Aerobic Versus Anaerobic Training
March 18, 2013
When I first started training and coaching regular individuals (as opposed to athletes) there was a well entrenched notion for weight loss. Aerobic exercise (less intense, long and slow exercise) was believed to be the only way to burn excess fat. You know you are performing aerobic exercise when…
Spring Cleaning
March 8, 2013
Spring is a time of renewed energy, I like to use the changes of the season to re-examine my routine and check to see that everything is in balance. Like exercise, if you aren’t in balance you may find yourself working hard but not achieving the results you want to achieve. Exercise with your body…
Coconut
February 28, 2013
At Healthy Habits we are big fans of coconut. It is frustrating that main stream health information lumps all saturated fats together, declaring them unhealthy. Coconut is full of short and medium-chain saturated fatty acids that are not harmful to health. To the contrary, the fatty acids found…
Fermented Foods – A Condiment for Good Health
February 18, 2013
Many diets from around the world include foods that are fermented, a chemical process activated by bacteria or yeast by which sugars are converted to alcohols and carbon dioxide. In the past it was a way to preserve food and increase or develop flavour. We know today that fermented foods offer a…
Low Intensity Laser Therapy
February 18, 2013
Although low intensity laser therapy (LILT) isn’t familiar to most recreational athletes, it is well known by elite and professional athletes including this year’s U.S. Olympic Team and The Toronto Blue Jays. Clinically proven, LILT uses red light and infrared light to accelerate soft tissue…
Leucine and Weight Loss
February 12, 2013
Here at Healthy Habits we like to stress the importance of a diet low in carbohydrates for weight loss. Often we see clients who need to significantly reduce starchy carbohydrates, especially the processed white stuff, and increase good quality protein in their diet. There is much research to…
Salmon for Your Heart and Brain
February 2, 2013
The average North American does not get enough Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) in their diet. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are ESSENTIAL, your body cannot manufacture them. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are known to block disease-related inflammatory responses to protect your heart and…
Flexibility — Use It Or Lose It
January 29, 2013
As we get older our flexibility deteriorates, often due to a less active lifestyle. But we need our flexibility to help us perform our daily activities with ease and without aches and pains. Reduced mobility of joints and tighter muscles create compromised body movements and posture habits that…
Beat the Winter Blahs with a Strong Immune System
January 19, 2013
It’s that time of year…when many of our colleges, friends and family are out of commission with a bad cold or even worse, the flu. Here are a healthy habits to help you keep your body healthy and immune system strong: Exercise Moderate exercise (approximately 30 minutes 3 – 4 x a week to start) is…
Happy New Year!
January 11, 2013
Traditionally it is the time of year to make resolutions. Unfortunately for most we find ourselves making the same resolutions again January 2014. To help you keep yours here’s a tip... Make sure your resolution is a WANT and not a SHOULD. For example, everyone wants to be healthier because…
Coconut Popcorn
December 20, 2012
Yesterday I was served this delicious popcorn at my child’s school. The coconut butter and oil used in this recipe is packed full of lauric acid that boosts immunity and destroys harmful bacteria and viruses. Because of this medicinal property coconut butter and oil aids in digestion, destroying…
Nutrition Over the Holidays
December 13, 2012
The holiday season is in full swing. Hopefully everyone is practising moderation…a bit more sugar, a bit more alcohol. But no binges! Keep in mind that unhealthy foods, including sugar and alcohol loaded beverages, are all treats. If you have five Christmas parties one week and splurge at each…
A Question From Cousin Ray – Part 3
December 7, 2012
Last week we learned about Ray’s leaky gut, a sign that his gut is now home to an unwelcome amount of bad bacteria. To help relieve his unpleasant digestive symptoms Ray is Resting his gut by cutting out his trigger foods, the complex carbs in wheat, dairy and corn that his body was only partially…
A Question From Cousin Ray – Part 2
November 29, 2012
The Second R…Repair (Continued from blog post Cousin Ray is Bloated, Again!, posted November 2, 2012) We’re happy to report that Cousin Ray is feeling better having identified his trigger foods and eliminating them from his diet. But poor Ray has discovered that some of his favourite foods are…
Cousin Ray is Bloated, Again!
November 2, 2012
A Question From Cousin Ray In today’s blog we’re going to answer a question from our cousin Ray. Cousin Ray asks “I often have bloating and uncomfortable, foul smelling flatulence. Sometimes there is also gut pain. It is embarrassing, especially when sharing a room with company at night. Is this…
Is Your Nutrition Getting in the Way of Good Posture?
September 12, 2012
At Healthy Habits we help people permanently thrive through posture and alignment, as the root of lasting physical improvement. So why do we offer nutritional services? How does nutrition link to postureandalignment? Since the foods we eat affect the health of all soft tissue and bone it…
WATER FOR ENERGY!!
September 5, 2012
Water For Energy!! In our blog Recharge After Exercise – But Not With Chocolate Milk! Posted Wednesday July 25, 2012 we challenged the belief that chocolate milk is a great post-recovery drink. For the majority of exercisers water still stands out as the ideal beverage for recovery and for…
Saving Your Low Back
August 23, 2012
Our last post, “Activate Those Glutes! Stretch Your Psoas” dated Friday August 12, 2012 talked about how to activate the glutes. An important motivator for using your gluteal muscles (your buttocks) is to avoid lower back injuries. Not using your glutes places too much strain on your…
Activate Those Glutes! Stretch Your Psoas
August 17, 2012
When exercising with a professional you’ll often be asked to activate your glutes. The gluteal muscles are the three muscles that make up the buttocks: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles. Often they are underutilized, during every day activities and during exercise,…
SATURATED FAT – THE MYTH
August 8, 2012
This week I’d like to expand on an earlier topic, the butter is bad myth (see blog, Stop Eating Dry Toast, from Monday, July 2, 2012). The butter is bad myth is directly related to the myth that all saturated fats are bad for us. For disease prevention we’ve been told to get no more than…
Weight-Loss, Diet, Exercise and Sleep
August 2, 2012
Getting enough quality sleep a night is an important component of a weight loss plan yet it is often overlooked. The recommended number of hours of sleep a night for an adult is 7 to 9, but in our fast-paced and often over-scheduled days many adults do not get enough. When you sleep your body is…
Recharge After Exercise – But Not With Chocolate Milk!
July 25, 2012
Statistics provided by the Dairy Farmers of Canada show that 63% of males reported drinking chocolate milk to recover after a workout in June 2011 compared to 23% in November 2008 (Globe and Mail, July2,2012). Why the jump? In 2008 an advertising campaign was launched by the Dairy Farmers of…
Hydration for Summer Sports
July 8, 2012
Don’t believe the hype – chocolate milk is NOT for exercise recovery. It is being promoted by the Dairy Farmers of Canada and research is centered on elite athletes. Unless you are travelling to Lon
July 2, 2012
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and the connection to Foods we eat. Acidosis – acidity weakens all body systems. When excess acids must be neutralized our alkaline reserves are depleted leaving the body in aweakened condition. pH – potential of hydrogen is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of…
STOP EATING DRY TOAST
July 2, 2012
The myths about butter being bad for us have misled people long enough. Stop eating dry toast! Avoiding butter is unnecessary and can actually be hazardous to your health. We learn that butter is bad because it is a saturated fat, and that saturated fats have a negative impact on our blood…
Bloated Again
June 15, 2012
You may notice that by the end of the day your pants are tighter, could it be that you are a regular sufferer of bloating? Abdominal discomfort isn’t always linked to a holiday feast, although overeating is surely a contributor. Bloating can occur for a number of other reasons such as swallowing…
Raising Your Blood Cholesterol: Eggs or Lemonade
June 6, 2012
You may be surprised to learn that research linking blood cholesterol levels and heart disease is weak. This is surprising because in the media and in the doctor’s office there is much focus around keeping blood cholesterol levels less than 200 mg/dl. Many cholesterol lowering medications are…
May 30, 2012
http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-and-nutrition-pictures/bad-eating-habits-and-how-to-break-them.aspx check out this article by: Kathleen Chu
Safe Summer Grilling
May 14, 2012
Cooking meat, poultry or fish at high temperatures when grilling (broiling or frying too) creates chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). HCAs are carcinogenic. These carcinogens may increase the risk of certain cancers. Fat dripping onto hot coals, stones or burners creates additional…
To Carbohydrate Load or NOT?
May 9, 2012
This is the season when we see swells of 'runners' take to the roads. The sunshine inspires and compels so many of us to take on physical challenges, like running road races. The recreational runner is a special breed. One that deserves unsung praises. Firstly it is the recreational runner's race…
Cut the Foods that Make you Fat
September 19, 2011
Sorry I've been away for so long. I had no idea that there was a group out there following this blog. Thank-you for your interest. When you have the chance please sign up for our blog so we know you are out
Aerobic versus Anaerobic Training
July 19, 2011
When I first started training and coaching regular individuals (as opposed to athletes) there was a well entrenched notion for weight loss. Long, slow, distance was believed to be the only way to burn excess fat.
Cholesterol Readings
June 22, 2011
Statin drug therapy decreases the level of LDL (low density lipoproteins) circulating in the blood. This has been the accepted measurement for determining 'risk' of future heart disease. However consensus regarding LDL indicators for heart disease is not universal. Before statin drugs were…
The FAMOUS ROTATION DIET
June 14, 2011
Metabolism is an intricate dance between glands,(pineal, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, pancreas, gonads), fluids that are intracellular and extracellular, muscle activity, and the liver and kidneys. Rotation diets are an easy way to integrate essential nutrients that support the glands (endocrine…
Correcting Posture Imbalances
June 14, 2011
Muscles and movement are integrated into body-wide fascial webbing. Myofascia refers to muscle tissue and its web of connective(fascial)tissue.
Dignitas Cycling Fund Raiser
June 8, 2011
Milne Cycling and Melissa Putt cheerleadingSunday June 5, 2011 Healthy Habits Team participated in a fund raiser for HIV/AIDS treatment in Malawi.Fun was had by all and we were one of the top fund raisers
Food and Mood
June 2, 2011
The contents of your last meal affect which neurotransmitters are predominant in your brain. Neurotransmitters are tiny proteins that electrically interconnect the nerve cells in the brain. At any given