Meet Jenn Abele, your local Registered Dietitian. Jenn’s approach to health and nutrition is evidenced-based and compassionate, working alongside clients to find individualized solutions that fit their lifestyle and goals. Whether you are looking for guidance on general nutrition questions or you require support with a specific area of concern, Jenn can help you to make sense of the overwhelming amount of nutrition information out there. Jenn is an advocate against diets and weight stigma and believes that health comes in all shapes and sizes. Her intention is to help you focus on the important things so you can worry less and enjoy life more.

Do you suffer from a stuffy or runny nose? What about itchy, watery eyes? Do you want to avoid daily use of over-the-counter drugs? It could be time to give acupuncture a try. Allergies occur when the body’s protective Qi (pronounced “chee”) becomes weakened. When this protective Qi is not functioning optimally, harmful environmental influences such as wind are able to invade the body, giving rise to allergies and illness. Acupuncture is a highly effective, natural alternative to strengthen and support the body’s immune system. Consider trying acupuncture to alleviate and eventually prevent your seasonal allergies and hay fever. You will be overjoyed with the relief you experience!

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the risk factors for heart disease. It is a long-term medical condition where the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.
You can help control or reduce hypertension in the areas of diet, exercise, weight, salt reduction, limiting alcohol & caffeine, not smoking and managing stress.
Many doctors include deep breathing and meditation in a stress management plan. Both Qigong and Reiki are excellent ‘tools’ for stress reduction. Slow, deep breathing and meditation are foundational to the practice of Qigong and the deep meditative state experienced while receiving Reiki brings deep relaxation, calm and peace to the body/mind.
The combination of movements and slow, deep and gentle breathing in Qigong helps the body & mind relax and release tension. Then, by focusing inward and replacing worries and negative thoughts with positive thoughts and emotions, a state of calm and peace is achieved that also positively affect the qi (energy) and blood circulation.
There have been a number of studies done worldwide on the benefits of Qigong for the heart. Overall, results show that practicing Qigong as a complement to medical treatment can help to improve blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates.
Reiki has been described as ‘spiritually-guided life force energy’ that has the ability to help balance our ‘energy’ on all levels – body, mind and spirit. In ‘matters of the heart’ it can also help to elevate the feelings of acceptance, love and compassion bringing with it an acceptance of the moment and a state of calm and peace that affects the whole person.
Studies have also been done with Reiki that have varying positive results depending on the focus of the study. With regard to the heart, Reiki as a complementary therapy can help to improve HRV (heart rate variability), mental state and quality of life (ie sleep, reduction in pain) especially after a heart attack and surgery. An example of one such study is found at: http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1143148
February is Heart Month in Canada. What better time to do something new for your heart?!

Q: My older sister says she got an eye infection over the holidays, and that it’s actually shingles in the eye. Is there really such a thing?
A: Yes, the virus that causes shingles can sometimes affect the eye, and she probably deserves your sympathy – it can be painful and the treatment often involves a lot of eyedrops. It might be worthwhile assessing your own risk of developing shingles (factors include age or a compromised immune system) and asking your health care provider about vaccines to lessen the risk.

Heart attacks can present with the following symptoms: chest discomfort, sweating, upper body discomfort including neck, shoulder, arms and back pain, nausea, shortness of breath, and light-headedness. Women may also have these symptoms, but many women can have a heart attack without chest pressure or other typical signs. Women may have extreme fatigue or non-specific upper body discomfort. Don’t dismiss symptoms. Have your symptoms or concerns checked to rule out a heart attack especially if you have a history of high blood pressure or other heart disease.
For more information, go to HeartAndStroke.ca.

There are numerous reasons people experience low back pain—a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, poor technique with activities (ie. lifting) and weak core muscles are some of the most common contributors. With a physiotherapy assessment, a customized rehabilitation treatment plan can be created to help address the symptoms of low back pain and prevent recurrence. Treatment typically includes a combination of manual therapy and mobility and strength exercises. Current research supports exercise as the most effective treatment option for lower back pain. Physiotherapists are exercise prescription experts and can help low back pain patients feel better and avoid future injury.

Ozone is a supercharged form of oxygen that contains an extra atom. During treatment, this extra atom breaks off after 20-30 minutes inside the body and can bind to and destroy any viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, molds, yeasts, or abnormal tissue cells it finds in the body. These abnormal cells hate ozone, so treatment can be effective in combating disease. Once these abnormal cells are oxidized and eliminated from the body, they are replaced with healthy cells. Ozone therapy, in conjunction with injection therapy, is used to treat and eliminate chronic pain resulting from nerve injuries, degenerative joints and ligaments.

Toe tapping can relieve insomnia, tension, and fatigue. It restores a state of “Water Up, Fire Down” in your body by bringing fire energy from your upper body into your lower body and core, so your body relaxes. Lie down comfortably with your feet together. Keeping your heels together, swing your feet outwards and inwards so that you tap your big toes together and then the outsides of your feet toward the floor. Start with 5 or 10 minutes. If desired, work your way up to 15 or 20. When you finish, let your body breathe comfortably as you feel subtle vibrations and energy sensations running through your body.

When you combine nicotine with the flavour of tobacco smoke and the oral satisfaction of a cigarette, you get an addiction that is very difficult to break. However, acupuncture treatment tends to transform the taste of tobacco into a bad experience, making smoking cessation less difficult. It also alleviates nervousness, agitation, and other signs of mental distress. This calming effect makes smoking cessation less stressful. After one or two treatments, nicotine cravings are sharply reduced. After four or five treatments spread over a two-week period, most will have quit or drastically cut down on the number of cigarettes smoked daily.