Arthritis? Joint Problems? You may benefit from avoiding these foods

August 17, 2017

There is strong a correlation between arthritis and diet. Certain foods have a tendency to cause inflammation or an immune response in some people. This is a big contributor to joint pain or worsening pain and suffering associated with arthritis. Avoiding the most common offending foods can really…

The Quintessential Guide to Keeping your Bowels Healthy (Regular)

August 13, 2017

Yes, I'm talking about your bowels. Are you regular or do you experience constipation? Maintaining a healthy digestive system includes keeping your bowels healthy. The combined result will keep you healthy and help you achieve optimal weight loss. The following are some simple tips to keep your…

Why you don’t need to fear CHOLESTEROL

July 8, 2017

Most people fear cholesterol. They don't want to consume it and don't want to hear from the physician that their cholesterol is high.  Let's step back for a moment and ask this -  what does it mean to have high cholesterol?  What is cholesterol?  Do you know?  What are its functions?  Where does it…

KETOGENIC DIET AT A GLANCE

July 4, 2017

A ketogenic diet is a way of eating that allows your body to get into ketosis and start burning fat for fuel or energy (instead of carbohydrates or glucose).  This increases your metabolism and decreases carbohydrate and sugar cravings. It involves eating a high healthy fats, low carbohydrate and…

The Great Canadian Breakfast

November 30, 2015

The definition of an ideal breakfast has had a pendulum swing in recent years. No longer do boxed cereals topped with fresh fruit get a rave review. There is now somewhat of a consensus that a breakfast laden in carbohydrates of any kind, whole grain, organic, or gluten-free will lead to a nose…

Alkalizing Your Diet

January 30, 2014

If you have been following our blog you will notice that we are not scared of meat and we are not scared of saturated fat.  We believe that a natural diet of meat, poultry and fish along with full-fat dairy, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and healthy oils like coconut, butter and olive oil should be…

Warning! Sushi Can Be a Danger to Your Health

December 6, 2013

Recent research has linked sushi to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  This warning comes from a study published in the Journal of Risk Research.  This is not good news!  But how can anti-inflammatory, so good for you salmon, mackerel and tuna (commonly found in sushi) cause such a…

A “New” Healthful Oil – Camelina

November 12, 2013

From Saskatchewan there is a “new” healthful oil on the market, camelina. Although camelina is an ancient oilseed originating in Northern Europe it is new to North American cuisine.  There is much excitement around this “new” oil because it is very good source of Omega-3 (anti-inflammatory) and…

Can I Eat My Fruit Basket?

October 24, 2013

In the health industry there is a debate about the merits of fruit in the diet.  Some diets designed to improve digestion and rebalance gut bacteria eliminate fruit.  Many diets geared towards weight loss eliminate fruit as well. But there is much research showing that fruit is rich in vitamins…

The Paleo Diet – A Review

October 17, 2013

You probably know it as the Paleo diet, but it has also been called the Ancestral diet, the Primal diet, the Original diet, the Evolution diet and the Caveman diet. At Healthy Habits we stress the importance of an anti-inflammatory, natural, whole foods diet.  We’ve talked about it with you in…

Healthy Snacking

October 4, 2013

You’ve probably noticed that if you go too long without eating your mental clarity fades and you become physically tired.  Your will power also plummets leaving you vulnerable to too much sugar, refined foods, and caffeine.  In order to keep you on track with healthy eating, and to keep your energy…

Taking Your Anti-Inflammatory Diet Wherever You Go

May 17, 2013

This blog is sixth in a series on implementing an anti-inflammatory lifestyle (If you’d like to start at the beginning please see Inflammation – An Epidemic posted March 31, 2013).  Now that you know more about how to eat to fight chronic inflammation it’s time to put your new diet into practise.…

Anti-Inflammatory Part 5 – Fats

April 27, 2013

This blog is fifth in a series on implementing an anti-inflammatory lifestyle (If you’d like to start at the beginning please see Inflammation – An Epidemic posted March 31, 2013).    The typical North American diet is full of inflammatory fat.  And I don’t mean the ‘bad’ saturated fat that…

Our Love Hate Relationship with Dairy

April 20, 2013

North Americans love dairy.  Cheese, cheese sauces, milk, yogurt, and ice cream are commonly found in the majority of food diaries that I see…and lots of it.  Many people eat cheese 3 meals a day as a main source of protein (bagel and cheese, pizza, pasta and cheese).  Others are drinking milk like…

Is Gluten-free Just a Fad?

April 13, 2013

For the last couple of weeks we’ve been focusing on inflammation, a chronic condition that is the underlying cause of many of today’s common health conditions and illnesses.  To tackle inflammation we are trying to keep our buckets from over flowing (see Inflammation – An Epidemic posted March 31,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Protein Assimilation

May 24, 2011

I was in Whole Foods last week stocking up on a few vitamins. A young man withan Australian accent was telling his friend/colleague that he wasn't interested in food anlonger. "I'm getting all my