Community News
Solving Financial Troubles

Financial difficulties can harm our emotional well-being. How can you tell that you are actually in financial trouble? There are certain indicators of financial difficulties, such as receiving frequent calls or letters from creditors or collection agencies, having no savings, spending all your money before payday, stalling one creditor to pay another, buying things impulsively, using your credit cards or other loans to pay for everyday expenses, failing to budget or make a financial plan, having your consolidation loan applications rejected, having trouble making the minimum payments on your credit cards and not knowing what your real monthly expenses are. If you’re in financial trouble, you may believe bankruptcy is your only option. However, there are many options to help you solve your money problems – such as consolidating your loans or making a consumer proposal. Be sure to seek professional advice to find out the best solution for you.

www.debtsolutions.deloitte.ca

Sugar and Cola

The WHO recommends not more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day. 12 oz can of coca cola contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. This high amount of high density corn syrup in addition to refined salts and caffeine contribute to diabetes, hypertension and obesity. People who drink 2 or more sugary beverages per day are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Shortly after consuming 12 oz can of coca cola blood sugar levels spike. Caffeine increases blood pressure and stimulates the reward system in the brain in a similar way as heroin. The diuretic effect of caffeine results in loss of water and electrolytes and then comes the sugar crash; the person becomes irritable and sleepy and often reaches for another can. Nutrition therapy can do for your sugar control that no medication can.

Mathilda Prinsloo B Pharm CGP CDE.
Diabetes Care & Wellness
www.seniorcarepractice.com

New Business Showcase

It is often very difficult and overwhelming to effectively manage multiple medications. This can lead to improper use of medications, which can result in extra doctor visits, emergency room visits and hospital stays. The high cost of prescription medication is a major concern for many patients; therefore we prepare a customized monthly budget for each of our clients. This, along with our visiting pharmacist service, will give you and your care-givers peace of mind. Our ultimate goal is to ensure all medications are taken as prescribed and that you have a full understanding of each medication including its interactions and side-effects. As well, we want to ensure that cost does not become a stress factor and/or road-block. Better Health & Wellness may be achieved through medication management; talk to our pharmacist to arrange a home visit.

www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Smartphones and Health

Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices. Increasingly we rely on them to run our life. One of the latest trends is toward mobile health or mhealth. Many applications have been designed to help you live healthier and manage your chronic illnesses. Here are some our favorites: Misfit wearables is a great low price entry to fitness trackers starting at $25. Askthedoctor.com will get your health questions answered in a jiffy, and glooko.com has an amazing platform for people dealing with diabetes. One of the biggest issues faced by patients today surrounds management of medications. 55% of Canadians above 45-65 are on at least one prescription medication. Using a smartphone to manage and track your meds has been proven to improve adherence, keeping patients healthy. If you are on multiple medications this may be the best and quickest thing you can do for your health today.

www.poprx.ca

Book Club: Healing and Transformation

Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation (TM) by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal. Learn the basics about this ancient technique, and for seasoned meditators, broaden your knowledge and deepen your understanding. Rosenthal’s central point emphasis on TM changes the brain, and can help a vast array of different people to live longer and better lives, and achieve lifelong success.

www.normanrosenthal.com

Clean Eating: Thai Carrot Coconut Soup

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups water
1 ½ cups carrots cut into 1” pieces
1 green onion
5 tbsp. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 date
2 tbsp. fresh lemongrass (finely chop the heart of 2 stalks)
1 tbsp. freshly chopped ginger
1 avocado –half to blend and half cut into ½” – ¾” pieces for topping
2 tbsp. fresh cilantro (to mince for topping)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients, except avocado and cilantro, until smooth.
Add half avocado and blend.
Pour into bowls.
Sprinkle top with avocado pieces and minced cilantro.

From Uncooking with RawRose by Rose Vasile
www.rawrose.com

Compassionate Beauty Care

There are many thoughts that go through a person’s mind once a cancer diagnosis is received. What does the future look like and how will my life be changed. What common activities that I do now, will be affected by treatment and subsequent side-effects?

One thing that does not need to change is pampering yourself.  You may think that a trip to the spa is not something you want to experience while being in treatment. Not only is there the possibility of increased infection because your immune system is low, there is the discussion that you will need to have with the esthetician, that may make you uncomfortable.

Perhaps, going to a place that provides safe and hygienic manicures and pedicures is something you would consider. Where the treatments are non-invasive, no cutting of cuticles, no razors used on feet, just simply therapeutic services that are focused on the individual going through any cancer. Having a facial with no extractions, just comforting and customized for your skin. Using all natural products that contain no carcinogens or any toxins. Products with ingredients listings you can pronounce and recognize. The best part – not having to explain what you are going through because we know.

The Unexpected Gift
www.theunexpectedgift.ca 

Train for Your Sport

Depending on the sport/activity of your choice, the demands of that sport should influence on how you train. Factors that should be considered in training programs are the energy systems being used. For example, anaerobic/alactic exercise includes short powerful bursts of activity typically lasting 30 seconds or less. Activity at higher intensity levels performed greater than 30-45 seconds start to stress the anaerobic system which often produces lactic acid as a bi-product. This is known as “the burn” in the legs. Other factors to be considered are the work/rest ratios and movement patterns performed in your activity. This may influence your exercise program to include parallel stance (squats), split stance (lunges), or single leg stance (step ups) based on what activities you love to do. Remember, move well so you can move often.

Jason Moniz, South Sherbrook Therapy
www.southsherbrook.com

Block Therapy

Word is spreading! People all over the world are finding their way to Block Therapy and they love it. The best part is that the benefits are so varied. It doesn’t matter what your issue is, by using Block Therapy, it improves oxygen and blood flow and overall tissue health. We as a population need to take control of our health; we can’t expect the system to help us when we aren’t consciously aware of our own body. But it also isn’t our fault. We have been told to sit up straight but the force pulling us down is overpowering. Gravity is relentless and the resultant compression is what causes suffering. The solution is to de-compress; this is what Block Therapy does. This will open the gates for health and healing and create the space necessary for a fulfilling and creative life. Don’t wait any longer to feel great. Do Block Therapy!

Deanna Hanson, Fluid Isometrics
www.fluidIsometrics.com

Extension is the Key

As we hunch over our computers and phones, or lean forward to cook and wash dishes, ever think we pretty much do everything ‘in front’. Evolution has prepared us for some side reaches and some combination twisting movements, but hardly ever do we reach or work behind our bodies. Now that the majority of the population may sit for greater than 4 hours per day, we develop this forward head look that’s not only unattractive but possibly damaging to our health. Extension is the key. Working to strengthen those muscles on the back of our spine, legs, neck and arms that support these ‘forward activities’. Biomechanically, most of these muscles stabilize, and even decelerate the movement to maintain safety. Exercise to build stability; work the ‘back’ muscles twice as much as the ‘front’ muscles, ie; seated rows versus chest press. Exercise for function.

Concourse Physiotherapy
www.yourphysio.com

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, Care at Home Pharmacy
www.careathomepharmacy.ca