Weather can be a deciding factor on how you feel about a day. A sunny day energizes you when you have a multitude of tasks to accomplish. A gray, dreary day will likely make you feel like you want to crawl back under the covers. A bright, snowy day can lift your...
Vitamin B1 is part of the complex of B vitamins which act as coenzymes. We've all heard the term "coenzyme" but what does it mean? Well, let's put this into a more logical order: An enzyme is "a protein, produced in cells, that acts as a catalyst speeding up the rate...
Sciatica (pronounced sigh-at-ee-kah) is a condition that involves the sciatic nerve and causes pain, weakness, numbness, or "pins and needles" in the lower back, leg, or foot. Starting in the lower spine and running down the back of each leg, the sciatic nerve is the...
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has identified and recognized three conditions with distinctive, predictable behaviours as chronic and definable eating disorders; anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating. The CMHA goes on to advise that eating...
Vitamin E is a true collective effort. Originally discovered in 1922, it is only in the last decade that we've realized that vitamin E is actually made up of eight compounds all together and is an indispensable member of the body's antioxidant army, searching out and...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. Wow, that was a mouthful! Let's take a closer look at this definition that will launch us on a more complete...
Also known as riboflavin, vitamin B2 plays a role in almost every key physiological function responsible for maintaining our overall health and vitality. Vitamin B2 is a micronutrient, meaning it is required by the body, at all times, in small amounts. This is...
The World Health Organization’s definition of health is as follows: “Health is not only the absence of infirmity and disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being.” Notice that the word being is one of those all-encompassing words. It doesn’t just...
Inflammation is a normal part of the body's reaction when viruses or bacteria sneak in the back door, getting by our regular defenses. However, sometimes our body is so intent on healing that it doesn't recognize "self" and this is when problems start to happen....
A banana a day keeps the heart attacks away. Really? Well, not exactly. Bananas are a great source of potassium and potassium is important for a regular heart rhythm. Potassium's also important for proper muscle contraction. Beginning to see the connection here? Your...
Whatever your favorite – crimini, oyster, portobello, shiitake or button – all mushrooms are overflowing with essential nutrients that every body needs. Used for thousands of years as a source of food or for medicinal purposes, mushrooms are classified as a fungi, of...
Few people give much thought to the digestive process and accept acute or chronic digestive problems as the norm. Fewer people realize the full ramifications of even minor persistent digestive problems. Symptoms such as gas, cramps, bloating, flatulence, nausea,...