This story was originally titled "Mother Knows Best" in the May 2009 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

When we were kids, our mothers told us to stand up straight and eat our vegetables. We may not have appreciated the advice at the time, but now we know that Mom's wellness tips were often right on. Here, three women share words of wisdom from their mothers on how to nurture body and spirit.

Healthy from the inside out
Corinne Frébourg, a 30-year-old interior designer in Whistler, B.C., learned the secrets of healthy skin from her mom, Jeannine, a naturopath. "I grew up in Quebec, where winters are harsh and can really dry your skin," she says. "From the time I was about 10 years old, my mom taught me how to care for my skin."

Corinne's skin-care regimen includes cleansing and moisturizing twice a day. She drinks two litres of water daily to avoid dehydration, which dries the skin.

Corinne also boosts her skin's health by eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as freshwater fish, walnuts and ground flaxseed. Omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food because they aren't produced by the body. "Eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids supports healthy cell development, and that will be reflected in healthy tissues in the skin, eyes and scalp," says Jenny Okroj, a health educator and public health nutritionist in Regina. "Our fat intake should account for no more than 30 per cent of calories a day, so our first priority should be to include foods that are sources of essential fatty acids."

Let's get physical
Figure skating, ballet, swimming, hiking – Brigitte Bastien did them all as a child. "I didn't know these activities were good for me – I just knew that I loved them," says Brigitte, 27, a teacher in Montreal. Brigitte credits her mom, Ghyslaine, for encouraging her to fi nd a physical activity she loved and to make it part of her life.

Today, Brigitte still loves to keep moving. She balks at the idea of owning a car ("It makes me lazy," she says) and, instead, begins each weekday with a 45-minute walk to the school where she teaches. She also takes spinning classes three times a week at the local YMCA. These activities help her to maintain a healthy body weight and keep her heart, muscles and bones strong.

"Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days can also reduce the risk of some forms of cancer and improve your health profile for other risks, such as diabetes," says Jill Barker, a lecturer in the departments of kinesiology and physical education at McGill University in Montreal.

But there's an added bonus to being physically active. An avid walker, cyclist and cross-country skier, Ghyslaine believed that exercise relieves stress and chases away the blues. It seems she was right. Physical activity is increasingly included in treatment plans for people with depression or anxiety.

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