Lauren Brady, RHN

11/09/2025

Hug a tree! Be one with nature!
It's not hippy-dippy - the health benefits are scientifically proven!🌳❤️

Forest therapy, or forest bathing, is transforming urban lives by reducing stress and boosting health. Studies show it can lower cortisol levels by 13.4% in just 20 minutes and enhance immunity by 50%! Explore this natural remedy today!

https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/stress-anxiety/is-forest-therapy-for-real/

11/04/2025

Are you a woman in your 40s, 50s or 60s and wondering what the heck is going on with your body?😱

It's your hormones, baby and nobody is coming to save us.
HRT is great (if you can convince your GP to prescribe it), but what if they won't, or you don't want to go that route?
The good news is there is lots you can do to get (or stay) strong and healthy, but believe me, it does take work.

The pillars of health are nutrition, exercise, strength training, sleep, sunlight and mindfulness/stress reduction/inner work.
There's no way around it, and no shortcuts.

Are you ready to be your own hero?💪
If you need some motivation, the first pic is my 52 year-old bicep on June 14th (and yes I am flexing as hard as I can). The second pic is Sept 29th.

Brightsidehealth.ca

11/03/2025

I can verify that this is a fun and educational experience!🍄

We are inviting you to our last Ecotour of 2025 on November 16th.

Join us for a day of fun, adventure, forest bathing, mushrooming and amazing gourmet lunch.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter - www.terroirwildecotours.com

The location is only given to the customers who paid for the tour.
Please send me a message if you want to know more details.

See you in the wild my friends!!

10/30/2025

Ready for a Truth Bomb?💣

10/29/2025

Well, it's Spooky Season again and with that comes my Halloween PSA: if you are concerned about how much refined sugar and ultra-processed crap your children consume at Halloween, please know that it is ok to draw a boundary around it. Some nutritionists say "it's fine, let them be kids, it's only one day"... except it's not only one day, and that pillow case of junk can last straight into the holiday season - which is a whole other ball of wax.

Why is sugar so terrible for kids?
First of all, children under the age of 2 should not have any refined sugar. Zippo. Kids who eat a lot of added sugar are more likely to have obesity, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, which also puts them at risk for heart disease. The sugar in Halloween candy is likely genetically modified (GMO). Sugar also lowers the immune system, can cause hyperactivity and lower concentration, it can cause stomachaches, digestive and skin problems... not to mention leads to tooth decay and inflammation in the brain which impacts mental health.

So what can you do as a parent?
Halloween can be festive without adding to the sugar load. Fill your kids up on fruit and savoury real food meals. Is there a school party? Have a chat with the teacher and ask what treats will be offered. Maybe you could contribute some jack o'lantern clementines, or homemade pumpkin muffins? Then... manage the trick or treating loot. This is tricky (get it?), but there are ways to handle it. The Switch Witch method is popular: basically your child chooses their favourite pieces of candy to keep, and the rest gets left out for the Switch Witch, who replaces it with a toy. I always did a version of this, but without the Witch - just a straight-up bribe of money and a treat bag that I made myself. It never failed!
The point is that you're the boss applesauce, and you can make choices that are better for your childrens' health, even if they are a little different from the norm. Your kids will be healthier in the long run and no, they will not resent you.

Want some support around creating new boundaries and a healthier diet for your family?
https://brightsidehealth.ca/lauren-brady/

10/25/2025

Join Our Team! ☀

Brightside Integrated Health offers mental health counselling, trauma counselling, corporate services, massage, naturopathy and nutrition.

10/23/2025

Just returned from a trip to Italy and I was curious to see how hard it would be to maintain a healthy diet. The answer.... while it is theoretically possible, it would not be enjoyable or culturally immersive. Two weeks of pasta, gelato and wine will not derail an otherwise healthy diet or a person's health goals, as long as you reset when you return. And the myth that gluten sensitive people can eat gluten without issue in Europe? Well, I tested that thoroughly and it is sadly untrue and actually a relatively high percentage of Italians are gluten intolerant. 🥖🍝🍰

10/20/2025

Did you know that October is Menopause Awareness Month? Perimenopause is a natural transition that affects 10M women in Canada, but many feel alone and unprepared. The symptoms can go way beyond hot flashes and night sweats - this video illustrates 100 possible symptoms! 😱

How can nutrition ease the menopausal transition?
Menopause is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis; and reducing the risk factors for these diseases through nutritional intervention is an essential element of a holistic approach to healthy menopause care.

If you're into research, check out:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10780928/

Are you a woman in this stage of life and want nutritional support from a professional who understands? Book with me today!
https://brightsidehealth.ca/lauren-brady/

There are endless possible combinations of symptoms in perimenopause. This video lists 100 perimenopause symptoms in 7 minutes! This is a quick visual list...

09/23/2025

This is an actual exchange in my house!
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BJXNdaZmR/

09/18/2025

How would you like to improve your health, energy and digestion in just one week, with no gimmicks, or products to buy?

Try these two easy "hacks":
1) Start your day with a large glass of water with lemon.
2) Eat a big salad. Every day. It doesn't have to be in place of anything - just add it into your regular day. It's extra!
Salads are completely amazing - a creamy and garlicky kale caesar, a classic Nicoise, a nice crunchy slaw... there are no rules, except to get those crisp colourful veggies and greens into your body!

And for the low low price of nothing, I'll throw in my "bonus hacks":
3) Feeling snacky? Try seasonal fruit (local apples, pears and blackberries are abundant right now) and a small handful of almonds.
4) Unwind in the evening with a calming herbal tea.

If you incorporate the above into your regular day, I can almost guarantee that in a week you will feel a positive difference. You will be more hydrated and that salad (and fruit/nuts) will make your gut happy, get digestion moving and perhaps make that 2pm Starbucks run a little less appealing.

Want some serious salad inspo?
https://everysaladever.com/
https://minimalistbaker.com/hearty-plant-based-salads/

Want a personalized nutritional assessment and an action plan tailored just for you?
https://brightsidehealth.ca/holistic-nutrition/

Small-print disclaimer: the above are healthy suggestions for most people, but is not prescriptive.