Community News
Removing Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam has been around for decades and was the treatment of choice for teeth that had dental decay. It remains a good material, but today there are other options. When removing dental amalgam due to structural issues or recurrent decay, there are often questions about the mercury and how it is removed safely to minimize exposure to yourself and the environment. There are guidelines in place to help prevent the mercury from being washed down the drain and entering our environment through units in the dental office. As well, from a personal protection standpoint, dental dams, high volume suction, and water irrigation all prevent the ingestion of the components from dental amalgam when it is being removed.

Dr. Ken Hamin
ReflectionsDentalHealth.ca

Diet – a 4-Letter Word!

The human brain is an amazing and powerful tool. It has the capacity to heal, imagine, and reason. In fact, its main job is our survival. Given this fact, doesn’t it make sense that dieting, which is starving yourself a little, would go against the very nature of survival? Is it any wonder diets don’t work? Dieting also encourages us to eat the wrong foods and sometimes become addicted to them because our brain believes it is helping us. Our society has evolved, but a part of our brain hasn’t kept up. Add this to all of the unhealthy food choices we have available, and you can see a disaster in the making. The good news is the same brain will, with the right coaching, turn that around for you and make it all attainable. Connecting and coaching the subconscious mind is a natural alternative to pills, surgery, and diets.

Sherry Wilkinson
WinnipegHypnotherapy.com

What is Ganban-Yoku?

Ganban-yoku is a very popular form of thermal relaxation therapy in Japan. It uses rare stones found only in certain areas of the world. They release therapeutic warmth once they are heated, and help relax the body and mind. The stones are embedded in comfortable, smooth slab beds. They are heated gently by a hydronic water system. Many people compare the Ganban-yoku experience to relaxing on the beach on a warm day. What is unique about the treatment is the kind of sweat Ganban-yoku produces. Silky sweat is perspired during the session and does not have stickiness or smell, and we recommend not taking a shower after the treatment, and patting dry. This silky sweat acts as a natural lotion, leaving your skin smooth, radiant, and glowing.

PoccaPocaSpa.com

Surrender to the YES

Surrendering to the YES is not about giving up or giving in. It’s about letting go and understanding that, in this particular moment in time, there is nothing you can do but receive the experience, let go of all expectations, and ride the wave between what you’ve known and what is not yet shown. Sometimes in life, the best-laid plans don’t always work as they were supposed to. When we stop fighting, fixing, pushing, doing, or trying to make the pain or situation go away, we can begin to embrace the fear and feelings without getting too stuck or shut down. Oprah Winfrey shares, “Our deepest struggle can, if you are willing, produce your greatest strength.” When we can fully surrender to what is, releasing expectations of the way we had hoped it to be, we can welcome in all the YES’s to come!

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid
Souls-journey.com

Natural Product Review: Garden of Life

Dr. Formulated Probiotics are clinically studied probiotics for mood and relaxation support. In his latest book, Brain Maker, Dr. Perlmutter presents riveting and novel research revealing a strong connection between our mood and the bacteria living in our digestive tracts. The exact mechanisms through which bacteria modulate our mood have yet to be understood fully, however, studies have shown that our microflora affect certain neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate and influence our state of mind. The Dr. Formulated Mood+ was specifically formulated with 50 billion CFUs and 16 different strains of bacteria. It contains clinically studied Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum in the same amount shown to significantly decrease cortisol levels and thus support a balanced mood, relaxation, and emotional wellbeing. The formula has additional organic Ashwagandha extract, an adaptogenic herb shown to further support stress management, and organic Alaskan blueberries for antioxidant support.

Aviva Natural Health Solutions
AvivaHealth.com

Aging and Alzheimer’s

People usually take memory loss from aging for granted. I confess, I was one of them. Things have changed since I heard my dad was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. His dad – of course, my granddad – showed the symptom of the disease just before he died. Is it genetic? I came across a shocking scientific fact. Few will not suffer from the disease at 110. According to Rudy Tanzi, the most renowned Alzheimer’s researcher, the disease occurs in half of individuals at 85. According to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, the disease occurs in 12% of men and 20% of women at 85. I guess this difference is because Professor Tanzi included patients in the very early stage and the association didn’t. I concluded from various articles that everyone had better begin taking preventive measures for Alzheimer’s at 65, at the latest.

Re Vitamins of Charleswood
Facebook.com/revitamins

Considering a Pet Sitter?

If you’re a pet owner who travels, arranging for care for your pets while you’re away can feel like an overwhelming decision. It’s important to look for caregivers who will not only provide for basic needs like food and water, but also companionship, reassurance, and playtime while you’re away. If you can find someone to come to your home, your pet gets to stay in his familiar surroundings, which is less stressful than taking him to a new location! When finding a pet sitter, it’s also important that you’re both on the same page about what’s expected and the fees involved for things like the number and length of visits per day, grooming and walking, accident cleanup, and taking the pet to a vet in case of emergency. You and your pet should feel comfortable about the care arrangements, so you (and your pet) can enjoy your vacation without worry!

Lisa Tustin, Professional Pet Services

Clean Eating: Grilled Corn and Avocado Succotash

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. vegetable oil
S&P
2 tbsp. lime juice
4 ears corn
½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 bell pepper
¼ inch diced
½ red onion, finely chopped
1 avocado, chopped into ½ inch cubes
¼ c. fresh basil leaves

Directions:

While steaks are cooking, shuck corn, toss in vegetable oil and let cook on other side of grill. Once you have nice grill marks on corn, take off and slice kernels off with sharp knife. Mix with rest of ingredients, and serve.

Prairie Box, PrairieBox.com

Journaling Relieves Caregiver Anxiety

If you’re a caregiver for a senior loved one, have you considered journaling as a way to relieve caregiver anxiety? Experts recommend journaling as a way to sort out your feelings and count your blessings when life gets crazy. In fact, regular journaling may even improve your health. Writing down your worries may strengthen your immune cells, giving you a better chance of fighting off infections and staying healthy. Journaling may help you fulfill your most important roles with a positive outlook and plenty of energy. It helps to: 1. Reduce the intensity of stress and anger by writing these feelings down. 2. Solve problems through creativity and intuition. 3. Recognize productive (and unproductive) patterns in your life. 4. Track your progress and growth for increased confidence. 5. Sort out your feelings. Journaling gives you a “safe space” to share your thoughts and feelings without worrying about being judged or feeling guilty.

Alevtina (Alia) Tuhari, Reliable Home Care Agency, ReliableHomeCare.ca

Caregiver Pharmacy Support

It can be difficult to be a caregiver and manage multiple or complex medications for a loved one. It is important to ensure medications are taken appropriately to help maintain good health. A visiting pharmacist provides personal support with regular medication delivery and home consultations. The pharmacist reviews a client’s prescription drugs and over the counter medications to advise if there are any drug interactions, and makes adjustments as necessary. This level of support can reduce emergency room visits and hospital stays, and results in strong, trusting relationships between clients, caregivers, and pharmacists. The visiting pharmacist also provides seamless care for hospital discharge patients and works closely with other health professionals to deliver a high level of care to the client. Care is tailored to specific individual needs such as assisting with blood pressure readings, adding medications as needed to adherence packaging, and making changes in an efficient manner.

Teresa Giesbrecht
CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Tune-Up Your Brain!

Your brain is the engine that drives you – so it’s important to keep it well-tuned. Fat – or lipid – consumption is essential for the healthy growth, development, and function of your brain. In fact, 60% of your brain’s dry weight is fat. Several types of plant and animal fats are used for brain-building material, though one lipid reigns supreme: omega-3 fatty acids derived from salmon, sardines, krill oil, and plant-based Ahiflower oil. There are many benefits of omega-3: it increases cognitive functioning and decreases symptoms of depression, anxiety and aggression. It is also shown to be a protective factor against cognitive decline and dementia in older adults; and it is an essential component of a healthy diet for pregnant women, leading to better health outcomes in newborns. Consider adding omega-3s to your diet as an evidence-based way to tune-up your brain for optimal mental health.

Sean Miller, CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg

mbwpg.cmha.ca