Well North Columnist Selene Vakharia is a holistic nutritionist, freelance writer and whole foods cook who loves showing people how easy, fun and delicious being healthy can be. Selene is a Whitehorse-based contributor who also writes freelance stor
While Whitehorse’s newest yoga studio True North Massage and Yoga just opened, it’s already setting itself apart from the other offerings in town. The yoga studio, located at 407 Black Street, opened mid-January. Since opening, its owners Sheila MacLean and Stephanie Padfield have set their sights on community partnerships and a hybrid approach to the …
For sufferers of eczema, the winter can be an especially uncomfortable time. The dry, overheated indoors and the harsh, cold outdoors can aggravate symptoms. Eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes dry, thickened, itchy patches on the skin. Research points to it originating in the immune system. In those with …
It’s that time of year again. With the constant darkness and the cold, many of us are feeling – and looking – a little tired. Personally, I blame the fact that I’m pretty sure outside the hours of 10 to three it is straight-up midnight all the time. If you’re feeling a little rundown, you …
Facebook friends are filling my feed with photos of stunning sunrises that they are seeing on their way to work. Everyone marvels at them, yet all I can focus on is how we are about to be plunged into months of darkness. It’s that time of year. If you’re looking to get a head start …
When I was a teenager, I took karate twice a week. One year, my instructor got really into throws. Given that he never really taught proper falling technique, combined with the class having a lot of young people in it, it is not surprising that I ended up with a concussion. It was one of …
What you eat and drink before a long run impacts your performance and your ability to recover, post race. If you’re looking to beat a previous time, or just finish, it’s important to focus on the fuel you are giving your body. Your body’s energy source I sometimes hear runners talk about the different macronutrients …
Craving cookies, chips, ice cream, pizza, or some other delicious-tasting, high calorie food? You know these foods are not good for you, but it can take what feels like an unfathomable amount of willpower to stay away from them. If it seems that the cravings are beyond your control, it’s because they sometimes are. Junk …
Backyard farmers and local food fans in the Yukon will undoubtedly be treated with an endless supply of nutrient-rich root vegetables. This season, when you buy or harvest your bunches, don’t toss the leafy greens that top them. The greens on beets, carrots and even turnips are full of vitamins, minerals, and flavour – just …
You know those moments when you realize something awful? Your whole body goes cold as the dread sets in. Your eyes go wide and the panic rises from the pit of your stomach. Maybe it’s when you remember a moment from last night. Maybe it’s when you discover you just hit reply all. Maybe – …
Your Fibre-less Diet is Making You Allergic to Everything. Here’s Why. Read More »
Being the body’s largest organ, problems inevitably show up on our skin. It’s a complicated organ influenced by diet, stress, lifestyle and environmental factors. People of all ages suffer from dry skin, eczema, acne and a host of other troubles. Certain minerals, nutrients and foods are the key to banishing problems and getting skin you …
Feeling like a gassy, nauseous, not-quite-your-awesome-self mess? It happens to all of us at one point or another. Perhaps you overate – indulged in some food or the other – or caught a bug that’s making your life miserable. Keep your kitchen, tea cupboard and garden stocked with these tasty solutions to life’s annoying gastrointestinal …
Nothing ruins a fabulous sunny day faster than red, itchy eyes and a runny nose. With summer here (yes – I am saying it!), we enter into the wonderful season of long days, bikes, hikes and patios. But we also dive itchy face first into the season of allergies. You may have noticed the subtle …
Raise your hand if you’re a late night eater. Does this sound familiar? The sun sets, you sink into your couch, switch on Netflix and enjoy a snack. This is possibly the most relaxing way to end the day. Ok, certainly an evening meditation and gentle moon yoga practice would be more relaxing… but then …
If you are indulging regularly in the good old Yukon Happy Hour, you may have met last night’s mean morning friend: The Hangover. He may be dependable, but he sure is a jerk. While the obvious advice may be that prevention is more effective than a cure, we all know that best intentions don’t always …
You’ve probably heard the sniffles and hacking and seen the dark circles beneath tired eyes. You’ve probably heard the murmurings around you in the café at the meeting table, really anywhere there are people. There is something wicked working its way through Whitehorse. It comes in the dark of night and knocks you out for …
Here is a fun health test you can do at home. Measure out two tablespoons of whole sesame seeds and swallow them with water. Take note of the time and wait and see how long they take to make their way out. This length of time is known as you “transit time.” Timely elimination is …
Stress, and your body’s response to it, is inevitable. When it happens in small, infrequent amounts, it can even be a helpful and necessary function of your brain and body. You are hardwired to respond to dangerous situations – like seeing a bear – in a way that prepares you physically and mentally for a …
While turning chocolate into a core food group is not the healthiest of ideas, eating it in moderation – and in its pure cacao form – can be a good thing.
Some of the most common resolutions made in the New Year are about health. Almost 70 per cent of consumers surveyed by Nielsen in 2015 had made resolutions focused on staying fit, healthy, and svelte. Of course, the most commonly broken and failed resolutions are also those about health. Perhaps this is not surprising. How …
Until December 21, the days will continue to get shorter. The light will be limited and far from adequate to produce Vitamin D, even in those who manage to expose their skin to the sunniest parts of the day. According to a Statistics Canada report called Vitamin D Blood Levels of Canadians, 40 per cent …
Named one the hottest food trends of 2015 by Canada’s Hospitality Business Magazine, Canadians are drinking almost 10 billion cups of tea each year. Second only to water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, and with good reason. With endless combinations of healthful herbs, spices, and fruits, there is a tea to …
If you have a picky eater at home, you are not alone. For many parents, dinner time can be a battle. Between changing tastes and an unwillingness to eat different foods and different textures, getting your kids to eat a healthy, balanced diet can be a challenge. Fortunately, a recent study offers help that could …
If you’re not eating flax every day, it’s time to start. While it may not seem like the sexiest superfood in its tiny boring brown package, its many nutritional superpowers will soon have you thinking otherwise. High in fibre, omega-3’s, and lignans, just two to four tablespoons of ground flax a day can offer huge …
Feeling dissatisfied with life? It turns out that the quickest way to make it better is to be grateful. Beyond being polite, researchers are finding that regularly saying thanks can improve optimism, life satisfaction, and overall well being. In one study, researchers Emmons and McCullough(University of California 2003) randomly assigned participants one of three tasks …
Thanksgiving has long been my favourite holiday. Surrounded by friends, family, and food, without the stress that bigger holidays like Christmas bring, what’s not to love? Traditionally a celebration of the season’s harvest, Thanksgiving is a holiday of abundance. While that abundance is something to be grateful for, it can also lead to food hangovers …
Whether it’s to get you to your next meal, for the kids to fuel up between their many activities or just for a tasty treat, snacks are central to our daily eating. With the growing number of snacks and treats that can be bought at the grocery and health food store, it’s definitely more convenient …
Dietary fat. Few issues in the world of healthy eating spark as much debate. While some stay away from it, others put tablespoons of butter in coffee. Over the past few decades, we, as a culture, have been on and off with fat more times than most of us were with our high school sweethearts. …
We usually think of our liver in relation to alcohol, but in reality its relationship to our health is much more complex. The liver is a living organ that processes and filters almost everything that goes into our bodies. Every day we are bombarded with toxins that have the potential to damage our body. These …
