Community News
Positive Mental Health is a Laughing Matter

While living with mental illness is no joke, laughing for positive mental and physical health seriously works. In fact, evidence supports the claim that a joyful heart provides a similar benefit to that of medicine. Although not considered a replacement for medical treatment, some doctors are using laughter as an adjunctive therapy. In the short and long term, laughter has been shown to, 1. Stimulate/boost the immune system; 2. Alleviate pain; 3. Reduce anxiety and stress; 4. Reduce depression; and, 5. Promote a sense of hopefulness. What if you don’t feel like laughing? No problem, fake it until you make it. Physiologically speaking, for the most part, your body doesn’t know the difference. And, faking it often leads to the real thing which may be exactly the health supplement you need to get to the positive side of negative circumstances.

Sean Miller, Canadian Mental Health Association, mbwpg.cmha.ca

Book Club: Big Magic 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.

Did You Know?

Blue corn has been popping up as an ingredient everywhere from tortilla chips to breakfast cereal. New research suggests that anthocyanins, the nutrients that give the corn its blue color, may help protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer!

www.newhope.com

Clean Eating: Spaghetti Squash “Mac ‘n’ Cheese”

Ingredients:

1 large spaghetti squash

3 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp spelt flour

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion or garlic powder

pinch ground black pepper

1 cup (4 oz) any hard cheese, shredded.

Red pepper flakes, to taste. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Wash squash, cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds with a 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

Orthopaedic Manual Therapy: What is it?

The profession of Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy has a number of specialized areas of practice. Orthopaedic Manual Therapy is one such specialized area. The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT), which represents groups of Manipulative Physical Therapists around the world, defines this area as the management of nerves, muscles, and bones of the body, i.e. neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, using specific treatment approaches which include manual or manipulative techniques and therapeutic exercises. Scientific and clinical evidence and detailed physical examination of patients are used to arrive at a diagnosis and to develop a management plan to restore and improve the movement and function of these individuals. Orthopaedic manual therapists, in addition to their physiotherapy/physical therapy degree, also have extensive post-graduate education and training in this specialized area and have attained internationally recognized qualifications in manipulative therapy.

Paula Moreira, www.physio4u.net

Essential Oils for a Healthy Heart

This month is all about heart! But it isn’t all about hugs and kisses! In this very moment, the Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates that 600,000 people are living with heart failure. Modern medicine is working tirelessly to come up with solutions, but we can also look to natural remedies like essential oils to lead us on the road to better health. For example, Rosemary improves circulation and works to help strengthen blood capillaries. Marjoram helps lower blood pressure and Ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent blood from clotting. Ylang Ylang not only reduces anxiety and regulates heart rate, but also helps alleviate hypertension. Helichrysum (from the sunflower family) is somewhat of a natural blood thinner! So perhaps Mother Nature is the best Valentine of them all! Let this month inspire you to look after your heart and open yourself up to new ways of creating a healthy life; mind, body, HEART, and soul by incorporating essential oils into your daily health regime.

Sylvia Provenski, Young Living Essential Oils, www.canadianmoms.ca

Go Green!

Over the past year, more and more Manitobans are making the switch to renewable energy. With rising energy costs of 42% over a 9-year period and Hydro’s recently announced solar program, the appeal is higher than ever. Hydro incentives are making it easier to become an independent energy producer. Offering a rebate of $1 per watt installed and a loan with a low interest rate of 4.9% and up to $30k in financing. There are free assessments available to you so you can learn what it takes to go green today!

Lorena Mitchell, www.evolvegreen.ca

Begin Practicing Self-Compassion

If you were to hear your good friend being critical of herself for a mistake she made, what would you tell her? Most likely, you would tell her she was too hard on herself. You might also remind her of why she is a wonderful person. You would do this because you know people are not defined by one mistake, action, or imperfection. This is called compassion. And yet, while we often treat others compassionately, when it comes to ourselves, we do the exact opposite. We become our own worst critics and often set unrealistic expectations that we wouldn’t place on anyone else. Self-compassion requires a combination of self-kindness, awareness that many others have had similar experiences, and mindfulness in recognizing and accepting one’s negative emotions in a balanced way. Start small by choosing one of the three requirements to start with as you begin your self-compassion practice.

Brent Tocher, chooseauthenticity.ca

Product Spotlight: Venus Freeze™

As you get older, your body produces less collagen which leads to crow’s feet, laugh lines, and other signs of aging. Venus Freeze™ is a non-invasive anti-aging treatment that works to firm up sagging skin and diminish lines and wrinkles by using heat to boost collagen production. Venus Freeze is great for anti-aging procedures on the face, neck and chest. This helps to restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance. It is also great at diminishing cellulite, blasting fat, tightening and toning for larger areas such as the stomach, legs, buttocks, back and arms. Treatments are virtually painless, with many patients comparing it to a relaxing hot stone massage. You can return to your daily schedule immediately afterward. Treatments use radio frequency technology, which is proven safe and effective for all skin tones. Sessions usually last around 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated. Most treatment providers will recommend a series of 6-8 treatment sessions done weekly in order to see optimal results.

Tannis Ortynsky, www.rejuvenatezone.ca

The Best Way to a Persons Heart

This Valentine’s day, you might be thinking the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. While this may or may not be true, research shows one of the best ways to optimal mental health is, indeed, through the stomach. What you eat is critical to the health of your entire body including brain health. Many of the nutrients we digest are essential building blocks of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that regulate mood, appetite, sleep, weight and a myriad of other processes that work to keep us functioning properly. Diets containing whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean meat, and fatty fish as well as probiotic-rich foods like pickles, sauerkraut, and kefir are associated with better physical and mental health. Omega 3 fatty acid and vitamin supplementation can play an integral role in our mental health, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Always consult your healthcare provider before making lifestyle changes.

Sean Miller, Canadian Mental Health Association, mbwpg.cmha.ca

3 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Are you looking to kick-start your metabolism? Here are a few tips! 1. Build Muscle. Your body always burns calories, even when you’re doing nothing. Your resting metabolic rate is much higher if you have muscle. After a session of strength training, muscles are activated all over your body, raising your average daily metabolic rate. 2. Keep Drinking. Your body needs water to process calories. If you are even mildly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down. To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage before every meal and snack. 3. Power Up With Protein. Your body burns many more calories digesting protein than it does with carbohydrates. As part of a balanced diet, replacing some carbs with lean, protein-rich foods can boost metabolism at mealtime. Good sources of protein include lean beef, turkey, fish, chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy products. Now get ready to become a lean, mean, calorie-burning machine!

www.disabilitytaxcreditwinnipeg.com