2 cups + 3 tbsp gluten free all-purpose flour, 1 7.5-g package active dry yeast, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 1/2 tbsp butter (melted), 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup warm water. Directions: Mix flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add the maple syrup, melted butter, olive oil and warm water and mix until combined. Using your hands, form the dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450. Spread the dough onto a pizza pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Add your healthy toppings and place back in the oven until heated through. Enjoy!
Words to Live By
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
-John Wooden
Fit for the Job?
Whatever physical activities are involved at your job, a physiotherapist will test your functional abilities to make sure you are able to carry out all of your work demands. Can you lift 50 lbs with proper mechanics? Are you safe to climb ladders? Do you have good balance? Do you have enough muscular endurance? Don’t guess, take the test! Physiotherapists can also measure spinal range of motion – a stiff spine is a predictor of possible injury. By testing your push/pull/lift and carry, a physiotherapist can help to PREVENT injuries and keep you working. Remember, “Work Shouldn’t Hurt!”
Richard Van, BMR-PT, GlenYoungPhysioTherapy.com
Imagination is a Gift of Healing
Imagine what you would do, where you would go or who you would be if you had the opportunity, for just a few hours, to make that happen? When we visualize our preferred-self we might discover many things. It could lead us to make an important decision to change something that’s been bothersome. It might help us solve a problem or create a new venture. Many of life’s simple and complex discoveries and innovations have come from the use of imagination. Emotional healing can also be accessed through the mind’s ability to envision a new beginning and make appropriate changes. What are you doing with your imagination these days?
Gerry Goertzen, MA Registered Psychotherapist, Riverbend Counselling & Wellness, RiverbendCounselling.ca
See Better In Any Light
Every day our vision is affected but light in one way or another. Glare reduces visual acuity and is less aesthetically pleasing. Ultra violet rays assault eyes everywhere, 365 days a year. These UV A and UV B rays are invisible but accelerate eye aging, especially cataracts. Changing light conditions causes visual discomfort, squinting, and dark/ light adaptation stress. If your lenses are dirty or scratched this will increase light scatter and reduce your visual acuity. Poor contrast and indoor blue light in the visual environment cause eye fatigue. Your Optometrist can guide you and recommend protection for these everyday lighting quality concerns. Your solution may be personalized depending on your environment at work and play, to bring light under control.
Dr. Douglas Puttaert, Optometrist, East St. Paul EyeCare, EastStPaulEyeCare.ca
The Benefits of Stretching
Stretching can improve your joint range of motion, balance, flexibility and decrease your risk of injury. Here are some tips to help you stretch: Warm up your muscles before stretching with 10 minutes of gentle exercise like walking. Hold a sustained stretch for 10 to 30 seconds and don’t bounce when stretching. Only stretch to the point of mild discomfort. If it hurts, you’re pushing too hard. Breathe normally when stretching and balance your routine by working opposing muscle groups each time you stretch. Remember to check with a health professional before stretching if you have or have had an injury or are unsure how to stretch properly.
Jasdeep Ruprai, Pharmacist, You Drugmart, YouDrugMart.com
Weight Loss: The Real Truth
Weight loss is something that many of us are considering, so what is a safe weight loss goal? A weight loss goal of 1-2 lbs per week is sustainable and possible. The key word here is sustainable. There are lots of fad diets out there that promise and sometimes even deliver the weight loss levels promised. Weight loss is about changes that you make to both your activity levels as well as your food intake. The real equation for weight loss is the difference between calories in and calories out. It really is as simple as that.
Manitoba Fitness Council, ManitobaFitnessCouncil.ca
In Your Neighborhood
Good Neighbours Active Living Centre offers a variety of presentations that are of interest to those 55+. Coming up in April:
Natural Product Review
RF3 WORLD CANADA INC. has the privilege of bringing amazing organic nanotechnology products to Canada! With 13 natural products synergistically manufactured using nanotechnology processing which allows the magic of these 13 products to penetrate DEEP into the skin barrier maximizing healthy skin and healthy lives! Our skin is the largest organ in our body. In fact, it protects our internal organs from external threats like environmental pollutants, UV rays and microorganisms. FIRMAX3, an organic, nanotechnology infused cream penetrates DEEP into your skin to create a PROTECTIVE barrier against attack PLUS balances one’s hormones to maintain healthy skin and maximize health!
RF3WorldCanada.com
Gramma’s Home Remedy
Herbs can treat headaches! When you need to get that headache under control, here are some spices in your kitchen that can help. Lemon Balm can soothe tension and anxiety-type headaches. Allspice relaxes your nerves and helps calm your whole body. Allspice has a numbing effect on the nerves and gives relief from pains such as headaches and sinus problems. Rosemary improves circulation, and when blood rushes to your feet it will improve your headache. And lastly, Chamomile is a wonderful remedy for stress, nerves, and anxiety. This one is also safe for children! It has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, helping with certain types of headaches.
Maggie Makaruk DD, AnnasDentureClinic.ca
Spring is the Season of Love
When the weather warms up, so does our heart. Why is that? Science of course. Spring is a season of cliches — birds singing, bees buzzing and people falling madly in love. All this love can be blamed on one very real thing – dopamine! Every April your brain unintentionally becomes a dopamine factory, turning you into a love junkie. Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical your brain uses to make you want things. There are other systems involved in love, but when it comes to new love, dopamine is the main culprit. And with enough of it swirling around your system, you’re prone to fall in love — and fall hard.
Lianne Tregobov, CamelotIntroductions.com