Community News
Healthy Treats to Beat the Summer Heat

When the weather is hot, we tend to reach for sweet treats like ice cream and popsicles to satisfy our palate. The downside is that these treats are high in sugar, fat and artificial flavoring, and do little for our bodies nutritionally. If you are looking for some healthy yet refreshing alternatives, give the following ideas a try: homemade popsicles made from fresh fruit puree, berries dipped in yogurt, fruit on a skewer, freshly brewed iced tea with lemon, or frozen grapes. Smart choices can be equally as tasty and refreshing. Get creative and enjoy.

Eat More Fibre!

Fibre has many health benefits. It normalizes bowel movements, helps maintain a healthy bowel, lowers cholesterol levels, helps control blood sugar levels, and aids in achieving a healthy weight. The best way to get fibre is from whole foods and whole-grain products including fruits, vegetables, beans/peas and other legumes, and nuts and seeds. You can also get fibre from supplements like Metamucil or foods with fibre added like granola bars, yogurt, and cereal. The daily recommendations for fibre intake are: 38 grams for men age 50 or younger, 30 grams for men age 51 or older, 25 grams for women age 50 or younger, and 21 grams for women age 51 or older.

In Your Neighborhood

Are you 55+ and looking for opportunities to stay active, meet new friends, and have fun? Good Neighbours Active Living Centre, 720 Henderson Highway, provides a variety of programs and services for older adults. You can learn about what we offer for free during our Open House Week, August 19 – 23, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. This includes our fitness, creative arts, music and dance classes as well as our recreational opportunities. Our café, Hobnobs, will also be open, so you can enjoy a tasty lunch, snack or coffee at a great price. For more information call 204-669-1710 or visit our website at www.gnalc.ca.

Treating Signs of Aging Skin

Skin ages and becomes loose and less elastic as we grow older due to a reduction in fibroblast cells, which build the collagen proteins that keep our cells connected tightly. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a safe and chemical-free way to trigger new collagen production. A hand-controlled device with tiny, shallow needles punctures the outer layer of the skin at 1000 times per second to create mild damage that will stimulate your body to produce new collagen and elastin. This process can be used all over the body, not just on the face, to treat wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, and more!

Knee Replacements Outside of Hospitals

Total knee replacement is the most definitive treatment for advanced osteoarthritis. This procedure is typically done in a hospital setting, with 3-5 days of hospital stay. In recent years, it has become clear that healthy individuals can be discharged from the hospital on the day of their surgery, to safely and conveniently recover at home. Having surgery done at a medical centre provides a welcome alternative to hospitals. This can help reduce complications associated with hospitalization, and for many patients, the convenience and comfort of being at home with family is much preferred over the rustle and bustle of a busy surgical ward.

Should I Test My VO2Max?

VO2Max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is the measurement of the maximum amount of oxygen a person can utilize during intense exercise. It is a common measurement used to establish the aerobic endurance of an athlete prior to or during the course of training. When testing your VO2Max, you will learn your optimal training zones to better guide your workouts. With summer in full swing, many athletes are preparing for the fall race season. If you have ever thought about having your VO2Max tested, now is the time to get your numbers in order to fine-tune your training.

Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain

When determining how to treat back and pelvic pain, many health professions focus on what hurts, rather than on why it hurts. Physiotherapists often look at back and pelvic pain in terms of how those regions function to gain a better understanding of the causes behind pain in those areas. The team at Diane Lee & Associates uses a novel approach that combines manual therapy and dry needling to release tight muscles and stiff joints followed by motor learning, using real-time ultrasound for biofeedback, and movement training. This combined whole body approach teaches the patient how to use their body in a more efficient way to avoid problematic habits in the future.

Summer Brain Care

It’s hard to focus on serious things like learning and exercising your brain when there’s so much summer fun to be had, but it’s important for students with learning difficulties to keep up with training their brain. This can be done by participating in many fun, yet important, activities, such as playing board games, building things with Lego, socializing, and taking on new challenges that are just above a student’s capacity. Focusing on wellness can also keep the brain healthy, so exercising, getting enough sleep, finding quiet time, eating healthy foods, and drinking enough water are equally important.

Don’t Suffer with Anxiety

Anxiety…it’s that pit in your stomach, heart pounding, and feeling that something terrible could happen. For some of us, this becomes a daily struggle. Anxiety Canada reports that about 1 in 8 people in B.C. are experiencing significant anxiety. It’s also the reason most often cited for seeking counseling in many practices. Anxiety may be related to genetics, stress, and/or traumatic events. Anxiety is treatable and often clients experience significant relief with the right support. Along with addressing specific stressors, there are tools and strategies that work very well for reducing symptoms. Peace of mind is possible. Call us today.

Sitting is the new smoking!

Statistically, 70 percent of jobs are sitting based today. We sit when we work, when we eat, when driving, when we’re on our devices and when we watch TV. Unfortunately, it’s everywhere and we can’t really avoid it. Chiropractors have a specific interest in sitting because it can slowly damage the spine and surrounding soft tissues, eventually leading to neck and back pain. The posture of sitting changes the normal curvature of the spine so that our head is pushed forward and our low back curve flattens out. The lack of movement and change of posture strains and eventually damages soft tissues. Ask your Chiropractor how you can address pain and prevent possible damage to your spine!

Digestion and Gut Permeability

Gut permeability, or “leaky gut” (as it is sometimes called), occurs when tight junctions in the gut lining become loose. When tight junctions are working properly, they form a tight barrier to keep unwanted things like undigested food, toxins, and bacteria from getting to the bloodstream. Without proper function of this barrier, these unwanted “visitors” can cause problems in the digestive tract and even other areas of the body, including inflammation-related issues. Eating a healthier diet of nutritious, unprocessed foods and avoiding alcohol, processed foods, and foods high in sugar and saturated fat can ease inflammation and calm the gut.