Lifestyle — wellness

Battling the Winter Blues with Ayurveda

Posted by Lisa Mattam on December 05, 2018

The long nights and short, cold days of winter can conjure happy images of warm wool sweaters, holiday parties, and snuggling by the fire. Winter can also, though, mean tiredness, weight gain, sadness and general crankiness. Seasonal depression can be serious, and you should always first visit a doctor to get your vitamin D levels checked, or see about treatments like artificial light boxes or medication. But if you’re only mildly out of sorts, or want to complement conventional treatments, the ancient practice of Ayurveda has ways to help your body embrace the natural rhythms of the winter season and...

Four Fabulous Soups: Warm and Healthy Recipes

Posted by Lisa Mattam on November 21, 2018

Cooling temperatures naturally send us in search of warmer, heartier fare, but that doesn’t mean giving up on healthy eating. In fact, a big bowl of soup is the best way to get more vegetables into your diet once the weather turns cold. Here are four healthy and easy recipes for getting your soup on. Roast Garlic, Leek and Turnip Soup Roasting enhances the flavour of the vegetables while mellowing out the garlic. Heat oven to 450 F, toss garlic, leeks and turnip with olive oil in a roasting pan or dish and roast for 10 minutes until edges...

3 Foolproof Recipes for Natural Cleaning

Posted by Lisa Mattam on November 07, 2018

Household cleaners are some of the worst offenders for harmful chemicals. Loaded with the most toxic of chemicals these products are poorly regulated and their long-term effects on humans are rarely studied. Getting dizzy from the fumes while scrubbing your shower, or getting skin irritation when a drop of drain cleaner lands on your arm is considered completely acceptable. Fortunately it’s incredibly easy to make your own effective cleaning products from items you may already have in your cupboard, many of them safe enough to eat, all of them far cheaper than commercial products. Better for your health, better for...

Why You Need to Unplug

Posted by Lisa Mattam on October 17, 2018

How long has it been since you last checked your phone or email? Ten minutes? Five? Do you want to check it right now? Studies have shown people on average (and varying quite a bit by age) check their phones 150 times a day, often starting first thing in the morning before any other tasks. It works out to an average phone peek every six and a half minutes. Technology is an amazing thing. It has brought us new opportunities and fostered connections in ways too many to count, but like anything, it has a downside. Being constantly on-call increases...

5 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immunity

Posted by Lisa Mattam on October 03, 2018

Think of your immune system as your fort, your moat, your castle walls. It stands between you and the outside world, and this line of defence could always use a little extra support. Here are a few ways you can help your immune system out and make sure it stays strong. 1) Exercise There are so many ways regular exercise keeps you healthy – it lowers blood pressure, helps control weight, helps maintain bone density – the list of benefits is long and awesome. But exercise also has a direct effect on your immune system. Researchers found that athletes...