Community News
Something to Sleep On

Daydreaming about better health? Getting 7-9 hours of uninterrupted, deep sleep can help make those dreams come true. Some researchers claim that the health benefits of sleeping are equivalent to those of eating. When daylight fades, our bodies release melatonin, a natural sleep aid/hormone with powerful antioxidant properties that works to: 1) Reduce inflammation; 2) Foster mental and emotional resilience; 3) Boost immune system function; 4) Improve performance and memory; 5) Protect your heart; 6) Prevent cancer. Having trouble sleeping? Here are a few tips to help you nod off: 1) Darken your room. Melatonin release only happens in low light/dark conditions. Blue light from mobile devices, TV’s, etc. inhibits this process. 2) Avoid eating/drinking 2-3 hours before bedtime. 3) Keep a consistent sleep/wake schedule. 4) Engage in moderate to rigorous exercise. If you rarely feel well rested talk to your healthcare provider about natural and medicinal support.

Sean Miller, CMHA MB & WPG, mbwpg.cmha.ca

A Daughter’s Recommendation

Care At Home Pharmacy can help seniors remain in the comfort of their home by having quality care come to them. My parents have greatly benefitted from “visiting pharmacist” Yolanda Yeung’s involvement. She initially developed a medical profile for each of them and made recommendations to their doctor regarding medication changes. She visits my parents’ home weekly to monitor their progress and well-being, and provides their prescriptions and any other pharmaceutical needs, as recommended by their doctor. I am my parents’ primary caregiver but do not live in the city, so Yolanda and I communicate by email. She also regularly communicates with the doctor and nursing service involved with my parents’ care. It is a great comfort to me to know the Care At Home Pharmacy team provides a personalized and reputable service to seniors like my parents and is so willing to partner with other services in this type of care at home model. – Happy Daughter.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Lemon Tahini Dressing

This delicious dressing can be used for salad greens or as a sauce over rice, steamed vegetables, and baked potatoes.

2/3 cup plain almond or rice milk

5 tbsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

½ tsp salt

½ cup tahini

1/8 tsp toasted sesame oil

Place all the ingredients in a blender and puree for 1 minute at high speed. Herbal D-TOX Cookbook for Cleansing by Dr. Terry Willard, CI.H.,Ph.D. AvivaHealth.com/WildRose

Book Club: Herbal D-Tox Cook Book for Cleansing by Dr. Terry Willard, PH.D.

Out with the old and in with the new. Detoxification is one of the central concepts of natural healing because it is impossible to build healthy new tissue without eliminating old cells and their by-products. This D-Tox program is designed for both meat eaters and vegetarians. The recipes in this book are designed to stimulate your own creativity and to show you that a delicious Meal Plan can accompany a detoxification diet.

Nathan Zassman, Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com/WildRose

Ask The Expert

Dear Optometrist: I’ve been noticing my eyes have been watering lately, what’s going on? Answer: Your eyes produce tears to keep the front of the eyes hydrated and protected from foreign particles, like dust. There are two causes of watering eyes, also known as epiphora or tearing; blocked tear ducts or over-production of tears. Over-production of tears can occur for many reasons including allergies, corneal abrasions, infections, lid problems or foreign objects like eyelashes. Sometimes watering of the eyes can even be a sign of dryness. While in some cases tearing of the eyes may resolve without treatment you should have your eyes examined to assess the cause of your tearing and to determine if treatment is necessary.

Lindenridge Eye Care, lreyecare.ca

Play to Heal

Are you worried about your child or youth’s current behavior or mood? Anxiety, defiance, grief and behavior at school are just a short list of common concerns that parents may have. As a parent, it is hard to see our children hurting, and we may not know where to turn or what to do. Play Therapy is a treatment for children, youth, and families that involve therapeutic elements similar to adult talk therapies with very playful elements such as puppets, dolls, art and sand that allow children and youth to express their inner most emotions. Through play therapy, children and youth can also learn social skills and skills to manage emotions and self-regulate.

Melissa Beer, GrowingRootsTherapy.ca

Get Cranked!

There are a lot of high-protein and energy options in the world today, so why Cranked Energy Bars? Wholesome, quality energy! These freshly made bars are high in protein, made from good ingredients, and come in a wide variety of flavours. Apple Cinnamon, Banana, Choco-Espresso, Chocolate Gluten-Free, Maple Walnut, Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Coconut, Pumpkin Spice, and Vanilla Gluten-Free. One of my favorites is the Apple Cinnamon Bars which are packed full of energy. Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Protein Blend (Whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, whey protein hydrolysate, Bos taurus (milk), Natural flavours, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, stevia leaf extract), granola, honey, molasses, applesauce, oats, chia, chocolate chips, cranberries, puffed wheat, wheat germ, oat bran, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon. Contains: Egg, Wheat, Peanuts, Sesame Seeds, Milk. Approximately 300 calories per bar.

Nutrition Plus, NutritionPlus.com

Freedom at Any Age

These days the mobility market is full of possibilities. Rather than being confined to the inside of your home or relying on friends and family to take you out, consider the freedom of a mobility scooter. Battery powered scooters have come a long way and are now more affordable than ever. They provide the freedom to get around, they conserve physical energy which can keep you out and about longer, and they also provide you access to places you may not have previously been able to go. Along with the freedom, mobility scooters offer an element of safety. They provide stability and safety both indoors and outdoors reducing the risk of falls and injury. If you are considering a mobility scooter, do some research and access free consultations before making a purchase. There are several different models and various solutions to meet the needs of yourself or a loved one.

Re-New Mobility, ReNewMobility.ca

Running Tips for Spring

For many of us, spring and warmer weather mark the return of running outdoors. There are a few things to keep in mind when getting started. Start back slowly. Progress back into your mileage and training appropriately; doing too much too soon can increase your chance of injury. Check your shoes. Guidelines suggest replacing your running shoes every 500800 km. The foam cushioning of the shoe breaks down with time, not only mileage, so changing them yearly is a good idea. Address any injuries. Don’t start off your running season with an injury that might set you back mid-season. Good mobility of the thoracic spine and lower extremity, as well as hip and lower extremity strength, can be integral to injury prevention. Physiotherapists can help improve mobility through manual therapy and prescribe targeted exercises for mobility and lower extremity chain control. Let’s get you back on the road!

Sarah Bleichert, PrairieTrailPhysio.ca

Where Is Love?

You’ve decided enough is enough. You have plenty going for yourself and you want to share your life with someone special but where on earth are you going to find them? Times have changed. We live in an electronic world but computers don’t have hearts and you don’t know if the person behind the screen is authentic. You have asked your friends and coworkers if they know anyone right for you and you have been insulted by who they have suggested! A matchmaker specializes in finding love for people who are looking for one special partner. An effective matchmaker meets with all potential clients in person and determines who the right person is for them. A criminal record check should be conducted on each client. When choosing a match-maker it is important that you work with a service that has been in business for quite some time and has many success stories.

Lianne Tregobov, Camelot Introductions, camelotintroductions.com

Don’t Sweat the Setbacks

So your New Year’s Resolution was to adopt a healthier diet. Now that the first few months of 2017 have come and gone is your initial enthusiasm is starting to wane? We all have limited resources – time, energy and money and changing your lifestyle can challenge these resources and your resolve. To stay on track, focus on keeping it simple. Plan your meals for the week ahead, shop accordingly and do as much advanced prep work as possible. Keep a collection of recipes that are tasty, healthy, quick and cheap. Make double batches and freeze extras for quick meals. If everyone is hungry, serve a salad or green smoothie while cooking the rest of the meal. That way you can fill up on healthy stuff while the hot stuff is cooking. Focus on the positives and don’t sweat the setbacks. Have patience, you can do this!

Darlene Porter, KnowThyselfAsSoul.org