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Is a Plant-Based Diet Right for Everyone? Exploring the Benefits of Including Animal Foods
Is a Plant-based diet the right choice for everyone? Mainstream media might have you convinced but in this blog post, we will talk about why it might not suit every person and outline some of the benefits of having animal-inclusive diets.

The Power of Detoxifying Foods: Nourishing Your Body for Optimal Health
Can I detox with food alone? Let’s face it, in today's modern world, our bodies are constantly bombarded with environmental toxins, pollutants, and processed foods that can wreak havoc on our health and well-being. Today I want to explore the importance of incorporating some of these foods into our diet so we can nourish our bodies for optimal health.

Gut Health and Giggles: The Importance of Spice in your Life (and your Meals!)
Welcome, food enthusiasts, to the No Shoes Nutrition blog, where we believe that the road to a happy gut is paved with laughter, culinary adventures, and a sprinkle of spice. This week, we'll explore why challenging yourself with new foods is not just essential for your gut health but also a delightful journey that can transform your meals from dull to delicious. Get ready to spice up your life and your plate!

Spreading Kindness Through Holistic Nutrition
World Kindness Day is a special occasion that encourages people to spread goodwill, compassion, and love to make the world a better place. While kindness can manifest in various ways, one powerful avenue to express kindness is by nourishing our bodies with healthy nutrition.

Still Scared of Fat? Here's Why you Need it for Stress!
In today's fast-paced world, stress has become an inevitable part of life. From work demands to personal challenges, stress can take a toll on our physical and mental well-being. Fortunately, there's a natural and delicious way to combat stress: healthy fats. In this blog post, we'll explore the numerous benefits of incorporating healthy fats into your diet to help mitigate stress.

Better For You Than Antacids: Managing an Underactive Stomach Naturally with DGL
In a world where antacids are a quick fix for digestive discomfort, we often overlook the importance of a properly functioning stomach. An underactive stomach, medically known as hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria, can be the underlying factor in a myriad of digestive issues. In this post, we'll explore the signs and symptoms of an underactive stomach and introduce you to a natural solution, DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice), to manage these concerns.

How Glutamine Can Help Curb Cravings: A Natural Solution
Cravings for sugary and starchy foods can be a significant hurdle on the path to a healthy diet. However, there's a natural ally in the battle against these cravings: glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid known for its potential to reduce cravings and support overall well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore the ways in which glutamine can help curb cravings and provide a healthier approach to managing your appetite.

What Are Your Cravings Telling You?
Do you ever find yourself reaching for a snack or craving a specific food, even when it's not mealtime? Surprisingly, what you might be interpreting as hunger could actually be your body's way of signaling thirst and the early stages of dehydration. In this blog post, we'll explore the connection between hydration and cravings, shedding light on why your body sometimes confuses thirst for hunger.

Hosting the Perfect Healthy Summer BBQ
Here in Calgary, the summers are short! We need to make the most of the time we have, and we love a good backyard BBQ. Summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and family for a delightful get-together, but it’s sometimes hard to find healthy choices. As a holistic nutrition consultant, I believe that good food can be both delicious and nourishing. With a little planning and mindful choices, you can host a healthy and satisfying barbecue that everyone will enjoy.

Unraveling the Beef: Debunking Meat Myths and Separating Fact from Fiction
There are a lot of strong feelings out there these days about meat! There are documentaries, articles, and lots of news media telling us we need to stop eating meat for ourselves and the planet. So, what’s the deal with all of this?

Fueling Your Summer Road Trip
Summer is the perfect time to hit the road and get out to make memorable adventures with friends and family. However, road trips often involve fast food stops and unhealthy snacking, which can derail your healthy eating habits. But fear not! With a little planning and creativity, you can stay on track with your nutrition goals while enjoying your summer road trip. Here are five tips to help you eat healthy and nourish your body along the way.

Mindful Eating for Optimal Digestion
Mindfulness is a catchy word these days, but in the world of holistic nutrition, it has been a long-used approach to eating that we teach our clients to equip them for optimal health. I wonder what words come to mind when you think about the word mindfulness. I think of being in the moment, present, aware, peaceful, and connected. When we talk about the concept of mindfulness when it comes to our nutrition, it touches on a number of aspects of our approach to how we prepare, present, and participate in eating on a daily basis.

Inflammation Information Overload
Inflammation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
How do you think you’re doing in the inflammation department? There are signs and symptoms that you might not even recognize as inflammation! Often, I find people just tell me they are a part of aging or something they just “deal” with. Do you have aches and creaks when you get up in the morning or after sitting for any length of time? How about puffy eyes, sluggishness, digestive issues, food sensitivities, joint pain, unexplained weight gain, or any diagnosable health condition?

Feel Good February
Lots of Love in February - Are you Feeling Good? Who is done with winter? Those of you out there who love winter, I commend you, but for many of us by February we are tired of the cold, icy sidewalks, snow-covered roads, and gray. The enchantment of winter around the holidays in December has long worn off and we are left with this feeling of impatiently waiting for spring to arrive, while knowing that in Calgary winter could easily continue into April.

Dry January – Yea or Nay??
Dry January is a movement that encourages people to abstain from drinking alcohol for the month of January. It is often seen as a way to reset one's relationship with alcohol after the excesses of the holiday season and to improve one's health and well-being.

Hating Your Current Diet? - Don't Miss This!!
What your diet doesn’t teach you- Part 2 - By Nicole Gibson Diets focus on avoidance- they only discuss what you “need” to exclude- and yet there are many more factors that need to be addressed in order to achieve sustainable weight loss and lead a healthy life.

Do You Love the Newest Diet Craze? - Read This!!
What your diet doesn’t teach you- Part 1 - By Nicole Gibson - Mainstream diets are everywhere. They have been around for over a hundred years, going through cycles of popularity, with the promise that it will be the answer to solve a person’s weight problems. Whether low fat, low carb, no sugar, no gluten, the focus is generally on what needs to be avoided or restricted.

Here we Grow Again!!
Welcome to the Team Nicole Gibson!! - This week I would like to introduce the newest member of our No Shoes Nutrition team. Nicole Gibson graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario and has worked as a personal trainer in both a gym setting as well as at a Physiotherapy clinic assisting with patients’ rehabilitation exercises. Most recently, she graduated from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition to become a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant (C.H.N.C). Nicole excelled in school and found her passion!

How Do I get My Kids to Eat Healthier?
Family Friendly Health Tips - Meghan Prescott and I have been asking our followers to send in questions about their nutrition concerns. This was a question I wanted to follow up on a bit more because I hear this from parents all the time. I know each family has their food struggles so here are some tips to help work around the past and move into a healthier future.
