SLS Health Coaching

04/01/2026

Next Plant-Powered Potluck is Saturday, April 25th, 6-8pm. Odell Lodge, lower level.

02/01/2026

Thank you everyone for sharing yourselves and your yummy potluck contributions on Saturday night. Next potluck likley to be in April. Stay tuned!

01/11/2026

So, we're going to start a new weekly series of sharing recipes on here. We'll create a category each week and we can all add our favorites. To make it easy for everyone and to respect cookbook authors and their work, only online blog recipes please or, your very own creations. Audience participation- PLEASE PUT YOUR RECIPE LINKS IN THE COMMENTS.

This week we will start with breakfast smoothie bowls, chia puddings, overnight oats, and smoothies. All recipes in the comments. Let's have fun with this.

12/30/2025

Mark your calendars: 1st Plant-Powered Potluck of 2026 is January 31st, 6-8pm, Odell Lodge, Fredericton

11/29/2025

THIS! PLEASE READ

This week, I received a worrisome message from a fellow follower.

She was extremely worried and confused after seeing a very convincing video online.

So I watched the video she sent me.

A self proclaimed expert, who appeared knowledgeable and poised, was making confident claims that for the health of our children and ourselves, we should stay as far away as possible from vegetables.

In fact, according to her, vegetables were trying to kill us via the defence toxins they contained.

She clearly never heard of “hormesis”.

And maybe you’ve never heard of this term either.

And that’s OK.

That’s why we are meant to trust experts. It’s normal they know more than us in the field they’ve been studying.

I don’t tell pilots how to fly their planes.

But since everyone eats, we all have an opinion about what consists of a healthy diet.

And it is ok to listen to your own body.

Although there is endless confusion online about what constitutes a healthy diet, this confusion exists almost entirely on social media.

Inside of the scientific community, the picture is remarkably consistent.

That community is built from hundreds of research and medical organizations around the world, representing thousands of experts who dedicate their careers to nutrition science.

Yet many people still choose to believe their favorite online influencer, even when those claims contradict decades of robust evidence.

In 2021 and 2022, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine conducted a meta-epidemiological scientific review to evaluate different global dietary guidelines and compare them to the ACLM dietary position statement.

This was an immensely daunting task.

For almost two years, researchers examined overall dietary patterns, major food groups, and key nutrients.

They reviewed seventy-eight clinical guidelines published between 2010 and 2021.

Of these, eighty-three percent came from major medical societies, meaning they were developed by hundreds, and sometimes thousands of scientists working together toward consensus.

Twelve percent came from governmental organizations and departments.

The remaining five percent came from large stakeholder associations.

What the scientists wanted to know was simple: what do all these guidelines agree on?

The conclusions were not surprising. No front page news here.

And unfortunately these study findings aren’t the ones that go viral.

All of these major bodies encouraged higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and pulses, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish because of their protective effects on health.

Likewise, these clinical guidelines consistently recommended reducing ultra-processed foods, red and processed meats, refined grains, and fatty cuts of meat including organ meats.

These are not supposed to be controversial statements.

They reflect the collective weight of modern nutrition science.

Yet influencers continue to gain millions of followers by promoting the opposite.

I do understand why.

Saying that sulforaphane in broccoli helps protect against cancer is not front-page news anymore.

Balanced nutrition rarely produces the shock needed to trigger algorithms.

Instead, sensational claims rise to the top, regardless of accuracy.

Scientific research follows a hierarchy of evidence. The highest quality peer-reviewed studies give us consistent answers.

No matter where you look, you see the same relationship.

As the proportion of calories you consume from nutrient-dense whole plant foods increases, your health parameters improve and your risk of chronic disease decreases.

This is reality. This is science. And these are real lives we are trying to protect.

If someone online is telling you that fruits and vegetables are toxic, that plant foods are trying to harm you, or that lectins and phytonutrients are poisonous, then unfortunately you have been misled.

I’m sure they sold a lot of books though.

And they likely have a link to the supplement page that will fix all of your issues.

There is no conspiracy.

The consensus across decades of clinical trials, cohort studies, mechanistic research, and global dietary guidelines is clear.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and herbs and spices consistently improve every major marker of health. They lower inflammation, reduce chronic disease risk, support a healthy microbiome, and contribute to a longer and healthier life.

Period.

What you choose to do with this information is up to you.

My hope is that people approach online content wearing their critical thinking cap.

There are no miracle cures, but there are sustainable habits that dramatically lower your risk of chronic disease: a healthy diet, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, strong social connections, and avoiding harmful substances.

None of this is controversial.

It is the same science that built the planes we fly, the cars we drive, the phones we use, and every modern technology that enriches our daily lives.

Please careful out there.

Please help me share this information so it reaches more people than the ultra-exaggerated claims that flood our social media feeds.

It takes infinitely more energy to debunk and deconstruct misinformation than it takes to create it.

Our kids are being brainwashed.

I have teenage patients with eating disorders directly caused by fear mongering online about nutrition.

This is not right, this isn’t fair. And those spewing this nonsense will never be held accountable.

I would lose my medical license if I’d make claims like that to patients.

This nonsense has to stop. But it won’t.

💚 Dr. Jules



Cara KC, Goldman DM, Kollman BK, Amato SS, Tull MD, Karlsen MC.

Commonalities among dietary recommendations from 2010-2021 clinical practice guidelines: A meta-epidemiological study from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Adv Nutr. 2023. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2023.03.007

11/06/2025

A 22-year-old just raised $11.5 million for hungry people and looked a room full of billionaires in the eye. What she said next made everyone uncomfortable—in the best way.

Billie Eilish stood on stage at the Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, honored for her contributions to music and culture. She could have given a typical acceptance speech—thanked her team, said something inspirational, waved politely, and walked off. Instead, she did something different.

First, she announced that her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour had raised $11.5 million for The Changemaker Program, fighting hunger and climate collapse worldwide. Then she looked directly at some of the wealthiest people on the planet and asked:

"If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?"
She paused. Let it sink in.
"No hate, but give your money away."

The room went quiet. Designer suits shifted uncomfortably. Among the audience were Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and others who could write a check for millions without noticing it missing. Billie, through her own effort, had already done what they had the power to do—and then she asked them to reflect.

It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t a rant. It was a simple, direct challenge wrapped in genuine curiosity: why hoard wealth when people are starving and the planet is burning?

Her speech redefined innovation—not what you create for yourself, but what you give to others. The $11.5 million goes directly to solving real, immediate human needs. She didn’t just donate; she used her platform to ask a moral question billionaires couldn’t ignore.

Will it change the world overnight? Maybe not. But moments like this matter. They shift the conversation, exposing the gap between what is and what could be, between hoarding wealth and sharing it. Billie reminded everyone: sometimes the bravest, most innovative act isn’t creating something new—it’s asking why we’re holding onto what we already have.

11/03/2025

Dairy can be an easy option to start with...let us know if you have any questions. Dr. Jules covers it very well.

A Doctor’s Guide to Plant-Based Milks

Are they healthier than cow’s milk?

What about protein, calcium, or those other “weird” ingredients?

Let’s break it all down.

First things first:

After age 12 months, there’s no nutritional requirement for milk (cow’s or plant-based) as long as you’re getting a balanced diet.

This excludes milk from breastfeeding, since we know the benefits extend well past 12 months of age.

Humans are the only species that drink the milk of other mammals.

Cows don’t produce milk unless they’re pregnant and have given birth, like humans. But if you’re looking for something to pour on cereal, blend into smoothies, or sip with coffee, plant milks can be a fantastic choice.

Let’s explore the key options and what makes them different.

The top players in the plant milk world are:

1. Soy Milk
• Nutritionally closest to dairy
• High in protein (around 7 g per cup, same as cow’s milk)
• Rich in omega-3s, fiber, and phytoestrogens
• Fortified with calcium, vitamin D, and B12
• Shown to reduce LDL, inflammation (CRP), blood pressure, and the risk of breast, prostate, and stroke-related disease
• Least processed (soak, cook, strain)

Bottom line: if you’re looking for a one-to-one dairy substitute, soy milk is the gold standard.

2. Pea Milk
• Same protein as dairy (thanks to yellow split peas)
• Creamy texture, great for frothing (hello, lattes)
• Fortified with D, B12, and calcium
• Allergy-friendly alternative to soy or nuts

3. Almond, Oat, Cashew, Coconut, Rice, H**p, etc.
These vary widely but generally:
• Low in protein (0–2 g per cup)
• Fortified with key nutrients (D, B12, calcium)
• Free of cholesterol, casein, and lactose
• Lower in calories
• Often more desirable in taste or texture for specific uses (for example, oat milk in coffee, coconut in curries)
Bonus: most have some fiber, something cow’s milk has none of.

The health benefits of plant milks are plenty:
• No cholesterol means better for heart health
• Less saturated fat equals lower inflammation and stroke risk
• Fortified with nutrients vegans often need (D, B12, calcium)
• Free of lactose, great for intolerances
• Associated with lower all-cause mortality and chronic disease risk
• Environmentally friendly and more ethical in production

Even Canada’s 2019 Food Guide removed dairy as a required food group.

Plant milks are absolutely appropriate when chosen wisely.

What About Emulsifiers and Additives?

Many plant milks contain small amounts of emulsifiers or stabilizers like lecithin, gellan gum, or carrageenan.

These help with consistency and shelf life.

Here’s the good news:
• At the quantities used in fortified plant milks, there’s no strong evidence these pose health risks in moderation
• If you’re concerned, look for short ingredient lists or make your own at home (blender, water, nuts or seeds, and a pinch of salt).

Just remember that homemade versions won’t be fortified with added vitamins and minerals.

Some common concerns to keep in mind:
• Low protein (in most plant milks except soy and pea)
• Not all are fortified equally
• B12 isn’t found in whole plant foods, fortified foods or supplements are essential
• Allergen risk with soy or nuts for some people
• Some taste or texture issues, especially in coffee or cooking

But remember, even cow’s milk has downsides: casein, cholesterol raising saturated fat, lactose, and no fiber.

It also has a large environmental carbon footprint and questionable production practices.

Here are my quick tips:
• Best all-around option: fortified soy or pea milk
• Kid-friendly: choose unsweetened, fortified varieties
• Worried about ingredients: read the label and go for those with calcium, D, and B12, and minimal added sugar
• On a plant-based diet: use fortified milks as a convenient way to cover key nutrients
• Supplement when needed, especially for B12

In short:
Plant-based milks can absolutely be a healthy, practical, and ethical swap for dairy.

Just like everything in nutrition, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about making intentional, informed choices that fit your life.

Personally, I enjoy at least 1 cup of soy milk every single day.

Milk the benefits, without the moo.

💚 Dr. Jules