La Belle Vie Holistic Living

Nothing quite kicks your self confidence in the kisser like a cold sore. And with the weather changing and our immune systems taking a hit, 'tis the cold sore season! Luckily, there are things you can do to stop a cold sore in its tracks and to speed the healing of one should it erupt. Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net What is a cold sore? A cold sore is an outbreak of Herpes Simplex Virus - 1 (HSV-1), a virus that lies dormant in nerve cells. The reactivation of the virus, which leads to outbreaks, can be triggered by minor infections, a weakened immune system, stress, and even sun exposure.  Lysine, Arginine, and cold sores - oh my! There is a lot of research that points to a strong relationship between lysine, arginine, and cold sore outbreaks. Arginine can stimulate the replication of the virus. Lysine blocks arginine offering antiviral support. How can you make this work for you? Try to balance arginine and lysine naturally in your diet Foods high in arginin...

Looking for a tasty way to boost your health? Start eating Everyday Superfoods . What are Everyday Superfoods? You've probably heard of "superfoods" - foods that are high in nutrients and help fight disease - such as goji berries, camu camu, and even raw cacao. Everyday Superfoods is what I call foods that have these same health-boosting superpowers, but are easy to find and easy on your wallet. These are foods that you can get at your Farmers' Market, in your CSA box, and even in your own backyard! If you're looking to supersize your  health, start eating these three foods today! Carrots Flax seeds Apples Looking for more Everyday Superfoods? Download my free ebook ! xo Selene

Image courtesy of Ohmega1982/FreeDigitalPhotos.net Many people ask me about digestive problems they are experiencing. For some, it's a matter of feeling tired, heavy, and bloated after eating. For others, it's acid reflux and heartburn...The list goes on. As someone who has spent most of my lifetime with digestive issues of pretty much every sort you could imagine, I feel for them. What I explain to people who voice their concerns and issues to me is that when it comes to digestion, there are many moving parts. And, like any machine, an issue with any one part can affect the whole system. One of the key players in digestion is the stomach. More specifically, many issues arise from a problem with Hydrocloric Acid - one of the stomach's principle secretions and an essential part of the digestive process. Hydrochloric Acid, or HCl, unfolds protein chanins to make them easier to break down. It also combines with another stomach product Pepsinogen to produce Pepsin. Pepsin is ne...

Good morning! How did you sleep last night? Not awesomely? Check out the article I wrote for Elephant Journal that shares five natural ways to end those sleepless nights.

For all of its bad rap, inflammation is actually important to our health. When we sustain an injury, inflammation is needed to limit the damage to our bodies and to the injured area. Sometimes though, our body might turn on our inflammatory pathways and not be able to turn it off. There is a growing number of studies showing that chronic inflammation might be an underlying factor for many health conditions and degenerative diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cancer. There are numerous causes of inflammation – an acidic diet, bad fats, refined foods, strenuous exercise, free radicals from environmental pollutants, and even stress. Some are avoidable or can be eliminated from our lives, others can’t be or are things that just aren’t easy to say goodbye to. However, for every food that could contribute to inflammation in our bodies, there is a food that is great at supporting the body’s anti-inflammatory processes and functions. Here are three of my fav...

This year, give Thanksgiving a healthy makeover for a holiday that's good for the whole body, mind, and spirit. Here are seven tips to up the fun, delicious, and good-for-you factors of Pumpkin Day.

This sweet and delicious spice is getting a bad rap, which is possibly best summed up with my parents' serious inquiry at dinner the other night "...I heard cinnamon was killing people..." Why do they think that and what is the truth (if any) behind it? Read this article I wrote over at my new blog to find out. xo Selene

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net We know that certain things that we’re exposed to in pregnancy can affect the health of our babies. Smoking, chemicals, alcohol, even coffee…we hear all about how dangerous these can be. But, did you know that it can go the other way too?? There are certain foods that we can eat while pregnant that will benefit our children, making them healthier and happier when they enter the world. Apples are one of these baby-loving superfoods. Research has found that expecting moms who ate apples gave birth to children who had a lower risk of developing asthma and asthma-related symptoms. How do you like them apples?? Here are some of my fave apple-licious recipes to keep you in the red, yellow, and green this fall… Baked apples Blueberry apple pear juice Raw spiced apple pie xo Selene

Want to be a flu-fighting, cold-clobber superhero this winter? Join my Wellness Workshop on October 29 and you'll learn how to boost your immunity to stay healthy this season. In the one-hour workshop, you will learn: Foods, nutrients, and herbs that boost your immunity Foods and habits that impair your immunity How to fight off colds and flus should you get one Sign up now and save!

Move over cheeseburger, cool cats everywhere are now clamouring for the tasty awesome green dream that is the avocado! In addition to making everything delicious, they also come with a crazy super power ...you'll never guess what it is!

Do you know what trex hates more than push-ups?? Unbalanced blood sugar! Check out the article I wrote for Engage Africa Foundation to find out why he's chosen cinnamon to fight this common foe!!! Also, don't forget to   download my new book  full of superfoods, like cinnamon, and super recipes that will boost your health and make life even more awesome!

Image courtesy of    anat_tikker /FreeDigitalPhotos.net Crisp mornings, clean air, colourful leaves...dry skin. Is the changing weather leaving you with uncomfortable, itchy, and flaky skin that's dampening your autumnal spirit? You're not alone. For many of us the beauty of fall is quickly sidelined by seasonal dryness. To get back your fall cheer - just in time for long walks in leaf-strewn parks and ravines - this gentle homemade Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub may be just what you need. This easy-to-make body scrub will turn any bathroom into a luxurious spa. The sea salt creates a mineral-rich exfoliator, the olive oil a deep moisturizer, and the cinnamon and nutmeg add the delicious pumpkin pie smell that screams fall. Slather it on in the shower or bath, gently massage in a circular motion, and then rinse it off while leaving the oils to soothe and soften your crocodile skin away. To make 1/4 cup oil 1/2 cup sea salt 1 Tbsp cinnamon 1/2 Tbsp nutmeg Stir all the ingredients tog...

It's true - they do ! Download my free ebook,  Everyday Superfoods , for more information on Brazil nuts and eight other amazing foods, plus nine super awesome recipes, including Brazil nut milk.

Have a UTI or get them more often than you'd like? Here are 8 things you can do to prevent and treat one.

How are Brazil nuts a superfood? They are the richest source of selenium. Studies have shown that 1-2 nuts a day are enough to raise your levels of selenium and powerful antioxidant glutathione peroxidase. Enjoy more brazil nuts in your life by making them into a dairy-free milk, chopping them up and tossing them into your salad, or using them in raw truffles and cakes. Download my free ebook, Everyday Superfoods , for more information on the many superpowers of Brazil nuts and a how to guide for making Brazil nut milk.

Enjoy this subtly sweet spice to balance blood sugar and help protect against diabetes and it's complications. Check out the article I wrote for Engage Africa Foundation about cinnamon's superpowers. Also, don't forget to download my new book full of superfoods and super recipes!

Best salad ever made with organic kale...from Sambuca Cafe in Vilcabamba, Ecuador Avocados are one delicious superfood. Not only are they amazingly tasty, but they're a serious superstar when it comes to heart health. I'm so excited about them, especially after reading a million research studies, that they're playing a star role in my upcoming Everyday Superfoods talk. If you're in Toronto, come by the Toronto Vegetarian Food Festival for the free talk on Saturday, September 7 at 2pm . And then eat some delicious food while you're there :) One of the really cool things about avocados is their ability to help protect against the vascular and inflammatory damage caused by eating a burger. A recent study* done by researchers at UCLA gave participants a burger with or without avocado. Those who ate it with the avocado didn't have the vasoconstriction or the inflammatory markers of those who went for the burger in the buff. So be that awesome health warrior who bri...

I have been working on an article about the antidiabetic and blood sugar balancing benefits of cinnamon and keep coming across articles on other blogs and from experts about how this delicious spice that I enjoy almost every day is potentially toxic. My curiousity peaked, I had to look into this. And what I found was a bit disturbing. Not disturbing about my fave spice mind you, but rather about how irresponsible people can be when putting health information out there. No wonder so many consumers end up confused. To sum up the "concerns" about cinnamon, this is what relatively recent articles have been reporting... 1. Cassia cinnamon - the more commonly used variety and the one that is inexpensive and readily available in most Western parts of the world - contains a compound called Coumarin, which is potentially toxic in very small doses for kids and "some people" (note that none of these articles specify or explain who "some people" are) 2. The compound C...

Since 2600 BC, the spicy deliciousness of garlic has been tied to healing and longevity. From ancient Egypt to China to India, people have used this unbelievably tasty bulb to improve health. Numerous studies point to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, immune boosting, cardiovascular protecting, and fat burning actions. Enjoy this powerful healing food raw - grated on salads and other savoury dishes. How I love to eat my garlic: raw kelp noodle stir-fry with spicy almond ginger sauce

  Ceniza hearts avocados too One of the (many) things I love about living in Ecuador is eating avocados every day. The other day, I visited Loja and bought six for $2! Creamy, delicious avocados are full of monounsaturated fats, phytochemicals, and immune-boosting plant sterols. Not only do the monounsaturated fats in avocados benefit our cardiovascular system, but they also work to actually increase our body’s ability to absorb of powerful antioxidant carotenoids in our foods. I love to eat avocados in every way possible and find new ways to enjoy this amazing fruit. One of my fave way to enjoy them is definitely in creamy raw, dairy-free mango ice cream. xo Selene