Canadian Health & Lifestyle magazine –

Canadian Health & Lifestyle magazine provides valuable topics on health to contribute to a healthy lifestyle that busy Canadians are seeking. Canadian Health & Lifestyle is published 4 times a year with a total distribution of 1,600,000 nationally. Working with the Creative Director I was responsible for the layout and production of this issue.

This work was completed while at Maximum 60 Design Communications.

Sheryl Crow: Life After Breast Cancer, Motherhood, and All-Natural Anti-Aging

By Jancee Dunn

From Health magazine
Sheryl Crow is one of music’s biggest talents, but you’d never know it talking to her. The mom of 2-year-old Wyatt is more likely to chat about motherhood than about being a rock star (even President Obama has her music on his iPod). Despite her fame, she’s still the same down-to-earth girl from Missouri.
Not that Sheryl, 47, is afraid of the spotlight—she’s been an advocate for a ton of causes, including finding a cure for breast cancer, which she was involved with even before her own cancer diagnosis in 2006. (She’s now cancer-free.)

And while she’s always been a fitness fanatic and sensible eater, Sheryl’s now even more mindful of preserving her health. In 2007, she opted for a less stressful life and moved to a farm outside of Nashville, where she lives with Wyatt.
This month, Sheryl releases a deluxe two-disc edition of her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club, stuffed with goodies like a bonus DVD, rarities, and B-sides. At the end of a busy day, she took questions submitted by Health readers. (“Great question!” she kept exclaiming, so kudos to you!)
Q: I’m a breast cancer survivor, and I’m wondering, are you doing anything special with your diet to stay healthy and cancer-free? —Sherry Lebed Davis, Lynnwood, Wash.
Sheryl: When I first got diagnosed, I went to this great nutritionist who specializes in disease prevention and well-being, and I still incorporate her tips like eating omega-3s—I eat salmon or other fish at least three times a week.
I eat a lot of walnuts, almonds, colorful vegetables, and prunes, which get such a bad rap but are loaded with antioxidants. I also drink pomegranate juice and keep a vat of tomato soup around or some kind of tomato sauce, because it has lycopene. Also, spices like cinnamon, which I throw into my cereal.
And one big thing I learned was that so much of wellness depends on your body getting rid of waste. So I eat a lot of Fiber One, which has 14 grams of fiber per serving.

Calcium from Vegetables

• 4 ounces firm tofu with calcium sulfate: 775mg
• 4 ounces regular tofu with calcium sulfate: 397mg
• 1 1/4 cups cooked collard greens: 280mg
•1 3/4 cups cooked boy choy: 277mg
• 2 1/2 cups cooked mustard greens: 259mg
•2 3/4 cups cooked kale: 257mg
•4 cups cooked broccoli: 250mg
• 4 ounces extra firm tofu with nigari: 198mg

Calcium Confidential: Secret Sources

Here's how to get enough calcium if you don't do dairy.

Rachel Quinlivan, R.D.
Photographs of well-known celebs and athletes with milk mustaches are one way the milk industry encourages calcium-deficient Americans to beef up their intake by drinking three glasses of milk per day. Why? Calcium is the mineral most critical to achieving and maintaining strong, healthy bones and minimizing bone loss later in life, and milk and other dairy products are often promoted as the preferred source. It makes sense. Nutrient-dense dairy products contain high concentrations of calcium: one 8-ounce glass of milk provides 256 milligrams of calcium, which is about one-fourth of the recommended daily intake. (Click here for more nutrient benefits of calcium.)
Calcium OptionsBut if you're lactose-intolerant, a vegan and don't eat dairy products, or simply want calcium options from sources other than dairy, there are other ways to get this important mineral. Studies show that you can maintain bone health with a diet in which calcium is obtained from non-dairy sources.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the calcium absorption from most foods, including dairy products and grains, is about the same. However, calcium may be more poorly absorbed from foods high in oxalic acid (spinach, sweet potatoes, and beans) or phytic acid (unleavened bread, raw beans, seeds, and nuts). These acids bind with calcium and prevent its absorption, but they don't prevent the absorption of calcium from other foods eaten at the same time. There are many plant-based sources that are well absorbed, such as soybeans , soynuts, bok choy, broccoli, collards, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens, and okra. (Click here for more food sources of calcium.)
Getting EnoughBut vegetables alone may not be enough because the amount required to reach the adequate daily intake of 1,000 milligrams per day for adults (1,200mg for those 51 and older) set by the Institute of Medicine is not always practical for most Americans. The key is to combine vegetable sources with other non-dairy calcium-rich foods such as tofu made with calcium sulfate and calcium-fortified soymilk and juices. Be sure to look carefully at the nutrition label to verify that the tofu you are buying is made with calcium sulfate. Nigari (magnesium chloride) is another common coagulating agent used to make tofu but its calcium content is lower. (Click here for tofu recipes.)
You can also take calcium supplements to ensure that you're getting the recommended daily amount, but don't exceed 2,500 milligrams per day from both food and supplements. Excess intake can increase risk for some health problems like kidney stones.

The Perks: Health Benefits of Coffee

Get the latest information about the ways that drinking coffee can improve your health.

By: Laurie Herr
When it comes to life's necessities, many of us would say a good cup of coffee ranks pretty darned high – right up there with shelter, friends, and comfortable shoes. But there's more to love about your morning java than its alluring aroma or friendly kick. Once maligned (too much caffeine! the devil's brew!), coffee is now being praised as a kind of health food, thanks to its high level of disease-fighting antioxidants and other nutrients. In fact, the coffee bean's roasting process actually intensifies some of these compounds, making them more powerful. The bottom line? As long as you don't overdo it – stick to no more than two or three cups a day, and watch the calories in those fancy lattes – there's no reason not to indulge. Here are some of the ways coffee can make you feel better and even live longer – plus tasty ways to enjoy your joe. What Coffee Can Do For You1. Fight cancer. Recent studies suggest regular coffee drinking can reduce the risk of breast, liver, and colon cancer. In some cases, you don't even have to drink coffee to gain the benefits: Lotions containing caffeine from coffee and green tea have been found to prevent skin cancer. 2. Prevent diabetes. An 11-year study of 28,000 women in Iowa found that regular coffee drinkers had less risk of developing type 2 diabetes than non-drinkers. Heavy coffee drinkers (6 or more cups a day) are about half as likely to have diabetes as light coffee drinkers or those who don't drink coffee at all. 3. Help your heart. In a huge study that followed nearly 42,000 postmenopausal women for 15 years, researchers found that regular coffee consumption reduced the risk of heart disease. In another study that tracked 129,000 men and women for 20 years, those who drank several cups of coffee a day were 34 percent less likely to die from heart disease than non-coffee drinkers. Experts say coffee's antioxidants helps fight inflammation, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. 4. Protect against Parkinson's. Several studies show regular coffee drinkers are up to 80 percent less likely to develop the disease, compared to those who abstain. The more you drink, the lower your risk, some of those studies say. 5. Boost your mood. Feeling a little blue? A steaming cuppa joe could make you smile. Caffeine stimulates the production of dopamine, a brain chemical related to pleasure and motivation. Just take care not to overdo it – too much caffeine can cause anxiety and sleeplessness. 6. Zap a headache. While it's true coffee can trigger headaches in some people, it can also be a short-term cure for others. Researchers at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago found that 200 milligrams of caffeine – about the amount in a cup of coffee – provided as much pain relief as 400 milligrams of ibuprofen and worked faster than the medication. 7. Fight cavities. Your morning mocha just may improve your smile. Scientists say coffee made from roasted coffee beans contains antibacterial properties, plus molecules that keep cavity-causing microorganisms from sticking to tooth enamel. 8. Keep you sharp. Caffeine revs up your metabolism, helping you stay focused and alert. Studies have also shown the stimulant improves short-term memory and may help protect against Alzheimer's disease. Of course, there are people who have health conditions that may be aggravated by caffeine or other substances in coffee. Coffee can increase heart rate and blood pressure, and, although the advice to avoid coffee during pregnancy is being debated, most health care professionals are still recommending that pregnant women avoid or limit coffee consumption. Consult a physician or a dietitian if you have questions about coffee intake and your health.

Teen Dating: What You Need to Know About "Hooking Up"

Sorry, parents. Going steady is a thing of the past. Here's our guide to what teens are doing -- and how you should talk to them about it.
By Stephanie WatsonWebMD the Magazine - Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
Jessica Stephens (not her real name), a San Francisco mother of four, has heard the term "hooking up" among her teenage sons' friends, but she's just not sure what it means. "Does it mean they're having sex? Does it mean they're having oral sex?"
Teens use the expression hooking up (or "messing around" or "friends with benefits") to describe everything from kissing to having oral sex or intercourse. But it does not mean they are dating.
Hooking up isn't a new phenomenon -- it's been around for at least 50 years. "It used to mean getting together at a party and would include some form of petting and sexual activity," says Lynn Ponton, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of The Sex Lives of Teenagers: Revealing the Secret World of Adolescent Boys and Girls.
Today, hooking up instead of dating has become the norm. About two-thirds of teens say at least some of their friends have hooked up. Nearly 40% say they've had sexual intercourse during a hook-up.
There's also been a rise in heavy petting and oral sex among younger kids -- starting as early as age 12.
Experts say today's busier, less attentive parents and the constant displays of casual sex on TV and in the movies have contributed to the change in teen sexual behavior. "I think young people are getting the message earlier and earlier that this is what everyone is doing," says Stephen Wallace, chairman and CEO of Students Against Destructive Decisions.
Teens also have access to the Internet and text messaging, which impersonalizes relationships and emboldens them to do things they wouldn't dare do in person. "One ninth-grade girl I worked with texted a senior at her school to meet her in a classroom at 7 a.m. to show him that his current girlfriend wasn't as good as she was," says Katie Koestner, founder and education director of Campus Outreach Services. She intended to "show him" with oral sex.
Talking to Teens About Sex
So what can you do to prevent your kids from hooking up? You should start the conversation about sex before they hit the preteen and teen years, when they learn about it from TV or their friends, Wallace says. Clearly, this isn't your parents' "birds and bees" sex talk. You need to recognize that your teens are going to have a sex life and to be totally open and honest about your expectations of them when it comes to sex. That means being clear about what behaviors you are -- and aren't -- OK with them doing online, while text messaging, and during a hook-up. If you're embarrassed, it's OK to admit it. But it's a conversation you need to have.
Other ways to keep the channels of communication open include:
Know what your kids are doing -- who they're emailing, instant messaging, and hanging out with.
Analyze sex in the media: When you watch TV or movies together, use any sexual messages you see as a jumping-off point to start a conversation about sex.
Be curious: When your kids get home from a night out, ask questions: "How was the party? What did you do?" If you're not getting straight answers, then talk with them about trust, their actions, and the consequences.
Avoid accusing your teens of wrongdoing. Instead of asking, "Are you hooking up?" say, "I'm concerned that you might be sexually active without being in a relationship."

Learning to Treat Depression

Symptoms and Causes of Depression:
Symptoms of Depression:
Some of the most recognized symptoms of depression include a profound feeling of sadness or loss of interest. You may be surprised to learn that people with depression often experience a broad range of other symptoms.
In general, if you've been experiencing some combination of the following emotional, physical, or associated symptoms of depression for more than two weeks, and they clearly interfere with your life, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
1.Sadness throughout the day, nearly every day
2.Loss of interest in or enjoyment of your favorite activities
3.Feelings of worthlessness
4.Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
5.Thoughts of death or suicide
6.Trouble making decisions
7.Fatigue or lack of energy
8.Sleeping too much or too little
9.Change in appetite or weight
10.Trouble concentrating
11.Feelings of restlessness or being slowed down
Don't let this list of symptoms scare you. Treatments and therapies are available to help with the symptoms of depression.
Cause of Depression
There are many theories about the cause of depression. One common theory is that depression is caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring substances in the brain and spinal cord.