Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil. In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya ShetreatKlein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children’s food, how it’s seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it. www.dirtcure.com
Community News
Natural Product Review: pureWash® Pro
pureWash® Pro is a breakthrough in home laundry purification. As it turns out, your laundry has been keeping a dirty little secret, (It’s really not that clean at all!). Detergent may leave clothes smelling clean, but it does not eliminate the mold and bacteria that builds up from sports activities, pets, and everyday living. pureWash® Pro cleans clothes with the disinfecting power of oxygen, not detergent. This same technology is used in Hospitals and Hotels. It’s clinically proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and mold, plus it’s both safe for the environment and for family members of all ages! If you have sensitive skin, you will not get skin irritations as you do from detergent. Detergent build-up promotes mold growth and does not kill bacteria. Independent, scientific studies have proven pureWash® Pro kills 99.9% of both with cold water. The power of naturally oxygenated water eliminates dirt, bacteria, and mold better than detergent!
Kevin Shale, Low Environmental Impact Technologies, Leit.ca
3 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System
It’s officially cold and flu season. Here are five simple things you can do to improve your body’s natural immunity: 1. Drink a TON of Water: Ensuring you are hydrated is an important part of keeping your immune system strong. Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day to keep your body in tiptop shape and ready to fight cold and flu bugs. 2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: The body regenerates and repairs itself while you sleep. Getting a proper night’s rest – between six and eight hours – is important for keeping your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency. 3. Take a Hot/Cold Shower: The next time you take a shower try alternating hot and cold water. Research shows the body’s immune system is stimulated when it tries to warm itself up in between the extreme temperature changes. White blood cell production is increased and endorphins are released that help you relax and relieve pain.
Brett Scott, www.disabilitytaxcredit.webs.com
What’s Your Third Option?
Making choices can be stressful. We weigh the pros and cons of both options and analyze them from all angles, waiting for clarity to emerge. Only, sometimes, it doesn’t. The only thing that emerges is a gnawing feeling of frustration from our inability to choose. This frustration is our sign that neither choice is the right one. They either don’t completely align with our values, or they make us feel like we are settling or taking an unnecessary risk. Unfortunately, we become so emotionally invested in our initial process that we fail to realize we always have a third option. This third option requires a fresh perspective, so take a step back, and get in touch with your core values to determine which one has been keeping you from moving forward. Your choice will soon become clear.
Brent Tocher, chooseauthenticity.ca
Knitting for Prevention of Alzheimer’s
A recent study at the Mayo Clinic found that learning to knit or crochet later in life as a cognitive exercise can reduce or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s by 30-50%. Learning new techniques together with hand-eye coordination builds neural networks that are very important in the prevention of Alzheimer’s. For those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, learning to knit and crochet can be very helpful because of the repetitive motion so that the individual can remember how to create the stitches as the cognitive memory begins to fail. Learning to knit or crochet with a parent that has symptoms of this disease can also provide a way to communicate and connect as symptoms worsen. Keeping the hands busy while knitting or crocheting can help calm those experiencing Alzheimer’s and also give them a sense of purpose as they create projects.
Connie Harvey, www.theknit2scrap2store.com
Leave Your Stress Behind
Stress has a profound effect on the body and its ability to heal and function at an optimal level. When an individual experiences ongoing stress, it can overload the energetic circuits of the body, causing them to fail or be severely compromised. This is just like plugging in too many appliances into an outlet and tripping a circuit breaker in your home. The blown fuse must be reset. Often times the body cannot reset these blown circuits on its own, so the body then must continue to function in a less than ideal state. This ultimately leads to degeneration, illness, and pain in the body. This is a sign that your body is simply falling behind in the healing process. Stress-related illnesses include, but are not limited to: high blood pressure and heart rate, digestive disorders, hormone and endocrine imbalances, fatigue, infertility issues, and all manner of immune system disorders.
Robin Chant, www.robinchant.com
Who Are You?
Poets and writers have said the same thing for centuries, “Know yourself, follow your dreams, and live your passions.” It is good advice. However, we live in an “instant” society where we have everything we need literally at our fingertips. Truly getting to know ourselves is not something that happens quickly, and we won’t experience a sense of fulfillment until we know what it is that brings meaning to our lives. Journaling is a good place to start in your quest for self-knowledge. It only requires a few minutes a day, but the important thing is the process (writing requires time because you must slow down and reflect). It’s this time that is largely missing for many of us. So what should you journal about? A good place to start is by looking at your self-concept. Who is the real you and does your life reflect your authentic self? Happy hunting!
Dr. Lori Doan, Ph.D., www.drloridoan.com
Drink to Your Health
Known as the “Immortal Health Elixir” by the Chinese and originating in the Far East around 2,000 years ago, kombucha is a beverage with tremendous health benefits. With more literature being published regarding its effectiveness in weight management, immune system enhancement as well as its role in improving digestion, and boosting energy, the fondness of this ancient drink is growing. It’s also beneficial for protecting hair and teeth and battling certain types of cancer. Exactly what is kombucha? Simply put, kombucha is a living drink. It’s made by fermenting tea, sugar, and the kombucha culture otherwise known as a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). After being fermented, kombucha becomes carbonated and contains vinegar, b-vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and a high concentration of acid (acetic, gluconic and lactic), which are linked with positive effects. Some outcomes are improved digestion, weight loss, increased energy, cleansing and detoxification, immune support, reduced joint pain, and cancer prevention.
Skin Care Regime
Skin complaints, ranging from visible scarring to acne to hypersensitivity, pigmentation and premature ageing, can all be addressed, controlled and eradicated with a good skin care regime. Regardless of the skin’s condition, improvements in diet, lifestyle and skin care can all contribute to a healthier complexion. The skin is the body’s largest organ and fulfils a huge number of invaluable tasks; because it interacts with the environment on a daily basis, skin plays a key role in protecting against pathogens and excessive water loss while providing insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D, and the protection of vitamin B folates. Skin that is well protected, nourished and preserved against oxidization, pollution, UV rays and other lifestyle and environmental elements will remain healthier for longer; the results of this effort will be visible both in the short and long term.
Perla Yu, Licensed Esthetician, Natera Massage and Esthetics
Diabetes: Preventable or Reversible?
Current medical ‘experts’ that treat diabetics and support organizations for diabetics claim that Type 2 diabetes can only be managed. They are ignoring the science that shows the diets that humans evolved with are the diets that allow us to thrive. The Standard American Diet is the root of most chronic health issues, including diabetes. People that permanently change their diet to one that supports their genetic heritage typically eliminate T2 diabetes or greatly reduce the effect of T1 diabetes. Do you want to continue on the path of ‘managing’ diabetes and accept the inevitable heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, amputation, and neuropathy? If not, enlist the help of a qualified health coach to educate you on what steps to take to allow your body to heal!
Tom White, enddiabetesmanitoba.ca, becomehealthy.ca
Bowenwork: The Answer to TMJ/Jaw Pain
Have you ever come from a dentist appointment or cleaning and felt jaw pain that just won’t go away? Maybe you or someone you know has braces, dentures, clenches their teeth all day, or wears a night guard? Do you know that some people grind their teeth so intensely at night that they wake up with chronic migraines, headaches, or a sore jaw? Grinding teeth can also cause painful teeth, a tight face, and sore neck muscles. Bowenwork can help you STOP grinding your teeth at night, so you can get rid of that ‘attractive’ night guard. Many desperately search for a solution but have not found a natural, effective, and long-lasting option. Sound familiar? If this is you or someone you know, you should try Bowenwork to help with your TMJ/jaw pain. Bowen Therapy works, even if other therapies were unsuccessful. Don’t give up your search for natural pain relief!
Bernadette Kozak, Certified Bowenwork Practitioner, WinnipegPainRelief.ca
