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 heard the term HBOT or hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
If you are a diver or pilot, you’re probably aware of this therapy and may have even experienced it yourself.
But did you know that introducing oxygen into your body can help reduce inflammation and stimulate your body’s natural healing processes?
This week I had the great pleasure to sit down with colleague and friend Ken Cassidy to discuss all things oxygen! Ken and I both work at Radiant Life Naturopathic Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia, where he recently brought in a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber. It is the first of its kind in British Columbia’s interior region.
If you’re wondering what that is, what it can be used for, and how it may be able to help you, keep reading!
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Are you living your best life?
You only get one life in this world. While this is straightforward to understand in theory, it doesn’t necessarily make living life to the fullest any easier.
The truth is that there are any number of reasons why a person might not live their best life.
But the good news is that, in this day and age, there’s nearly always something that can be done to nudge a person in the right direction. In this blog, we’re going to look at some of the most common reasons that hold people back and offer some advice on what can be done to overcome them.
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Are you a coffee drinker?
Have you ever wondered if coffee is good for you - or have you been thinking about giving it up to benefit your health?
Well, before you throw in the towel as far as coffee is concerned, be sure you read this week’s guest post to discover the health benefits of coffee, if it’s good for you, and if it may just lengthen your life!
Yes - coffee is many people’s choice of morning beverage. However, did you know that it might just help prolong your lifespan? Find out more here!
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Neurofatigue can be a direct result of a brain injury or neurological disease. Dealing with the consequences can be difficult, but there are solutions that help.
In our continued efforts to educate about brain injuries and the consequences that often come with it, this week, we’ll introduce you to neurofatigue, common complaints associated with it, and solutions that may help.
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From poor gut health to wrinkled skin, to aching joints — there’s no end to the list of problems for which collagen is often touted as a panacea.
It’s no surprise, then, that the global collagen industry is to balloon to more than $6 billion by 2026 as more consumers become inclined towards healthy living.
Even now, there’s an abundance of collagen products on the market — shots, capsules, powders, even coffee creamers! — all said to combat the effects of aging. But what exactly is collagen and how can it benefit your health? Read this week’s blog to find out!
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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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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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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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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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