Here on the West Coast we have many options to cater to our health and wellness outdoors, and on Vancouver Island we have one of the most incredible hikes around: the West Coast Trail. David Foster and Wayne Aitken are just as in love with the Trail and in their book, Blisters and Bliss, they gather tips and tricks on how to experience the healing beauty of the West Coast while preventing injuries.
www.russellbooks.com
We strive to maintain our health today with exercise, diet and preventative care by visiting our general practitioners annually, but what about our eyes? How often should you see an optometrist? Today eye exams are recommended once a year for a multitude of reasons, and having good vision doesn’t exclude the need. A person can have 20/20 vision and still require prescription glasses to help with symptoms such as fatigue and headaches caused by binocular or accommodative disorders. An optometrist is not only trained in detecting ocular diseases, like glaucoma macular degeneration and tumors, but also systemic conditions, that often times have changes within the eyes, such as diabetes, hypertension and multiple sclerosis. Many of these diseases may be asymptomatic in the early stages, but can cause permanent vision loss if not detected early. So if you’ve never seen an optometrist, or it’s been a few years, you’re overdue.
www.iris.ca
Autumn is here and winter is just around the corner, it’s time to prepare to bypass those colds and nasty flu bugs that come with it. Take a common sense approach to staying healthy by avoiding getting sick in the first place. Keep a positive outlook and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants and nutritious foods. Keep stress levels low and rest your body and mind so that you can stay strong. There is no substitute for good hygiene – wash your hands thoroughly and often with plain old soap and water. Take some natural remedies, herbal supplements, super-foods and probiotics to help in the battle to ward off attacks from viral and bacterial infections. At Thrifty Foods Vitamins & More Dept. we have an extensive array of alternative and natural products to keep your immune system functioning at it’s best.
Thrifty Foods Vitamin & More Dept.
www.thriftyfoods.com
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cup rolled oats
½ cup honey
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup chia seeds
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, add pumpkin, honey and vanilla extract.
Mix until combined.
Fold oats and chia seeds into batter, mix until incorporated.
Press evenly into baking dish.
Bake for 20-30 minutes.
Let cool and cut into 8 bars and store in air tight container.
www.savynaturalista.com
Anxiety is considered a negative mood disturbance that results from failure to predict, control, and obtain desired goals and is associated with dysfunctional cognition, behavior, and physiologic over-activity. Anxiety further impairs health by motivating increased use of tobacco and alcohol and predisposes the individual to chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease. A new meta-analysis published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found the Transcendental Meditation technique has a large effect on reducing trait anxiety for people with high anxiety. Trait anxiety is a measure of how anxious a person usually is, as opposed to state anxiety, which refers to how anxious we are at the moment. Studies on high stress groups, such as veterans suffering from PTSD and prison inmates, showed dramatic reductions in anxiety from TM practice, whereas studies of groups with only moderately elevated anxiety levels, such as normal adults and college students, showed more modest changes.
Lilian Lontra – Certified Teacher, Transcendental Meditation
llontra@tm.org
Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation (TM) by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal. Learn the basics about this ancient technique, and for seasoned meditators, broaden your knowledge and deepen your understanding. Rosenthal’s central point emphasis on TM changes the brain, and can help a vast array of different people to live longer and better lives, and achieve lifelong success.
www.normanrosenthal.com
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that begins at the base of the spine and that passes through the buttocks, and continues down the back of the thigh and into the lower leg. This nerve can become compressed or inflamed. If this occurs, pain begins to travel down the back of your leg. This pain is referred to as sciatica. Sciatica can be caused by a bulging disc, arthritis of the spine, a tight piriformis muscle in your buttocks and even trigger points in your muscles. Depending on the cause and the severity, you could also experience numbness, tingling or weakness in the leg. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your massage therapist as soon as possible for assessment and treatment. Massage can help reduce and reverse the pain and discomfort associated with sciatica.
www.courtenaymassagetherapy.com
I was frustrated. Exhausted. Hopeless. I felt trapped in a body that didn’t fit, and stuck in a lifestyle I didn’t want. For three years I searched for an answer. I certainly didn’t know it would come in the form of network marketing and shakes, but in April 2012 my life completely changed for the better. A friend suggested I try an Isagenix cleanse. Within the first week I could feel a shift – I remember waking up one morning feeling joyful for the first time in a long time. By week five I had lost 21 lbs. My passion and mission is to positively impact and transform as many lives as I can. Isagenix is my vehicle to do this, and, with it, my ability to impact lives increases exponentially and indefinitely. I have the recipe to teach people the necessary mindset to not only start, but transform their lives.
www.erinpostle.com
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups water
1 ½ cups carrots cut into 1” pieces
1 green onion
5 tbsp. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 date
2 tbsp. fresh lemongrass (finely chop the heart of 2 stalks)
1 tbsp. freshly chopped ginger
1 avocado –half to blend and half cut into ½” – ¾” pieces for topping
2 tbsp. fresh cilantro (to mince for topping)
Directions:
Blend all ingredients, except avocado and cilantro, until smooth.
Add half avocado and blend.
Pour into bowls.
Sprinkle top with avocado pieces and minced cilantro.
From Uncooking with RawRose by Rose Vasile
www.rawrose.com
Why does aloe vera work? In a previous newsletter we mentioned the 6 antiseptic agents and 3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids and their benefits, now if we add that aloe contains at least 23 polypeptides (immune stimulators), then we understand why aloe juice helps to enhance and strengthen the immune system. The anti-inflammatory fatty acids can be helpful for the stomach, small intestine and colon. It naturally alkalizes digestive juices to prevent over-acidity – a common cause of indigestion. It helps cleanse the digestive tract by exerting a soothing, balancing effect. A newly discovered compound in aloe, acemannan, is currently being studied for its ability to strengthen the body’s natural resistance. Studies have shown acemannan to boost T-lymphocyte cells that aid the immune system. Aloe vera is a juice like other juices on the market, except it has greater benefits for over all good health and vitality.
www.maureenglowasky.com
There is an ever-increasing body of evidence that shows a direct link between our emotional health and physiological health. One vivid example I give to clients is to show them a series of before and after images from a live blood analysis relative to a one hour counseling appointment where I was tasked with describing traumas I experienced as a youngster. I recounted eight or nine. The live blood image following the appointment clearly showed changes in Red Blood Cell (RBC) arrangement. Rather than floating freely about in healthy singular functionality, they appeared to be magnetically clustered together. No wonder I felt weak and anxious. Agglutination (clustering) of the RBC’s logically indicated a dramatic decrease in their capacity for CO2 and O2 exchange. Topical application of a specific essential oil blend restored healthy RBC arrangement within minutes, and enabled me to regain emotional balance.
www.optimumwellnessfactor.ca
