Community News
Words to Live By

“Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours.”

~ Swedish Proverb

Clean Eating Recipe: Almond Butter Pancakes

Makes 7 – 8 pancakes. Ingredients: 1/2 cup almond butter. 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce. 2 whole eggs. 1/2 tsp baking soda. 1/2 tsp cinnamon. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Directions: In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix until a smooth, uniform batter is created. Cook on pre-heated non-stick frying pan medium heat, with a small amount of oil. Cook until surface of pancakes have some bubbles and a few have burst, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve with fresh fruit, berries, dollop of plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of maple syrup.

The Healthy Book Club

The Good Living Guide to Medicinal Tea. 50 Ways to Brew the Cure for What Ails You. by Jennifer Browne. Tea has medicinal properties that are widely underused in North America. Common herbs, spices, fruits, and barks have been scientifically proven to help relieve pain, menopause symptoms, high blood pressure, insomnia, stress, and digestive angst. When taken preventatively, certain herbs in tea can help fight off cancer cells, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease and fibromyalgia. Learn about what these various natural ingredients are capable of and how they work.

Surgery for ACL Injuries

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is commonly seen in sports such as soccer, rugby, and skiing. Although many individuals initially recover well, the ongoing instability often prevents return to sports and leads to further knee injury, and the risk of developing future osteoarthritis becomes increased. Bracing is rarely sufficient. Surgical reconstruction performed early, within 3-6 weeks, helps to minimize the risk of further injury. ACL surgery should be treated as an urgent matter: assessment, diagnosis, and surgery can usually be completed within a few weeks. The athlete, elite, or weekend-warrior can then start early rehabilitation to maximize the benefits of the knee reconstruction.

Gaining the Mental Edge

Athletes are always looking to get into “the zone” – a balance of attention, concentration, and confidence. Quick thinking is crucial to making decisions that can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Neurofeedback is a tool that allows for identifying the areas of an athlete’s brain that are responsible for mental flexibility, task switching, and rapid decision-making. This allows an athlete to control how their brain reacts to stress, which in turn can help achieve peak performance. Neurofeedback training can help an athlete increase their cognitive abilities, while reducing the white noise of distractions around them.

Using an SI Belt

A sacroiliac belt (SI belt) used during the training part of your physiotherapy program is often recommended for both pain relief and support of the sacroiliac joints and/or pubic symphysis. SI belts are used as an adjunct during core muscle training and act both to provide mechanical support and sensory input to remind the brain which muscle(s) need ‘waking up’. Your physiotherapist can perform a couple of simple tests to determine whether an SI belt is recommended for you. Diane Lee’s patented Pelvic Support belt will help support your pelvis specifically where it is needed the most during your training period.

After-School Brain Boost

Not all learning has to happen during school hours. If your child seems to have to put more effort into their schoolwork than their peers do, an after-school program could give them the extra brain boost they need. Additional time spent strengthening the brain can help it to change and grow through the principle of neuroplasticity. This can increase your child’s self-esteem and social connections. After-school programs that strengthen the brain’s capacity for learning increase the brain’s efficiency, which makes school less tiring and keeps your child focused and on track to be their academic best.

Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is generally caused by progressive wear and tear on our joints that results in the breakdown of our joint cartilage. When cartilage breaks down, the bones start to grind against each other, creating inflammation in the joint. These changes are what cause you to experience painful symptoms. The degenerative process itself may not be painful, however the resulting inflammation and irritation to surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons usually cause you to experience uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms. Cold laser therapy offers an innovative treatment for a variety of acute and chronic, often painful, conditions like osteoarthritis.

Ready for Back to School?

Getting kids ready to go back to school can be challenging after a carefree summer. Starting to re-establish a schedule before school starts again is a great way to help kids ease into the new school year. Another way to prepare your kids for future success in school is to start a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). It’s a tax-free investment account that is used for your child’s post-secondary education, and the government contributes an additional 20% to the plan each year. A trusted investment advisor can help you start saving for your child’s future.

Has A Car Crash Wrecked YOU?

Being in a car accident (MVA) can be a severe and life-altering event. Although many people do make a full recovery shortly after their accident, others experience pain and psychological difficulties that endure longer. This may include: experiencing feelings of anxiety; feeling “on-edge” when driving; flashbacks and nightmares of the accident; or even an overall feeling of helplessness of ever feeling “normal” again. Counselling, specifically Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), has shown to be effective to help individuals overcome the trauma of an MVA.

Are IV Vitamins Right for You?

Q: What is IV Nutrient Therapy? A: Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are directly infused into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and allowing for maximum absorption. Q: Who can benefit from IV Nutrient Therapy? A: Almost everyone can benefit from faster, more effective nutrient absorption into the body with minimal, if any, gastrointestinal side effects. Intravenous therapies have been known to be beneficial for, but not limited to, chronic fatigue, anxiety, low immune system, infections, hormonal irregularities, pain management, inflammatory conditions, weight loss, pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, neurological conditions, migraines, detoxification, heavy metal toxicity, and athletic performance.