When I was a child, I never wanted a birthday cake - I wanted a birthday pie! I thought cake was too dry, the frosting too sweet and it just wasn't my thing. Truth be told, it still isn't. Most of the time, my parents got me a pie, and several times it was a lemon meringue pie. While I thought it was delicious, I would always scrape off the meringue. I thought it was gross -- again, I still do...
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I chose to use almond butter in this recipe instead of peanut butter as I know many people are allergic to peanuts. You can, however, use peanut butter if you prefer. The cookies are delicious either way...
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Today I want to continue with the B-vitamin series. If you have not yet read the first post on vitamin B1, you can do so here. Next on the list is vitamin B6. It is my favourite B-vitamin because of its leading role in our physical and mental health. This vitamin is the basis for forming 50 different enzymes...
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B vitamins are essential for physical and mental health. The reason being, they are needed for several functions within the body. For example, we need B vitamins to help increase and maintain feel good neurotransmitter levels, like serotonin. The adrenals absolutely love B vitamins and need them to function optimally. B vitamins are also necessary to support the nervous system, energy levels and so much more...
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Being fit and healthy is one component to happiness and wellbeing. When our bodies are strong we are better able to move, and thus more capable of play and social interaction. A strong social network has been shown to have a number of positive effects, including better health and happiness...
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There are a ton of minute muffin recipes on the internet. Some are sweet, such as this one, and some are savory. Either way, they really hit the spot when you are looking for something bread-like, cake-like, or muffin-like. The great thing about minute muffins is that they literally cook in one minute...
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1 in 10 people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives2. In fact, some researchers believe that that everyone will be impacted by depression at some point, whether that is their own or someone they know4. I find these figures frightening! If we are all affected by depression somehow, then it becomes normal, and it is not! Our bodies are not designed to be depressed, quite the opposite in fact. We are meant to be happy, thriving beings that are able to cope with the struggles that life brings. Instead of turning to conventional medicine for answers, we need to turn to the “farmacy”. The foods that provide protective factors against depression and can alleviate the symptoms to help reduce the number of people affected by the illness.
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I am a big waffle fan. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a delicious hot waffle?! Before I changed to a low-carb/paleo diet, I would order a Belgian waffle with butter, maple syrup, whipped cream, and strawberries without fail every time I went to brunch. Talk about a sugar hit! No wonder I would come home tired and would be ready for another meal just a couple of hours after stuffing my face. Oh the wonders of knowledge and hindsight...
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The notion that “we are what we eat” is not a new concept. In fact, for centuries people have studied the impact food has on health. The problem, however, is that much of the research has focused on the implications for physical health. That is, noncommunicable disease, such as obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and various forms of cancer have been the primary focus when it comes to food and health6. Unfortunately, mental health problems, such as depression, are also widespread and require further attention from the medical and health communities in regards to how food impacts mood.
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I love a good soup. They are so versatile, are nutrient dense and have a ton of health benefits! Plus, they can be quick and easy to make. One of the big reasons I love soup is they are nourishing and healing to the gut.
Gut health is vital to several things. For example, poor gut health is linked to a number of mood issues, including depression and anxiety. There are a couple reasons for that. First, about 80% of our serotonin in stored in our gut, so when that isn’t functioning properly, then serotonin levels can be impacted. Second, when the microbiome is out of the ideal range – meaning the bad bacteria have outnumbered the good, then mood is impaired...
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