Community News
Avoid Pain While Gardening

Have you ever had pain after a long day of gardening? Gardening often involves sustained bent over postures that put a lot of strain through our backs and limbs. Here are a few tips to prevent this from happening this year. First, try to set realistic goals about the amount of work you can accomplish in one day. There is nothing wrong with spreading it out over a few days or weeks. This will minimize the amount of strain occurring in a single day. Second, find a cushion to put under your knees instead of bending over at the waist for longer periods of time. Your knees and back will thank you! And the last piece of advice is to switch up the task at hand frequently. If none of these tips work and you still wake up sore the next day, then talk to your physiotherapist!

Kristi Hunter MPT, BSc, Prairie Trail Physio
www.prairietrailphysio.ca

Running the Right Way

It happens too often: Runner begins training program, a twinge settles in. Runner stretches, takes painkillers, and keeps training. A few runs later, runner is on the couch, ice pack strapped on. Interchange knee pain, plantar fasciitis, ITB pain, etc. Now what to do about it? 3 simple changes can go a long way. 1 Buy proper footwear: checking length, width, toe box and arch support. Pavement vs. trail running should be considered. 2 A strong body is key to pain prevention. Strong muscles guard against impact, improve form and create a consistent running gait. Muscular balance ensures that one muscle group isn’t straining and working harder to make up for weak stabilizers. Talk to a professional for exercises tailored for runners. 3 Many beginners start out by doing too much, too fast, too soon. Joining a running class/club teaches proper scheduling, heart rate monitoring, hydration and nutrition. Happy Running and good luck Marathoners!

Stacey Bulat BKin-AT CAT(C) Certified Athletic Therapist, Vital Life
www.vitallifeclinic.com

What Matters Most

I get the privilege each day in my office as a therapist of listening and hearing many different people share what matters most to them. They share their joys, disappointments, hurts, resentments and longings. Yes, we all need to find ways of covering our rent/mortgage, pay our bills, cook dinners and do the laundry, but what’s most important to most people is how well they feel heard, listened to, understood, and appreciated each day of their lives. In the end, what really matters most is how loved one feels on a daily basis. Appreciating and celebrating our friends, our partners, our children, our co-workers, our employees/boss goes a long way. Try highlighting and acknowledging the good in each person that comes across your path and see what comes back to you throughout the day, the week and the responses you get!

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid
www.souls-journey.com

Hair Loss

Hair loss is a major concern for all, irrespective of the gender. Reasons for hair loss can range from the simple and temporary—a vitamin deficiency—to the more complex, like an underlying health condition. Unhealthy diet, stress, hormone imbalances, and chemicals may be some of the reasons. Hairstyles that consistently use rubber bands, rollers or barrettes, or pull hair into tight styles such as cornrows, can inflame and scar hair follicles. So can incorrectly-used chemical products such as dyes, bleaches, straighteners or permanent wave solutions. People can look for help with hair creams to regenerate hair growth. Make sure to look for naturally based, safe, pure ingredients that include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, beta-carotene, omega-6 fatty acids, nutrients and amino acids, suitable for all skin and hair types. Ingredients that have been proven to mimic the body’s own natural oils to reduce hair thinning, prevent oxidative stress, and add volume and shine.

Jenna Wilcox, MONAT Global
www.JennaWilcox.MyMonat.com

Book Club: Financial Fitness by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward

The Offense, Defense, and Playing Field of Personal Finance. Just as with becoming physically or mentally fit, becoming financially fit requires two things: knowing what to do and taking the necessary action to do it. Regardless of your current financial situation, you can learn to prosper, conserve, and multiply the fruits of your labor through a basic understanding of the principles behind the Offense, Defense, and Playing Field of personal finance. And this book brings all of these fundamentals together in one convenient location so you can quickly and easily become the master of your money and the kind of person who can prosper in any economy!

Submitted by Thomas Johnson, Cascade Financial Group
www.cascadefinancialgroup.com

Considering Dentures?

The first priority in having new dentures made is to ensure that your gums are healthy and that there are no signs of problems throughout your mouth. Having dentures made on inflamed or infected gums is only going to make matters worse. You should also be examined periodically for any signs of oral cancer. For this screening it is important that you see a dentist. If you need partial dentures then the health of the remaining natural teeth is critical. Any cavities need to be addressed before new dentures are made. Your teeth need to be cleaned and their supporting gums and bone need to be healthy and viable. Dentists train for many years to be able to recognize and treat all problems with your mouth. If necessary they will refer you to board certified specialists. These are dentists who have taken extra years of training over and above their dental degree.

Dr. George Cadigan, Exclusively Dentures
www.exclusivelydentures.ca

Running the Right Way

It happens too often: Runner begins training program, a twinge settles in. Runner stretches, takes painkillers, and keeps training. A few runs later, runner is on the couch, ice pack strapped on. Interchange knee pain, plantar fasciitis, ITB pain, etc. Now what to do about it? 3 simple changes can go a long way. 1 Buy proper footwear: checking length, width, toe box and arch support. Pavement vs. trail running should be considered. 2 A strong body is key to pain prevention. Strong muscles guard against impact, improve form and create a consistent running gait. Muscular balance ensures that one muscle group isn’t straining and working harder to make up for weak stabilizers. Talk to a professional for exercises tailored for runners. 3 Many beginners start out by doing too much, too fast, too soon. Joining a running class/club teaches proper scheduling, heart rate monitoring, hydration and nutrition. Happy Running and good luck Marathoners!

Stacey Bulat BKin-AT CAT(C) Certified Athletic Therapist, Vital Life
www.vitallifeclinic.com

Eliminate Disease, Eat Real Food

89% of the adult population has a chronic health condition. Health issues are so common that people consider them an inevitable part of life. This is not how our ancient ancestors lived. It is a creation of modern times. If a condition such as diabetes, arthritis, depression, cancer, auto-immune conditions or allergies have run through your family in the last several generations does this mean that you will contract that condition? Likely so, if you eat a similar diet to those relatives. 71% of the calories in the Standard American Diet did not exist 100 years ago and humans haven’t genetically adapted to thrive consuming these unfamiliar items. Eating closer to what your ancestors ate back when they were hunters and gatherers will allow your body to heal and likely prevent any health condition from taking root in the first place. No counting calories, hunger, cleanses, detoxes, juicing or nutraceuticals. Just eating real food.

Tom White
www.becomehealthy.ca

Benefits of Cassiolamine

This multi-flavonoid compound helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and in the reduction of high blood pressure. Cassiolamine helps to maintain healthy blood vessels by reducing the adhesion (stickiness) of blood platelets, which promotes healthy blood flow. This important ingredient also serves as an anti-oxidant, which helps to maintain a healthy heart and improved immune system. What this natural legume based extract is mostly known for is its powerful lipase-inhibiting features, which results in the prevention of fat absorption and an effective carbohydrate blocker.

Vicki Friesen

www.myvalentus.com/MissionSlimPossible

Medication Timing

It is important to understand clearly when to take medications and how to take them. Some prescriptions have to be taken on an empty stomach while others are taken with food – check with your pharmacist to ensure you know what that means (how long before or after a meal do I have to wait). This helps with the appropriate absorption of the medication. Some medications should not be taken with other drugs as this can lead to reduced effectiveness. Timing of medications is also important in terms of when to take them – morning vs nighttime – to alleviate side effects. As well, it is key to follow the instructions on the number of times per day to take the medication. When receiving a new prescription, ask your pharmacist to fully explain the medication so you have a clear understanding of it. A full medication review of all your prescription drugs and over the counter products can further help you see how they work together.

Care At Home Pharmacy
www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Go DEET-Free With Essential Oils

It’s no secret that Manitoba is a mosquito haven. Quite frankly, our mosquitos can rival some small birds! While a lot of you still use traditional (and toxic) bug repellents, many of us want to know our alternatives. Lemon eucalyptus oil could be a much safer and more natural weapon against these little monsters. So what’s so bad about DEET, you ask? DEET toxicity can be blamed for skin irritations, rashes, lethargy, headaches, tremors, involuntary movements, seizures and convulsions. When applied to the skin a certain percentage of DEET is absorbed into the bloodstream. And the toxicity of the chemical goes up when it’s combined with isopropyl alcohol or freon, both of which are common ingredients in commercial bug repellents. In fact, DEET products are required to carry several child safety warnings. Studies have confirmed that lemon eucalyptus oil can be as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes. Other essential oils that mosquitos loathe are: catnip oil, neem and citronella!