Community News
The Not-So-Great Outdoors

Many cat owners feel guilty about keeping their cats inside and worry they are depriving them of natural instincts. Generally speaking, a cat that spends his entire life indoors will live many years longer than a cat restricted to the outdoors. If your cat has indoor/outdoor access, he still faces increased risks to his health and safety. On top of the parasites and potentially fatal diseases it can contract (including feline leukemia and feline AIDS), your outdoor cat is always at risk of being struck by a vehicle. Even the most “street savvy” feline can become distracted while in pursuit of prey or while being chased by another cat or dog. It’s a myth that going outside is a requirement for feline happiness. Playing regularly with cats and providing them with entertaining toys can easily satisfy their stalking instinct, keep them stimulated, and provide the exercise they need to stay healthy and happy.

Rob Lamont, A Pet Lovers Warehouse, Apetlovers.com

Benefits of Tuina Massage

Tuina massage therapy makes use of rhythmic compression techniques in different energy channels of the body to establish a harmonious flow of Qi (bio-energy). Tuina uses various hand techniques in combination with acupressure and other manipulation methods. In Tuina massage, that often focuses on the deeper layer muscle and connective tissues. This massage removes the blockages and keeps the energy moving through the meridians, as well as through the muscles and joints. The best part about it is that it relaxes as well as energizes. Tuina is a very effective therapy for stiff neck, sore back, arthritis, sciatica, and muscle aches and spasms. It also helps with stress-related disorders like insomnia, indigestion, and headaches. It can be used to address both internal illness and muscular injuries. If you’re suffering from a physical ailment or looking for an alternative, holistic approach to overall wellness, Tuina massage may be an effective option.

Dr. Li Lin, Brandon-Acupuncture.com

Natural Bug Deterrents

Our skin is our largest organ and it absorbs 60 percent of what we apply to it. That’s right; whatever you are putting on your skin, your body is absorbing it, right into your bloodstream. Don’t rub it with toxic chemicals to protect yourself from bugs. Look for a natural alternative. There are many different options on the market, and using essential oils is one of them. There are many natural alternatives that use essential oils for everything from mosquito spray to lip balm. Essential oils can deter bugs like mosquitoes just as well as their chemicalladen counterparts, but without the use of harmful chemicals!  You may have heard about citronella for mosquitos, but did you know several essential oils can also be effective bug repellants? Clove, rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lavender, geranium, and peppermint are also very effective.

Sylvia Provenski, CanadianMoms.ca

Why an Organic Mattress?

Many bed manufacturers add fire-retardant chemicals and dustmite deterrents that are toxic to humans. There is also the issue of off-gassing of polyurethane memory foam mattresses, which involves the mattress releasing volatile organic compounds into the air, affecting the quality of the air you breathe every night, which may pose health risks. In the past, you didn’t have to bother with organic beds because they were already organic; we, however, have built a society where most beds are not, and thereby pose health risks for ourselves. Up to a third or more of your life could be spent in bed! One of the most important factors in staying healthy is the quality of the environments in which we spend significant amounts of time, and so ensuring that your bed provides deep and restful sleep without detracting from your overall health is of paramount importance.

Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com

Trouble Focusing at School?

Is your child having trouble focusing? Before labeling him or her with a learning problem, consider that over two-thirds of our brain is based on sensing or input, and one-third on execution. If we have trouble focusing or concentrating, it is simply because the pathways between the sensory and execution network areas are not clear. After Brainwave Optimization (BWO), where brainwaves are balanced and harmonized, children achieve, laugh, and enjoy life more completely and engage in a healthier social life. Frequently, BWO providers see kids labeled as “disabled” become top performers in their school. Our surveys demonstrate that more than 85 percent of all children who experience BWO meet or exceed their goals. Here’s what one father shared after his son’s experience with BWO: “He doesn’t stutter as much and he is not panicking when it comes to exams. He is really doing well!”

Joanne Couture, LaLobaTraumaRelease.com

6 Ways to Alkalize Your Body

Did you know that your immunity is based on how alkaline your diet is? Having an overly acidic diet eventually leads to a weakened state, and our bodies become susceptible to disease. Here are six ways to alkalize – and healthify – your body!

1. Drink plenty of water. Drink half your body weight in ounces every day to keep your body systems regulated. For an extra boost in alkalinity – add lemon!

2. Trade coffee for tea. Green tea is highly alkaline. Try jasmine, sencha or matcha.

3. Kick that sugar habit. Use stevia, coconut sugar or small amounts of honey in place of sugar.

4. Eat more greens. Vegetables are highly alkaline and oxygen rich. Consume fresh green vegetables often as possible.

5. Move. Exercise to create more oxygen and qi flow in the body and to avoid stagnation.

6. Reduce stress. Meditate as often as possible, practice deep breathing, do yoga, and get plenty of sleep.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Cantaloupe & Cucumber Salad

Here’s a refreshing side salad for a change of pace. It’s delicious served with a spicy grilled chicken, tofu, or fish. Or serve this over a bed of leafy greens with extra dressing on the side. Gently fold together 1/2 small cantaloupe and 1 medium cucumber (cut into 1/2 inch chunks), 1/2 cup crumbled feta, and 6 big basil leaves (sliced thinly). Whisk and add to salad: 1 tbsp olive oil, 2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and freshly ground salt and pepper to taste. Top with 2 tbsp sunflower seeds. (This is the perfect place to showcase your gourmet balsamic vinegars and good quality olive oil. Skip the salt and sprinkle with a little Fleur de Sel for some drama!)

Lisa Kehler, OffYourPlateNutrition.ca

Book Club: The Dirt Cure

Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil. In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children’s food, how it’s seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it.

Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, Dirtcure.com

Avoiding Soreness from Golf

Golf season is in full swing. Reinitiating any summer activity after a long winter can potentially result in post-activity soreness. Golfing is a complex activity that involves generating movements through both your upper and lower extremities, thus producing a great number of stresses on the joints, muscles, and ligaments. A bucket of balls on the driving range, numerous practice strokes, and an average of 90 strokes during a round all result in repetitive strain to the tissues. A well-designed exercise program including stretching, core muscle strengthening, balance exercises, and an aerobic fitness component is key to keeping you on the fairways. Have a physiotherapist prescribe a golf-specific program for you. It is also wise to seek instruction from a local golf pro, who can improve your technique, thus decreasing your chance of injury. Try a few practice swings in the opposite direction. Enjoy the season!

Doug Treloar, Physiotherapist
PhysioFirstClinic.ca

Is Cancer Preventable?

“Every person who has cancer has a pH that is too acidic.” – Dr. Otto Warburg (Nobel Prize winner). Did you know that 95% of cancers are said to be linked to diet, lifestyle, and environment, leaving only 5% to genetics? From the foods we eat, to the amount of stress we are under, our culture leads a particularly acidic lifestyle. Our bodies were not designed to endure what we put them through, leading us on a path of disease. The answer? Eliminate the acidity. It Works! GREENS Blend is an amazing green-based super food. It helps to alkaline, energize, and detoxify the body with a perfect blend of 38 herbs and nutrient-rich super foods that provide phyto nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes you require for your body and overall health. Reclaim your health, start with GREENS.

Wendy Omilanow, IT WORKS

What is MAT?

MAT, or Muscle Activation Therapy, is a dynamic approach to addressing muscular imbalances that can reduce or eliminate pain and fatigue, and speed muscle recovery. It is a noninvasive method for improving everyday activities for all age groups and body types. MAT allows the body to achieve optimal levels of function, without further discomfort or injury, by increasing the body’s range of motion, restoring muscular alignment, and eliminating compensation patterns. It is a checks-and-balances system designed to identify and address the causes of discomfort and range of motion limitations. MAT helps with growing pains, slowing down and even reversing the aging process, feeling a positive impact on arthritis and aging-related losses in physical performance, healing the body faster and properly after surgery, and acting as a precursor to exercise and therapy to help prepare the body.

Julie Northam, Certified Muscle Activation Techniques Specialist, Julie’s Muscle Awareness, JulieMuscleAwareness.com