What makes berries so special, first and foremost, is their high levels of antioxidants and other vitamins, minerals, and compounds; these substances help our body combat acute and chronic disease. All fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, but nutrient-rich berries are some of the absolute best sources. In fact, berries have the greatest antioxidant content per serving compared to any other food except spices.

While you may have heard that consuming enough dietary fibre each day is important for healthy digestion, consuming sufficient fibre alone isn’t enough. To perform it's expected duties, fibre must absorb water and be encouraged to move through your system. It is the combination of adequate fibre, ample fluids, and regular movement, that work together to keep your digestion functioning optimally.

While many people turn to meat for their protein fix, most don't realize that beans are stocked with the macro too, plus a handful of other beneficial nutrients. Namely, beans and their relatives are high in antioxidants, vitamins (especially B vitamins), minerals (chiefly potassium, magnesium, and iron), and fibre. Beans also do not contain the saturated fat and cholesterol found in most animal proteins.

Sleep is up there with the most potent lifestyle habits when it comes to improving your health, performance, and body composition. You may find that sleep is the missing element in your healthy lifestyle — it quite possibly could bring back the energy and vibrancy in your step. Make good sleep a priority. Your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing will thank you.

I developed a passion for food, fitness, and living a health promoting lifestyle early in life – pretty well as soon as I began to buy groceries for myself. I quickly became aware of the overwhelming variety of products available at supermarkets today. But having little knowledge in the way of food or nutrition at that time, I, like so many out there today, was a confused consumer.

Excess weight has been traditionally viewed as a mismatch in the calories in/calories out equation. While this may be true, it is important to note that body-weight regulation is dynamically impacted by variables such as genes, the environment and social and cultural factors. Each person has unique energy requirements, arising from the contribution of basal metabolic rate, the thermic effect of food, and physical movement.

With visions of sugar plums dancing out of our heads, now is the time when many of us turn our attention to the upcoming New Year. While, personally, we prefer not to set, “New Year’s Resolutions” (due mainly to the standard New Year's Day resolutions losing momentum well before spring), we, like many others, do enjoy facing a new challenge at the beginning of the year.

Whether you're well informed or blissfully unaware of it, stress affects many aspects of our lives - be it our mental & physical health, lifestyle habits, energy levels, or our relationships. As our to-do lists mount and our year end expectations climb over the next few weeks, we feel that now is as good of a time as any to talk stress management.

As wonderful and joy-filled as this time of year is, for many of us it is also that time of year where we begin to feel the pinch. It seems no matter how much we plan for it (or at least intend to) each year, with those cozy holiday vibes often comes that slight financial worry in the back of our minds. And with the biggest and brightest new items on the block these days, it come as no surprise that many of us struggle to keep up while maintaining a wholesome and nourishing diet for our families.

December is finally upon us – it’s time to eat, drink and be merry! As we enter the season of holiday feasts, opportunities to socialize with friends and family over attractive meals (and bottles) will arise. With this season comes food - lots and lots of delicious food. As we promote balance, flexibility and the enjoyment of all types of food, we want you to enjoy your holiday engagements without going overboard. After all, life is meant to be fully lived and food is meant to be thoroughly enjoyed.