With the arrival of warm, sunny weather, home maintenance is likely the last thing on your mind, but it’s an important way to keep your home environment healthy. Here’s an easy checklist you can follow to get some tasks off your list. 1) Clean your kitchen exhaust fan filter. 2) Remove lint from washer hoses and dryer vent (inside and out). 3) Empty and clean refrigerator and freezer drip trays and coils. 4) Check for leaks in kitchen and bathroom plumbing. 5) Oil garage door and all door hinges. 6) Seal tile grout. Stay safe and healthy this summer.
Community News
Healthy Gut = Heathy Life
Did you know that there is a direct connection between the immune system and nutrition? The intestinal tract is the main route of contact with the external environment and is a pathway that contains microbiomes that aids digestion as well as the absorption of nutrients. This makes it critical for us to consume a balanced diet with the right nutrients while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you consume an adequate amount of protein such a fish and lean meats. It’s also important to maintain a daily intake of vitamins and phytonutrients, especially Vitamin C. Increase your intake of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids as they enhance the functions of immune cells.
Do You Know Your Numbers?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is associated with an increased risk of kidney damage, heart attacks and stroke. The most accurate way to measure blood pressure is at home using a home blood pressure monitor. Home blood pressure monitors are easy to use. It is important that the cuff of the blood pressure monitor fits you properly. Most home blood pressure machines will keep a record of your measurements, so you can share them with your health care provider. High blood pressure responds well to treatment so know your numbers and seek treatment if needed.
Awakening out of Hibernation
As we begin to come out of a deep hibernation and isolation notice what is awakening inside of you. What parts of you long to be met, felt, nourished, fed? What needs attention, listening to, honoring and rebalancing? Summer warms our bones and gives us life force. Filling up with the breath of life and welcoming the parts of ourselves that are most ready to emerge and blossom. Releasing the fear that stands in your way to fully receive.
Your MP’s Office Can Help!
Need help dealing with federal government departments such as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Service Canada, or Immigration? Not sure if you or your business qualify for federal COVID-19 economic response programs such as CERB, wage subsidy, or commercial rent subsidy? Need clarification on what counts as “essential” for crossing the USA border? Have a concern or point of view you’d like to talk about? Residents of the Winnipeg South Centre electoral riding can contact my office for help. While I am home recovering from cancer treatment, my staff are working hard to continue serving my constituents. Facebook.com/JimCarrWSC
Stress Handling With Biofeedback
Everyday we have an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts running through our minds. Considering that our minds can only handle 7-10 bits of information at a time, no wonder we start to feel overwhelmed, especially with what is going on in the world today. Unmanaged stress contributes to many health issues such as headaches, exhaustion, insomnia, depression, and a weak immune system. Alternative approaches such as Biofeedback testing and treatment are highly effective in handling stress. It detects imbalances, or weaknesses, in the stress handling areas of the body, and in turn, stimulates the affected areas to help the mind and body process and handle stress better.
Tips for Better Immunity
Maintain a strong, healthy immune system with this 3-pronged approach during the current pandemic and beyond: #1: Lifestyle: Limit stress, turn off the TV or computer, and get at least 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 times per week and 7-8 hours of sleep per night. #2: Nutrition: A diet high in lean protein, fruits, vegetables and the right macronutrients is the most important element to overall health. #3: Hydration: Without adequate hydration and the right electrolyte delivery system, your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs to recover from illness or infection. Proper hydration is key to a well-functioning body.
Cultivating Calm During COVID-19
Challenging times like the pandemic can bring up many different feelings like anxiety or despair. While we don’t choose our feelings, we can choose how to move through them. An option to feel calmer is to ground your body in the present moment using your 5 senses. Perhaps you could notice where you are and ask yourself: What do you feel, hear, see, smell, and taste? How would you describe those sensations to someone? Grounding yourself can slow your heart rate, calm your breathing, focus your thoughts, and improve your mood so you can return to a more positive day!
Book Club: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both a memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It offers a piercing, electrifying examination of the restrictive expectations women are issued from birth; shows how hustling to meet those expectations leaves women feeling dissatisfied and lost; and reveals that when we quit abandoning ourselves and instead abandon the world’s expectations of us, we become women who can finally look at ourselves and recognize: There She Is.
Citrus Oils Are Happy Oils!
Besides smelling amazing, citrus oils like bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange offer many health benefits. Limonene or D-Limonene, a natural compound found in citrus oils, has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Citrus oils have a positive effect on the lymphatic system, which helps your body detoxify. This can also help with problems such as poor circulation, allergies, cellulite, and fluid retention. The scent of citrus oils is a great mood booster, and you can add these oils to dish soap, hand soap, a carrier oil (for massage), or room freshening spray to enjoy them all day long!
Benefits of Resistance Training
Many people associate resistance training with strictly muscle growth, but there are many other benefits from incorporating this type of training into your exercise regimen. Resistance training builds strength and tone to help protect your joints from injury. It improves balance to help you remain independent and reduce the chance of falls. Resistance training helps with weight management, as your body will burn more calories when you gain more muscle mass. Talk to your doctor to see if you are healthy enough to begin resistance training. An exercise professional can then help you develop a safe and effective program.
