Health + Wellness
-
Green is the New Black
The amount of disposable products (especially plastics) is a problem that, as a society, we have been trying to solve for several years. Unfortunately, when the pandemic came, health care and sanitation became our first priority and we put aside other problems; the use of plastic containers, disposable bags, and other articles returned to be part of our day-to-day lives. However, our reality is now different from what it was two years ago, and many establishments are again proposing small actions that we can do day by day to achieve a positive impact on our environment and community. Here on the Danforth, some establishments have opted for a sustainable model:…
-
Pink is Back on the Danforth
In February of 2020, life in Toronto was business as usual. Natalie Borch, founder of The Pink Studio in Toronto, was teaching a variety of classes at her studio: dance, yoga, barre, and pilates. On March 17, 2020, Premier Doug Ford issued a state of emergency, and by April 1, 2020, the Government of Ontario sent the entire province into lockdown, plunging businesses into an indefinite closure that would have profound ramifications for the fitness industry. In what would end up being one of the world’s longest lockdowns, the industry would suffer immensely, and for businesses to survive, they would need to innovate quickly, which is exactly what Natalie and…
-
What Makes “Clean Beauty” Clean? An Interview with The Big Carrot’s Resident Makeup Expert
Beauty should be good for you, right? But what really goes into the makeup we use? The truth is that most products contain a laundry list of ingredients that we can’t even pronounce, let alone make sense of. It’s estimated that around 80% of the ingredients in makeup have never been tested for health and safety standards — and yes, to my great chagrin, this is still totally legal. While we would like to think that the beauty companies we know and love always have our best interest at heart, the truth seems a little less clear. And since the average person uses twelve different beauty products every single day,…
-
What’s in a Routine? The Emotional, Mental, and Physical Benefits of Skin Care
Not knowing what to do tomorrow is scary. No matter how boring, or how mundane a routine is, it’s better to have one than nothing at all. A routine keeps you grounded, and it keeps you in control. You feel like you have control over the circumstances of your life, and even the tiniest amount of control can make you feel strong and empowered. But when the lockdown was officially active, I lost my routine. I lost my feeling of control; I lost myself. I didn’t know what to do next. When I had my routine, I always knew what would happen next, or the next thing to do. I…
-
Self-Care Tips for Coping with Anxiety During Uncertain Times
The arrival of the pandemic came as a surprise. The world changed overnight. People were suddenly becoming fatally ill due to a virus that no one had ever heard of. One day we’re living our normal daily lives, and the next, we’re locked away at home. It’s hard enough going through isolation, but it’s even harder when you’re dealing with mental health issues. The Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll conducted a study in the middle of June, that showed in the US alone, 53% of adults reported their mental health has suffered due to stress toward the coronavirus. Now imagine the number when we think about the whole world. Dealing…
-
Switchel: The Ancient Health Drink You’ve Likely Never Heard Of
Throughout the years, we’ve seen a rise in the popularity of kombucha due to a societal shift towards healthier lifestyles. Despite the popularity of this probiotic drink, few have heard of its cousin, switchel (also known as swizzle, haymakers-punch, or shrub in its condensed form). Much like kombucha, switchel contains quite a few health benefits (even electrolytes), and has a long history of being used as a drink to sustain oneself during laborious tasks. Switchel dates back hundreds of years, and its origin is somewhat dubious. Early versions of the drink have been traced back to the Caribbean, Rome, and England, as well as the United States during Colonial times.…
-
4 Self-Improvement Books to Help You Through the Pandemic
Life can be stressful, especially during a global pandemic. While many things are out of our control, like what our future will look like, improving our mental state is always within reach. If you find that your worries are holding you back, reading can actually help you take control of your mental health. Since the pandemic started, you’ve probably spent a lot of time at home with your thoughts. It can feel uncomfortable, but it’s a great opportunity to look within. Take your mental temperature and assess your stress levels head-on! If you spend some time with yourself now, you might be surprised with how you handle future situations. If…
-
How much do you know about COVID-19?
-
Coronavirus Update: How to Handle the ‘Pandemic’
In the wake of the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we must all remember to stay calm and listen to the advice of authorities who have been working around the clock. The world faces a global standstill as the reactions to the recent ‘pandemic’ have reached the world news. Stock markets are on the brink of some of the greatest crashes of all time, global sports leagues close down and displace fans for coming weeks, and whole countries have been quarantined as precautionary measures. The coronavirus or COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that emerged in December 2019 from the Wuhan area of China. As of March 12, 2020, it has infected…
-
Are celebrity relationships learning experiences for the rest of us?
Celebrity gossip is always something to learn from. Whether it be Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky emerging with their new fitness app, Centr, or the dynamic duo, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith celebrating over 21 years of marriage and success, there are always couples in the public eye that we can learn from. Many of these iconic partners reap the rewards of their hard work to become inspirations and role models for us to follow. While others make mistakes and show the world that we learn more from our shortcomings than our triumphs. Like the recent divorce between Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. When it truly comes down to…
