November

Proactive Health

November is Proactive Health Month. We’ll cover topics such as preventative health, weight control, and the role holistic nutrition plays. It is never too late to take action and start living your best life. See below for articles, recipes, tips and tricks from our wonderful community of holistic nutrition professionals.

Corporate wellness is sometimes overlooked, but it’s important as many of us spend a lot of our lives working in an office. Learn more about Kelly’s journey, her background, and what brought her to corporate wellness from studying at CSNN and some insight into tapping into your own creativity. Most of our journeys to health aren’t linear; our career paths take twists and turns.

Many health issues, whether from deficiencies or toxicities, can cause overlapping symptoms, making it hard to pinpoint the root cause. But symptoms aren’t the problem themselves; they are your body’s way of saying something’s off. This post from Lisa Grant, R.H.N. explores how tuning into these signals can help you understand what your body truly needs.

For many, including parents and those in certain professions, chronic stress can leave you feeling exhausted, cynical, and unwell. But, worst of all, chronic stress harms your health, with research showing chronic stress increases your risk of some health conditions, such as heart disease. This post explores some natural ways to reduce stress and prevent burnout. 

Taking a proactive approach to your health means treating food as part of the solution. By paying attention to your body signals, you can make more thoughtful meal choices and stop symptoms before they start. This nutrient-dense, tomato-free sauce is not only tasty but can prevent flare-ups and support your digestion. Recipe from Lea Daoura, R.H.N.

Don’t wait until you’re in the thick of it when you’re booked and busy to take care of health issues. Building immunity is important year-round, but especially before the holidays. When we’re stressed, we’re more susceptible to cold and flu viruses. Here are some good tips and reminders in this post by Kelly Beaton, R.H.N.

Cruciferous veggies are good for you, and no one will ever guess the secret ingredient in these brownies. A nutritional powerhouse disguised in a fudgy brownie treat, it’s also vegan and gluten-free! Recipe by Mitra Shir, MSc., R.H.N.  

Aging well isn’t just about adding years to your life—it’s about adding life to your years. In this post, we explore 6 natural ways to promote healthy aging that goes beyond quick fixes and focuses on what truly matters: staying active, nurturing meaningful relationships, and fueling your body with nourishing foods. Whether you’re just beginning to think about healthy aging or looking to deepen your wellness routine, this post offers practical insights to help you thrive at every stage.

While your DNA provides the blueprint, your diet plays a pivotal role in determining how those blueprints are read and executed. Enter epigenetics, the study of how environmental factors and lifestyle choices, such as diet, can influence gene expression. You can take a proactive approach to health by eating foods that support the expression of helpful genes. A whole foods diet can act as a powerful influencer on how your genes are expressed, ultimately impacting your health.

Want to stay active and healthy for the long haul? Let’s talk about our bone health! From eating certain foods to including frequent movement in your day, scientific evidence shows there are many easy ways you can naturally improve the health of your bones and help sore joints feel better.

Resilience is an important skill to build and work on. Part of being proactive with your health is being consistent and working on your mindset. Article written by Kristina Virro, R.H.N and registered psychotherapist. 

When you’re struggling with concentration, foggy memory, or sluggish thinking, it can significantly hinder your ability to work, learn, and maintain overall well-being. Let’s explore what science knows about eating food for focus and other holistic approaches for a sharper mind and optimized learning.

Pneumonia can be serious, but supporting your body naturally can make a big difference in both prevention and recovery. In this post, we explore what pneumonia is and share effective, natural strategies to strengthen your immune system and support healing.

Caroline Chow, R.H.N. shares her journey dealing with health issues and how it brought her to holistic nutrition. Her education and taking a holistic approach helped her clear her skin and sparked her career change from finance to helping others find health through nutrition, specializing in gut health and skin health. 

In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need supplements because you would get everything you need from your food. Caroline Chow, R.H.N. shares her perspective as a holistic nutrition practitioner on whether you can benefit from these trendy greens powders. 

Do you know what your thyroid is and its role in your overall health? While a small organ, it’s mighty in its function! Supporting your thyroid’s health is important for many of your body’s functions, including regulating energy, metabolism, and weight control. Here are 5 nutrients to help support it and the foods you can find them in. Post by Ann Sirenko, R.H.N.

From paramedic to holistic nutrition practitioner, Ryan’s story truly captures proactive health! Ryan spent 10 years working in the healthcare industry, mostly in shift work, and realized how difficult the lifestyle was. After years of low energy, gut health issues, allergies, cravings, and poor sleep quality, he decided to take control of his health. 

Proactive health and healthy habits go hand-in-hand. By incorporating them into your daily routine, you build consistency and balance, supporting your overall health and enhancing your mental wellbeing. Here are some habits and tips from Brittney Cox, R.H.N. that she can’t live without.

Do you get shaky? Crabby? Tired? All too familiar with the afternoon slump? Your symptoms could be related to a dip in your blood sugar. Here are some snacks and tips that can help you feel more energized and balanced throughout the day from Andrea Brown, R.H.N.

Imagine feeling calm and centered, ready to take on the day. Let us help you find an easy and effective holistic morning routine to start your day right and get you feeling your best! Being proactive in your health takes practice. Here are some research-backed ways to build a mindful morning routine.

This is the perfect cozy recipe for fall and winter. Great for breakfast or a snack! Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar. This recipe is gluten-free, moist, and delicious.  Recipe from Jenna Lessner, C.H.N.C.

Inflammation plays a significant role in many chronic diseases, making proactive health strategies essential for managing and reducing it. Sarah Shoemaker, R.H.N. talks about inflammation and some ways you can help reduce it.

Walking has tons of benefits and is one of the easiest healthy habits you can pick up. Emily McDonald, C.H.N.C. shares the physical, mental, and social benefits of walking, especially doing it post-meals.

With a chronic health condition, Ciara turned towards CSNN and chose to study holistic nutrition to better her health, her family’s health, and create a new career in something she’s passionate about. She also created a niche community to help others with the same kidney disease. Learn more about her story. 

Out of the vegetables you could be eating, what is it that makes cruciferous vegetables so impressive? In this article, learn about the many nutrients and benefits and the science behind them. There are also some cooking tips on how to best prepare them. 

When thinking about overall health, are you thinking about bone health? With healthy bones, they’re less likely to break, you’ll have better posture, protect your organs, help you move better, store calcium and other nutrients, and more! Here are 10 fruits that can help. 

This is Magnesium 101. This important mineral has significant impact on your health and wellbeing. In this article, you’ll learn more about how it impacts you, how to tell if you’re deficient, and what foods can help. 

Stress is a complex topic, but this post can help you start becoming your most relaxed self, how to find balance, and how nutrition and movement come into play. Brittany Gordan, R.H.N. shares some insight on this as well good vs. bad stress and how to help manage your stress levels.

Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Certificate

get a taste of holistic nutrition

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the information (and misinformation) out there about health and nutrition, the Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Certificate workshops are a great starting point. You will be surprised by the amount of information you get! You’ll get so much value out of this certificate from CSNN, the largest leading holistic nutrition school in Canada. These workshops are packed full of useful and practical information so you can start to understand holistic nutrition and its role in your overall health and wellbeing better.

Workshops are available at select branches via Live Online Zoom or through Distance Education through a self-study online learning format. 

Articles

The latest research confirms that the majority of chronic health conditions can improve when nutrition and lifestyle are well managed. Jess Sherman, R.H.N., explains the role and the perspective of Holistic Nutrition Practitioners when it comes to proactive health care. Click here to read the article.

  • Gut Microbiome – Essential to Health – Rejan Magee, R.H.N. writes about the gut-brain and gut-skin connection. Learn how to help your gut microbiome thrive so it can benefit your overall health and wellbeing.
  • 4 Reasons You’re Addicted to Sugar – Asher Kleiber, R.H.N. shares some reasons why you might be potentially dealing with sugar cravings. Read her blog post to learn more and learn how you can set yourself up for success and reduce your sugar intake and improve your health.
  • Kombucha, Kimchi and Other Fermented Foods – Debora Palmieri, R.H.N., shares the benefits of fermented foods, and why preliminary scientific research says that they may play a role in disease prevention and may even have a positive effect on mental health.
  • Immune Boosters – Sleep, exercise, and eat your way to a stronger immune system. Staying healthy is a balance between immune boosters and immunity drainers.

About Holistic Nutrition Professionals

Preventative Approach

  • Creative Practices for Stress Relief – Practices that inspire creativity can be implemented into your self-care routine to enhance your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellbeing.
  • Mental Health and Nutrition – In this podcast, Lesley Baker, C.H.N.C. shares some information on how mental health and nutrition are connected, as well as some practical tips you can apply to your life to move towards better health and wellbeing.

Acid-Alkaline Balance for Optimal Health

Have you head that your diet might be “too acidic” but wondered what that meant? Kelly McConnell, R.H.N. helps us understand what “alkalizing your diet” means. Help support your body because too much acidity has been linked to inflammation, heart disease, and more.

Chanelle Lagassé, R.H.N. was featured in the Winnipeg Free Press. As a holistic nutrition professional with a focus in gut health, hormone health, and plant-based nutrition, she helps empower people to eat and live healthier while being more environmentally friendly. Learn more in the article. 

A beautiful fall/winter dish with brown rice, pecan, and sage stuffing. This versatile recipe is also vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, and absolutely scrumptious! Ashley Madden, C.H.N., shares her recipe along with some nutritional benefits of the ingredients, time saving tips, and some possible variations.

This is a delicious flavour combination you might not have discovered yet. This cookie has a soft and gooey centre and also happens to be gluten-free and made without any refined sugar. Recipe from Caroline Chow, R.H.N. 

Ashley felt like there was a missing piece in western medicine, which brought her to study holistic nutrition CSNN. She’s a pharmacist turned certified holistic nutritional consultant and plant-based chef with 2 published cookbooks. See how CSNN allowed her to find her passion and new career and help her adopt a healthy holistic approach to life. 

Cultivate a healthier mindset when it comes to food with the holistic approach. There are no “good” or “bad” foods and all foods can fit. No one diet is better than another. We are all unique and have unique relationships with food. Learn more from this post from Alyssa Flegg, R.H.N. 

Many people will readily survive on fast food, drive through meals and snacks. Many will not even remember what they ate for breakfast. When we’re so busy and have little time, sometimes we forget to enjoy our food. Joanna Brown, C.H.N.C. teaches us about mindful eating, the benefits, and 7 easy tips to get started.

This season calls for comforting hot beverages while you cuddle on the sofa. Make it a healthier option with a little kick with cinnamon hot chocolate. Recipe from Jessica Mitton, C.H.N.C.

Made in your instant pot or slow cooker, this is a warming, soothing, ultra nourishing dish with the added benefit of lots of immune-boosting superfoods. This is great for your gut health and very hearty for those cold nights! Recipe is also gluten-free and dairy-free. Give this recipe from Caroline Chow, R.H.N. a try!

Sometimes it’s about the small changes that are simple, effective, and consistent. Which of these will you start to incorporate into your everyday routine? Stephanie Kay, R.H.N shares 12 healthy daily habits. This is your reminder that small steps can make a big change and help you on your healthy eating and lifestyle journey.

Lentils are nutrient-dense and an excellent source of protein, fiber, and complex carbs. It’s also a low-glycemic food that won’t spike blood sugar. Try this versatile ingredient in this hearty soup that will warm you up, keep you full, and make your belly happy! Recipe from Amy Longard, R.H.N.

4 tasty beverage recipes that won’t raise your cortisol levels and have nutritional benefits. If you’re trying to break your coffee habit, give these alternatives a try. Recipes from Marla Pietruszko, R.H.N. 

What is wellness and how can we incorporate into our everyday? Whether you’re still working from home or have adapted a hybrid format, these are good tips to keep in mind. Caroline Chow, R.H.N. shares 3 pillars to work form home successfully with wellness.

Super nutritious and tasty dip recipe from Marisa Ricci, R.H.N. Beets are filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic is also great for your immune system! 

Instead of banana bread, try something new with CSNN grad Hannah Schmitt’s Almond Coconut Flour Loaf. It’s nutty, wholesome, and delicious cold or toasted. It also happens to be dairy and gluten-free.

Move over avocado toast! It’s all about this delicious Kabocha Squash Toast with Caramelized Onions and Ricotta. This recipe is from Orsha Magyar, C.H.N. of Neurotrition. 

Colder days call for nourishing warming bowls of chili. Check out this simple recipe from Jessica O’Leary, C.H.N.C. that is full of nutritional benefits. Healthy and cozy! 

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte

CSNN Grad, Joanna Brown, shares her healthy version of the ever-popular Pumpkin Spice Latte. The real and wholesome ingredients used help support your immune system and wallet.

I chose CSNN because I wanted a program based on science that tied in the body-mind-spirit connection because it really is all connected. When we ignore one facet of that connection we can not achieve optimal health.