Today more than ever, a healthy immune system is important. According to Healthline, Aronia berries may strengthen the immune system and even counteract some infections. Aronia –grown in BC – contains powerful antioxidants that remove harmful free oxygen radicals from cells. In the spectrum of nutrition, berries rank near the top, and among berries, none are more nutritious than the Aronia berry. Research shows that in diabetics, Aronia berry juice, when taken regularly, reduced blood glucose. Aronia extracts have also reduced inflammation and improved immunity. In hard-to-treat cancers, combining Aronia with chemotherapy improved the effectiveness of conventional drugs.
Community News
Holiday Brain Teaser
If it takes 5 elves 5 minutes to make 5 dolls how long would it take 100 elves to make 100 dolls?
A Well-Balanced Diet
Eating a well-balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight and stay energized, as well as lower your risk of developing chronic health conditions. At Heart To Home Meals, we believe that life should get easier as you age, which is why Andrea, our Consultant Dietitian, works closely with our chefs to develop a menu featuring meals that help support the nutritional needs of seniors. Our diet coding system was created to help you choose the meals that meet your dietary needs, whether it’s ProteinAssist, Carb Control, Low Saturated Fat, Low Sodium, High Fibre, Vegetarian, or No Added Sugar.
Thank You & Happy Holidays
As another year draws to a close, we give thanks for the many blessings that we have received. We hosted our Women’s Wellness Expo once again after a two-and-a-half-year pause and look forward to hosting another Expo in February. We continue to publish this newsletter, along with four additional local ones here on the island, and continue to grow the WellnessHub, our local online resource. We thank our advertisers, readers, subscribers, distributors and community partners for helping us to continue to spread the wellness message. We wish everyone Peace, Happiness and Good Health this Holiday Season.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger!
Book Club: The Science of Nutrition
Debunk the Diet Myths and Learn How to Eat Responsibly for Health and Happiness. By Rhiannon Lambert. Is a vegan diet healthier? Should I try going low-carb? Is it always a bad idea to skip a meal? Are superfoods all they’re cracked up to be? Is fat still bad for you? Can I eat to improve my chances of conceiving? Science of Nutrition cuts through the noise of conflicting diet advice with clear answers backed up by the very latest research. Pick up at your local bookstore.
Clean Eating Recipe
Beet Sangria Mocktail
Serves 8. Ingredients: 1 bottle Sensations Beet & Cherry Fruit & Vegetable Juice. 1 cup Compliments Low Pulp 100% Pure Orange Juice. 1 apple peeled and diced. 1 lemon thinly sliced. 1 lime thinly sliced. 1 orange thinly sliced. 1 can Panache Carbonated Spring Water with Natural Lemon Flavour and Ozone. Directions: In pitcher, combine beet and cherry juice, orange juice, apple, lemon, lime, and orange slices. Chill 1 hr., or until cold. Stir in ice and top with carbonated water. Pour into 8 glasses. Serve immediately. Enjoy! Find more healthy recipes at Sobeys.com
Words to Live By
Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most. – Ruth Carter Stapleton
Laughter is the Best Medicine
A healthy sleep not only makes your life longer, but also shortens the workday.
As Winter Comes
Most everyone on the West Coast knows, November brings with it more rain and overcast skies. Many people experience an effect on their mood during this time, which can certainly make things more difficult. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a known phenomenon, where the winter weather affects moods and outlook on life. A couple strategies to help overcome these “winter blues” is to continue with those all-important self-care strategies of enjoyable activities, and the regular use of a full-spectrum light of some sort throughout your day! Fight back against the dreary with light!
Healthy Play Guidelines
As we head into the holiday season and emerge from Covid restrictions, our gambling habits may have been stretched beyond our usual boundaries. Gambling or sports betting to make money is always dangerous, as is gambling to escape our day-to-day preoccupations. If you are not sure if your gambling habits fall within healthy playing guidelines, check Canada’s Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines at GamblingGuideLines.ca. Using the 1-4-2 formula can help contextualize your play: No more than 1% of your income, a Maximum of 4 days per month and Only 2 types of gameplay. If you’re unsure, check out the self-assessment tool.
