This year marks a major milestone for me: one year since I started my journey into studying Holistic Nutrition. It’s a bit surreal to think I’m already a third of the way through. I have two years to go, though depending on how life moves (and how many times I have to re-read the same…
Author: Andrea
Feeling Off-Balance? How the Five Elements Explain Your Energy
Have you ever felt tired, unmotivated, or constantly restless—even after a full night’s sleep? You’re not lazy, and you aren’t broken. Your body is simply sending you a message through a system that has guided people for thousands of years: the Five Elements (五行). In this tradition, your energy—or Qi—is influenced by the world around you. Think…
ADHD: A Nervous System Story
Have you ever watched your child move from calm to overwhelmed in what feels like seconds—and wondered what’s really going on beneath the surface? The Heart of the Matter (The Soul) In my years working in Early Childhood Development (ECE), I’ve observed many brilliant, “busy” minds. I’ve repeatedly seen what looks like challenging behaviour is…
The Vagus Nerve: Your Body’s Secret Reset Button
Ever feel like your body is stuck in overdrive—heart pounding, stomach churning, and your brain just won’t shut off? Between managing two teenage boys, studying, juggling everyday demands, and coping with a chronic illness, I often find myself running on high gear both physically and mentally. That restless, “always-on” feeling is exactly where the vagus…
Why You Feel “Heavy” (Even When the Scale Doesn’t Move)
The Sticky Truth About Dampness and Your Health For a long time, I didn’t really notice it, but once I hit my thirties, I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I felt so sluggish and foggy every late summer. It wasn’t just the heat—it felt heavier than that. It was like I was suddenly…
Feeling Bloated After Meals? FODMAPs Might Be the Culprit
You eat a meal, and shortly after your stomach feels tight, puffy, or uncomfortable—like something just isn’t sitting right. Maybe there’s gas, cramps, or changes in your digestion that don’t follow a clear pattern. It might not just be what you’re eating—it could be how your body is digesting it. Let’s talk about FODMAPs. It might…
Proof That Salads Don’t Have to Suck
I first fell in love with a salad like this at a restaurant a while ago. It was light, fresh, and had that perfect sweet-and-savoury balance that actually fills you up without making you feel heavy. Naturally, I had to come home and recreate my own version. I used what I had in the fridge,…
The Histamine Bucket: Why “Healthy” Foods Can Sometimes Make You Feel Off
Ever finished what should have been a “healthy” meal—say, a spinach salad with avocado—and suddenly felt itchy, foggy, or just… off? Maybe a glass of wine leaves your nose stuffy, or you get a weird spike of anxiety out of nowhere. If this sounds familiar, histamine might be playing a bigger role than you think. So, What…
Matcha & Hojicha: Which Tea Fits Your Day?
Most people reach for coffee when they’re overwhelmed, but I usually have a different strategy. I call it my ‘Green & Gold’ routine. As a mom, tea is my anchor. It marks the transition from Doing to Being. In the middle of that chaos, tea has become my little tool. Some mornings, I need a focused boost; other evenings, I…
Light, Sweet, and Healing: Snow Fungus Dessert Soup
We’ve been battling lingering dry coughs in our house lately—you know, the kind that leaves your throat feeling scratchy and restless. The weather has been all over the place, so today I reached for a remedy from my childhood: Snow Fungus Dessert Soup (糖水). What Is Snow Fungus Dessert Soup? It’s a light, slightly sweet Chinese…
Breaking Free from Food Rules, Finding True Nourishment
I used to think “eating healthy” meant following a long list of strict rules: no carbs after 6:00 PM, drink this before that, no more than 1,200 calories a day, and counting every gram of protein, fat, and carb. Or, no dessert allowed unless it was made with dates and almond flour. I tried almost…
Understanding TCM Body Constitutions: A Beginner’s Perspective
I was born and raised in Canada, but growing up in a Chinese household, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was always present in my life, thanks to my mom. Whenever we were sick, it wasn’t Tylenol or the usual Western remedies. Instead, my mom would brew up some bitter herbal tea that, to be honest, tasted…
A Year of Letting Go and Finding Balance
This past year has been a journey of high highs and some very real lows. Life was beautiful but busy—baseball tournaments, family travel, and a big trip to Japan. I’ll be the first to admit I let loose with food, didn’t always make the best choices, and definitely didn’t get the rest I needed. Between…
Eating Well in Winter: TCM’s Guide to Staying Warm and Nourished
Winter’s officially here, and let’s be honest – who doesn’t crave a cozy, warm bowl of something comforting? But it’s about more than just satisfying a craving. What we eat this time of year has a massive impact on how we feel. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), winter is about conserving energy, supporting the immune…
My Journey Back To Me
Sometimes, it takes a change of scenery to truly see yourself again. Our trip to Japan was intended for family time and exploring, and while it was both, it also served as a necessary eye-opener. For years, I’ve been trying to balance my health while showing up for my family, but looking back, I was…