A simple, fun and delicious snack for when you are wanting a healthy sweet treat! Ingredients:
-apples
-fresh lemon juice
-almond butter
-dark chocolate chips
-unsweetened shredded coconut
-sliced almonds
Instructions:
slice apples and toss with the lemon juice in a large bowl
arrange the apples in a plate and drizzle with almond butter. You can use a pastry/piping bag or a ziploc bag to drizzle the almond butter.
sprinkle with shredded coconut, dark chocolate chips and sliced almonds
Sitting outside at a coffee shop, relaxing on the deck and visiting beaches are all sure signs that summer is here. With summer come warmer temps and a need to stay hydrated. Watermelons are 92% water and packed with health boosting benefits like electrolytes, vitamins, and antioxidant-rich lycopene making it the ideal replenisher. Creating moments in how we spend our time connecting with self comes down to choices. Choosing a seedless melon means more time enjoying each mouthful and less time dealing with pesky seeds – an empowering, comfort-increasing choice. Cheers to warmer temps and hydrating your wellness this summer!
We took a wrong turn a few decades ago when we blamed high cholesterol on the intake of fats in our diet. The consequential poor-quality, low-fat diets that followed this incorrect information, where fat was replaced by sugar, have been catastrophic to our health. To make it worse, the collective mindset created by the marketing of that incorrect information has been very hard to re-educate, even though it has long been proven wrong. The true dietary contributor to high cholesterol is sugar. To address high cholesterol from a dietary perspective, refined and simple sugars need to be drastically reduced, and the intake of foods high in omega 3 fats, from healthy, unrefined sources, should be increased.
There are numerous benefits that come from taking time to get outside and enjoy the natural world. An increase in vitamin D helps ward off mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, while also contributing to your overall wellbeing. You can get this vitamin D boost from just 15 minutes of outdoor time. Being outdoors can help boost creativity, which can also improve mood and decrease feelings of anxiety or depression. Taking a break outdoors can also aid in better concentration and alertness throughout the day, and can provide better sleep, which is also important for your mental health.
It’s both! Tea tree, also known by its Latin name melaleuca, was once used to make medicinal tea. Now, it’s frequently used for its essential oil, of which there are three common types. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree essential oil) has antibacterial and medicinal properties and is used for a variety of conditions such as lice, body odour, cold sores, and foot fungus. Melaleuca quinquenervia (niaouli essential oil) has similar disinfecting properties to tea tree essential oil, but is gentler on the skin. Melaleuca cajuputi (cajuput essential oil) actually has similar properties to eucalyptus and lemon oils.
Did you know that there is a direct line of communication between your digestive tract and your brain? New evidence is showing us that the microflora in our gut activates this communication, via the vagus nerve, and can play a crucial role in mediating our mood. This means that disruption of the intestinal tract can result in inappropriate signals being sent up to the brain, influencing your mood. Refined foods, chronic stress, and the overuse of antibiotics can lead to this kind of disruptive communication in the body. Restoring the function of the digestive system can be an effective way to help balance your mood… with no side effects.
Dental implants are a popular choice for people who have one or two missing teeth, but they can also be a good choice for people missing several or all teeth. As long as your gums and jaw are healthy, two or more implants can serve as a base of support and provide many benefits over conventional dentures. Benefits may include improved speech, decreased irritation of gum tissue, elimination of the need for denture adhesives, more biting force, and increased ability to chew properly. Denturists can help determine whether dental implants are right for you and refer you to an oral surgeon.
Traveling, for most, is an exciting and enlightening activity filled with rich experiences and a plethora of surprises. But it can also present challenges, especially in the context of maintaining one’s wellness routine. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Marrakesh, Morocco—a totally outside-the-box trip that I was equal parts excited and nervous about. Morocco, as a whole, has never been at the top of my bucket list. Keeping up with my healthy habits is relatively easy when I’m in, say, Costa Rica or the Virgin Islands, but Morocco presented new challenges. Here are five things you should know when travelling to a country like Morocco: 1. Pack healthy snacks. 2. Download a few meditations. 3. Indulge in a spa treatment. 4. Hydrate all the time. 5. Be flexible and kind to yourself.
Preschool and school-aged camps at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Historic Fort Normandeau guarantee lots of warm weather fun! Outdoor adventures, mystery solving, a trip through time: something for every young explorer! Register up to three days before camp: $72 preschool/$150 school-aged, per child. Early drop off/late pick up available. Call 403-346-2010, ext. 111 or visit WaskasooPark.ca for more information or to register.
Did you know that there are two 9-hole disc golf courses in Red Deer? They’re in Victoria Park (Allan Street) and Kentwood (Kent Street and Kendrew Drive). All players have their own disc (from local sports store) or frisbee. Each player throws their disc into the baskets using as few throws as possible. Great fun for families, friends, or special events. Visit CADGA.ca to join a league. Scorecards for each course can be printed off at reddeerpcn.com. Portable disc golf sets can be borrowed from RDRPCN for events.
The Beam™ by Nimbleback is a simple self-care tool used for exercise that may have some benefits when used with yoga stretching and breathing exercises. The Beam™ is based on yoga stretching theory and uses the breath to focus on releasing tension. It allows you to take 10 minutes a day to relax and focus on your breath with yoga stretching that will help to release tension and relax the mind and body. Release, relax, and restore your core.
