Laura is passionate about helping women reduce stress and anxiety and feel inner peace and joy through a holistic approach incorporating nutrition, lifestyle practices, and mindfulness meditation. She is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Mindfulness Facilitator, and the Founder of The Health Sprout. In her practice, she works with clients 1:1 and in group programs to help them achieve balance and mental and physical well-being. She also works with corporate clients to deliver workshops and wellness series.

What drew you to Holistic Nutrition and Mindfulness Meditation, and what do you love most about what you do? 

I was led towards the path of Holistic Nutrition because of health issues I experienced growing up which led me to experience anxiety and depression. After years of navigating a lot of uncertainty when it came to my health, I was really inspired to take control of my own physical and mental well-being by immersing myself into the world of holistic nutrition and mindfulness. What I love most about what I do is being able to help women feel more inner peace and joy by calming their stress and anxiety.

What does a typical workday look like

One of the first things I do in the morning is drink lots of water, and go for a walk to fully wake up and get fresh air. Once I’m back, I’ll meditate 10-20 mins and then get to work! It depends on the day but generally I work on creating content for projects I have lined up, and also work with clients 1:1, and in my group programs. I’d say that’s the best part of my day! The sense of community from working with clients. And of course, right now all my work is done in comfy pants.

How much of an impact does diet have on our skin?

It has a HUGE impact. What we put inside of our bodies will be reflected on our skin. A diet high in processed foods will impact our digestive system and liver, which are key for breaking down toxins, filtering and eliminating waste products, and other key tasks for skin health. When toxins are not being properly eliminated by these organs, our skin, which is also an organ of elimination, has to pick up the slack and gets the extra work of pushing toxins out. This results in acne, and can aggravate other skin conditions. A processed diet will also cause inflammation in the body which may lead to dryness, premature fine lines, and other inflammatory skin conditions. 

What foods should I include more of for glowing healthy skin?

The first thing I would recommend is making bffs with whole foods. Include plenty of vegetables and fruits in your diet. A few foods which are key for skin health include cruciferous veggies which are great for metabolic detoxification and liver support, as well as richly coloured orange and red fruits and vegetables; these are a rich source of antioxidants that helps to promote healthy skin as you age. Eating protein such as fish is also key for collagen and elastin production, which helps keep your skin supple. Fatty fish is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory.

What foods should I be avoiding

Avoid inflammatory and highly processed packaged foods like sugary drinks, candies, frozen pre-packed foods, fast food, and processed meats. Reducing your sugar intake will help immensely as well. Refined sugar is in many packaged foods as well as foods which are marketed as being healthy (vegan and gluten free). Avoid overconsumption of omega-6 fatty acids which are inflammatory. This means cooking less with oils like sunflower, corn, and soybean. Lastly, be wary of dairy which comes from conventionally raised cows as it is full of hormones, chemicals, and inflammatory compounds detrimental to skin health. I mean, I love cheese, I just opt for grass fed local cheese! 

Is there anything else you’d recommend

Yep! Water, lots of water. Upping your water intake will help your organs of elimination to get rid of waste. Your digestive system, kidneys and liver need water to aid their process of elimination, and since your skin is also an organ of elimination, it needs water too! Water is also the best drink since there is no added sugar, flavourings, or colours! It’s just good pure hydration which your body and skin love. 

What about eating mindfully?

This is where nutrition and mindfulness join forces! Eating mindfully means being in the present moment, using your senses to taste your food, feel the textures, and enjoy the smells. It means truly taking in the experience of eating, and developing appreciation and gratitude for all of the contributing factors that led to you being able to eat the food. Mindful eating enables us to eat in a relaxed manner, which aids our digestion and helps us fully absorb all of the nutrients from our food. This enables our skin to receive even more nutrients and to benefit from less stress and inflammation in the body.

Where can we find you?

Insta: @thehealthsprout

www.thehealthsprout.com

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