Take five for your diet, naturally. According to Dr. Joey Shulman, author of The Natural Makeover Diet (Wiley, 2005), there are five things you can do to optimize your digestion and make your skin look radiant from the inside out.They work like a vacuum cleaner to rid your body of toxic material. Be sure to choose ground or milled flaxseeds because they are the only ones that can be absorbed.Make sure they are coated so they can reach the small intestine without being eaten by your stomach acid.

Need a little motivation to take you beyond your regular gym routine? Why not turn to a bonafide fitness professional to put you on the right path and give you the tools you need to reach your goals.Yoga instructor"Many people think that they need to be flexible to practice yoga ," says Tara Blake, yoga teacher and co-owner of Yogaroots Mindfulness Centre in Fort Langley, B.C. "But the point is to practice when you are not flexible and yoga will help you get there."The best way to reap the benef

For many people, a house just isn't a home without a furry friend underfoot. And with so many animals in need of homes , many animal lovers can't stop themselves from adding a second pet, or more, to their families. However, when there's already a pet that rules the roost, there are things to consider before arriving on the doorstep with a second pet, and ways to ease the transition for everyone.According to the Humane Society of Canada , there are more than 16 million household pets in this cou

What if you could have more energy, eliminate cravings and look and feel younger? If this sounds good to you, you may be the perfect candidate for a detox diet. Dr. Joshi's Holistic Detox (Hodder Mobius, 2005) is a 21-day cleansing plan that promises to balance the alkaline/acidic state of your body and flush fat-soluble toxins from your liver. Follow the plan to stop feeling bloated and sluggish and start feeling great (not to mention, a few pounds lighter!) There are challenges ahead, includi

One morning last winter, Meredith Sharpe wasn't sure how she was going to face the day. "I was dizzy, achy, sneezing, coughing, dripping. I almost fell over in the shower from the heat." The 33-year-old public relations manager based in Montreal knew she was suffering from the flu, but got dressed and headed to work anyway. "There was a pro

When my first daughter, Violet, was just a few weeks old, a dear friend included a high-contrast black-and-white board book in a care package she sent us, saying that it was the first book that her daughter had responded to. And so I propped my brand new baby on my lap and cracked open the book. Her big, curious eyes stared at the first few pages… and then she fell asleep. Still, I persevered, pulling out that book—and the others we’d already amassed—each day, reading the few words on each page

Clare Simmons* first noticed a few dark patches on her cheeks during her honeymoon in Italy. “It was like I had dirt on my face that I couldn’t clean off,” she says. A few years later, when she was 30 weeks pregnant with her son, the patches darkened and new ones started to appear on her forehead. “I have a map of Australia on my forehead and the Maldives islands on my cheeks,” she says with a laugh. The marks were prominent enough that Simmons made a point to cover them up. “I would feel self-

One day last November, my almost-10-month-old daughter, June, looked right at me and clearly said, “Mama” for the first time. By the next day, that would be the only current job title on my resumé. Yes, I got fired on maternity leave. Cue the sounds of shock and dismay, the cries of “That’s illegal!” In fact, what happened to me was completely legit, catapulting me from leisurely afternoon walks with my baby to anxiously hunting for jobs and updating my LinkedIn profile while she spent longer a

Yes, you can get in shape without getting into debt. Try these bargain fitness buys to boost your home workout routine Sticking to a budget doesn’t have to mean throwing your fitness goals out the window. Nix the fancy gym membership and invest in your health on a much smaller scale-at least financially. Try these fitness finds under $10 and watch your body get stronger despite what the economy is doing. “They are multi-functional, easy to transport and cost efficient,” says Kristin Galer, per

The experts agree—if you want to stick to your fitness plan, you need to find something you love to do. For more and more people, that plan involves teammates, some wide-open space and a black and white ball. According to Sean Hayes, the official kinesiologist for the Canadian National Australian Rules Football team, soccer is a fantastic cross-training opportunity that has some mental benefits, too. If logging miles on the treadmill bores you to tears, hit the soccer field instead to work on y

Book clubs are commonplace these days and money groups are gaining popularity. If we can support each other in our quests to pay off credit card debt and widen our literary world, why do we turn to strangers for help when it comes to losing weight? Registered dietitian Stacey Segal offers her advice on putting together your own weight loss support group—no registration fee required. The first place to look for potential group members is close to home. “If you already have a support system of go

For adults, it can be daunting to make new friends, but adding to your social circle can make life a lot more enjoyable. Several years ago, I met an interesting woman on a one-day work project. It instantly seemed as though we had been friends for years, so we decided to meet the following week for coffee. I couldn’t help but feel like I was going on a “Friend Date.” Making new friends as an adult, when we are already trying to juggle our families, our careers and our existing circle of long-t

We all want the whitest teeth possible. Here are the foods to eat to get them. Having a healthy, bright smile is a simple way to put your best face forward, but keeping teeth looking their best isn’t always easy. Many everyday foods and drinks can change the colour of your teeth. Bleaching, either through at-home products or at the dentist’s office, is the only way to truly whiten teeth, although a good professional cleaning can remove many stains. But you can take a preventive approach, as wel

Dr. Vogl also recommends avoiding viscous, sweet liquids, such as high-carb sports replenishment drinks. They are not the greatest for oral health. Not only are they acidic to begin with, but the thick liquid can stick to your teeth for long periods of time . When it comes to your teeth, it’s best to refuel with plain old H2O. If you prefer sour to sweet, you could still be in danger of ruining your teeth. “Lemons are quite acidic, so if you suck on them and chew on them for longer periods of t

Have sensitive teeth got you cringing? These six soothing suggestions will get you smiling instead. If you suffer from sensitive teeth, there’s pain lurking around every corner. Hot cups of coffee, a platter of crudités or even breathing in cold air can be excruciating. So why does it happen? “Tooth sensitivity to extreme temperatures is most often due to an exposed root surface,” says Dr. Euan Swan, manager of dental programs at the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). Below the protective coat

“Only through art can we get outside of ourselves and know another’s view of the universe which is not the same as ours and see landscapes which would otherwise have remained unknown to us like the landscapes of the moon.” – Marcel Proust Author reading What to expect: Often held in local libraries or bookstores, authors promote their latest book by reading from it for an audience. It’s a unique opportunity to hear the author herself breathe life into her own words. What it will cost: Great n

As winter sets in and there’s no hope in sight until March, it seem like the perfect time to take a vacation. But according to a 2007 poll by Monster.ca, only 64% of Canadians use all of their allotted vacation time. Even if your budget doesn’t stretch far enough for airfare and hotel rooms, those vacation days shouldn’t be wasted! Here are ten ways to relax, rejuvenate and refresh your spirit without venturing too far from your own doorstep. Yoga Retreat Want to spend a week doing downward do