Dr. Marita’s Guide to Sustainable, Nourishing Weight Loss
We are living in a world where there is a lot of pressure on the body to look a certain way, and somehow that got us measuring our worth to our size.
With all the weight loss fads out there aiming to drop the pounds as quickly as possible, there are some important questions to be asking. Please take this with a reminder that your worthiness has nothing to do with the size of your jeans - but if you are thinking about losing weight because you want to be the most energetic, well-nourished version of yourself, this guide is for you.
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Superfood Spotlight: International Chocolate Day- Recipes & Benefits
The Superfood Spotlight is shining on Chocolate this month! Not only is it a yummy dessert, but this popular superfood has lots to offer in support of good health! Be sure to be mindful of the quality of ingredients and sugar content in your chocolate treats and recipes as that will affect the amount of health benefits.
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Dr. Marita’s Guide to Coffee Alternatives
Coffee isn’t necessarily bad for your health, however, consuming too much caffeine can greatly increase a rise in blood pressure as well as induce symptoms of anxiety and issues with sleep. It is also not particularly helpful to consume in high quantities for those with stomach related issues, such as IBS, because of the way it stimulates the colon. As a coffee lover I won’t ask you to give it up for good, but let’s look at some of my favourite options to help you cut down on your caffeine intake.
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Back to School: Healthy Packed Lunch & Snack Ideas
Lunch prep doesn’t have to be stressful - in fact, it can be quite fulfilling to get creative as we are setting our children up for success in the classroom. We all want our kids to feel good at school. For this to happen, they need to have the energy and focus to learn, socialise and play, so let’s take a look at the foundation that sets our kids up for a great day.
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Superfood Spotlight: Watermelon
This tasty fruit has a big reputation for its water content, and not only is it hydrating, it is also rich in many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other dense nutrients! If you are looking to support your heart & skin health, waste elimination, regulate body temperature, satiate your appetite and relieve sore muscles - this juicy fruit is on your side. This month’s Superfood Spotlight is Watermelon!
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Back to School: Impacts of Screen Time & How to Cultivate Healthy Habits
As the summer fun continues on, there may be some rising anticipation in parents for the ‘Back to School’ transition from all the summer activities to more time on screens. It is becoming more widely known that screen time has adverse effects on ours and our children’s health. So how do we cultivate and model healthy habits before and after the day at school? Here are some of my screen managing tips for families:
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Natural Alternatives For Your Summer Pharmacy Needs
As more time is spent outside this season, environmental factors play even more of a role in our experience. We may expose our skin to the sun for too long at the beach, get stung by a wasp on the patio, or become a feast for the mosquitoes on a camping trip. While many over the counter or prescription remedies can provide relief, they also come coupled with potentially harmful toxins. Thankfully there are many effective natural alternatives, and I’ve put together a master list to cover your Summer pharmacy needs naturally.
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Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
They say that this treat is worthy of a scream! Do you scream for ice cream? Whether you are on a dairy-free or sugar-free diet, there are options for everyone. This favourite dessert is quite easy to make from any of your favourite ingredients, and is sure to cool you down & sweeten your day or night. I’ve brought together some different options to inspire your treat-making creativity in the kitchen and save yourself a trip to the frozen section at the supermarket.
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Superfood Spotlight- Strawberry Benefits and Recipes
As berry picking season continues, this month’s Superfood Spotlight is focusing on the juicy, red, heart-shaped favourite… Strawberries. I bet you didn’t know that even their greens are a superfood! Let’s break down some of the benefits and recipes for not only the berry, but their little green crowns as well.
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Dr. Marita’s Foundational Guide to Summer Self Care
Ahhh Summer– sunshine, BBQ’s, events galore, vacation mode. Self care is a balancing act no matter what time of year, but it can feel especially hard to keep up in the hustle and bustle and break from routine that comes with this season. As we all step into ‘summer mode’, I want to focus on helpful self care tips specific to this hot-weather season.
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Injury Prevention Day- Nutrition, and Practices for Injury Prevention
July 5th was National Injury Prevention Day, and with Summer being a more active time for many of us, I thought it was a great time to talk about how to prepare the body to prevent injury while staying active. Prevention truly is the best medicine, and I’ll cover some practices and nutrition to set your body up for resiliency.
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Canada Day - Canadian Inspired Recipes
Happy Canada Day! Wherever and however you’re celebrating today, I’m sure it includes food. It’s not often we consider Canadian cuisine here in Canada, but I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some traditional indigenous recipes, alongside some Canadian classics and some fun red and white treats.
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Lazy Days and BBQs -How to Minimize Your Family’s Sugar Intake
Ice- Cream, potato chips, lemonade, cherry pie, soft drinks. The list could go on and on. Summer is full of delicious treats that could derail your family’s goal of cutting down sugar. While Summer is certainly the season to throw the schedule out the window and adopt a more free-spirited way of living, it doesn’t have to undo all of your sugar-free efforts. Whether you choose to stay totally sugar-free or prefer a more balanced approach, you don’t have to skip any of the Summer fun with these tips in mind
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Father’s Day: A Quick Guide to Men’s Health
With Father’s Day just around the corner, I thought I’d take this annual opportunity to talk specifically about men’s health. If you are a dad, Happy Father’s Day! If you aren’t a dad, or just have a dad you’d like to continue making happy memories with, I invite you to share this with him this Father’s Day. After all, it is health that allows a dad to keep on doing all of the things we love the most about them. From heart health, mental health, and hormonal health, we’ve got the leading angles covered.
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World Anxiety Day- Tips on Finding Peace in an Overstimulating World
Today, June 10, is World Anxiety Day, a day created to shed light on anxiety and those suffering with it, many of whom do so behind the scenes. It’s estimated around 25% of Canadians suffer from anxiety, which is data we have seen increase over the pandemic. The rates are particularly high among young people, with a 2018 report survey 41% of young adults aged 18-29 being diagnosed with anxiety. This is followed closely by 36% of 30-44 year olds and 31% of 45-59 year olds. Those over 60 report the lowest percentage at 16%. As my contribution to this conversation, I wanted to share some of my favourite natural anxiety easing tips.
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Superfood Spotlight- It’s Almost Blueberry Season! Benefits and Recipes
It’s almost blueberry season! With blueberries starting to be ready in late June here on Vancouver island, I thought it was prime time to pick them for our Superfood Spotlight of the month, so that you could be ready to pounce the moment they’re ripe!
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Your Guide to Combating Seasonal Allergies Naturally
Nothing quite puts a bummer on Spring and Summer like seasonal allergies. Dealing with sneezing, congestion, itchiness, runny nose, and all of the joys that come along with pollen sensitivity can leave you feeling like you’re missing out on the joy and ease of the season. Thankfully, I’ve got you covered with some natural tips for preventing and minimising seasonal allergy symptoms.
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8 Simple Ways to Incorporate More Movement into your Day
As we shake off the hibernation of the Winter season, the rebirth of Spring or the promise of Summer may be giving you a bit more inspiration to get up and get moving, Movement is a crucial part of maintaining good physical and mental health, and yet only about 16% of Canadian adults are meeting the recommended 150 mins of physical activity per week. Sedentary lifestyles increase risks of health complications such as obesity, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers.
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Superfood Spotlight- Seaweed Benefits and How to Eat It
Our superfood for the month of May comes from the sea… Seaweed. No, don’t eat the stuff you find washed up on the beach, I’ve included some delicious and sometimes surprising ways to incorporate more seaweed into your diet as well as the benefits of doing so.
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Top Places to Shop High Quality Local and Seasonal Foods
One of the best ways we can reduce our carbon footprint, and drive growth within our communities is to support local food producers. Thankfully, on Vancouver island we have a ton of beautiful produce, meats, and more available to us fairly consistently through the year. Summer is of course the time of plenty, and so I wanted to put together a guide of my favourite places to get local fare around the Victoria area.
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