When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can: Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain. Subscribe to Wellnessnews.ca for a chance to Win 2 Tickets to Rumors Comedy Club. Check out our Featured Upcoming Events. RumorsComedyClub.com
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.
Avoiding Cheilitis from Dentures
People who wear dentures can sometimes experience an infection of the mouth called cheilitis, which can cause painful inflammation and cracks at the corners of the mouth. This is often due to an overgrowth of yeast from dentures that fit improperly. Yeast is always present in our mouths, but certain issues can cause it to accumulate and cause infections like cheilitis. It’s important to visit your denturist regularly (at least once a year) so they can make any necessary adjustments to refit your dentures. Be sure to clean your dentures daily and chew on both sides to maintain proper fit.
Self-Love Valentine’s Day
Many essential oils can help to enhance feelings of self-love while boosting confidence, energy and more. Rose is an obvious choice! Rose is heart strengthening and its beautiful fragrance is intoxicating and promotes relaxation while also being great for your skin. Geranium is like rose, but a less expensive alternative. It is relaxing and soothing, creating a sense of peace and cheerfulness. Ylang Ylang has a lovely warm floral scent and is often used to help relieve tension. It is also helpful for balancing emotions. These can be used for massage, natural perfumes, diffused, or diluted as scented bath.
Flowers and Their Meanings
Flowers are a great Valentine’s Day gift and can be very personal, as each flower and colour has a specific meaning. Some examples include: 1) Roses – pink is for poetic romance, red is for love and passion, and yellow is for friendship. 2) Peonies – symbolize prosperity and romance. 3) Carnations – red symbolizes love and admiration. 4) Tulips – red is for true love and white is for forgiveness. 5) Orchids – purple symbolizes admiration and respect. 6) Gerbera Daisies – symbolize happiness. 7) Gardenias – symbolize purity and love. 8) Irises – yellow is for passion. 9) Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily) – symbolizes friendship and devotion.
Hearing Loss and Heart Disease
It might come as a surprise, but there is a connection between heart health and hearing. Both rely on blood flow, so heart problems that cause plaque buildup in the arteries and restrict blood flow can potentially damage ears. Nerves in the ears can also be damaged by poor circulation. Studies have shown that the better someone’s cardiovascular health, the better their hearing tends to be. It’s important that older adults eat a healthy, balanced diet; get regular exercise; quit smoking and have their hearing tested every two years, to help maintain a healthy heart, and therefore healthy ears.
Use it or Lose it!
Our bodies are meant to MOVE. The ability to move around is vital for our overall health and quality of life. When your mobility is impaired by conditions like arthritis, injury or obesity, activities become restricted, and our bodies become stagnant. This results in physical deconditioning – loss of strength, balance, and co-ordination. Loss of mobility has been proven to be an early predictor of physical disability, depression, falls, anxiety, and loss of independence and sense of self. To maintain mobility, it’s imperative to stay active by walking, swimming, or dancing regularly. This kind of exercise improves symptoms of arthritis, helps lose excess weight while strengthening your major muscle groups.
February is Heart & Stroke Awareness Month
Did you know that heart disease remains the leading causes of death in Canada? The good news is that 80 per cent of cardiovascular diseases are preventable through healthy lifestyle and diet. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, you can delay the onset of heart disease or stroke by as much as 14 years! You can further reduce your risk by considering these heart-healthy steps: • Be smoke-free • Be physically active • Control your blood pressure • Keep your blood cholesterol levels in check • Eat a healthy diet • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight • Manage your diabetes • Limit alcohol use • Reduce stress.
Bathing Comfortably and Safely
Many seniors prefer to age in place in the comfort of their own home, which allows them to maintain dignity and independence. Having a safe home is crucial to ensuring that aging in place is successful, and that can often involve making some adjustments to the home environment. Safety in the bathroom is especially important, as getting in and out of a regular tub can be difficult. Luckily, there are many affordable adjustments and products that can help with bathroom safety, including fold-up bath seats and hand-held showers, bathtub conversions to reduce height, and grab bars for added stability.
Local WellnessBOX Winner!
Congratulations to Gayle Erlendson the winner of our January Local WellnessBox. A prize package worth over $700 filled by Local Businesses from Hashtag Balance, Yourstyle Financial, San Vito Coffee House, Christina Norris Salon and Soy Harvest Candles. Subscribe to WellnessNEWS.ca & ManitobaWellnessHUB.ca for your chance to win! Thank you for supporting LOCAL.
Live for Today, Plan for Tomorrow
Pay yourself first and make a contribution for your future. You have until March 1, 2022 to contribute to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). Any amount you put in (up to 18% of your prior years income) will allow you to reduce your income and keep more of the hard-earned money you work for. If you or someone you know needs some help in understanding what is the right amount to contribute to pay the least amount of tax possible, call today.