Choosing the right food for your pet is important. With so many choices, it’s hard to know which way to go! Here are a few fundamental facts about which choice to make: For ALL cats, food should be grain-free. Cats lack the digestive enzyme that metabolizes grains, which is why feline obesity, diabetes, and kidney failure are so common. Cats require wet food in their diet. Kibble is highly processed and does not come close to providing the necessary moisture an animal needs to live healthfully. Without this moisture, cats are prone to dehydration, urinary infections, and eventually kidney failure. Your pets deserve the best quality of life; they’re family!
Community News
The Lymphatic System
A previous article spoke about another system (lymphatic) and its functions, which are not related to either your blood or venous system. With swelling caused by an insufficient lymphatic system, it is necessary to re-route the lymph flow around blocked area(s) into more central and healthy lymph vessels. This goal is achieved by:
a) manual lymph drainage
b) compression therapy
c) decongestive and breathing exercise
d) skin and nail care
Together, these make up complete decongestive therapy (CDT)—the international “gold standard” of treatment for patients affected by lymphedema. This is a chronic condition that has no cure, and therefore must be managed throughout one’s lifespan. Talk to a trained and certified therapist who can assess you and provide any additional information.
Marita Dowsett, B.P.T. Physio4U, Physio4U.net
Listen to Your Body
Did you know our bodies are trying to send us messages all day, especially when we are not willing to pay attention to different aspects of our lives? If you are experiencing neck pain, it may be that your body and mind are trying to tell you something. When you have a sore neck, ask yourself who in your life is a pain in the neck. Can you bring more compassion to the situation to soften the tension? Are you sticking your neck out for someone else? Are you breaking your neck to get something done? Is someone breathing down your neck? Were you aware that waking up during the night is an indication that your body is unable to process an issue that could be affecting your life? If you are feeling overburdened, your shoulders will ache. Our bodies are letting us know what parts of our lives require attention.
Robin Chant, Inspire You Studio, RobinChant.com
Chronic Cough?
Did you know that regular reflexology treatments can help with chronic cough/respiratory and sinus issues? Who would think that massaging the feet could do that? One of my clients, whom I’ve been working with since the beginning of the year, has been coming to see me for just this. She has had a chronic cough for many years and has had no relief, but after a few treatments she found her cough mostly resolved and now she just gives me a shout when she starts to feel the tickle coming back. She is now seeing me only every 6 to 8 weeks.
Janice’s Feet First Reflexology, Facebook.com/FFReflexology
Clean Ducts for Clean Air
When cleaning your home, don’t forget about your ductwork. Just because you don’t see inside your ducts doesn’t mean you don’t breathe what comes out of them. Each time your heating or air conditioning system comes on, debris in your ducts become airborne, resulting in poor indoor air quality. What are the benefits of duct cleaning?
Having your ducts cleaned helps:
• Improve the air quality in your home.
• Ensure your furnace and air conditioner operate at maximum efficiency. Dirty ventilation systems can lead to clogged air conditioner coils and furnace filters, as well as contaminated blower wheels that could result in a breakdown.
Dora Air Duct Cleaning, Dora-Cleaning.ca
Lose Weight With MINDBAND
MINDBAND isn’t just about losing weight, it seems to have a side effect: it helps diabetes, just as Lap-Band does, only it comes without the stress and danger of surgery, the recovery time, and the strict diet. MINDBAND is simple and easy. You get to relax, and the results are that it makes it easier to stick to sensible eating habits. Why? Your mind actually wants you to eat sensible, healthy food and it is not fighting you to eat that dessert and bag of chips. Real results. One client had a blood sugar level of 19.6. We did MINDBAND and she made a couple of easy changes to her eating habits. Four days later, her blood sugar level was 7.4. This program can also help those who do not wish to lose weight, but are having problems controlling their blood sugar, or for those who wish to lose weight only.
Sherry Wilkinson, WinnipegHypnotherapy.com
Why Children Struggle to Read
We’ve all met them. The children who can’t stop fidgeting in their seats, who hold their heads way too close to their paper when copying, or who really struggle to learn to read, even though they are bright. Sadly, these children are likely the 1 in 4 who suffer from learning-related vision disorders. It is important that parents and teachers recognize the signs and symptoms that indicate a vision problem (unrelated to glasses) is interfering with a child’s ability to read and learn. Although a regular eye exam will determine the physical health of the eyes and any need for glasses, it does not evaluate the 16 other visual skills required for learning. To ensure a child is not suffering from a hidden visual dysfunction, a developmental visual evaluation is required. The good news is that through vision therapy, these vision problems can be fixed.
Grand Developmental Vision Institute, GrandVisionInstitute.ca
Avoiding Falls
As we age, the body begins to slow down, which greatly increases the risk of falling. There are many contributing factors to why we fall, including medication, nutrition, eyesight, strength, balance, and proprioception. Muscular strength is the amount of force a muscle can produce in a single maximum effort. Muscles pull from their tendinous insertions on bone to create movement. Proprioception is the body’s awareness of itself in space; this term directly relates to the body’s ability to maintain a balanced upright position while walking, standing, and sitting. It is important to perform exercises that challenge the body, as the body will only adapt to the loads placed upon it. This means that if you are sedentary, your body will not maintain strength or balance, so you must consistently challenge yourself. Talk to your athletic therapist or physiotherapist for exercises to strengthen your body and improve your balance.
Ashley Lund, Certified Athletic Therapist, InnovativeMedicalSupplies.com
The Power of Touch
Studies from the Touch Research Institute have looked at people of all ages with a variety of health conditions and complaints. The range of benefits is remarkable. Here are some highlights from a few of the many published studies. Migraine headaches: Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, along with sleep disturbances and distress symptoms. Asthma: Children with mild to severe asthma who received regular massage were better able to exhale (a problem with asthma because the air passages constrict). In addition, the children suffered less stress and anxiety. Premenstrual symptoms: After massage therapy, there was improved mood and decreased anxiety. Pain and symptoms of water retention were also reduced. Pregnancy: Women who had massage through pregnancy showed decreased levels of stress hormones and experienced less anxiety. There were fewer complications before and after birth, including fewer premature births.
Chelsea Nault, RMT, Soulful Instinct Massage Therapy
Suffering from Lyme Disease?
Lyme is fast becoming a Manitoba epidemic. How do you get Lyme disease? From a deer tick passing a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi into your bloodstream. This bacteria weakens your immune system, allowing diseases to enter the body. “Many people are infected by nymph ticks, but don’t suspect Lyme disease because they don’t recall being bitten. In fact, 50% of people infected don’t remember being bitten and LESS than 50% of people will get any over-emphasized rash” (Source – CanLyme.com). If you are noticing increasing health problems lately, you may have Lyme disease. One way to improve your immune system is with Bioresonance Therapy. This therapy involves sending healthy frequencies into your body. These frequencies increase the body’s energy and consequently improve your health.
Dennis Ludwig, Evergreen Holistic Health Centre
Why Turn to Holistic Health?
There are countless reasons why people use alternative treatments to enhance their health. For example, people with pain-causing conditions sometimes rely on alternative treatments to reduce their use of painkillers. Others use alternative treatments for help in managing conditions that are often difficult to treat, such as depression. In many cases, people add holistic treatments to their daily routine in order to improve their energy, promote sounder sleep, lift their mood, and alleviate everyday stress. Alternative treatments vary greatly in approach, from professionally administered therapies like chiropractic and massage to do-it-yourself techniques like meditation. Massage therapy is a non-invasive and gentle treatment that can have a powerful impact on your physical and mental wellbeing. Indeed, studies have determined that undergoing massage can help treat back pain, arthritis, tension headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and a host of other health problems.
Julie Sagnes, RMT, ChiroFitWinnipeg.com
