Community News
Walking with Man’s Best Friend

Walking is vital to build a strong relationship with your canine companion. Try to aim for at least 30-60 minutes daily. Wear proper footwear,and use a traction aid when walking in the winter. When bending to pick up deposits, make sure to squat down instead of bending at your waist to prevent injury to your back. Use a “No Pull” harness or halter, and ensure the leash is not too long so that your dog will not become distracted or entangled around you. Obedience training will help to teach your dog loose leash walking beside you. Happy walking!

Recognizing Oral Cancer Symptoms

Each year, 3,200 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer. When caught early, oral cancer can be effectively treated. Denturists are qualified to recognize the symptoms associated with oral cancer, as well as other oral health issues. In addition to getting regular checkups, familiarize yourself with symptoms, including: sores, particularly those that bleed or won’t heal; growths, lumps or thickened skin; trouble swallowing or chewing; pain in the tongue, jaw or throat; loose teeth; or poorly fitting dentures. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, be sure to schedule a visit with your denturist as soon as possible.

The Connection Between Eyes and Ears

As we age, we’re more susceptible to hearing loss and vision changes. Both conditions can creep up on us, making preventive measures essential to sustaining the quality of life we’re used to. According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), you’re at greater risk of social isolation and reduced community participation if you have a vision loss. The same goes for hearing loss. Having both a vision and hearing problem can affect your ability to lip-read, which is detrimental to communicating with co-workers, family, and friends. A decreased ability to socialize is linked to a greater risk of dementia. However, Statistics Canada reports that 90 percent of people with hearing loss can improve communication with a properly fit hearing aid, counseling, or environmental changes.

Daily Routine Struggles?

Dopamine, our motivation chemical, is highest in the morning. That’s why it can be helpful to tackle the “hardest” things first and set up a dopamine wave early in the morning. Have a morning routine consisting of discipline-building behaviours – a cold shower is perfect, as it is uncomfortable. Once you overcome an obstacle this big, the other “hard” tasks seem easy in comparison. Other examples are a morning workout or meditation session. This can help you face everything your day throws at you, big or small. Life is won with a series of decisions that build on each other!

Health & Wellness Private Consults

Having a strong immune system is your best line of defense against contracting harmful bacteria and viruses, especially during cold & flu season. Would you like to learn ways to improve your immune system and overall wellbeing? Red River Co-op is offering over-the-phone wellness consultations with their resident Health & Wellness Advisor, Dayna. Appointments are 15 minutes and completely free of charge! Paige will share information, tips and products that work to keep you healthy. This includes nutrition, health and wellness products, mindset tools, and more! If you would like to set up a free wellness consultation please call Dayna at 204-230-0871 between 10AM-4PM, Monday to Friday.

Acupuncture for Gastrointestinal Disorders

If you’ve tried conventional medicine to keep digestive problems in check without success, consider acupuncture, which is a holistic health treatment without side effects. Many modern clinical studies show that acupuncture alters various biochemical and physiological states to treat a wide variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, like irritable bowel syndrome, Chron’s disease, gallstones, heartburn, indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. Acupuncture may help by improving gastrointestinal motility and restoring stomach acidity to normal levels; Reducing serum levels of serotonin which can help the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Reducing inflammation by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors, and improving delayed gastric emptying.

Look After the Caregiver

As the Canadian senior population grows, unpaid caregiving becomes more widespread than ever before. Over 4.5 million Canadians play a role in caring for a family member and caregiver stress and burnout is a significant issue. Caregivers need to be honest about how much care they can realistically provide. While most caregivers want to be present 24/7, this is impossible while juggling other family and career responsibilities. Today’s caregivers deserve respect and gratitude. Whether motivated by love, duty or simply a selfless desire to help others, they play an invaluable role in the care of our senior population.

Product Review: Colflex® by Innotech™

ColFlex® Super Oregano Oil Spray is a great-tasting 4-in-1 oral spray containing essential oils of oregano, thyme, and spearmint oil in an extra virgin olive oil base, sweetened with stevia and fortified with vitamin D3. Spray orally to help relieve coughs, sore throat, travelling challenges, that “under the weather feeling” and for general oral hygiene and fresher breath. Lab tests show that ColFlex inhibited the growth of bacteria such as S. aureus and S. pneumonia after 27 minutes and inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. typhi after 9 minutes.

Keep Your Home Healthy & Warm

With the frigid temperatures on their way, homeowners in Steinbach and surrounding areas need a well-functioning furnace to create a cozy home. Unfortunately, older furnaces can stir up other problems. Consider installing an upgraded heating system. With a new system, you’ll be able to lower monthly energy bills, enjoy more consistent heating and know your furnace is operating safely and reliably. Advances in technology have increased furnace efficiency and it now takes less fuel to produce the same amount of heat. Newer systems are also compatible with smart thermostats, which can automatically regulate the temperature in your home—helping to save money each month.

Drink Aloe for Weight Loss

Aloe Vera’s weight loss properties are becoming better known. This plant stands above the rest of nature’s products as a detoxifying agent that helps the body remove waste. This is largely due to one of its components called ‘aloin’, which taken in appropriate doses can help us achieve its beneficial cleansing properties. The Aloe plant also helps us burn fat by improving our metabolism and the production of fatty acids, which is undoubtedly a big help in the fight to rid our bodies of excess fat. Aloe promotes intestinal function and better allows us to eliminate toxins from the body.

Getting Your Flu Shot

The most effective way to decrease complications and reduce the impact of the flu is to get a flu shot. Health Canada recommends everyone 6 months and older should get the annual flu vaccine as soon as it is available because it takes about two weeks after your flu shot for the protective antibodies to develop in the body. Get you flu shot early to protect yourself before flu viruses begin spreading in your community. A flu shot us your best defense against the flu and can save lives by: Protecting you and the people close to you, Preventing you from getting very sick, and Making you less likely to spread the flu. Speak with your Pharmasave Pharmacist about flu shots, prevention, appropriate symptoms relief and other ways to stay healthy this flu season.