Health is Wealth

It is almost the end of this year and the beginning of next year - 2014! This year went by so fast, likely because it was so busy and full of events! If you remember, last year, I discussed New Year's resolutions:  http://anorexiarecovery1.blogspot.ca/2013/01/new-year.html . Well, it is that time of year again! Everyone starts thinking of what they want to do differently this year - what goals they want to accomplish, or what they want to achieve in 2014. Before we jump into this, I want to challenge you with a little activity. I want you to think back tothis year of 2013. But don't think of ANY event. I want you to think of the following: 1) An event that made you really happy or excited (ex. a good mark on a test, the birth of a baby, a ;promotion, a funny moment you shared with others, a vacation, etc). What happened? How did you feel at this time? Why did it make you happy? What was special about this event that made you remember it now? Thinking back t...

Christmas is coming up very soon (almost less than a week!)! This is my absolute favourite holiday. It is such a cheerful time. Snow falls from the sky and makes everything look bright and white. Christmas songs lighten up the mood. People smile and laugh more often. We give gifts to others and enjoy seeing them smile and become surprised. Families and friends gather together and enjoy quality time with one another. (Here's a fun challenge: try to learn, using the picture here, a way of saying Merry Christmas in a different language!) If you are religious, Christmas is also the birth of Christ. So, you can think of Christmas as being someone's birthday - Jesus'! It is wonderful to think that we are welcoming baby Jesus into the world on this day. The birth of Christ not only reminds us of how humble Jesus was to come to earth and be born as human, but also challenges us to change our hearts so that we too can welcome Jesus into our hearts. Something I love about Christm...

It seems to be the latest craze: go vegan! Avoid meats, eggs, dairy products, etc! Everyone is doing it - the news if full of stories about celebrities and popular figures who have reportedly dedicated their minds and lives to the vegan diet. Here's a simple example: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20762485,00.html . What IS the 'vegan' diet? As stated before, it is simply abstaining from all animal products or anything associated with animals. This is the definition in its strictest terms, although today, many people call themselves vegan even if they don't follow these particular restrictions. Anyhow, why the hype about this way of eating? What makes it so special and amazing? Let's talk about the nutritional evidence. Studies have shown that vegans have lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney stones, obesity, cancer, and more. NOTE however that this is an association, which means that the vegan diet did NOT cause the lower risk of adver...

I'm so blessed to have yet another opportunity to share my experiences and knowledge with the world. This time, I was asked by OCN (Orthodox Christian Network) to do an interview about food and the holiday season - a topic relevant to this time of the year! This interview topic is near and dear to my heart or several reasons. As a survivor of anorexia nervosa, I know all too well how it feels to be overwhelmed by food - especially at Christmas time, when everyone is talking about food! Last Christmas, I was still in recovery - but before that, I was struggling with ED. When I was ill, I tried my hardest to avoid food at all costs, but this became very hard to do during the holiday season. Being recovered now (thank God!), I realize how difficult this time was for me and how it stressed me out. As a recovered victim of an eating disorder, I understand how stressful food can become for many people - even those without eating disorders. We are bombarded during this time (all the t...