A few years ago, I was traveling across Portugal with a close friend. We went, we saw, we conquered. Being on vacation, beach bum status was in full swing, and our tanning competition was on like donkey kong. Whoever could come back from the trip looking dark AF would win. (Raise your hand if you're guilty). Every morning we would scout for the perfect spot: maximum sun exposure + proximity to water. On the flight home we compared shades of brown and olive skin tones, and even asked the flight ...
The Low Down
Why 7-9 Hours of Sleep Matters | The Low Down + Impact Sleep Has on Our General Health
I recently listened to a podcast that featured Dr. Matthew Walker, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, whose work I’ve been following for some time now. Dr. Walker is the Founder and Director of the Center for Human Sleep Science and the author of “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams”. When it comes to taking care of and tending to my personal health, I see four facets that play together. Sleep, obviously, is a major ...
Mushrooms, Tonics + Adaptogens | The Lowdown + Q&A with Wellness Expert Anna
The Power of Mushroom Tonics and Powders I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that foods have healing properties. Even more fascinating to me is how our ancestors, across time, culture and religion, would make various types of tonics or teas to remedy and combat disease. Isn’t it just so cool?! Forgoing taste for health benefits has never been a problem for me. I’ve eaten some pretty weird shhhh in my day, some with awful taste - all so my body could reap the health benefits + healing ...
Charcoal Mask Video Review + Health Benefits of Using Charcoal
I know I’m so “2000 & late” to the game of facemasks, but with the resurgence of activated charcoal, peel off masks, and charcoal in general, I wanted to see what the hype was all about. And of course, if it was worth the spend $$$. Skincare as a knowledge topic is very much new to me - in certain ways. I’m a novice when it comes to creams, serums and general skincare products made in a factory. I know some are expensive, (like twice the cost of my monthly mortgage payment), and I know ...
The Low Down on Ketogenic Diets | Do They Promote Weight Loss?
A couple of weeks ago I spent a quiet morning working from my favourite coffee shop in Toronto. I had my earbuds in, music playing, and the words were just flowing from my mind to laptop as I wrote A New Year, a New Bowl. At some point, I turned to the guy beside me and asked, “can you watch my stuff while I’m in the washroom?” Earbuds out, and in line to answer nature’s call, I overheard two friends talking about ketogenic diets. ...
The Difference Between Buying Organic and Non GMO Products
Let me start this off with a passage I read recently that really resonated with me; “If something is designed and packaged to live a long time on a shelf, then it’s likely designed to do the same in your body.” You may already know that I’m generally not a fan of packaged foods, and in an ideal world I wouldn’t eat any at all. But if I’m being realistic, living as a marketing professional, on the east coast, in downtown Toronto… time is sparse. And as such, preparing fresh foods isn’t ...
The Low Down on Probiotics | What Are They and How Can They Benefit?
Probiotics. Pro. Biotics. Pro = in favour of. Bio = life. Pro-life, i.e., probiotics. A couple months ago I was visiting Cafe Gratitude in San Diego. I went in, I knew exactly what I was gonna order; the peaceful flight with a replenished cold pressed juice on the side. I was ready to set up shop, sit back and let the health benefits of their all organic + vegan kitchen, work its magic on me. Until. The waitress who took my order offered me a drink special - ...