Community News
Attending to Heart Issues

We often have a fatalistic view about heart disease, cancer or diabetes in families. We believe that we inherit and are programmed to die of these chronic conditions. From the day of our birth, life stresses and joys can take us from Valentine celebrated heart throbbing love to heartache; from wellness to heart disease or attacks. It does not have to go that way! Countering this negative view is the scientific information that has shown how these genetics are quite heavily influenced by the environment. Brainwave Optimization is an environment that can help balance your brain at the physical level, so heartache and heart disease can be addressed or have less of a grip on the pre-dispositions we fear. This neuro-technology opens possibilities for those healthy lifestyle choices that can turn things around in your environment. Having a strategy for restoring health is always a good thing!

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW, www.lalobatraumarelease.com

The Mindful Valentine

Valentine’s Day.. a day for celebrating love (and chocolate). I often refer to mindful eating as a way of practicing self-care around food. Taking care of yourself by making conscious decisions that leave you feeling better after eating. Not worse. How do you show love for yourself around food? Write yourself a letter and count the ways you love thee or could love thee. “I eat sitting down. I pay attention to my first few bites. I chew thoroughly before my next bite. I eat anything without guilt. I ask myself if I’m hungry before I eat. I listen to my body to see how hungry I am before my first bite. When I eat too much, I just learn from it and move on. I eat for fuel, nourishment, and pleasure. Every day is a day for showing yourself love around food. Celebrate how you nourish your body and spirit.

Lisa Kehler, Off Your Plate Nutrition, www.offyourplatenutrition.ca

Bowenwork: Balancing the Nervous System

What do muscles, organs, bones, and the systems of your body all have in common? They all work with the nervous system. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) controls 80% of bodily functions, and it deserves some attention! Many people are in a constant over-stimulated, unbalanced, state of fight or flight, called sympathetic dominance. In this state, the body doesn’t focus on resting and healing. This may be part of the reason why people seem to take much longer these days to get over their illnesses, and their pain seems to “last forever.” Parasympathetic dominance focuses on resting, digesting, relaxing and repairing. In this state, the body is able to heal itself, and reactivate a stalled recovery process. Bowenwork balances the ANS, shifting it from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance with impressive results, even when other therapies haven’t been successful. Balance the nervous system with Bowenwork, and your body does the rest.

Bernadette Kozak-Certified Bowenwork Practitioner, www.WinnipegPainRelief.ca

Acupuncture for Women’s Health

Do you suffer from painful menstruation or menopausal symptoms? Acupuncture is an effective form of treatment. Dysmenorrhea, lower abdominal pain occurring before or after your period, can be caused by a number of issues. Traditional Chinese medicine looks at the root cause of the pain; Qi (your life-force) and blood stagnation, cold in the uterus or a deficiency of Qi and blood. Once the root cause has been decided, treatments of moving Qi and blood, warming the uterus or tonifying Qi and blood is undertaken with acupuncture, specific dietary and self-care recommendations, to treat the pain. Menopause is looked at similarly, to decide the root cause. Most often it is due to naturally diminishing Yin in our bodies, which occurs with aging, but can also be complicated by other imbalances. Once the imbalance is determined, acupuncture can resolve symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, irritability and cold hands and feet.

Naomi Johnson, www.heklaacupuncture.com

Natural Product Review: Cardioflex Q10

Cardioflex Q10 is a Manitoba-made nutritional supplement designed for cardiovascular health. With a unique blend of vitamins and amino proteins, Cardioflex Q10 is a supportive natural therapy that enriches cardiovascular health, establishes cholesterol balance and reduces CRP (C-reactive protein). With this product you can expect some amazing results: Strengthen your cardiovascular system, dissolve atherosclerotic plaque, lessen the pain of angina pectoris, reduce the likelihood of heart attack or stroke, increase heart and other muscle strength and stamina, lower blood and tissue lipids (fats), and increase antioxidant intake. Give yourself natural immunity against viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases, including antibioticresistant strains. Reduce hypertension and improve overall health!

Nutrition Plus, www.nutritionplus.com

Self-Improvement 101

Is there something about your health, personal life or career you would like to improve? The first step is having the desire to change whatever is affecting you. Once you have a desire, you then begin to focus on the end result you wish to create. Sometimes it is smooth sailing to bridge the gap between a desire and reaching the goal. Sometimes it is a lot of work and effort to get there. How much do our inner blocks, limiting beliefs and self-sabotage affect and hinder our ability to reach our goals? What I have learned is that the inner struggles, strife and negative self-talk we are up against are the major contributing factors preventing us from achieving our desires and goals. The key is to become aware of these inner factors and fully resolve them, which clears the inner path to reach your goals.

Shannon Russell, BodyMind Freedom Solutions, www.thedashmethod.com

Live Life to its Fullest

We are all here on earth on borrowed time. None of us know how much time we have left. The only real choice we have is how to embrace the life we have and live it fully! The challenge is to experience and learn from the life that’s happening to you instead of wishing you could have someone else’s. What if you knew you only had one week to live? Who would you see and how would you spend your precious time? We all eventually die and leave behind our worldly possessions. What will it take for you to live the fullest every day as if was your last week? To appreciate every given moment and live it as though death is near, not with fear, but with a sweet savoring of all that is…as you embrace life to its fullness!

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid, www.souls-journey.com

Are You Addicted to Sugar?

Do you find it hard getting up in the morning, and do you crash in the afternoon? YES/NO. Do you suffer from brain fog, headaches or moodiness? YES/NO. Do you crave carbs like pasta and pastries? YES/NO. Do you ever try to hide your sugar intake, or eat it secretly? YES/NO. Do you have a hard time with controlling your cravings? YES/NO. Answer ‘YES’ to these questions? You, like millions of other Canadians, most likely have a sugar addiction. Scientists have found that sugar stimulates the same pleasure centers of the brain as cocaine or heroin. Just like those hard-core drugs, getting off sugar leads to withdrawal and cravings, requiring an actual detox process to wean off. Cutting ties with your sugar addiction can do wonders for your skin, mood, waistline, and sleep schedule. Try cutting back a little every day, and eventually take bigger steps. For example, if you are craving something sweet, have a piece of fruit, or stop adding sugar to your morning coffee.

Felly Grieve, A1 Nutrition, www.a1nutritiongrant.com

Are Your Finances Affecting Your Health?

Financial problems have been linked to many physical and psychological repercussions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, fatigue, and anxiety. As a small or medium sized business owner, have you ever experienced any of these debilitating stressors? For instance, have you encountered a cash-flow crisis, untracked receivables, budget overruns, or a government audit? Wouldn’t it be a relief to have someone on your side, looking after the numbers, so you can do what you’re meant to do and run your business? It’s critical for you to work with a qualified team to help offset such worries so you can confidently lead your business. Don’t let the stress of financial problems take a piece of your physical and emotional well-being.

Ray Mihalicz, www.raylobookkeeping.ca

It’s Tax Return Time!

Make sure to have your tax return filed on or before April 30th. This will ensure that you will not be penalized for being late or have to pay interest on outstanding amounts. Plus, if you have a refund coming, the sooner you file, the sooner you get your refund back. When returns have not been filed with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on time, eventually you can expect to hear from them with a request to file your returns. Ignoring these requests long enough will usually result in an arbitrary assessment of CRA’s estimates of your income and tax payable. These assessments are often quite “generous” in their estimates of the income you earn and the resulting estimated tax payable will usually get your attention quickly. If you have fallen behind in your tax filings, talk to your accountant. They can help you assess your situation, prepare accurate tax filings and help determine your best possible course of action.

Thomas Johnson, Cascade Financial Group, www.cascadefinancialgroup.com

How Did Your New Year’s Resolution Fare?

A lifestyle change requires notable results to motivate you to continue. Trying to improve a chronic health issue, or just lose weight? Adopting a diet your body genetically expects is the best way to heal. Problems with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, diabetes, gut, cancer, skin, sleep, mind/brain and allergies respond to a corrected diet. Of course, there are issues with over/under exercising, toxins, stress, and genetics, but food is the major determinant in health. Don’t ever accept the phrase “but (health issue) runs in your family, there is nothing you can do about it.” Make this the year that your New Year’s resolution turns into a permanent life changing event. Enlist the services of a Primal Health Coach to educate you of a sustainable path to health restoration. Turn off the chaos inside your body and THRIVE.

Tom White, www.becomeHEALTHY. ca, www.EndDiabetesManitoba.ca