Good nutrition plays a key role in brain health for seniors. A balanced diet rich in nutrients helps protect cognitive function, memory, and mood. Foods high in antioxidants, like berries and leafy greens, combat oxidative stress, while omega-3 fatty acids from sources like fish reduce inflammation linked to cognitive decline. Whole grains provide steady energy, and nuts, seeds, and avocados supply healthy fats essential for brain health. Seniors should also aim to reduce refined sugars and saturated fats, which can negatively impact cognition. Staying hydrated and limiting processed foods also helps. Prioritizing a nutrient-dense diet supports overall brain vitality and mental sharpness.
Community News
Staying Safe in the Winter Months
Winter can be beautiful, but it also brings challenges for seniors’ safety and mobility. To prevent slips, wear proper footwear with good grip, and keep entryways dry and clutter-free. Dress warmly in layers, covering hands, feet, and head to avoid frostbite. Plan outings during daylight and check the forecast before heading out. Indoors, ensure heaters and smoke detectors work properly, and keep emergency contacts handy. Staying active and hydrated also helps maintain balance and energy. With thoughtful preparation, winter can be safe, cozy, and enjoyable. Visit www.hsewinnipeg.com for more helpful wellness tips this season.
Finding Calm This Holiday Season
Reiki can be a calming and supportive practice for easing holiday anxiety. During the busy season, emotions often run high, and Reiki helps restore balance by promoting relaxation and grounding. Through gentle, hands-on or distance energy work, Reiki encourages the body’s natural ability to release tension and emotional stress. Many people report feeling lighter, more centered, and peaceful after a session. It can also enhance mindfulness, helping you stay present amid the chaos of gatherings, travel, and expectations. Whether received from a practitioner or practiced for self-care, Reiki offers a simple, nurturing way to reconnect with calm during the holidays.
Handling Holiday Stress
Whatever holiday you celebrate this season, even if you’re surrounded by family and friends, it can be stressful. Making sure that your body and mind can handle stress is the best gift that you can give yourself. One of the best ways to improve your overall health and stress-handling ability is through Bioenergetics. Bioenergetics uses computerized testing and treatment to effectively determine and treat any imbalance or weakness in the body that is preventing you from achieving both optimal stress management and improved health. This holiday season, make sure that stress isn’t an unwanted gift that you can’t give back.
Giving Accessibility This Christmas
This Christmas, consider giving the gift of safety, comfort, and independence with an accessible bathtub or shower conversion. Total Tub, a Manitoba-based company, specializes in high-quality Canadian-made bathroom accessibility solutions, including Quick Tub® shower conversions, grab bars, railings, and wall-mounted benches. These upgrades promote independent living and help reduce the risk of slips and falls as 80% of which occur in the bathroom. As licensed installers and authorized dealers, Total Tub provides OBC/AODA-compliant products for both homes and businesses. Locally owned and operated, they’re small enough to listen, big enough to deliver – making accessibility the perfect gift that truly lasts.
Nutrient Therapy for Mental Wellness
At Uptown Integrative Health, we take an individualized approach to mental wellness that recognizes the strong connection between nutrient biochemistry and brain function. The Walsh Protocol, developed by Dr. William Walsh, is one evidence-informed framework we may use to identify biochemical imbalances contributing to anxiety, depression, ADHD, and mood dysregulation. This method includes targeted nutrient testing to assess methylation, zinc–copper balance, B6 levels, and oxidative stress—key factors influencing neurotransmitters. Treatment is personalized and may include specific vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Combined with counseling, lifestyle support, and mind-body therapies, this integrative approach aims to promote stable mood, focus, and long-term resilience.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing. When the muscles relax, your airway narrows as you inhale, and breathing may be inadequate for 10 seconds or longer. Your brain senses this impaired breathing and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. You are more at risk for developing sleep apnea if you are overweight, an adult male, use drugs or alcohol, are a smoker, have a family history of sleep apnea, or if you have a certain medical condition such as Type 2 Diabetes.
December Book Club
Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect With the Present, and Expand the Future. An empathetic and wise book that will guide you on a journey toward a deeper understanding of self. In Lighter, Yung Pueblo demonstrates how we can all move forward in our healing, from learning self-compassion to letting go to becoming emotionally mature.
Avoid the Winter Blues
The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines suggest adults should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, as well as two sessions of muscle and bone strengthening activities, to achieve physical AND mental health benefits. With winter coming, and the challenges of leaving home, this can seem daunting! Your physiotherapist can tailor an exercise program designed specifically for you to do inside with minimal space (to help avoid the cold weather!), and with equipment everyone has around their home. At 30 minutes per day, the benefits of exercise are countless, while the side effects are minimal.
Dentures and TMJ Disorders
TMJ Disorders, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, can sometimes be caused by too much space between your upper and lower teeth. When your dentures no longer fit properly because of ridge resorption and worn down tooth anatomy, this can lead to a decreased vertical dimension, which in turn can cause TMJ pain. Symptoms like headaches, popping in the jaw, pain in the jaw, neck pain, dizziness, pain in the ears, ringing in your ears, or even hearing loss could occur. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your denturist to see how they can help with this issue. Make sure to get your dentures checked regularly to prevent further problems.
Keeping Pets Safe at Christmas
The holiday season brings joy, but it can also pose hidden dangers for pets. Keep Christmas trees secure to prevent tipping, and avoid tinsel, which can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed. Decorations like ornaments and lights should be placed out of reach, as they can be choking or electrocution hazards. Many festive plants, including poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly, are toxic to animals. Keep chocolate, alcohol, and rich holiday foods away from curious pets. Provide a quiet space for them to retreat from guests and noise. With a little planning, you can keep your furry friends safe and enjoy a happy Christmas together.
