Community News
Muscadine Grape Seeds

Do you want to improve your immune system? Do you suffer from frequent illness or a high level of stress? Muscadine grape seeds are rich sources of polyphenols and other nutrients studied for their potential health benefits. The reason for this is the ‘genetic makeup’ of this special fruit. Muscadine grapes have an extra set of chromosomes, containing genes that allow them to produce a unique and powerful balance of phytonutrients and antioxidants. Greater protection from physical, mental, and environmental stressors mean less damage to tissue, less chronic illness and degenerative diseases, and a longer symptom-free life. This ability to survive the elements can be passed on to us! These grape seeds provide support for a healthy immune system. In a day where environmental toxins, contaminants, and stress have caused growing concerns to health and the aging process, the Muscadine grape seeds provide the perfect health partner to help shield us from harm’s way.

Darlene Savage, www.peopleswaylc.com

The Importance of Alkalizing

To be at its absolute healthiest, your body needs to be in an alkaline state. Your cells and immune system all work better in a slightly alkaline environment. In an acidic state, your systems do not work as efficiently as they should. To prevent disease, including cancer, you want to aim at maintaining a PH balance of 7.365. To avoid becoming acidic make sure you are getting enough sleep, reducing your stress levels, being conscious of taking deep breaths rather than shallow short breaths, and avoid chemicals and toxins in your foods and products. Choose 100% Organic and chemical free alternatives wherever possible, and look at supplementing your nutrition with Alkalized products.  Be sure to test yourself and your family regularly to keep your immune system functioning at its best!

Angel Balichowski, www.theorganicmommy.com

Clean Eating: Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Cauliflower is a great low-carb substitute for crusts, breads, and more! Here’s the cauliflower pizza crust recipe everyone is buzzing about!

Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower

½ cup shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup grated parmesan

½ tsp dried oregano

½ tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp garlic powder

2 eggs lightly beaten

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Break cauliflower into florets and pulse in food processor until fine. Steam cauliflower and drain well. In a bowl, combine with all ingredients. Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Add your favorite pizza toppings and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Family Endorsement 

Care At Home Pharmacy is the epitome of what is needed today to help seniors remain in the comfort of their home and have quality care come to them. My parents have greatly benefited from “visiting pharmacist” Yolanda Yeung’s involvement. She initially developed a medical profile for each of them and made recommendations to their doctor regarding medication changes. She pays weekly visits to my parents’ home to monitor their progress and well-being and readily provides their prescriptions and any other pharmaceutical needs as recommended by their doctor. I am my parents’ primary caregiver but do not live in the city so Yolanda and I communicate by email. She also regularly communicates and collaborates with the doctor and nursing service involved with my parents’ care. It just doesn’t get any better than that in my view!

Daughter – Lorna, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Finally the Perfect Pair! 

Perfect Pairs features Ultra Premium Olive oils. The UP standard is reserved for the finest extra virgin olive oils in the world, as such, the UP grade exceeds all existing European, Italian, Spanish, Greek, North American, Californian, or any other standard for the grade known as extra virgin olive oil. In order to qualify for the UP grade, the extra virgin olive oil must meet or exceed a comprehensive set of Production, Storage, Transportation, Testing, Chemistry, and Organoleptic requirements as set forth in the following document. Instead of placing an overemphasis on what is less important to the detriment of the most critical factors (Chemistry and Freshness), the UP program is intended to reward farmers for producing high quality oil.

Giselle Riegel, www.perfectpairs.ca

Financial Fitness 

Financial difficulties can harm our emotional well-being.  How can you tell that you are actually in financial trouble?  There are certain indicators of financial difficulties such as receiving frequent calls or letters from creditors or collection agencies, having no savings, spending all of your money before payday, stalling one creditor to pay another, buying things impulsively, using your credit cards or other loans to pay for everyday expenses, failing to budget or make a financial plan, having trouble making the minimum payments on your credit cards and not knowing what your real monthly expenses are.  If you’re in financial trouble, you may believe bankruptcy is your only option.  However, there are many options to help you solve your money problems such as consolidating your loans or making a consumer proposal.  All of your options can be explored during a free initial consultation with a Trustee in Bankruptcy.

Deloitte Restructuring Inc., Trustee in Bankruptcy, www.debtsolutions.deloitte.ca

Your Child’s Eyes 

Did you know that 1 in 4 school-age children have a vision problem? If these problems are left untreated, they can affect learning ability, personality, and adjustment in school. Vision difficulties can manifest socially, in school and in play. Your child’s vision is essential to his success in school. When his vision suffers, chances are his schoolwork does, too. School-age children also spend a lot of time in recreational activities that require good vision. After-school team sports or playing in the backyard aren’t as fun if you can’t see well. It is recommended that children have their first exam by the age of three and yearly exams once they are in school, which Manitoba health will cover until the age of 19.  Schedule an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist today!

Dr Ashley Britton, www.lreyecare.ca

Are your Supplements Working?  

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of nutritional supplements over the last several years, and for good reason! Vitamins and supplements offer great benefits – but be careful! Some commercial products actually really lack in potency. There is a common belief that all supplements are created equal. This has led some to seek the best value, not the best quality. A consumer should know that the grade, form, purity, bioavailability and third party verification all contribute to the effectiveness of the product they’re ingesting. Nutritional supplements are typically available in four different categories: pharmaceutical grade, medical grade, cosmetic or nutritional grade, and feed or agricultural grade. Pharmaceutical grade is the highest quality grade of vitamins, meaning the purity, dissolution and absorption meet the highest regulatory standard. Pharmaceutical grade vitamins and supplements may be available without a prescription, but they are typically only sold by licensed health care practitioners.

Arthur Traitelovich, www.goherbalife.com/ath24

Put Yourself First 

Do you feel like you can say no to a request without guilt? Do you overcommit yourself, and push yourself to the point of exhaustion, only to resent the person/organization who asked for help? The only one who can improve self-care is your SELF. The easiest way to execute self-care is to learn to say no and have healthy boundaries. We are told by society that the ‘good people’ are those that give of themselves selflessly and tirelessly. These are the martyrs that are put on a pedestal. But martyrs they are, because they give so much for everyone else that they have no energy, health, or time left for themselves. With boundaries, you can still be a good person, help others, and yet know when to say no, without guilt.

Maureen Becker – the Channelling Chick, www.sourcewithin.com

Credit Card Debt Help

Credit cards are a helpful tool when used carefully. However, if your credit cards are maxed out and payments are straining your budget, it may be time to seek credit card debt help.

Here are four things you can do today to get your credit under control:

Make a Plan

A debt reduction plan is the perfect starting point. Start by determining how much you owe and how much your payments add up to each month. Examine your budget and adjust your spending to make cash available for debt elimination. Take extra time to analyze your spending habits. Trips to the ATM, overspending on groceries or other necessities, and too many shopping trips can sabotage the healthiest budget. Once you know where your money is going and when it’s coming in, set realistic credit card payoff goals. Add “debt reduction” to your new budget and redirect spending so that you can reach your goals. You can also use online debt reduction calculators to set deadlines and make a timetable.

Nix New Debt

While you work to pay off credit card debt, it’s best to stop using your cards. It can be hard to stash credit cards that have been your go-to source of extra cash, but putting them away speeds up the payoff process.

Here are some creative ways to keep your cards out of service:

  • Fill a small bowl with water, drop your cards in, and freeze them.
  • Delete credit card numbers from online shopping sites.
  • Remove your cards from your purse or wallet.
  • Cover the magnetic strip with duct tape.

If these tricks won’t keep you from using your cards, think about cutting them up. You can always ask for new ones when your credit cards are paid off.

Avoid the Minimum Payment Trap

There’s a reason many credit card companies put a low payment warning on your statement each month. The high interest rates associated with most cards, multiplied by the time it takes to pay off your balance, equals a huge interest charge. For example, if you have a credit card with a balance of $3,000 and a 21% interest rate, by making the minimum payment of $60 each month it will take you a little over 10 years to pay off your balance. During this time, you’ll end up paying approximately $7,200.00 in interest charges.

If you’re curious about how much your cards are costing you, search for payoff calculators on the internet. Adding just $5 to your minimum payment can save you money and time.

Get Professional Help if Needed

Juggling credit card payments, missing payments, and using one credit card to pay another are signs that you need credit card debt help. Don’t wait to seek professional advice—by acting quickly you can avoid damage to your credit rating and start working on a plan to get your debt under control.

A bankruptcy trustee can be a good advisor if your debts have become unmanageable. Trustees can help you determine which solution is the best fit for your situation. They can also refer you to other financial advisors who can help.

Kim Powell, Client Services Manager, LCTaylor Trustees in Bankruptcy
www.lctaylor.com

Heart Health Goals

We just had Heart Health Month, did you add some exercise? Change your diet? That soda pop tax is coming…we all can do these things, but whether it be our routines, everyday lives being too busy, too stressful, we just cannot find that ‘healthy, me time’. Walk more, stand more, try some yoga, reduce processed foods…Fit Bit anyone? Those fancy step counters can give you a lot of information about your heart health. But if you would just like to get on the treadmill more or walk the dog, this is how you know you’re working at a good pace: take the number 220, minus your age, gives you your relative max heart rate. 75% of that is a heart rate that you will begin to burn more calories, take your pulse over 10 secs, multiply by 6 and compare!

Chris Bisignan, www.yourphysio.com