Maintain a strong, healthy immune system with this 3-pronged approach during the current pandemic and beyond: #1: Lifestyle: Limit stress, turn off the TV or computer, and get at least 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 times per week and 7-8 hours of sleep per night. #2: Nutrition: A diet high in lean protein, fruits, vegetables and the right macronutrients is the most important element to overall health. #3: Hydration: Without adequate hydration and the right electrolyte delivery system, your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs to recover from illness or infection. Proper hydration is key to a well-functioning body.
Community News
Best Treatment For Osteoarthritis
When it comes to osteoarthritis, the best approach is to treat it from the inside and the outside. Specialized nutritional formulations work on the inside of the body by turning off the inflammation producing mechanisms and strengthening the joints. N.I.R. Laser Therapy works on the outside of the body by decreasing inflammation, thereby reducing pain and stiffness. The laser penetrates to a level that breaks up scar tissue to shrink nodules and increase mobility. Following a multi-faceted approach that feeds and stimulates the joints at the same time greatly enhances the body’s ability to respond. That is why even long-term, severe arthritis sufferers can get relief.
Weight Gain During Quarantine
Has the Covid-19 pandemic added extra stress to your relationship with food? You aren’t alone. The “Quarantine 15” – a reference to weight gain during quarantine has caused much anxiety. Instead of causing yourself more stress by researching yet another diet, eat mindfully and observe how adaptable your body is. Do your best to choose self-care which means sometimes choosing comfort food without judgement within and overall eating pattern that gives you energy, clarity, strength, and vitality. True self-care also means gently questioning what is leading to comfort eating and finding a way to address this in a way that will leave you feeling peaceful.
An Important Step to Solve Reading Difficulties
When a student struggles with reading and learning it is important to first rule out the possibility of a vision problem. Often this can be an eye coordination problem which means that your child will pass most vision screenings in school and even at the pediatrician’s office. Vision screenings typically test for how clearly one can see the letters on the eye chart (“20/20”) which is only 1 of 17 visual skills required for reading and learning. If reading is difficult and homework takes longer than it should, be sure to schedule a binocular vision evaluation, with a Developmental Optometrist.
The Connection Between Eyes and Ears
As we age, we’re more susceptible to hearing loss and vision changes. Both conditions can creep up on us, making preventive measures essential to sustaining the quality of life we’re used to. According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), you’re at greater risk of social isolation and reduced community participation if you have a vision loss. The same goes for hearing loss. Having both a vision and hearing problem can affect your ability to lip-read, which is detrimental to communicating with co-workers, family, and friends. A decreased ability to socialize is linked to a greater risk of dementia. However, Statistics Canada reports that 90 percent of people with hearing loss can improve communication with a properly fit hearing aid, counseling, or environmental changes.
4 Tips for Better Heart Health
1. Get good sleep. Adults who experience good-quality sleep typically have healthier arteries than those who don’t sleep as soundly.
2. Adopt healthy eating habits. Cut back on salt, limit alcohol to no more than one to two drinks a day, and nourish your body with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
3. Slash bad fats. Cut down on saturated fats, which are mainly found in meat and full-fat dairy products. You should totally ban trans-fats from your diet, which are found in processed foods.
4. Get checked for diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar damages arteries and makes heart disease more likely.
The Dangers of Stress
Stress causes or contributes to 85% of all your illnesses. Stress leads to heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, cancer, depression – basically anything. Today, more than any other time in history, we live in a stressful environment. Once stressed, you enter into survival mode and your body produces cortisol for the fight or flight, and your metabolism and body functions change to preserve energy. Stress also makes it difficult to think clearly, as you become focused on the problem and not on the solution, which causes a revolving thought pattern. How healthy would we be if we could just learn to control stress or eliminate it altogether?
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
What happens after you quit smoking? After 1 day: the risk of heart attack begins to decrease.
After 2 days: a person may notice a heightened sense of smell and more vivid tastes as their nerves heal.
After 1 month: in as little as one month, the person’s lung function begins to improve. As the lungs heal and get stronger, the capacity will improve. Former smokers may notice less coughing and shortness of breath, and snoring may even improve. After 1 year: after one year of quitting, a person’s risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by half.
Eating with New Dentures
Learning to eat with new dentures can be a challenge, but with the right guidance and patience it is possible. Start with soft foods and chew slowly (this will help to avoid biting your cheeks or tongue). Purees, boiled eggs, fish, applesauce, soup (especially at this time of the year) are a great starting point. Also, it may be difficult to judge food temperatures correctly because of the insulating quality of the dentures. Touch the food or beverage to your lips before putting it in your mouth. Perseverance is the key and keep your denturist updated if any problems occur.
Product Review: Colflex® by Innotech™
ColFlex® Super Oregano Oil Spray is a great-tasting 4-in-1 oral spray containing essential oils of oregano, thyme, and spearmint oil in an extra virgin olive oil base, sweetened with stevia and fortified with vitamin D3. Spray orally to help relieve coughs, sore throat, travelling challenges, that “under the weather feeling” and for general oral hygiene and fresher breath. Lab tests show that ColFlex inhibited the growth of bacteria such as S. aureus and S. pneumonia after 27 minutes and inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. typhi after 9 minutes. Colflex® is proudly made right here in Winnipeg.
Blocking Blue Light
Blue light emitted from the sun is essential to your body. However, exposing your eyes to the artificial blue light from computers, smartphones and other digital devices may keep you awake at night and causing eyes strain. Blocking UV and HEV (high-energy visible) light is critical for your eyes against cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Ask your trusted eye care professional about blue light blocking lenses available to you. Our tip: If you are working on your laptop, tablet or smartphone long hours, we recommend giving your eyes frequent breaks by looking into the distance often.
