Place ½ cup of roasted sesame seeds, squeeze ½ lemon, 1t sea salt and ¼ cup olive oil in a food processer. Blend until paste. Add; 5 cloves crushed garlic, ½t cayenne pepper, 2T chili flakes, ½t black pepper, squeeze in the other ½ lemon, and 1 can drained & rinsed organic chickpeas. Blend and slowly add approx. ¼ c water to the consistency. Garish with paprika.
Community News
A New Era in Complete Dentures
When you need to replace your natural teeth, look for dentures that suit your active lifestyle. You want to enjoy life to the fullest and continue to be attractive as you age. BPS, the Biofunctional Prosthetic System, has been especially developed to meet those needs. It is a well-planned, coordinated system for the fabrication of high quality removable / complete dentures that provide optimum function while eating, speaking and laughing. They are fabricated to limit shrinkage in the acrylic base, which provides a better fitting denture. BPS Dentures are only available from denturists with BPS certification.
Glaucoma: The Silent Thief
Glaucoma refers to a family of diseases that damage the optic nerve and is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada. It is a progressive disease that most often occurs in individuals over the age of 40, with the risk of the disease increasing with age. Elevated pressure within the eye damages the optic nerve, which if not detected and treated early, can lead to serious vision loss. There are usually no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Regular visits with an optometrist can detect the disease early enough to prevent vision loss.
Choose the Right Shoes
Podiatrists spend a great deal of time telling patients that their shoes are the source of their problems.
It sounds simple, but the fact is that your shoe should be the same shape as your foot. A wide foot needs a wide shoe, a square set of toes will need a square shaped toe box. If in doubt, take the insole out of the shoe and step down on it; your toes should not fall off of the edges of the insole. Avoid soft “marsh mellow” soles or soles that twist easily. A super light shoe will not support you very well.
Are you Aging Well?
Are you making the healthy choices you need to lead a fulfilling life? There are many factors to consider: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, and environmental. Information is a key element to support you and your loved ones. What supports do you require to live life to its fullest as you age? Find out what Cowichan can offer: Volunteer Cowichan’s Aging Well Seniors’ Expo will answer many of your questions. We’re bringing businesses and organizations together to support you with a range of topics: health, financial, legal, medical, physical-care, volunteer opportunities and more!
Stress Can Lead to Hearing Loss
Long-term stress can have taxing effects on our health; our hearing health is no exception to this truth. Our hearing relies on tiny sensory hairs in the inner ear to translate sound frequencies into electrical pulses that can then be received and interpreted by our brains. These tiny hairs rely on oxygen from blood circulation to function. When our bodies experience stress, our adrenaline increases to prepare our bodies to act— we breathe faster to divert oxygen to our muscles. This isn’t harmful in the short term, but long-term stress can suppress our bodily systems and lead to a variety of illnesses. Taking deep breaths, exercising, and taking time out of your day to spend time with loved ones can help to reduce stress and guard against the illnesses that result from it.
Health Benefits of Shiatsu and Reflexology
Do you suffer from muscle tension, stress, chronic pain or digestive issues? Shiatsu is a non-invasive therapy that addresses a wide range of body ailments. This Japanese hands-on therapeutic massage works the meridians and pressure points throughout the body. Shiatsu uses a firm steady pressure to release tension allowing the practitioner to probe deeper, stimulating circulation of vital nutrients. Another hands-on therapy, Foot Reflexology is the application of specific finger pressure techniques on feet, combined with acupressure with focus on reflex points and their connection to our body’s organs. It improves circulation of blood, encourages lymphatic drainage, rejuvenates life energy, and eases pain within other body parts.
Seminars – Gov’t Benefits for Seniors
Life is full of challenges and local seniors are facing an increasing number of them. That is why last year’s Seniors Seminars had record breaking numbers, as our older population gathered to listen to information shared by a Service Canada Representative. The seminars educate on available government benefits and how to apply for them. If you are a senior who could
benefit from this information, join us on Oct. 16 at SOS at Qualicum Commons (9:30 – 11:30 am) or at the Parksville SOS Community Services Centre (1:30 – 3:30 pm). Registration is required.
Organic Food Can Boost Your Health
There are plenty of healthy reasons to choose organic food. * Greater emphasis on soil health and traditional farming methods makes organic food higher in nutrients and antioxidants than standard produce.* Foods without harmful chemicals, pesticides and artificial fertilizers taste better* Food has energy! Enjoying a wide variety of chemical free meals will raise your vitality and leave you feeling vibrant.* Knowing that you are supporting sustainable practices that also work to help the planet leaves you feeling mentally healthy. A Registered Holistic Nutritionist™ or Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant™ can show you how to incorporate organic foods into your healthy lifestyle plan.
Benefits of Staying Informed
Normally we do not look for information on a subject until we need it or notice how other people are managing until we are in the same boat. Being informed before we have a need is beneficial to ourselves and to our families and friends. Nanaimo offers many opportunities to educate yourself about what aids and services are available for your health needs. Attending health fairs such as NSSN Seniors Health and Wellness Fair on November 8, is educational and can be a lot of fun. Consider attending events where dozens of health service providers are on hand to give you information and answer your questions.
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Did you know that there is a safe, simple and effective method to cosmetically treat the condition of spider veins and some varicose veins? Spider veins are small dilated vessels that usually appear on the legs and face. Spider veins on the face are treated by laser while spider veins on the legs are treated by sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is an injection of a sclerosing solution directly into the vein using a fine needle. Fading of the spider veins is gradual but a 75 – 90% improvement is possible. Sclerotherapy treatments are performed by a LPN, under doctor supervision.
