All posts filed under: Feel Good Lifestyle

Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Yoga- Part 1

Yoga is such a big part of my daily life, but I’ve never written about it beyond the odd Instagram post. I’m currently in Vancouver on business away from my kitchen so it’s given me time to sit and reflect on the incredible breadth of the lessons I’ve learned since I started my practice 15 years ago. Since it seems like too much to cover in one post, I thought I’d share one lesson to begin with. After all, one is always the best place to start… 1.When in Doubt- Just Breathe. As a beginner when things get challenging in yoga class one of the first things to go is calm, steadying breathing. That can lead to a racing heart, a shaky, unsteady feeling and a face the color of an almost ripe strawberry. With practice you learn to notice when you’re holding your breath, or when it tightens up and gets jagged. With that awareness you gain the ability to bring your breath under your control again, to deepen it and slow it down. Sometimes, …

What to do about BPA?

Published by Jacqueline King

BPA has been in the news a lot lately. The FDA recently banned the use of BPA containing plastics for use in baby bottles and sippy cups and since then there have been news stories about it everywhere. I’m not one to panic about environmental toxins (after all, stress is one of the worst things for your health!) but it is important to stay informed so we can make the best choices for ourselves and our families. Here are some questions I had and the answers I found. I hope you find them useful. What is BPA? BPA is short for Bisphenol-A, a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic, the hard clear plastic widely used in food and beverage containers like portable water bottles and in the lining of most canned goods including soups and sodas. It can leak into food and beverages stored in these containers, especially when they are acidic, high in fat or subjected to high heat such as in the dish washer or microwave. It’s been used since the 60’s and a …

The Joy of a Juice Cleanse! Yes, really.

Published by Jacqueline King

I haven’t posted any recipes for a while because I was doing a juice cleanse ahead of a trip to Europe. I figured it would be good preparation before the culinary and bacchanalian adventures to come. I know there is some controversy about the benefits of fasting, but the practice has been around about as long as man and virtually every religion recommends some kind of fasting or ritual which helps the body to heal and regenerate. This historical precedence is not, however, why I fast a couple of times a year. I do it because of how it makes me feel. I’m not saying it’s always easy but I do genuinely enjoy focusing on my health by juicing for a week. It makes me feel cleaner, lighter and energized. And sure, the fact that I look better after a cleanse doesn’t hurt either. Clearer skin, brighter eyes and few lost pounds are all pleasant side effects. I’ve tried the famous Master Cleanse before, but subsisting on lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup felt …

Top 10 Ways to Eat More Sustainably

Published by Jacqueline King

As Mad Men showed us, there was a time when a person could feel good about their consumption if it included only a minimal number of cigarettes, cocktails and calories. Yes, it was a simpler time…Today our greater awareness leads us to consider not only the healthfulness, but the carbon footprint, environmental impact, and sustainability of what we consume. This article is not meant to send you on a guilt trip. I know sometimes one must succumb to the craving for a perfect Peruvian mango in the dead of winter. I’ve been there. What I hope it will do is give you the information to make better choices most of the time. Striving to do so (in any area of life) is a noble pursuit and far more rewarding than striving for perfection. 1. Remember this quote from sustainable food advocate Anna Lappe: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want” I find if I keep this in mind when shopping I am automatically more conscious of …