Community News
Feldenkrais and Pain

Do you know what happens to the brain when you feel pain? In an effort to feel less pain the brain signals the body to stop moving the painful part/s. People respond by applying liniment, heat, ice or seeking professional therapy such as Registered Massage Therapy. While rehabilitating from the pain the individual will adapt by functioning differently in order to perform daily activities. We call this “compensating” by moving other parts and not including or reducing the movement of the painful part. When the person begins to be pain free again and rehabilitation has taken some time the brains image of itself will maintain the adapted pattern of functional movement without returning to the original more functional way. This neuroplasticity (ability to change) of the brain will require some specialized therapy to re-habit back to the more functional way of moving. A Feldenkrais Practitioner can help this process.

Roxanne Derkson RMT GCFP, VIVI Therapy
www.vivitherapy.com

Clean Eating: Oven Roasted Chickpeas

Oven-roasted chickpeas are about as simple as it gets — toss with olive oil, your favourite spices, roast and eat! They are nutritious and a great source of protein and fiber!
This recipe makes approx. 2 cups of snacking goodness!

Ingredients:

2 15-oz cans organic chickpeas
2 TBSP olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
2-4 tsp spices or finely chopped fresh herbs, like chili powder, curry powder, or smoked paprika.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse chickpeas thoroughly, then pat dry with a clean towel. They should feel dry to the touch. Toss chickpeas with olive oil and salt: Spread them out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Stir to make sure the chickpeas are evenly coated. Roast for 20-30 minutes, shaking the pan every 10 minutes. The chickpeas are done when golden and crispy. Toss with the spices and serve warm!

Eilsa Pitamber
www.elisanutrition.com

Book Club: Making a Good Brain Great

by Daniel Amen, MD

When our brains work right, we work right. But the brain is easily injured. A bump on the head, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition can all have long-term consequences leading to problems with attention, mood and even dementia. Dr. Amen shares his exciting insights into protecting, repairing and maintaining our brains with good nutrition, supplements and special exercises. A great read!

Dr. Anke Zimmermann ND,
www.drzimmermann.org

How Much Caffeine Does Matcha Have? 

Matcha contains roughly 25mg of caffeine, which is approximately one-third the caffeine of a cup of brewed coffee. It is easily tolerated by many people for whom coffee makes them jittery and anxious! The caffeine in Matcha works in a synergistic manner with all the other great stuff it contains, including hefty quantities of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and amino acids. This special combination of ingredients produces an unusual effect: An uncanny ability to focus and be productive over an extended period of time. Because the caffeine molecules in Matcha bind to larger and more stable molecules, the caffeine is released over time, instead of all at once, into the bloodstream. In contrast to coffee, this timed-release mechanism tends to inhibit any sudden insulin increases, so there is no “crash” associated with quick drops in blood sugar that so many coffee drinkers feel an hour or so after drinking a cup.

Tiffanie & Kip Home
www.justmatcha.com

3 Essentials For Youthful Skin 

As we age our skin changes. It doesn’t hold moisture like it used to; it becomes chronically dry. One reason for this is that the enzyme that converts linoleic acid into moisture-holding gamma linoleic acid (omega 3) begins to slow down. When we are young our skin turns over robustly; old skin cells slough off and new fresh skin cells take their place. As we age, this process also slows, and layers of dead skin cells seemingly glue together, making our skin appear thick and dull forming wrinkles much more easily than young skin. Turn to nature for powerful solutions! Use a natural day cream that contains GLA oils like evening primrose, borage or black currant seed, a moisture rich gentle exfoliating paste, and a healthy dose of antioxidants inside and outside. Antioxidants include vitamins, minerals, herbs and essential oils. Health is beauty!

Karen VanDyck
www.naturesfirstbeautybar.com

Breaking the Pattern of Social Isolation

An elderly relative, adjusting to the loss of living independently and the death of her sibling, quietly admitted “I’m all alone now.” Despite living a highly engaged life – maintaining an extensive social network, living in the same city for over 50 years, and cultivating relationships within a close faith community, her sense of loneliness was palpable. Her experience is neither unexpected – particularly for someone who has outlived many of her peers, or sadly, unique. During a counselling session, a client stated “I feel invisible. I disappear into my room and only leave when I have to.” The sentiment was similar, although this client, at fourteen, appeared to be highly connected through social media. Social isolation is not the same as choosing to spend time alone, and it can have negative impacts on mental and physical wellness. An empathetic counsellor can offer practical support to break a pattern of social isolation.

Sophia Sorensen, BBA, MA, RCC
www.sorensenproctor.com

Lymphatic Drainage 

The proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body’s ability to detoxify and regenerate tissues, filter out toxins and foreign substances, recover crucial substances that have escaped from the blood, and maintain a healthy immune system. It’s a complex system comprised primarily of vessels and lymph nodes working in cooperation to accomplish these tasks.

Unlike the circulatory system, which uses the pumping of the heart to circulate its blood flow, lymph vessels rely upon hundreds of tiny muscular units contracting throughout the body to propel the lymph. These contractions enable the lymph vessels to transport numerous substances (i.e., proteins, toxins, hormones, fatty acids, immune cells) to the lymph nodes, which can then eliminate the waste. The action of these muscular units can be hindered or stopped, however, due to fatigue, stress, emotional shock, cold temperatures, infections, lack of physical activity, age, chemicals or food additives. When the lymph circulation stagnates, fluids, proteins, cells and toxins accumulate and cellular functioning is significantly comprised. This opens the way to many physical ailments and hastens the aging process.

Lymphatic drainage is a hands-on technique designed to activate and cleanse this human fluid system. It’s origins can be traced to two traditions in particular: the published research of Frederic Millard, a Canadian osteopathic physician (1922) and Emil Vodder, a Danish massage practitioner and doctor of philosophy (1932). Over the years, methods based on the discoveries of these two pioneers have been honed, refined and explained. Today, lymphatic drainage techniques are employed as standard scientific practice throughout Europe and are gaining greater recognition and use within the American health care community.

Laurie Pryce
www.biodynamicbody.ca

L-Carnitine & Chromium

L-Carnitine with Chromium is a blend of two nutrients that play important roles in the metabolism of fat. L-Carnitine is required for the breakdown of fats into energy, while chromium supports healthy glucose metabolism. Its main function is to help insulin carry sugar into muscle cells where it is stored as energy. A lack of chromium could cause fluctuating bloodsugar levels which trigger sugar cravings. As a carbohydrate dependent society, increasing the amount of L-Carnitine & Chromium in our diet in our formula’s proportions will assist the body’s ability to manage its carbohydrate cravings and, in turn, assist with a successful weight management protocol.

Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee in the World.

Andrea & Brett Griffin
www.weightlosscoffeehub.com

Wear Your Smile Proudly!

What’s one of the first things you notice when you meet someone? Their smile! A smile says a lot about a person. Have you ever met someone whose teeth were obviously artificial and you could tell they weren’t fitting right? What was your first impression? People spend thousands of dollars on hair care products, makeup, and facial creams but fail to realize that it’s their ill-fitting, worn out dentures that are the biggest problem and causing them to look older than they actually are. Denturist’s today have the technology and products to make you look years younger while maintaining a natural smile. Not only will you chew your food better, improving digestion and stomach issues, but you can feel more confident and secure knowing just how natural and beautiful your smile is. Call your Denturist today. You will be amazed by how affordable they are and what a difference they can make in your life!

Kent Roberts RD
www.burnsidedentureclinic.com

Spring is in the Air

Spring is here and so are the drastic changes in weather.  Rain, followed by sun, clouds and lots of wind, sometimes all in the same day!

We’ve all got that uncle that predicts weather based on his knee pain, but at UC Life Chiropractic Centre we’re hearing from people that can tell a weather change is coming due to the pressure changes felt inside their sinuses and head.  Headaches and migraines are often the result of these changes and in some folks a debilitating pain can come on and last for days.

The reason?  As environmental barometric pressure changes (increases or decreases), so too does the internal pressure inside your head.  For most of us, we have a buffer zone that allows for this pressure change to occur relatively unnoticed, but for some, there just doesn’t seem to be room inside the head to handle even the smallest bit of change.

In these frustrating situations, we’re often dealing with a physical obstruction to the natural flow of fluids in and out of the head and the openings that allow for these fluids to pass.  The most important area is located at the top of the neck at the junction between the head and the neck.  If structurally misaligned in this area it just makes it harder to keep our bodies in a comfortable zone.

Does this sound like you or someone you know?  Let’s check and see if we can help you see life!

Dr. Matthew Kittleson, UC Life Chiropractic
www.uclife.ca

Cannabis Use May Affect Your Offspring

Over the past few years, I have seen several children who were affected by parental cannabis use prior to conception or in utero. They improved when I treated them with homeopathic doses of cannabis. Homeopathy is based on the principle of like cures like, so a substance that can create certain symptoms in a healthy person can be used to treat similar symptoms in a sick one. Cannabis and many other drugs and chemicals are can leave energetic or epigenetic imprints in parents which may be passed along to the child and cause a variety of health issues. If a child has a combination of developmental problems as well as chronic sinus or bladder and reproductive system issues he or she may have been affected by parental cannabis use and may benefit from treatment with homeopathic cannabis. Also consider careful detoxification of drugs and chemicals with homeopathy when planning a pregnancy.

Dr. Anke Zimmermann BSc. ND. FCAH
www.drzimmerman.org