Picky eaters… if we weren’t one, we most certainly know one! Picky eating behavior in children is a very common concern among parents and that’s why today we will be discussing common causes and consequences of picking eating, as well as what we can do to best encourage the introduction of new foods into a child’s diet.

The brain is the control center of EVERYTHING. Without it, there is no life. It is important to understand that our brain communicates with the rest of our body via nerves. These nerve cells talk to each other based on information that the brain receives from its five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch). As our environment changes, the information sent to the brain changes and its ability to adapt is known as “neural plasticity”.

Just like anything else involving our neurology or biology, there is almost never just one singular cause. We are multi-dimensional creatures, so to simply point and blame one factor would be irresponsible. Rather, we look at causes such as nervous system interference, movement (or lack thereof), decreased touch stimuli, poor nutrition, environmental/physical toxins, sympathetic activation, and traumatic birth which are all contributors to improper nervous system development.

How many times have you sworn to start eating healthy on Monday? How many well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions have fizzled out faster than a $15 dollar bath bomb? How many monthly gym membership donations have you made? Ok…You get it. We all get it. Starting a new habit is hard. Maintaining them is harder. Your brain has worked hard to build those old habits and the brain loves familiarity.

Before we dive into how to successfully start a new habit, we need to understand why your brain builds habits.

We often hear about the first three trimesters, but the 4th is just as important and often overlooked. During the first three trimesters pregnant women tend to have a lot of self-care as they go to regular doctors’ appointments, focus on what they eat, rest and in general, society seems to encourage focusing on caring for the mom to be. However, often when women enter the 4th trimester, all the attention is directed towards the baby.

Were you one of the many of us who became an amateur horticulturist in 2020? In addition to the patio garden I built, my apartment has also slowly acquired a good number of indoor plants over the past nine months, to the point that my fiancé is slightly concerned about how many plants may actually end up in our future home. While it’s been fun propagating and growing plants, these little green friends are much more than a hobby or decoration! Today we are going to discuss five ways indoor plants may actually improve your health.