Community News
New Treatment for Inflammation

Near Infrared Light Therapy is a new treatment for inflammation, wounds that don’t heal, and soft tissue injuries. People with arthritis, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, and even diabetic skin ulcers are experiencing incredible pain relief and healing with this technology. Different from standard laser therapy, this Health Canada licensed medical device can penetrate the skin 3-4 cm deep, stimulating healing at the cellular level. In doing so, it increases circulation, oxygenation, and tissue perfusion. These combined effects result in decreased inflammation and muscular pain, and increased wound healing, even for chronic conditions that do not respond well to other types of treatment. Near Infrared Tissue Stimulation, now available in Manitoba, is being used in Ontario to treat arthritis, shoulder injuries, back pain, tendonitis, knee pain, chronic foot wounds, and fungal infections. Improve your health and get some relief today with N.I.R. Therapy.

Centre For Alternative Healing, AltHealing.ca

Heed the Gut-Brain Connection

More and more evidence is showing that your gut health has an enormous effect on your brain, your body’s immune system, and hormonal secretion. Food sensitivities can cause ill effects beyond the physical symptoms of inflammation, allergies, and asthma. Anxiety, depression, irritability, and mood swings can also appear, because they create imbalances in key chemicals in the brain. Dietary changes that include probiotics, fermented foods, and natural fats help your microbiome and gut-brain signaling. Stress and cortisol equip you with energy to attend to tasks at hand; however, excess or chronic stress has a negative effect on brain chemistry, causing thyroid dysfunction and/ or adrenal fatigue, which leads to compromised mental and physical health. Know that Brainwave Optimization brings relaxation to the master regulator of the nervous system – the brain – so it can help your gut. In a “both-and” world, it’s all connected.

Joanne Couture, LalobaTraumaRelease.com

Game, Set, & TENNIS ELBOW!

Spring has arrived and people are heading outside to play the sports they’ve missed throughout the winter, including tennis and golf. It’s easy to spend hours playing these sports. Sometimes we tend to overdo it, and the repetitive stress on the body can cause aches and pains. One common area where one might experience problems is the elbow. Both golf and tennis put stress on your forearm extensor and flexor muscles. It is important to pay attention to the SHARP signs of inflammation (swelling, heat, altered function, redness, and pain). The best ways to treat these conditions include rest, stretches, massage, and ice. Giving the affected area enough time to go through the inflammatory process will allow it to heal. Eccentric exercise can then be added to strengthen the muscles. Another option is putting an elbow strap on the muscle belly to alter where the repetitive stress is pulling.

Heath Vermette, CAT(C), SouthSherbrook.com

Calm the Mind & the Body Will Follow

When was the last time you did something for the first time? Have you ever let your own apprehension stop you from trying something new? Some of the most amazing things wait for us on the other side of our comfort zone. As we get older, our comfort zones tend to get in the way and start to stunt our growth. With age comes wisdom and our belief is that these walls we build are movable. Expanding them to include new experiences adds long lasting value to our lives. Floating is one such experience for many people. Any trepidation of stepping into a floatation tank soon passes when you find yourself in a very comfortable warm environment, weightless with nothing but peace and quiet surrounding you. The mental and physical relief this environment provides allows for a full system reset and those once-tall-walls begin to crumble under their own weight. Calm the mind, and the body will follow.

Brad Dauk, FloatCalm.com

Do the Twist

This spring, be sure to consider the mobility and strength required to do yard work and play sports like baseball or golf. The mid-back, or thoracic spine, is designed to twist, allowing for smooth motion while doing these activities. If your thoracic spine lacks the ability to twist, or has strength deficits, other areas may compensate for this, potentially resulting in injury to the low back, or lumbar spine. If you find these spring twisting activities are irritating your low back, consider addressing the strength and mobility of your thoracic spine. A strong and healthy thoracic spine can help take the load off of the already stressed lumbar spine. As physiotherapists, we can fully assess your movement and strength to determine the underlying cause of your low back pain. Treatment options, including manual therapy and exercise, have proven to be effective in relieving pain and increasing function.

Dan Girardin, MPT, BESS, Prairie Trail Physiotherapy, PrairieTrailPhysio.ca

Grilled Corn and Avocado Succotash Recipe

2tbsp veg oil

kosher salt

Pepper, 2 tbsp

fresh lime juice

4 ears fresh corn

½ pint cherry tomatoes

halved

1 bell pepper

¼ inch diced

½ medium Red Onion

finely chopped

1 avocado chopped into ½ inch cubes, ¼ c

torn fresh basil leaves

While your steaks are cooking, shuck the corn, toss it in the veg oil and let it cook on another side of your grill. Once you’ve got some nice grill marks on the corn, take it off and slice the kernels off with a sharp knife. Mix with the rest of your ingredients, and serve with the steak. Prairie Box, PrairieBox.com

Business Spotlight: Prairie Box

Prairie Box is Winnipeg’s first meal prep subscription company aimed at families, and busy professionals who want to get a healthy meal, but don’t have the time or inclination to cook fresh every day. Each week chefs Lewis Glassey and Brandon Schofield create a fresh and healthy menu delivered right to your door. Customers sign up for 6, 8, 10 or 12 meals a week, and can choose between a different meat or vegetarian options. Each meal costs $9.99 and is designed to be hearty, healthy and delicious. Most of the ingredients are sourced from local farmers. An example menu; Pork loin with roasted carrots and Yukon gold mash; sautéed chicken fillet with creamed leeks, mushrooms, and brown rice; beef lasagna or spaghetti squash “pasta” with basil pesto. The meals keep well in the fridge until you’re ready to eat them, or can be frozen for longer-term storage. Prairie Box, PrairieBox.com

Ask the Expert:

At what age should I bring in my child for their first eye exam? I recommend that children have their first eye exam by the age of three, and then annually after that. Approximately five to ten percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems, and early diagnosis is essential. Testing can be modified to fit your child’s learning level and attention span. Many parents think that if their child can see small details, like a plane in the sky, that there is no reason to have their child examined. However, clear vision does not indicate healthy eyes, and vision is more than what you can see. It includes how you see, how the eyes work together, and how the brain interprets the information. Manitoba Health covers annual eye exams for children under 19.

Dr Ashley Britton, Independent Optometrist, Linden Ridge Eye Care, LReyecare.ca

Nature’s Embrace

As we spend a third of our lives in bed, choosing the right mattress is one of our most important health decisions. Made with certified organic Dunlop latex, organic cotton and pure virgin wool, Nature’s Embrace mattresses may be the world’s most comfortable, supportive, and health promoting mattress, helping you achieve the mind, body and immune system restoring benefits of deep, uninterrupted sleep. With an industry leading 25 year warranty, Nature’s Embrace mattresses create a hypo-allergenic sleep sanctuary that naturally inhibits the dust mites and bacteria that can cause allergic reactions. The firm yet comfortable natural latex foam cradles and supports sore and tired muscles, helping to alleviate back pain, while reducing the pressure points that cause tossing and turning by up to 80% when compared to mattresses with memory foam or pocket coils.

Nathan Zassman, Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com

Bathing Made Easy

There’s nothing like a nice warm bath to relax both the body and mind, but for people with mobility challenges, an unassisted bath may be difficult to enjoy. Bath lifts are a great costeffective way to promote independence, which allows people the freedom to stay at home. Bath lifts ensure the safety of yourself and/or your loved one, and they are very user-friendly. Newly designed products are lightweight, portable, and easy to set up or install. Bath lifts are available in a multitude of types and styles, some of which are designed to be installed on the wall, floor, or ceiling, while others are portable, free-standing models that do not require installation. If you struggle to get up and down from the bottom of the bathtub, but you still long to enjoy the soothing benefits of soaking in a warm bath, a bath chair lift could be the right solution for you.

Renew Mobility, RenewMobility.ca

Nutrition from the Sea

The vegetables we consume today are vastly different from those grown 50 years ago. With the use of fertilizers, the exhaustion of most minerals from the soil cannot be prevented. However, minerals are still quite abundant in the ocean. Seaweed is a highly nutritious vegetable that’s often overlooked as a meal option. As dark, leafy veggies go, seaweed is about as nutrient-dense as it gets. Eat about a gram of seaweed and your daily iodine needs are taken care of. Seaweed packs high amounts of calcium and protein, as well as a good amount of vitamins B12 and A, and it’s a great source of fibre. But not just any old fibre. Seaweed is mostly soluble fibre; the kind that turns into a gel, slowing down the digestive process, thus inhibiting the absorption of sugars and cholesterol. Still don’t like the taste? Taking a seaweed pill can help with that!

ReVitamins of Charleswood, Twitter.com/ReVitamins