Community News
Why are Sunglasses Important?

Most people are aware of the damage the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation does to your skin, but these rays can cause equal damage to your eyes. Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement; their most important role is protecting your eyes and the surrounding skin from these rays. Damage to the eyes includes cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygiums, and cancer. Extended exposure to UV can cause photokeratitis, also known as snow-blindness, a temporary but extremely painful sunburn of the eye. Sunglasses also block glare, which increases comfort in bright light. When buying sunglasses, look for ones that block out at least 99% of both UVA and UVB radiation, so you can keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear. A wide-brimmed hat offers great protection, too.

Linden Ridge Eye Care, LREyeCare.ca

Plan a Stress-Free Vacation

Planning your holiday is meant to be fun and exciting. The lure of the convenience of the internet can quickly turn to confusion, indecisiveness, and anxiety. Travel agents are here to save you time and don’t cost a penny. Think of a travel agent as your tour guide, who will lead you to the perfect vacation. No matter how much you prepare, sometimes unexpected things happen while you are on vacation. When you book with a travel agent, they are with you every step of the way to ensure a stress-free, enjoyable time, which is what a holiday is meant to be.

Holly Sproule, SouthBeachTravel.ca

Counselling: Investing in You

Have you been thinking about counselling? If you don’t know where to start or how it might help, here are a few ideas to consider:

• Counselling provides an opportunity to talk about concerns in a safe, confidential place.

• It can help you gain increased self-awareness, direction, and invaluable coping skills.

• The hope, self-worth, stability, and health that you develop continue long after the counselling sessions end.

Counselling is an investment in you. Take the first step today.

Tracy Sparham, BSW, RSW, Sparham Counselling, SheaTreeWellness.com

Turmeric for Your Health

Turmeric is one of the prized spices, with an impressive list of health benefits. It is one of the most potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In my practice, I see that there is a growing trend of taking turmeric (active ingredient – curcumin) as a supplement. In Ayurveda, great importance is given to vipaka (post-digestion effect). The vipaka of turmeric is pungent. Therefore, taking turmeric as a supplement creates stress in the liver, as our liver has a tendency to overheat. However, using turmeric in cooking changes the vipaka, as it gets mixed with foods with different post-digestion effects. This way, you get maximum health benefits from turmeric without creating unwanted stress in the liver. This is how it has been used in India for thousands of years, never as a supplement.

Purnima Chaudhari, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Reflexologist & Reiki Master, AyuReviveAyurveda.com

Health Product Review

Super Critical Omega Norwegian Gold by Renew Life.

With well over 7,000 studies on their safety and efficacy for many health issues, there is not a single natural health product with more scientific validation than omega 3 fish oils essential fatty acids. They are necessary fats that humans cannot produce, so we must get them through diet or supplementation. With so many fish oil supplements on the market, what makes the Renew Life Norwegian Gold line so different?

• 100% fish gelatin, not pork or beef. This makes them ideal for fish-eating vegetarians or those with religious dietary restrictions.

• Enteric-coated and contain the fat-digesting enzyme lipase, so there is optimal absorption and no fishy aftertaste.

• Have a 5-star rating from the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) program. This proves that they meet or exceed all national and international standards for purity, potency, and freshness.

• Friend of the Sea certified. This certifies that the products are from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com

Pre-habilitation

Having to go through an orthopedic surgical procedure can be scary. What if there is something that you, the patient, could do to help maximize your outcome and give you the best chance at success? Think of your upcoming surgery as a big game or event that needs preparation and training. Pre-habilitation is a term used to describe the treatment, education, and strengthening that clients receive leading up to orthopedic surgery. Whether you are scheduled for a knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction, muscle-tendon repair, or cartilage repair, physiotherapists will develop a pre-hab strengthening program, help manage pain through modalities, such as acupuncture, and maximize your available mobility through myofascial techniques, dry needling, and manual therapy. All of these factors being the best they can be before your big day can give you your best chance at your post-operative recovery and rehabilitation.

Prairie Trail Physiotherapy, PrairieTrailPhysio.ca

Benefits of Ganban-yoku

Ganban-yoku, a Japanese natural thermal therapy, can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It has a wide range of benefits like relieving pain, improving circulation, helping to reverse the effects of aging, detoxifying, and aiding in weight loss. The treatment has been well received by many visitors. Here are some of the comments from clients after their first session.

“It was so relaxing and my skin feels very good.” ~ Joy.

“Very relaxing and relieved my congestion.” ~ Sunshine.

“Such a relaxing experience. Meditation for the mind and tranquility for the body.” ~ Edward.

“The stone bed started to feel like foam, it was very relaxing.” ~ Grace.

Mieko Morisawa, Founder|Owner, PoccaPocaSpa.ca

Meet Your Practitioner

Meet Yolanda Yeung. Yolanda is originally from Halifax and attended pharmacy school at Dalhousie University. After graduating in 2012, she moved to Brandon, where she gained a variety of skills unique to pharmacy practice. Her time in Brandon has given her experience in long-term care management for group homes and nursing homes. She takes a holistic approach to pharmaceutical care by meeting frequently with clients to assess their medications and working closely with their physicians and care-givers to resolve any drug-related issues. Yolanda is excited to continue her career with Care At Home Pharmacy and to experience the difference pharmacy makes in bettering the lives of each client.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

All You Need is Love

In a world with more than 7.28 billion people, finding love should be an easy task. As humans, we have a tendency to complicate things, especially when our emotions are imprinted by our relationship history. If the methods you have used in the past to find love have not worked for you, then it is time to change things up. A professional matchmaker handpicks potential partners who are screened and presented to you one by one. Their intentions have been determined and many of the important compatibility factors have already been established. When meeting for the first time, plan an activity that the two of you do together, such as mini-golf or bowling, to eliminate pressure and allow you to get to know one another in a lighthearted way. Allow your meeting to grow into a friendship. The best relationships start off as friendships and evolve into loving relationships.

Lianne, Camelot Introductions, CamelotIntroductions.com

Serrapeptase, the Little Miracle Enzyme!

Serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme, which means it breaks down long protein chains into amino acids that the body needs. These enzymes bind to the alpha 2 macroglobulin in our plasma where it is shielded from the immune system while retaining its enzymatic activity. They are then free to roam through the blood stream seeking to break down hard protein (non-living tissue), fibrin surfaces, scar tissue, granuloma, and even thin out mucous to ease conditions such as chronic sinusitis. It’s been proven to be a safe and effective alternative to NSAIDs (NonSteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) and should be taken on an empty stomach. The capsule must be a special DRcap (Delayed Release capsule) or enteric coated capsule that allows the Serrapeptase to pass through the stomach to the small intestine where the enzyme is then released.

Enerex Botanicals Ltd., Enerex.ca

Book Club: The Brain Diet

A nutritional plan for raising smarter children; improving your mental and physical well-being; and improving your odds against depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, migraine headaches, ADHD, and more, as you age.