Community News
Ask The Expert: RRSP’s

What is my RRSP invested in? A. Your RRSP can hold a wide variety of investments, like mutual or segregated funds, stocks, GICs, bonds and even mortgages. There is no one-size fits-all plan, so your retirement savings should be customized to you and your goals. Are you a risk-taker with a long time horizon until retirement? Then your RRSP will likely hold very different investments than that of someone who’s only a year or two from drawing on their account. Q. Will I use my RRSPs before retirement? A. If you think you may tap into your RRSPs as part of the Lifelong Learning Program or Home Buyers’ Plan, that will impact your plan design. For starters, you should ask about fees or restrictions on withdrawing the funds. Secondly, if you withdraw any contributions made in the previous 89 days, you may lose the tax deduction. So be sure you leave your contributions invested long enough to maximize your RRSP benefit.

Thomas Johnson, Financial Advisor, Cascade Financial Group

Is Diabetes Preventable? Reversible?

Current medical ‘experts’ that treat diabetics and support organizations for diabetics claim that Type 2 diabetes can only be managed. They are ignoring the science that shows that the diet that allows humans to thrive is the diet that humans evolved eating. The current Standard American Diet is the root of most chronic health issues, including diabetes. People that permanently change their diet to one that supports their genetic heritage typically eliminate T2 diabetes or greatly reduce the effect of T1 diabetes. Do you want to continue on the path of ‘managing’ diabetes and accept the inevitable heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, amputation and neuropathy? Enlist the help of a Primal Health Coach to educate you on what steps to take to allow your body to heal and thrive.

Tom White, www.EndDiabetesManitoba.ca, www.becomeHEALTHY.ca

Float Your Way to Happiness

People generally have heard about floating by the terms “pods” or “tanks,” and start to feel claustrophobic. Float “Cabins” are different. Float Cabins come as large as four feet wide, eight feet long, and nearly seven feet high, and they are easily accessible easy to come out of with standard swing or sliding doors. Within each float cabin, 10 inches of water is infused with up with 1,000 pounds of dissolved Epsom salts, this makes the water extremely buoyant. With the option to remove light and sound, you experience the sensation of floating through space. Other options include the ability to play your own music and enjoy colour therapy as well. Floating regularly helps reduce physical and mental stresses on the body. The brain gives out alpha waves associated with meditation that allows the body to recover from stress and relax. Floatation therapy is a simple way to invest in your own health and happiness.

Fluid Float Studio, www.fluidfloat.com

Have You Tried Kefir?

Kefir is a unique cultured dairy product and one of the most probiotic-rich foods on the planet. Drinking Kefir has incredible medicinal benefits for your digestion and gut health. It’s tart and refreshing flavor is similar to a drinking-style yogurt, but it contains beneficial yeast as well as friendly probiotic bacteria found in yogurt. The naturally occurring bacteria and yeast in combine symbiotically to give superior health benefits when consumed regularly. It is loaded with valuable vitamins and minerals and contains easily digestible complete proteins. For the lactose intolerant, kefir’s abundance of beneficial yeast and bacteria provide lactase, an enzyme which consumes most of the lactose left after the culturing process. Drink up for benefits to your immune system, your bowels (see you later, IBS symptoms!), and your bones. It helps fight allergies, improves lactose digestion, supports detoxification, and even kills candida.

Disability Tax Credit, www.disabilitytaxcreditwinnipeg.com

Positive Mental Health is a Laughing Matter

While living with mental illness is no joke, laughing for positive mental and physical health seriously works. In fact, evidence supports the claim that a joyful heart provides a similar benefit to that of medicine. Although not considered a replacement for medical treatment, some doctors are using laughter as an adjunctive therapy. In the short and long term, laughter has been shown to, 1. Stimulate/boost the immune system; 2. Alleviate pain; 3. Reduce anxiety and stress; 4. Reduce depression; and, 5. Promote a sense of hopefulness. What if you don’t feel like laughing? No problem, fake it until you make it. Physiologically speaking, for the most part, your body doesn’t know the difference. And, faking it often leads to the real thing which may be exactly the health supplement you need to get to the positive side of negative circumstances.

Sean Miller, Canadian Mental Health Association, mbwpg.cmha.ca

Book Club: Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear!

Empowering author Elizabeth Gilbert asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

Did You Know?

Blue corn has been popping up as an ingredient everywhere from tortilla chips to breakfast cereal. New research suggests that anthocyanins, the nutrients that give the corn its blue color, may help protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer!

www.newhope.com

Clean Eating: Spaghetti Squash “Mac ‘n’ Cheese”

Ingredients:

1 large spaghetti squash

3 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp spelt flour

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion or garlic powder

pinch ground black pepper

1 cup (4 oz) any hard cheese, shredded.

Red pepper flakes, to taste. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Wash squash, cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds with a spoon. Place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 40-50 minutes. Let cool and separate into strands with a fork. Preheat medium pot on low-medium heat and melt oil. Whisk in flour and milk until smooth. Add salt, onion powder and pepper; whisk and let simmer for about 4 minutes or until sauce has slightly thickened. Add cheese and whisk again until smooth. Add squash and mix gently with a spoon to combine. Cover and let squash warm through for about 5 minutes. Enjoy!

www.ifoodreal.com

Need Help Getting Physically Active?

Individuals who are physically active have a lower risk of obtaining various health conditions including cardiovascular disease, various types of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Physical activity and exercise have been shown to improve mental health by having a positive impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. In Canada, Kinesiologists are heavily involved in facilitating and improving physical activity levels of individuals of varying goals and capabilities. Kinesiologists are experts in the field of human movement, exercise prescription, fitness training and conditioning. A Kinesiologist uses evidence-based research to develop exercise programs for individuals looking to increase their physical activity levels. Many fitness and wellness centers in the city employ Kinesiologists as personal trainers who can guide and provide you with the tools to become healthier and more physically active. With the new year ahead of us, let’s use this fresh start to get moving and become more active individuals!

Albert Amante, Certified Athletic Therapist, Innovative Therapy Solutions, www.innovativemedicalsupplies.com

Are Your Finances Affecting Your Health?

Financial problems have been linked to many physical and psychological repercussions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, fatigue, and anxiety. As a small or medium sized business owner, have you ever experienced any of these debilitating stressors? For instance, have you encountered a cash-flow crisis, untracked receivables, budget overruns, or a government audit? Wouldn’t it be a relief to have someone on your side, looking after the numbers, so you can do what you’re meant to do and run your business? It’s critical for you to work with a qualified team to help offset such worries so you can confidently lead your business. Don’t let the stress of financial problems take a piece of your physical and emotional well-being.

Ray Mihalicz, www.raylobookkeeping.ca

It’s Tax Return Time!

Make sure to have your tax return filed on or before April 30th. This will ensure that you will not be penalized for being late or have to pay interest on outstanding amounts. Plus, if you have a refund coming, the sooner you file, the sooner you get your refund back. When returns have not been filed with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on time, eventually you can expect to hear from them with a request to file your returns. Ignoring these requests long enough will usually result in an arbitrary assessment of CRA’s estimates of your income and tax payable. These assessments are often quite “generous” in their estimates of the income you earn and the resulting estimated tax payable will usually get your attention quickly. If you have fallen behind in your tax filings, talk to your accountant. They can help you assess your situation, prepare accurate tax filings and help determine your best possible course of action.

Thomas Johnson, Cascade Financial Group, www.cascadefinancialgroup.com