Community News
Senior Safety Checklist

Are all throw rugs and scatter mats secured in place to keep them from slipping? Yes_ No_
Do you have a first aid kit and know where it is? Yes_ No_
Do the steps of your stairs have a non-skid surface? Yes_ No_
Are there solid handrails on both sides of the stairway? Yes_ No_
Do you remove your reading glasses when using the stairs? Yes_ No_
Are heavy items on lower shelves or in bottom cupboards? Yes_ No_
Do you use a ladder or a stable step stool (with a safety rail) for reaching high places? Yes_ No_
Are all chemicals, such as bleach, cleaners and paint thinners, clearly identified? Yes_ No_
Are flammable materials stored as indicated by the directions on the label and away from sources of heat and flame? Yes_ No_
Do you keep night lights or other sources of light on in case you get up in the middle of the night? Yes_ No_

Life Assure

www.lifeassure.com

Ask Your Dentist

Q: How long do dentures last. A: Dentures can last a long time. As your gums and bones change dentures can be relined to make them fit well again. What can’t be changed readily is the way dentures support your face and lips. Without proper support your chin will get closer to your nose and the lower half of your face will begin to look collapsed. This will make you look older, will cause deeper lines around your mouth and make your jaw joint or TMJ uncomfortable. To compensate for these changes you should have new dentures every 5 of 6 years. The dentures themselves make look fine and they may feel like they fit well but the loss of support means they need replacing. New dentures can give you a facelift.

Dr. George Cadigan, Exclusively Dentures
www.exclusivelydentures.ca

Managing Multiple Medications

When taking medications more than twice a day, the likelihood of forgetting increases. For this reason, it is preferable to use convenience packing / bubble packs to serve as a reminder. This type of packaging can help to space your medications appropriately. Prescription medications can interact with each other, sometimes causing adverse side effects. However, over the counter products such as vitamins or herbal products can also interact with prescription medications – this can potentially change the effectiveness of the drug and cause harm. If you are on prescription drugs, it’s important to have a discussion with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any over the counter products. A pharmacist can also conduct a full medication review with all your prescription and over the counter products and advise you on safe use. If you are on a complex medication regime, a pharmacist is able to help you monitor the effects of your medication.

Ray Hogue, Care At Home Pharmacy
www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Oven Roasted Chickpeas

Oven-roasted chickpeas are about as simple as it gets — toss with olive oil, your favourite spices, roast and eat! They are nutritious and a great source of protein and fiber!
This recipe makes approx. 2 cups of snacking goodness!

Ingredients:

2 15-oz cans organic chickpeas
2 TBSP olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
2-4 tsp spices or finely chopped fresh herbs, like chili powder, curry powder, or smoked paprika.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse chickpeas thoroughly, then pat dry with a clean towel. They should feel dry to the touch. Toss chickpeas with olive oil and salt: Spread them out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Stir to make sure the chickpeas are evenly coated. Roast for 20-30 minutes, shaking the pan every 10 minutes. The chickpeas are done when golden and crispy. Toss with the spices and serve warm!

Eilsa Pitamber
www.elisanutrition.com

Book Club: Making a Good Brain Great

by Daniel Amen, MD

When our brains work right, we work right. But the brain is easily injured. A bump on the head, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition can all have long-term consequences leading to problems with attention, mood and even dementia. Dr. Amen shares his exciting insights into protecting, repairing and maintaining our brains with good nutrition, supplements and special exercises. A great read!

Dr. Anke Zimmermann ND,
www.drzimmermann.org

Top 5 Ways Oregano Oil Can Help You

1. Defence Against Harmful Organisms. Oregano oil is known as nature’s most potent defender against unwanted invaders.

2. Strong Antioxidant. Antioxidants fight free radicals and oxidation — the process by which your cells age and wear out. Oregano oil contains high levels of antioxidants to help fight damaging free radicals.

3. Supports Good Health. Taking oregano oil is no guarantee that you’ll never get sick, but when you want to avoid what’s going around, oregano oil can be an extra line of defense and provide support against common, seasonal ailments.

4. Digestive System Support. Oregano oil supports digestion by stimulating the flow of bile to your digestive organs. This can help you get more nutrition out of your food and enjoy a more consistent system.

5. Excellent Nutrition. As an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, and zinc, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, copper, and niacin, oregano oil can be helpful in helping you meet your nutritional requirements.

Acupuncture for Lungs

There are several theories about why acupuncture may help treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. Acupuncture is based on the principle of oriental medicine that believes in a holistic approach towards the treatment of all health problems. Acupuncture helps clear the body’s energy or qi and allows for its natural flow to helps prevent illnesses and disease. Experts believe that acupuncture improves the homeostasis or stability in the body. As a result of the acupuncture treatment, patients experience better circulation as the flow of blood and oxygen to the lungs is encouraged. What acupuncture also does is relax the muscles around the back and the chest. This helps open up the lungs and airways and reduces shortness of breath and other breathing difficulties. Doctors believe that the benefits of acupuncture are consistent with what is being attempted by other conventional treatments for COPD such as breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.

Winnipeg Acupuncture
www.winnipegacupuncture.com

Snap, Crackle ‘n’ Popping?

Joint noise or, ‘crepitus’, is usually associated with wear and tear, and eventual osteoarthritis. It is most commonly the first symptom patients mention regarding their knee pain, but it can occur in any joint. This may be joint fluid movement, scar tissue, bones locating their normal groove and it may never become painful. But when it does become painful, it can be a strong indication of further injury and it should be examined by a professional. Laser treatment has demonstrated great results upon joint osteoarthritis, it can penetrate the bone effectively to treat cartilage problems. Running, walking, kneeling, golfing are all activities that require ‘weight-bearing’ with normal and abnormal twists; it is these incorrect biomechanics that can be your crepitus cause. Occasional bracing and stability exercises are required to support joints properly. Practice good mechanics in front of a mirror or with your Physiotherapist.

Chris Bisignana
www.yourphysio.com

Seniors at Risk 

Did you know that some medications put seniors at risk of falling? Recent data reports that 3000 seniors die each year as a result of medication-related problems of which 88% are considered preventable. 11% of Emergency room visits by seniors are drug related, and 20% of seniors in the community take medications that are considered inappropriate for their age. Many seniors fall through the cracks in the health care system. One of the reasons is that timely review of the complex health care needs of seniors is often not routinely done in community practice. A Senior Care Practitioner has advanced training and knowledge of how to prevent medication-related problems in the elderly. Expertise in Geriatric Pharmacy identify actual and potential medication-related problems, determine the relevance, safety and appropriateness of medications, suggest and implement safer alternatives and improve functionality and quality of life.

Mathilda Prinsloo
www.seniorcarepractice.com

L-Carnitine & Chromium

L-Carnitine with Chromium is a blend of two nutrients that play important roles in the metabolism of fat. L-Carnitine is required for the breakdown of fats into energy, while chromium supports healthy glucose metabolism. Its main function is to help insulin carry sugar into muscle cells where it is stored as energy. A lack of chromium could cause fluctuating blood-sugar levels which trigger sugar cravings. As a carbohydrate dependent society, increasing the amount of L-Carnitine & Chromium in our diet in our formula’s proportions will assist the body’s ability to manage its carbohydrate cravings and, in turn, assist with a successful weight management protocol.

Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee in the World.

Christina Dueck
www.valentusmovie.com/operationweighless

4 Foods You Should Never Eat Again
  1. White flour. The body doesn’t even know how to properly digest this so-called food! Refined white flour has been bleached with chlorine and brominated with bromide, two poisonous chemicals that have been linked to organ damage.
  2. Frozen meals. Most conventionally-prepared meals are loaded with preservatives, hydrogenated oils and other artificial ingredients, not to mention the fact that most frozen meals have been heavily pre-cooked, rendering their nutrient content minimal at best.
  3. Microwaveable popcorn. This processed “food” is one of the unhealthiest foods you can eat. Practically every component of microwaveable popcorn, from the GMO corn kernels to the processed salt and chemicals used to enhance its flavor, is unhealthy and disease-promoting.
  4. Soy-based meat substitutes. Besides the fact that nearly all non-organic soy ingredients are of GM origin, most soy additives are processed using a toxic chemical known as hexane, which is linked to causing birth defects, reproductive problems, and cancer.