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Wow! A big thanks to all of my new readers. The number of readers has doubled each week this month! And, now is attracting readers from Canada, the United States, and Europe. Thanks for tuning in!

Spring "Cleansing"

Enough with the snow and wind chill. Bring on the warm weather. Its time for tulips, warm sun and...well, spring! And, with spring comes that urge to clean. Windows, closets and gardens aren't the only places many of you may be cleaning. Ever wondered about doing a spring "cleanse"?  Here's the 101 on spring cleansing.

Cleansing generally means you're allowing your body a chance to clean up. It's like slowing down to clean off your desk at work. Every day your body has to deal with toxins in our air, food and cosmetics. Your skin, liver, kidneys and blood can't really keep up, so toxins build up in our body (similar to the pile of papers that continues to grow beside me on the desk).

First time cleansers may want to try a cleansing kit. Look for ones with milk thistle extract (silymarin 80%), as this liver supporting herb is key to a happy cleanse (note: the liver takes the toxins in your blood and puts them into your bile for excretion from your body).

Make sure there is lots of fibre in the kit (or in your diet) to help trap the toxin-filled bile. And, look for a cleanse with a colon-mover like cascara sagrada (or I perfer magnesium hydroxide as its less aggressive).

Meanwhile, try to eat a clean diet for the duration of the cleanse. Skip the lattes with whipped cream, and drive past the drive-thru. Try to eat organic. Drink lots of water. And, get lots of rest. And, don't worry, a good cleanse kit will not strap you to the porcelain thrown, or ask you to stand on your head.

My confession - I know the benefits of cleansing can include fewer headaches, a happier digestive system, more energy, clearer skin and more...but, I am terrible at remebering to do them twice a year (spring and fall) as most holistic folks suggest. Now, if there was only a "cleansing kit" for closets - that would be fantastic!

Eat Steak for a Quieter Baby?

Grab a knife ladies and beef-up your diets during your first trimester. A new study published in the journal of Early Human Development has reported that a mom's intake of vitamin B12 (found in meat) may affect how much her baby cries.

Here's more details...
Researchers in the Netherlands measured the amount of vitamin B12 (found in animal meat and products, and less prevalent in vegetarian foods) in the blood of approximately 3000 pregnant women at the end of their first trimester. The researchers then measured how much the babies cried after birth, and how long. Babies whose mothers had the lowest amounts of vitamin B12 in their blood stream during their first trimester, were eight times more likely to cry for prolonged periods of time.

What foods contain lots of Vitamin B12?
Fish, fortified cereals, yogurt, beef, chicken.

My Confession of the day? Always take science with a grain of salt.
Here's why. Sitting in an upbeat dinning room at a local restaurant, I was excited to spill the beans about my pregnancy to my childhood girlfriends, when the waiter came with a succulent slab of steak for dinner. I didn't bock at the plate. Instead, enjoyed every juicy bite despite comments from my already-mommy girlfriends about how they were almost vegetarians during their first trimesters. I was a meat-eating preggo and my daugther was not a crier. Mind you, some of my veggie-preggo friends also had happy babies. Its not a perfect science - there are many factors involved in why your baby might cry. If you're having trouble with a little one who is crying a lot try reading up on probiotics and colic, switch the formula you're using, ask for help, take time for yourself, and never give up.

For more great information on what to eat during pregnancy, check out my book "The 100 Healthiest Foods to Eat During Pregnancy" (Fairwinds 2009).

Guilty Eating

Why does food make us feel so guilty? It's not really fair.

It's Monday again. Anyone feeling a little guilty about what they ate this weekend?  Even if it was just one bad meal of pizza, wings and potatoe chips on Saturday night, we can be feeling terrible about falling off the healthy wagon. Do we feel the same amount of emotion about eating right? Maybe we should!

We should feel elated, joyful and excited everytime we eat something healthy. If we did, we'd be much happier people. If we did, we would spend most of our wakeful hours in a fantastic mood. Hmm, maybe that's some real food for thought!

My confession of the day - I am a nutritionist who doesn't feel very guilty about eating the odd unhealthy food. In fact, I like to use the "One Treat A Day" rule. I'm allowed one small guilty pleasure a day - but, without any guilt. Trust me - it works. Give it a try. I'm a terribly happy person because of it. Try it - and, go ahead...love your food and your mood!

Buffet Blues

Many folks are heading to the sunny south to sit on the beach, soak in some sun rays and stuff their faces at the buffet. Beautiful displays of bountiful flavors, colours and textures. Buffets are home to thousands of options, leaving your mouth watering and stomach growling. But, will your buffet adventure leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable?

There are two types of buffet eaters: The Grazer and The Creator. The Grazer likes to try a little of this, and a little of that. The Creator finds the various parts to create a meal (e.g. smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese, tomato slices and onion). Which are you?

The Grazer may get lucky with a combination of food choices that sits well in their stomach. But, not likely. The Creator may fair better - that is only if they stick to one plate...many creators go back for more. Its just so hard to resist!

My confession today - I'm a creator who is really a grazer since I just can't stop at one plate. And, everytime I go to a buffet - I regret it.

A Solution - pack lots of probiotics and enzymes into your beach bag this March Break.

You Really Are What You Eat!

We can all hear our mom's saying it, "You are what you eat!". But, is there more truth to this saying than you may have originally thought? Donuts are round and dense. Gravy is dull looking and slow moving. Celery is crisp, slender and sturdy. Fish is quick and agile. Hmm...maybe we really are what we eat.

Sure, we all know that after stuffing our faces with with a super sized burger and fries we tend to feel sleepy, stuffed and sluggish. But, after tuna sandwich with some cheese and veggies on a delicious, fresh hunk of bread we feel satisfied, positive and refueled. So, what's do you feel like having for lunch today?

My confession of the day - I just can't bring myself to eat at super size places.I know too much about what it does to your insides. Yes, its true...ignorance is bliss! Too bad I don't have that luxury.

Do People Honestly Want to Eat Better - or Not?

Why is it that people don't eat right? You all ask me questions (daily) about which food is better for you. The information is there for you. Is food and nutrition just to complicated? 

There is so much to think about when it comes to your diet. It could take up all of your brain power for an entire day. How many calories are you supposed to eat in a day? Which fats should you eat and which should you avoid (cholesterol, trans fats and omegas)?  Are you getting enough vitamin C? Vitamin D?  What about anti-aging foods - do they really work and how much of those do I need to eat to stop my wrinkles from getting any deeper?

Then, add on any regular health issues like constipation or fatigue and you're left pondering fibre intake and caffeine consuption. And, the icing on the cake for some people are health concerns like a risk of heart disease...or worse, like having to eat a diet to control diabetes, or conquer a food allergy.  It's overwhelming.

What do you think? Do you think people honestly want to know how to eat better or, do we ask nutrition questions, and read nutrition blogs because its a fad? Do you actually follow through with nutriton advice or, does it just get thrown into your overflowing cart of nutrition facts that you try to push through the grocery store aisle...and, then you go ahead and buy a package of brownies anyways. Argh!

Feeding Your Kids - What a Battle!

Probably one of the most common questions I get as a nutritionist are from mom's wondering how to get their kids to eat better. It may be a baby starting its first foods, a picky toddler who won't sit still to eat, or a 11 year old boy who won't touch his vegetables. It can be an everyday struggle to get your children to eat right.

It is your job to offer your children a choice of healthy foods. It is your children's job to decide how much if any they are going to eat. The trick is - don't give in. Keep offering healthy options. Eventually they will realize that chocolate puffs and cookies aren't on mom's menu, and start to eat the healthy foods you're offering.

Make it fun... use colour to brighten up their plates (ah-ha...I may be tricking you into getting more fruits and vegetables on their plates)...dips are always a fun addition to any kid's eating experience... make fun shapes out of foods.

And, most of all - eat too! Sit with your kids and eat the same things they are. They look up to you (even if they are in the midst of a stint of misbehaviour). They will follow your lead.

...heck, I followed my mom's lead. I used to think there was something wrong with butter as my mom never used it. Then I realized she was just trying to keep her waistline under control by avoiding "added-calories" such as adding butter on toast and potatoes.

My confession of today? I totally indulge in butter on my toast sometimes. It is delicious! And, in fact, its a better choice than margarine (but, everything in moderation of course).