Community News
Ask the Expert: How Long Do Dentures Last?

Dentures can still be perfectly solid after ten or twenty years, but that does not answer the question: How long do they last? The mouth changes constantly. The bones get smaller with age. If you have natural teeth, then the distance between your nose and your chin stays constant. If you have dentures, this distance gets smaller as the bones supporting your dentures shrink. Your upper teeth become less visible when you smile because of this shrinkage. The lower half of your face gets shorter for the same reason. New dentures can compensate for these changes. Your smile will be fuller and more natural, and your face will look younger. Wait too long, and the changes will be much larger and harder to adapt to. So the real question is: How long before my face needs to be supported better by new dentures? The answer: Five to eight years.

Dr. George Cadigan, www.exclusivelydentures.ca

Brace Yourself

When you have knee osteoarthritis, the space between the bones in your knee becomes narrower as you lose cartilage. As your condition worsens, and without the protective layer of cartilage, the bones begin to come in direct contact with one another. The result – pain, inflammation, and reduced function of the knee. One solution to resolve these symptoms is to wear an offloading knee brace. The function of these braces is to increase the space between the bones of the knee and to off-load the bone on bone contact. The outcome – decreased pain, decreased inflammation, and increased function of the knee. Talk to your doctor to see if an off-loading knee brace is right for you. The variety of braces that we are able to provide ensures that we will find one you can comfortably wear throughout your day.

Innovative Medical Supplies, innovativemedicalsupplies.com

A Season For Soothing Food

Some consider fall as the ideal season to clear mental and emotional clutter and grief, as it’s naturally a time of closure. It’s an ideal time to nurture our bodies. As it gets colder, warm soups and stews are soothing, as opposed to eating raw veggies and fruits. With the weather changing, the internal body needs the support of soothing foods. The season calls for more protein, as well as nutrient-dense spices such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cinnamon. These strengthen the digestive system, supporting immune and lung functions. Digestion benefits from optimal food choices and probiotic-rich foods or supplements. Some foods that are healthy for the season are almonds, walnuts, grapes, cabbage, and beans. Apricots, bananas, eggs, apples, and lemons are good for your body. Additional beneficial choices include: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, fermented vegetables, and active culture yogurt. Fall is a great time to incorporate more healing and whole foods into your diet!

Tracy Morgan, www.vitallife.ca

Not a Numbers Person?

People come with many different talents and skills. It’s all based on what they’ve experienced in the past and what they enjoy. Are you a creative person? An excellent salesperson? A people person? Some of your most dreaded tasks might be sitting with a bunch of papers and adding up the numbers. That’s where we come in. We’re numbers people! With over 20 years of experience managing retail businesses and bookkeeping, we will take the time to tailor a bookkeeping system to your specific needs. Payroll, bank reconciliations, GST and PST preparations are our favorite things! If you are struggling keeping the finances of your small or medium sized business straight, we have solutions in that will suit you.

Ray-lo Bookkeeping www.raylobookkeeping.ca

Diabetic? Pre-Diabetic?

Type 2 diabetes is caused by consuming a diet that has resulted in your body developing metabolic syndrome and subsequently insulin resistance. Type 1 diabetes has been determined to be an inflammatory condition. Correct your diet and your body will heal to the extent that it can. It is typical for people to no longer require medications to ‘manage’ their T2 diabetic condition once they are permanently consuming a diet that respects the foods that their body is genetically designed to thrive on. T1 diabetics, once consuming a corrected diet, will allow inflammation to subside and your metabolism to function in an optimal fashion. Dependence on insulin will be greatly reduced, even possibly eliminated. Do you want to continue on the path of ‘managing’ diabetes and accept the inevitable heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputation or neuropathy? If not, enlist the help of a Primal Health Coach to start you on your healing path.

Tom White, www.enddiabetesmanitoba.ca, www.becomehealthy.ca

Who Pays When You Can’t Work?

1 in every 3 working Canadians will experience a disability that lasts longer than 90 days. Bills still need to be paid even if you can’t work. It’s important to know what you’re covered for and how much you will receive should a disability disrupt your life. Contributing to the Canada Pension Plan doesn’t mean you qualify for the CPP Disability Benefit. The disability must be considered “severe and prolonged.” A temporary condition may make it difficult for a successful claim. It’s possible a more substantial benefit of disability income could come from the Workers Compensation Board (WCB), but know that this benefit is only payable if your injury occurs at work, performing the duties of your job. The third source of income replacement is through a disability insurance policy. Read carefully, contracts have unique definitions for what qualifies as a disability. Don’t wait until an injury happens to ask “who pays me now?”

Thomas Johnson, cascadefinancialgroup.com

Canadian Mental Health Association launches manifesto for better mental health in BC

It’s time to change the way we think about mental health and addictions care in BC.

The Canadian Mental Health Association in BC today unveiled a five-point manifesto that lays out a set of concrete and practical actions to improve the lives of people living with mental health and addictions problems.

The manifesto is a call to action for all British Columbians to get behind the idea that mental health and physical health should be valued equally. It outlines a series of recommendations on how we can create better mental health and addictions care in BC.

We would never knowingly wait until Stage 4 to intervene for cancer; we educate, screen, and take action in the early stages. CMHA BC firmly believes that we need to do the same for mental illnesses and addictions. b4stage4 is about preventing mental illness and addiction, and for those who are experiencing symptoms, intervening in the early years before people reach a crisis point.

When it comes to better mental health and addictions care, there is plenty of evidence for what works. The manifesto calls for BC to adopt community-based programs that have proven successful in treating the early symptoms of low mood, anxiety, and stress. They are cost-effective supports to our overburdened system in BC. But more needs to be done to ensure people get the help they need at any stage or age.

“There is a moral and economic imperative to act b4stage4. Our goal here is to engage individuals and organizations across BC in our manifesto for change,” says Bev Gutray, CEO of CMHA BC. “This is a real opportunity for us all to move toward prevention and early intervention in mental health and addictions, and away from the overuse of emergency services and the justice system.”

“We know that the demand for our health care system is outpacing supply. In fact, demand for mental health and addiction services is expected to more than triple by 2036. ” continues Gutray.   “Too many British Columbians diagnosed with mental illness, such as depression, are not able to access the help they need.“

CMHA is calling on the public to take part in this conversation and support the b4stage4 campaign.

British Columbians are encouraged to register their support at www.b4stage4.ca. There, they can sign the manifesto.

Re-Think Omega Fatty Acids!

Fat could be your biggest ally in health maintenance and cardiovascular disease prevention. But we need to think about the RIGHT fats. Omega fatty acids are crucial for helping to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. They are essential to maintaining our nervous system and act as an anti-inflammatory to fight diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Some forms of omega-3 can also reduce fat while improving lean body mass. But which omega fatty acids do we REALLY need?   The ones most North Americans need is omega-3 from FISH OIL, as the typical Western diet does not give enough of it. When you are looking for an omega-3 product from the pharmacy, keep in mind a few tips: 1. Look for omega-3s from fish oil instead of krill oil. This is because krill oil contains very little omega-3. 2. Look for ingredients of EPA/DHA as opposed to alpha-linolenic acid as EPA/DHA is the form of omega-3 that the body can use most efficiently.

Teresa Giesbrecht, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Book Club: The Dirt Cure:

Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil. In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya ShetreatKlein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children’s food, how it’s seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it. www.dirtcure.com

Natural Product Review: pureWash® Pro

pureWash® Pro is a breakthrough in home laundry purification. As it turns out, your laundry has been keeping a dirty little secret, (It’s really not that clean at all!). Detergent may leave clothes smelling clean, but it does not eliminate the mold and bacteria that builds up from sports activities, pets, and everyday living. pureWash® Pro cleans clothes with the disinfecting power of oxygen, not detergent. This same technology is used in Hospitals and Hotels. It’s clinically proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and mold, plus it’s both safe for the environment and for family members of all ages! If you have sensitive skin, you will not get skin irritations as you do from detergent. Detergent build-up promotes mold growth and does not kill bacteria. Independent, scientific studies have proven pureWash® Pro kills 99.9% of both with cold water. The power of naturally oxygenated water eliminates dirt, bacteria, and mold better than detergent!

Kevin Shale, Low Environmental Impact Technologies, Leit.ca

3 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

It’s officially cold and flu season. Here are five simple things you can do to improve your body’s natural immunity: 1. Drink a TON of Water: Ensuring you are hydrated is an important part of keeping your immune system strong. Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day to keep your body in tiptop shape and ready to fight cold and flu bugs. 2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: The body regenerates and repairs itself while you sleep. Getting a proper night’s rest – between six and eight hours – is important for keeping your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency. 3. Take a Hot/Cold Shower: The next time you take a shower try alternating hot and cold water. Research shows the body’s immune system is stimulated when it tries to warm itself up in between the extreme temperature changes. White blood cell production is increased and endorphins are released that help you relax and relieve pain.

Brett Scott, www.disabilitytaxcredit.webs.com