How Simple Daily Habits Can Optimize Your Mental Wellness This Winter

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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Stress, Hormones, and Your Skin: The Surprising Connection

Are you an adult who still deals with the embarrassing effects of acne?

Have you ever wondered what was triggering your unsightly breakouts?

Have you ever noticed acne tends to appear when your stress levels run high?

If so, you may not be imagining things. In fact, you may not even be surprised to hear that our skin’s health is a reflection of what’s happening under the surface; in terms of gut health, stress levels, and hormones.

Eczema can be a manifestation of food intolerances.

Rashes can indicate an over-reactive immune system.

And acne can mean your hormones are out of whack.

What can cause our hormone levels to change? Many things - including stress. This week, we’ll dive into how stress and hormone levels can affect our skin, specifically in terms of acne.

Then we’ll give you some tips about what you can do about it.

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Educate Yourself About Nutrition: How to Read Nutrition Labels

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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An Ode to The Good Doctor

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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More Crucial Brain Foods your Child Needs

Your child’s brain requires certain nutrients at the right stages of life to help them develop properly.

In our most recent post, we introduced you to six nutrients that are crucial to the growth and development of your child’s brain. Because the brain health of our kids is so crucial, this week, we’d like to continue exploring a few more.

As we did with the last blog, we will include some foods in which these nutrients can be found and what benefits they provide. Then we’ll offer up some power foods that contain several of the key nutrients your child’s brain needs.

I get that it can be hard to feed a child - especially if they happen to be picky or only want to eat certain foods or textures. Hopefully, this list of power foods is the exact tool you need!

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6 Crucial Brain Foods your Child Needs

Did you know that your child’s brain grows and changes exceptionally rapidly?

If you are a parent, you can attest to the fact that time flies by when it comes to your child’s growth and development. But what you may not realize is that your child requires certain nutrients and crucial brain foods at the right stages of life to help them develop properly.

In this blog, let’s explore a few nutrients that are crucial to the growth and development of your child’s brain, including the foods in which they can be found. Then be sure to check back next week to discover even more crucial nutrients that your child needs as well as some key foods that contain several of them.

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Brain Inflammation: What it is and what you can do about it

Is your brain inflamed? How can you tell? And if it is, is there anything you can do about it?

One of the most common complaints I hear in my practice is related to brain inflammation. To discover what common complaint this is, to learn what you can do about it, and to download my free resource to help you get started today, be sure to read this week’s blog.

If you care about the health of your brain, you won’t want to miss this!

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Easy Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs Recipe

Are you ready for winter?

For those of you who think winter is still a long ways away, I hate to break it to you, but we here in Kamloops, British Columbia actually received snow the other day! I’m talking an accumulation that is still on the ground and covering rooftops! At least it is at the higher elevations where we live - that is definitely a price we pay for living in the beautiful mountains.

Regardless of whether or not you’ve seen the white stuff this fall, things are definitely cooling down everywhere. And cooler weather means it’s time to dig out the crockpot!

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5 Key Strategies to Support Your Immune System

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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Feeding Diabetes: A Nutritionist’s Guide

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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Support Your Child’s Brain Health with the Right Supplements

Is your child a finicky eater?

Have you ever wondered if there was something you could to do to help your child learn and function better?

If so, you’ve come to the right place! This week, I’d like to share an article with you that I wrote for Nature’s Fare Markets. It appeared in the September/October edition of their magazine - The Good Life. Packed with important information about child’s brain health and development, I also wanted to share the article with you.

So keep reading to discover how you can help support your child’s brain health with the right supplements.

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Summer Salad with Blueberries and Goat Cheese Recipe

Are you looking to make the most out of what summer we have left?

Are you always on the hunt for a healthy (yet delicious) salad recipe to feed your family that also supports proper brain health?

Well, look no further than this summer salad recipe!

In fact, the recipe I have for you today is super delicious and nutritious! It uses several ingredients that have multiple health benefits - and when you combine them all together… well, let’s just say it doesn’t get much better than this!

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Panic Attacks: What they are and how breathing can help - Part 2

Last week we discussed panic attacks - what they are and how various breathing techniques can help.

If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack, you know how frightening they can be and how beneficial it can be to breathe through it.

But did you know that there are also other things you can do to help? In fact, with the right know-how, you may even be able to stop a panic attack in its tracks!

So be sure to read this week’s blog to discover some actionable strategies you can take if you ever find yourself in the throes of one.

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Panic Attacks: What they are and how breathing can help - Part 1

Have you ever experienced a panic attack?

If so, you are not alone. One in three Canadians will experience a panic attack at some point in their lives.

If you’ve experienced one, you know just how frightening they can be.

But did you know that there are certain things you can do just before or during a panic attack that may help? In fact, with the right know-now, you may even be able to stop one in its tracks!

Why is this important for you to know?

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Foods to Help Your Brain and Mental Wellbeing: An Interview with me!

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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