In the spirit of giving, here are a few tips to keep you in top form throughout this season of celebrating. This cheat sheet will see you through the crazy month that is December, and hopefully keep you from needing to make lemonade from those lemons. Because being the life of the party can sometimes take a little advance planning!

How best to fuel an athlete has become one of the most discussed (and profitable) sectors of the health industry. Many of us dabble in shakes, powders and vitamins that sound like the tagline to an action movie: hyper-burn, fit power, energy max. While some brands can definitely help to give you that added boost, the foundation of a healthy athlete always begins with food.

We’re often told to eat more fish. That it’s a great source of protein, chock full of healthy fats and brain-boosting, heart-protecting Omega 3s. This is absolutely true. On the other hand, we’re also warned to avoid fish high in pollutants, heavy metals such as mercury, and species with declining populations. What to do?

Coconut oil is popping up everywhere, but most people see it as simply an alternative to olive oil. While this is true, it barely scratches the surface of what this miraculous oil can do. It’s time to get on board and try a few of these easy life hacks.

By now, we all know the nutrition basics; eat more veggies and fruit, eat less meat, drink plenty of water. If you’re reading this, chances are this is old news. Let’s skip Nutrition 101 and leap forward to a New Year: Welcome to Nutrition 102.

Holiday eating, Christmas lists, gift exchanges, cocktails here, there and everywhere -  as your calendar fills up with festive fun, the next month can be exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure. The difference between staying at the top of your game or becoming a holiday train wreck is all about balance.

It may come as no surprise that labeling, and particularly food labeling, is rife with hidden meaning, sleight of hand, and outright untruths. The bad news is that the current state of affairs may be even worse than you think. The good news is that you can do something about it.

Winter is on our doorstep, and with snow right around the corner, it’s time for warming, fortifying, nourishing food. To stay healthy this winter, let’s get back to our roots. Here’s how.

I recently attended an aromatherapy workshop at a friend’s house and it was one of the most (naturally) intoxicating evenings I’ve had in a while. Some of the blends literally made me swoon, while the healing aspects of these oils knocked me off my feet.

Oh, sweet summer. Sultry, sunkissed, lazy, lush, dreamy, and just plain delicious. The flowers, trees, and people are in full bloom. Everyone has a more relaxed gear, and let’s face it: we’re all just a bit better in summer (including better looking - yes, you know it’s true). Which brings me to my next point. It’s time to relax the rules.

May 1 may not be the official beginning of spring, but for the intents and purposes of our collective psyche, it signifies a tipping point at which we start to smile more often, chat with our neighbours, and in general stop and smell the flowers. It also signifies the return of oh-so-wonderful REAL FOOD from REAL FARMERS, who, if we’re lucky, live somewhere in our vicinity.

I recently threw out my back. Out of nowhere, one day I woke up and simply could not stand up. I raked my mind; what on earth could I have done to bring this about? My first call was to a trusted friend who is an osteopath and my go-to person in case of injury. Claire took one look at me, and said, “Have you been making any time for yourself?”. I was taken aback. My stunned silence said it all.

Face masks are amongst the easiest cosmetics to make at home. The ingredients are often on hand in your fridge or cupboard, and they work just as well as the expensive options at high end beauty counters. These are a few of my tried and true favourites for a ‘home spa’ afternoon!

As winter drags on, and on….. and on some more, we’re all dreaming of the big melt. On the upside, the light is changing, the snowbanks are slowly shrinking, and I could swear I saw a brave little blade of grass the other day.

Living foods may conjure up images of something dark and fuzzy lurking at the back of your fridge – a tub of yogurt that’s seen better days, or leftovers that are decidedly sketchy (have you ever wondered why that processed spread never goes bad??…

There’s just no way to sugarcoat the fact that winter can take a bite out of us. Unless you’re lucky enough to be planning an extended getaway down south, here are some handy tips to keep you happy and healthy through the coldest days of the year...

The modern grocery store has become more about good marketing than good food: the aisles abound with ‘low fat’, ‘all natural’, ‘sugar free’, ‘healthy heart’, and ‘zero calorie’ options. The good news is that with a little insider information of your own, it can be fairly easy to steer clear of the potholes in your grocery store aisles and make an informed decision.