Blueberries and Weight Loss

We are all trying to lose weight at some time in our life. Some weight loss programs can be deceiving - they focus on counting calories only, not on the types of food you consume. Vibrant food is essential for vibrant health, and lasting weight loss comes from lifestyle changes. Super foods are one essential change that must be made for both health and weight loss.

There are studies out there that are linking super foods, like blueberries, to weight loss. Blueberries contain little sugar, are high in fiber and have an impressive portfolio of vitamins and minerals. Not only are they healthy in this way, but they are also powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants not only boost our immune system, but also fight against the free radicals that can cause cancer.

Breakfast Smoothie Recipe:

1 Banana
1/2 cup Blueberries
1 tbsp Flaxseed
1 cup Rice Milk (more or less for desired consistency)

Blend until there are no chunks. Enjoy in the morning before any meals.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

Counting Calories to Lose Weight?

If you are counting calories to lose weight, you might want to consider the type of calories you are eating. Not all calories are the same, in fact, some calories are much more unhealthy than others. The way your body digests pizza is very different from how it digests a fresh salad. If you were on a diet of only raw fruits and vegetables, you could eat as many calories as you would like and still lose weight. Your body digests these foods easily, while processed foods, like pizza and pasta are a heavy burden to your system, especially your liver function. Be sure to add raw salads as well as healthy fruits to your diet, and eliminate the processed stuff. The more processed foods you eliminate the further you will be down your path to continued and lasting weight loss.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. 

5 Common Health Misconceptions

Myth: In order to lose weight, I have to count calories.
Truth: Not all calories are the same. If you are eating fast food three times per day and watching your calories, you are less likely to lose weight than someone who eats a lot more substance, but eats mostly raw fruits and vegetables. A diet that consists of 80% raw produce is best for weight loss (and health in general). It will not only help you lose excess pounds, but it will also give you more energy throughout the day. And, with 80% fruits/veggies, you do not need to count your calories (as long as the other 20% isn't ALL dessert foods). Plus, changing your lifestyle choices will help you KEEP weight OFF. This is so important for lasting weight loss.

Myth: Vaccines are safe.
Truth: Vaccines have never been proven to be safe through a TRUE safety study, which would compare a vaccine to an inert substance. Instead, vaccines have only been compared to other vaccines. On top of that, pharmaceutical companies are the ones doing the research on their vaccines... can you say CONFLICT OF INTEREST?! Vaccines HAVE been proven to be linked to autism, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses. If a vaccine is considered safe, shouldn't the ingredients also be considered safe? Vaccines contain the following ingredients: mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80, African green monkey kidney cells, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) - just to name a few. NONE of these ingredients are considered to be safe. Doesn't this, in and of itself, make the claim "Vaccines are safe" to be false?

Myth: Stay away from fats. They are unhealthy and will cause heart disease.
Truth: This is one of the biggest myths of all time! Not all fats are bad. Our bodies actually need fats to produce hormones, build cell walls, and perform many other vital functions. Fats do not cause heart disease! In order for cholesterol to clog arteries, the arteries must be damaged first. Cigarette smoke, chlorinated water, pollution, unhealthy food, and many other environmental toxins damage arteries. The best fats are high quality fish oils, flax oil, coconut oil, and some animal oils. Some healthy people eat coconut oil by the tablespoon!

Myth: All herbal supplements are good for you.
Truth: I know many Naturopaths who are similar to your conventional doctor. You go to them with a condition and they recommend a few (or many) supplements to help you with your problem. As a Naturopath, we take an oath to "treat the fundamental causes of illness." This does NOT include giving a supplement for every condition that you list. I have shadowed Naturopaths who give a nervine herb for the nervous system, an herb for the digestive system, an herb for the brain, an herb for the liver, an herb for the pancreas...etc (you get my drift). THIS IS NOT GOOD NATUROPATHY! An herbal substances, in some cases, will act like a pharmaceutical drug... just with less side effects. You might have to be on the supplement for a long time. I believe in minimal supplements and a good constitutional homeopathic remedy. In many cases people are burdening their bodies with a huge list of supplements, thinking they are supporting their bodies. They begin to have stubborn rashes that won't go away. The truth is, they are overburdening their bodies and need to stop all supplements. I am a Homeopath 100% of the time and believe that the constitutional remedy is one of the best medicine for any condition.

Myth: I need to go to the doctor every time I have a cold or flu. I need medicine to help me feel better.
Truth: In most cases, a cold/flu is NOT a bacteria infection. Your doctor will most likely give you antibiotics and send you on your way. If you take antibiotics for something that is not a bacterial infection, then you are doing damage to the healthy bacteria in your body, especially in your digestive system. On top of that, you are not going to heal any faster. Your doctor will admit this if you ask them (believe me, I have asked before). Also, many people run out to get a decongestant or other medicines that will "knock them out". This is bad practice. You are further suppressing an illness that is trying to express itself. Let it run its course. The human body is incredible and will fight off the disease without the help of a pharmaceutical drug (unless of course you are in a very poor state of health to begin with). The best medicine? REST and lots of water! Go back to the "old" days where there wasn't a quick fix to everything. Take a break from work, school, or whatever else is wearing you down. If you continue to suppress a cold or flu, it will pop up later. You will be surprised - let it run its course and you are less likely to be sick in the future.

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Svea Lynn is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here. Her Montreal Natural Fertility site can be found here. 

Bee Pollen: Nature's Superfood!

In my studies I have been totally impressed with the lives of bees. I love eating raw honey because of all the wonderful benefits that it provides. Another Superfood that I discovered in the last year comes from bees too... BEE POLLEN!

We constantly hear the term "Busy as a Bee." This term is 'oh so true' for the life of a bee. Bees work double duty all the time: collecting pollen from flowers to feed its hive while also pollinating more than 80% of all plants and flowers.

Bee pollen is the male reproductive part of a flower that the worker bees collect. These bees pack the microscopically fine powder into granules by adding some nectar or honey from their honey sacs. They then take this back to the hive where they then add a special enzyme to prevent germination. It is used as the food for the young bee, and provides every nutrient needed for proper growth and development. Without this bee pollen a hive of bees would die.

Bee pollen contains nearly every nutrient required by humans, making it one of "nature's complete foods." The free amino acids found in bee pollen (as well as many other nutrients) are so readily used by the body that this food is phenomenal for people with protein deficiencies.

In the past, scientists have realized the amazing nutrient content of this food. They replicated Bee Pollen in a lab--every nutrient, amino acid, and fat molecule. Essentially, they thought they created the perfect supplement, however, when they fed this to a hive of bees, the bees all died! This just shows that we cannot artificially replicate this food, and that, in fact the bee adds a "magic element." To this day, the mystery remains unknown--there are still elements present in bee pollen that science cannot identify.

For many centuries, Bee Pollen has been considered to be a superfood amongst different cultures. Chinese medicine has regarded pollen to be a nutritive and energy tonic. Other cultures have used it for a surprising number of applications, including: increased endurance and vitality, aiding recovery from many chronic illnesses, cleansing and building the blood, extending longevity, preventing cold and flu, decreasing allergies, and so much more.

I have been taking Bee Pollen now for a few months, but haven't really stopped to marvel at the incredible nature of how it is "made", as well as the long list of benefits that it provides. Every day I grow to appreciate this beautiful nature food much more than the previous.

Take this into consideration:
A bee that works 8 hours per day, for one month, will gather only 1 teaspoon of bee pollen. One pellet of Bee Pollen contains over 2 million flower pollen grains, while 1 teaspoon contains more than 2.5 billion flower pollen grains. WOW!

I suggest that you add this to your diet EVERYDAY. Start small. Take 1/2 teaspoon per day for a couple of days, then boost up to 1 teaspoon. If possible, buy local. Bee pollen that is local will help with seasonal allergies, and can be guaranteed fresh and pure. The results are endless with this superfood. In my own practice I have seen Bee pollen help with muscle atrophy, unnecessary weight loss, allergies, digestive disturbances and much more.




**Be very careful if you have severe allergies. In rare occasions, bee pollen can cause a severe allergic reaction. Consult your natural health practitioner if in question.**

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Svea is a traditional Naturopath, classical homeopath and holistic doula. Her private doula practice can be found here.