Did you know that onions can be used to cleanse airways and reduce congestion? Try a poultice of roasted onion to the chest every few hours. They can also be drunk as a warm broth. Cabbage also works well, as it has an extraordinary ability to draw out toxin. Crush the leaves with a rolling pin until the juice starts to appear. Place 3 or 4 leaves over the chest and cover with gauze. You can also drink the juice of a cabbage sweetened with a little bit of honey. Adapted from the book “The New Guide to Remedies” by Paragon Staff
Community News
6 Ways to Alkalize Your Body
Did you know that your immunity is based on how alkaline your diet is? Having an overly acidic diet eventually leads to a weakened state, and our bodies become susceptible to disease. Here are six ways to alkalize – and healthify – your body! 1. Drink plenty of water. Drink half your body weight in ounces every day to keep your body systems regulated. For an extra boost in alkalinity – add lemon! 2. Trade coffee for tea. Green tea is highly alkaline. Try jasmine, Sencha or Matcha. 3. Kick that sugar habit. Use stevia, coconut sugar or small amounts of honey in place of sugar. 4. Eat more greens. Vegetables are highly alkaline and oxygen rich. Consume fresh green vegetables often as possible. 5. Move. Exercise to create more oxygen and qi flow in the body and to avoid stagnation. 6. Reduce stress. Meditate as often as possible, practice deep breathing, do yoga, and get plenty of sleep
Retirement Checkup
Here are three signs that your retirement plan could use a checkup: 1. You don’t know your number. Are you aware of how much retirement savings you need to retire successfully? If you can’t answer that question, you can’t measure if you’re on track to hit your goal. 2. You expect to have one or more loans in retirement. Living on a fixed income in retirement isn’t easy and hefty debt payments don’t make it any easier. You should re-examine your debt repayment strategy if it looks like your mortgage, credit cards or line of credit are here to stay. 3. Are you unsure when to take government benefits? The timing of your government pensions is critical to a successful retirement. You’ve paid for them your entire working career so now is not the time to let that money go to waste!
Thomas Johnson, Cascade Financial Group, www.cascadefinancialgroup.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
A New Years Resolution of Sustainable Health
Another year. Another round of resolutions. Have you ever considered that excess weight is simply a chronic health issue? Hippocrates stated that “All disease begins in the gut”. Have you heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat’? It should be stated instead that you are what you absorb. Are you eating a SAD diet (Standard American Diet) and experiencing over/ under weight, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, issues with diabetes, gut, cancer, skin, sleep, mind/brain or allergies? Of course there are issues with over/under exercising, toxins, genetics and stress, but food is the major determinant in health. Have you embarked on a New Years Resolution in the past only to have it fizzle out? 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
What Is Your Mouth Telling You?
The state of your mouth can offer valuable insights into your dental, oral and overall health. Any bleeding when you brush your gums is a sign that you should see your dentist. Unhealthy gums can affect your overall health. Atherosclerosis, clogging of the arteries, has a strong link to gum disease. Pain on biting might mean a cracked tooth. Sugar sensitivity usually indicates a cavity. Tenderness to cold might just need a change of toothpaste. Tenderness to hot is likely to be more serious. The pulp of your tooth can become inflamed for many reasons. The only way to find out, for sure, what’s going on is to see your dentist. Bad breath can be caused by poor oral hygiene. A good electric toothbrush, flossing and scraping your tongue all help. Throat infections also cause bad breath. Don’t assume that problems will resolve by themselves. See a dentist at least once a year. Remember: “You don’t have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!”
Dr. George Cadigan, Exclusively Dentures, www.exclusvielydentures.ca
Book Club: Year of Yes!
How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rhimes. Shonda was an expert at declining invitations others would leap to accept. With 3 children at home and 3 hit shows on TV, it was easy to say that she was too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. Shonda’s introvert life revolved around burying herself in work, snuggling her children, and comforting herself with food. Shonda’s sister muttered something that was both a wake-up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything! The comment sat like a grenade until it detonated. Then Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.
Clean Eating: Banana Quinoa Breakfast Bars
1 cup steel cut oats
1 cup quinoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon, a pinch of sea salt
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
3 tbsp natural nut butter
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
Optional: 1/4-1/2 cup add-ins like chocolate chips, coconut, chopped dried fruit.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray or grease a 9 x 9 baking dish with coconut oil. In a large bowl combine oats, quinoa, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add in bananas, flax, peanut butter, coconut oil and maple syrup. Stir until well-combined. Sprinkle with optional add-ins. Let batter sit for 10 mins to let flax absorb some liquid. Add batter to baking dish and spread out evenly. Bake for 25 mins or until edges are crisp and center is cooked through. Let sit for 20 mins before cutting into 9-12 squares and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for longer.
4 Things You Should NEVER Feed Your Dog
All pet owners are aware of the dangers of chocolate. But have you heard of these ones? Suprisingly, only 30% of dog owners know these facts! Keep your pup away from the following: 1. Onions – Plants of this family, including chives and garlic, are not suitable for dogs. Eating these could cause your animal to develop anemia, weakness, rapid breathing and reddish or brown urine. 2. Grapes or Raisins – This fruit can cause severe liver damage and kidney failure. It’s been proven that even a few grapes can potentially be fatal for your pet. 3. Xylotol – Is found in gum, baked goods, and anything else that is sugar substituted. It is extremely toxic to dogs, and it can cause seizures, liver failure and possibly even death. 4. Salt – Eating salt will cause excessive thirst and urination. If they managed to eat a lot, it could cause vomiting and diarrhea, hyperthermia, depression, tremors, seizures, and death.
Lisa Tustin, Professional Pet Sitter
Caregiver Pharmacy Support
It can be difficult to be a caregiver and manage multiple or complex medications for a loved one. It is important to ensure medications are taken appropriately to help maintain good health. A visiting pharmacist provides personal support with regular medication delivery and home consultations. The pharmacist reviews a client’s prescription drugs and over the counter medications to advise if there are any drug interactions and makes adjustments as necessary. This level of support can reduce emergency room visits and hospital stays and results in strong, trusting relationships between clients, caregivers, and pharmacists. The visiting pharmacist also provides seamless care for hospital discharge patients and works closely with other health professionals to deliver a high level of care to the client. Care is tailored to specific individual needs such as assisting with blood pressure readings, adding medications as needed to adherence packaging and making changes in an efficient manner.
Care at Home Pharmacy, careathomepharmacy.ca
Boost Your Mental Health This Winter
Winter months can be difficult for those experiencing a mental health challenge or illness, especially during and following the holiday season. There are, however, a myriad of evidence-based ways to boost your physical and mental well-being. One important tool is vitamin D. Research clearly shows the benefits of this powerful vitamin for improving body and thereby brain health. Our bodies synthesize this nutrient through exposure to the sun. However, during reduced daylight months we are unable to get what we need from our solar source. Because low levels of vitamin D are associated with depression, it may be beneficial to add vitamin D through your diet, light therapy, or a supplement. If taking a supplement, choose the “D3”version and consume with a fatty meal. Be sure to speak with your doctor before starting a nutritional supplement program. If low mood persists, contact your healthcare provider or local CMHA for additional information and resources.
Sean Miller, Canadian Mental Health Association, mbwpg.cmha.ca
