Image by Jerry Gorecki @Pixabay A group of researchers investigated how a person’s psychology affects their organic food consumption. The investigation was to uncover whether or not a person’s Consideration of Future Consequences (CFC) was a factor in their propensity to purchase organic food. Consideration of future consequences Sales of organic foods have increased in […]
Diet
What Are Endocrine Disruptors?
Image by Choktiniti Khongchum @Pexels What we know about endocrine disruptor chemicals Endocrine disruptors are chemicals present in many everyday products, including food. They can mimic hormones and alter their activity, leading to several biological effects. We know these chemicals cause harmful effects on animals, but we don’t know much about their effects on humans.1 Understanding […]
Endurance Exercise and Heart Damage
Photo by Sopan Shewale @Unsplash The previous ideology was that endurance exercise can protect the heart from damage. However, current research shows the protective factor of endurance exercise may not be true. With the growing popularity of endurance and ultra-endurance sports, finding the connections between endurance exercise and heart damage is crucial. While regular exercise […]
Heart Fat: The Yin and Yang of Cardiometabolic Diseases
Image by Allec Gomes @Pexels Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a fancy term for fatty tissue surrounding the heart. Normally, EAT plays an important role in heart function and offers protective factors for good health.1 In abnormal conditions, EAT is a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases like obesity and insulin resistance.2 Finding a balance of […]
What is the Microbiome?
Image by CDC @Unsplash Your microbiome and disease risk are linked. Trillions of bacteria live in our bodies in a symbiotic relationship.1 So, what does this symbiotic relationship look like? This relationship is one in which bacteria rely on our bodies to exist, and we support each other’s health and daily needs. For example, our […]
The Innate Immune System: Advancing Understanding
Image by Arek Socha @Pixabay Our body’s natural disease and infection-fighting resources make up our immune system. These defence mechanisms involve special types of cells and bodily substances that work together to keep us healthy. Our immune system protects us from dangerous organisms called pathogens by recognizing and removing them. Some common pathogens include viruses […]
A Superfood to Fight Disease?
Image by AselvadaAna @Pixabay Widely regarded as a superfood, pomegranate is a vibrant red fruit linked to health and wellness. But can pomegranates help fight disease?1,2 The benefits of pomegranates are attributed to their high levels of antioxidants, even beating out green tea and orange juice for antioxidant content.1,2 Increasing antioxidant intake may help prevent […]
The Lesser Known Heart Problem: Mitral Valve Prolapse
Image by Robina Weermeijer @Unsplash Most people assume the main issues of heart disease are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other mainstream contributors. While these are common factors, it’s important to know that heart problems also stem from functional problems with the organ itself. One of these functional problems is mitral valve prolapse disease […]
Taking Multi-Nutrient Supplements
Photo by Ivabak @Pixabay The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for nutritional supplements by 17%-45%, with the majority (52%) of consumers looking to boost their immunity.1 These types of supplements can be single or multi-nutrient and are commonly used to add missing components to a diet.2,3 The nutritional products most purchased ranged from single to multi-nutrient […]
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Symptoms of Heart Failure
Image by Gerd Altmann @Pixabay Globally, approximately 64.3 million people living with heart failure which is why understanding the symptoms of heart failure and their relationship with mitochondrial dysfunction are crucial.1 The most significant number of people (2% of adults) with heart failure are in developed countries like North America and the UK.1 An important […]
Total Cholesterol Levels Matter Most
Image by Mohamed Hassan @Pixabay Cholesterol levels are used to determine certain disease risks during a check-up. Typically, only certain lipids in a lower cholesterol range indicate a healthier patient. But it’s the total cholesterol levels that matter most, especially for people of colour. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a steroid hormone made up of […]
Genetic Wellness Testing: Hype or Hope?
Photo Credit: Jacob Colvin. Genetics is the code of life. Genetics can reveal a myriad of information about our bodies. Genetic wellness testing is a powerful tool with medical and non-medical applications. Genetic testing can tell us whether we’ve inherited specific genes from our parents. Some of these genes make us more susceptible to developing […]
A Link Between Exercise and Skin Health
Photo credit: Mikhail Nilov Exercise helps to nourish skin cells by increasing blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Besides the conventional benefits, studies have revealed a link between skin health and exercise. Deep skin benefits of exercise At a molecular level, skin cells contain mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles that produce the […]
New Canadian Alcohol Consumption Guidelines
Be careful what you drink New recommendations on alcohol consumption were published in August of 2022. It is now recommended to drink no more than two drinks weekly to minimize alcohol-related injuries.1 This recommendation is significantly lower than past guidelines. For comparison, a 2011-updated report from Health Canada recommended that men consume three or fewer […]
Natural Treatments for Constipation
Constipation is a relatively common gastrointestinal problem that impacts approximately 16% of the world’s population and is why natural treatments for constipation are sought out.1 It is more prevalent in the elderly than the young and in females than males.1,2 The reduced frequency or lack of normal bowel movements linked to constipation can be caused […]