Bog roll. Loo paper. Toilet tissue. Whatever you call it, the average Canadian goes through 83 rolls of it a year. But where does TP come from, and how does it impact our ecosystem?

(Related: 4 Refillable Bathroom Products That Help Keep Plastic Out of Landfills) 

The perforated roll you know and love is a relatively recent invention: Descended from more than 1,400 years of Chinese tradition of using paper to clean up your business, it was patented in the U.S. in the late 1800s as a way to “prevent waste.” Later upgrades bragged of being splinter-free, and from the ’50s through the ’80s stylish shoppers could coordinate their bathroom decor with dyed paper in shades like Green Mist or Peach Blush.

These days, it seems, backsides are made of more tender stuff: Companies compete to provide the softest offering possible.

Chances are, the fibres your favourite TP is made from come from “previously unlogged” Canadian forests, and not from tree plantations, says Greg Higgs, director of research and investigations at the Stand.earth Research Group. “Virgin forests produce better fibre,” he says, which translates to a cushier feeling on the tushy.

The majority of pulp comes from Canada’s largest forest ecosystem, the boreal forest. Trees are felled, prepped and chipped, then cooked up with chemicals into a malleable fibre that’s cleaned, bleached, pressed, rolled and cut. Large-scale logging in the boreal makes life precarious for caribou, hares, owls and other inhabitants, and releases carbon into the atmosphere that we’d be better off leaving where it is.

But there is a better way.

The bottom line on what to buy? Higgs says the best pick is any brand made of 100-percent post-consumer recycled fibre. The next best is “tree-free” rolls made of bamboo, which is actually a grass, and is shipped from Asia. The less toilet tissue you use, the less logging is needed. So maybe it’s finally time to install that bidet.

(Related: Why Going to the Bathroom “Just in Case” Is a Bad Idea)

Here are seven more toilet paper facts to ponder on the porcelain throne.

1. Doing Your Business
Canadian toilet paper sales brought in US$1.34 billion in 2022, accounting for almost 375 million kilograms of the soft stuff.

2. History Lesson
Corncobs, rope ends and ripped-up almanacs: Options for wiping have been creative and diverse over the years. One to still consider today is the soft, large leaves of the invasive mullein plant—they’re great for that composting toilet at the cottage, though we don’t recommend you flush them in a regular toilet.

3. Deuce Sleuth
While many companies claim that their TP is 100-percent recycled, they could be using in-factory offcuts from non-recycled rolls. The trick is to look for the phrase “post-consumer,” which means it’s made from the paper you toss in your blue bin. It’s quite hard to find in Canada, but increased demand will help boost supply, so be loud and proud about your loo-paper preferences.

4. Papering Over the Problem
Brands that boast about their carbon offsets and carbon neutrality are likely engaging in some serious greenwashing. Look for that “post-consumer” label instead.

5. Forest for the Trees
Tree plantations are created when companies hire tree planters to fill in after huge clearcuts. These plantations have their uses, but they’re typically monocultures, which is very different from a natural forest ecosystem. Unlogged forests are worth protecting because they host more biodiversity and store more carbon than their newly planted cousins.

6. Wiped Out
The Canadian boreal forest stores twice as much carbon as the world’s oil reserves, and keeping that carbon in the forest and out of the air is one key to fighting climate change. But approximately one million acres of this forest are clearcut every year.

7. Are bidets better for the biosphere? 
All signs point to yes—well, almost. If you live in a drought-prone area, that half litre (the typical amount used in a single bidet wash) could add up to a serious drain on local water reserves. But producing TP takes huge amounts of water and energy, too—some 140 litres and 1.3 kWh per roll. So if you prefer that freshly washed feeling from a bidet, go for it.

Next: Why You Might Want to Add a Bidet to Your Toilet

Every so often there’s a new skin-care ingredient that seems to seep its way into our vocabulary. (Remember Bakuchiol? Squalane? Snail mucin?) Today that ingredient is copper peptides—and beauty influencers love to tout its benefits.

“If you haven’t tried this skin-care product, you will after watching this video,” says baby-faced TikToker Abbey Yung. She’s talking about a product by Canadian beauty brand The Ordinary featuring copper peptides that she says “took [her] skin to the next level.” What does the ingredient do exactly? According to influencers like Yung, it stimulates collagen and elastin production, to help you recapture a youthful glow.

Today, the copper peptide hashtag on TikTok has raked in over 31 million views and a slew of products spotlighting the ingredient are popping up on store shelves—so what do the pros think?

What are copper peptides?

“They’re found in the skin as well as being exogenous,” says dermatologist at DLK on Avenue Lisa Kellett,  which means they occur naturally but can also be manufactured synthetically and added to skin care products. “They play a role as an antioxidant, but there’s not a lot of evidence-based medicine that supports their use,” she says.

Does that mean we don’t know for sure what their benefits are?

While there’s evidence of the effectiveness of antioxidants like vitamin C, says Kellett, copper peptides are lacking the research needed to make factual claims on its effectiveness. But, she says, “there’s been some data to suggest they’re important in collagen remodelling and regeneration.”

What types of skin-care products are they typically found in?

They’re most commonly in serums, says Kellett, but can also be found in moisturizers.

If I want to try copper peptides, how should I incorporate them into my routine?

“Products are more efficacious on clean skin,” says Kellet. “And I always say to patients, the most important product for your skin in the morning is sunscreen—so if you’re going to use a copper peptide, it’s best to use it on clean skin at night.”

On that note, TikTok-famous dermatologist Shereene Idriss says copper peptides should not replace your vitamin C serum since they don’t protect against UV damage and pollution—so there’s another argument for applying it only at night.

The Ordinary recently updated usage recommendations for its buzzy product Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum (the one Abbey Yung gushes over in the aforementioned video) to warn customers not to layer it with a variety of ingredients, including acids, vitamin C and retinoids. But skin-care formulator Stephen Alain Ko (@kindofstephen) hasn’t found evidence to show you can’t use them together. Thoughts?

Kellett says she doesn’t think there are any studies supporting the use of copper peptides with retinol or vitamin C.

Idriss suggests using copper peptides every other night—when you’re not using retinol to limit the risk of irritation.

Next: The Benefits of a (Seriously) Stripped-Down Skin-Care Routine

Baked fish was the first protein I ever learned to make. It’s surprisingly simple and quick, yet many still shy away from it. This recipe wraps a beautiful salmon filet in a fragrant, citrusy crust. A dish fit for a dinner party that comes together fast enough for a weeknight meal.

(Related: This Butter Chickpeas and Potatoes Dish Is Better Than Takeout) 

Baked Salmon with Gremolata Crust

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1½ lb  salmon filet
• 2 tsp  Dijon mustard
• 1 cup  finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• ½ cup plain breadcrumbs, store-bought (such as panko)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Zest of ½ orange
• Zest of ½ lemon
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (use convection setting, if you have it). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the salmon on the prepared baking sheet and evenly brush the mustard all over.
3. In a bowl, combine the parsley, breadcrumbs, garlic, orange zest, lemon zest, oil, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Stir to moisten the breadcrumbs evenly.
4. Cover the fish with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly so it sticks to the mustard layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the flesh is opaque in the center and flakes easily when gently tested with a fork. Serve. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Excerpted from Everyday Mediterranean by Vanessa Perrone. Copyright © Vanessa Perrone. Photographs by Ariel Tarr. Published by Appetite Books by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Next: 30 Flavour-Packed Citrus Recipes That Taste Like Spring

Scaring people about menstrual products seems to have become its own cottage industry, probably because both purity culture and chemophobia (irrational fear of chemicals) sell papers, get page clicks and generate views and likes. The way tampons especially are disparaged on social media—and even at times in the traditional media—you’d think they were toxic death sticks or incendiary devices. I suspect menstrual cups and discs get less negativity because they have a smaller market share, so are less likely to get page clicks for negative content. For now, anyway. Cups and most discs are also reusable, so they may also benefit from the “natural health” halo. But whatever the reason, certainly no menstrual product has been immune from these attacks. At times it seems like the groups involved won’t be happy until everyone is bleeding onto their clothes.

(Related: How Sexism Helped Our Species Thrive)

Are tampons safe?

There are no studies linking tampons, cups or discs with any serious health condition outside of the very rare toxic shock syndrome, yet myths about these products persist, with some common themes: chemicals are evil; ancient wisdom is powerful; following a specific ritual (usually giving something up) will help you achieve better health; natural is best; and companies that make “natural” products are benevolent (and almost always held to a much lower standard).

The emphasis on “natural” is one of the most malignant concepts in menstrual mythology, as natural also means “not interfered with.” Sit and let that wash over you. The implication is that menstrual products interfere with the vagina, removing its purity, its virginity, its perfection. “Natural” is deeply intertwined with purity culture, and that may be why this mythology speaks to us: Most of us, to some degree or another, have been affected by purity culture. After all, we’ve been steeping in it for centuries.

Menstrual charlatans promote the idea that heavy periods, pelvic pain, painful periods and cancer are caused by menstrual products, and insinuate that these products could harm future fertility. Because these conditions are biologically complex, and in the case of painful or heavy periods often go unaddressed, people who aren’t bound by the truth can easily step in and make false claims that sound reasonable. Putting something in the vagina means a potentially harmful synthetic substance is closer to its target, right? It’s easy to see how people reach this conclusion; after all, that’s how menstrual toxic shock syndrome started.

Many of these myths are like Halley’s Comet—they come around and around again with regularity. I’ve been watching this transpire since the late 1980s, and I’ve seen many of the same myths recycled, coming back each time with a different, scarier story. So let’s tackle the oldies but definitely not goodies, as well as the nasty newcomers.

Is there asbestos in tampons?

NO. In capitals for emphasis! This myth has been around since I was in medical training. I can imagine the back cover of the novel: “EvilCorp has been secretly putting asbestos in tampons to increase menstrual bleeding and hence sell more tampons. Jennifer, a plucky young med student, uncovers the incriminating documents while writing a paper on occupational exposure to asbestos, putting herself and those she loves in danger.” And voilà, we have a bestselling legal thriller. I’ll call it The Tampon Brief. (Sigh.) Asbestos is associated with health risks. It can cause cancer, but only after long-term exposure via inhalation, and no one is breathing in nonexistent tampon asbestos through their vagina.

As with almost all of these conspiracy theories, there has never been a fibre of proof (or logic): no lab analysis showing asbestos in tampons, no incriminating documents marked “Top Secret.” Someone, somewhere, made this up. It’s likely a mix of garden-variety purity culture, the toxic shock syndrome fears of the late 1970s and the increased awareness around the same time about the health risks of chronic exposure to asbestos.

Are there dioxins in tampons?

A lot less than in your food! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs).” They can cause cancer, damage the immune system and harm the reproductive system. They are hard for our bodies to break down and get rid of, so they can accumulate. Unfortunately, they’re everywhere. Most of our exposure comes from food, mainly from meat, dairy, fish and shellfish, because dioxins also accumulate in animals. The higher an animal is on the food chain, the more likely it is to contain dioxins.

As far as non-food exposure goes, dioxins are primarily a by-product of manufacturing, but they are also released into the environment from forest fires and volcanoes. They entered the tampon story because older methods of bleaching cotton and producing rayon created dioxins through the use of elemental chlorine. Bleaching methods have since changed, but there are still traces of dioxins in both tampons and pads—but not because of the manufacturing process. Rather, dioxins are in the raw material, be it cotton or wood pulp, because of pollution of the soil where the material was grown. And yes, that includes 100 percent organic cotton. In fact, in one study, an organic tampon had the greatest amount of dioxins.

However, most tampons have undetectable amounts of dioxins, and when detected, they are less than 0.2 percent of the allowable monthly intake. According to one group of researchers, the dioxin exposure from tampons is 13,000 to 240,000 times less than the dioxins we are exposed to by diet. For perspective, disposable diapers have the same traces of dioxins, but that doesn’t seem to get any attention, probably because purity culture isn’t involved.

Is there Glyphosate in tampons?

Glyphosate is an ingredient in some herbicides, most notably Roundup, so it may be used in farming the cotton plants destined for tampon glory (I, for one, appreciated cotton’s dedication to this important service for 35 or so years). There is a myth that cotton in tampons is dangerous because it contains glyphosate, and this seems to have been started by a video of a presentation at a media event that was amplified by those who profit from, you guessed it, organic tampons. Like the origin stories of many of these myths, it is like a bad game of telephone based on unverified claims. But because most people don’t have a good working knowledge of herbicides or agriculture, and because the WHO lists glyphosate as a possible carcinogen, and because it gets so much bad press (usually from those who profit from the bad press), it’s easy to see why those of us who aren’t experts in plant science could be frightened.

I’m most definitely not in Monsanto’s pocket (they’re the manufacturer of Roundup); however, there is a lot of science that disagrees with the WHO’s conclusion. For starters, here’s what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has to say: “There are no risks of concern to human health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label” and “Glyphosate is unlikely to be a human carcinogen.” In addition, glyphosate works in plants via the shikimate pathway, but mammals don’t have that pathway, so we humans can’t metabolize it. Also, glyphosate isn’t absorbed well across skin or mucosa such as the vagina. Glyphosate is also applied to the crops early in development, before the cotton fibers form. In addition, the amount that is applied is minute.

No one railing against so-called conventional tampons has ever provided legitimate evidence of a legitimate scientific concern with glyphosate. Regardless, several government agencies in Europe have evaluated tampons and found no evidence of glyphosate or its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid above the achievable limit of detection. If there are any residues present, they’re in the parts per billion and not something that can be found with state-of-the-art testing. (I went down a deep glyphosate cotton rabbit hole.) Wild claims with no backing science are a common tactic among those who promulgate these fears, and it’s shameful. The onus is on the people making the claim to provide their point, but based on the information I’ve just provided, it’s clear why they haven’t. They have no case.

Tampons contain titanium dioxide—is it dangerous?

In the summer of 2022, a TikTok video that went viral created panic about a brand of organic tampons containing the “dangerous” chemical titanium dioxide! How was that allowed? The story snowballed, with various people reciting the most common myths about tampons: “This must be why they make me bleed more” or “This might have caused the precancer on my cervix.” Of course, “banned in Europe” only added to the hype. Unscrupulous health influencers (who really should be labelled “vectors of disinformation”) amplified these unfounded fears, as did some in the media. I was even asked by a reporter how an organic product could have chemicals.

Le sigh. Everything is a chemical, and “organic” has nothing to do with titanium dioxide, which is not a pesticide. In fact, titanium dioxide, or TiO2, is a naturally occurring mineral and a common ingredient in many products because it has whitening and reflective properties. It’s used in toothpaste and some food, and to whiten the strings of tampons. It’s also a major ingredient of some sunscreens. The fact that toothpaste use is not associated with oral cancers or other health concerns should have alerted the original alarmist to the fact that the risks could hardly be greater with a tampon string. With toothpaste, it’s literally being rubbed into your gums! On a tampon string, the it. Also, glyphosate isn’t absorbed well across skin or mucosa such as the vagina. Glyphosate is also applied to the crops early in development, before the cotton fibers form. In addition, the amount that is applied is minute.

No one railing against so-called conventional tampons has ever provided legitimate evidence of a legitimate scientific concern with glyphosate. Regardless, several government agencies in Europe have evaluated tampons and found no evidence of glyphosate or its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid above the achievable limit of detection. If there are any residues present, they’re in the parts per billion and not something that can be found with state-of-the-art testing. (I went down a deep glyphosate cotton rabbit hole.)

Wild claims with no backing science are a common tactic among those who promulgate these fears, and it’s shameful. The onus is on the people making the claim to provide their point, but based on the information I’ve just provided, it’s clear why they haven’t. They have no case.

It’s true that TiO2 was banned in the European Union. They did so because recent studies showed that when rats were fed massive amounts of TiO2 for several months, they might theoretically develop some bowel issues. Interestingly, the EU panel didn’t identify any actual health concerns to prompt the ban. Health Canada reviewed the same data and concluded there was no evidence of cancer risk in animal studies with food-grade TiO2, no changes to DNA in animal studies (something that could signify a cancer risk) and “no adverse effects in animal studies on reproduction, development, immune, gastrointestinal or nervous systems, or general health when rats were exposed from pre-conception to adulthood.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) does classify TiO2 as a Group 2B carcinogen, meaning “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” but that applies specifically to inhalation. Though you might hear advice to let your vagina “breathe” by not wearing underwear, inhalation isn’t a method by which a chemical can get from the outside world through the vagina and into your body.

But I get it, these viral claims are scary, and the first piece of information you receive about something can be so hard to unlearn. And it sounds truthy: “Europe banned titanium dioxide, so it must cause harm!” However, the science is clear here. TiO2 can’t dissolve in water, and it most certainly would have to dissolve to get off the tampon string and into the vaginal mucosa.

In addition, fabrics with TiO2 have been tested by washing them repeatedly, and very little of the substance is released. Your tampon string isn’t being agitated and exposed to detergent, as it would be in a washing machine; your mouth, on the other hand, goes through similar agitation when you’re brushing your teeth, and yet TiO2 is considered safe in toothpaste. Rest assured, the minute amount of TiO2 on a tampon string isn’t leaching into the vagina. Also, cervical precancer and cancer are not caused by TiO2; they are due to infection with specific strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Tampons have never been implicated. The best way to protect against cervical cancer is to get vaccinated against HPV.

Are organic tampons safer?

No study has ever demonstrated this. In fact, in some studies looking at residues, organic products fared worse. If you want to buy organic, buy organic, but there is no medical reason to do so for vaginal, uterine, ovarian or hormonal health.

Excerpted from Blood by Dr. Jen Gunter. Copyright © 2024 Dr. Jen Gunter. Published by Random House Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

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In her book, Here With You, Kathy Wagner writes about the agonizing years she spent helping her teenage son navigate the cycle of substance-use disorder and relapse. It was an impossible balancing act of knowing when to provide unconditional support to her son, Tristan, and when to set hard boundaries, despite every parental instinct telling her to intervene.

Wagner, a single mom of three kids, recounts how she tried to ignite other passions in her son and distance him from the friends he was using drugs with in Coquitlam, B.C., including sending him to China to study kung fu with Shaolin monks for months at a time, and later helping him enroll in culinary school.

In 2017, after years of watching Tristan pinball between periods of sobriety and active addiction, Wagner would get the phone call she dreaded: He had suffered a fatal accidental fentanyl overdose, likely due to the contaminated drug supply.

Her heartbreaking memoir explains what it’s like for family members and caregivers experiencing addiction alongside their loved ones, their identities often intertwined in a co-dependent tangle.

In this excerpt, Wagner details an earlier, tentatively hopeful day a few years into Tristan’s addiction, when he had finally agreed to go to an in-patient treatment facility.

—–

I lay awake listening to the chickadees. I usually wanted to wring their sweet little necks. Anybody who chirps so loudly at three-thirty in the morning deserved a good swat, I figured. Pulling a pillow over my head to block their predawn jubilation was more my style, but on this particular morning they kept me company as I stared at the ceiling of my dark bedroom. They felt like friends bolstering my strength for whatever daylight would bring.

Their innocent songs held me while I listened for Tristan to come home. Home. He hadn’t lived with me for almost a year, but it still seemed like his home was with me.

I prayed he’d remember today and have the strength to face it. I didn’t know who I was praying to, but I prayed Tristan was alive and not damaged beyond repair. I imagined my prayers calling to him, finding him, guiding him home. I spent all night praying and trying not to cry. And almost succeeding.

Dawn had lost its glow by the time I heard the front door close and his sneakers thud in the hallway. Sweet relief lasted a brief second before anxiety caught up with me again; one hurdle down but many more ahead.

Today was the day Tristan had said he’d go to rehab. Finally, he’d agreed to use his education funds to do it. But time was not friendly to addicts, and every minute of every hour offered a thousand ways and reasons for him to change his mind.

I breathed in; I breathed out. I noticed my jaw clenching and tried to relax but my neck still twinged, and my stomach roiled. I decided to get my tea. Just don’t look at him, I told myself. It doesn’t matter. He’s here; that’s what’s important.

I found my housecoat in the pile of clothing on my floor and went downstairs, glancing at the lump on the couch. I didn’t let myself think as I made my cup of Earl Grey, focusing my mind on the mundane task in front of me, a task I could control: boil the water, get the tea bag, add a splash of milk, sit down in my chair by the window, look outside. Success.

I mindlessly watched birds flit from branch to branch. It struck me as odd that they could carry on as if this were any other day, as if there were anything more important in the world than what was happening inside, here, today.

Nine months earlier, I’d moved Tristan out of my home and into his rented room. The amount of time I’d needed to conceive and give birth to him was all he’d needed to burn his life to the ground, twenty years later. Amid the wreckage, though, there was hope. Today, there was hope.

It had been less than two weeks since Tristan had texted me in Mexico, finally admitting he needed help. He knew he couldn’t keep a job and had given up trying. He was behind on his rent and his landlord was kicking him out. If he didn’t do something he’d be homeless. That something needed to happen today.

I finished my tea, now cold, and looked outside. Soft morning light had given way to the stark brightness of day. Time to put my thoughts aside and focus on what needed to get done. Tristan had to call the rehab centre before noon, or he’d have no place to go. They’d held a bed for him all week and this, they said, was the last day they’d keep it for him.

I hauled my carcass out of the chair, put my cup in the sink and then went to look at my son. My breath caught when I saw his beautiful face, now scabby and gaunt with a newly swollen lip. I didn’t let myself feel the pain rushing through me when I saw him. I held my breath when I dialled the phone and passed it to him, listening to him muttering incomprehensibly. I didn’t know how they could understand him. Maybe it was enough that he grunted his assent when they asked if he was coming in. It felt like I was still holding my breath an hour later as he sat at the kitchen table, coffee untouched, lashing out at me. He was vaguely abusive, largely incoherent, and threatening to walk away from it all. I was focused only on my goal of getting him to rehab, so his words fell unfelt around me.

I looked at Tristan from across the table and gently asked him to pack his things. I was determined not to do this for him. This needed to be his decision; he was the one who needed to take action.

“Fuck off, already!” he moaned, wrapping his arms around his head as if to keep it from exploding, and then bringing it to his knees, burying his face. “You’re such a bitch.” His voice trailed off, broken. He muttered a few more muffled curses and my heart threatened to break. This is not my son, I reminded myself. This was addiction and desperation.

I tamped my emotions down and put one foot in front of the other, unthinking, unfeeling. I was just moving forward and trying my best to keep Tristan moving forward with me: cajoling him, feeding him, and ultimately telling him firmly there was no more time to delay. The treatment centre was only half an hour away, but if we weren’t on the road in twenty minutes, he’d miss his two o’clock intake time—and he had no other options.

He went upstairs, had a shower and came down with his bag in hand.

As we walked to the car, warm sunshine washed over us and Tristan stopped to take a deep breath. In that moment, he seemed almost like himself again, his face full of love, fear and fragile determination. He looked me in the eye and said, “I’m doing it, Mom,” then flashed a sad smile and put his arm around me.

My heart ached from the potency of hope and hopelessness, pride and shame, in him and in me. The final surrender. It wasn’t a soft surrender, but a desperate tap out after a long hard fight. We were betting his life on something better arising from the ashes.

“Yes, you are, love.” I smiled and hugged him back tightly, then kissed his fuzzy cheek. “You’re doing it.”

As we drove, I held my breath. I placed my finger on the auto-lock button in case he changed his mind and tried to jump out at a red light. I don’t know what I thought I’d do if that happened. Kidnap and deliver him, against his wishes, to the rehab fairies to work their recovery magic on him? God help me. But Tristan was quiet, dozing, until he suddenly sat up.

“Wait!” he said, his voice coarse and crackly. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Which one are you taking me to? I’m not going to the shitty one with all the fucking doctors. I’ll live on East Hastings before that. I want the fun one.” Earlier that week, in return for a place to stay and food to eat, I’d made him phone three rehab centres. I’d read it helps when a person chooses their treatment facility. Tristan had made the calls but had no opinion, made no choice. Thankfully, the one I wanted for him, the one I’d added to my contact list two years earlier, was the “fun” one: Westgate. On the phone, the other centres talked about their routines, therapeutic approaches, and certifications, but this one told him how much fun they have in recovery. This one talked about good food, going to the gym, dirt biking, movies, laughter, being “a part of.” Of course, Tristan wanted that one. What twenty-year-old wouldn’t choose the promise of fun over therapy? Even if it meant he had to give up smoking, as well as everything else.

“It’s the fun one,” I said, relieved I’d chosen correctly.

Tristan finished his last smoke and tossed the butt. We crossed the road to an unobtrusive low-rise apartment building, older but well kept. He carried his duffle bag with the few clothes and toiletries he’d haphazardly thrown in. Four or five guys sat out front. They each greeted us with a polite “Hi” or “How’s it going” and plenty of eye contact. One tall, good-looking guy in his late twenties stood up, smiled at Tristan and said, “Hey, are you a new guy?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Tristan mumbled, eyes down.

“Welcome. I’m Von.” He shook Tristan’s hand. “You’re gonna love it here. They’re going to fatten you up—you’re skinny, bro! Come on, I’ll find someone to do your intake.”

Von held the door and got us seated in the foyer. While we waited, half a dozen men of all ages walked past. Every one of them welcomed Tristan. Many gave me words of encouragement, too. They told me he was in a good place, that I could stop worrying and sleep again. They called me “Mom.” I smiled at them, blinking back tears at the simple feeling of being understood, of being in a place where young men smiled.

One guy asked if I wanted coffee and, when I told him I drank tea, seemed near giddy that he could get that too. He returned a minute or two later, apologizing for taking so long. “I didn’t know what you liked so I brought one of each option.” He grinned, pulling an assortment of crumpled tea bags from his jean pockets, front and back. I wasn’t thrilled about the teabags in his pockets but he seemed so earnest that I couldn’t say no. I chose Mint Medley.

An intake worker called Tristan into the office. Before I could follow, a stocky young guy in jeans and a Harley-Davidson T-shirt appeared and greeted me with a handshake.

“Hi, I’m Ben. You must be . . .” he looked down at a notepad. “Tristan’s mom. I’ll be his caseworker. Come on,” he said, putting his notepad in his back pocket and running a hand over his buzz cut. “I’ll show you around if you like.”

The centre was spread across two small apartment buildings and one large heritage home on a typical suburban street. Nothing fancy, but clean, comfortable, homey. There was a huge bowl of apples, oranges and bananas in the living room, which felt good. Nobody was starving here. Some guys were playing chess, another strummed a guitar, a few wrote in notebooks, and a bunch sat in the sunshine talking. There was an abundance of tattoos, but everybody looked healthy and happy.

Just normal guys.

I soaked it in, knowing this would be Tristan’s home for the next three months, at least. These were going to be his people. I began to hope. I wanted this so badly for Tristan. Seeing the guys, hearing their laughter, made it seem possible.

Back on the front steps I hugged Tristan goodbye, breathed him in, and told him I loved him. His arms hung at his side as I wrapped mine around him. He was uncomfortable in my hug, uncomfortable in his body. One of the guys walked by just then, chuckled and said, “Go on, give your mom a hug. She deserves it, man.”

Tristan gave me a quick hug, all edges and nerves. “Love you, Mom,” he mumbled, and went inside.

Driving home alone, I was overwhelmed by relief. I was still anxious: What if he doesn’t stay? And scared: He’s not going to stay! But above all that, I felt relief: I’ve done my part. He’s safe. I felt like I’d been holding my breath for years, almost to the point of suffocation. Now, I let it out. I could breathe.

I had so much space around me and in me. Where did all that space come from? What was I going to do with it?

I was not even home yet when my phone rang, and I saw “Westgate” on the call display. Oh god, what’s wrong? Even though I was driving, I answered the call, certain I’d need to turn around again, that Tristan had failed treatment in the first fifteen minutes and now I’d need to find him a homeless shelter. Or something.

“Hi, Kathy. It’s Ben. Tristan’s doing fine and getting settled in no problem.”

I relaxed, immediately. I noticed I was holding my breath again and let it out.

“That’s probably the first thing that crossed your mind with me calling: ‘What did Tristan do now?’ But he’s great. It’ll take some time to stop panicking whenever I call, so I just like to put that out there up front.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” I laughed, and then teared up at the novelty of being understood again—at knowing my fears were not unique. “You’ve done this before.”

“Yeah. You’ve spent a lot of time worrying about him. It’ll take a while not to. What I’m calling about, though, is to see if you can drop off some of his things at the house whenever you have time. He didn’t bring much with him, so any clothes or toiletries he’ll need over the next few months would be great. No rush. Whenever it’s convenient.”

I told him I’d stop by the next day. I hung up, happy to have a task, to still be helpful to my son.

The next morning, I woke from a restless sleep, sunlight streaming through the blinds. The surprising spaciousness I’d felt yesterday, which had seemed so full of promise then, now felt like emptiness. I had no crisis to manage, no problem to fix or avoid. It was Saturday, so no work. I had expected to feel more alive in my new-found freedom, giddy with the success of getting Tristan to rehab. Instead, all I felt was an absence of something with a rushing undercurrent of anxiety. An absence of what, though? I wasn’t quite sure. Maybe Tristan? Or stress? Or purpose?

I tried to focus my thoughts on what was important: Tristan was in treatment. Then, a crashing wave of gratitude filled me to the brim, and I became fully awake. When I remembered I could take Tristan’s things to him later that day, my residual anxiety washed away in a flood of happiness.

I spent the morning gathering Tristan’s clothes and doing laundry. That afternoon, I drove back to Westgate. The sky was a brilliant blue and my mood was bright. I had a suitcase packed with Tristan’s freshly laundered clothes, a new toiletry bag stuffed with masculine bathroom products, and a bag of candy—sour worms, Skittles and mini peanut butter cups. It felt good to be doing good.

As I walked up the sidewalk, into the house and then into the office, I glanced around, looking for a glimpse of Tristan. He was on restrictions for the first few weeks, which meant he wasn’t allowed to phone me, or anyone, and I wasn’t allowed to phone him. Apparently, this helped the guys settle into new routines and learn to turn to each other for support. It prevented them from continuing dysfunctional dynamics they had with other people when times got tough. Tristan couldn’t call me if he wanted to be rescued. I couldn’t rescue him. The restrictions were in place to support us both in finding a new way of being. I appreciated that.

But if I happened to bump into him, that seemed like fair game. Short of wandering through the buildings calling his name, though, I didn’t think that was going to happen. I decided to come right out and ask. Ben wasn’t in the office that Saturday so I dropped Tristan’s stuff off with another caseworker and asked if I could say hi.

“Oh, yeah, sorry, he’s out with a bunch of the guys. Went to the aquarium. Beautiful day for it,” he said, looking up from the old desktop computer he was working at. I was suddenly, inexplicably angry. On Day One, Tristan was out having fun at the Vancouver Aquarium?

I set Tristan’s bag beside his suitcase and adjusted my purse to stop it from slipping off my shoulder—finding any excuse to avoid eye contact. Did they have no idea of the stress Tristan had put me through over the past week? Not knowing whether he was going to make it here or not? Disappearing for days, and me not knowing if he was dead or alive? And what about all the shit he put me through over the past six years? And the first thing rehab did was reward him with a field trip? I’d been at home worrying—no, knowing—that Tristan was feeling alone and miserable, angry, hating the place and wanting to escape. I hadn’t even realized I’d been worrying about him until that moment. And here he was in rehab for less than twenty-four hours and was out watching belugas and dolphins—doing normal-people things I hadn’t been able to do with him for years—while I worried about him, did his laundry and bought him candy.

Maybe my reaction showed, or maybe it was just predictable.

“He’s with good people, Kathy,” the caseworker assured me. “Some of the guys in transition were going to the aquarium and bought an extra ticket for Tristan, figuring he could use a distraction. The boys here look out for the new guys.” He smiled in a way that reminded me of a proud father. “They know what it’s like. It’s early days for Tristan and he’s feeling pretty low. That’s normal. It’s important for him to see the guys having fun in recovery, to know he can be ‘a part of.’ He’s likely to feel like shit today, no matter where he is, no question. But it doesn’t do anyone any good for him to sit here and mope. He can be with the guys and see them having a good time, sober. If he doesn’t know he can have fun in recovery, he won’t stick around for long. That’s the truth.”

“Oh, that’s great,” I said, nodding my head as if it helped me look more believable. “That’s wonderful.” I thanked him and went back to my car. I was happy for Tristan. I truly was. All I ever wanted was for him to be happy, to fit in, to have good friends and do fun normal-people things. So why was I so upset?

As I tucked myself into the privacy of my car, it dawned on me that Tristan had other people to look out for him now. He didn’t need me anymore. He didn’t need my sleepless nights and endless worrying. He didn’t need me rushing out to him with fresh clothes and Axe body wash to make him feel better. He didn’t need me taking him to the aquarium. He was doing just fine. And if he wasn’t, there were other people for him to turn to, people who understood him and could support him better than I ever could—or ever had. I simply wasn’t needed anymore.

It was a tremendous loss, like every bone in my body disappeared and I didn’t know how to stand. It felt like I suddenly, truly lost my son. Our entire relationship was built around me looking after him, managing his moods, making his life work. I didn’t know how to be his mom anymore.

While Tristan was wrapped in the comfort of new friends, a new program and a new life, I was left alone with the emptiness of having him gone from mine. I didn’t have a group of people in my camp, distracting me with field trips and outings. I didn’t know how to be “a part of” or how to have fun, and there was nobody to show me.

I started the car but just sat there, hands on the steering wheel. I didn’t have anyone to go home to, nobody to wrap me in their arms and lend me their strength and tell me I’d be okay. I wasn’t upset about Tristan going to the aquarium at all. I was upset at being left behind, alone.

After all I’d done for Tristan, it didn’t seem fair.

Excerpted from Here With You: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Addiction by Kathy Wagner (Douglas & McIntyre, copyright 2023). Reprinted with permission by the publisher.

Next: What You Need to Know About Your Phone Addiction

Whether you’ve always had fine hair or are experiencing thinning due to factors such as stress, hormonal changes or aging, the desire for voluminous, luscious locks is a common one. In response to this, there’s a world of over-the-counter hair thickeners, each promising to increase density and volume and help you grow longer, stronger hair. With so many brands making such bold claims, it’s natural to question their efficacy.

The good news: Some methods really can help make your existing hair appear thicker, either by plumping the hair fibres temporarily or by stimulating follicles to encourage new growth. So how can you separate the products that are going to work for your hair from the ones that might… fall short?

We spoke with Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, and hair expert Jason Lee, the founder of Mela & Kera, to understand how thickening products work and how to choose the right solution for your specific needs.

What are the typical causes of hair thinning?

When it comes to hair thinning, everyone’s definition and experience can be different. “Some people naturally have a lot of really coarse hair strands and they tend to be the people who we refer to as having thick hair,” says Lee. Others are born with thinner hair that lacks volume, both in terms of the individual strands and their overall hair density.

In the world of dermatology, the term “alopecia” is commonly used to describe the root cause of hair thinning. “The most common [type] is what we call androgenic alopecia, and one in two women experience it to some degree,” says Yadav. You might start off having a decent amount of hair with plenty of vitality, and then life happens. Pregnancy, hormones, thyroid issues, natural aging, over-styling and chemical damage can leave you feeling like your hair is thinner than ever before. Understanding what’s causing your hair to thin is the first step in finding the right hair-thickening solutions and treatments to tackle the issue head-on. “Work with your health practitioner to figure out what the problem is,” says Lee. Whether it’s due to lifestyle, genetics, or even the medication you’re taking, talking to a professional will help take the guesswork out of your experience.

Who is most often affected by it?

“It’s quite a universal desire that people who don’t have thick hair want it, and it certainly affects people of all ages,” says Lee. “Think of men who start off with really full heads of hair and then as they age, it starts to recede. Others could be dealing with a thyroid condition that can cause hair loss.”

Thinning hair impacts people of all genders at different stages of life—most commonly, after having kids and when going through menopause, says Yadav. It’s estimated that around half of women experience some degree of female pattern hair loss and hair thinning by the age of 50 due to aging, genetics or hormonal changes.

What kind of products exist to tackle these issues?

Most treatments either help you grow new hair, or prevent the loss of hair you already have to create a thicker look. The most popular—and often most effective—solutions for hair thickening include over-the-counter supplements and topical treatments (such as minoxidil, which is available as a prescription tablet or sold over-the-counter topically as Rogaine, according to Yadav). Additionally, there are specific tools and devices that can be beneficial. “A laser cap [available for purchase online] can stimulate hair growth through light therapy and can help make up for some of those nutritional deficiencies that can cause hair loss, promoting healthy growth,” says Yadav.

For those looking to plump up fine hair for aesthetic purposes, look for products that “swell the hair shaft to give more volume and fullness to the hair,” says Lee. These are dry shampoos and texturizing sprays—anything that adds extra fibres to the hair strands to lend a temporary thickening effect. To avoid stripping and weighing down your strands, opt for lightweight formulas, and don’t forget to use a shampoo that won’t leave behind any residue. Look for gentle, pH-balanced formulas that don’t contain sulphates such as SLS or SLES. “Keep the scalp balanced and clean so that the hair has a healthy environment to perform at its best and grow optimally,” he says.

Wait—are scalp health and hair growth actually related?

Absolutely. Your scalp health and hair growth go hand in hand. Think of your scalp as the foundation for healthy hair. When your scalp is in good shape, it creates the perfect environment for hair to grow and thrive. “Even at a basic level, there are some studies that show that massaging the scalp regularly can increase blood flow to the hair follicles and therefore actually thicken individual hairs,” says Yadav.

What is the typical timeline for seeing results when using hair-thickening products?

Truth be told, it varies. “The hair growth cycle lasts about six to eight weeks, and all your hairs are at different points in the cycle,” says Yadav. Realistically, it can take around six to nine months to notice a difference in density when using medications like Propecia or treatments such as Rogaine, since hair grows about a centimetre per month. The catch? Once you stop using these products, any gains derived from most solutions start to decline within a week—there’s no permanent solution. “If you want to achieve lasting growth, you need to commit to using these products indefinitely. Without regular use, your hair will eventually return to its original state,” says Yadov.

Shop Our Picks

Consider adding a scalp massager to your shower routine to help get the blood flowing to your hair follicles. Not only can it boost hair growth, but it also gently exfoliates to reduce product buildup that can weigh your hair down.
Sephora Collection Silicone Scalp Massager, $15, sephora.ca

Invest in a high-quality shampoo to keep your hair happy from root to tip. This softening and shine-enhancing option from Mela & Kera includes rose leaf extracts and chamomile to repair and strengthen strands without stripping them.
Mela & Kera Touche Velours Shampoo, $46, melaandkera.com

For those experiencing male or female pattern baldness, a DHT hormone-blocking shampoo naturally helps to maintain the size of the hair follicles, allowing them to produce thicker and healthier hair with each wash.
XYON Health Performance DHT-Blocking Shampoo, $55, xyonhealth.com

To improve the appearance and texture of thinning hair while you’re styling, opt for a volumizing leave-in formula that adds fullness while also protecting against breakage, like this top-rated option from Nioxin.
Nioxin System 1 Scalp & Hair Leave-In Treatment, $30, shoppersdrugmart.ca

Products that contain high concentrations of antioxidants, such as resveratrol, help protect the hair from oxidative stress, resulting in more resilient strands. Think of it as skincare for your hair.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serioxyl Advanced Denser Hair Density Activator Serum, $65, chatters.ca

Next: I Tried a Hairline Tattoo to See If It Could Cover Up My Balding Head

To reduce our sugar consumption, many of us have switched to sugar substitutes, which are plant-based or chemical substances that sweeten the flavour of foods and drinks without additional calories. But, as you’ve probably noticed, such substitutes constantly make headlines for being linked to health concerns. Most recently, a February 2023 study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that people who had a high concentration of erythritol (a sugar substitute loved by the keto set) in their blood were more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. The findings triggered many of us to frantically google if our go-to sugar alternatives, like Stevia, Truvia and Splenda, contain erythritol—and left us confused about what we should opt for.

Does this mean we’re better off switching back to plain old table sugar? Not quite. Added sugars, like the aforementioned table variety, have also been linked to equally serious health problems—like high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease—all of which increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.

(Related: Here’s What Sugar Does to Your Skin) 

“It doesn’t matter if you eat white sugar, brown sugar, honey, fruits, or syrups—they all break down in the body into simple sugars and increase your blood sugar in pretty much the exact same way,” says Anisha Gupta, a registered dietitian in Mississauga.

Most of us consume more sugar than health pros recommend. Ideally, we should have no more than 24 grams of sugar per day, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation—but that’s not as much as it may sound. For reference, a single KitKat bar contains 22 grams of sugar. Plus, sugar creeps into even the most unsuspecting foods we eat, like pasta sauce and peanut butter, says Gupta, making it even easier to surpass that 24 grams-per-day recommendation.

Confused about which sugar to reach for? We are too. So we sat down with Gupta to get things straight.

Is there really zero health difference between brown and white sugar?

They’re pretty much the same, except brown sugar is less processed than white sugar—which may or may not bother you. Brown sugar also has more of an earthy taste to it, so instead of choosing it for believing it’s a healthier option for you, choose it just for its taste. For example, I like to use brown sugar when I make muffins.

Surely, natural sugars like maple syrup, honey, and fruit sugars are a bit healthier than white and brown sugar, right?

There isn’t that much of a difference. They’re all going to increase your blood sugar in the exact same way. Honey is helpful when you have a sore throat, since it contains antioxidants [which have an anti-inflammatory, soothing effect]. But you can also get antioxidant benefits from other foods in your diet. Instead of worrying about the healthiest sugar, be more mindful of how much sugar you’re consuming overall in your diet.

(Related: 12 Easy Food Swaps to Reduce Your Sugar Intake) 

Even manuka honey? It’s known for boasting so many health benefits!

Sugar is sugar! You can get those benefits from other foods, too.

Okay, so same thing with coconut sugar?

Yeah, pretty much the same thing. Researchers have found it does have some extra healthy properties, like vitamin C and more potassium than white sugar. So for those reasons, coconut sugar can be seen as a great choice. But again, how much coconut sugar are you actually having? A banana gives you a great amount of potassium, having an orange gives you a great amount of vitamin C. So do you really need to substitute your white sugar for coconut sugar, which is generally a little bit more expensive than white sugar? Even looking at the glycemic index [which is the number given to each food on how quickly it will increase your blood sugar] between coconut sugar and white sugar, it’s not that different.

What are your thoughts on artificial sugar?

About the recent study on erythritol, I’m not really concerned. The headlines have jumped the gun and made conclusions where there shouldn’t be. The study shows a correlation, but not a causation, between erythritol and heart disease. The participants in the study were already at higher risk for heart disease, meaning that the results may not apply to everyone. There isn’t enough research right now to suggest that this sugar substitute should be eliminated. There is definitely room for more research on erythritol as well as other sugar substitutes. My recommendation is the same as always, enjoy the sweetener you like, but be mindful of how much you are consuming.

Do you ever recommend artificial sugar to clients?

It depends on the person. There are limits as to how much you can consume. Diabetes Canada has made recommendations based on the science we currently have [you can view those here], but you’d have to be consuming a lot to be even close to surpassing those recommendations.

I suggest limiting sweeteners during pregnancy, as there is still not a lot of research around how they can really impact a baby’s development. I also suggest avoiding sweeteners to anyone with phenylketonuria, digestive distress or an allergy to sulfonamides, and children under 2.

On the other hand, if you’re a diabetic person who has high blood sugar, sugar substitutes can be valuable because they can make a difference in your health as they can help lower your blood sugar level.

So, sugar substitutes are safe in small amounts. Is there any other concern around them we should know about?

The sweetness from artificial sweeteners can trick your body into thinking it’s getting a blood sugar rise, but they don’t actually raise your blood sugar. So what happens is you end up getting more sugar cravings later on, which means you may end up eating more sweets.

What about fructose? Do we really have to be worried about sugar from fresh fruit?

Fruit offers so many additional benefits that you don’t really need to worry about the sugar that’s in it. Fruit also has fibre, which helps the body digest food more slowly, so sugar from fruit will be absorbed more slowly too. That means when you eat a fruit, your blood sugar will rise gradually like a hill and come down slowly—instead of spiking and dropping—so you feel better than you would if you ate something like a cookie. There’s no need to avoid fruit because of the sugar content. No one is diabetic or has heart disease or obesity because they’ve eaten too much fruit.

So, in summary, eat the sugar you want but be mindful of how much you consume?

Exactly. Food should be fun. Enjoy it. Be mindful of your sugar intake and reduce it when it’s convenient to do so.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Next: The Healthiest Milk for Your Coffee, According to Registered Dietitians

Most Canadian adults spend an alarming ten hours a day or more sitting, according to Statistics Canada. While it’s totally understandable, particularly during Canada’s frosty months when none of us want to leave our warm quarters, it’s a big problem since sedentary lifestyles put us at an increased risk of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease, cancer and depression. Incorporating physical activity into our everyday life is essential for our health, but let’s be real: We often can’t carve time out of our day for a fitness class. Conveniently, walking can be sufficient exercise.

A 2019 study showed taking just an 11-minute walk each day can significantly lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and various cancers. Setting more extensive goals pays off, too—walking for an hour reduces depression.

But, what do you do when you can’t squeeze in a walk or don’t find a stroll in your snowboots all that appealing? You look to indoor options, like treadmills and walking pads, which are currently trending.

(Related: My Honest Review of the Carol Bike’s Five-Minute Workout)

What are walking pads, and how do they differ from treadmills?

Walking pads function in the same way as a treadmill—they plug into the wall and boast a rubber belt that allows you to take steps while staying in the same place. Unlike treadmills, walking pads are often foldable or have small wheels attached to the bottom so they can be rolled away or stored under a bed or couch. They pair well with standing desks due to their slender frame and that they often come without handrails (or with ones that can be folded down), making it easy to clock a few thousand steps while you work.

Traditional treadmills on the other hand are wider and sturdier and offer higher speeds and incline specifications, which enable you to run and sprint. They’re designed with handrails, take up more space than walking pads and are better for more intense workouts. They also typically have a steeper cost.

The biggest difference between a walking pad and a treadmill is that the majority of walking pads are built for lower speeds meaning you may not be able to run on all models.

Why are walking pads so trendy right now?

Walking pads have become the latest at-home fitness fad to trend on TikTok, with the hashtag #walkingpad boasting over 566 million views. The reason they’re all over the app is because they’re the hero product in another TikTok fitness fad called Cozy Cardio.

What’s “Cozy Cardio”?

Hope Zuckerbrow, the TikTok creator who came up with the trend, told Glamour that cozy cardio is her response to the toxic pressure today’s diet culture puts on exercise. “I started cozy cardio to help heal my relationship with exercise…[it’s] meant to bring joy back to movement.” The idea is that pairing small pleasures, like watching a reality TV show, with exercise can help you stay motivated and have a more consistent fitness routine.

According to Zuckerbrow, cozy cardio should include three elements:

• A walking pad to get steps in a gentle manner
• Mood lighting via candles to create a warm ambiance
• Comfort activities like watching a favourite TV show and sipping coffee to make working out more pleasurable

Where can I get a walking pad in Canada?

Here are three walking pads at different price points, available at Canadian retailers. (Note: Some walking pads have weight limitations, so be mindful of that when comparing models.)

For an affordable option, try this two-in-one treadmill and walking pad with handrails that fold down. This model goes up to speeds of 10km/hr, meaning you can run. It boasts a small LED screen that displays real-time data, monitoring your speed, time and distance.

Space Saving Motorised Treadmill Walking Machine with LCD Display, $250, homefitnesscode.com

This foldable, handrail-less walking pad is equipped with a quiet motor and is specifically designed to fit under stand-up desks. The speed ranges from 0.5 to 6 km/h, and it has two built-in rollers for easy movement and storage at home.

Kingsmith WalkingPad C2 Smart Folding Electric Treadmill/Walking Pad, $500, bestbuy.ca

Want a smart walking pad? This pick’s equipped with an app for customizing your workout goals, with settings like warm-ups or fat-burning. One noteworthy feature is its foot control speed—if you’re walking at the front of the belt the speed will automatically increase, but if you’re slowing down and are at the edge of the belt, it will switch to “cool down mode” and set itself to a more leisurely pace.

AL-T1 Folding Treadmill, $1,079, northernfitness.ca

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This dessert is inspired by one of my favorite Greek treats: yogurt with cherry preserves. Here, I’ve turned it into a no-fuss gluten-free tart that my little one, who suffers from a severe wheat allergy, can enjoy for dessert. The ingredients are simple and provide a nice blend of fiber, fat, and protein thanks to the combination of fruit, nuts, and Greek yogurt. In fact, it can make for a fun brunch option, as it doesn’t read like a traditional dessert.

(Related: How to Make Vegan Desserts—The Basics of Plant-Based Baking)

No-Bake Honey Yogurt Tart

Serves 6 

Ingredients

Tart 

• ¾ cup  certified gluten-free rolled oats
• ½ cup raw walnuts
• 1 cup pitted dates
• ¼ tsp  ground cinnamon
• 1 packet gelatin
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 ¾ cups full-fat Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ tsp  pure vanilla extract

Compote

• 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Tart 

1. In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, grind the oats and walnuts to a coarse meal.
2.  Place the dates in a small bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 5 minutes to tenderize. Drain the dates and add them to the food processor along with the cinnamon. Pulse to obtain a uniform paste that sticks between your fingers.
3. Spread the mixture evenly in a 9-inch springform pan. Use the bottom of a glass to press the crust in firmly.
4. In a small bowl, combine the gelatin and water. Let stand for 5 minutes so that the gelatin can absorb the water. Heat the milk for 30 seconds in the microwave. Add the warm milk to the gelatin mixture, stirring until the gelatine is dissolved.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, honey, and vanilla. Pour in the gelatin mixture, whisking until smooth.
6. Pour the yogurt mixture onto the crust and spread into an even layer. Refrigerate for 8 hours or until the yogurt sets.

Compote

1. In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the cherries, sugar, water, and lemon juice.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by one-third.
3. Let the cherries cool to room temperature. Serve with the tart slices. Any leftover compote can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Excerpted from Everyday Mediterranean by Vanessa Perrone. Copyright © Vanessa Perrone. Photographs by Ariel Tarr. Published by Appetite Books by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Next: A Recipe for Bulgur Salad With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Tangerine and Pomegranate

A Sound Machine & Sunrise Alarm Clock

First things first: Replace your jarring phone alarm with this all-in-one gadget. At night, it’s a sound machine and meditation guide to help you fall asleep fast, and in the a.m., it’s a gentle alarm clock that uses gradual light to mimic a sunrise and help you wake up naturally. Best of all, it keeps your phone out of the bedroom—which means you’ll be less likely to start (and end) the day with doomscrolling.

Hatch Restore, from $179, bedbathandbeyond.ca 

Calming Tea

Ease yourself into bed by sipping a soothing tea. This nighttime variety pack by Canadian brand Firebelly includes a mint tea blend for relaxation, a ginger blend to tame post-meal digestive woes and a lemon-chamomile blend to encourage calmness.

Downers Variety Pack, $20, firebellytea.ca

Soothing Bath Salts

Pour a scoop of these Himalayan crystal salts into the tub and ditch the day’s stress. Studies show that a steamy bath can help promote mindfulness (as long as you can keep the tech away from the tub), relax the body, boost blood circulation and aid healing.

Odacité Mood Cleansing Ayurvedic Bath Soak, $37, nordstrom.ca

The Perfect Pillow

Side sleepers, back sleepers, stomach sleepers, unite. This pillow is filled with pieces of memory foam that can be scooped out for just the right height and level of softness or firmness, depending on how you like to sleep. The cover is machine washable and easy slips off on laundry day.

Customizable Pillow, $85, endy.com

Cool and Crisp Sheets

Made in Portugal, this duvet set by Canadian company Envello is cut from cotton percale, a luxurious weave that feels delightfully cool and crisp. We love that the materials are sourced responsibly and made without potentially harmful chemicals, and the set is delivered in recyclable packaging.

Dottie Duvet Set, starting at $200, envello.com

Cannabis Gummies

Pop one of these soft gummies, which come in fruity flavours like blue raspberry, sour cherry and watermelon lemonade, when you need to mellow out. Formulated with a cannabis blend of 10mg CBD and 1mg THC in each chew, they’ll help you relax.

Sunshower Fruit Stand Variety Pack 10:1 Soft Chews, $13, ocs.ca

Soft & Warm PJs

You’ll reach for these PJs from Toronto-based Knix night after night. They’re made from super-soft, eco-friendly Modal fabric that’s warm but breathable (Hi, hot flashes). The fabric is also wrinkle-proof and pilling-resistant, so it can be worn for years to come.

Sleep Top, $65, Sleep Pant, $65, knix.ca

A Light Shield

Sleep masks may be a glam bedtime accessory, but they help you get a good night’s sleep, too. Darkness cues the body to produce melatonin, the natural hormone responsible for regulating your circadian rhythm. Any light exposure can impede that process, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. A sleep mask creates the dark environment your body needs.

Detox Mode Sleep Mask, $36, thedetoxmarket.ca

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