Community News
An ORAC Score? 

The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) unit, or “ORAC score” is a method of measuring the power of antioxidants of different foods and supplements. It is believed that foods higher on the ORAC scale will more effectively neutralize free radicals, and assist in angi-aging. A powerful antioxidant with a high ORAC score will slow the oxidative processes and free radical damage that can contribute to age-related degeneration and disease. Look for products with a High Daily ORAC score.   Antioxidant benefits can easily be reversed by any toxic products or pesticides present in the product so always choose a product which is 100% Organic and Chemical Free.

Angel Balichowski
www.theorganicmommy.com

12 Key Benefits of Reiki 

A Reiki session can induce an extremely comfortable and calming state of being, which can bring alteration in the recipient’s consciousness and raise their vibration. 1. It balances the body, mind and spirit and brings it back into wholeness. 2. Reiki complements Eastern and Western medicine and everyone can benefit from it. 3. It allows the recipient to connect with their own innate ability to heal. 4. Promotes pain relief of all types. 5. Reiki relaxes muscles, relieves tension, increases energy, reduces stress and provides mental clarity. 6. It assists in finding the root of an invisible disease, promotes sleep, clears toxins and relaxes the mind. 7. Balances the chakras/energies. 8. Encourages emotional release and promotes well-being. 9. Assists in unlocking suppressed feelings and soothes emotional distress. 10. Is a wonderful healing modality for pregnant women and babies. 11. Promotes a peaceful, tranquil and positive outlook, while strengthening spiritual connections. 12. Enhances self-love, connection with the truest self, and guides one towards their soul purpose.

Brie Henderson

www.briehenderson.com

Book Club: The Whole30

The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom. Melissa and Dallas Hartwig’s critically-acclaimed Whole30 program has helped thousands of people transform how they think about their food, bodies, and lives. Their approach leads to effortless weight loss and better health—along with stunning improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, mood, and self-esteem. The Whole30 offers a step-by-step plan to break unhealthy habits, reduce cravings, improve digestion, and strengthen your immune system.

www.whole30.com

Clean Eating: Naked Energy Bites

These chocolatey treats contain no refined sugars, and are loaded with protein and fibre for a quick snack that really packs a punch!

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup date puree
1/3 cup water
1 3/4 cup Rolled Naked Oats
1/3 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup hemp hearts
2 tbsp chia seeds
3 tbsp cocoa
3 tbsp each oats, coconut, and hemp hearts

DIRECTIONS:

Combine in mixing bowl.
Roll dough into balls, and roll in extra coconut, hemp and/or oats to cover the outside and make them look oh-so-pretty.
Keep in fridge for 20 minutes to harden…or just eat them on the spot.

www.adagioacres.com

Book Club: Furiously Happy   

A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best. Furiously happy is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are – the beautiful and the flawed – and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Maybe crazy isn’t so bad after all!

Jenny Lawson, www.thebloggess.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

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

Why a Diabetes Educator? 

Diabetes is a complex disease that affects many organs in the body. More than 50% of people who are newly diagnosed have signs of irreversible long-term complications: vision loss, kidney damage, nerve pain, erectile dysfunction, loss of sensation in hands and feet and gastrointestinal complaints. A Diabetes Educator has special training to assist those who are diagnosed with pre-diabetes, the newly diagnosed, and people with longstanding diabetes to self-manage. A Diabetes Educator is equipped with skills and knowledge to identify barriers to optimal blood sugar control that are different for each person and tailor a plan to suit each person’s needs in one-on-one and step-by-step fashion. After a few sessions you will be confident to self-manage and achieve your blood sugar targets. People say they feel better and have more energy even with marginal improvement of blood sugar control. Delay the progression of diabetes complications, not diabetes education!

Mathilda Prinsloo, B Pharm CGP CDE, www.seniorcarepractice.com