Community News
TheatreOne: Jake’s Gift

Take a trip back to Juno Beach with a WW2 veteran, in TheatreOne’s presentation of Jake’s Gift. Jake’s Gift tells the story of a Canadian World War II veteran’s reluctant return to Normandy, to find the grave of the brother who never came home. Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old who’s inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long-ignored ghosts. At its heart, Jake’s Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and makes personal the story behind one soldier’s grave. VIU  Malaspina Theatre Thursday to Saturday, April 25-27 at 7:30pm, and Saturday, April 27 at 2pm.

TheatreOne, TheatreOne.org

Clean Eating Recipe: Vegan Cashew “Cheese”

Are you interested in trying a vegan diet, but aren’t ready to give up all cheese? You must give this recipe a try! Here’s what you need: 3/4 cup raw cashews, 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ cup water, ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, black pepper to taste. Here’s how to do it: Place cashews in a bowl with warm water and soak for at least 2 hours. Drain and add to food processor along with all other ingredients. Pulse until thoroughly combined. Enjoy this “cheesy” alternative!

Shoulder & Rotator Cuff Pain Relief

To eliminate the pain of frozen shoulder or rotator cuff injuries and to regenerate the joint, especially with osteo-arthritic elements; acupuncture and Prolozone injection therapy are my treatment protocols. Each component of Prolozone therapy has a specific biological purpose. Procaine acts to re-establish cellular membrane potentials. Anti-inflammatory agents decrease edema and swelling. The inclusion of vitamins and minerals provides necessary substrates of oxygen utilization that in damaged tissues are often deficient. And finally, oxygen utilization is directly stimulated by ozone. It is excellent for all forms of musculo-skeletal and joint pain.

Dr. Sterling Desmond, Dr. TCM, R.A., AAOT Fellow Member, EvolveWithDesera.com

Benefits of Urban Poling

Owning a pair of Walking Poles allows you to enjoy nice long walks with friends and have better stance and stability. With proper training, Urban poling is a healthy activity suited for improving quality of life. Proven benefits include increased balance & stability, increase in mobility and improved strength. Urban Walking Poles are all weather, fully adjustable and have interchangeable feet to ensure you are set for adventure. If you would like to try Urban poling but not sure of where to start call or drop by the clinic to book a Free Urban Poling consultation. Your body will Thank you!

Bastion Physiotherapy, BastionPhysio.com

What is Botox®?

BOTOX® is one of the most common, non-surgical cosmetic treatments on the market. By injecting the neuromodulator into targeted areas, nerve signals to the muscles can be blocked preventing movement and contracting that leads to static wrinkles. BOTOX® can be used both as a preventive measure to reduce dynamic wrinkles and a solution to temporarily diminish static fine lines and wrinkles.  BOTOX® treatments are quick and effective; they usually take only a matter of minutes. It can treat frown lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet as well as excessive sweating and chronic migraine headaches.

Elegance Sculpting, EleganceSculpting.ca

Chew Your Food!

Proper digestion is important to our overall health but we forget that digestion starts in the mouth with proper chewing. Nutritional experts say that each mouthful of food should be chewed forty times.  If we do not chew our food properly, it passes through our digestive system in a chunk that essentially rots as it passes through our digestive system. Patients with dentures have 90% less chewing force. They tend to list “digestive problems” as health concerns and often need medications for these issues. Dental implants bite with a force similar to that of natural teeth and may resolve these issues.

Vancouver Island Implant Centre, VancouverIslandImplantCentre.com

Keeping Seniors Healthy at Home

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of senior hospitalization in Canada? Or that more than 1 in 3 seniors suffer from malnutrition and 1 in 10 seniors suffer depression? An in-home nursing service dedicated to quality and continuity of care can help. Look for individualized care-plans for nursing and companionship services to suit your needs. With a little intervention and extra help, it is possible to keep seniors safe and happy in their own homes.

Comfort Keepers®, Parksville, ComfortKeepers.ca

Effects of Concussions on Vision

When someone has a head injury, they typically have vision problems that can be temporary or permanent. When a vision problem is causing or contributing to a problem with reading, balance, or movement, the recovery process will move slowly until the vision component is treated. Some symptoms might disappear after a while, such as eye pain or headaches, and yet other symptoms may remain, such as blurred or double vision, or vice versa. If you suspect that a concussion has caused vision problems resulting in difficulty coping with daily activities, see a developmental optometrist for a visual evaluation.

Anderson Family Vision Care, AndersonVisionCare.ca

Here’s Something to Think About

Our brain shrinks as we age. Interestingly enough, recent studies have shown that brain shrinkage occurs faster in hearing impaired individuals. This happens because a lack of hearing stimuli doesn’t affect just the ears. It also affects parts of the brain that deal with speech and sound. Parts of the brain that stop receiving sound stimuli shrink at a rapid rate and can lead to early onset cognitive impairment like dementia and Alzheimer’s. If you have concerns about your hearing, don’t wait. Get your hearing tested today. The sooner you return auditory stimulation to these parts of your brain’s hearing system, the better.

Lana Cuddeford, Nanaimo, HearingLife, HearingLife.ca

Black Seed Oil

Black seed (Nigella sativa) is the new preferred therapeutic oil prized for its immune-boosting and antibacterial benefits to reduce respiratory, viral, and digestive ailments. Studies show that this versatile oil can regulate the immune system, balance blood sugar, and has anti-cancer activity (Butt et al, 2010). Even though it’s known for its medicinal power, it can be used in food and as a digestive. Look for a cold-pressed black seed oil on its own, and for a synergistic blend, use oregano oil and black seed oil together. Look for a combination with vitamins A and D added to give your immune system the best tools to beat the bugs!

Cassie Irwin, Enerex.ca

One Change at a Time

Fitness is a life long journey. It can’t be earned in one workout, gained by eating well for one week, or through one eight hour sleep. The long-term benefits only come to those who stick with the plan, adapt as life changes, and most importantly enjoy the ride. We call this building healthy habits. Imagine if you ate one apple a day and did 20-30 minutes of varied physical activity 3 days per week. Over one year that would be 365 apples and 78 hours of physical activity accumulated through your habits. Focus on making only one change every 2-4 weeks and watch your life change.

Tyler Buck, Nutrition Coach, Trainer, BoundlessFitnessandNutrition.ca