When someone is fearful of falling, they start to avoid everyday activities by staying at home and doing less. This lack of activity leads to loss of strength, reduced muscle tone, and loss of coordination and balance. This physical deterioration increases the risk of falling and if a fall does occur, it further heightens the fear. Turn your fear of falling into positive actions; remain active, exercise regularly, use assistive devices such as walkers or grab bars and wear sensible shoes. Consider joining a group session designed especially to teach balance exercises for fall prevention.
Community News
Balance Your Eating Habits
I like to advocate for the 80/20 rule – eating healthy 80% of the time and adding in those delicious treats only 20%. Focus on trying to increase the healthy foods initially rather than focusing on what you shouldn’t be eating and that feeling of deprivation. Most people need to increase their vegetable and fruit intake so focusing on that and getting the colour of the rainbow each day. This will increase nutrients in diet, improve satiety, and decrease intake of unhealthy foods. Try adding more veggies into sauces, more salads, veggie frittata, berries in oatmeal, etc.
Clean Eating Recipe
Simple Fish & Tomato Stew. Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil. 2 celery stalks finely chopped. 1 onion finely diced. 2 tomatoes roughly chopped. 2 tsp tomato paste. 1/3 cup white wine. 2 cups vegetable broth. 1 lb cod fillets, cut in 2-in. Directions: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook celery and onion for 3 min. Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste and cook 1 min. Add wine and cook 1 min. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and add fish. Cook about 5 min. Look for this and more recipes at Sobeys.com
Clean Eating Recipe
Simple Fish & Tomato Stew. Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil. 2 celery stalks finely chopped. 1 onion finely diced. 2 tomatoes roughly chopped. 2 tsp tomato paste. 1/3 cup white wine. 2 cups vegetable broth. 1 lb cod fillets, cut in 2-in. Directions: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook celery and onion for 3 min. Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste and cook 1 min. Add wine and cook 1 min. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and add fish. Cook about 5 min. Look for this and more recipes at Sobeys.com
Words to Live By
“Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food.” – Hippocrates
Prevent and Treat Iron Deficiency
1.85 million Canadians suffer from iron deficiency*.
To ensure that you aren’t one of those, speak to your healthcare provider to ensure that you are meeting your iron needs. Iron is found in specific food sources, however if you are not meeting your iron requirements, iron supplements are available. There’s a once daily dosing option with the highest amount of elemental heme iron, and better gastrointestinal tolerability available. You no longer have to suffer from the well-known side effects of iron supplements or take 2-3 capsules a day. Cheers to the Power of One.
HEMAFORTE 1™ can be purchased at www.hemaforte.ca
or your local pharmacy. Please give your pharmacist the product codes McKesson #146492 and #146497.
*5% of Canadians have iron deficiency, as per Statistics Canada reports. Statistics Canada. Iron Sufficiency of Canadians. Catalogue no. 82-003-XPE Health Reports, Vol. 23, no. 4. December 2012.
HEMAFORTE 1, Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Get your Hearing Checked!
Most people with hearing loss can be helped by daily use of properly chosen and properly fitted hearing aids. Current hearing aid technology is very sophisticated and effective. A trial period of several weeks with hearing aids allows you to experience amplification. Your hearing care professional will coach and explain the process as you go. If you suspect hearing loss, reach out to your local Hearing Care Professional for help with your hearing and have your hearing tested. We recommend that all adults over fifty years of age should have a baseline hearing test. Contact us for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.
Getting Dentures Relined
Even with proper care of your mouth and dentures, it’s normal for changes in underlying bone/gums and regular wear and tear to make your dentures not fit as well. Ill-fitting dentures can trap food and plaque, and can lead to irritation, tissue overgrowth, ulcers, and fungal infections. That’s why it’s important to get your dentures relined every 2 to 4 years. Relining dentures adds material to the inner plate that sits against your gums, making your dentures fit more comfortably. If it feels like your dentures aren’t fitting as well as they used to, contact your denturist!
Choosing a Personal Trainer
Over 50 and looking for a personal trainer? Make sure they ask you the following questions: What are your fitness/health goals? What’s your exercise history? Do you have any injuries, physical limitations, or medical conditions? Have you ever had a joint replacement? Have you discussed fitness with your physician? Be sure to ask them about their qualifications, certifications, and experience. Do they have expertise training people who have health issues like your own? And – this is really important – do you like this person? Can you see yourself enjoying time with them, or interacting via computer for virtual training?
Dealing with Emotional Inflammation
Unprocessed emotions such as grief and worry can often lead to what is termed “emotional inflammation”. When an emotion is suppressed for any reason, it can lead to physical ailments such as depression and anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and even pain throughout our body. Accepting these emotions and learning to process them can be difficult and we often numb ourselves chemically or behaviourally. However, we can incorporate positive changes into our lives to help process emotions. Homeopathy can help with the physical symptoms, as well as learning to accept, process, and release emotions from our physical body, allowing ourselves to heal.
Simple Steps to a Healthier Diet
Start with cutting out the refined sugars to get those taste buds sensitive to the natural sweetness of fruits and veggies. Start your day with a large glass of lemon water to stay hydrated and help flush out water soluble toxins. Keep your diet simple for at least a week – lots of bone broths, soups, steamed veggies to help cut those sugar cravings. Increase fiber intake to help support colon health, this can include adding ground flaxseeds, chia seeds or hemp hearts to your foods. You should start to notice less bloating or better bowels, better sleep and energy.
