Starchy Vegetables: Your Winter BFF (Benefits and Recipes)

There is a biological reason your body is craving more food, especially more carbs this time of year. Once upon a time, we relied on hearty foods like plenty of fats and carbs to keep us warm and sustained through the winter when food was scarce. While we may have an unending supply of food available to us now, our bodies are still operating on this program. Which brings me to today’s focus: starchy vegetables.

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Nutrition, RecipesSerena Gee
Boosting Energy Levels Naturally as Days Shorten

The dark days really seem to creep up on us.. Especially as we hit daylight savings time. Suddenly you might find yourself driving to work in the dark, and driving home in the dark, wondering if you can even remember what the sun felt like on your face. It’s no secret that shorter days are linked with seasonal depression, lower energy, and that sluggish winter feeling we all seem to get. While a bit of seasonal slowing down is definitely part of our natural rhythms, for many of us, we don’t have the luxury of slowing down, or we want to be able to do so without feeling so BLAH.

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Seasonal WellnessSerena Gee
Practical Magic: 7 Herbal Remedies to Brew Up This Fall

Bubble bubble toil and trouble. As the chill of Fall begins to set in, a host of seasonal illnesses seem to come with it. Especially if you’ve got kids bringing everything home. Before you reach for the cough syrup or the ibuprofen why not embrace the age old traditions of healing herbs? These brews not only offer medicinal qualities, but they also are quite yummy, soothing, and it can be fun to play with your inner witch during the Halloween season.

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Herbal RemediesSerena Gee
Nutritious Fall Dessert Ideas to Try Out For Your Thanksgiving Dinner

While I’m a firm believer in treating oneself every now and again being an integral part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle, wouldn’t it be great if you knew your sweet treat was also supplying your body with essential nutrients and wasn’t going to wreak total havoc on your healthy eating momentum?  That’s why I’ve rounded up some nutritious fall dessert ideas to try out for your thanksgiving holiday, or anytime you want to give yourself a little treat!

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RecipesSerena Gee
Dr. Marita Weighs In On Trends in Health for 2024

With the world at our fingertips, trends seem to rise and fall  like a kid on a pogostick. One minute everyone’s saying skinny jeans are out, and the next minute they’re back. This can be especially confusing when it comes to health trends. The rise of ‘health influencers’ and the sparkling carrot of viral fame has led to claims circling around that promise to be the ultimate secret to perfect health… but what is the truth?  Let’s sift through some of the top health trends we’ve seen so far in 2024 and I’ll weigh in on whether they’re worth your time, or just another passing trend.

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Arthritis Awareness: Natural Remedies for Joint Pain as the Weather Cools

As we begin the daydreaming of leaves starting to fall and the air getting that crisp, cool bite, we might look forward to cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and the upcoming holiday season. But if you’re one of the millions of Canadians who deal with arthritis, you might also be bracing yourself for the not-so-fun part of the season: increased joint pain.

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The Benefits of Seasonal Eating: Fall Edition

Last month we looked into the amazing benefits of local seasonal eating, and covered some delicious recipes for the bountiful August abundance. With the season of harvest upon us, I thought we’d look ahead at what’s in season this Fall and discover some more delicious recipes!

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RecipesSerena Gee
World Alzheimer's Month: Eating and Lifestyle for Alzheimer’s Prevention

September is World Alzheimer’s Month. With Canada’s aging population, this is a tragic walk that many families are taking. It’s estimated that around 750,000 Canadians are currently living with the disease. While the cause of this disease is still yet to be uncovered, there are links to genetics, environment, and lifestyle. This is good news because it means there are many lifestyle habits that can help prevent it.

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Brain HealthSerena Gee
Fun and Healthy Ideas to Beat the Dog Days of Summer

With August, comes the dog days of Summer. You know, after what seems like endless hot days laying about. Cold drinks and popsicles by the pool starts to feel kind of ho hum, maybe the laziness and lack of motivation the summer heat can bring has set in. Time for some fresh infusions of ideas, whether you try these on your own, with a partner, a friend, or use these to make the last bit of Summer active and fun with the kids before they head back to school!

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WellnessSerena Gee
Natural Sunburn Relief

We’ve all been there… Despite your best efforts to be sun safe, you feel that flush that turns into a searing burn at the end of a day out in the sun’s rays. While prevention trumps all else when it comes to the sun and our skin, there are some natural ways to relieve sunburn when it does sneak up on us

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Serena Gee
The Benefits of Seasonal Eating: August Edition and Recipe Roundup

Summer here on Vancouver Island could not be a more blissful experience… especially when it comes to the abundance of local fare! The benefits of eating local are many, with positives for the environment, our bodies, and the community. Let’s have a look at some of the benefits, tips, as well as round up some inspired recipes for a few ingredients in season here in August!

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Nutrition, RecipesSerena Gee
10 Summer BBQ Recipes that Aren’t Burgers

Ahhh BBQ season. Is there truly anything better? Something about being cooked over a flame makes everything taste better. Couple that with eating outside, surrounded by family and friends… it’s a recipe for joy if I ever found one.  That being said, sometimes we can go overboard with the burgers. Burgers burgers burgers. There are so many more amazing things we can bring to the BBQ. 

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RecipesSerena Gee
Cooling Foods: How to Eat to Beat the Summer Heat

Phew! It’s hot out there… I don’t know about you, but this time of year I’m willing to try just about anything to beat the heat! But did you know that one of the best ways to keep your body temperature down is through your diet? Certain foods have natural cooling properties that can help you stay cool and feel refreshed.

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HydrationSerena Gee
Staying Active in the Summer Heat: Safe Outdoor Exercise Tips

While many of us feel our energy levels peak naturally in the summertime, hot days can sometimes suck that motivation right out of us. You may find yourself opting for a lay in the hammock over your usual walk or run. And while surrendering into rest and relaxation is also part of healthy living, it is important to make sure our bodies are still getting the exercise they need. 

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ExerciseSerena Gee
Dr. Marita’s Guide to Eating Healthy After 50

 Whether you have already passed the 50 mark, or are fast approaching, healthy eating has never been more important. For many people, they might start to feel their bad habits start to catch up with them, or find their metabolism changes and what used to work is no longer working for them. While there’s some standing good health habits that cross the ages, there are some key focus areas that should take center stage in the later half of our lives to keep us healthy and ready for everything life has to offer during this exciting phase of life.

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