When it comes to our liver, it really wears a lot of hats. Most commonly recognized for its important roles as part of our digestive system, this mighty organ is actually responsible for over 500 vital functions, all necessary for our overall health. Let’s review some of these roles to [...]
Food is a key pillar in building a healthy lifestyle as it supplies us with the nutrition we need to feel our best and keep our bodies functioning smoothly. Regardless of what stage of life we're in, a healthy diet is one of the most important factors in our wellbeing. [...]
It was the summer before the pandemic. My husband painstakingly built my greenhouse with the help of neighbours and then needed the rest of the summer to recuperate (ha!). The seedlings I had sowed with anticipation in wide baking pans under cozy armchairs indoors moved to their new home in [...]
A 2020 poll found that 27% of Canadians between the ages of 35 to 49 find most days to be "quite a bit or extremely stressful". While a certain amount of stress is normal, too much of it can prolong the presence of cortisol in our bodies, adversely affecting a [...]
Vegan diets have seen a rapid surge in popularity, due to the purported health benefits, environmental implications, and a wave of documentaries encouraging an animal-free approach to food. While vegetarian diets eschew meat products, veganism removes all animal by-products from the equation, including milk, eggs, and honey. With the elimination [...]
The efficacy of each supplement ranges drastically depending on how it's made. One form of vitamin C may be in and out of your body within 4 hours, while another stays in your body for the whole day, effectively boosting your immune system. These two supplements contain the same dose, [...]
You may be familiar with the phrase "you are what you eat", and it's true! There's a complex relationship between your diet and your emotional well-being. In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health issue related to anxiety or depression. So, how can we support [...]
When it comes to healthy aging, you may hear recommendations such as getting moderate exercise, or eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. Though these suggestions are simple, they are more powerful than you think. This is because regular exercise and antioxidant consumption play an important role in [...]
It's a well-known fact that exercise strengthens the body in many ways. But what you may not know is that exercise also benefits your skin and hair by giving it a healthy boost! Read on to learn some of the surprising benefits of exercise. How does exercise promote healthy skin? [...]
One of the least controversial diets, the Mediterranean diet claims to decrease weight gain, high blood pressure, cholesterol and even waist circumference! Year after year, experts rate it as one of the healthiest diets in the world! What makes the Mediterranean diet "better" than other diets? Rather than being a [...]
When you hear the word protein, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? We often think of meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy, forgetting there are plant-based foods that are also rich in protein, among other nutrients. If you are looking to explore a plant-based diet, here's everything [...]
Have you given special thanks to your gut microbiome today? As you go about your day, trillions of beneficial gut bacteria living inside your digestive system keep you healthy and well. Known as the gut flora, a constellation of more than a thousand different species, your gut microbiome is unique, [...]
Antioxidants come top of mind for many health-conscious folks, but is everything you've heard about antioxidants factually correct? Read on for a refresher on antioxidant myths and truths. 1) Myth or truth: Are antioxidants really important? Truth. Antioxidants are essential substances for health. We generate antioxidants at the cellular level [...]
Ever wondered what antioxidants really are and what they do in the body? Read on for everything you need to know about antioxidants, free radicals, the ORAC scale, and antioxidant-rich foods and supplements. What is an antioxidant? Simply put, an antioxidant is a substance that works hard to protect your [...]
If you are interested in optimal gut health, whether for personal or professional resources, you've probably heard of FODMAP and the diet associated with it. But what is the FODMAP diet, and who should adopt its guidelines? Are there any drawbacks to the FODMAP diet? Are onions and wheat still [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Time to eat some bacon, right? Wrong. Popular media portrays the ketogenic [keto] diet as a way to lose weight while eating copious amounts of bacon. In actuality, the keto diet is quite different. At its core, the keto diet is yet another version of a low-carbohydrate diet. Carbohydrates include [...]
That is the question… but really, WHAT is the answer? (No seriously, PLEASE tell me if I should still be spreading coconut oil literally all over my life?!) As you may know, coconut oil’s purported benefits run the gamut from being good for the gut & digestive health to supporting [...]
Earlier this week, I planted my second round of seedlings as about half of the ones I had planted in April decided to stay as seeds. I tried to be alertly cognizant of the cool, soothing, wet earth between my fingers. If that means I'll be seen at CanPrev HQ [...]
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 [...]
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, commonly called PCOS, is a hormonal condition affecting up to 10% of women. While PCOS is a hormonal disorder of the reproductive system, and its direct causes are still unknown, there are some exciting new discoveries when it comes to PCOS and its connection to insulin resistance, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Bone tissue is very dynamic because it is constantly being remodeled by dissolving and replacing minerals to keep the bones healthy. Osteoporosis is a disease where the bone is dissolving and losing minerals faster than it can be replaced making the bones hollow, porous and very susceptible to fractures. Vitamin [...]
With a new year now upon us, we might tend to feel more pressure to jump into the latest “cleanse” or “detox” fad that has hit the store shelves! Our bodies are actually wonderfully designed to detox themselves. In a perfect world, of course. You see the 7 channels of [...]
Vitamin K2 might not sound too familiar, it is not one of the more popularly wide known vitamins, like vitamin C or D. Vitamin K2, belongs to the Vitamin K family and is fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin K1 is the natural vitamin found in nature, mainly in green leafy plants and [...]
The holiday season is here! The days are filled with hustle and bustle to get organized, presents purchased, house cleaned, food prepped, attend social gatherings and orchestrate who will host dinner on Christmas Day. You might not feel your blood pressure rising during all of the hustle and bustle -- [...]
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 [...]
“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 [...]
What are the symptoms of SIBO? Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO, is just that - when bacteria (or other microorganisms, good or bad) grow out of control in the small bowel. Compared to the large colon, it should be quite low in bacterial count. Colonization also ends up damaging [...]
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 yeah – pollen also starts to fill the air! Are you experiencing itchy, watery eyes, [...]