Ever get questioned why you are gluten free? I get asked a lot, often accompanied by a look that suggests I am being health obsessive. For instance, when I won't eat a salad that is served with "only a few croutons" crowning the lettuce. People have no idea how I would love to eat that crouton! Unfortunately for me, it's a medical necessity to avoid gluten as I was diagnosed celiac several years ago. And I've been sleuthing out gluten ever since. What I put in my mouth and what I put on my skin makes all the difference to my health.

It seems these two colorful carotenoids are more than just eye "candy"! Carotenoids are pigments found in fruits and veggies that give them their bright colors. When your parents said carrots were good for your eyes, they were right! Carrots provide quite a bit of these carotenoids, mainly as lutein and zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin). Lutein and zeaxanthin are renowned for eye health. So what's all this have to do with the brain?

Vitamin D3 is a controversial supplement when it comes to knowing how much to take. Supplements are available in 400 IU to 5,000 IU amounts and even the experts have conflicting recommendations, adding to the confusion for consumers who wish to supplement. So how do you figure it out? A 2017 published Canadian study specifically looked at the factors which influenced D3 levels based on individual needs.

Long before the media was a buzz of ads about why you need a probiotic, naturopathic doctors knew the value of an optimally functioning GI tract for immunity and a host of other health benefits. Your GI tract is teeming with billions of organisms (friendly bacteria species) which help you make and absorb vitamins and minerals, form natural killer cells to fight infection and of course, digest your food for the nutritional support your body needs on a daily basis. Everything is not all good down there in the dark!

Hydrate! One of the healthiest habits is to consume fresh, pure water throughout the day. But if you haven’t given up your convenient plastic water bottle for the sake of the earth, perhaps you may after you learn the link between plastic and your weight. It seems research from Health Canada is the first to show how the body metabolizes bisphenol-A (BPA) results in fat accumulation.

BPA is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic. Among its many uses are plastic containers to store food and for beverages like water. But it does not stop there.