mental health.
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What is the state of your mental health?
Do you have a mental illness? Does someone you love?
We throw the words mental illness and mental health around a lot. The terms are often used interchangeably. But what do they really mean? And what’s the difference?
Read this week’s post to discover what constitutes a mental illness, the prevalence of mental illness today, and actionable steps you can take to improve your mental health.
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May is Mental Health Awareness month.
As people become increasingly concerned about their mental health, education surrounding the topic becomes more crucial.
With this in mind, each blog this month will contain educational information and offer up ideas, tips, suggestions, or foods designed to support one’s mental health.
So let’s kick-start the month by diving deeper into anxiety and considering various smart ways to deal with it.
And yes - you do embody the power to improve your mental health!
Do you choose suffering? Or do you choose to take action? The choice is yours.
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Do you suffer from anxiety or depression?
If so, you’re not alone. Current rates are at an all-time high - in part due to the very stressful last year we have all been faced with.
Much like any other health issue, research into anxiety and depression all too often focuses on treatments and managing symptoms while ignoring the underlying problem.
In many cases, as with my husband following his TBI, this leads to people suffering unduly while they search fruitlessly for solutions - often feeling alone and let down by the allopathic medical system.
If you can relate, especially in terms of your mental health and wellbeing, then please read this week’s blog. You’ll discover 9 tips on how managing your depression and anxiety naturally are possible.
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Have you ever wondered why donuts or cookies miraculously make us feel better? Why the words “winter” and “blues” go hand in hand? Or why we feel so much better after a good work-out?
If the winter months get you down or leave you feeling fatigued and lacking motivation, you’re not alone! As a nutritionist, I hear the following comments all the time: “I feel so down all winter,” “No matter what I do, I can’t get out of this funk,” or “I just can’t handle going to work and coming home in the dark every day.”
If these sound like words you are known to utter, I’ve got great news for you - you can do something about it!
Start taking action with the simple daily habits discussed in this week’s blog to wash away the winter blues and optimize your mental wellness this winter.
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As we all breathe a sigh of relief that 2020 is now in our rear-view windows, we start to look forward to a new year full of new opportunities.
Though things may not (or may never) be “back to normal” as we may like - we can still look forward to what positive things a new year can bring. And it is within your power to choose where you go from here.
Moving forward, you can choose to become more knowledgeable about how various foods affect your body and brain, or you can continue doing what you have always done and remain where you have always been
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Sometimes being a HappiHuman means we must go through some grief - as I am going though right now.
So if you’ll oblige me, I’d like to share my candid thoughts from a journal entry I wrote about my beloved Berkeley boy - my first dog who was much, much more than that.
My intention in sharing these private moments is not to make you sad or cry or conjure up hurtful memories of your own. Rather, my intention is to open my heart in the hopes that others will open theirs.
We must remember that love is the foundation upon which all of humanity stands. And with all the craziness and challenges humanity has faced this past year, I think we could all use this reminder - especially around the holidays.
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There’s no doubt that we’re going through scary times right now. Many of us are still unsure of what to do; do we remain separated from each other, hidden in our homes, waiting for news that the current COVID-19 epidemic has passed?
If you are feeling afraid and powerless, I’d like you to know that there is something you can do. You can be proactive with your own health and fortify your body and immune system so that should you contract any virus or illness, you may be able to shorten its duration and minimize your symptoms.
This means you have power now.
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Do you or someone you love have diabetes or are worried about it?
I received such an overwhelming response with my recent blog post on how to know if your blood sugar is out of whack that I decided to create a follow-up, focusing on how to feed diabetes.
Most people recognize the importance of managing blood sugar levels but often fall short when trying to manage it themselves. So this week, let me help.
Read on to discover a nutritionist’s guide on feeding diabetes.
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This week, I’d like to share something a little different with you.
Most of the time, I provide educational content that helps people live their best lives. Sometimes, I even interview people and share their experiences. But this time around, I was the one being interviewed!
In light of the fact that many people are new to my channel or may have just recently discovered my blog, I thought I’d share this interview with you, which includes a little about me.
This excerpt comes from my recent interview with Krystian Shaw, publisher and owner of the Kamloops Self Advocate Newsletter. If you haven’t heard of it, I suggest you give you a look.
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Do any of these sound familiar?
You constantly crave sugary foods
You have a hard time sleeping through the night
You have difficulty staying focused or concentrating
You get super irritable if you miss a meal
You feel better after eating
You cannot lose weight, no matter how hard you try
You get tired for no reason and often feel sluggish
You have an insatiable thirst and have to use the bathroom a lot
If this sounds like you, you definitely need to read this week’s blog post!
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Summer is typically a time of the year to look forward to - for travel, for excitement, for new adventures. Yet this year, our focus will likely be much different than in years past.
This year has been tough on everyone everywhere around the world. We have seen and experienced things unlike anything we’ve encountered in our lifetime.
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Probiotics are getting more and more well-known for their health-promoting benefits. And the research showing the importance of our gut microbes is growing every day.
Did you know that what you eat feeds not only you, but your probiotics, too?
It’s true!
Those little “gut bugs” need to eat a healthful diet, just like you do. The good news is that the foods that are healthy for you are also healthy for them. And, because they’re microbes, they can digest foods that we can’t, like dietary fibre.
The foods that feed probiotics are called “prebiotics.” And this post is the 101 on what you need to know about both probiotics and prebiotics.
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Sometimes, stress gets the best of us.
Sometimes, stress levels are so high that we get trapped in circular thinking and can’t escape. We cannot turn off recursive thoughts.
So what do we do?
Most of us reach for McDonalds, lasagna, French fries, cookies, ice cream, or some other fatty, salty, sugary foods that we find comforting.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone!
But have you ever stopped to think about how these foods may actually be making matters worse? Would you like some ideas of foods you’d be better off eating in times of stress?
Read this week’s blog to discover how stress messes with our health and what to eat in times of stress.
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