Wellness in Practice 2

Air Fresheners DON’T Freshen Your Air

Written by b-better on May 19, 2022. Posted in Detox & Cleanse, Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Air Fresheners DON’T Freshen Your Air

When I polled my audience in my Instagram stories, the majority knew that air fresheners emit harmful chemicals. ⁣In fact, some messaged me saying how awful they make them feel from immediate migraines to ending up in the ER with an IV drip! “Freshening” products such as sprays, powders, plug-ins, diffusers, sachets, potpourri, scented candles, and car vent clips have all been found to contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), chemical gasses which the EPA states “some can have short- and longer-term adverse health effects”. Of the hundreds of chemical VOCs, the worst ones...

Toxins on your shoes?

Written by b-better on May 12, 2022. Posted in Detox & Cleanse, Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Toxins on your shoes?

When I first saw this graphic by @environmentaltoxinsnerd I thought, well doesn’t everyone remove their shoes before entering a home?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣And then I remembered my first trip to Lebanon as a teen. It was culturally NOT the accepted norm to remove your shoes at the door. ???? In fact, it was considered rude asking visitors to take off their shoes!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Which was mind boggling to me because growing up in Canada, it was customary to remove our shoes before entering someone’s house. ???? From a health perspective however, if you want to transition to a “low tox” lifestyle,...

Is There Plastic In Your Tea?

Written by b-better on January 7, 2022. Posted in Brand Investigations, Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Is There Plastic In Your Tea?

If you’re a tea drinker, a 2019 study showed that plastic tea bags release BILLIONS of micro- and nanoplastics into hot water. (Source: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540) Not good. And if you need scientific validation, here’s a good article describing the potential toxic effects on human health including physical stress and damage, apoptosis, necrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and immune responses: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/2/496/htm Does that mean never drink tea ever again? NO! It just means we now have an opportunity to find a better way to...

Folate Not Folic Acid

Written by b-better on June 28, 2021. Posted in Herbal Remedies & Supplements, Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Folate Not Folic Acid

“Folate” & “folic acid” are often used interchangeably, but they’re not at all the same and here’s why you should care!⁣⁣There are two main forms of vitamin B9: folate (the natural form) and folic acid (the synthetic form used in many supplements and fortified/enriched foods).⁣While their chemical structure differ slightly, the main difference lies in the body’s ability to process them.⁣Unlike natural folate which is easily metabolized in the small intestine, synthetic folic acid is metabolized by the DHFR enzyme in the liver which is rather low, leaving excess folic acid to be...

Do You have ‘Leaky Brain’?

Written by b-better on June 28, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Mental & Emotional Well-being, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Do You have ‘Leaky Brain’?

I’ve talked about ‘leaky gut’ before but did you know that it can also predispose us to ‘leaky brain’?????????This is a condition where the protective layer between the brain and the rest of the systemic body called the ‘blood-brain barrier’ (BBB) becomes permeable, and lets toxins and other materials in that causes the brain’s immune system to work overdrive, leading to brain inflammation.In other words, if you suffer from depression, anxiety, brain fog or any other brain problems, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability (i.e. ‘leaky brain’) should be considered.????How to tell if you...

Signs of Insulin Resistance and How to Reverse it

Written by b-better on June 26, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Signs of Insulin Resistance and How to Reverse it

Do you crave something sweet in the afternoon, get “hangry” if you miss a meal or have any of the other symptoms listed in the picture below?⁣ ⁣It may be a good idea to rule out “insulin resistance” – a condition when cells no longer respond to insulin’s action, which is to get glucose (sugar) out of the blood and into the cell.⁣⁣⁣⁣This process doesn’t happen overnight; it takes years and if left unaddressed, can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.⁣⁣⁣⁣How does it happen?⁣⁣⁣⁣It typically starts with a Standard American Diet causing large spikes of blood sugar multiples times...

Healthy Oil Choices

Written by b-better on June 26, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Healthy Oil Choices

Ever wondered where canola oil comes from? Not the canola plant that’s for sure. It doesn’t exist. Or it didn’t exist until fairly recently I should say.I have an entire chapter in my upcoming book UNJUNK which is all about deceptive labeling and ingredients to avoid.Knowing how to shop is an important part of getting your family healthier because today, we eat what we buy and bring home from the supermarket.And canola oil is one of those foods deceptively marketed as heart healthy, when in fact it is one of THE WORST oils to consume!They basically use high heat, high pressure...

Healthy Sugar Swaps

Written by b-better on June 26, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Healthy Sugar Swaps

Willpower and deprivation have no room in a healthy lifestyle.Instead I believe in finding healthier alternatives and these healthy sugar swaps are the perfect place to start.Of course we still need to limit our sugar consumption overall – even from healthy sources – but when you feel like having something sweet, always go for the healthier variety.I blend up fresh dates to make an amazing homemade ice cream, coconut sugar to make cookies, and maple syrup for my delicious homemade Nutella – all of which I share in my upcoming book UNJUNK!What are your favourite healthy sugar swaps? Let...

Start with Baby Steps, Not Giant Leaps

Written by b-better on June 25, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on Start with Baby Steps, Not Giant Leaps

This isn’t my typical post but it’s an important conversation to have.I recently met someone who eats McDonald’s Every. Single. Day!I also know other people addicted to soda who drink 5 to 6 cans per day.One thing I’ve learned over the years working with private clients is to always meet people where they’re at.It’s unreasonable to recommend to someone who eats fast food every day to start cooking homemade meals like wild-caught salmon and broccoli.It IS possible however to order salad with that fast food burger and choose water over soda as their next health swap.If you’re feeling...

8 Habits For Healthier Cell Phone Use

Written by b-better on June 25, 2021. Posted in Holistic Health, Wellness in Practice. No Comments on 8 Habits For Healthier Cell Phone Use

Chances are, you’re probably holding your cell phone while reading this, right?⁣⁣⁣⁣For most of us, cell phones are never more than an arm’s reach away.⁣⁣⁣⁣And while it’s very easy to say avoid using cell phones, let’s be real. That’s not going to happen.⁣⁣⁣But what we CAN all start doing is practicing healthier habits when using our cell phones.⁣⁣⁣⁣Why bother?⁣⁣⁣⁣Well in the past 100 years, electropollution (or EMFs – electromagnetic fields) has increased by 1 QUINTILLION – that’s a billion billions!! ⁣⁣⁣⁣And even very low levels have been shown to impact our biology (resource link in...