Community News
Does Your Dog Have Hot Spots?

They’re commonly known as hot spots, but the medical term for those bare, inflamed, red areas you often see on dogs is acute moist dermatitis — a bacterial skin infection. Anything that irritates your dog’s skin enough to make him scratch or chew can lead to pain and infection. A hot spot’s location can help your vet diagnose its cause. Fleas, for example, may be the source of a hip hot spot, while a hot spot at the ear might point to ear problems. Treating hot spots may involve shaving and cleaning the irritated area, antibiotics, steroids, or topical medications, depending on how bad the hot spots are, and how much pain your pooch is in. Healthy skin is the key to preventing hot spots! If your pooch has a thick, heavy coat, groom him regularly to prevent his coat from matting. Matted fur traps moisture and parasites, creating the ideal environment for hot spots.

Lisa Tustin, Professional Pet Services

 

Successful Love Stories

“I joined Camelot Introductions and thought I would not have a match and could go on with my happy single life knowing that I had tried and it wasn’t meant for me. Then, we were introduced and one year and one month later, we were married! Lianne gave good advice and continues to support us. I have never been happier in my life, with all the ups and downs, there is nowhere else I’d rather be than with my husband. I love him so much.” ~ M.

“I joined Camelot Introductions and met the love of my life (my soulmate). Richard was my first match. I felt an instant connection with Lianne. She is so intuitive! Richard and I met 2-1/2 years ago; got engaged on April 24 and our wedding day was on August 22. I am so thankful to Lianne. What a wonderful journey it has been!” ~ Liliane.

Camelot Introductions, CamelotIntroductions.com

6 Ways to Alkalize Your Body

Did you know that your immunity is based on how alkaline your diet is? Having an overly acidic diet eventually leads to a weakened state, and our bodies become susceptible to disease. Here are six ways to alkalize – and healthify – your body!

1. Drink plenty of water. Drink half your body weight in ounces every day to keep your body systems regulated. For an extra boost in alkalinity – add lemon!

2. Trade coffee for tea. Green tea is highly alkaline. Try jasmine, sencha or matcha.

3. Kick that sugar habit. Use stevia, coconut sugar or small amounts of honey in place of sugar.

4. Eat more greens. Vegetables are highly alkaline and oxygen rich. Consume fresh green vegetables often as possible.

5. Move. Exercise to create more oxygen and qi flow in the body and to avoid stagnation.

6. Reduce stress. Meditate as often as possible, practice deep breathing, do yoga, and get plenty of sleep.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Cantaloupe & Cucumber Salad

Here’s a refreshing side salad for a change of pace. It’s delicious served with a spicy grilled chicken, tofu, or fish. Or serve this over a bed of leafy greens with extra dressing on the side. Gently fold together 1/2 small cantaloupe and 1 medium cucumber (cut into 1/2 inch chunks), 1/2 cup crumbled feta, and 6 big basil leaves (sliced thinly). Whisk and add to salad: 1 tbsp olive oil, 2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and freshly ground salt and pepper to taste. Top with 2 tbsp sunflower seeds. (This is the perfect place to showcase your gourmet balsamic vinegars and good quality olive oil. Skip the salt and sprinkle with a little Fleur de Sel for some drama!)

Lisa Kehler, OffYourPlateNutrition.ca

Book Club: The Dirt Cure

Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil. In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children’s food, how it’s seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it.

Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, Dirtcure.com

Practice Safe Summering

Bonfires, barbecues, and beach days are what we’ve been waiting for all year long. But these beloved activities carry risks of illness that can put a damper on summer fun. Study up now so you can be your healthiest and happiest this season!

Sink or Swim: On a scorching hot day, taking your kids to a local pool is a fun way to spend the afternoon, but a not-so-fun way to get an infection. Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) can be obtained by swallowing, breathing, or coming into contact with contaminated water. Infections from RWIs can cause a variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal upset, eye and ear infections, respiratory difficulty, and skin rash. E. coli can even be contracted in swimming pools and water parks, and cause abdominal cramping, fever and severe diarrhea (CDC, 2017). While the benefits of a summer swim might outweigh the risks, it’s wise to arm your immune system to defend against any potential infection. Up your vitamin E and zinc from sources like almonds, and get adequate protein from lean meats, beans and organic soy. Adding an immune enhancing oil like black seed oil will help defend against infection. Black seed oil is antibacterial and antiviral, and has been shown to combat against several infectious organisms, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (Nijab, 2014). It also has anti-fungal properties, which can also help clear up a pesky foot fungus you contract while walking barefoot by the pool!

Happy Camper: Embrace what nature has to offer while you’re camping, but not what might make you sick! When you’re out on your daily excursions in the woods, be sure to pack bottled water. Drinking river water can cause some unwanted diarrhea, as it can be infected with Giardia lamblia bacteria. Having an antibacterial remedy like oregano oil or black seed oil in your first aid can start killing off the bacteria until you get back home to a doctor. Roasting marshmallows on the campfire is the highlight of any camping trip! But giving your marshmallows a “French” char is highly carcinogenic. Offset these cancer-promoting compounds by eating lots of antioxidants from goji berries, wild blueberries, pecans, cilantro, and healthy oils like coconut, black seed, and olive.

Breathe Easy: Campfires aren’t everyone’s friend, as the smoke is actually one of the lesser-known triggers of asthma. Sit upwind from the smoke and keep at a good distance from the fire. Asthma and seasonal allergies can also be aggravated by changes in weather, like a sudden cool breeze. The wind also carries pollen and mould particles that can cause an attack (ACAAI, 2014). Nutrition can play a significant role in regulating asthma and allergies. Omega-3s can reduce markers of airway inflammation associated with attacks. Get sufficient omega-3s by eating fish or taking a supplement of fish oil or algae. Also ensure you’re nourishing your gut bacteria with probiotics from plain yoghurt, sauerkraut, and kefir. Probiotics help regulate your immune system to reduce flare-ups. Black seed oil is also great for those with asthma because it is a bronchodilator, which opens the airways in the lungs (Keyhanmanesh et al, 2014).

Sickly Sweet: Along with those delicious campfire marshmallows, celebratory summer treats like ice cream and frozen alcoholic beverages flood your system with sugar. High amounts of sugar, paired with lack of exercise, can lead to insulin resistance and eventually to diabetes. Be sure to get moderate exercise 3-5 times per week to improve your body’s blood sugar regulation. Take advantage of the summer season by biking, hiking, and swimming in the great outdoors! On top of exercising, structure your meals so that vegetables take up half your plate, protein takes up a quarter, and refined carbohydrates like pasta only take up a quarter. Be sure to have healthy fats like avocado and oil in your meal as well. The protein and fat will help regulate the blood sugar spike from the carbs and keep your insulin sensitivity healthy. When you know you’re going to indulge in sugary treats, you can decrease its toll on your body by taking black seed oil. This oil can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation in diabetes! (Fararh, et al, 2002)

Summer Glow: Tank tops, short shorts and summer dresses show off some serious skin. Protect your largest organ by using sunscreen, wearing a hat and sunglasses, and staying hydrated. Eat plenty of tomatoes, which contain the skin-protecting antioxidant lycopene, and keep up with your omega-3s! You can also use black seed oil topically on your skin, hair and nails for a moisturizing and anti-aging beauty tonic, making you feel oh-so-pretty all summer long!

Cassie Irwin, Enerex Botanicals
Enerex.ca

Grilled Vegetables With Herbed Goat Cheese

Ingredients:

Mix of: eggplant, zucchini, onions, sweet potato, peppers. Italian or Greek Salad Dressing (regular or low-fat). Small block of goat cheese at room temperature (regular or low fat). Fresh garlic, roasted garlic or garlic powder. All-purpose salt-free herb and spice seasoning mix (or dried Italian seasoning).

Directions

  1. Cut peppers in half and remove seeds. Slice the other vegetables in 1/4 inch slices.
  2. Combine vegetables and enough dressing to coat everything in a resealable bag.Turn a few times to distribute dressing and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.
  3. Blend goat cheese, garlic and seasoning mix (to taste) and refrigerate. For convenience you can use a garlic and herb soft cheese like Boursin instead of making your own.
  4. Place veggies on oiled grill at medium heat. Cook 8 – 10 mins checking and turning often until done to your preference. Discard the dressing used for the marinade and use fresh dressing to baste occasionally if you like.)
  5. Arrange warm vegetables on a platter or individual plates and top with a generous dollop of goat cheese. Drizzle with a little olive oil and top with fresh ground pepper if you like.
  6. Serving options: serve at room temperature as part of antipasto plate or use in a sandwich with a good smear of goat cheese mix.

Lisa Kehler, Off Your Plate Nutrition, OffYourPlateNutrition.ca

Wellness – One Step at a Time!

Wellness is an active, lifelong process of making decisions to help you live a more balanced and fulfilled life. It is the result of deliberate effort of caring for ourselves; eating well, exercising, obtaining preventative medical care and treating chronic medical conditions. Why do we seek wellness?   Healthier, happier people tend to live longer and have higher energy levels. A sense of wellness helps improve mood and can improve depression. A simple thing that can easily be incorporated into our day that will improve wellness is walking! It doesn’t matter if you can only make it half way down the street. Make a commitment to walk every day and before you know it, you will have made it right around the block. Invest in proper walking shoes and socks for added support and comfort.

I.Ostman
Facebook.com/VoxxSocksForALL

Essential Oils for Travel

Essential oils are great for travel. They are small enough to fit in your carry-on, and powerful enough for your needs on the go! Lavender is considered the “Swiss army knife” of oils. It can be used for minor skin irritations, cuts, burns, muscle and joint pain, headache, you name it! Thieves blend is great to support you while away. Apply to bottoms of feet daily. Add to spray bottle of water and spray any surface you would like clean. If you find certain forms of travel stressful, try applying Stress Away blend behind ears, on temples, across shoulders for some instant “Ahh”!

Denise MacKinnon, Young Living, Facebook.com/SimpleHealthIdeas

You’re Only as Healthy as Your Gut!

The importance of your gut biome to your overall health is something that scientific research has only recently brought to light. The microbiome is the healthy bacteria in your body and your gut. When your gut microbiome is balanced, you stay healthy and you have a lot of energy. Unfortunately this healthy bacteria is being attacked daily by poor diet, nutrient deficient foods, environmental toxins, and lifestyle stress. Signs of poor biome are gas, bloating, inability to lose weight, poor sleep, hormonal imbalances, poor concentration, joint pain, blood sugar imbalance, inflammation, depression and anxiety to list a few. On the upside, there is so much you can do to repair and help your biome to heal and restore good health. These include removing the sugar and processed foods from your diet and replacing them with vegetables and low-sugar fruits. Your gut will thank you!

Tammy Phye, R.A., EOT
LifestyleHarmony.ca

Fitting Self-Care into Your Busy Schedule

Self-care is often seen as selfish however, if we do not care for ourselves, we run the danger of losing who we are. We put our children, our family, work and friends ahead of our own needs. Who will they have if you lose YOU? Self-care does not have to be done alone. You can do it along with the other important people in your life. Self-care is more about how you feel when you are doing it rather than what you are doing. If you love to walk, take the children on a walk through the park. Get your friends together for a Mani, Pedi, Appies night for an evening of pampering without the expense of the spa. These are little things that you can do to help stay true to yourself. Loving yourself is the only sure fire way that life’s little ups and downs can be managed in a healthy and productive way.

Jaclyn Younger, RTC, InnerCare Therapeutic Counselling, Inner-Care.com