Community News
Dreaded Headaches

With the fast pace of modern lifestyle, an increasing number of people suffer from headaches. There are several types of headaches: migraine, tension, cluster, and menstrual headaches. Some headaches are felt on top of the head, on the temples, or over the sinus cavities. Others radiate from the neck to the eyes, on the forehead, and the whole head. There are numerous causes for headaches to develop. The cause of a headache isn’t necessarily in the head. Problems in other parts of the body also contribute to headaches. They may be caused by an ear, sinus, or throat infection. In addition headaches occur from whiplash, stress, tension, and hormones. Improper posture, weak digestion, and TMJ dysfunction also induce headaches. It’s necessary to identify what’s causing the headache in order to help relieve the pain. Since the causes and symptoms of headaches are so different, headaches need to be assessed and treated according to the individual’s condition. Dr. Brigitte Tetrault Dr.TCM, RAc. Certified Advanced Practitioner NST, CourtenayHealing.ca

Trust your 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 British Columbia, cmha.bc.ca

Are you Addicted to Sugar?

Eating sugary foods creates a vicious cycle spurred on by addiction. Scientists have found that sugar stimulates the same pleasure centers of the brain as cocaine or heroin. Just like those hard-core drugs, getting off sugar leads to withdrawal and cravings, requiring an actual detox process to wean off. Cutting ties with your sugar addiction can do wonders for your skin, mood, waistline, and sleep schedule. Try cutting back a little every day, and eventually take bigger steps. For example, if you are craving something sweet, have a piece of fruit, cheese or nuts. Try not to add sugar to your morning coffee. Your body will thank you! Alma Naranjo, Success Weight Loss, SuccessWeightLoss.ca

Shield Yourself From Harmful EMF Pollution

For many years now, authoritative reports such as Bioinitiative 2007 & Bioinitiative 2012 have revealed the serious adverse health effects of certain prevalent electromagnetic fields (EMF). Some culprit emitters of much of the EMF pollution are not surprisingly the very devices we often purchase at high prices and are convinced we cannot live without. Even with self-discipline and lifestyle changes stemming from increased awareness of the problem, EMF pollution is relatively inescapable in our present society. Realizing this, more people are now also protecting themselves and their living/work spaces with EMF transmuting Shieldite(*TM) having proprietary Biometric Frequency Infusion Technology. Nelson Meggitt, OptimumWellnessFactor.ca

Thai Curry Carrot and Pumpkin Soup

• 2 cups carrots, peeled and diced • 1-1/2 cups cubed pumpkin • 1 can coconut milk • 4 cups chicken stock • 1 Tbsp. green Thai curry paste • 2 cloves garlic • 1 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger • 1/2 tsp. each, salt and pepper • 1/4 tsp. cumin • 1/4 cup shredded coconut • madras curry powder. 1. Cook carrots and pumpkin without browning over medium heat for 10 mins. 2. Add spices, curry, and ginger. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock, coconut milk, and coconut. 3. Cook on medium heat for 35 minutes. Blend with blender. Enjoy!

All Is Well When Your Feet Feel Good!

The pair of socks you are wearing can make a difference in how you feel during your day. Have you ever had a pair that were too tight around the calf and left an ugly red welt? Or the ones that fall down and work their way under your foot? Traditional cotton socks hold water and keep feet clammy and wet and not smelling very nice. To improve your day, wear socks that have a soft touch top and an ergonomic y-heel that keeps the heel from slipping. Look for socks that guard against blisters with moisture resistance and anti-bacterial protection. The right socks can also provide stability, support and increase balance.
I.Ostman, Facebook.com/GreatSocksForALL

Do You Suffer with a Drop-Foot?

There are many causes of drop-foot ranging from a nerve injury to a stroke. Essentially a drop foot is the inability to lift ones foot up. It is most obvious when your leg is in swing while walking. Toe drag is a common sign. This problem commonly goes undiagnosed leaving people with a high risk of tripping and falling. While treating the underlying cause proves difficult, there is an easy solution to improve your walking. An AFO (Ankle-foot-orthosis) is a brace that spans your foot and travels upward behind the calf muscle. When worn with a shoe, the brace will prevent drop foot and allow one to walk safely heel to toe as they once did. AFOs come in many variations depending on specific needs, it is therefore important to ask your doctor and seek a referral to a Certified Orthotist for a consultation.

B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics, MitchellPandO.com

Solving Financial Troubles

There are certain indicators of financial difficulties, such as receiving frequent calls or letters from collection agencies, having no savings, spending all your money before payday, stalling one creditor to pay another, using your credit cards or other loans to pay for everyday expenses, failing to budget or make a financial plan, having trouble making the minimum payments on your credit cards, and not knowing what your real monthly expenses are. There are many options to help you solve your money problems — such as consolidating your loans or making a consumer proposal. Be sure to seek professional advice from a Licensed Insolvency Trustee before you make any decisions.

Derek L. Chase, CPA, CA, CIRP. Licensed Insolvency Trustee, ChaseSekulich.com

Drink Water Each Morning

According to Truweight, drinking water should be a default morning routine for a healthy lifestyle. Water gives you a healthy start because it helps properly circulate nutrients in the body. Water serves as the body’s transportation system. It also helps with weight loss. By staying hydrated, one can prevent overeating, since many people confuse thirst for hunger. Drinking water as soon as you get up before eating is a good way to purify your internal system. This helps flush toxins from our body and cleanses the colon, enabling better absorption of nutrients from various foods. Water flushing helps the skin do its job of regulating the body’s temperature through sweating, renewing the body’s cells.

Stephen Dalley, MA, B.Ed., ComoxValleyHCG.com

Binaural Tones for a Balanced Brain

Based on neuroscience, binaural tones are a safe way of healing your mind and restoring your brain to a healthy state. People with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, low energy, chronic headaches, muscle pains, and so much more have put their problems in the past by listening to engineered binaural tracks through HQ binaural headphones. Athletes and students have also improved their performance by training using binaural tones. The possibilities of brain hemispheric optimization are seemingly endless, since getting your brain working just right is often what you need to let everything else unfold exactly how you need it to.

Nelson Meggitt, OptimumWellnessFactor.ca

September is Childhood Obesity Month

Obesity rates among children and youth in Canada have nearly tripled in the last 30 years! Recent studies show that only 9% of Canadian kids ages 5 to 17 get the recommended 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Does your kid spend too much of their life lying around watching Netflix? Children and teenagers should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. This can include walking to and from school, playing sports, or riding a bike. Parents should be setting a good example. Try to add physical activity to your daily routine and encourage your children to join you.

Alma Naranjo, Success Weight Loss, SuccessWeightLoss.ca