More Ways To Shine

It used to be considered that convalescence lasted 40 days after childbirth, or significant illness or bereavement. But now it seems the whole concept has disappeared from main-stream thinking! We’d like to bring it back into your thinking. It is a health-supporting tool, especially important in this society where many people struggle back to work almost as soon as they can get out of bed, or even work from their sick-bed.   The idea of convalescence is to rebuild what streng

When we say something is “on steroids”, we usually mean that it is super-powered, because testosterone and other anabolic hormones promote strength: they stimulate the growth of tissues.   The steroids used in medications, such as those used to treat illnesses in the lungs, are different. These are synthetic glucocorticoids, copy-cats of steroids the body makes, and used for their anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing capabilities. They are catabolic steroids that trigger

The word neurodiversity was first coined in the 1990s by Judy Singer, an Australian social scientist, who is herself on the autism spectrum. It is a combination of “neurological” and “diversity”, and originally referred mostly to autism. While it is recognized that severe autism is a profound disorder, this term has since expanded to include ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette’s, as well as other learning and developmental differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia

Resistant starches are a particular type of carbohydrate that resist full digestion in the small intestine, and pass through to the colon largely intact. Unlike regular starches, which are rapidly broken down into glucose for energy, resistant starches behave more like dietary fibre. They provide numerous health benefits while reducing the rapid spikes in blood sugar that are commonly associated with other carbohydrates.   Resistant starches are naturally found in various foo

Many people were really surprised to hear about possible negative effects of melatonin on the heart, because it is so widely used, and there is so much research on its benefits.   Melatonin is a natural hormone made in the pineal gland in the brain, in response to darkness. It is chronobiotic, setting and restoring healthy sleep cycles. It helps the body wind down in preparation for sleep.    Melatonin is a popular sleep aid supplement , and research shows adults over 55 bene

Chronic sinusitis, also called chronic rhinosinusitis or just CRS , is a stubborn, long-lasting problem where the sinuses and nose stay inflamed, often for months. Lately, scientists have been paying close attention to the nasal microbiome, which is the mix of bacteria in your nose, and how it plays a big role in sinus problems like this.   In recent years, the concept of "snot transplants" has emerged in scientific circles as a novel approach to treating persistent nasal and

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be tempting to rely on takeout, fast food, or restaurant meals. However, preparing and eating home-cooked meals offers numerous benefits. In January, when the weather is bad and the holiday expenses appear on your credit card, it’s a great time to try our January challenge: make all your meals at home!   Cooking at home is generally less expensive than eating out. It allows you to buy ingredients in bulk, use leftovers, and avoid the premiu

New Year’s resolutions began 4000 years  ago with the Babylonians, who resolved to return borrowed goods and pay their debts. The idea was that amending the past year’s omissions would gain the favour of their gods for the next year.  2000 years later the Romans offered sacrifices and prayers to appease the God Janus, the god of doorways and transitions, who had two faces, looking back into last year and ahead into the next. January is named after him, and Romans promised him

Vitamin K2 plays a critical role in directing how calcium is used in the body , and what part of the body it ends up in. Vitamin K is necessary for calcium uptake into our bones. This is very important as we want our bones to be strong and dense.   On the other hand, most other organs and systems work much better when they are flexible, such as our beating heart and our pulsing blood vessels. In these systems calcium can be actively detrimental. It is a component of arterial

Want to host a healthier holiday gathering and looking for inspiration? Offer your guests some fresh healthy options as a welcome change from rich and heavy festive meals. We propose three menus for the holidays, all from our recipe archives:   Around Christmas Healthier Brunch: when you are craving more fruits and veggies! Hot mulled apple cider Green Shakshuka  with good bread: toast or warm buns     Simple carrot slaw     Mini potatoes roasted with olive oil and herbs Choc

You’ve read a lot about the importance of your gut microbiome, and how you can feed it well to support your health. But did you know that those billions of bacteria also feed you with some very important nutrients? It’s a true symbiosis.   Vitamin production Vitamins are nutrients that are vital for humans because we need them but can’t make them. Fortunately our friendly gut bugs can make some for us, because they have genes (that we don’t have), that make enzymes for the ne

We all know fish is a healthy food, but many people feel a bit intimidated in the kitchen when it comes to cooking it. Cooking fish does not have to be daunting! Here are some of our favorite preparations, going from the very easiest, to just a little more complex. All are ready in thirty minutes or less!   Simple Steamed Fish   Ideal for 1-2 portions.   Choose fish fillets of uniform thickness so they cook at the same rate.   Place a couple leaves of lettuce or any other gre

When we roast cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and brussels sprouts, we retain many of the phytonutrients that can be lost by boiling them. (And they taste way better!) Recipe: 1. Cut up six cups of veggies of your choice. Cauliflower, brussels sprouts, fennel bulb, carrot, turnip and squash are all good choices. 2. Lightly coat the vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 3. Roast at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, until tender. A great vegan mea

The genius trick of this recipe is to use low-carb, super-nutritious cauliflower to masquerade as rice! You will need a food processor for this recipe (or a lot of patience with a chef’s knife!) Ingredients: • 1 head of cauliflower • 1 clove of garlic, minced • 2 or 3 green onions, sliced thin Directions: 1. Take a fresh head of cauliflower and cut out the core and green outer leaves. 2. Hold the cauliflower upside down on your cutting board and use your knife to cut the caul

This dip is a nice alternative to chickpea hummus. You can use it to dip raw veggies, or dollop it on quinoa and roasted vegetables. Roasting the garlic makes it nutty and sweet. This dip features rosemary, which is an herb very high in phytonutrients that are good for the liver. Ingredients: • 1 can organic white beans, rinsed • 2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary • 3 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 4 cloves roasted garlic • Salt and pepper to

Beets are a fantastic food for the liver. Eating beets promotes the flow of bile, which is the fluid that carries out the toxins that have been processed through the liver. Bile also helps us digest fats better, and for many people will promote healthy, complete elimination. If you haven’t eaten beets before, don’t worry if your urine looks pinkish or if your stool looks magenta! The dark purple pigments of beets pass through us relatively unchanged! For this recipe you will

This is a delicious way to make the humble sweet potato more exciting. It even tastes good at room temperature as a quick snack. The spicy garam masala is a perfect foil to the creamy sweet potato. Recipe: 1. Take three good sized sweet potatoes and scrub then well. We are not going to peel them! 2. Cut the potatoes into lengthwise quarters. Then take each quarter and cut it lengthwise one more time. You will have eight chunky “French-fry” shaped pieces per potato. 3. Put the

Lamb is a red meat that is full of minerals, and lambs are raised without the hormones, antibiotics and chemicals that we often find in other meat. This Middle Eastern flavoured lamb dish comes together quickly and can be doubled or tripled for a crowd. Ingredients: • 500 grams ground lamb • 1 teaspoon cumin • 2 teaspoon coriander • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon chopped mint • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley • Salt and pepper to taste Directions: 1. Mix all ingredients

All nuts are good for us, but walnuts may be one of the healthiest! In this recipe, walnuts are the star of the show. Make sure your walnuts are perfectly fresh for this recipe. Ingredients: • 1 cup fresh raw walnuts • 1 tablespoon finely minced onion • 1 tablespoon minced parsley • 1 clove garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 teaspoon tamari • Salt and pepper to taste Directions: 1. Soak the nuts in cold water for eight hours or overnight. 2. Drain the nuts well in