Empowering author Elizabeth Gilbert asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.
Community News
Did You Know?
Blue corn has been popping up as an ingredient everywhere from tortilla chips to breakfast cereal. New research suggests that anthocyanins, the nutrients that give the corn its blue color, may help protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer!
www.newhope.com
Clean Eating: Spaghetti Squash “Mac ‘n’ Cheese”
Ingredients:
1 large spaghetti squash
3 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp spelt flour
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion or garlic powder
pinch ground black pepper
1 cup (4 oz) any hard cheese, shredded.
Red pepper flakes, to taste. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Wash squash, cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds with a spoon. Place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 40-50 minutes. Let cool and separate into strands with a fork. Preheat medium pot on low-medium heat and melt oil. Whisk in flour and milk until smooth. Add salt, onion powder and pepper; whisk and let simmer for about 4 minutes or until sauce has slightly thickened. Add cheese and whisk again until smooth. Add squash and mix gently with a spoon to combine. Cover and let squash warm through for about 5 minutes. Enjoy!
Need Help Getting Physically Active?
Individuals who are physically active have a lower risk of obtaining various health conditions including cardiovascular disease, various types of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Physical activity and exercise have been shown to improve mental health by having a positive impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. In Canada, Kinesiologists are heavily involved in facilitating and improving physical activity levels of individuals of varying goals and capabilities. Kinesiologists are experts in the field of human movement, exercise prescription, fitness training and conditioning. A Kinesiologist uses evidence-based research to develop exercise programs for individuals looking to increase their physical activity levels. Many fitness and wellness centers in the city employ Kinesiologists as personal trainers who can guide and provide you with the tools to become healthier and more physically active. With the new year ahead of us, let’s use this fresh start to get moving and become more active individuals!
Albert Amante, Certified Athletic Therapist, Innovative Therapy Solutions, www.innovativemedicalsupplies.com
Are Your Finances Affecting Your Health?
Financial problems have been linked to many physical and psychological repercussions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, fatigue, and anxiety. As a small or medium sized business owner, have you ever experienced any of these debilitating stressors? For instance, have you encountered a cash-flow crisis, untracked receivables, budget overruns, or a government audit? Wouldn’t it be a relief to have someone on your side, looking after the numbers, so you can do what you’re meant to do and run your business? It’s critical for you to work with a qualified team to help offset such worries so you can confidently lead your business. Don’t let the stress of financial problems take a piece of your physical and emotional well-being.
Ray Mihalicz, www.raylobookkeeping.ca
It’s Tax Return Time!
Make sure to have your tax return filed on or before April 30th. This will ensure that you will not be penalized for being late or have to pay interest on outstanding amounts. Plus, if you have a refund coming, the sooner you file, the sooner you get your refund back. When returns have not been filed with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on time, eventually you can expect to hear from them with a request to file your returns. Ignoring these requests long enough will usually result in an arbitrary assessment of CRA’s estimates of your income and tax payable. These assessments are often quite “generous” in their estimates of the income you earn and the resulting estimated tax payable will usually get your attention quickly. If you have fallen behind in your tax filings, talk to your accountant. They can help you assess your situation, prepare accurate tax filings and help determine your best possible course of action.
Thomas Johnson, Cascade Financial Group, www.cascadefinancialgroup.com
How Did Your New Year’s Resolution Fare?
A lifestyle change requires notable results to motivate you to continue. Trying to improve a chronic health issue, or just lose weight? Adopting a diet your body genetically expects is the best way to heal. Problems with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, diabetes, gut, cancer, skin, sleep, mind/brain and allergies respond to a corrected diet. Of course, there are issues with over/under exercising, toxins, stress, and genetics, but food is the major determinant in health. Don’t ever accept the phrase “but (health issue) runs in your family, there is nothing you can do about it.” Make this the year that your New Year’s resolution turns into a permanent life changing event. Enlist the services of a Primal Health Coach to educate you of a sustainable path to health restoration. Turn off the chaos inside your body and THRIVE.
Tom White, www.becomeHEALTHY. ca, www.EndDiabetesManitoba.ca
5 New Year’s Resolutions to Boost Your Health
It’s a new year and a perfect time to start good healthy habits. Here are five tips to drive your immune system into gear so you can live 2017 full of strength and vitality! 1. Exercise. The Canadian Diabetes Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of cardio plus two sessions of resistance training per week. 2. Eat more fruits and vegetables. The Mediterranean diet has been proven to lower one’s risk for heart disease and improve longevity. 3. See your doctor for routine checkups. Screening early for disease can help prevent or lessen problems from the disease. 4. Get vaccinated. This allows your body to fight off infections. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to see whether you are up-to-date. 6. Reduce stress. Meditate, do yoga and get plenty of sleep. Make time to pamper yourself!
Care At Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca
The Best Way to a Persons Heart
This Valentine’s day, you might be thinking the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. While this may or may not be true, research shows one of the best ways to optimal mental health is, indeed, through the stomach. What you eat is critical to the health of your entire body including brain health. Many of the nutrients we digest are essential building blocks of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that regulate mood, appetite, sleep, weight and a myriad of other processes that work to keep us functioning properly. Diets containing whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean meat, and fatty fish as well as probiotic-rich foods like pickles, sauerkraut, and kefir are associated with better physical and mental health. Omega 3 fatty acid and vitamin supplementation can play an integral role in our mental health, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Always consult your healthcare provider before making lifestyle changes.
Sean Miller, Canadian Mental Health Association, mbwpg.cmha.ca
3 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism
Are you looking to kick-start your metabolism? Here are a few tips! 1. Build Muscle. Your body always burns calories, even when you’re doing nothing. Your resting metabolic rate is much higher if you have muscle. After a session of strength training, muscles are activated all over your body, raising your average daily metabolic rate. 2. Keep Drinking. Your body needs water to process calories. If you are even mildly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down. To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage before every meal and snack. 3. Power Up With Protein. Your body burns many more calories digesting protein than it does with carbohydrates. As part of a balanced diet, replacing some carbs with lean, protein-rich foods can boost metabolism at mealtime. Good sources of protein include lean beef, turkey, fish, chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy products. Now get ready to become a lean, mean, calorie-burning machine!
www.disabilitytaxcreditwinnipeg.com
Book Club: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō. Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles? Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. www.goodreads.com
