Calcium is a tricky mineral. It’s the most abundant mineral in the human body and is present in many different foods. However, people still suffer from calcium deficiency, low bone mass and osteoporosis. Insufficient calcium intake doesn’t produce symptoms in the short term, making it really difficult to know when you’re not getting enough. Also,…

The sense of smell is our most sensitive sense. It is the first to develop and it influences our emotions, mood, memory and behavior. This is where aromatherapy comes in. Aromatherapy, derived from the French word “aromatherapie”, is the use of fragrant essential oils extracted from plants to promote physical and psychological health and wellness….

We are creatures of habit. We happily eat the same foods and generally do the same things every day. Without these habits and routines our lives would have little structure and too much uncertainty. When you’re trying to break a bad lifestyle habit, routine can be your friend and your enemy. Eating healthy foods and…

When it comes to workouts, we all want quick results, a magic formula to get lean and fit fast. Although no such magic formula exists, the Body Pump workout comes pretty close! Body Pump is a workout that combines aerobics and strength training with lots of repetition. It involves lifting, thrusting and squatting with light…

Physical relaxation is one the main benefits of massage therapy, so, naturally, most people only get massages when they need to relax. However, the health benefits of massages go far beyond this. There has been a lot of scientific research in this area and most of it shows that massage therapy is effective for back…

Living a healthy lifestyle is much easier when the whole family is on board. But kids don’t always get why they need to eat healthy foods or exercise regularly. They’re happy to eat junk food and sit on the couch all day. Here are some tips on how to teach your kids to embrace healthy…

There’s so much confusion and misinformation about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Most of it comes from the fact that symptoms vary from one person to the next and doctors don’t really know what causes it. IBS is a painful condition that affects the large intestine causing what seems like constant abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea….

Music has a well-established relaxing effect on our bodies and minds. Therapists use music to help people overcome anxiety and depression, and improve their cognitive functioning, motor skills and social skills. Science has also proven that music has many beneficial physiological effects including slowing down the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and reducing the level…

It’s that time of the year when tons of well-meaning people head to the gym to begin working on their new fitness goals. It’s unfortunate that most of these resolutions will be long forgotten by mid-February (or sooner). The main reason is because most resolutions are unrealistic; people set themselves up for failure before they…

Winter brings chilly temperatures, lower humidity and strong winds. These harsh conditions can make your skin dry, sensitive, itchy and fragile. The reason your usual skin care routine doesn’t work as well during winter is because your skin needs a lot more moisture than usual. However, with a little effort, you can adapt your skin…

The holidays bring good cheer, family get-togethers and most all, lots and lots of food! It’s so easy to overindulge this time of year. A single scoop of ice cream easily becomes three or four. And then there are the pies…oh the pies…“I’ll just have a tiny slice of each, please.” Wouldn’t it be nice…

There are so many workout programs in the market today. How do you know which one to choose to get the results you want? Let me tell you about one that has stood the test of time. Pilates. It is one of the most popular fitness programs around and for good reason. This technique was…