Flaxseeds are the richest sources of Plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the world! 5 Benefits of consuming this super food are 1. High in Fibre – Fibre aids in digestion, prevents constipation and suppresses hunger. 2. Women’s Health – The lignans present in them help in battling high levels of estrogen and assist in balancing hormonal levels. 3. Healthy Hair & Skin – The ALA fats in flax seeds benefits the skin and hair by providing essential fats as well as b-vitamins which can help reduce dryness and flakiness. It can also improve symptoms of acne, rosacea, and eczema. 4. Lower Cholesterol – The soluble fiber content of flax seeds trap fat and cholesterol in the digestive system so that it unable to be absorbed. 5. Weight Loss – Since flax is full of healthy fats and fiber, it will help you feel satisfied longer so you will eat fewer calories overall which may lead to weight loss.
Community News
Book Club: Is Your Child’s Brain Starving?
By Michael R. Lyon MD and Christine Laurell, PhD
Michael Lyon went from overweight academic underachiever to graduating as the top male student in his high school a year later, thanks to a total change of diet and lifestyle. He ultimately became a medical doctor involved in research on nutrition. This book is an inspiring guide to better brain function through diet and lifestyle changes. The minor downfall is the promotion of supplements he has helped to develop, but it is still a valuable book for parents and has a good recipe section.
IQ and Nutrition
What if you could increase your child’s IQ with nutrition? Inhabitants of a tiny island off the coast of Japan have the highest IQ scores in the world and produce seven times as many geniuses as any other place in the world. Seniors living there don’t seem to struggle with cognitive decline either. The secret: DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish, krill, squid and some algae. The brain is made mostly of fat, 60% of which is DHA. DHA is found in mother’s milk and has long been recognized as aiding IQ scores in children. Almost everyone nowadays is deficient in DHA. This may be one of the reasons for the increased rates of ADHD, learning disabilities and autism as well as increasing rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive problems.
Fertility Facts
Fertility can be a sensitive issue, and is an often misunderstood one. Did you know that in women, fertility starts to decline at around 29 years of age and speeds up its decline around 35? In men this happens around 40 as sperm count and motility of the sperms starts its decline. Also, fertility challenges are 1/3 female, 1/3 male and 1/3 the couple? Studies show that a female with a male partner with an age gap of 5 years or greater takes longer to conceive. Workplace stress and environmental exposures are big factors in treating fertility and need to be assessed from both the female and male’s perspective. Your weight also plays a significant role. Most fertility clinics will not accept anyone into an IVF program if they have a BMI of under 19 or over 30. Reflexology is a proven effective method for correcting Fertility challenges and can effectively address both male and female fertility issues.
Gloria Laing – Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist
Do You Scrape Your Tongue?
From an Ayurvedic perspective, tongue scraping should be performed on a daily basis. This ancient practice helps to stimulate the internal organs through energetic connections with the rest of the body, improve digestion by increasing your sense of taste, and cleanse the body by removing Ama and bacteria from your oral cavity. In addition, it increases clarity of the mind by reducing heaviness and Ama from the head. Ama refers to any accumulation of toxic residue in the mind-body. When your physical and emotional bodies are balanced, it allows you to expand your spiritual awakening as well. Tongue scraping should be done with a gold, silver, brass or stainless steel scrapers. Never use your toothbrush as this accumulates bacteria and you would be injecting bacteria instead of removing it.
Carole Tetreault, Calder Healing House, www.prairiewellnessretreat.com
Flower Essences for Your Pet
Animals reflect the emotions of people close to them and the environment in which they live. Emotions such as fear, anxiety, worry or depression can lead to disease as they deplete the physical body of its natural vitality. Negative energies have electrical patterns that can leave animals feeling anxious, out of balance, or ill. In contrast, the positive electrical patterns of Flower Essences help animals to improve their health and emotional well-being. They do this by replicating the positive electrical patterns of the Flower Essences in their own electrical systems. Flowers hold a specific electrical pattern indicating their evolutionary challenges of adaptation, natural selection, health, and radiant self-expression. Flower essences can be put in water, food, or sprayed to mist their fur or bedding. By using the appropriate essences to balance emotional attitudes, subtle changes occur that bring renewed energy forward.
Rositha Jeanson, Balance and Harmony, www.rositha.ca
Be Good to Yourself
July 24th is International Self-Care Day. The date symbolizes that the benefits of self-care are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, the benefits of self-care are life-long and do not just relate to a single day. International Self-Care related activities have been focused on community involvement programs, physical examination programs, public lectures, expert advice, sponsored public walks, occupational health, pharmacy manager training, research on self-care habits and behaviour, and the media. Learn your body– Speak to your doctor and engage in health screening to identify your physical and mental condition. It’s time for you to give yourself a little self-love!
Yvonne Harder, Eastman Safety Training Centre, www.eastmansafety.ca
What’s With Carpal Tunnel?
Carpal Tunnel happens when the median nerve in the wrist swells causing tingling, weakness, and numbness in your hand. This nerve runs alongside tendons and ligaments in your forearm into your hand through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. The swelling of this nerve occurs over time due to repetitive movements. Once diagnosed, depending on the severity, your Doctor may suggest surgery. In this surgery, the tunnel which this nerve passes through gets cut, allowing free movement of the median nerve. This surgery may or may not take care of the symptoms, but definitely does not address the cause. An alternative to surgery is massage therapy. An RMT can treat this as well, often allowing the individual to push back surgery or even eliminate the need for it at all! Next time you hear someone talking about this surgery, feel free to tell them to check in with their RMT and see what they can do for them!
Theadora Juenke, RMT, Rejuvenate Massage Therapy, www.facebook.com/Rejuvenate-Massage-Therapy
Health Benefits of Purified Water
Although public water suppliers work hard to provide clean water, many contaminants remain when that water reaches your glass. Some of these contaminants can cause bad taste and odor, and though they are not harmful to most, they are certainly unpleasant. Reverse osmosis is a water purifying process that removes foreign substances, such as organic chemicals, chlorine, pesticides, and herbicides. The process forces water through specialized membranes to remove impurities and minerals, therefore purifying the water and removing any unpleasant odor and taste. Reports by Medline Plus inform that cancer patients benefit from reverse osmosis water during and after cancer treatments. This is due to the reduced levels of acidity and the greater level of purification when compared to both distilled and spring water. Low acidity means that your body can process the water better and faster while also using less energy. Your body can then focus on keeping you healthy.
Marcel Mulaire, Delo Water
Clean Eating: Almond Date Energy Bites
1 cup Medjool Dates (de-pitted).
1 cup raw almonds.
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut or rolled oats.
1/4 cup raw cacao.
¼ tsp cinnamon. Pinch of sea salt.
1/2 tbsp vanilla. 1/2 tbsp maple syrup.
1 – 2 tbsp almond milk.
1. Place dates in food processor and pulse until it forms a ball. Break up the date ball with a spatula and add almonds, raw cacao, coconut and salt. 2. Process for 3-4 minutes 3. Add vanilla, almond milk and maple syrup 4. Process until mixture forms a ball. Add more almond milk if the mixture is not forming. 5. Roll mixture into balls and dip in shredded coconut if desired 6. Can be stored in an airtight container or frozen.
Stacie Rasmussen RNCP, Blossom Nutrition, www.winnipegnutritionist.com
Help is Available
Professionals can help! If you have a mental health concern, deciding to take that first step toward reaching out to a professional can seem daunting and scary. However taking that first step can open the door to feeling better. Who do you go to if you have a mental health concern? Your doctor can be a great professional to turn to. They may even refer you to other professionals to ensure you get the care you need. There are many different types of professionals that can help us. For example, counsellors can help you work on relationship issues, past life events and many other topics. Financial planners can help you save money or reduce debt. Reaching out to a professional doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it means you’ve recognized a need for change and want someone to help you through it.
Canadian Mental Health Association, www.cmha.ca
