Is ashwagandha a part of your health routine yet? An ancient staple of Ayurveda - the Indian system of medicine, ashwagandha delivers a full spectrum of surprisingly modern benefits. Long revered and utilized by herbalists, this herb is now going mainstream and finding its way into many nutritional supplements too. [...]
Taking simple steps today can help better our health for tomorrow. Here are some additional back-to-the-basics immunity tips for a preventative care routine: Nutrition Boost Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables lays a strong foundation of quality antioxidants in your diet. Phytonutrient-rich foods Fill up on phytonutrients! These [...]
In Nutrient Spotlight: The Science Behind Vitamin K2, we covered the discovery of the Vitamin K family, its overall function in the body, and brief differences between MK-4 and MK-7. Now, let's dive deeper into how vitamin K1 differs from K2, why deficiency is hard to detect, and why this nutrient [...]
Ever wonder why vitamins go from A, B, C, D and E straight to vitamin K? Well, there is a good explanation. Vitamin K was first discovered as a blood clotting agent in chicken and was named “koagulation”, Danish for coagulation. Doesn't sound too exciting, does it? Well, clotting is just [...]
Even though we’re already a couple of months in, Old Man Winter isn’t ready to release his grip quite yet! So, how can we keep our immune systems primed and our physical & mental well-being optimized while we ride out this chilly weather? We’ve got the top 7 ways to [...]
Insulin Sensitivity. Insulin Resistance. Hyperinsulinemia. Diabetes. Metabolic Syndrome. You’ve probably heard these terms quite a bit lately as you scroll through your health news. But usually, it’s not made clear enough what an important role INSULIN plays in your body. Well, here's a more accurate picture of how this critical [...]
Health seeker, did you know that 20 to 40% of the population will visit their healthcare practitioner for symptoms of chest pain at some point in their lifetime? Are you having a heart attack… or is it angina? Or maybe it’s *only* heartburn, and while that’s still a really uncomfortable [...]
Digging into the Science About Fungi Is the hype around mushrooms warranted? The answer may surprise you. More people are starting to lichen medicinal mushrooms because they are fungi. Studies on medicinal mushrooms are germinating interest in this herbal medicine which has a long-term history of use as a Traditional [...]
Sight is a spectacular sense. Vibrant colours and crisp visions illuminate your world every day. Yet, your lifestyle may be setting your eyes up for failure and you may not even know that it's happening! Here's everything you need to know about glaucoma and seeing well into your future. What [...]
When you hear the word 'cholesterol' -- what does it make you think of? Does it spark fear, concern or just confusion? We’ve been told for years to keep our cholesterol levels in check and avoid certain foods that are high in cholesterol - hello bacon! It’s no wonder [...]
The number of dietary supplements and food items, like bone broth, containing collagen are on the rise – and for good reason. Increasing your dietary intake of collagen has been linked to positive effects on health, including improved skin appearance, reduced joint pain, and better digestion and gut health. It [...]
As a woman, are you committed to living a heart-healthy lifestyle? While we might think of older men when we hear “heart problems”, research tells us it's time for women to look after their hearts, too. According to the Heart Research Institute, heart disease is the number one cause of [...]
What Is It? Selenium is a trace mineral naturally occurring in the soil, in certain foods, and very small amounts can be found in natural water sources. Selenium’s main role is acting as an antioxidant and has many benefits to the body. Selenium is also a chief component of the [...]
Don’t Summer and BBQs just go hand-in-hand together? Grilling just seems to make food taste better, no matter what you cook on the BBQ...meat, poultry, vegetables, even fruit! These foods all taste amazing when prepared on a smokey grill. However, consuming grilled food too often in the form of muscle [...]
Every woman needs these tips for better urinary health In our daily lives, we take many steps to optimize our health and well-being. For starters, you integrate that new mindfulness meditation practice into your mornings to revitalize your nervous system and invest in quality serums and lotions for your best [...]
Optimizing nutrition when you’re an athlete (or even if you workout regularly) can make a significant difference in your health and performance on the court, field or at the gym. Just like exercising your muscles through cardiovascular workouts or strength training is important, so is fueling your body properly through [...]
For many women, turning fifty is a milestone. It might be a time of transformation: from children leaving the family home to career shifts, or finding a new approach to your health and well-being. You might notice that your body changes when you hit fifty. Staying up late and traveling, [...]
With spring finally here, you may feel inspired to clean out and organize the inside of your house! By incorporating detox methods into your everyday routine -- you can also cleanse your insides. Your body is continually undergoing natural detoxification methods as part of general maintenance - and especially when a [...]
Thomas Edison once said: “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest patients in the maintenance of the human frame, in diet, and in the prevention of disease.” Connecting with a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) as part of your health-care team is a great way to incorporate a [...]
The development of allergies is becoming more and more common. The same goes for sensitivities to foods, chemicals and environmental factors. Our immune system and cellular tissue can become compromised due to inflammatory responses from the mechanisms of each reaction - especially through responses from sensitivities. Here's a little more [...]
You probably don’t think about them too much, except maybe which polish colour to choose next? But, you would be surprised what those little keratinized extensions of our fingertips (your fingernails) can tell us about our nutrition, and our health status overall. Naturopaths often include an examination of a patient's [...]
Water is the foundation and truly the lifeblood of our health. It is essential to sustain life, and assists in everything from our digestion to brain function. But, there are a lot of surprising ways water can help us maintain our health that we’ve maybe never considered. Here are 10 [...]
Health Canada advises, along with many nutrition professionals, “that a healthy and balanced diet can provide most people with the nutrients essential for good health.” [1] Does that mean that if we eat a “healthy and balanced diet”, that we’ll be meeting all the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and we’ll [...]
The perfect herbal remedies for your healthiest spring yet Spring is just around the corner, and for most of us, it couldn't come soon enough. Though winter has its charms, namely the cozy evenings by the fireplace and hikes in the snow-covered forest, the short days and blizzards can sure [...]
Your mind is one of the most valuable assets that you have. It is extremely complex! The brain can change, learn and unlearn via neuronal connections, firing and wiring every day. Though we have come to understand the brain's function much better, there are still many aspects of this fascinating [...]
Every February an abundance of red and pink heart shapes fill the media! This year, maybe these Valentines Day tributes can act as a kind reminder to take a look at our own hearts health. Whether you have a strong family history of heart disease or not, striving to take [...]
When it comes to your inability to fall asleep once your head hits the pillow, often due to racing thoughts and restlessness, it probably comes as no surprise that stress is likely the underlying culprit. Stress may seem like an inescapable problem too as it affects nearly every system and [...]
As we head into the holiday season, we will be faced with many, many opportunities to overindulge, undoubtedly including a few extra cocktails! Because alcohol has become such a big part of our social culture, it naturally trickles in a bit more this time of year. While taking an extra [...]
There is a host of scientific studies linking magnesium to many different health conditions, but reviewing these effects one by one is overwhelming and confusing. Instead, it’s more helpful to look at magnesium’s underlying physiological mechanisms. Understanding what magnesium does fundamentally will let us better understand how insufficient magnesium levels [...]
Blood clotting (intravascular thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes) Clotting is a normal response to blood vessel damage. When a blood vessel wall is damaged, tiny blood cells called platelets activate. These platelets adhere to a damaged surface and release sealing agents like fibrin. Magnesium regulates the activation of these platelets [...]
“When you’re the strongest and fittest you’ve ever been, the last thing you think you are is unhealthy and the last words you expect to hear are, you have cancer" -- Jill Bunny The “C” word Being told you have cancer is something you don’t ever expect to hear at [...]
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, recommend that males and females ages 19-30 take in 400 mg and 310 mg of magnesium a day respectively. Males 31 and older should up their intake to 420 mg [...]
Here at CanPrev, we are all about our community. Because without a platform to connect with individuals - we cannot learn, grow, educate, motivate or inspire. That's where our ambassadors come in. These individuals are dedicated to living life to the fullest! They are continually learning and growing, sharing their [...]
That time of year is here, when the cold bite of winter weather finally seems to be behind us, flowers are slowly starting to bloom, the birds & the bees are all atwitter and, oh yah – pollen also starts to fill the air! Are you experiencing itchy, watery eyes, [...]
Corporate Junkie Turns Fitness Guru In this second part of our "CanPrev Ambassador" series, we introduce to you a Toronto native. Someone who truly knows the meaning of transformation and taking risks. Many Hats Meet Jessie Lam - Personal Trainer, Yoga Teacher, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner, and [...]
We all have physical, emotional and mental challenges to overcome. To do this, we find the courage and brave the journey against these obstacles, in search for optimal health and preventing dis-ease. 'Taking charge of your own health' and 'you can prevent'- mantras that have sustained us, as well as [...]
Coming off a schedule of seemingly non-stop socializing and indulgence of the holidays, it's pretty typical to feel a little stressed out and perhaps even look a little run-down. But now that you're back to your regular routine, it's nothing that a few nights' good sleep can't fix, right? But if [...]
You've probably heard that if you're feeling thirsty, you’re likely already dehydrated. Well, it's sort of true. Thirst is basically your body’s way of telling you to get some sort of liquid into it. Your fluid levels are always fluctuating depending on the foods you eat and what you excrete. [...]
According to the Vitamin D Council, vitamin D is essential to bone health and researchers say that the "sunshine vitamin" plays a vital role in many other areas of health as well. Skin's exposure to sun enhances mood and energy. With the onset of fall, you're bound to get less vitamin [...]
Let’s face it, noise is everywhere. It’s part of our daily lives. Even when we’re sitting in total silence there’s usually some background noise happening – the ticking of a clock, the whir or a fan, the clicking of a keyboard. There’s noise and then there’s noise. Notice the marked difference between [...]
Rife with ridges and bumps, veins and papillae, the human tongue resembles some alien landscape. But a careful physical examination can tell a naturopathic doctor a lot about your overall health. The tongue tells all According to Dr. Cecilia Ho, a Toronto-based Naturopath and TCM practitioner, Tongue and Pulse diagnosis [...]
Gluten sensitivity has now earned the distinction of being a condition separate from celiac disease. A study conducted by a group of American and Italian researchers in 2001 found that a subset of patients made up of children and adults showed many of the same symptoms typical of celiac, but [...]
You might think that stress only affects your nervous system; after all, that's where you feel it the most. But stress also compromises your immune system, major organs and reproductive organs, too. Here's a quick summary of how stress makes its way through your body and the damage it can [...]
It can sometimes be hard to escape the effects of stress in our everyday lives. In fact, constant stress can turn into distress when one or more systems in the body are agitated for prolonged periods of time. Statistics show that about 43% of all adults claim that stress affects [...]
Scan the beverage section of any grocery store and you’ll notice the ever-growing selection of sports drinks for both casual and elite athletes. Gatorade, a popular hydrating beverage first introduced in the mid 60’s was once every athlete’s choice, poking out of gym bags and lining team benches at the [...]
We know the signs our bodies show in response to stress: increased heart rate, loss of appetite, susceptibility to infection, sharpened sight, bursts of energy. This is how the body behaves when it's in "fight or flight" mode. As we age, we experience different types of stress that can impact [...]
If you own a business where your profit depends on how many clients walk through your door, it can be hard to stay motivated and cheery when your numbers start to slide. No doubt you may feel stressed, overwhelmed or even think, "Why bother?" Short of hanging a neon sign [...]
Why does it seem like food allergies are on the rise? It's true that adult food allergies are becoming increasingly prevalent. In fact, about 15 percent of the adult population will develop food allergies at some point in their lives, and there are many reasons why. Eating the same foods [...]
There are a lot of ways to make sure you stay healthy, especially during the holidays when viruses tend to run rampant. Here's a quick list of dos and don'ts to help keep your immune system in good working order. Do carry disinfecting wipes If you travel during the holidays, [...]
It’s good to get sick and challenge our immune systems from time to time. Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that we fall ill during the holidays, keeping us from socializing with family and friends. Here's a primer on how cold and flu cycles work and how to stay healthy, so festive [...]
The holidays are a time to see friends, visit with relatives or sneak away for a little R&R. Unfortunately, getting to your destination can bring on feelings of stress and frustration when you have to navigate crowds and bad road conditions in order to reach your destination, not to mention [...]
Chicken soup has a long history as a remedy for coughs, colds and other respiratory tract infections. In a recent cell study, chicken soup was shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect by blocking the chemical messaging system (neutrophil chemotaxis) that contributes to chest congestion, mucous production and coughing. The authors even suggested that [...]