Snow Piles ... of opportunity!

Ok, cheesy title. And if you know me at all, you know that I am not a "cheerleader"; I think telling people to "think positive" is trite and condescending. Yet I cannot help but see the opportunity, the "positive", in all this snow. For instance:

1. What other time of year is it common to see perfect strangers helping each other by pushing a car out of snow? I love that! I honestly, with every degree of sincerity, enjoy helping to push vehicles out of the snow. To me, it's fun.

2. Free, productive exercise! Want an amazing full body workout? Well, get your shovel out. There is pounds of free weights out there to lift and push and throw! Just be careful to lift with your legs, not your back! Even just walking in the snow is a much bigger workout than regular walking.

3. Rosy Glow. Everyone looks better with a rosy glow from the cold. Make sure you spend time outside every day, enjoying the sunshine and the cold air. And yes, we do have sunshine still.

4. Lastly, snow is pretty. It is. And it is here, so you best enjoy it! Whether or not you love all of the amazing snow sports out there, take advantage of the fact that we have this unique gift. Don't think it's a gift?

I spent one Christmas in Texas, minutes from the Mexican border. On Christmas Eve, it snowed, for the first time in 100 years. People were beside themselves. At midnight, children were running out onto the street to see the wonder of the snow falling. It was amazing. Even all of the Canadians were giddy, so happy to see their familiar fluffy, white friend in such an unexpected place. Try to view snow like it is the first time and the last time you will see it; view it with the awe and amazement that nature deserves.

And stop complaining about it!

Kristi Shmyr

Epsom Salt - One of Nature's Answers to Sore Muscles & Magnesium Deficiency

Here's an interesting tidbit about Epsom salt: it's called Epsom salt because it was initially discovered back in Shakespeare's time in a town called Epsom in England...who knew?! Well, the Epsom Salt Council, that's who. Who knew there was an Epsom Salt Council? I sure didn't. This is an American council that formed in 1993 because they were "eager to let everyone know the benefits of our product".

And now, here I am ALSO letting you know about the benefits of Epsom salt. The main components of Epsom salt are magnesium and sulfates. I am most familiar with the fact that these components of Epsom salt, in combination, relieve muscle pain, especially following any body work session. However, upon further reading about Epsom salt, I discovered that it can also help to relieve stress, improve digestion (especially the absorption of nutrients in the intestines), sleep and the function of insulin, reduce inflammation and detoxify the body. Epsom salt is commonly used in bath water - dissolve 1-2 cups in your warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes to experience optimal results. It's once the bath water starts to cool that detoxification starts happening, which is why it's crucial to stay in the bath for at least 20 minutes.

It may be a little known fact that a great many people are nutritionally deficient in magnesium. Magnesium deficiency can lead to irregular heart rhythm, muscle spasms, mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety and irritability, fatigue, weakness and confusion, memory loss, hallucinations, numbness and tingling. Using Epsom salt is a great way to increase your body's reserves of magnesium. The reason for this is because magnesium can be readily absorbed through the skin by using Epsom salt, as opposed to relying on the digestive system, which may already be under stress. For the purpose of detoxification, Epsom salt is a great way to detoxify. It works by creating a type of osmosis, the toxins moving from within the body, through the skin and into the bath water. Epsom salt is a great adjunct to any detox program you may be pursuing or just on its own.

At Prana Holistic, we recommend that everyone pursue an Epsom salt soak after any body work session such as massage or reflexology. This will continue the process of excavating anything that was released during the session, prevent soreness from any tough knots that were worked on and entice relaxation.

Epsom salt is available at most drug stores or grocery stores. We also sell it here at Prana Holistic, so next time you're here for a body work session, make sure to pick up some Epsom salt to take home and continue the process of relaxation and movement towards better health.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

The Answers Are In Your Irises!

I was first introduced to the practice of iridology while in college studying to be a holistic health practitioner. What an amazing and phenomenal method! I was immediately drawn in by iridology as soon as it was presented to us in class.

Iridology is the fascinating practice of examining markings within the irises of the eyes to discover inherent or developed weaknesses in particular systems, organs and/or glands. By knowing where your weaknesses lie, you can then apply specific recommendations that will work to strengthen and improve overall function of those systems, organs and/or glands.

The story of the discovery of iridology goes like this: in the early 1800s, a young lad called Ignatz Von Peczely caught an owl in his garden. As boy and owl struggled, Von Peczely accidentally broke the owl's leg. He noticed a black marking rise in the iris of the owl in response to the break. Von Peczely nursed the owl back to health and the owl kept returning to Von Peczely's garden for some time after the incident. Over this time, Von Peczely noticed the progression of the marking in the owl's iris from black line, to white, crooked lines, and then to a small black spot surrounded by white lines and shading. Von Peczely was intrigued by the progression of this marking and so was born the notion of iridology. Von Peczely pursued a career as a physician and was thus able to further pursue his idea that the irises reflect the condition of tissues within the internal system. Throughout his career, he observed numerous cases that proved a considerable basis for the practice of iridology.

The iris is the part of the eye that carries colour, a very complex combination of tissues and an extension of the brain. The irises are able to reflect all organs, glands and systems of the body by their connections to them via the brain and nervous system. By these connections, nerve fibres in the irises respond to alterations in body tissues and reveal these changes, whether acute or chronic, as different markings upon the irises.  

By iridology, a practitioner is able to detect whether a person has a strong or weak constitution, under or over-acidity of the stomach, stress, acute, sub acute, chronic or degenerative stages of dysfunction, poor circulation, congested lymphatics and predispositions to different types of diseases. 

Iridology does not seek to diagnose but rather to read the condition of tissues. In this way, iridology presents as a wonderful tool for practitioners to discover how to best address an individual's health and wellness. For example, if a person had dark markings on the area of the irises that correspond to the kidneys and urinary system, the practitioner could make recommendations for strengthening this system. By strengthening the body where it's weaknesses lie, overall function is drastically improved because all systems work together to impart optimal wellness. 

If, as the old proverb goes, the eyes are the windows of the soul, then the practice of iridology presents the idea that the eyes are also a mirror of the internal system. 

At Prana Holistic, iridology is used in application during an assessment. If you're confused about which direction to take with improving your health, call us to book an assessment - a very thorough investigation of your well-being and a presentation of how we think you ought to best proceed.

Check out SEE Magazine this coming Thursday for my column on iridology.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Shh… We don’t want the men to hear! Or do we?

Women’s issues have sat in the limelight for ages.  Specialists and General Practitioners alike have developed thriving businesses focused solely on research and treatment of the female system.  Somehow, this has allowed for men to take a backseat in their well being and transfer the focus to the opposite gender.  With this has developed the taboo around the male anatomy and the all-too-common disorders from which men can also suffer.

With the dawning of the “Little Blue Pill”, Viagra has shined a much needed spotlight back on men and the issues that they too can experience.  Viagra was to bring forth revolution in the caring for prostate disorders, erectile disorders and men’s health in general.  There was one thing that the medical field forgot about though: a man’s stubborn ability to avoid discussion.  Without the initial discussion with a doctor, the issue will still go untreated.  Men will suffer the embarrassment and discomfort of erectile difficulty simply to avoid facing the issue.  What is with us?

No one is a fan of discussing their personal problems in a public format, unless you allow your disorder to define you, and that’s a whole other set of issues!  This taboo has muzzled men and somehow this has become ok.  Our stigma around male virility and the supposed “drive” every man has to hump anything in sight has lead us to stereotype and suppress men into sexual silence.

Is male sexual silence a socially imposed issue, or is it self-imposed?

The younger generation, or “Generation Next”, has started to mature into adulthood, but are we really any better than our forefathers, the “Baby Boomers”?  Research has shown that 1 in 9 or 10 to 15 million American men live with impotence.  1 IN 9!  That’s an insane rate of prevalence and one that we hear very little about.  “Why is that?”, you might ask.  Well, out of that 1 in 9 ratio, only 10% of those men will acknowledge the issue and seek treatment.  It’s common for men to psych themselves out of an erection, and the vast majority of men will lose an erection 20% of the time. Those suffering with erectile dysfunction can experience a loss of erection prior to ejaculation or inability to become erect 50% of the time.  80% of the time, the issues regarding impotence are pre-existing physiological conditions, while the remaining 20% are due to psychological causes.

Men need to start allocating a neuron or two to their own well being.  Silence has benefitted no one, and in more severe cases such as testicular cancer or prostate cancer, silence can be severe and devastating.  Diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, vascular diseases and psychological interferences can all be dangerous root causes for impotence and, without medical diagnosis, may go unnoticed until too late.

Whether it’s socially or individually propagated, the strong, silent warrior that men seem to be striving for is helping no one.  Whether it’s talking to a loved one, a family doctor or a trusted health care practitioner, men need to step up and take responsibility for their own health.  Encouraging those close to you to get regular check-ups, being aware of the signs of sexual withdrawal or creating a safe haven to discuss touchy or taboo topics are ways to break down this sexual barrier.

Alternative healthcare practitioners can encourage and support those suffering with impotence.  Whether it’s supporting essence through acupuncture, encouraging whole body blood flow and mental relaxation through visceral massage, tonifying natural reflex arcs with reflexology, clearing psychological issues with counseling or even strengthening organ systems with the help of a nutritionist or herbalist; your everyday practitioners can be a pillar of strength.  Men may wish to clam up and avoid giving true and exact details surrounding their sexual health when honesty and frankness is the only solution.

Specifically, the goal of an acupuncture treatment would be to balance and regulate physiological responses.  By choosing a series of points, we can support a man’s kidney yin, yang and essence.  Essence by definition is the crucial source from which we draw the vast majority of our energy and strength.  It is important to realize that if one part of our physical self is out of balance, we will have adverse physical effects as a result of our body compensating.  Supporting all of our organs will encourage an overall healthy state. Heart, liver, spleen and gall bladder can have specific effects on sexual performance.  Tonifying these organs will minimize the effects of impotence and treat possible underlying causes.  Using acupuncture with the purpose of relaxation will have a soothing effect on the psyche helping those with root causes in depression, fear, stress, fatigue or even the ever troublesome “performance anxiety.”

Intercourse is not supposed to be scary and uncomfortable. My suggestion to men is, since you can’t seem to stop bragging about it, grow a pair and do something!  Instead of gloating about the size of it, maybe talk about how healthy you are; after all, your sex-life should be anything but silent.

Adam Salzman is a gentle and intuitive acupuncturist at Prana Holistic. Working with the breath of each client, Adam makes acupuncture both healing and relaxing.

haunted by your health?

haunted by your health?

does the future of your health scare you?

Thinking about how your current lifestyle is going to come back to haunt you?

Stop worrying. There are so many little things you can do to make a BIG difference to your health. Pick ONE per week and within 6 weeks you won't believe the difference.

1. Get 6,000 IU of Vitamin D a day, 20 minutes in direct sunlight, or some fatty fish like salmon, trout or mackerel. It lowers your risk of diabetes, cancer and weight gain. Vitamin D goes very well with your Omega 3's, so take both for amazing brain, body and beauty benefits.
2. Drink 2 glasses of warm water in the morning upon rising and sit on the pot regardless whether you feel "the need". This will train your digestion to work efficiently. Help things along by gently rubbing your belly (from rib-cage to below your belly button) in a clock-wise way.
3. Sleep 7-9 hours a night. It is critical to your health, especially your immune system and your waist line. When you even have one night of less-than-optimal sleep, your hunger goes up, your ability to burn fat goes down, you store calories, and your immune system depresses. If just one night can compromise your health, what do you suppose a lifestyle of this can do?
4. Cut your sugar (NOT your fat) consumption in half. Stop eating low-fat, because that simply means "we replaced the fat with sugar". Sugar lowers your immune system, depletes your body of important nutrients, messes with your ability to burn fat and lose weight, and causes you to CRAVE MORE SUGAR!
5. Breath deeply, down to your belly, 10 times each day. This will increase your digestion, your energy and your beauty, not to mention it will help to alkalize your system so disease simply cannot thrive in your body! And, it is FREEEEEE (which means most of you won't do it ;)
6. Replace your long cardio program with 10-20 minute sessions of All-Outs. This lowers your stress hormones, increases your ability to handle stress, increases your sexy, anti-aging Human Growth Hormone, and allows you to lose fat easier. To do this interval-type of exercise: Choose whatever form of cardio you like best (stairs, running, jump rope, biking, etc) and do it AS HARD AS YOU CAN (or go All Out) for 30-60 seconds. Recover at a slower pace for 60-120 minutes, then repeat. Do enough All-Outs to add up to 2-8 minutes (with the recovery stage, warm up and cool down, this cycle will take 10-30 minutes).
7. Add 1 serving of raw vegetables to your diet. Vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli are especially amazing at fighting everything from cancer to obesity. Stick to low-glycemic veggies for the best result.s Start thinking of potatoes and corn as non-vegetables. Corn is a GRAIN (and a common allergen, as well as a heavily genetically-modified crop) and potatoes are just about as quick to turn into sugar as white bread. Limit them to 1 time a week, in a small serving.

The health industry can be a pretty intimidating place to watch from the outside. It often seems like the very same food we revered as a health food is vilified the following week. If this seems overwhelming to you, stick to the basics. The truth is, the best advice is often the free advice - drink water, breath deeply, chew your food, and exercise. And eat your vegetables!

Kristi Shmyr,

Prana Holistic

High Carbohydrate Consumption Acceptable For Type II Diabetics? Since When?

First thing's first: know that this blog is NOT intended to discourage you from following your physician's advice.

I just finished writing a follow-up column to my most recent column for SEE Magazine: A Diabetes Diet. Together, my columns are a mild reflection of how shocked I am, having discovered that conventional recommendations for diabetics include an astronomically high consumption of carbohydrates. I've obviously had my head in the sand up until this point because I had no idea that this was the case. In my investigations, I thoroughly perused the Canadian Diabetic Association's website. One of their printable documents, Just the Basics, Healthy Eating for Diabetes Management and Prevention, suggests eating more high fibre foods, their first two listed examples of high fibre foods being whole grain breads and cereals. What? This is a joke, right? Both bread and cereal are refined carbohydrates, meaning that the bran and hull of the grains have been removed. The bran and the hull are what provide fibre that contributes to keeping blood sugar levels lower. Moreover, both of these items convert to glucose in the body and, as a result, they function to raise blood sugar levels.

There's more! Here's an exact quote from the same document: "Choose starchy foods such as whole grain breads and cereals, rice, noodles, or potatoes at every meal. Starchy foods are broken down into glucose, which your body needs for energy." If that's not a direct contradiction, then I don't know what is. I am beyond flabbergasted that the point of this recommendation is that glucose is an energy source. Ok, sure, glucose is an energy source, but excessive consumption of glucose is the PRECISE problem with type II diabetes in the first place! Those with type II diabetes are not storing and using glucose properly. In my opinion, it's absolutely irresponsible to suggest that type II diabetics should be including starchy foods at EVERY MEAL!! This is like telling someone with cirrhosis of the liver to drink a glass of wine or a pint of beer with every meal!

To add insult to injury, it is suggested that coffee is permissible at EVERY meal - 3 times a day! What's next, cake as a midnight snack? Caffeine entices a stress response in the body that throws the endocrine system out of balance. The endocrine system needs to be as balanced as possible for anyone to experience optimal health, never mind those with type II diabetes whose hormones are already unbalanced. It seems impossible for it to get any worse, but it's also suggested on the Canadian Diabetes Association's website to use artificial sweeteners in the place of sugar. Artificial sweeteners, being lab-produced and chemical based, are absolutely toxic to the human body.

As if that wasn't enough, the Canadian Diabetes Association also recommends pursuing a low-fat diet to maintain healthy body weight, avoid clogged arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart disease. But fat is a necessary component of a healthy and well-rounded diet. Fat is an excellent source of energy, especially for endurance activity that all diabetics ought to be participating in. Fats nourish the brain and connective tissues, cushion and protect organs and glands, are the building blocks of hormones and are integral to the formation and rebuilding of bones, cells, enzymes, hair, muscles, nails and neurotransmitters. Furthermore, insulin is needed to deposit fat in the body, and insulin is only released with the ingestion of glucose. Therefore, eating fat does not mean that your body is going to deposit fat - fat is deposited in the presence of insulin. When the body's sugar stores are all full, it's extra glucose floating around in the blood that deposits itself as adipose tissue, NOT dietary fats. Finally, high insulin levels in the body have been shown to increase the incidence of plaque formation in the arteries. This means that it's quite possible that excessive glucose intake - NOT excessive fat intake - is more causative of atherosclerosis and heart disease. 
 
The body is designed to assimilate and efficiently use fats AND glucose, so long as everything is eaten in balance. It's when we throw our systems out of balance by poor diet including excessive intakes of any one thing, ingestion of processed and refined foods, high stress that is not being properly dealt with and poor lifestyle that our bodies begin being unable to effectively deal with their tasks. 


If you are a type II diabetic interested in pursuing an alternative nutritional regime, please contact us. I would be happy to facilitate a nutritional consult for you.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Jump THEN Learn to Fly

I met a new friend recently who gave such a wonderful example of my goal getting philosophy of "Jump, THEN learn to fly". She went down to South America and found a health product that amazed her. She asked if they had it in North America - they didn't, but wanted a distributor. She offered to be the North American distributor, but they told her she needed to be an importer. She wasn't. Now here's the great part. Most people would have backed off and walked away. Not my new Goal Ninja Friend. She said she was, and then came back and Googled "How to Become an Importer"! She incorporated a name and voila! She was an importer with distributor rights to a product she believed in. 

Now THAT'S how it's done!

Kristi Shmyr
Goal Ninja and owner of Prana Holistic

Are we Investors or Fund-raisers?

Did you know that world wide, we have raised about $4 TRILLION dollars in money to fund cancer research?

Does that scare anyone else?

We all know someone who has cancer, who has survived cancer, or tragically died from this terrible disease. I have lost all four of my grandparents to cancer, and many dear friends. I know the draw to do ANYTHING to help prevent cancer is strong. And we are constantly inundated with opportunities to fund raise for cancer research. Yet...what are we accomplishing besides the creation of a multi-billion dollar pharma industry?

The pharmaceutical industry has 625 lobbyists maintaining their economic interest in the States (where we, like it or not, are heavily influenced by). That means that drug lobbyists outnumber the actual number of members of Congress! In 2007, the U.S's pharmaceutical industry raked in $315 BILLION. In Fortune 500 surveys, the Pharmaceutical industry is THE most profitable industry - period. Research and development was over $65 billion of that cost - 26% of the drugs currently being researched are cancer drugs, more than any other category of drug. We are running, walking, biking and frantically raising money for pharmaceutical companies to turn around and charge us for drugs they used OUR money to develop! Where is our cure? Not to be over cynical, but the cure is not the goal. Your cash is.

In 2007, a study found that vitamin D and calcium supplementation seems to reduce incidence of cancer rates by 77% (no drug does this). The World Health Organization says that 70% of cancer is preventable through diet and lifestyle changes. Why aren't we saving our money and investing it in prevention, that is PROVEN to work? Easy answer - not as glamorous. There are no TV crews around when you go to the gym, or eat broccoli, or see your natural health practitioner. There is no story there. But we have been brainwashed to believe that raising funds for research is the answer to our cancer woes.

Lately in the news I have been hearing about the WONDERFUL news that survivor rates are up 6% over the past 18 years. I wondered if this was due to more cancers with a higher survivability rate - and I was right. Thyroid cancer rates have been growing by 10% a year. Melanoma and prostate cancer rates are also rising. These three cancers have the highest survivability rates. So does an increase in the average 5 year survival rate MEAN anything? Or is it we are just getting more of the cancers that we are more likely to survive?

My plea to you is to think twice about where your donations are going - is your money better spent on prevention and good health? I think so.

Kristi Shmyr

Prana Holistic

Annoying Leaf Blowers Doing Away With Man Power One Leaf at a Time

So it's fall: a very aesthetically pleasing time of year. Let me describe an experience for you: you're walking along appreciating the fall colours. Leaves are falling...red, orange, brown, yellow...there's a soft breeze. You hear the gentle crunching of the leaves underfoot, the air is warm and...what's that other sound? A motor of sorts...oh, leaves are blowing around more than they should be considering the soft nature of this breeze. What the?!?!! What is that motorized, tube-like contraption pumping even more emissions into our precious atmosphere?! I've discovered that these things are called "leaf blowers". And, in case you didn't detect my tone, I find them supremely irritating. Here's a hilarious description of leaf blowers from an online site providing ratings and simple information for those interested in buying a leaf blower:

"Faith may move mountains, but to move a huge pile of leaves, you need a big rake and dollops of help (if you are lucky). However, if you are tired of using a rake and help is not forthcoming (it happens so often), you do not have to sit staring at piles of leaves! Just buy leaf blower!"

What the hell? What happened to good old fashioned elbow grease? So, if you can't find someone to help you rake the lawn, the alternative is to sit there staring at piles of leaves unless you buy a leaf blower? In my estimation, this is the epitome of laziness! Not to mention the fact that these things are commonly being used on commercial properties and, as noted in the online literature that I perused, gas powered versions are superior for larger areas. That means that more emissions are being pumped out into our atmosphere because we've become so lazy that we're beyond using a rake. Don't even get me started on noise pollution. I'm not one to go on and on about things being too loud - I'm a heavy sleeper and in previous years when I had roommates, I never would've dreamed of shutting down a party on the other side of the wall from me - but superfluous motors that are being used to replace man power that is really not that much man power to be spoken of to begin with?! COME ON PEOPLE. Pick up the damn rake and exert some energy! Sweat - it's good for you!

I was most recently irritated by one of these confounded things while at the bank: they were leaf blowing the parking lot. Let me say that again: they were leaf blowing the PARKING LOT. Because apparently leaves on pavement is problematic? In retrospect, I reflect on the number of times I've noticed home owners leaf blowing the sidewalk out front of their houses. Ummm...someone please tell me why it's necessary to remove leaves from the sidewalk and in doing so, spew emissions into the air while making lots of noise.

Seriously. I think I've made my point. This is one of the great reasons that I love blogs: I have license to rant about leaf blowers and get away with it.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

I Love Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson wrote a beautiful poem called "Thoughts from Within" and it has been made into a video. It is beautiful and I recommend watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj0GZQdCct8&feature=player_embedded

Agrimony: An Famously Underrated Herb!

I just came up with what I deem to be the perfect herbal combination for a client and it happens to contain Agrimony: an herb that you may not even have ever heard of! That's because, as far as I'm concerned, it's grossly underrated. As my thirsty brain thirsts for ever more knowledge and information, I happily continue to drink in Matthew Wood`s wisdom from his book The Book of Herbal Wisdom. He features Agrimony in the book and rightly so!

Agrimonia eupatoria (the Latin name) is very well-rounded in it's applications though suited to a particular type, as are most herbs. According to the doctrine of signatures (a philosophy that states that as plants resemble certain parts or presentations of the body, so are they applicable to address ailments of those parts or presentations of the body), Agrimony is considered to be a tense looking plant and thereby is suited, as Wood clarifies, to a "characteristic mental state that revolves around tension, frustration, anger, and inner torment". This typical personality has a tendency to want to hide their mental state behind a facade of cheerfulness - a perfectly suited character for the application of Dr. Edward Bach's Agrimony in flower essences. Agrimony facilitates mental relaxation and sound sleep.

Agrimony is an astringent tonic, typically strengthening and toning tissues of the intestinal and urinary tracts. It has been used with success in instances of bed wetting and the fascinating thing about that is that it is best applied to children who are wetting the bed due to anxiety about toilet training. Would this therefore be a case of imparting relaxation to the anxious state or tonicity to the tissues of the urinary system? Wood points out that: "As we so often see in our herbal studies, a single plant unites opposite properties together under one roof."

As we also so often perceive in holistic practice, those that are challenged by, as Wood states, "anger, frustration, and fighting against the flow or a lack of confidence in the natural progression of events" typically have congestion in the liver. The liver is commonly related to issues of anger in alternative medicine. Agrimony clears stagnation in the liver and has historically been applied to cirrhosis and recuperation from alcohol and drug abuse. Naturally, Agrimony also addresses issues of the gallbladder, which is paired with the liver in physiology. In this sense, Agrimony is great for what Traditional Chinese practitioners refer to as "gallbladder headaches", where the pain travels from the liver and gallbladder, up over the shoulder blades, via the neck and into the head.

Agrimony also clears the kidneys of congestion and associated pain, as well as inflammation of both the kidneys and bladder. At this rate, it's no surprise that Agrimony is applied in instances of both gallbladder and kidney stones. Further, Agrimony is helpful for issues of the respiratory system, ameliorating tightness in the chest and even improving asthma. Agrimony has been used in cases of sinusitis, nagging cough, fluid in the lungs, excessive mucus production from the respiratory system and allergies.

Agrimony is a blessed herb for the intestinal tract, improving enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine), ulceration, colitis and bloody stools and, as a result, clearing eruptions of the skin, which are usually an indication of intestinal disorder. In addition, Agrimony has effect upon the cardiovascular and female reproductive systems. Agrimony lowers blood pressure, increases fertility, relieves painful menstruation and excessive menstrual bleeding. Finally, Agrimony has also been applied to eclampsia (toxemia of the body during pregnancy), poor peripheral circulation, brittle nails and hair, dripping urine, alopecia, intermittent fever, flu, rheumatism, bleeding cuts, joint injuries and burns.

Be aware that all of the issues and conditions mentioned that Agrimony addresses are also attached to a specific person. Know that herbal medicines are best applied as a "perfect match" to each type, personality and/or character. Though in using Agrimony, many will likely experience relief from ailments to which the herb applies, it's always best to consult a licensed herbal practitioner who is more versed in the application of particular herbs to particular conditions and those that experience them.

For an herbology consult with myself, please contact Prana Holistic.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Is there a success formula?

Learning the secrets and the "rules" of success is a passion of mine. I have spent the past 7 years studying, reading, listening and attending seminars on this topic, and hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours later, here are some of the things I have figured out: 1. You need a big "why" for any goal. This is your reason for doing what you do, and this reason has to be big enough to get you out of bed, and keep you working when you "don't feel like it". Without this, you get temporarily motivated, excited and passionate, but it will never last. You will set goals, New Years' Resolutions, and make promises to yourself, but you won't have the will to keep going when that initial burst of conviction wears off. 2. You need to understand your reasons for NOT wanting to achieve. Sounds strange, but our mind does not keep us from success to be mean; there is always a benefit your subconscious mind sees to stay exactly as you are, without your goal. Finding out what that is and resolving it is critical to your success. 3. The best way to tell your future is to create it. I see no reason to leave the content of you future up to chance. If you really want to achieve success, you need a very clear image of how you define that success. What does it look like, feel like, and sound like? Don’t limit yourself, because there are possibilities you could not even imagine from where you currently are, but get an idea. Since energy cannot be created nor destroyed, everything you want already exists; it simply needs to change form. Hold that image long enough and it will be drawn to you as you move towards it. 4. Act. Notice I said it will be drawn to you as you move towards it. I truly believe the universe can only do for you what it can do through you; waiting for your dreams to rain down from the sky will leave you waiting a great deal. Get clear and focused and then take inspired action, huge action, that makes your dreams inevitable. 5. Never stop readjusting and realigning. Success, like life, is never static. It will require you to be dynamic and changeable. Our knowledge doubles every 3 years, so you CANNOT keep doing what you have always done and expect to even stay the same; if you refuse to evolve, you are not only refusing to grow, you are actually DE-volving. Realign your goals and your actions with your purpose constantly. And embrace change; it is, ironically, the only constant. 6. Practice, and then simply let go and trust. Success requires practice. Just as working out for 5 days for 1 minute will not transform your body, inconsistent action and focus on your goals will not transform your life. You need to bring structure and order to any area that you want to be successful in. After that, comes the easiest and yet most difficult task – letting go and trusting that what you desire is already coming. This work is my passion. If you resonate with this Success Formula and want to learn more, I invite you to join Goal Ninjas: 6 Steps to the Kick Ass Life you Crave, starting November 6, 2010. If you want to learn more, check out www.goalninjas.com, or call Kristi at 780.454.5299

Fall: The Times They Are A Changin'. Need Stress Relief?

It's officially fall. The weather is changing. I've experienced reconciliation with old friends previously estranged and have terminated other relationships that were no longer serving me. I weaned my son off breastfeeding, put some weight back on and am feeling highly motivated and very optimistic.

Me: incredibly cool & good-looking due to my stress-busting skills!

Some might say there's a "shift" going on: I would agree. Things feel different. One thing that is refreshingly different for me is the way in which I seem to be choosing to deal with life's challenges. I always say that the definition of insanity is waking up in the morning, doing the same thing, and expecting different results. Well, when it comes to parenthood, it's sometimes hard to practice constant restraint - of fiery emotions that is - and choose to do things differently: with patience and understanding. Not that I wasn't a patient and understanding parent before now, but it sometimes felt that my patience was non-existent for prolonged periods of time, and this is only the tip of the iceberg - Caleb's barely  just over a year and a half! The awesome thing is that the things I've chosen to do differently are very slight, and yet incredibly effectual at keeping angry outbursts at bay.

So here's what I've been doing: breathing more deeply and mindfully more often, especially in response to what I commonly perceive to be stress-inducing events, and doing 15 minutes of guided meditation about 3-4 times a week. Frickin' easy and so impactful!

Here's an example of how awesome it's been working in my life: I hate whining. Hate it, hate it, HATE IT! Caleb's at a challenging age where he's on the brink of communicating verbally, but not quite there yet, so lots of whining happens. Often. I've started to take note of what my triggers are that entice a stress-response - anger and anxiety being my most common stress-responses that I notice right away. Of course, whining is a huge trigger. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me. So when Caleb starts to whine, instead of shouting at him, I take deep abdominal breaths. Perfect: I can focus through his choice to whine without blowing a wing nut.

Another great example: I've always had road rage. Lately I've been breathing deeply into my abdomen while I drive - awesome! No more road rage. I've been letting people in to lanes in front of me with pleasure and have noticed the reciprocal action of the universe in that respect: people are letting me in front of them equally as often. It definitely feels good.

What a difference I feel, going through my days with a sense of calm relaxation and acceptance of the world - just as it is - instead of being tense, angry, unreasonable and irrational. The meditation is where I've gotten the mantra: "I accept the world just as it is" from and damn, it works! Meditation always functions to give me a lasting sense of serene acceptance and optimism throughout my days. With this lasting sense of cool, I'm more productive at work and home, more organized and motivated, more sociable, articulate and direct in my communication and, my intuition is like a river: ever-flowing.

These two coping and self-care techniques are some of the more effective ones - FOR ME. Everyone has different estimations of what is stressful, and everyone copes differently with the stresses of their lives. If you are looking to cope better with the stress in YOUR life and very much like the sound of having a lasting sense of calm relaxation and acceptance of the world - just as it is, I strongly encourage you to join us for our Ultimate Stress Seminar, starting on Wednesday September 15th and running for 5 consecutive Wednesdays, from 6-7:30p.m. Within these sessions, we will help you discover YOUR triggers that activate a stress-reaction and find the best coping techniques for YOU. I very much look forward to seeing the calm and relaxed faces in the room and out on the streets of Edmonton once all is said and done.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Yarrow: "Much More Than A Weed Found In Ditches"

I've been spending time periodically reading Matthew Wood's book: "The Book Of Herbal Wisdom". Matthew Wood is a renowned American herbalist, author and lecturer, offering much wisdom to the world on traditional western herbalism. Over the past couple of days, I've been learning about Yarrow, and I'd like to share some of that with you here.

The Latin name for Yarrow (Latin names commonly being used in the practice of herbology) is Achillea millefolium. Yarrow is anything but a weed found in ditches: it has a myriad of physiological applications as well as being a part of most flower essence repertoires, including the one that I work with both personally and professionally. One of Yarrow's most important applications is as a styptic, meaning that it stops bleeding, even bleeding from severe, deep cuts and internal hemorrhaging. Yarrow certainly has an affinity for the blood. Matthew Wood says that "Yarrow is suited to deep cuts which penetrate to the arteries, resulting in profuse hemorrhage of bright red blood. The idea also applies to fevers. The Yarrow fever cuts deeply, past the superficial level of defense, penetrating to the deep vasculature." This is invaluable in the application of herbal medicine.

As an wilderness herb, think of Yarrow when you're camping and you or any of your companions manage to cut themselves deeply, either with an axe or utensil - not that I want this to happen to you, but in the instance that it does, Yarrow may be your saving grace! Chew the leaves and/or roots of Yarrow and apply it to the wound, changing the dressing every few minutes. According to Matthew Wood's accounts, this will effectively staunch the bleeding and result in a very slight mark the following day. Further, Yarrow has been called the "nosebleed plant". Those who suffer from persistent nosebleeds can chew the root of Yarrow or take dosages of tincture every few minutes to stop the bleeding.

Studying Yarrow has made me think of a client I worked with at Prana who initially came in having had a less than pleasant experience at the hospital where she lost a great deal of blood from her colon. Medical practitioners were stumped. At this rate, I really wish I had been so versed on Yarrow and near to her in the acute stages of her experience! Surely, consistent dosages of Yarrow tincture would have done the job. Having said that, and like all herbs, Yarrow seems to have a "type" that it most effectively applies to. Matthew Wood describes this Yarrow "type" as having "a ruddy, robust, sanguine complexion even in health." Further, Yarrow is best applied when the pulse is "full, rapid and nonresistant, the tongue is red, drier towards the center, wetter towards the outside, seldom coated [and] the face is often flushed." 
  
Finally, Yarrow is also helpful as a digestive tonic, meaning that it tones the whole of the digestive tract. Yarrow has been successfully applied in cases of dysentry, diarrhea, diverticulitis and colitis. It has been found useful in cases of adult onset diabetes, angina, absent menstrual periods, heavy periods, uterine fibroids, prolapsed uterus, menopausal transition and blood blisters.

Energetically, Yarrow is applied as a flower essence to impart healthy boundaries. It it excellent for those that have a tendency of being overly-absorbent of other's energies. For example, in the past, I had somewhat of an incapacity to go home from an intensely emotional session with a client and feel "normal" - like myself. I would typically take on the client's feelings as described to me in session and then be really confused as to why I felt that way - I had absorbed the client's energy.

If you are interested in pursuing the application of herbs and/or flower essences to what ails you or if you have further questions about how either or both of these modalities work, please contact me. I would be happy to offer more information and especially to facilitate an experience for you towards better health and wellness through the use of herbs and/or flower essences.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic
roberta@pranaholistic.ca
780.454.5299

Flu Season

Not to rush the seasons, but the flu season is approaching again. Before that happens, I would like to get an early jump on helping my followers make the best decisions about their health.

I have been watching an amazing interview with Dr. Mercola and Barbara Loe Fisher, founder of the National Vaccine Information Center. 

The most shocking and enlightening comment in this fantastic interview, was this.

Products containing mercury, like any vaccine containing Thirmesol, CANNOT BE DISPOSED OF in a regular manner as they are considered HAZARDOUS WASTE! And yet we are encouraged to have them injected into our bodies?

Please watch the video at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/21/barbara-loe-fisher-on-flu-vaccine-changes.aspx 

I also wanted to point out this comment from Dr. Mercola on the vaccines effectiveness on the elderly, one of the main targets for these vaccines:

Flu Vaccine Does Not Prevent Death in Elderly, CDC Director Admits

Clearly, what the pharmaceutical industry would love for you to believe is that the flu vaccine is going to somehow magically protect you from dying from the flu, when in fact the evidence couldn't be more clear -- It doesn't work at all in the elderly! And the data is flimsy at best when it comes to children and adults.
In fact, in April, Michael Osterholm, director of the national Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), publicly admitted that flu shots don't work in the elderly.
We also know the flu vaccine is fraught with side effects and health complications, so many people are literally receiving zero benefit and all risk when getting this vaccine!       ~ Dr. Mercola, MD

Educate you and your family before making your flu vaccine decisions this fall. I trust you to make the best decision for you, but I just want to make sure you see all sides of this story.

To a healthy season, now and in the future!

Kristi Shmyr

Prana Holistic

Fleeting Summer Days

I love Edmonton in the summer.

There. I said it.

It seems to me that's not a particularly popular opinion - to actually enjoy where you currently live. But I have always been a bit of a rebel.

The Fringe Festival is on right now, it's still sunny and warm, but the nights have cooled significantly. You can eat outside or in, and ice cream still feels like a totally reasonable "I need to cool down" purchase. I love it. 

I have been happily enjoying our short summer season, blissfully unaware that fall has been silently slipping in and touching the trees already. Yes, saw my first yellow leaves on the trees. Blerg.

So today's post isn't particularly relevant to my business, but simply a Happiness Call to Action. Enjoy the last days of summer. I truly believe how you do anything is how you do everything, so if you are waiting for the kids to be out of the house, or retirement, or whatever, to actually get out there and enjoy summer, know that you will ALWAYS be in a state of waiting. Seize the day and enjoy the sun. It doesn't last forever. 

Do you get that I am not just talking about summer here? 

Kristi Shmyr

Prana Holistic

Stress: Your Mental Perceptions. So How Can You Cope?

Stress: BLAH! For the most part, not many of us can claim to be non-stressed. Perhaps in a single moment, your perception of the world and yourself does not include an overpowering feeling of stress, but surely, as your day proceeds, you can notice at least some experience of stress. Some people proceed through their days in a constant state of feeling "stressed out". Even "good" things can create an experience of stress that perhaps we consider to be "good" stress. I don't suppose "good" stress is something worth trying to change. Rather, it's our experience of "bad" stress that we all need help coping with. Stress inevitably leads to ill-health that can manifest as minor aches and pains, colds and flu (since stress depletes the immune system), chronic conditions and even degenerative illnesses. It is estimated that 90 per cent of illnesses and disease are related to stress - no kidding!

So where does stress start? Stress is a mental perception, so I do believe that it starts within our mental faculties of being. For example, when Caleb (my son) throws his food on the floor, I perceive stress, which I feel physically and that sometimes gives me a feeling as though I'm going to explode in anger (as embarrassing as that is for me to admit, let's be honest here). Meanwhile, I see how Caleb's dad interacts with him, and he is very laid back and non-reactive while Caleb throws his food around and makes a mess: he simply lets Caleb know that that's not okay, and proceeds with life. In reality, nothing is being altered to the point of negatively affecting my life nor is anyone being hurt when Caleb throws his food on the floor, so why do I perceive stress? Well, my mom keeps a very clean house and has always spent lots of time and energy maintaining that and clearly perceiving stress when it's not that way. Now, before proceeding, let me clarify that I adored my childhood, I love my mother dearly and I know damn well that we, as parents, do the very best that we can with the resources that are available to us in each passing moment. I say all that in order that it doesn't seem that I'm placing blame when I say that surely, that's where my mental perception of: messy house = stress, is coming from.

Now, I realize that changing the mental belief that a messy house is stressful is what is really necessary in order that this not ride me like it does. I mean, Caleb's a toddler and I best be getting used to messes if I want to proceed through his childhood with ease and minimal stress. In the meantime, I need to focus on how I can cope with my perception of stress in response to Caleb's creating messes. There are many ways of coping with stress to the best of your ability. At the end of the day, the fact that stress is a part of daily living is not going to change, it's OUR way of coping, thinking and behaving that is subject to change. I'm going to encourage you to start with deep abdominal breathing. For a more in depth explanation, please check out my most recent column: Take A Deep Breath... for SEE Magazine. For a video on how to do deep abdominal breathing and for more tips and ideas on how to reduce your stress, please check out The Ultimate Stress Seminar: this also offers you the opportunity to sign up for Kristi and I's upcoming FREE teleseminar dedicated to helping you live an easy and stress-free life. Finally, for help with changing your thoughts and beliefs that are keeping you stressed out (ie: messy house = stress), please check out Goal Ninjas: Kristi's passionate pursuit to lead you on a journey towards the life you crave!

What are your most regular perceptions of stress? What are your best ways of coping with perceived stress? Your comments are really important to us, so do us a favour and leave one...or two...or more! We want to hear from you!

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Constipated? Just poop!

When we talk about letting go, in terms of health, often it can mean letting go of more than just emotions. Constipation is one of the most common chronic conditions in the western world, and as funny as this baby makes it look, anyone who knows the heaviness, bloating and lethargy that accompanies constipation knows it ain't no joke! So what do you do to relieve constipation? I have some ideas! Ask a reflexologist to show you where you colon is on your feet, or check online (or even better, get a session - it's very therapeutic, and worse case scenario - you get a fantastic foot rub!). Reflexology is AMAZING for relieving a "back up in your back end". Babies and young children especially respond quickly. My 2 year old niece's feet were congested in the colon area, so I rubbed them for 5 minutes. Within 10 minutes she had a bowel movement so large it could pass for an adult's. Too much information, you say? Get over it - it's natural! Avoid harsh herbs like cascara sagrada and senna, as well as laxatives. They can intensify the very symptoms they are meant to treat, cause cramping, and with overuse can even cause liver problems. Instead, opt for peppermint and ginger teas to gently promote digestion and ease tension. Eat more raw, living foods, and take digestive enzymes. Raw fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and even meat have enzymes that are critical to your digestion; without them, especially as you age, you won't be able to process your meals as easily and constipation (as well as fatigue, weight gain and headaches, just to name a few symptoms) will result. After age 35, it is also recommended that you supplement with Betaine (from beet root) that mimics your stomachs hydrochloric acid, which lowers significantly as you age. In the morning, as soon as you wake up, drink 1-2 glasses of tepid to warm water, pace around while rubbing your entire abdomen area in a clockwise fashion, paying special attention to any tender or tight areas. Then, regardless of the need or not, sit on the toilet for a minute with your knees elevated (use a low stool or stack of magazines). Do this everyday for a week and you will train your body to have a morning bowel movement. Get a massage therapist trained in abdominal massages (we have Leila for this!) to work out tension in your abdomen and help your system restore its natural elimination. Often, organs can become "stuck" and releasing them will also help you release your poop! If you're constipated, its time to let go. Start with these 5 tips and you are well on your way to a happier tummy!

Some Au Natural Solutions for Skeeter Season

For a little while there, I thought we might get away with NOT being bombarded with mosquitoes this year. I suppose I was being silly: it was a little bit of wishful thinking on my part. Alas, I got bit more than four times on my way from my car to my front door yesterday! I'm not a big fan of air conditioning, but I used it yesterday because there was no way I was opening my car windows since every time I did, anywhere from 3 - 5 buzzy bestits would get in!

Anyway, there's really no use moaning about it as that certainly won't make the annoying problem go away. Rather, I have looked up a few natural mosquito repellents and bite remedies that I hope will be helpful for everyone.

Let's start with a few ideas for natural repellents. First of all, I'd like to say that I really like the Rocky Mountain Soap Company's insect repellent cream. It's safe for kids and actually smells quite good. You can get their products at Planet Organic market or, alternatively, there's a Rocky Mountain Soap Company store in Southgate Mall. Here are some other suggestions:

- lemon, geranium, clove, fennel, tea tree, rosemary and/or eucalyptus oils
- citronella that can be obtained in oil or many different repellent lotions
- garlic: it is suggested that ingesting garlic will repel insects by coming out the pores of the skin. I imagine raw garlic would have to be ingested quite regularly for this to be effective. I'd say about 2-3 cloves per day, cut up into small enough pieces to be swallowed with water.
- SMOKE! You can get citronella candles or, if you have a fire pit, have a fire if you're going to be outside at night - that'll definitely keep them off you.
- during the day, avoid wearing dark clothing as that attracts the buggers

It's pretty much inevitable that you'll get some bites considering how massive the mosquito population seems to be at this rate. One of our excellent massage therapists, Ryan, has about 15 bites all in one area below the knee on the back of his calf. It's like a big ol' cluster of itchy. At work this past Saturday, he applied peppermint oil to the bites, which he said, and I can imagine, was helpful. I'm sure tea tree oil or any other oil with a similar bite to it would be effective, like rosemary or spearmint oils. Here are some other suggestions of what to apply to the bites to help kill the insatiable itchy-ness:

- vinegar - apparently white or apple cider vinegar are effective. You could also put about 1/2 a cup of vinegar in your bath water.
- rub a bar of soap on the bites
- a hot compress or ice cubes
- a mixture of baking soda and water
- toothpaste or underarm deodorant

I imagine and hope that at least one - and probably more - of these suggestions will be helpful to you. God knows the damn itchy bites can be a bit of a distraction - I HATE the ones just below the ankle bone!

Happy August everyone and here's to hoping we'll be successful in our pursuits to dodge the skeeters for the rest of mosquito season.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Lactose Intolerance: When Did Ignoring Messages From Our Bodies Become A Good Idea?

Today I read an article in the Globe & Mail about lactose intolerance. The author sounded very knowledgeable, from a scientific perspective, about the workings of the human body and how lactose is digested. In order to digest lactose, found in dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, etc., our bodies use an enzyme called lactase. As mentioned by the author who wrote this article, our bodies produce less lactase as we get older - it is thought that we stop producing lactase at about the age of 4. This would be why symptoms of "lactose intolerance", as we've come to know it, show up, such as cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea. The body is trying desperately to digest something that it is unable to digest due to lack of enzymes, and, as a result, lactose is being fermented in the large intestine by bacteria, who's activity is causing the above mentioned symptoms.

Anyway, the final point that the author was making in this article that I read, was that we don't have to make the sacrifice of avoiding dairy products: there are alternatives, such as consuming products where the lactose content has been reduced, such as lactose-free milk and where lactase, the enzyme, has been added to assist our bodies in digesting lactose. Further, she discussed the possibility of supplementing the enzyme lactase before consuming dairy with such well-known products as "Lactaid". Finally, a person could introduce small amounts of dairy frequently, in the hope that the body would adjust and allow for periodic consumption of dairy products without adverse symptoms.

I guess I was a bit amazed by this article. The amazement is because I'm misunderstanding how we, as a North American society (and perhaps other societies too, but I'm most familiar with North American society), seem to think it's totally cool and okay to ignore glaring messages from our physical bodies. Is the thought really lost on us that there's a very specific reason as to why our bodies stop producing as much lactase in an early stage of life? Is there really such a small population of people who are understanding of the methods of the human body? Children, in their development, tend to need more fat, vitamins, nutrients, minerals and protein than adults do, as adult's bodies are more sophisticated. This would be why children's bodies have the capacity to digest foods that contain lactose. Having said that, I would like to mention the fact that infants and children are more susceptible to developing allergies and cow's dairy is highly allergenic. I feed my infant goat's milk and cheese, which still contains lactose, but is more easily assimilated by the human body and far less allergenic.

The body is a finely tuned and miraculous machine that typically doesn't do anything by accident, so how is it okay to just soldier through symptoms that arise as a result of consuming dairy products? Yeah I get it, cheese tastes good: doesn't mean our body is designed to have cheese on a daily basis. Here we go again with our strong desire for instant gratification: it feels or tastes good, so who cares about the fact that it doesn't exactly produce positive health results. MY point, and perhaps a redundant one, is moderation. If you choose to consume milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, ice cream, etc., for God's sake, do it in moderation because your body is not designed to have it! And in the event that you do make these choices and experience uncomfortable symptoms of intolerance as a result, listen to your body! It's only trying to tell you: "hey, I don't like this and am not sure what to do with it because I don't have the resources to break it down". The appropriate response is: "okay body, thank you. I really value the amazing job you do each day: I'll take it easy on dairy because you deserve the very best and I only have one of you".

Make sense? It makes A LOT of sense to me. Let me know what YOU think.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Calorie Wise or Otherwise?

I don't think I need to draw additional attention to the idea of a "low-fat" diet. Low-fat products are all around us and following a low-fat diet is recommended by many physicians, especially to those who are overweight or with high blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Under these circumstances, I bet no one ever considered the possibility that a calorie-wise dietary regime might not be so wise!

Fat is a healthy component of each person's diet. But ALL FATS ARE NOT EQUAL. For lack of better words, there are "good" fats and "bad" fats. "Good" fats such as unsaturated oils like olive, sunflower, safflower, evening primrose, borage, nuts and seeds and their oils and fatty fish and their oils make many positive contributions to our health. "Good" fats function to generate energy, create and maintain cell membranes, insulate and protect, improve nerve and organ function, discourage fat storage and create prostaglandins. As already reviewed in my recent blog about evening primrose oil, prostaglandins mimic the action of hormones in the body to such positive effect as reducing inflammation. Consuming "good" fats can help mental and nervous system disorders, diabetes, PMS, heart disease, skin and joint disorders. Moreover, "good" fats help improve digestion, prostate and breast health and contribute to a healthy pregnancy and post-pregnancy, especially improving the quality of breast milk.

Saturated fats, in excess, are "bad" fats that cause health problems over time. Saturated fats are found primarily in animal protein, butter and coconut oil and are solid at room temperature. This is not to say that saturates ought to be 100% cut out from the diet, but rather that moderation is key.

Low-fat products aren't doing anyone any favours. Depending on the nature of the "low-fat", "diet" or "calorie-wise" product, there may be artificial sweeteners in the ingredients list and artificial sweeteners are absolutely  toxic to the human body. Furthermore, low-fat products have been more processed than products that are left with fat in tact. And, just to be redundant, chances are that the fat that was otherwise in that product was healthful in nature.

Our society is one of excessive consumption. Those who are recommended to avoid fats would do better to avoid low-fat products and moderate their intake of dietary fats, putting focus upon the "good" fats and being mindful of "bad" fats. Again, the fats that are considered "bad" are only classified as so when they are consumed excessively. So slow down, enjoy your food - even food with fat included - and be moderate!

For more information on just how atrocious the ingredients in low-fat products can be, check out my recent column for SEE Magazine: Low-Fat May Be Highly Bad For You

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic

Summer Food, healthified

Summer is the time for fun food, right? Barbecues and patios, slushy drinks and finger food. But the problem is, most of that isn't all that good for you. 

"Shut up, Kristi".

That's what you're thinking, right? "Who cares, and stop ruining my summer fun"!

I think you SHOULD enjoy some fun food and drink, guilt-free this summer. But why not make some minor changes to make your barbecue and your beach body friends!

Idea #1: Fish tacos: 

This is a fresh, fun treat in the summer. Make a spicy rub with cayenne (revs the metabolism for a leaner body, easier), paprika, garlic and onion powder, and salt, rub it into some fresh halibut (healthy, healthy fish), and throw it on the BBQ. Then cook up a little rice (remember, rice is a SIDE DISH, so small amount, and use brown or a nice wild blend), add some beans (kidney or black or whatever you have), and make some fresh guacamole with avocado, diced peppers and onions, garlic, lemon juice and a dash of sea salt. Add fresh salsa (diced tomatos, onions, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice), put it all in nice big lettuce leaves (healthier than taco shells, and much fresher in taste) and you have an incredible, easy and healthy meal!

Idea #2: Fun Slushy drink:

Add coconut milk, pineapple and ice in a blender and make a fun, healthier drink. Coconut milk is great for hormone health, full of healthy fats, and tasty, and pineapple is not only fresh and flavourful, but has natural enzymes that help you digest better, as well as decrease inflammation. Add some rum if you are feeling especially crazy, but don't overdo it or you'll undo all of your healthy work!

Add a fresh salad (I love watermelon, mint, feta, red onion and a splash of vinegar - sounds like a weird salad, but so good!) and you have a healthy BBQ. Then get the gang playing Frisbee or football and being active and you have a healthy weekend of fun and food!

Kristi Shmyr

Prana Holistic