Battle that cold and fight off that flu with the following foods in your corner. Including any or all of these in your diet will boost your energy, immune system and overall health.

Wonderful Walnuts
High levels of good omega-3 fatty acids (like fish!) and contains plant sterols, which lower cholesterol, essential minerals and vitamin E.

Bountiful Black Beans
Plenty of protein, magnesium and fibre keeping your heart happy and blood pressure down.

Locked & Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Loaded with phytochemicals such as beta-carotene, antioxidantsm, vitamins C and E, folate, calcium, iron and potassium promoting a healthy digestive system and preventing heart disease and cancer.

Snazzy Spinach
High in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, spinach can protect against vision loss and is great for your bones.

Terrific Tomatoes
Full of flavour and antioxidants that protect you against cancer and has tonnes of vitamins A and C, potassium, and phytochemicals.

Oh-So-Good Oats
Whole grain oats are a healthy source of carbohydrates and fibre to lower cholesterol, beat fatigue and help energize your body.

Crazy Cranberries
Helps keep those bad cholesterol levels down and prevents urinary tract infections.

Blasting Blueberries
Full of antioxidants to fight the cell-damaging molecules that can cause cancer or heart disease.

Rian

We are surrounded by water everywhere we look, in the lakes, in the rivers, in our kitchen sink and most importantly in our body. Water is an important part of our lives and we depend on it. The average adult body is made up of 55-75% of water, which is 2/3 of your body weight. Everyday your body has to replace 2 ½ quarts of water. So that glass of water that you drink after your meal or after a good workout literally becomes you!

If you were deserted on a tropical island, which many of us sometimes wish we were. Keep in mind you could survive without food for about 2 months, however with water, you could only survive a few days without it. This should give you an appreciation of how important it is for our body.

Here are a few facts you should know about it:

· aids in digestion and absorption of food

· regulates body temperature and blood circulation

· carries nutrients and oxygen to cells

· removes toxins and other wastes

· cushions joints and protects tissues and organs

· contains no calories and it can serve as an appetite suppressant

· helps the body metabolize stored fat

· increases energy level

· hydrates skin, giving it a healthy glow

Unfortunately, and yes I am guilty of it too, most people don’t drink enough water. My challenge for you is to start drinking more water and try to cut down on your caffeine because it dehydrates you even more. Start drinking more water and see how your body benefits from it!

Hanna

It has often been suggested that men don’t need to work as hard as women do to lose weight. If it wasn’t bad enough to wonder why men seem to lose inches and pounds more quickly, it’s almost worse to have it confirmed!

Leslie Beck has written an article that has caused a stir between the sexes again. The Toronto-based dietitian has explained in an article printed today in the Globe and Mail, why it is that men really do lose weight more efficiently on average than women.

The sad truth is that the key points she makes about a man’s general approach to body image, working out and eating are not crazy or unfounded.

It’s hard to convince some women that:

a) their worth is not equal to their weight;

b) building muscle mass will not make them look masculine;

c) we need to be at a healthy weight for our long term health more than for beauty or vanity.

Health IS beautiful!

Take the time to read this article and let us know your thoughts! THE FULL ARTICLE