Lauren Brady, RHN

07/14/2026

Greetings from Scotland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I've been here for a week now... have I been eating healthfully? Well yes, but then with all kinds of treats in addition to the healthy stuff! Good nutrition is about balance and meeting your body's specific needs. Part of that is to relax when you're on vacation as you only live once!

Want to incorporate balanced nutrition into your self-care practice? Book with me!
Prefer to skip the in-person meeting and have your assessment and personalized recommendations via email instead?
We can do that!

https://brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

07/06/2026

Some big changes are happening!😮
I have been a holistic nutritional practitioner for 13 years, but a fun fact about me, is that I have been a social worker for a lot longer than that and I have decided to start integrating those two modalities into my practice.

I am starting this by bringing my Record Suspension expertise to Brightside Integrated Health.

What is a Record Suspension?🧐

Formerly called a pardon, a record suspension lets a person with a criminal record, who has finished all of their sentences and waited a prescribed number of years, have their record "set aside" in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database. This means that a search of CPIC will not show that a person has a criminal record. A record suspension helps remove the stigma of a criminal record, and opens doors to employment, educational, and volunteer opportunities.🙌

How can I help?🤔

I start by explaining the application process, answering questions and determining eligibility. The application process can be daunting and onerous and I simplify the experience by helping my clients collect the necessary documents, fill out forms and ensure the application package is correct and complete before submitting to the Parole Board of Canada for review.

Have questions? Would you like to get started with your application? Book an appointment with me today!🗓️

https://brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

07/03/2026

My clients know that I love this book and recommend it often!❤️

07/01/2026

Happy Canada Day!🫐
Hope you are out enjoying the sunshine and eating something yummy.🌞

brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

06/30/2026

Did you see the Strawberry Moon last night?🍓🌙
I made some moon water and turned it into hibiscus🌺 iced tea, which is possibly my very favourite drink!
Hibiscus has a tart, fruity flavour... and that colour!❤️
Its health benefits include the fact that it is high in antioxidants, lowers blood pressure, may improve blood lipid levels, supports liver health, is high in polyphenols (which have anti-cancer properties), is antibacterial, and... it's easy to make, beautiful to look at and delicious!
Cheers!🌺

https://brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

06/24/2026

It's dark. It's rainy. My power cut in and out all night, which jolted me awake repeatedly.
So today, I do the bare minimum regarding all the tasks competing for my attention. Top priorities only. And I do the maximum for me. Peanut butter sandwich and a coffee. Sweatpants. Hanging out with my dogs. Letting the unfinished reports and the dust bunnies lie where they may.
Do you put yourself at the very top of your priority list? Try it and see how it feels. Notice how nothing crumbles - and if it does crumble, maybe you were doing too much.

What does prioritizing yourself have to do with nutrition, you ask? Everything.
https://brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

06/21/2026

It's Summer Solstice (Litha)!🌞
Since ancient times, summer solstice has been celebrated as a triumph of light over darkness, a time to awaken our inner light. It is the longest day of the year and a time of change. Litha celebrates light, abundance, and the fullness of life, expressing gratitude for the Earth’s fertility and warmth.🌸🐝

We can celebrate by eating foods that hold the sun - ripe berries, citrus fruits, fresh salads with snap peas, avocado caprese salad, grilled salmon with lemon - even a glass of crisp white wine, hibiscus iced tea, or a mocktail with mint or grapefruit. Spending time outside, eating alfresco, lighting a candle, journaling your intentions, having a bonfire, gathering herbs and flowers, tending to your garden, are all great ways to celebrate solstice.🍋🍓🔥

Modern life has disconnected us from nature's rhythms, but our bodies and spirits hold a deep knowing and we can reconnect in little ways that align our health and self-care with more natural forces. 🌞🌿

https://brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

06/04/2026

Happy Birthday to our sweet clinic!❤️

Happy Birthday to US! 🎉🎂🎊🎈🎁
Monday came and went quietly, but it was our THIRD birthday!
Just over 3 years ago, we conceptualized a mental health clinic in our community that was anything but clinical feeling - we envisioned forming a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team who prioritized a mind-body approach to mental health and overall wellness. We wanted our clinic to have a relaxed vibe and for our team to feel supported and enjoy coming into work! We wanted to build trust and a reputation of dependability and quality within our community.
And we did it!🎉
Brightside is not a slick franchise... we are a family and practitioner - owned and operated business. We are super proud of our team and grateful for all of our clients, who allow us to do what we love, every day. Thank you.🙏

-Brian & Lauren

05/30/2026

Allergies🤧🌿
If you’re over 40 and are experiencing allergies for the first time in your life - or your previous allergies are much worse, it isn’t your imagination... it’s midlife.

The same hormonal shifts that affect your cycle and sleep (and so many other things) also change how your body processes inflammation and environmental triggers.

Everyone has a specific “allergic threshold” - the point at which the immune system transitions from compensating to symptomatic. Low estrogen in peri/menopause increases systemic inflammation and decreases the body's ability to break down histamine.

When your baseline load is already high, a single high-pollen day can push you past your threshold - and that’s when the itching and sneezing and rashes begin.

A holistic health perspective is to "treat the system - not the symptom." But we can address both through nutrition - after sneezing approximately 65 times in a row this morning, I had some green tea with a quercetin capsule and some Allergy Relief from St. Francis Herb Farm and that did the trick. Pineapple helps too!

Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical advice - just sharing what I did. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine what is best for your individual health needs.

Want to learn more about managing sudden-onset allergies in midlife by addressing the underlying inflammatory state of the body?
Book Here: brightsideintegratedhealth.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/14

05/24/2026

It's smoothie season! 🌞
Why do I love Smoothies so much, and recommend them to many of my clients?

A nutritionally balanced smoothie includes protein, healthy fats, and fiber, ideally from whole and minimally processed ingredients.

You can tailor smoothies to your nutrition and health goals and taste and texture preferences using a variety of nutritious ingredients, such as:

Fruits: Bananas, berries, mango, pineapple, apples

Vegetables: Spinach, kale, carrots, cucumber, greens powder

Protein sources: Greek yogurt, protein powder, silken tofu, even white beans!

Healthy fats: Avocado, nut butter, h**p seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, or cashews

A liquid base: Water, milk (dairy or plant-based), coconut water, or herbal tea

Natural sweetener: Honey, maple syrup, pitted dates, or stevia

Next time you need a nutritional boost that is delicious, hydrating and portable, try whizzing up a smoothie!

https://brightsidehealth.ca/holistic-nutrition/