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. On top of potentially fatal diseases it can contract, 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 animal. 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.

Meal planning can save you money, time, and energy. Don’t let these myths keep you from adding it to your life.
MYTH 1: Meal planning takes too much time. TRUTH: Meal planning does take a bit of time at first, but when you have a plan, you can blast through a meal plan in minutes. You don’t have to spend hours a week meal prepping.
MYTH 2: Meal planning means eating the same thing every day. TRUTH: You don’t have to eat only chicken, rice, and broccoli. Meal planning simply means planning your meals, so plan whatever you like!
MYTH 3: Meal planning makes you eat gross leftovers. TRUTH: You don’t need to cook once and eat the same thing all week long. You can meal prep for only a couple days; even simply spending 10 minutes to pre-chop vegetables can save you tons of time during the week.

When you have knee osteoarthritis, the space between the bones in your knee becomes narrower as you lose cartilage. As your condition worsens, and without the protective layer of cartilage, the bones begin to come in direct contact with one another. The result – pain, inflammation, and reduced function of the knee. One solution to resolve these symptoms is to wear an off-loading knee brace. The function of these braces is to increase the space between the bones of the knee and to off-load the bone on bone contact. The outcome – decreased pain, decreased inflammation, and increased function of the knee. Talk to your doctor to see if an off-loading knee brace is right for you.

Is it that time of the year again? Are you suffering with congested sinuses, headaches, itchy eyes, and other signs of allergies? Allergies are an immune problem. Re-balancing this immune issue is at the heart of allergy cure. The good news is there are many natural allergy relief remedies you can try that may help you. Eating an anti-inflammatory and alkaline diet, adding lemon to your water, and consuming apple cider vinegar, raw honey, and bone broth are all simple strategies that will help build your immunity and reduce your allergies.
Herbs such as Astragalus, Reishi, black seed oil, quercetin, stinging nettle, and fenugreek to name a few are some herbs that help rebalance and strengthen your immune system. Essential oils such as eucalyptus and frankincense can provide relief by reducing inflammation and toxins.

Did you know our bodies are trying to send us messages all day, especially when we are not willing to pay attention to different aspects of our lives? If you are experiencing neck pain, it may be that your body and mind are trying to tell you something. When you have a sore neck, ask yourself who in your life is a pain in the neck. Can you bring more compassion to the situation to soften the tension? Are you sticking your neck out for someone else? Are you breaking your neck to get something done? Is someone breathing down your neck? Were you aware that waking up during the night is an indication that your body is unable to process an issue that could be affecting your life? If you are feeling overburdened, your shoulders will ache. Our bodies are letting us know what parts of our lives require attention.

The abdominal muscles form a strong but elastic “wall” behind which a baby can grow safely in the uterus. The abdominals also help to support the spine and assist in good posture. In about 30% of pregnant women, the central muscles of the abdomen (the rectus muscle) will separate during pregnancy due to the increasing tension of the growing baby. This is called separation of the rectus muscles of diastasis. It is very important to determine whether there is separation, because certain abdominal muscle exercises can make the separation worse. Any separation, depending on its width and length, needs to be evaluated to address exercises in the appropriate supporting abdominal muscle.

May is National Physiotherapy Month. There are nearly 20,000 university-trained physiotherapists in Canada. These medical professionals provide physiotherapy diagnoses and offer treatments for a variety of conditions. Physiotherapy can assist with the following: strains of soft tissue and muscles; tendinopathies (tendon injuries); sprains; joint injuries; arthritis (degenerative changes); sports injuries; pre-op programs; post-op recovery; workplace (WCB) and motor vehicle injuries (MPI); disc injuries; back and neck pain; vertigo (dizziness); and neurological conditions, including stroke, along with cardiac rehabilitation. If you or someone you know struggles with any of the above conditions, physiotherapy may be just what you need.

Kelburn Estates Mental Health & Addictions Recovery Centre is a private residential wellness centre on 45 beautiful acres along the red river, here in Manitoba. We pride ourselves in providing confidential and multi-disciplinary expertise for our guests to reclaim, develop, and sustain a meaningful life. A life free from the destructive mental health disease and related substance abuse. Our mission is to create and maintain a lasting relationship with our guests, families, and community service providers. At Kelburn Estates, we will walk with you on your journey to recovery.