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With all the different diets and approaches to eating these days it's hard to know what to eat, it's also hard to know when to eat and it's even hard to know how to eat! Should I cook it? Blend it?... add to water and drink it!?? 

There is a lot of info out there to process, and for every study that says one thing there is another study refuting it.  

I think about all the extra stresses our bodies go through that our ancestors bodies did not. 

Stressors that have little to do with our diets and more to do with our environment which are inevitable to escape from.

Whether you adopt a paleo way of eating, or ketogenic, whether you eat raw, vegan or are a total carnivore there is one thing we all share, the environmental pollutants. 

The need to support our bodies is great these days,  no one is immune to metal exposure in the environment and or the effects of our poor soil quality. 

The need for supplementation has grown as vitamins, minerals and other natural hea...

We spend a lot of time taking care of the outside of our bodies and often neglect the inside.  But it’s important to realize that the inside of our body takes a beating as well.   Our bodies produce toxins from undigested food which can damage cells and organs.  As well our bodies are exposed in other ways such as; toxins come from air pollution, cigarette smoke, alcohol, household cleaners and other products, cosmetics, and food additives, just to name a few things.   Over time our bodies store these toxins and as they accumulate our risk of illness increases, therefore it is important to rid ourselves of this toxic build up.

A decrease in energy, brain fog, lethargy, frequent illness, skin conditions, gas and bloating are all signs that it’s time to cleanse! 

For those who only go to the bathroom once a day, or even worse once every 2-3 days, it’s time to cleanse! That waste product is sitting in your body like if you had garbage sitting in your home an extra w...

The average North American consumes an average of only 15 different foods....15!! I can list 15 different types of vegetables alone, and most peoples whole diet is only complied of 15 different foods.  

What does this mean? It means a few things.

Firstly; it means that people are creatures of habit and can't eat outside their comfort zone.

Secondly; it means that people are really limiting the types of nutrients they are being exposed too, and potentially causing deficiencies. 

What's the deal here? Are we scared? Can we not think outside the chicken and salad box? Is it that we just don't know what else is out there?

I shop in a variety of different grocery stores, as I can't find one place that has everything I want.  So I can understand that if you like a particular store that is close to where you live and they don't stock a huge variety of products then you just buy what they have.  

But let's get adventurous people! Think about it, if you are eating only broccoli, string beans, some on...

Isn't that the same thing you ask?? To which I'll answer... NO! 

Last summer I trained to get fit... what does that mean? To me it meant training my body to endure prolonged physical activity at a high level... ie to not finish the race in last place. 

This summer I trained to get into shape... like actual physical shape, I wanted to change the physical shape of my body.  Once I was in "shape" though I couldn't do all the things that I was able to do the previous year, such as swim, bike and run.  I wasn't able to do as many chins ups, I wasn't able to deadlift the weight I could typically lift and I wasn't able to run up the stairs in my typical spry fashion.  I was definitely not fit.

My body was just for show, not for function.

I wanted to take some time to address this topic as many women get very down on themselves for not being what they think is thin, or having abdominal definition or for not being a certain size.... like that actually matters... it doe...

Most of us would not complain about the opportunity to obtain better hair, skin or nails.  In fact most people would love it, and for some people this is even more of an issue as we are seeing many women with thinning hair, brittle nails and acne.

There is a huge correlation between acne and poor nutrition.   A diet high in inflammatory fats such as soy bean, peanut and canola oils will increase acne promoting chemicals in the body.

So we can we do nutritionally to help improve, skin, hair and nail health?

We can incorporate the following foods into our diets on a daily basis;

1. Oily fish, like sardines and anchovies.  This fish provide fats that decrease inflammation and reduce the production of the 2 main acne promoting chemicals.  If you prefer not to eat this fish there are lots of supplements that you can buy to gain the same benefits.

2. Walnuts, these nuts contain a vitamin called Biotin, this b-vit is needed for healthy hair and skin and contribute to faster hair grow...

I have always loved having the support of other like-minded people when I set out to achieve a goal.  Although my motivation and personal passion come from within I cannot deny the importance of support.  As through my own experiences I have learned to appreciate the encouragement from others in my own endeavours.

In the summer I started a weight loss group so that women could benefit from the support of each other, as they set out on a path to better health.  Many of my weight loss clients have similar struggles and concerns so I started the group so that they could all see they were not alone.

We shared recipes, meal ideas and each of us shared solutions to some of the challenges that come up during the weight loss journey.  I was also there to answer questions and address concerns for the group.  What everyone often found was that when one women had a question they would all benefit from the answer. 

What a huge success and rewarding experience it was, to lead...

Recently a client of mine brought in supplements that she had purchased at a big box store and was horrified to find that not only was the list of non-medicinal ingredients was very long it was also full of useless fillers, like potato starch and maltodextrin.   This is quite common and one of the big differentiating factors between cheaper big box brands and the brands that you would find in a health store.

Maltodextrin is food additive produced from starch; it has sweetness to it and is digested as fast as glucose…..that’s sugar!  Pure glucose has a glycemic index of 100 and maltodextrin isn’t far behind at 85.

Other fillers that can be found in cheaper supplements include sodium lauryl sulfate, this is a foaming agent that is found in the chemical based shampoos and soaps.  It is a known carcinogen and can also have negative effects on the nervous system.   This foaming agent is also quite harmful to the environment as it doesn’t break down easily and can remain in the environmen...

We all know how important pre and post workout nutrition is, it’s practically as important as the workout itself.  Without the proper nutrients to repair the body’s tissues post workout the muscle will be unable to heal itself.   But besides just proper nutrition to help heal and repair the body, there are supplements that can be taken to assist with this and in the other reactions that occur during a workout or any intense training.  Hormones are released, bodily fluids are lost and free radicals can run wild if not neutralized.  Taking account for these things will allow you to keep the body healthy, balanced and ready for the next gym session.  Below are a few supplements that can be added to your post exercise regime to ensure a healthy and well functioning body.

Glutamine- This is a single amino acid.  Amino acids are the building blocks of the body, and this particular one is found in the most abundance in muscle tissue.  It has many roles, all of which c...

I really appreciate how many people these days are becoming so conscience of what they put in their bodies.  We are becoming much more aware of what we fuel our bodies with and how tainted our food is, and can be.   It’s definitely refreshing when I see more and more people willing to drop a bit of that ignorance they have been sporting and open up to the realization that things aren’t always what them seem.  For example, that big red tomato in the grocery store that you think looks good because it is big, round and red, and is there for you to eat right in the middle of January…And you live in Ontario!  It’s not so much a miracle as it is the fruit of modern day science, a little genetic modification if you will.

But what I really want to draw attention to is not what we put in our bodies but rather what we put on them.  What we wash them with, moisturize them with, shave, decorate ourselves with.  I am talking about everything that falls under the umbrella of “cos...