General Nutrition

General nutrition information on how to optimize a plant-based diet, whether it be vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian. Information is always evidence-based and written by a Registered Dietitian.

Some of my top articles include Vitamin D Foods for Vegetarians and Vegans, How To Get Your Omega-3s For Vegetarians and Vegans, and Prebiotics, Probiotics and Fermented Foods - 5 Healthy Gut Tips.

What Western Medicine Can Learn From Traditional Aboriginal Healing

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Traditional Aboriginal Healing - Vancouver Island BC

Mural in Chermainus, Vancouver Island, BC

For me there is no denying, there is something so very enchanting about traditional Aboriginal healing. Maybe it’s the images of peyote and smoke ceremonies. Or maybe it’s the idea of the mysterious medicine man, with his limitless knowledge in healing herbs and plants. Or maybe its just knowing that our First People had an effective world of medicine before colonisation – medicine that came from this land and was specific for the people that inhabited it. Aboriginal healing extends far beyond herbal teas and smudging. At its roots it is the belief and the practice in a holistic approach to health- in treating the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual facets of health as one.

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How To Get Enough Zinc for Vegans and Vegetarians

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With 1 in 4 Canadian diets low in zinc, zinc deficiency is something that should be on everyone’s radar. Populations that are especially vulnerable to deficiency include vegans, vegetarians, kids, pregnant ladies and breastfeeding moms. I’ve included some top recommendations and tips on how to get enough zinc for vegans and vegetarians and anyone else who thinks they may be at risk.

Healthy Mayo-Free Coleslaw with Crunchy Almonds. Add almonds to your salad to increase the zinc.

The bioavailability of zinc from vegetarian and vegan diets is likely to be less than that of non-vegetarian diets. Plant foods rich in zinc, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, are also high in phytic acid, an inhibitor of zinc bioavailability (1). While vegans and vegetarians are more at risk for zinc deficiency, the wider Canadian population is also at risk, likely related to the depletion of this important mineral from our soils. Read on to find out more on how we can maximize our absorption of this important mineral….

The Low Down on BPA – Health and Environmental Concerns

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BPA Epoxy Resins In Surfboards

The more and more I think and write about food, the more I put my pantry shelves to scrutiny. While the ultimate goal is to reduce any reliance on ‘processed food’, one food product that makes a regular appearance in my kitchen is canned tomatoes. They are an essential during the winter months when fresh tomatoes taste like cardboard and can transform winter stews and soups. Aside from canned foods coming with a hefty transportation induced carbon footprint, there is the effects of BPA on the environment (and our health) to consider. If you are not lucky enough to have jars of preserved tomatoes from your summer garden harvest, the BPA in the cans lining could be doing damage. But what is BPA? What are the healthy and environmental concerns?

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Which Milk Alternative Is The Best One For You

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Homemade Hemp Milk Recipe

So you have made the choice to give up milk. Mom says no, friends call you a hippie, the dairy industry is smacking their 3 recommended serves in your face. But you don’t care, you’re going to do it. Whether it be to ward off suspected intolerances, a cows milk allergy, to lower your carbon footprint or for personal ethical reasons, finding a suitable alternative can be tricky. Each book you read, every website you come across and every person you talk to will probably tell you something different. I just want to lay out the basics as well as expunge any myths. You can decide for yourself which milk alternative is the best one for you.
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How To Make Sprouts & Health Benefits of Sprouting Foods

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My top tips on how to make sprouts, and also why we should be including sprouts in our diet. The health benefits of sprouts include helping us to better access important minerals in nuts, seeds, legumes and grains. This is especially important for those following a plant-based, vegan or vegetarian diet.

I have been dabbling into sprouting foods since my early university days, but back then I was too poor to buy a proper sprouter. I’ve used everything from nut milk bags to glass jars and cheesecloth. If your a first-time sprouter, prepare to become addicted. Sprouting is one of the simplest things to you will do in the kitchen -all you need to do is remember to water your sprouts, no green thumb required!…

The Antioxidant Army – Understanding How We Can Fight Off Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress

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Damnoen Saduak, Floating Markets, Thailand

Antioxidants – a term that is thrown around loosely in health food stores, grocery stores and pharmacies a like. But what exactly is an antioxidant, and what are they doing for me? I hope to shed some light into the great abise and break it down nice and slowly so we can all have a good base, core understanding of what these little guys mean for our health.
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General Nutrition

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