Spinach Tofu Smoothie
Add a touch of freshness to your breakfast with this delicious, protein-rich smoothie. It’s a great way of incorporating tofu into the first meal of the day! Ingredients: 3 c. fresh spinach. 2 bananas. 1½ c. chopped frozen mango. 1 c. chopped frozen pineapple. 10 oz. soft tofu. 1½ c. milk or almond/soy beverage. Fresh mint, optional. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add extra liquid, as necessary. Enjoy! Pair with a serving of whole grains for a complete breakfast!
Community News
Prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Hearing is a vital sense that allows us to connect with the world around us. However, it’s easy to take it for granted. According to a report by the World Health Organization, hearing loss is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue worldwide, affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people.
There are many factors that can contribute to hearing loss. One of the leading causes of hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. Loud noises are encountered everywhere in your daily routine, from the sounds of busy traffic, construction sites, concerts, listening to music and even the TV.
The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable!
Here are some steps you can take to protect your hearing from loud noises:
Wear earplugs or earmuffs:
Sounds are considered harmful when they exceed 85 dB, which is similar to the loudness of heavy traffic.
Exposure to loud noises can damage the sensory hair cells in the cochlea. The cochlea is a shell-like organ in the inner ear where sounds are converted into electrical signals. This damage can lead to both hearing loss and the development of tinnitus, which is characterized by a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can be a simple yet effective way to protect your ears.
However, it’s important to choose the right type of earplugs or earmuffs for your needs. Make sure they are comfortable to wear, fit well, and provide adequate noise reduction. If you’re not sure which type to choose, consult a hearing healthcare professional or audiologist who can recommend the best option for you.
Turn down the volume:
It’s also important to be mindful of our listening habits. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to loud music or noise through headphones or earphones.
If you’re someone who enjoys listening to music or podcasts through headphones, try to keep the volume at a reasonable level. As a general rule of thumb, if someone can hear the music coming from your headphones while standing beside you, the volume is too high! A good way to ensure that your volume is at a safe level is to use the 60/60 rule. This rule recommends listening to music at no more than 60% volume for no longer than 60 minutes at a time. Afterward, give your ears a break for at least 5-10 minutes to recover.
Take breaks:
If you’re exposed to loud noises for extended periods, take breaks in quieter environments to give your ears time to recover. Taking just a five-minute break every hour can significantly reduce the risk of hearing damage from loud noise exposure. So, if you’re in a loud environment for a prolonged period, try to take short breaks regularly to give your ears a chance to recover.
While hearing loss prevention is important, it’s also essential to get regular hearing tests. Many people don’t realize that hearing tests are just as important as regular physical exams or dental checkups.
Hearing tests are essential because they can detect hearing loss early on, which is crucial for effective treatment. The earlier hearing loss is detected, the better the chances are for successful treatment.
It’s worth noting that hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Untreated hearing loss can lead to a decline in cognitive function, making it more challenging to perform daily tasks and affecting memory, attention, and decision-making skills.
Research conducted by the National Library of Medicine has demonstrated that individuals who take action to address their hearing loss at an early stage are more likely to experience positive outcomes, such as enhanced communication abilities, improved quality of life, and a lower risk of cognitive decline.
Your ears are essential to your quality of life, and we want to help you LoveYourEars by taking care of them properly.
Book a free hearing test and take the first step towards better hearing today!
Sources: World Health Organization (WHO)
Teachings From Nature
Trees teach us how to live our lives with resilience. When we turn to the trees as our teachers watching how they grow and transform, they can teach us how to live our lives with resilience. They remind us of the importance of being grounded and rooted, fully planted deep beneath our feet into the earth. Their roots connected with other like-minded roots and souls as a foundation to draw upon. Our trunk solid like the oak or flexible like the Willow allows us to adapt and shift to the demands of unforeseen changes around us. Resilient when storms or branches break, finding creative ways to re-emerge or work around. Their branches wide open with leaves creating a canopy of growth, shelter a pathway of expansion to receive. Then they shed, release and begin a new cycle once again.
Improve Your Overall Health
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough good quality sleep, which can contribute to a host of serious health issues, including: Cardiovascular Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and more. Conversely, the right amount of good quality sleep can: strengthen your immune system, speed the healing of cells, tissues, and blood vessels, improve brain function and reflex speed, lower your stress as well as lower your risk of chronic illness. If you are struggling to get a good night’s sleep, it could be your mattress. Find out how a new, high-quality mattress can improve your overall health.
Meet Your Practitioner
Raymond Gilby is a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner / Cerumen Management (RHIP/C) and is the owner of Clear Ear. He is the Vice-President of the Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society of BC, as well as the BC representative for the Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society. For the past decade, Raymond has been working across Vancouver Island, performing services safely in clients’ homes. Recognizing that many clinics no longer offer cerumen (ear wax) removal, Raymond earned his full certification in cerumen management and offers his clients micro-suction (the gold standard for wax removal), irrigation, and sometimes a combination of the two.
Men and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, a disease that renders bones porous and frail, causes over 30,000 hip fractures annually in Canada. While most people associate osteoporosis with women, around 25% of these fractures occur in men. To help prevent osteoporosis, make sure to exercise regularly, suited to your health. This will encourage bone cell renewal. If you are not getting enough nutrients from your food, you may require a dietary supplement such as calcium and vitamin D, which are crucial for bone health. Speak to your Courteney Pharmacy Pharmacist for more information.
Common Kids’ Dental Problems
Your dentist can help diagnose and treat common dental problems in kids, including: Tooth Decay – can lead to sensitivity, pain, and gum issues. Keep track of when and how well your child brushes. Gingivitis – is a precursor to gum disease. Speak to your dentist if your child’s gums bleed when brushing and flossing. Thumb Sucking – if long-term, can cause an open bite and problems with eating and talking. Broken/Chipped Teeth – ensure your child wears a mouth guard when playing sports and seek treatment for broken/chipped teeth. Orthodontic Issues – your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for these issues.
Why Choose Motion?
Because it’s not a place, it’s a partnership. Our knowledgeable experts enjoy making life accessible for everyone by identifying the unique needs of our clients and selecting solutions that fit their lifestyle. Contact one of our experienced rehab consultants today for more information about *power lift recliners, *stairlifts, *vehicle lifts, *mobility scooters, *folding power wheelchairs, *rollators, *bathroom safety items and more. We’re also here to help with rental equipment, repairs and maintenance and to assist with navigating funding opportunities. Let us help you make a difference in your life everyday with the right mobility and home accessibility solutions.
Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Conditions
Do you suffer from a nagging injury like tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries or plantar fasciitis? Shockwave therapy is one of the best research-backed treatments for chronic musculoskeletal conditions that have not healed properly. It involves the application of acoustic sound waves to kick-start healing, control pain, and restore mobility. Often patients will feel relief after their first treatment and can expect more significant and lasting changes within 3-5 applications. Shockwave Therapy coupled with Class IV Laser Therapy is evidence based and the gold standard in tendon healing.
Benefits of a Hydrafacial Treatment
Hydrafacial is an intensive multi-step treatment that deeply cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and resurfaces the skin; while simultaneously infusing potent nutrients, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and peptides to the deep layers of the dermis. The treatment is further enhanced by the addition of Lymphatic Drainage and LightStim LED light therapy. Hydrafacial normalizes healthy skin structure and function and is fully customizable to treat a number of skin health concerns including fine lines and wrinkles; oily and congested skin; dull, dry skin; pigment; acne and laxity. The results are immediate with no downtime and leave the skin deeply hydrated, firm, glowing and more youthful.
Ask The Expert
Q: I’m 68 years old and I used to wear sunglasses often, but now I found them all to be too dark and hazy, even my prescription sunglasses. Why is that?
A: This is a common problem. Perhaps the surfaces of your sunglass lenses are damaged. But it’s possible your eyes are needing more light than before; some parts of the eye lose transparency over time, or you may have some other kind of problem. In either case, we can set you up with some comfortable vision! If you’re experiencing this common issue, or are overdue for your yearly eye exam, Mosaic Optometry is here to help.
