In November, we like to imagine that we’re all spending the month in cozy sweaters, planning our fourth Thursday menus next to a crackling fire. We dream of weather that is mostly fall sunshine, but just crisp enough to make those sweaters justifiable. And we hope it’s punctuated by moments of contemplative gray, during which we have plenty of time to sink into a comfy chair with a book.

As we prepare to close the chapter of another year, it’s easy to define it by the bad things that happened, so instead, let’s bid 2023 farewell celebrating positive works in progress. Here are three stories of individuals and communities working together to seed hope and healing for people and the planet.

How to best support yourself and your growing baby through diet & nutrition

One of the hardest jobs the human body has is growing another human. As beautiful and wondrous as the idea of pregnancy is, it takes a toll on the body.

Gathering maple tree sap to make sweet syrup for food and medicine is an ancient practice created by the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Wabanaki people of northeastern North America.¹ From pancakes to salmon, the sweet syrup was, and still is, used to cure meats, sweeten bitter medicines, and bring a warm sugary and woody flavour to breakfasts and dinners alike.

Our modern farming system has replaced prairie grasslands with large swaths of genetically modified (GM) corn, soybeans, and other crops, in the name of progress.^{1 2 3} The fields are sprayed with increasingly more herbicides, and the yields are boosted with more synthetic fertilizers.^{4 5} Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the country, far from the vast acres of farm

Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Poor Metabolic Health

Largely due to our indoor lifestyles, vitamin D deficiency has become increasingly prevalent; this is concerning because vitamin D deficiency is associated with a variety of chronic diseases, including diabetes and obesity, which are associated with poor metabolic health (high blood sugar, inflammation, and increased body mass

The words medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) may not conjure images of vibrant health, mental fortitude, optimal energy levels, and a healthy weight. You might even be inclined to shy away because the word ‘triglyceride’ has been taught as something to fear. But it’s time to demystify MCT once and for all so we can collectively reap the health benefits.

"Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake."

–Winnie the Pooh

"I would tell people … how we fight for our lives with strength and sweat."

–Excerpted from “Milked: Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers in New York State”¹

Pycnogenol^® as Effective as Prescription Med for ADHD, Without the Side Effects

According to the CDC, approximately one in 10 children between 6 and 12 are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).¹ ADHD makes it challenging for children to stay focused, and stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) are often prescribe