Two years ago I decided to go off the birth control pill. I had been using this convenient way of keeping babies away for 11 years. A few years ago I asked my doctor if he was sure it was okay for me to still be on the pill. I was concerned there may be some long term consequences of artificially regulating my cycle for such an extended period of time. He said, “There is absolutely nothing for you to be worried about, it is completely safe”. Though I didn’t quite believe him, I didn’t feel I had the necessary knowledge to challenge him. Fast forward a few years and I found myself discussing this very issue with the peeps in Meghan’s 4-week cooking class. Meghan was pretty clear about her distain for these magic little pills and I left thinking it was time to kiss these babies goodbye. With the help of the amazing women at the Red Tent Sisters I learned how to monitor my cycle and keep any babies for baking in my oven!
It took awhile for my body to adjust to being in charge of regulating itself; in the beginning she was a little confused. I didn’t get my period for 6 months so was fully relieved when things seemed to settle into a more regular pattern. Then the pain started; the kind that makes you double over and want to cry. I knew something wasn’t right.
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How do I get a good night’s sleep?
One of Meghan’s followers asked me that question because she is now 50 and having trouble sleeping through the night. Well I wish I had the answer or something magical to give you but I suffer from the same problem. During pre and full on menopause it was much worse and I once read that we go back to the days of waking up with infants.
Here are some things that I have discovered that seem to help.
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This spice has been consumed for thousands of years and has been used medicinally to treat all sorts of health issues. The main therapeutic properties are found in a specific component of turmeric called curcumin. It is the part that gives turmeric that striking yellow color. “If curcumin can stop cancer, what else can it do.” I opened Pandora’s box and discovered a natural powerhouse.
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Posted in Condiments, Herbal Medicine on Nov 8th, 2011
I offer loads of info about loads of foods- some everyday foods like squash and raspberries and some weirder foods like cocoa butter and aloe. I’m an equal opportunity food researcher.
Today- the food falls into the weird category- and is also fitting after all the excitement yesterday over the registration rush on our Fab Uplift Detox Program.
There is something powerful, magical and inherently healing about the ocean. There is no place I would rather be than with my toes in the ocean. There is also something incredibly powerful about the ocean. Our planet depends on the health of our water for survival.
Wait a second- don’t we, as humans also rely on the power of our water for survival? Yes, my fair sister, Yes! I say.
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Posted in Event, Herbal Medicine, Inspiration on Oct 12th, 2011
Perhaps we’re too extreme? This article was rejected from The Huffington Post.
Is There Something Wrong With Government Regulated Food Guides?
Do you look down at your dinner and see 680 calories? Perhaps a healthy ratio of carbs to proteins to fats? Maybe you see some fibre, vitamin C, beta carotene and just the right amount of Omega 3’s.
This is weird right? Looking at a plate of food without actually seeing the food.
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Oh my, oh my was this homemade ice cream the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Or in the top 10 for sure.
My bestest friends over at Hamilton Beach Canada sent me the sweetest of gifts and the latest was their 1½ Quart Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Maker. All this time I thought ice cream made in a blender was as good as anything else, but let me tell you- that machine did some magic to our blend of magic.
I was also surprised that there was really not much of a process involved. We blended the goods together in our blender, poured it into our ice cream maker and shazaam alakazaam, a half hour later we were ooing and aahing over the amazing ice creamy creation we had collectively created.
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For those of you have joined our 21 Days To Health Challenge, no matter where you are at in it, you likely skipped ahead and noticed the bit where you’re supposed to cut out caffeine.
Now, before you start asking all kinds of questions about whether caffeine is really so bad for you, I will say Yes, yes it is.
Caffeine, unless taken up the bum (yes, that’s what I said), will work against each and every one of your physical, and emotional goals. You can read all about it here, but to summarize:
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Posted in Cleansing, Disease Prevention, Happiness, Health, Herbal Medicine, Holistic, Nutrition, Smart Choices, Wellbeing, Wellness on Sep 26th, 2011
Happy Monday!
What a delicious weekend it was. I had a Saturday off! This rarely happens and so what did I do with it? I made our fave Super French Toast breakfast, did laundry, went for a massage and created the most delectable Deluxe Stress Busting latte recipe there ever was with all of my favourite stress busting herbs, foods and magic potions. The recipe and video are coming tomorrow!
For now, the info and best stress busting regiment there ever was.
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What a week it has been. I have been doing my very, very best to abide the rules I wrote myself with my 21 Days To Health, program. My most favourite challenge of course is on day 3 when we must get ourselves to bed early. There are three things I love to bits that help me sleep like a baby.
Sleep mask to block out the light.
Lavender essential oil sprinkled on my pillow
3 capsules of Peaceful Spirit- my most fave bed time supplement in the whole wide world (more on that next week)
I have been loving these things even more as I spent just three nights last weekend on the other side of the country, 3 time zones away in Vancouver and then came back right in the swing of things. And you know what? No jet lag! Not even for one night. It was amazing.
I digress, as today I sit in the audience at TedX Toronto, invited to participate as a delegate, I wanted my brain powered up and ready to rock. And you know what does it? A green juice breakfast and a smoothie brunch.
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Posted in Disease Prevention, Green, Health, Herbal Medicine, Holistic, Inspiration, Nutrition, Recipe, Smart Choices, Wellbeing, Whole Food on Sep 23rd, 2011
What a week it has been. I have been doing my very, very best to abide the rules I wrote myself with my 21 Days To Health, program. My most favourite challenge of course is on day 3 when we must get ourselves to bed early. There are three things I love to bits that help me sleep like a baby.
Sleep mask to block out the light.
Lavender essential oil sprinkled on my pillow
3 capsules of Peaceful Spirit- my most fave bed time supplement in the whole wide world (more on that next week)
I have been loving these things even more as I spent just three nights last weekend on the other side of the country, 3 time zones away in Vancouver and then came back right in the swing of things. And you know what? No jet lag! Not even for one night. It was amazing.
I digress, as today I sit in the audience at TedX Toronto, invited to participate as a delegate, I wanted my brain powered up and ready to rock. And you know what does it? A green juice breakfast and a smoothie brunch.
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Posted in Herbal Medicine, Recipe, Salad, Snack on Sep 12th, 2011
I love kale chips as much as the next nutritionista and (kale chip lover). Hence my desire to continue creating new and ever more awesome town kale chip recipes that cause me to eat entire heads of kale in single sittings followed by the need to drink about 9 litres of water. And let me tell you- eating a full head of kale in one sitting followed by that much water- well, let’s just say that things will be moving and grooving in the colon cleansing department.
So if you just met me this past weekend at the veg festival welcome, and you have some catching up to do.
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It is time to meet our great and bigger team. We’re growing over here and with this amazing group of people, so far we seem to be side-stepping the pains that can often come with it. You all know (and I’m sure) love Ms. Jen by now, with all her amazing info and her generously skilled hand at keeping me afloat when I take on enough to drown us both.
My love sweet lover sometimes refer to my rock star assistant Jen as my little fish (also known as Flipper).
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Do I really even have to answer that? Really? Do I?
No. Because it’s obvious. The berries!
A standard breakfast, so commonly a go-to, is granola and yogurt (or your fave nut milk), and a splash of berries. Why not turn that equation upside down and inside out? Make the berries the main attraction!
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I went to Edmonton for the first time a few months ago and came upon a place called Earth’s Aromathique. I was like a kid in a candy store… if the kid were a 34-year-old-woman and instead of candy there were herbs, oils, clays and every other gorgeous ingredient you’d need to make your own skin care goodies, teas and more. There were shelves full of empty brown glass tincture bottles and large mason jars calling, “What might you fill us with?” And there were just too many answers.
I left with a number of things, including a recipe book for herbal teas, and I’ve been experimenting with beverage brews – hot and cold – ever since. Here are a few of my favourites (minor variations on recipes from Kathleen Brown’s book Herbal Teas).
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Monkey balls I say! Is it really September tomorrow?
What? What on earth was that??? Oh my, it was the cool fall breeze blowing in.
I am not happy about this my friends. Not happy at all. But I will learn to embrace because fighting against what we cannot change is a massive waste of energy, totally futile and rumour has it, also causes suffering beyond the crap-olla event itself.
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