Community News
Fresh like Spring

If you’re like me, you must be anticipating the newness of Spring as the season approaches. With our long winter’s nap nearly behind us, we can start to grow and blossom like fresh rosebuds. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunities to be renewed and healthy – like getting outdoors, being active, enjoying fresh, smoke free air, living cleaner and growing stronger. It’s like a second ‘New Year’, a second chance to make 2019 the healthiest, and most rewarding year yet. What changes will you be making this Spring and who will be making the changes with you?

Samantha Virkkus, SmartChoice Laser Centre, SmartChoiceLaser.com

Weight Loss: The Real Truth

Weight loss is something that many of us are considering, so what is a safe weight loss goal? A weight loss goal of 1-2 lbs per week is sustainable and possible. The key word here is sustainable. There are lots of fad diets out there that promise and sometimes even deliver the weight loss levels promised. Weight loss is about changes that you make to both your activity levels as well as your food intake. The real equation for weight loss is the difference between calories in and calories out. It really is as simple as that.

Manitoba Fitness Council, ManitobaFitnessCouncil.ca

Massage for a Healthy Heart

Massage therapy helps patients with cardiac issues address some of the factors that may be contributing to their condition. When a person experiences a painful or stressful event, the brain releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These chemicals prepare the body to fight or run away from dangerous situations. The body responds by tensing muscles, shortening the breath, and increasing the heart rate. Without relief, long-term stress or chronic pain will weaken the heart muscle. Combined with less-than-healthy lifestyle choices, these factors can lead to heart disease. Massage therapy helps to induce physical and mental relaxation, loosen tight muscles and increase blood flow, alleviate chronic pain and reduce anxiety.

Tanya Seguin, SerendipityMassageWpg.ca

Spring is the Season of Love
Spring

 

When the weather warms up, so does our heart. Why is that? Science of course. Spring is a season of cliches — birds singing, bees buzzing and people falling madly in love. All this love can be blamed on one very real thing – dopamine! Every April your brain unintentionally becomes a dopamine factory, turning you into a love junkie. Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical your brain uses to make you want things. There are other systems involved in love, but when it comes to new love, dopamine is the main culprit. And with enough of it swirling around your system, you’re prone to fall in love — and fall hard.

Lianne Tregobov, CamelotIntroductions.com

Effects of Concussions on Vision

When someone has a head injury, they typically have vision problems that can be temporary or permanent. When a vision problem is causing or contributing to a problem with reading, balance, or movement, the recovery process will move slowly until the vision component is treated. Some symptoms might disappear after a while, such as eye pain or headaches, and yet other symptoms may remain, such as blurred or double vision, or vice versa. If you suspect that a concussion has caused vision problems resulting in difficulty coping with daily activities, see a developmental optometrist for a visual evaluation.

Dawn Grandmont, COVT, Grand Developmental Vision Institute, GrandVisionInstitute.ca

Purify Your Home

Here in Canada, due to our colder climate, we tend to seal our homes and buildings with deadly precision. We use the term “deadly” because there is a possibility of over 1500 invisible and potentially toxic substances contaminating your air space right now, Isn’t it time you took control over what you’re breathing? With active purification technologies such as ionization, UV light and Activated Oxygen; we can now effectively remove smoke, odours, allergens, bacteria and viruses! Purifiers such as the pureAir 500C are effective solutions that have a whisper quiet fan when running.

Greentech Environmental Canada, info@gtecanada.ca, GTECanada.ca

Signs of Caregiver Fatigue

Looking after a loved one is an important and rewarding responsibility, but how do you know when you’ve taken on too much and are headed for burnout? Look for these signs that will let you know when bringing in a professional caregiver might be beneficial to both you and your loved one. 1) You’re experiencing physical and mental fatigue. 2) You’ve lost interest in other people and things you once enjoyed. 3) You’ve gained/lost weight inexplicably. 4) You’ve been losing your temper. 5) You’re feeling like nothing you do is good enough. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Right At Home Canada, RightAtHomeCanada.com/Winnipeg

Avoid Injury This Spring

Spring means two things: yard work and stiff, sore muscles. Stretching to prepare muscles for strenuous activities that haven’t been done since fall is very important. Simple things like doing arm circles, shrugging your shoulders, and touching your toes should be done before and after activity. If you do overexert and your neck, shoulder, arm, or back pain is not going away within a week, there are natural alternatives that can help. Options such as NIR therapy and designed nutritional formulations will reduce inflammation and stimulate muscle repair to help you recover quickly and get back to enjoying spring.

Centre For Alternative Healing, AltHealing.ca

Trust Your Gut
Healthy Gut

 

Your immune system works hard to protect you from injury, illness, and disease. This process usually involves inflammation, a natural response to stress, tissue damage, and harmful stimuli like viruses, bacteria, and toxins. Inflammation functions similarly to an engine warning light, alerting you to the presence of a problem through symptoms such as heat, pain, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function. 85% of the immune system is located in our gut. An anti-inflammatory diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium provides your gut with the ingredients it needs to bolster immunity and achieve optimal mental and physical health.

Canadian Mental Health Association, cmhawpg.mb.ca

Clean Eating Recipe

Purple Power! Beet Black Seed Detoxer Smoothie.

Ingredients: 1 medium raw beet, peeled, and shredded. 1 large Gala, Fuji or Honeycrisp apple, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled, and chopped fine (1 tablespoon). ½ teaspoon Enerex Black Seed Oil. ½ avocado. ½ lemon, juiced. ½ cup water (more, if needed). 2 teaspoons Chia seeds. 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup (if needed).

Directions: Place all of the ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Serves 2.

Enerex.ca

Essential Oil Review: Cajeput

Cajeput 100% Pure Joy Naturals essential oil is also known as White Tea Tree. The name Cajeput is actually the Indonesian word for ‘white wood’. This camphorous essential oil is part of the Melaleuca family and is used much in the same way as its cousin, Tea Tree. Fresh and Uplifting and a must have for treating colds and flu. (Essential Oils Natural Remedies, Althea Press) This would be an excellent oil to use in your diffuser. Add 4-5 drops to your diffuser and “Just Breathe”. For a complete guide and recommendations visit PureJoyNaturals.ca