Each year, an alarming number of people over the age of 65 experience a fall. Research has shown that as many as one in four older people fall every year.  Fortunately these falls can often be prevented. Some of the things you can do to prevent a fall include: talk to your doctor about your risk of falling and how to prevent falls, review your list of medicines with your pharmacist to determine if any of these cause dizziness, do strength and balance exercises such as Tai Chi and make your home safer with grab bars and removing items that can cause you to trip.  Sometimes, regardless of how careful you are, a fall will occur. When it does, it is prudent to have a safety device that allows you to signal for help or one that detects that a fall has occurred and will summon assistance.

Joan Ryan
Nanaimo Lifeline

nanaimolifeline.ca

Aromatherapy massage is massage therapy enhanced with essential oils (highly concentrated plant oils) added to the massage oil or lotion. Essential oils are absorbed through the skin and through inhalation creating beneficial changes in the mind and body by affecting the limbic system; a region of the brain connected to memory and nervous system. Headache, insomnia, digestive disorders, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and back pain are a few examples of conditions helped with aromatherapy massage. Aromatherapy may help to ease stress and anxiety. If you’re considering trying aromatherapy massage, talk with your massage therapist and healthcare provider about whether it’s appropriate for you. Each essential oil used in aromatherapy is said to have different properties. For example, some calm while others energize. Some widely used essential oils and their purported properties are: Calming – chamomile, lavender, geranium; Uplifting – orange, may change, neroli; Energizing – rosemary, peppermint; and Decongesting – eucalyptus, pine, tea tree.

Tammy Phye, R.A., EOT
Lifestyle Harmony

lifestyleharmony.ca

Have you ever noticed that after a thunderstorm the air has a poignant, fresh smell? This smell is ozone, a gas that is produced during natural circumstances. Ozone has the feel of being cleansed… and that is precisely what it does. It cleanses the atmosphere when nature produces it and similarly it cleanses our bodies when we are exposed to it. We don’t have to wait for nature to make ozone; modern technology can produce highly concentrated ozone for effective, accelerative healing of chronic, degenerative diseases because it operates at the foundation level of the body: the body’s cells. Ozone enhances circulation & provides an oxygen-rich environment for cellular & tissue regeneration. It can be applied to the body in a variety of ways to accelerate healing & eliminate the pain of many conditions including, arthritic joints & muscles, spinal, E/N/T, immune. Just like nature, ozone therapy enhances your vitality.

Dr. Sterling Desmond, Dr. TCM, R.Ac.

EvolveWithDesera.com

Scientists are now calling Alzheimer’s type 3 diabetes. New research shows a diet low in beneficial fats and high in carbohydrates increases the risk of insulin resistance, which is now believed to be a major factor leading to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, the underlying cause is too much sugar on the brain. It begins when we over consume sugar (more than 25 grams) and are not consuming enough essential fatty acids. We know that sugar causes inflammation and inflammation is known to be the critical cause of many diseases. Registered Holistic Nutritionists can help you develop a holistic approach for healing the brain and the body by addressing diet, exercise, stress reduction and nutritional deficiencies. Steps to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s include: 1. Balance blood sugars with whole foods low on the glycemic index 2. Follow a diet rich in omega 3 healthy fats such as wild fish, olive oil, whole eggs, nuts and seeds. 3. Exercise 4. Supplement wisely and 5. Control stress.

Cheryl Prince R.H.N. LPN
Return to Food Coach, CSNN Nanaimo Seasonal Instructor

cherylprince.com

The belief that there is no difference between indoor grown tray wheat grass and true field grown wheat grass that is grown through the winter outdoors is just one of many myths about wheat grass. When buying a greens product, it is important that the wheat grass is grown in nutrient-rich, certified-organic, glacial soil. The result is a very dark green vegetable with concentrated levels of chlorophyll (400% more than tray grown), enzymes, vitamins, mineral and other nutrients. It takes time for the plant to convert simple carbohydrates (sugars) into complex nutrients such as the amino acids that make up the perfect protein in wheat grass. The longer a plant is exposed to sunlight, the darker green it becomes. Wheat grass seeds need more than 200 days of bright sunlight and cold temperatures to build the highest nutritional levels. Something to think about before adding that ‘shot’ of wheat grass to your next smoothie.

Sheldon Lee, President of Kerux Developments, Inc.
Commercial Brand Partnerships on Behalf of Vios Nutrition, LLC.

kerux.vioslife.com

Ingredients:

1 large spaghetti squash
3 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp spelt flour
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
3/4 tsp salt
/2 tsp onion or garlic powder
pinch ground black pepper
1 cup (4 oz) any hard cheese, shredded
Red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Wash squash, cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds with spoon. Place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 40-50 minutes. Let cool and separate into strands with a fork. Preheat medium pot on low-medium heat and melt oil. Whisk in flour and milk until smooth. Add salt, onion powder and pepper; whisk and let simmer for about 4 minutes or until sauce has slightly thickened. Add cheese and whisk again until smooth. Add squash and mix gently with a spoon to combine. Cover and let squash warm through for about 5 minutes. Enjoy!

www.ifoodreal.com

Creative Living Beyond Fear! Empowering author Elizabeth Gilbert asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

We are proud to launch the first edition of the Wellnessnews on Central Vancouver Island! To us, Healthy Living means making positive choices and taking ownership and action to improve and enrich our lives in all key areas; physical, mental and spiritual. In order to achieve Healthy Living, we need information about positive health practices and a guide to the resources available to us. Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living strives to be the resource that showcases local health practitioners and businesses that can help the people in our communities achieve their goal of health and wellness.

Teresa Ostman and Isabella Ostman, Leverage Marketing Inc.
Publisher, Wellnessnews Central Vancouver Island
wellnessnews.ca