Sea vegetables are a great source of a wide array of trace minerals (zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine etc) and a little bit can go a long way! Sea vegetables contain the highest amount of iodine of any food on the planet – iodine being a nutrient deficiency that is incredibly common. Not...
What kind of cardio should I do and how often should I do it?
I personally like to start my day with some type of cardio. Not to burn calories, but to promote a more positive hormonal profile. Getting my body moving in the morning will release mood boosting hormones, as well as result in a higher cortisol output. Cortisol should be naturally high in the morning and...
What does it really mean to be “healthy”?
There is so much misinformation out there when it comes to health and fitness, from quick fixes to unrealistic ideas of what “healthy” or “fit” really is and what it should look like. My goal has always been to give real people realistic goals, and share accurate information along the way. It’s important to know...
Why do some people end up putting back on the weight (and more) after going on a “diet”?
Exercising more and cutting your calories isn’t sustainable. Simply put: If you drastically cut your calories and exercise more, your metabolism WILL slow down and your body will try and hold on to every bit of fat, because it thinks it is in “starvation” mode. Cutting your calories may yield weight loss, but it...
What’s the deal with hormonal birth control?
What you need to know about Hormonal Birth Control: Hormonal Birth Control works by overriding the normal hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian hormonal axis and suppresses ovulation. When you’re not ovulating, your body thinks you are pregnant. When you start taking the placebo pills, estrogen levels drop and your body begins to menstruate. Basically, this unnatural cycle causes...
What does “you are what you eat ate” mean?
I’m sure a lot of you have heard the saying “you are what you eat” but have you ever heard “you are what you eat ate”? A lot of companies are now making it public that they are switching over to “antibiotic/hormone free meat”. Why? What these animals eat and how they are raised...
Why is blood sugar control so important?
Regulated blood sugar levels can play a major role in your journey of achieving optimal health! What is the Glycemic Index? It’s a system that ranks foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels. Consistent levels of high blood sugar levels can lead to damage to vessels that supply blood to your major...
Does grilling your meat on the BBQ increases cancer causing carcinogens?
I love the taste of bbq’d meats and vegetables (as do a lot of people) but unfortunately grilling on the BBQ does increase the amount of carcinogens in your meats. I personally don’t think you have to completely avoid the using the bbq – but there are definitely ways on how you can decrease...
What is the difference between consuming 30g of protein from a chicken breast vs 30g of protein from a protein shake?
All protein isn’t created equal. Consuming 30g of protein from a chicken breast is not the same as consuming 30g of protein from a protein shake. Are you consuming the majority of your protein macros as shakes and wondering why you aren’t seeing the results you want? Why? 1. Absorption rate. A protein shake...
What is cryotherapy and how can it help me?
What is cryotherapy? Basically whole body cryotherapy is exposing yourself to short-term cooling of the skin’s surface in extreme cold temperatures for duration of 2-3 minutes to optimize the body’s recovery mechanisms, resulting in long-lasting internal and external benefits. My main focus for experimenting with cryotherapy has been for enhanced recovery from the physical stress I put...
Does calorie counting work?
Calorie counting may work in the short term, but more times than not – it is just a “quick fix” based on restriction. Plain and simple: Solely focusing on calories in vs calories out is not a sustainable way of living. Don’t get me wrong, I believe being aware, reading nutrition labels and learning...
Why is drinking water and staying hydrated essential for optimal health?
One of the first things I do as soon as I wake up is drink water! Even if you don’t feel thirsty, you just went (hopefully) 8 hours without drinking any water. Drinking more water aids in the detoxification and elimination process. Our kidneys are the real MVPs (our filtration system) but they NEED...
Why is what you choose to eat for the first meal of the day so important?
Plain and simple: What you choose to eat to break your fast (doesn’t necessarily need to be breakfast) sets your tone for your metabolism and how you are going to utilize energy for the day. What should you eat? This depends on your metabolism and your health goals, but ensuring that your first meal...
Why are healthy fats important to include in my diet?
Consuming enough healthy dietary fats is REQUIRED for optimal hormonal health. In order to maintain and regulate proper hormone function, we need specific healthy fats – as they are the foundation of important hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and DHEA. Ensuring you are consuming enough healthy fats can actually prevent cravings and keep us...
Why is “eating the rainbow” important?
I am sure you have probably heard of “eating the rainbow” before. If you haven’t, this means ensuring your diet consists of an array of different coloured whole foods to increase your intake of nutrients and healthful food components. Certain colours of certain foods indicate specific nutrients. Yellow and Orange fruits and vegetables are...