Clenching and grinding your teeth, whether during the day or at night, is the most common cause of jaw pain. Over time, the heightened muscle activity can lead to trigger points within the chewing muscles that may cause pain, soreness, limited mouth opening, and even headaches. Physiotherapy can provide effective treatment for temporomandibular dysfunction. Your therapist may use a combination of manual therapy, intra-oral massage, dry needling, and home exercises to decrease muscle tone and encourage relaxation. Try to avoid the forward head posture, common when in front of a computer, as it negatively affects the biomechanics of the jaw.
Community News
Wellness Product Review
Power Lattes! Want to add some power to your lattes this fall? Try Botanica’s Certified Organic functional mushroom and herb infused hot chocolate. A healthy alternative to a delicious warm fall drink. Upgrade your afternoon or evening ritual with a modern take on a traditional favorite to support a healthy stress response and relaxation. Made from a whole food blend of cocoa, dates, reishi, chocolate, and coconut. Available at Red River Coop Grant Park location.
Plantar Fasciitis
When tiny tears occur in the thick, fibrous band of tissue reaching from your heel to your toes (called “fascia”), inflammation and pain are the result. This is plantar fasciitis and left untreated, can produce heel spurs. A number of things can contribute to plantar fasciitis. While men can get plantar fasciitis, it’s more common in women. Plantar fasciitis is more common in runners, people who are overweight and those who wear shoes with inadequate support VoxxLife socks and insoles are proven to reduce pain and improve circulation, thereby encouraging healing.
How to Build up Confidence in Children
1. Praise effort over personal characteristics. Working towards a goal will have children work hard and see challenges as hurdles.
2. Surround them with positive people. Children will adopt the attitude of those around them.
3. Give them a job. Children get an internal boost when given an opportunity to feel resourceful, helpful and successful.
4. Encourage them to set goals. When children have goals, they can feel the excitement of progress. Have them write down what they’re interested in learning.
5. Show them the evidence. Talk with them about what they have achieved with hard work and perseverance.
Should You Stay at Home?
An AARP study found that 90 percent of people over the age of 65 would rather live out their later years in their own home rather than move into a senior living community. That’s understandable. Home is comfortable. Home is a part of us. But consider the risk of isolation posed by staying at home. Maybe you or your loved one don’t get around as well as you used to, or maybe driving is no longer an option. Studies have shown that social interaction goes a long way toward boosting health and happiness, especially among seniors, and living at home can be a barrier to an active social life.
In Your Community: Private Wellness Consults
Do you want to implement a long-term lifestyle plan to better your overall health and wellbeing? Do you want to thrive in levels of optimal energy, stamina, and performance? Are you looking to improve your quality of sleep and combat stress? Are you preparing for a major sporting event and need the proper nutritional and mindset fuel to reach your desired result? Red River Co-op is now offering personalized Health & Wellness consultations with our resident Health & Wellness Advisor, Paige. Appointments are approximately 15-20 minutes, personalized and completely FREE! Simply fill out an application online or in store.
Improve Your Focus & Concentration
Very often, the brain and nervous system become fatigued and overloaded. Much like a computer receiving too much data all at once, the brain can become overwhelmed, slow down, or even crash. This can result in an inability to focus, brain fog, memory loss, ADD/ADHD-like symptoms, a “wired” feeling, or the inability to cope with daily life. The key to turning these conditions around is to give the body what it needs to strengthen specific areas of the brain and nervous system. This can be achieved naturally with specialized nutritional formulations, which will replenish the body and alleviate symptoms.
Time to Move!
We all know exercise is important, but how much exercise should we be getting? According to the Canadian physical activity guidelines, most adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more, to achieve health benefits. Muscle and bone strengthening activities using major muscle groups should be done at least 2 days a week. Start by finding something you enjoy doing, like a new sport, a walking club, or a walking/cycling commute to work. A physiotherapist can also help you achieve your exercise goals!
Clearing up Keto Confusion
There is often some confusion between the ketosis of the keto diet and diabetic ketoacidosis. Diet ketosis is a metabolic state of low sugar levels and low to normal insulin levels, with moderate ketone levels in the blood secondary to the keto diet. Ketoacidosis is a state of extremely high glucose levels secondary to either low insulin levels or insulin resistance in diabetics. Diabetics cannot utilize glucose, so they excrete it in the urine. This causes hyperosmolality, and to sustain energy, the fat cells break down into high levels of ketones. Since they are acidic, this causes acidosis.
Seniors’ Nutrition
As people age, proper nutrition can become a challenge. For example, seniors may have smaller appetites, making it difficult to eat enough to ensure good nutrition. They may also have health conditions that change their sense of taste or smell, making some foods unappealing. In addition, seniors who once cooked big, healthy meals for family can find themselves uninspired by the thought of cooking for one or two. But good nutrition is important at every stage of life. Seniors should focus on eating a variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, with some whole grains and protein to help ensure they are getting the nutrients they need.
How Going Nuts Could Save Your Life
A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who eat a handful of nuts per day are 20 percent less likely to die early than those who skip them. In addition to lower early death rates, the researchers found that people who consumed seven or more handful-sized servings per week saw a 25 percent reduction in death from cardiovascular disease, and an 11 percent reduction in death from cancers. Each nut has a unique profile and features different benefits: walnuts for the heart; almonds for weight loss and pistachios for brain health. Go nuts for nuts!
