Increasingly, we’re turning to botanicals to address our health concerns, be it through foods, drinks, or supplements. Discover how the marketing measures up to the science and what to be aware of when looking for safe and effective plant remedies.

Jackie Skrypnek is a holistic nutritionist. She lives in Cochrane, Alberta, where she practises permaculture and operates an urban tiny house bed and breakfast.

botanicals

Natural is the way. We bring you credible approaches to preventative health, holistic treatments, and supportive supplements.

Health

Walking can be whatever we want it to be: exciting, restorative, social, or even a great workout. As a bonus, it’s free and requires minimal equipment and preparation. Discover how wondrous walking can be with these fun and creative walks to try.

Leah Payne is a writer, author, and editor based in Vancouver, BC. She is the author of <a href="https://www.orcabook.com/Get-Outside-P7924">Get Outside!</a> and <a href="https://www.orcabook.com/Less-Is-More">Less is More</a>. (Headshot credit: Notting Hill Photography). 
&nbsp;

Walking

It was during his awkward middle school years that Jason Karp first learned to appreciate running. “Being part of the track team gave me self&#x2d;confidence,” he explains, even though he wasn’t always the fastest. “When you do the physical work and see results from that physical work, you’re a lot more confident. Running literally changed the way I think about myself and my capabilities.”

Lisa Truesdale is a full-time freelance writer who lives in Colorado with her family (including three cats). She writes about healthy living, food and drink, and travel and tourism for dozens of publications. Her passions are cooking, traveling, and reading.

mental fitness

If you’ve ever embarked upon an intense detox protocol that left you feeling weak, irritable, and wondering why you chose to put yourself through this misery, you might not have had your nutritional basics in place! Here are key nutrients for metabolic detoxification.

Dr. Cassie Irwin, ND, works with soul-led women who are ready to expand their intuition and calibrate to their ultimate state of being.
&nbsp;

detox

You’ve heard the musical phrase, “Love is all you need.” It’s certainly true that our health flourishes with good old&#x2d;fashioned love—of any kind (friends, family, even your favourite sports team!). Find out how love affects our heart health and our brain health.

Joanne Peters is an award-winning journalist.

Relationships

Show your friends and family true love this Valentine’s Day by motivating them to take care of their heart health. From diet to exercise, these motivational tips hit the bull’s eye on Cupid’s target.

Joshua Duvauchelle is a regular alive contributor and certified personal trainer.

Family

With climate change an increasing threat, understanding the environmental impacts upon heart health has become even more important. Learn about the risks of these factors and the ways you can protect your heart health.

Ashley Linkletter is a food writer based in Vancouver, BC; she specializes in cheese, wine, and nutrition topics.

Toxic Chemicals

If you’re looking for some time away, the small BC Gulf Island of Gabriola offers a transformational retreat at The Haven, called “Come Alive.” Find out more, through the eyes of alive’s Editor&#x2d;in&#x2d;Chief Tracy Peternell and decide if it’s time for you to “come alive.”

Tracy Peternell is a mother of two, a certified school teacher, and a healthy living enthusiast.

Retreat

Anxiety and depression affect a huge number of Americans each year, yet for many, the conventional treatments fall short. Find out how cannabis and psychedelics are emerging as potential allies in our quest for effective mental health remedies.

Depression

Want to move toward a happier, healthier “you” in the new year? Journal writing can help—because writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings has been shown to boost mental health and reduce your chances of physical illness.

Rachel B. Levin is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer covering food, health and sustainability. Follow her on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachelbethlevin/">@rachelbethlevin</a>.

Journaling

Our microbiome has a central role in digestion, but the metabolites it produces may influence the function of our entire body. What role does our gut play in our neurological and cardiovascular health? How can we support our flora and our overall health?

Dr. Gillian Flower is a naturopathic doctor at the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre and counsels her patients in the judicious use of natural supplements.

Cardiovascular Disease

Many of us are afraid to commit to resolutions or find it hard to keep going once we do. Motivation matters, but we need more tools to help us stay the course when we run into challenges.

Daniela Ginta, MSc, NNCP, is a freelance writer who lives in Kamloops, BC.

wellness

Is heartburn putting a damper on your day&#x2d;to&#x2d;day life? Here’s how to determine if it’s acid reflux or GERD, along with recommendations for how to manage reflux naturally through diet and lifestyle.

diet

Have you ever watched a two&#x2d;year&#x2d;old bop along joyously to a favourite song? Young children intrinsically know that moving our bodies is fun! And then, somewhere along the way, we lose that. This New Year, let’s resolve to rediscover the joy of movement in our own lives. Let’s think outside the box and focus on fun. Here’s how.

get moving

Fitness

Millions of people worldwide have participated in this month&#x2d;long vegan challenge. Will you be one of them this year? Learn about Veganuary’s benefits, how it works, and how to prepare before you jump in.

Vegan since 2003, Karina Inkster, MA, PTS, is a fitness and nutrition coach, author of five books, and podcast host. She and her coaching team help vegans worldwide live their healthiest, most plant-strong lives.

Plant-based

Does harsh winter weather affect your skin—think wind burn, chapped lips, flakiness, acne breakouts, eczema …? Fortunately, there are some excellent herbs and essential oils that can help keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful all winter long.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM, is an internationally bestselling author whose works include <a href="https://amzn.to/2Q9brUC" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Cultured Cook</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2IktQuO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Be Your Own Herbalist</a>. She is a certified herbalist, a board-certified doctor of natural medicine, and one of the world’s most popular natural health bloggers.

Essential Oils

Beauty starts within. We celebrate natural, organic beauty that is better for the planet and helps you look and feel your best.  

Beauty

When times are tough, spiritual stamina—the ability to navigate the highs and lows of life with flexibility, openness, and acceptance—can help us to get through. Learn more about how to build up spiritual strength so you’re prepared to confront life’s challenges.

Isabela Vera is an independent consultant, PhD candidate, and writer focused on sustainable food systems.

Positive Thinking

Diabetes is a “silent killer.” About 12 million Canadians unknowingly have prediabetes or diabetes; more than 5.7 million live with diagnosed diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Here’s how a plant&#x2d;based diet helps with diabetes management and prevention.

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time Vancouver-based freelance writer, alive contributor, and the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/2L8h6s2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Growing Forward When You Can’t Go Back</a> (Baker House Publishing, January 2019).

Diabetes

Lisa Petty, PhD, is a health advocate, writer, and educator who aspires to be the healthiest possible version of her human self.

Sleep

If you could ask the trillions of bacteria that reside in your gut about one life necessity that ensures their long&#x2d;lasting well&#x2d;being (and implicitly yours), they’d sum it up with two words: quality sleep.

One night of rotten sleep can give you a head full of pudding. But when sleep loss becomes chronic, it can affect mood, weight, hormones, and immunity. Learn lifestyle strategies to improve sleep tonight and invest in better health tomorrow.

Learn how to eat healthy with these habits and tips and make better food choices for your diet. Next Gen Natural column by Michelle von Hahn.

Michelle von Hahn loves living a healthy lifestyle and will often be found cooking and baking recipes, which can be viewed on her Healthy Num Num blog and Instagram page (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/healthynumnumblog/">@healthynumnumblog</a>).

healthy

Life is about balance. We provide you with strategies for a lifelong commitment to strength and well-being in all areas of your life. 

Lifestyle

Take care of yourself with these popular health and wellness trends. Next Gen Natural column by Michelle von Hahn.

Trends

Building up your cognitive reserve may be a way to offset age&#x2d;related changes in cognition, including memory and decision making.

Theodore D. Cosco, PhD (Cantab) CPsychol, is an Assistant Professor of Mental Health and Aging (Simon Fraser University) and Research Fellow (Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford).

Health

The Botanical Boom

Wonderful Walks

Sound Body, Sound Mind

Feeding Metabolic Detox

The Power of Love

Falling in Love with Health Together

Cardiovascular Health and External Stressors

Come Alive

Plant Allies for Mental Health

Writing Toward Wellness

The Tiny World Within

The Psychology of Wellness

Breathing Fire

(Re)Discover the Joy of Movement

Are You Ready to Take On Veganuary?

Winning Winter Skincare Ideas

Spiritual Stamina

A New Recipe for Diabetes

Sleepless in Menopause

Great Sleep—Happy Tummy

Making up for Lost Sleep

10 Tips for a Healthy Diet

Explore These Top 10 Wellness Trends

Let’s Age Well