Community News
The Influence of Sleep on Food Choices

When we are tired, drained and recovering from a poor night’s sleep, we are more likely to reach for foods that are quick, easy and premade. These are often packed with sodium, unhealthy fats and stripped of nutrients. Then, on top of that, we are more likely to give in to our cravings when we’re tired. This means sleep can be the secret weapon to influencing our food choices during waking hours. Get curious and notice when you’re tired and what food you crave and gravitate towards, and notice what it’s like after a good night’s sleep.

Drug Free Pain Relief

Did you know that lack of stability and balance account for a large portion of foot and back pain issues? Today, wellness consumers want products to enhance their quality of life and are asking for natural, safe solutions for more energy, pain relief and enhanced mobility. VoxxLife socks and insoles with HPT optimize the user’s stability and balance at the nervous system level and provide relief from aches and pains with drug free proven technology. Voxx Human Performance Technology (HPT) is based on 45 Years of research in Neuromuscular Science, Chiropractic Neurology and Reflexology.

Move Your Lymph To Help Your Body Detox

Are you doing all the right things and still don’t feel well? The lymphatic system is an integral part of your body’s detox mechanism and its proper functioning is essential for your body to be able to drain toxins. There are some easy steps you can take to support your lymph. *Drink good quality, pure water. *Wear loose-fitting clothes. *MOVE. Your lymphatic fluid moves when your body moves. Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump. Low-intensity, sustained exercise is amazing. Go for a walk, swim, get into gardening, bounce on a trampoline! Your lymphatic system will appreciate it.

Reluctant to Accept Help?

It can be difficult to accept help. Seniors often associate accepting help with losing their independence. It sometimes feels that by accepting help, we are telling the world that we are no longer able to live independently. Installing a medical alarm system can increase your independence and reduce the risks of living alone or being left alone in your home. In fact, with a locally monitored system, you may be able to remain in your own home, comforted by the fact that if something should happen, help is just a button push away.

Importance of Social Interactions

Social interactions are critical to happiness even when those social interactions occur with an acquaintance or stranger, as opposed to a close friend or partner, according to Iris Lok, a UBC Ph.D. student in psychology. The pandemic severally restricted our social interactions. It is now time to prioritize social interactions given that loneliness is terrible for our health. Social isolation is associated with many health risks including; high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. A retirement residence can provide the perfect balance of social interaction and independence, which is good for our overall health and well-being.

Product Profile: VoxxLife Wearable Technology

Over the past five years, Great Socks for All has introduced pain relief and enhanced balance to the people on Vancouver Island. A Canadian, searching for drug free pain relief for his mother’s MS symptoms, spent several years and millions of dollars analysing brainstem functionality and the peripheral nervous system. The result of the research is a very specific sequence and pattern of neuroreceptor activation on the bottom of the feet. This pattern is incorporated into VOXXLife socks and insoles. Benefits include enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain, enhanced postural stability and balance, improved mobility and higher energy levels.

Single-Event Sports Betting

The CBC article, “Conservative MP says the Saskatchewan government has ‘dropped the ball’ on single-event sports betting, featured Waugh’s Bill C-218, also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act”. Bill C-218, passed by the Canadian Senate and received Royal Assent in June 2021, came into force in August 2021. The legislation allows provinces and territories to conduct and manage single-event betting on any sporting event except horse racing. In November, the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) announced that BC residents had placed more than $25 million in single-event sports bets within two months of the legalization. If you run into trouble, support is available. (https://bit.ly/3OJU3Um )

Health Fun Facts

Laughing is good for the heart and can increase blood flow by 20 percent.
Exercise will give you more energy, even when you’re tired.
Always look on the bright side: being an optimist can help you live longer.

Relaxation Helps Longevity

Telomeres, small caps at the end of every chromosome, affect our aging process. An enzyme, telomerase, directly influences the rate of shortening of these caps which equates to the rate we age. The good news is we can influence this process. Stress has a direct effect on telomere length. It is strongly linked to oxidative stress in cells, a decrease in telomerase activity and an acceleration of telomere shortening. To strive for longevity choose to make relaxation time a priority. Garden, soak in the tub, have fun with family and friends. Stop watching the news and enjoy the abundance in your life.

“I Love Pasta!”

I love making pasta salad with tons of veggies, light vinaigrette dressing and playing with different local and fresh herbs.Pasta is a great complex carbohydrate, with fiber, tons of nutrients from the veggies and herbs. It tastes amazing with fresh vegetables from our local farmers’ markets. Pair the pasta salad with your choice of lean protein. Chickpeas are my personal favorite. By adding a source of protein to your pasta salad, you have a great, well-rounded meal.

Wanted! Check-in Volunteers

Are you a cheerful person with good communication skills? Do you have 2 hours per week available to chat and connect with a senior in your community? Check‐In Services Volunteers are an essential part of the Nanaimo Lifeline team. They support seniors in the community by maintaining a social connection and referring individuals to resources and events within the community. This role is a great fit for individuals who are comfortable speaking on the phone and want to help people in their community stay connected and engaged. Training is provided by Lifeline staff and volunteers.