Are you Suffering from this winter condition - for some it can be devastating.

How you can conquer SAD (Winter Depression)

 

 

With winter comes long, frosty nights and cold days.  Many Canadians don't enjoy the change in season and about fifteen percent of us find our moods are affected by the lack of sunshine and the dreariness of the weather.  Furthermore some 3% of us suffer from seasonal affective disorder and three-quarters of those are women.

Cause
SAD is thought to be caused by lower levels of Serotonin, our "feel good" hormone, which is caused by lower levels of  day light, shorter days and longer nights.  This in turn creates an increase in melatonin the hormone that decreases energy.

Symptoms
- Loss of interest
- Trouble concentrating
- Extreme fatigue
- Too much sleep
- Weight gain

If you're one of those people who struggles with this form of depression here are some tips that should help you get through the winter months.

Treatment

-  Sunshine - The first and most important tip is to get enough sunshine.  Get out as often as you can on those sunny days and soak it up.  If you can't get out then I recommend using safe tanning beds - those that use Electronic ballasts and avoid all beds that use Magnetic ballasts as these emit EMF's. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/09/25/tanning-bed-causes-melanoma.aspx 

-  Vitamin D - If you aren't able to get enough sunshine then you need to optimize your Vitamin D levels.  Research clearly shows that Vitamin D is absolutely critical for good health and disease prevention. http://www.naturalnews.com/029967_vitamin_D_genes.html

-  Diet - Eating a healthy diet which includes lean protein sources, complex carbs such as vegetables, beans and legumes, and healthy fats such as Omega 3's found in cold water fish and oils, flax seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, nuts etc. These foods will help control blood sugar levels and moods. 

-  Exercise - Exercise can help relieve stress and reduce feelings of fatigue and can improve mood as exercise produces feel good endorphins in the brain.  http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression

-  Sugar - Avoid any form of sugar.  Sugar has a very damaging effect not only on brain function but on your immune system as well. http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/07/13/why-sugar-is-dangerous-to-depression/  


If you suffer from this condition and feel you need help managing it contact me at www.nuhealings.com

This one underrated New Year’s Resolution will help you keep 5

Make “Better Nutrition” your top New Year’s Resolution to effortlessly achieve five more

According to a New Year’s Day article in The Star, about 68 per cent of Canadians make New Year’s resolutions each year.  We all know keeping resolutions is the hardest part, with 19 per cent of people breaking them within 24 hours. What I noticed about this year’s top 10 list is that at least five of these popular resolutions can become effortless by making Better Nutrition the focus.

Here’s how Better Nutrition relates to five of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions made by Canadians: 

1.      Lose weight – Did you know that 80% of getting in shape comes from good nutrition? That new gym membership will likely go to waste if you don’t combine it with an action plan for nutrition. This year, take what you would spend on a gym membership and invest it into a Holistic Nutrition program instead. A Holistic Nutritionist can help you painlessly meet and maintain your weight-loss goals, while achieving better overall health and longevity.

2.      Stop smoking – The secret to quitting smoking is to get healthy first! Focus on better nutrition, exercise and stress relief before you attempt to quit. Your body will develop more healthy cravings and your impulse to smoke will naturally diminish making it easier to become a non-smoker in 2014. Check out the “Quit Smoking Diet” on livestrong.com for more on the link between smoking and nutrition.

3.      Exercise more - Once you incorporate Better Nutrition into your lifestyle, exercise becomes easier and more desired because you already feel better and have more energy, too. Even 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference and can increase your life span by three years.

4.      Be more patient at work/with others - It's unbelievable how simple, strategic changes to your nutrition and lifestyle can impact your life. Through better nutrition, you can overcome anxiety, improve mood and emotional well-being, and gain a sense of control of your body and your life. This will no doubt affect how you interact with those around you.

5.      Eat better - Find out how the Nu Healings 7-Step Nutritional Healing Program  can help you achieve optimal health, well-being and longevity through 2014 and beyond!

 

Look and feel your best in 2014 by making Better Nutrition your New Year’s Resolution! Find out how a Holistic Nutritionist can help you reach your goals by contacting Nu Healings Nutrition today.

 

By Michelle Thibodeau
Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Professional Cancer Coach
Founder of Nu Healings Nutrition in Ottawa, ON

www.nuhealings.com

Movemeber's almost over but here's some critical information you should know.

 

How important are Food Choices for prevention and management of Prostate Cancer?

 

What you eat and don't eat makes a huge difference on whether prostate cancer ever develops. 

 

Healthy eating patterns also improve the odds of treatment success.

 

An elevated PSA level or prostate cancer diagnosis can be the signal that it's time to change what you eat more towards a Mediterranean diet that focuses on fish instead of red meat, whole vegetables instead of glucose-spiking starches/sugars, foods cooked at lower temperatures and reduced intake of omega-6 fats.

 

While dietary changes may not cure diagnosed prostate cancer there is strong value in consuming foods and beverages that can suppress cancer proliferation (growth) such as cruciferous vegetables and green tea as opposed to continuing to eat foods that have been related to higher prostate risk such as red meat, starches and sugars, excess dairy and omega -6 fats. 

 

Here are some guidelines

 

- Don't eat overcooked meat

- Eggs and Dairy should be reduced or eliminated

- Balance Omega-6 to Omega 3 fats

- Include Omega-3 fatty acids

- Introduce Nutrients that suppress tumor growth

- Add foods and supplements that keep cancer cells in check

 

 

Reference: Life Extension, December 2013 - Impact of Diet on Prostate Cancer

 

 

For more information go to:  http://www.nuhealings.com/cancercoach.html

 

 

 

 



HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD DIABETES IS INCURABLE?

That medication is the ONLY way?

Are confused about where to start or what to do?

Or want to help someone you care about with Diabetes?

Today is Diabetes Awareness Day and I'm shedding light on the myth of diabetes.

Most people don't know that type II diabetes is a preventable disease that can be reversed without medication! That you can return to full health following a diabetes diagnosis without having to suffer the side effects of a lifetime of pills and medication!

TOP 5 DIABETES SUPER FOODS

Even though we live in a pill-popping, drug-oriented culture, we can't deny that food is really our best medicine.  Find out what dietary changes can reverse your diabetes or at least reduce or eliminate the need for medication.

by Dr. Stephan Ripich, M.D, My Healing Kitchen

TOP 5 SUPERFOODS FOR DIABETICS

 

 

If you're suffering from Diabetes or are Pre-diabetic and would like more information contact Nu Healings Nutrition. 

6 Healthy After School Treats For Kids (Plus Free Recipe!)

By Lee Holmes (Supercharged Foods)

Easy to make, healthy and unprocessed snacks to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner will really help with children’s energy levels after school, a time when they are at their most ravenous.

If you pick your kids up from school and then take them onto an activity such as athletics, basketball, ballet, soccer, dancing or any other sport for a few hours before home time, you’ll need a supply of nutritious snacks to get them through the afternoon.

The kinds of snacks that you choose to give your children can either be healthy and nutritious like cut up vegetable sticks and dips and fruit or they can come directly out of a packet which means they are probably going to be full of sugar and contain artificial ingredients, chemicals and preservatives.

If you’re time poor like most busy parents then there are some really great simple snacks that you can make at home in less than 15 minutes that will give your children lots of energy to play and perform at their best.

Stopping at the bakery for a cream-filled snack, although it will get your child’s approval, doesn’t provide the kind of nutrition active kids need.  Having nutritious, energy-filled snacks on hand requires a bit of planning, but it doesn’t have to be too time consuming if you are organized.
Below are six after school treats that will rev up your little ones in a good way and have them at the top of their game.

6 After School Treats

1. A Healthy Smoothie

This makes the perfect after school pickup snack and will fill the void without being too heavy. Using banana will provide them with instant energy and adding to the blender full fat yoghurt with seeds and a handful of fresh berries will provide them with calcium for growing bones and good fats which help to slow down the release of fruit sugars and deliver nutrients directly into their body.

2. Fried Rice

If you’re making a stir-fry for dinner during the week, always make ample brown rice for leftovers. Once cooled, combine the rice in a pan with anything you’ve got in the fridge - peas, diced left over chicken, grated carrot and scrambled egg. Toss in a bit of wheat free tamari for a tasty, protein-filled afternoon snack which will build, maintain and repair their body's tissues,  muscles, organs  and immune systems. 

3. Tuna wrap

Tuna doesn’t always last well in a lunch box, but if you make it just before you pick the kids up from school, it’ll stay fresh in the car in a cool lunch box. Spread some avocado over a wrap and spoon some tuna on top. Add a few lettuce leaves for a nice crunch, some grated carrot, wrap it up and cut it into quarters, now you’ve got a wholesome snack that will see them through until dinner time.

4. Eggs

Hard boiled eggs are the perfect and quickest snack to gobble down before sports training. Pre-peeling them makes them quick to eat and not messy in the car. Add a handful of nuts and a cut up apple to make a protein-filled snack that will provide fuel and essential nutrients such as folate, vitamin A, iron, zinc, iodine and omega-3s in particular. Eggs are also a good source of protein for children to support growth during this time.

5. Sushi

Brown rice sushi is a great after school snack for kids who are on the run. Whether it’s filled with cooked tuna, salmon, avocado or cucumber, sushi will satisfy that empty tummy and provide long-lasting energy to burn. Brown rice will give children a healthy dose of manganese, a trace mineral which helps produce energy from protein and carbohydrates  as well as essential fatty acids and B vitamins.

6. Healthy Treats

Healthy treats made with ingredients such as cacao and coconut will give children good fats and provide them with energy. Cacao Bomb crackles are a fantastic after school treat which will ensure you are meeting your child’s nutritional needs with a good supply of magnesium and iron from the raw cacao and B vitamins from brown rice puffs. Coconut oil and butter will add stickiness and sweetness and provide a great all round anti-fungal and anti-bacterial element.

Cacao Bomb Crackles Recipe

These crunchy, crackles of puffed rice are essentially an old fashioned treat that I have always yearned to recondition for a real food 21st century they are from my book Supercharged Food for Kids. 

Using real food will teach your child to appreciate food’s natural flavors and develop and understanding of what real food actually tastes like and this recipe is the perfect example.   It’s a godsend for busy parents as it can be whipped up quickly and then placed in the fridge for kids to enjoy at any time.

You can also make Cacao Puffs as a breakfast cereal just by omitting the coconut oil and mixing up the other ingredients and chilling in the fridge.

Cacao Bomb Crackles 

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown rice puffs
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar
• 6 Tbs coconut oil
• 2 Tbs coconut butter
• 3 Tbs cacao powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

• Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper cup liners.
• Place rice puffs in a bowl.
• In a food processor process coconut sugar until it resembles a fine powder.
• Place a bowl over boiling water on the stove top and add in coconut sugar, coconut oil and butter and cacao powder until melted on a medium heat.
• Add desiccated coconut and stir well.
• Remove from heat, mix with rice puffs and spoon mixture into liners.
• Place in the refrigerator to set.

Men Who Have this Popular Screening Have a Staggering 4-Fold Increase in Serious Blood Infection

·         The benefits of PSA prostate cancer screening has been repeatedly shown to be minimal at best and detrimental at worst. Overall, PSA screening barely has any impact on mortality rates from prostate cancer. As a result, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force will soon recommend that men not get screened for prostate cancer.

·         According to Stanford University researchers, the PSA test indicates nothing more than the size of your prostate gland. . The false positive rate is high, and the bulk of the harm is a result of subsequent unnecessary treatments.

·         Canadian researchers have raised the alarm over prostate biopsies, citing a four-fold increase in serious blood infections over the past decade from the procedure. Researchers are also questioning the conventional treatments of prostate cancer, which include surgical removal of the prostate gland and radiotherapy, as they may not be necessary for most men.

·         Your diet can greatly impact your prostate health and help prevent enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. Ideally, you’ll want to eat as much organic (preferably raw) food as possible, and limit sugar/fructose and grains from your diet. Highly processed or charcoaled meats, pasteurized dairy products, and trans fats correlate with an increased risk for prostate cancer and should also be avoided. Other specific nutritional therapies are discussed.

 

By Dr. Mercola

Are there benefits to clean eating for toddlers? Here's an interview with my daughter. Enjoy!

Super Green Antioxidant Smoothie

 

 

Use 4 ounces of cold, pure water for each serving.

Add 1 small handful of each of the following per serving:

·         Kale

·         Parsley

·         Spinach

·         Black or purple Organic frozen grapes

·         Banana – optional frozen

·         Pineapple – or other frozen fruit

·         Optional chia seeds

·         Optional flax seed powder

·         Optional acai powder

·         Optional protein powder, unflavored or vanilla (1/2 serving each or add extra water)

I recommend including all these ingredients to get the most benefit especially if you suffer from high cholesterol, high blood pressure or elevated blood glucose.

Blend all the ingredients together and enjoy!



Healthy Choices to Reduce Your Risk

for Breast Cancer

Making health choices on a daily basis improves your chances of a long and healthy life. There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things all women can do that might reduce their risk. At this time, the best advice to possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer is to:

• Get regular, intentional physical activity--Many studies have shown that moderate to vigorous physical activity is linked with lower breast cancer risk.
• Reduce your lifetime weight gain by limiting your calories and getting regular physical activity--Both increased body weight and weight gain as an adult are linked with a higher risk of breast cancer after menopause.
• Avoid or limit your alcohol intake--Compared with non-drinkers, women who consume 1 alcoholic drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who don't drink alcohol.

A diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products has also been linked with a lower risk of breast cancer in some studies. But it is not clear if specific vegetables, fruits, or other foods can lower risk. Most studies have not found that lowering fat intake has much of an effect on breast cancer risk.

Women who choose to breastfeed for at least several months may also get an added benefit of reducing their breast cancer risk.

Not using hormone therapy after menopause can help you avoid raising your risk.

Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer.

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Best 12 Cancer Prevention Strategies

For Anyone

 

 

 

Please don't wait until you're diagnosed; take PREVENTIVE steps NOW.

 

There are many things you can do to lower your risk of cancer and its much easier to prevent cancer than to treat it once it takes hold.  I believe you can effectively eliminate your risk of cancer and other chronic disease and greatly improve your chances of recovering from cancer if you currently have it by following these reasonably simple strategies. 

 

1.  Food Preparation: Eat at least half your food raw.  Avoid frying or charbroiling; boil, poach or steam foods instead. Cook at lower temperatures for longer periods and don't overcook.  Add cancer-fighting foods, herbs, spices and supplements to your diet such as broccoli, curcumin and resveratrol.

 

2.   Carbohydrates and Sugar: Reduce or eliminate processed foods, sugar/fructose and grain based foods.  This applies to whole, unprocessed, organic grains too as they tend to quickly break down and drive your insulin levels up.  The evidence is very clear; if you want to avoid cancer or you currently have it, you absolutely MUST avoid all forms of sugar especially fructose as these feed cancer cells and promote growth.  Total fructose intake per day should be no more than 25 grams, including from fruit.

 

3.  Proteins and Fat: Think about reducing your protein intake to one gram per kilogram of body weight.  It is rare for most adults to need more than 100 grams per day and likely closer to half that amount.  You should replace excess protein with high quality fats, such as organic eggs from free range chickens, organic chicken, wild fish, avocados, and coconut oil.

 

4.  GMO"s: Avoid genetically modified foods as they are usually treated with herbicides and likely to be toxic.  Choose fresh, organic and preferably locally grown foods.

 

5.   Animal-Based Omega-3 fats:  Increase your intake of omega-3 fats by taking a high-quality Krill oil and reduce your intake of processed vegetable oils.

 

6.   Natural Probiotics:  Boosting your gut flora will reduce inflammation and help strengthen your immune system.  Research shows that inhibiting inflammation might slow cancer progression and improve response to chemotherapy. 

 

7.   Exercise: Exercise lowers insulin levels which creates a low sugar environment that discourages growth and spread of cancer cells.  In a three month study, exercise was found to alter immune cells and make them more potent and disease-fighting in cancer patients who had just completed chemotherapy. 

 

8.   Vitamin D: There is scientific evidence you can decrease your risk of cancer by more than half just by optimizing your vitamin D levels with appropriate sun exposure or supplementation.

 

9.   Sleep: Make sure you get enough quality sleep.  Poor sleep can inhibit melatonin production, which is linked with increased risk of insulin resistance and weight gain; both can contribute to cancer's tenacity. 

 

10. Exposure to Toxins:   Try to reduce your exposure to environmental toxin such as pesticides, household chemical cleaners, air fresheners and cosmetics.

 

11. Exposure to Radiation:  Limit exposure and protect yourself from radiation produced by cell phones, towers, base stations and Wi-Fi stations and minimize your exposure from medical scans, including dental, x-rays, CT scans and mammograms.

 

12.  Stress Management:  Stress from any cause is a major contributor to disease.  It is likely that stress and unresolved emotional issues may be more important than physical ones.



Contact Michelle@nuhealings for more information.