Community News
Ask the Expert

Do you consider that you think for yourself, or do you find yourself always asking others to help you solve your problems? Every time that you are asking for the answers outside of yourself, you are giving away your power and trusting that your friend’s or loved one’s perspective on your life is more important than your own. It takes a conscious effort to change this pattern from going outside of yourself to going within, and can take a long time until you really trust that your inner answers are more powerful than hearing five other perspectives. Do you trust yourself?  What is your knee-jerk reaction when you have a problem? Do you sit with the problem, breathe, and ask your inner being for answers? Try this next time, and give your inner being the time to answer. You may just find that your inner answers are quite profound.

Maureen Becker
www.sourcewithin.com

The Omega-3 Effect

From one of the most trusted names in family healthcare, a guide to unlocking the power of the super nutrient omega-3. Dr. William Sears and Dr. James Sears offer a practical and science-made-simple approach to a more healthful life for your entire family. Omega-3s play a critical role in the body. You’ll discover how the addition to your diet of this one vital nutrient contributes to: a stronger heart, a calmer, smarter brain, a slimmer body, healthier pregnancies, smarter and healthier babies, successful children, smoother skin, improved vision and stronger bones, less inflammation, a stronger immune system, faster would healing, slowed aging.

Sandy Lefley
www.slefley.canada.juiceplus.com

Strength Training Benefits

Working with weights has many benefits for health that stretch far beyond the needs of bodybuilders and fitness fanatics. Anyone wishing to improve body composition, or feel better in general, should shift their focus away from the mundane treadmill rat race. Weight training, safe for young and old, has been shown to improve state of mind by controlling depression, stress, anxiety, and improving sleep. Increased muscle mass helps with weight loss by increasing resting metabolism, and shapes the body in a way cardio cannot. As we age, it helps maintain bone density, improves joint stability and pain. It also makes lungs and blood vessels more efficient, and improves many markers of disease including cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Most importantly however, strength training gives you empowerment, as you become energized and more able, you feel ready to take on anything with new strength you’ve created inside and out.

Krissy Boyd, Girl On A Mission
www.girlonamission.net

Prevent Sports Injuries

It’s that time of year where many athletes will start their fall/winter sports and leave summer sports behind. Did you know most injuries occur in the first and last third of a season? This is often due to the change of muscle requirements for each sport or sometimes the movement patterns involved. Going from baseball to hockey requires a significant increase in the use of your hip flexors – the muscles that bring your knees to your chest. This is a common “early season” injury for hockey players. Doing proper warm ups, stretches and slowly progressing the volume of skating may help prevent these types of injuries. Also check your overall hip mobility; if you can lift your leg 10 degrees off the floor while on your stomach and at least 70 degrees when on your back, that’s a good sign that you have sufficient movement about the hip.

Jason Moniz
www.southsherbrook.com

Magnesium and Heart Health

Every cell in the body needs magnesium. It helps keep muscles strong and nerves alert. And a new study in the journal Circulation suggests that daily magnesium supplements can even help an ailing heart. Lead author C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the preventive and rehabilitative cardiac center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says that magnesium supplements enabled heart disease patients to exercise for longer periods and appeared to protect their hearts from the stress of exercise. Magnesium also restored some of the blood vessels’ ability to open up when the body needs more blood. Merz said that at the end of the study, the patients who took magnesium had better blood vessel function and their hearts showed less stress during treadmill exercise compared to the placebo group. By taking a daily magnesium supplement, you could help improve your heart health and function.

www.scoopandsave.com

 

Oily Scalp?

A variety of causes and conditions may trigger oily scalp issues. Seborrhea, for example, is hereditary. The origin is usually found in the scalp. Sebaceous glands release too much sebum, an oily substance that protects hair. Hormonal changes, a diet that is too rich in fat, a lack of vitamins, toxins within the system or stress all may cause this hair disorder. It is also possible to develop oily hair and scalp with age. The build-up of sebum harms the development of new hair strands that will thin over time. It may also be associated with a more serious condition such as hair loss. The products from the Capilia Advanced Scalp Care line are made with 100% natural ingredients including camphor oil, eucalyptus oil and Chinese mint. Their soothing and cooling action has been specifically developed to calm sebaceous glands.

Sylvie Gautron
www.citylooks.ca

Stand Up and Work

An increasing body of research has shown that sitting down all day is no good for our health, Have you considered a standing workstation or even a treadmill desk? Both of these options can be used to vary your working postures and give excellent results. You’ll find many businesses in Downtown Winnipeg businesses use these workstations as a way to help employees health. Studies out of Australia confirm the notion that our cognitive performance is not decreased by variable task postures in an office environment. Some companies have chosen to dictate the task performed at such a workstation to implement this ergonomic strategy. To avoid the side effects of sitting-for-a-living, stand every 15 minutes, give yourself more reasons to move and work in different postures… know your ergonomics and your health will benefit from that knowledge!

www.yourphysio.com

Book Club: The Highly Sensitive Person 

How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Elaine N. Aron.

Do you have a keen imagination and vivid dreams? Are you “too shy” or “too sensitive” according to others? Do noise and confusion quickly overwhelm you? Discover how to embrace your sensitivities in this international best-selling book.

www.hsperson.com 

Managing Medications

Seniors represent 12% of the Canadian population and account for 28 – 40% of all prescriptions. By 2036, the population of seniors will reach a staggering 9.8 million. It is estimated that approximately 50% of Canadians are not taking their prescriptions as prescribed. The barriers to adherence are varied – education, side effects, forgetfulness or limited access to transportation. One major barrier is the cost of medication. Whatever the cause, non-compliance can often result in a patient having to visit the emergency room or even a hospital stay. The estimated annual cost of medication non-adherence to the Canadian health care system is between $7 and $9 billion. Care At Home Pharmacy helps people manage their medications by providing a personalized service based on the concept of the visiting pharmacist. As well, a budget is set up for clients to help manage the costs. Call us for your in-home consultation.

Care At Home Pharmacy
www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Dragons’ Den Success

About a month ago, we received an email from one of the producers of CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den. They were doing a new spin off show called NexGenDen focusing on hot Canadian startups. They had somehow heard of us and wanted us to come on the show! It was an amazing experience. We were in a group of 18 other startups pitching our proposal to the Dragons. Before going on, they told us there would only be a 50% chance that we would make it to air. One by one people came in and out of the den. Some crying, some obviously trying to maintain their excitement.  When it was your turn, you only got one take. We were asking for $100,000 for 2% of our company ($5 million valuation). Search PopRx on YouTube to see how we did!

Dr. Ali Esmail, PopRx
www.poprx.ca

Ditch the Detox Diet

Cleansing is often promoted to improve health by ‘cleansing’ the bowel and removing toxins from the body. It has been claimed that it can boost energy and immunity, promote healthy intestinal bacteria, and start weight loss. The truth is, there is no scientific evidence to show that cleansing maintains or improves bowel health, prevents colon cancer, or achieves lasting weight loss. Your intestine, lungs, liver and kidneys already effectively remove waste from your body every day. These diets can be harmful and cause unpleasant side effects such as cramping, nausea, vomiting, headaches, lack of energy; or more serious side effects, such as dehydration, low/high blood pressure, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and many more. Instead look for effective and trusted ways to improve your health, boost your energy, and maybe lose some pounds along the way by seeking professional help from a physiotherapist.

Nicole Marier, Action Physio
www.actionphysio.net