Don't have a gym membership? No problem! Purchasing a simple resistance band and perhaps a few hand weights can be enough equipment to feel the burn. Utilize the stairs in your house for cardiovascular exercise and take advantage of body-weight exercises which require absolutely no equipment! If you have limited space in your home take your workout outside or to a public park. Utilize the length of your driveway, patio stairs and benches to increase cardiovascular benefits. Head to your deck or front lawn and try a power yoga routine, which requires just enough space to fit a yoga mat. Try to incorporate a resistance band workout, which also requires very little space and is a great workout routine to do while traveling (resistance bands take up very little space and weigh virtually nothing!).

Try a Tabata Workout

A Tabata is a high-intensity interval workout that can be done in under twenty minutes. You may be thinking such a short workout would have no benefits, but each exercise is to be done at your maximum effort for an increase in heart-rate and therefore an increase in metabolism. Each Tabata consists of four exercises lasting 20 seconds each, followed by a 10 second rest period. Each exercise is repeated up to eight times. Try this ten minutes Tabata workout to get you started!

Because companies like Seventh Generation and Nature Clean do not use harsh or toxic chemicals, some people assume that they cannot effectively clean. If you are concerned, look for brands that have third-party certifications, like Green Seal, EcoLogo, ECOCERT or Design for the Environment (DfE); these certifications also include performance standards.

Full disclosure: You may have to let them sit on the problem area a bit longer before scrubbing.

Fact 2: They can kill germs and bacteria

Harsh chemical compounds are not the only thing that kills germs: Tea tree and thyme oil, and plain old vinegar can also do the trick. “Disinfectant” is a legal term and is considered to include bactericides, fungicides, virucides, mycobactericides, tuberculocides, sporicides, sterilants, or combinations of these. Ingredients in disinfectants are regulated and tested by Health Canada and display Drug Identification Numbers (DINs) on their label.  

Fact 3: The chemical agents within them are safer for you and your family

Who spends more time on the floor than your kids and pets?  Because of this affinity for being horizontal, they are more susceptible to the chemicals in cleaning products than adults; In fact, young children are 10 times more vulnerable to carcinogenic chemicals than adults.   Gentler, more environmentally conscious products that are free of carcinogens, harsh chemicals, and phthalate-based fragrance are a safer option than conventional cleaners.

According to Seventh Generation, chemicals of concern can hide behind the term "fragrance" in ingredient lists on your cleaning products - chemicals that have been linked to serious health effects including allergies, asthma, cancer, and reproductive harm.

But please, even if you use a greener cleaner always keep children and pets away from the area being cleaned and always keep cleaners in a secured area.

Fact 4:  They are better for the environment
The major concern is the chemicals which are contained within conventional cleaning products. There are thousands of chemicals in common use, which may pollute streams and rivers and may take a long time to degrade into harmless products. Some may not break down at all but may persist in the environment. These may enter the food chain, being eaten by aquatic creatures and perhaps eventually by us.

Fact 5:  They aren’t way more expensive
There’s absolutely no cheaper cleaner than vinegar and baking soda. However, if you like to just grab a bottle and run, alternative cleaners have become more popular and have dropped in price in recent years.   Plus this month, we have a great sale on Seventh Generation, which was one of the trail blazing healthy cleaning companies!

We know that this year, Easter festivities may be more difficult to celebrate than ever. Because many are practicing social distancing, we aren't able to host the big family events that we may be used to. Why not pick up some allergy-friendly Easter treats from Kardish to make sure everyone can feel included?

Best of all, you can use our free home delivery and curbside pickup program if you don't want to come into the store yourself! Just call your local Kardish at 613-224-1414 or click here to order online.

In this post we’ll share some of the fun and delicious treats we have at Kardish that make Easter just a bit more inclusive. (PS. Pass it on to the Easter Bunny so he knows what to bring!) 
 

Moo Free Chocolate Rosie Rabbit and Chocolate Eggs

Dairy-free, gluten-free and soya-free 
Moo Free's chocolates are made from their multi-award winning, dairy-free rice milk chocolate, and taste just like a delicious, quality milk chocolate. Their organic chocolate rabbit bars and Easter eggs are also dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and soya-free. Let everyone feel included and pick some treats from Moo Free up this year!

Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars & Snack Bars

Free from wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, shellfish, casein, potato, sesame, sulfites
Enjoy Life is a go-to brand for parents who have children with allergies or food sensitivities. All products make by Enjoy Life contain absolutely no wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. Products are also made without casein, potato, sesame, sulfites and artificial ingredients. They have recently produced three versions of their dairy-free chocolate bars - dark chocolate, rice milk chocolate and rice milk crunch. 

Annie's Homegrown Bunny-Shaped Pasta

No artificial flavours, synthetic colours or preservatives 
Annie's has created a variety of bunny shaped treats that are perfect for Easter, like these Bunny Shaped Pasta with Yummy Cheese. All products by Annie's Homegrown are free from artificial flavours, colours and synthetic preservative and are always made without genetically modified ingredients.

MadeGood Snacks

Free from peanuts, wheat, dairy, sesame, tree nuts, soy, egg, fish and shellfish. Organic and NON-GMO project verified
MadeGood granola bars and granola minis are wildly popular among little Kardish shoppers. With a variety of awesome flavours like chocolate banana and mixed berry they are sure to be a hit at your Easter egg hunt!

Dandies Marshmallows

Free from peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat/gluten, fish,
shellfish, and corn. NON-GMO Project verified & vegan certified

Finding marshmallows that are free from harmful additives can be hard enough without factoring in allergies and a vegan diet. Thanks to Dandies this is no longer a struggle! Try making these Dandies Classic Crispy Treats for the little ones at your Easter dinner.

About 25 percent of Canadians suffer from allergic rhinitis, commonly referred to as seasonal allergies or hay fever. Environmental triggers that bring about seasonal allergies are grass, pollen and mold. Seasonal allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to something (i.e. grass, pollen and mold) that would typically not effect the average person. This immune response causes symptoms like nasal congestion, burning/itching eyes and excessive sneezing. Keeping your immune system strong and robust is a key factor in surviving allergy season; luckily there are many ways to do this. We'll provide diet, supplementation and lifestyle related tips to help you thrive throughout the whole year!

Try these supplements

Quercetin

Histamine is produced during an allergic response and causes inflammation. Quercetin is a powerful natural antihistamine that can reduce inflammation and symptoms associated with seasonal allergies.
 

Vitamin C

We have all heard that vitamin C is important when suffering with a cold or flu, and that is because this vitamin promotes immune health. Like quercetin it is also a natural antihistamine.
 

Astragalus

Astragalus is known for its ability to protect and support the immune system. It has been shown to reduce symptoms in people who suffer from seasonal allergies.

Probiotics

The beneficial bacteria in probiotic supplements help to support digestion. As humans we are more bacteria than we are human cells, making friendly gut bacteria a crucial aspects of living a healthy life. Our gut bacteria is also directly linked to our immune function.

Eat and drink more of this

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is one of the best sources of vitamin C, a vitamin that we mentioned earlier is important for promoting immune health. Add lemon juice to water and enjoy first thing in the morning.

Turmeric

Turmeric is also referred to as curcumin, the active ingredient extracted from turmeric root. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that sooths inflammation throughout the body that can worsen allergy symptoms.

Bee Pollen + Raw Honey

The key to this tip is to purchase locally produced honey or pollen. There is some evidence to support that the consumption of raw honey can improve symptoms of seasonal allergies in some people (source). Raw honey is also anti-bacterial and therefore can help to protect the immune system. To learn more about this super-food, see our previous post on the benefits of raw honey.

Water

This one is simple, drink more water! When we are properly hydrated our air passages stay moist. When we are not, more mucus is produced to protect these areas, leaving us more prone to congestion. 
 

Kimchi

Consuming more of this fermented cabbage dish will not only liven up you dinner plate but also provides beneficial bacteria, like those found in probiotics. Kimchi contains chili pepper, making it fantastic for blood circulation, which will support healthy immune function by allowing nutrients and white blood cells to travel efficiently.

Make a few lifestyle changes 

Nasal Irrigation

Using a Neti Pot and salt solution to flush nasal passages will help to clear sinuses and decrease congestion. It can also help to flush allergens from the nostrils and sinuses before you immune system has the opportunity to react. 

Essential Oils

Breathing in essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus can help to open sinuses and improve circulation. Add a few drops to an oil diffuser within your home. 

Air Purification

Using an air purifier in your home will help to remove pollen from the air and improve your breathing quality while reducing overall symptoms.

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