Community News
Have CRA Debt?

Owing money to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is stressful. Manage it by following these guidelines: Request a payment plan – CRA will split what you owe into smaller, more manageable amounts. However, this balance will accrue interest until it’s paid off, and defaulting on your payment plan also means collections attempts from CRA. Consult a Licensed Insolvency Trustee – discuss a consumer proposal if a payment plan won’t work. With this option, you can settle your debts for less than you owe; the Trustee will negotiate a settlement with the CRA on your behalf, and you will then make affordable payments to the Trustee. A consumer proposal or bankruptcy will stop collection activity from CRA. Act quickly – never ignore a notice or call from CRA. They are willing to work with you, but only if you communicate with them first.

Derek L. Chase, CPA, CA, CIRP Licenced Insolvency Trustee
ChaseSekulich.com

Can Exercise be Fun?

Are you getting enough fun with your exercise? Would you like to do a 4-hour walking tour in the Comox Valley where you can not only learn more about the Comox Valley, but also get some light exercise while doing so? We strive to create a fun way to learn and exercise at the same time, therefore working on your overall health and wellness. It is important to not only exercise your body, but to also exercise your mind. It is also important that you enjoy life, as life is an adventure. Exercise your body and your mind as you work on your overall health and wellness, all while enjoying life.

Jackie West
Scavenger-hunt-adventure-tours.ca

Clean Eating: Veggie Burgers

Ingredients:

1 large red onion
1 large bell pepper
3 carrots
1 small head cauliflower
1 lg. stalk broccoli
1 C almonds, soaked 12-24 hours
1 C sunflower seeds, soaked 5-6 hours
1/4 C sesame seeds, soaked 5-6 hours
5 cloves garlic
2 T Braggs or to taste
1 t cumin
2 T dried Cilantro or 1-2 C fresh

Instructions:

Blend all of the above ingredients and seasonings in a champion juicer with solid plate, or a food processor. This blended food is your patty mixture. Form and put 1/2″ thick patties on a teflex sheet and place trays in dehydrator. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 8-12 hours or until desired texture is obtained. Flip your burgers after 4 hours and remove teflex sheets, continue to dehydrate for 4-5 hours or until desired moisture is obtained.

VeganRawFoodRestaurant.com

Orthotics & Summer Footwear

More and more people rely on custom foot orthotics to treat biomechanical issues related to the feet, whether it be plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, arthritic knees or low back pain, just to name a few. Now that summer has finally arrived, the question most orthotic wearers ask is what to do when it’s sandal weather. When orthotics are needed to correct altered foot mechanics it is important to wear them during all weight bearing activities.Fortunately many shoe manufacturers recognize the increasing need for sandals that accommodate custom orthotics. These sandals have removable foot beds that can be taken out to make room for your orthotics. If you recently purchased sandals but your orthotics don’t fit into them properly, very often a simple low-cost adjustment will solve the problem. Sandals don’t provide the same support as a closed-in shoe but can allow pleasant relief from the heat even for orthotic wearers.

Bryan Mitchell, B.D.
MitchellPandO.com

The Ideal Protein Protocol

Data shows that 70% of Americans and 54% of Canadians are overweight or obese. These individuals are at increased risk for a host of health complications associated with excess weight, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and reproductive problems in women. The Ideal Protein Protocol is a four-phase, low carbohydrate, moderate protein, ketogenic weight management solution. Dr. Rothrock, Ideal Protein Chief Medical Officer, is passionate about the Ideal Protein Protocol. “This appointment affords me an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of millions affected by the epidemic,” he says. “It’s the science and education behind it that makes it different. It has been found that the Protocol is an effective intervention to help people manage their weight and potentially avoid serious health complications related to obesity.” Healthcare practitioners offer the Protocol to their patients to help them lose weight and, as a result, reverse metabolic syndrome. www.successweightloss.ca Success Weight Loss

Feeding Tips for Cats

Many of the most common feline diseases diagnosed these days are linked to how and what we feed our cats. In the wild, cats will eat multiple small meals throughout the day that are high in protein and fat, and low in carbohydrates. But that’s not all. These cats have to work to get their food. This is quite unlike a typical house cat’s diet and exercise regime. Many cats that eat dry food have access to it all day long, setting them up for obesity. Your indoor kitty is probably profoundly bored and unchallenged by its bottomless food bowl. A new study shows that making cats work for food helps to keep them mentally stimulated, as well as in good physical shape. Food puzzles can be purchased at pet supply stores, or try making one yourself! Cut a few holes in an empty bottle, place some kibble in it, and watch them get to work!

Happy Paws Pet Food, HappyPaws.ca

TMJ – The Hidden Imposter

Do you suffer from headaches or earaches? Do you have a stiff neck and upper back? What about on-going stomach issues, anxiety or depression? Dissimilar as all these issues might sound, the root cause may be your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Known as “the hidden imposter” for the way it mimics other syndromes, TMJ disorder is not only very common, it’s also often misdiagnosed. The TMJ is the hinge where the jawbone connects to the skull. Factors that can cause TMJ issues include misalignment of the jaw or teeth; physical trauma, such as whiplash or dental work; degenerative diseases; or, most commonly, tension resulting in teeth clenching or grinding. While actual joint pain may or may not occur, typically symptoms manifest elsewhere in the body and include migraines, earaches or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hip and pelvic pain and muscle soreness in the upper body. Because of these diverse symptoms, correct diagnosis is often overlooked while treatment doesn’t deal with the underlying problem.

Dr. Brigitte Tetrault, Courtenay Healing Centre, CourtenayHealing.ca

Ask The Expert

Q: I’ve suffered from allergies this spring that really made my eyes water and itch, as well as my nose and sinuses. Everything seems better now except for my eyes, they still feel sandy. What’s going on?

A: This is very common. While you may have had some temporary springtime ocular allergies, your condition evolved into some persistent irritation. It’d be a good idea to treat your eyelids with a warm compress for a few minutes every night to clear out the glands which are necessary to lubricate your eyes. Rubbing your eyes from allergies can introduce even more bacteria to the area. A hot moist washcloth is good to use, but a heating pad or mask can hold the heat longer. Oftentimes, extra lubrication from eye drops is helpful. Relief is usually slow-going. It can take several weeks (or even months) before the eyes start to feel normal, so diligence is key.

Dr. Alex Kennedy, MosaicVisionCare.com

Fat Gain from Fructose

Sugar (sucrose) and high fructose corn syrup contain two molecules: glucose and fructose. Glucose is absolutely vital to life and is an integral part of our metabolism. Fructose, however, is very different. This molecule is not a natural part of metabolism and humans do not produce it. In fact, very few cells in the body can make use of it except liver cells. There it gets turned into fat, which is then secreted into the blood. When people eat a diet that is high in fructose, the liver gets overloaded and starts turning the fructose into fat. This leads to increased food intake and decreased fat burning. Sugar sets up an extremely powerful biochemical drive to make you eat more, burn less, and gain fat. Managing your fructose intake is important, as trying to exert willpower over this powerful drive can be next to impossible.

Alma Naranjo, Success Weight Loss, SuccessWeightLoss.ca

Growing Up Can Be a Pain

Does your child complain of achiness in both legs at night? Pain in the upper or lower legs or behind the knees can occur during periods of rapid growth in kids, usually between the ages of 3-5 or 8-12. Recent studies have found a high incidence of these ‘growing pains’ in children with flat feet. As your child’s body weight increases with the rapid growth, their foot arches may not be strong enough to maintain that extra weight. The arches may flatten under the strain. If this happens the muscles of the calves and legs have to work harder. Correcting the arches with either off-the-shelf or custom foot orthotics can help ease some of the muscle soreness. When combined with warm massage, increased fluid intake, stretching, and ensuring that stable, supportive footwear is worn throughout the day, you can greatly ease your child’s discomfort.

Diane Calder BScKIN, Pedorthist, MitchellPandO.com

 

New Business Spotlight

There is an exciting new business in the Comox Valley! Scavenger Hunt Adventure Tours is all about solving clues, searching for hidden items, exploring under-appreciated places, as well as getting people outdoors for fun and healthy recreation. Activities range from single day themed scavenger hunts to private parties, corporate events and multi-day getaways. Mother and son team, Jackie West and Tyler Meggitt combine their talents and draw upon their respective career and life experiences to deliver a diverse selection of staged and themed adventure tours that put a new spin on the well-known Scavenger Hunt. Jackie looks forward to working alongside her youngest son Tyler as they get creative together to deliver some fresh fun and games to locals and visitors alike. From day tours promoting awareness of local businesses and landmarks to week long road trips, there is plenty of fun and adventure in store for you.

Jackie West, scavenger-hunt-adventure-tours.ca