Community News
The Effects of Stress on Your Hair

It has been said that stress can make you go gray, or cause you to lose your hair. But can it? Hair loss due to stress can occur after a traumatic life event such as divorce, death or severe financial worries. This temporary hair loss, called ‘telogen effluvium,’ can also be caused by factors such as hormonal changes (think menopause or post-pregnancy), illness or poor diet. The significant stress of some sort may spark a change in your body’s routine physiological functions. Hair evolves in a cycle of growth (anagen); transition (catagen); and resting (telogen). Prolonged or extreme stress can cause hair to prematurely enter telogen and break off more easily. When you have a really stressful event, it can shock the hair cycle, pushing more hair into the shedding phase.

Jenna Wilcox, www.jennawilcox.monat.com

Pharmacy Budget

We know that the cost of prescriptions is often difficult to manage for patients. We want everyone to have access to good care and safe medication use – to accomplish this, a customized budget plan for clients. This allows you to remain on your medications and manage the expense throughout the year. Along with the budget, a visiting pharmacist will counsel you or your loved ones in the comfort of your own home on a regular basis. They will help you manage multiple or complex medications and collaborate with other members of your health care team to ensure your health needs are met. This gives you and your family peace of mind with the knowledge that this aspect of your life is taken care of and contributes to a positive quality of life. Better Health and Wellness can be achieved through medication management – call a visiting pharmacist to arrange a home visit.

Care at Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Stress Often Leads to Disease

Little bits of ‘acute’ stress are normal, sometimes even healthy. It’s CHRONIC STRESS that often leads to disease. Headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, to name a few, are the first signs of ongoing chronic stress. These symptoms wreak havoc on our bodies and when coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle, exposure to molds, heavy metals, food intolerances, inflammation, infections and parasites within your body, this mixture is why chronic stress is linked to diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Get down to the underlying cause of your stress by having your stress hormones tested and by adopting these healthy lifestyle tips: 1. Practice some deep breathing techniques. 2. Get plenty of sleep. 3. Eat fish at least twice per week or take an Omega 3 supplement. 4. Drink water! Eight glasses a day. 5. Avoid junk food!

Stacie Rasmussen RNCP, Blossom Nutrition, www.winnipegnutritionist.com

Clean Eating: Almond Date Energy Bites

1 cup Medjool Dates (de-pitted).

1 cup raw almonds.

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut or rolled oats.

1/4 cup raw cacao.

¼ tsp cinnamon. Pinch of sea salt.

1/2 tbsp vanilla. 1/2 tbsp maple syrup.

1 – 2 tbsp almond milk.

1. Place dates in food processor and pulse until it forms a ball. Break up the date ball with a spatula and add almonds, raw cacao, coconut and salt. 2. Process for 3-4 minutes 3. Add vanilla, almond milk and maple syrup 4. Process until mixture forms a ball. Add more almond milk if the mixture is not forming. 5. Roll mixture into balls and dip in shredded coconut if desired 6. Can be stored in an airtight container or frozen.

Stacie Rasmussen RNCP, Blossom Nutrition, www.winnipegnutritionist.com

Considering Dentures?

The first priority when considering dentures is to ensure that your mouth is healthy. Make sure you see a dentist first. Only a dentist is specially qualified to check for signs of oral cancer and other conditions of concern in the mouth. People are surprised to learn that a dentist is the most affordable denture option. A well made denture is virtually undetectable to the untrained eye. More advanced options to replace missing teeth include fixed bridges and implants. Only a dentist can prepare natural teeth for a fixed bridge. Only a dentist can place dental implants. Any dentures supported by or attached to implants should be made by a dentist. “Life is more fun when you have a beautiful smile.”

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

Help is Available

Professionals can help! If you have a mental health concern, deciding to take that first step toward reaching out to a professional can seem daunting and scary. However taking that first step can open the door to feeling better. Who do you go to if you have a mental health concern? Your doctor can be a great professional to turn to. They may even refer you to other professionals to ensure you get the care you need. There are many different types of professionals that can help us. For example, counsellors can help you work on relationship issues, past life events and many other topics. Financial planners can help you save money or reduce debt. Reaching out to a professional doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it means you’ve recognized a need for change and want someone to help you through it.

Canadian Mental Health Association, www.cmha.ca

Power of Phaseolamin

Whether you exercise or not, it seems that adding Phaseolamin as a method of weight loss, does work. Phaseolamin is a partial-protein substance extracted from white kidney beans. This ingredient combines with an enzyme in the body called alpha-amylase – which is involved in the digestion of starch – and helps to temporarily block its activities. Alpha-amylase is secreted in saliva and is produced in the pancreas, and is responsible for breaking down starch into simple sugars, which can then be absorbed in the small intestine. Blocking this digestive enzyme prevents the digestion of carbohydrates, which means they are able to pass largely undigested through the gastrointestinal tract. The end result is a decrease in the number of calories absorbed, thereby helping to promote weight loss. One of the active ingredients in SlimROAST weight loss coffee from Valentus. The Healthiest Coffee on the Planet!

Frank McGwire, [email protected]

Help is Available

Professionals can help! If you have a mental health concern, deciding to take that first step toward reaching out to a professional can seem daunting and scary. However taking that first step can open the door to feeling better. Who do you go to if you have a mental health concern? Your doctor can be a great professional to turn to. They may even refer you to other professionals to ensure you get the care you need. There are many different types of professionals that can help us. For example, counsellors can help you work on relationship issues, past life events and many other topics. Financial planners can help you save money or reduce debt. Reaching out to a professional doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it means you’ve recognized a need for change and want someone to help you through it.

Canadian Mental Health Association, www.cmha.ca

The Right Coaching Fit

If you are like most people, creating personal change can be overwhelming. There’s a good chance you find it overwhelming for one of three reasons: you don’t know where to start (awareness), you don’t know what you actually want to achieve (clarity), you don’t know how to get there (confidence). If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider a coach. A good personal coach will help you clarify your values, identify negative thought patterns and encourage you as you execute your plan. The key is to find the coach that is right for you. Consider their combination of qualifications, experience, and strategies. But also attempt to get a sense of their communication skills, sense of humour, and their desire to help. The right combination can make all the difference.

Brent Tocher, Authentic Coaching, www.chooseauthenticity.ca

Lower Stress and Anxiety Through Knitting

Picking up a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook and watching the rhythmic movement of your fingers manipulating the yarn encourages a relaxing of the mind, and can provide the knitter with the same level of relaxation obtained from yoga or meditation. Once the knitter is through the initial learning curve, their mind becomes focused on the hand movements and allows an escape from the stress and anxieties of the day. Knitting has been known to lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as reduce stress hormones. Knitting can be the preferred method of meditation because as you knit your way into relaxation, you will create a project that you can feel proud of. Knitting also allows the knitter to take their project wherever they go so that should they find themselves in a very stressful situation, they can pull out their needles and reach their place of Zen.

Connie Harvey, The Knit 2 Scrap 2 Store, www.knit2scrap2.ca

Clean Eating: Almond Date Energy Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup Medjool Dates (pitted)
1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut or rolled oats
1/4 cup raw cacao
¼ tsp cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
1/2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tbsp maple syrup
1 – 2 tbsp almond milk

Directions:

1. Place dates in food processor and pulse until it forms a ball. Break up the date ball with a spatula and add almonds, raw cacao, coconut and salt.

2. Process for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add vanilla, almond milk and maple syrup.

4. Process until mixture forms a ball. Add more almond milk if the mixture is not forming.

5. Roll mixture into balls and dip in shredded coconut if desired.

6. Can be stored in an airtight container or frozen.

 

Stacie Rasmussen RNCP, Blossom Nutrition, www.winnipegnutritionist.com