If you are interested in doing a detox diet, try doing a healthy cleanse for yourself.

Detox diets are diets that aim to improve your body’s natural processes by changing the way you eat. Detox diets help to remove toxins (things that are bad for you that you have consumed).

Detox Diets and Weight Loss
If you think detox diets are meant to help you lose weight, you should think again. Detox diets are not indicated for weight loss. If you drastically cut calories from your diet, it can be very harmful to you because you are not getting enough calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Be careful of any diets that tell you to stop eating in order to cleanse your system, this will only cause more issues for your body.

How to Start a Healthy Detox
When starting a healthy detox, one should start by going to a doctor and discussing your plan and describe any symptoms that you may be experiencing. You may think that you have toxins in your body, when in reality it could be symptoms of something worse, which is why it is important to speak with a doctor first to assess any symptoms that you may be having.

Once you have spoken to a health-care professional, you can start off by making these diet and lifestyle changes to start your healthy detox. The first thing you should do is replace all processed foods that you eat with whole foods. Processed foods include, frozen pastries, microwavable dinners, candies, chips, and junk-food. These items are typically found in the middle aisles of grocery stores. Instead of stocking up on processed, convenient foods try to purchase whole foods like vegetables, fruits, lean meat, fish, and whole grains.

Fibre is another important aspect of starting a healthy detox. Fibre is extremely important to the motility of your colon, which helps to cleanse your system. There are two forms of fibre that can help to improve regularity. The first is insoluble fibre that are found in leafy greens such as kale and spinach. Insoluble fibres help to keep things moving through your intestines. Then there is soluble fibre that comes from foods like beans, pears, and apples. Soluble fibres help to bulk up the contents of your bowels.

By sticking with these simple tips, you and your body will feel much better. Try to maintain these change for at least two weeks as part of your healthy detox.

Tag(s): Nutribar

detox, health, health tips, healthy detox, healthy eating, nutrition, nutritional information

If you’re not a fan of spicy foods, it might be beneficial for you to get used to the flavour. Lots of new research is showing how great spicy foods can be for your stomach and can even help to ward off diseases.

There have been long-standing myths that have said that eating spicy foods can cause stomach ulcers and other problems for the stomach.  This is not true. Research actually shows that eating ho chili peppers can protect stomach lining and can also prevent gastric damage that is associated with anti-inflammatory pain killers. Chilies are also high in various nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. There has also been some research that shows that hot chilies can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Research has also shown that eating hot chilies can help to prevent diabetes and boost metabolism and may also have the ability to prevent certain types of cancer.  

It is important to note that you shouldn’t go overboard. A Mexican study found that those who ate approximately 9 to 25 jalapeños a day were slightly more likely to have a raised risk of getting stomach cancer.

Research is showing that hot chili peppers are going to be an up and coming health power. A study done in the United Kingdom found that capsaicin (it’s responsible for the burning sensations in chili), can kill pancreatic and lung cancer cells without damaging the cells around it.This is why many researchers believe that those living in India and Mexico who regularly eat spicy food, tend to have lower rates of certain cancers than those living in Western countries who have more bland diets.

An Australian study found that adding chilies to meals can also help protect against the buildup of cholesterol in the blood.

Chilies are great because they make food more flavourful, increase metabolism, keep us full for a longer period of time, and helps to burn fat as well. Add more chilies to your diet today!

Tag(s): Nutribar

chilies, health, health tips, lifestyle, nutrition, spicy, spicy foods

The holidays are meant for relaxing and spending time with friends and family, but that doesn’t mean exercise should be put on the back burner. People tend to cancel yoga classes and avoid the gym during the holidays.

There are also many holiday treats that can be very tempting to eat. To avoid feeling the fitness consequences of the holidays, make a workout plan that you can stick with. By having a workout schedule that you can follow during the holidays, you will not have to work as hard or as much to shed the extra holiday weight during the month of January.

There are a few things that you can do to ensure that you do not have to lose too much weight once the holidays are over. One thing you can is to make sure you do not starve yourself the whole day if you have a dinner or party to attend. People often make much poorer food choices and ear more when they are hungry. If you eat healthily throughout the day, it is less likely that you will eat poorly during your evening event. Another thing to do is to ensure that you are well hydrated, thirst can sometimes be mistaken for hunger. It is important to have fun during the holidays and indulge carefully!

Tag(s): Nutribar

Exercise, exercise tips, fitness, holidays, nutrition, well-being

A new study found in the British Medical Journal has shown that eating fibre and whole grains can drastically reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. Researchers have found that for every 10g a day of fibre intake, there is a 10% decrease in the risk of developing bowel cancer. Adding an additional 90g a day or three servings of whole grains has also led to a 20% reduction in the risk of developing bowel cancer.

Here is a list of foods high in fibre:

-Cereals

-Oatmeal

-Whole wheat pancakes and waffles

-Whole wheat toast

-Granola bars

-Rye bread

-Bran muffins

-Whole wheat crackers

-Whole wheat pasta

-Brown rice

-Nuts

-Popcorn

-Various Vegetables: Beets, Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Eggplants, Mushrooms, Peas, Peppers, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Squash, Tomatoes

-Several Fruits: Apricots, Apple, Bananas, Blueberries, Cherries, Dates, Kiwi, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Strawberries

Tag(s): Nutribar

fibre, food, health tips, healthy eating habits, nutrition, whole grain

Vegetable side dishes are often overlooked as part of thanksgiving dinners because of the flashier thanksgiving fundamentals. Cruciferous vegetables are especially healthy for you because they are non-starchy. Cruciferous vegetables are those that belong in the cabbage family: cauliflower, bok choy, broccoli, and cabbage. Collard greens, parsnips, kale, rutabagas, water cress, turnips, and arugula can also be included as part of this family.   Cruciferous vegetables are healthy for you because they contain glucosinolates that can help lower the risk of cancer. Research has also found that these compounds have the capability to stop the development of cancer because they are able to turn on tumor suppressing genes.

Tag(s): Nutribar

health, health canada, health tips, healthy eating habits, nutrition, thanksgiving, vegetables

Our bodies attempt to convert all the things that we eat into fuel and some foods deliver better energy than others. Our metabolism is what burns the fat that we eat. Different foods burn fat differently, some are better at burning fat than others. These power foods will boost your metabolism, increase your energy levels, and help to burn fat.

-Hot peppers: Capsaicin is a chemical found in jalapenos and cayenne peppers, this chemical increases heart rates and improves metabolism.

-Good fats: Avocados and olive oil are excellent sources of healthy monounsaturated fats.

- Low-fat dairy products: Calcium triggers metabolism. Yogurt and skim milk are full of complex carbohydrates, which boosts metabolism, this in turn keeps insulin levels low after a meal. High insulin levels indicate the body to keep holding onto the fat in your body.

-Berries: Blueberries have the most antioxidants. Berries are also a great source of fiber.

-Green vegetables: Green vegetables are great because they are low in calories and high fiber. Asparagus is one of the best vegetables to eat because it flushes out the body’s system and reduces water retention.

-Grapefruit: They are full of pectin which helps to break down body fat.

-Tea: Tea helps to burn calories. Green tea is the best tea to drink because it has EGCG which is a chemical that causes the brain and nervous system to run more quickly which helps to burn more calories. Black teas and white teas are also healthy for you but be sure to avoid processed bottled teas.

-Whole grains: They are a great source of fiber as well as complex carbohydrates.

-Nuts: Nuts contain fiber, protein, and healthy fats that help keep you full. Peanut butter is also good for you because it’s filled with Niacin which helps to prevent bloating.

-Coffee: Coffee with caffeine increases heart rates and assists in burning more calories. Although good for you, the coffee you drink should have low fat milk and have very little sweeteners.

Tag(s): Nutribar

fruit, healthy eating habits, nutrition, nutritional information, vegetables, whole grain, yogurt

As it turns out, the old saying of ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is absolutely true. Last month was Nutrition Month, and it is something that we can apply every month, not just once a year. Eating right, as we know, has multiple benefits. 

Via the Leamington Post and Shopper, we find this story. Take a look and let us know what you think!

nutrition

Spring forward! March is National Nutrition Month. We’ve always got the delicious meal replacement bars, shakes and powders you know and love. In honour of such an important month, check out some of our recipes to help you on your journey. Dieticians.ca also has a great recipes section – try them out and let us know.

nutrition

Looks like Canadian nutritional experts have saved the day again. Specifically, we’re talking about child nutrition. Exchange Magazine brings us this juicy bit of information: 

A University of Guelph-led research project to develop a screening tool for preschoolers at nutritional risk has received accolades from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. [...] NutriSTEP (Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Preschooler) was the first of its kind in Canada. Ten years in the making, it focuses on children aged three to five and is administered by parents. The tool consists of a 17-question checklist on topics including growth, eating and drinking habits, and activity levels, as well as related toolkits and training materials. 

This is a great step forward. Everyone knows that good eating generally leads to good health. A lot of us spend so much of our time in pursuit of the healthy life – at the gym, in the kitchen. A lot of us had to unlearn the unhealthy habits that we’d acquired during our life. But to nip bad habits in the bud? That’s something we can all relate to.

nutrition, nutrition for kids

For those of you who don’t know who Jillian Michaels is, you’ve probably been living under a rock for the past few years. Indeed, it is hard to not know who she is. Everywhere you turn around, from TV to the Wii and beyond, she’s there. 

As we can probably all infer: she’s got a lot to say about nutrition. 

Seems like we aren’t the only ones who think so. Ms. Michaels, long having been seen as a nutrition-oriented, exercise-loving powerhouse now adds a new chapter to her resume: Internet domain host spokesperson. 

Don’t believe it? Check out the article, detailing her recent gig.

Exercise, nutrition