Wellnessnews, Author at Wellnessnews

Clean Eating: Quinoa “Breaded” Chicken Strips

Ingredients: (Use organic products)

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
⅔ cup flour
1 tsp sea salt + ¼ tsp pepper
3 eggs + 2 Tbsp water
2 cups cooked quinoa

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease a baking sheet with Coconut Oil or Butter. In a small bowl whisk flour, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl whisk eggs and water. Place quinoa in a third bowl. Dredge chicken in flour mixture, then eggs, and lastly in the quinoa being sure to coat well. Bake for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked. Serve with your favorite healthy dipping sauces!

“Light” Through Your Hands

I once read that humans were the only species who could pass “light” through their hands. Reiki is a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen life force flows through us. If one’s life force energy is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress and, if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that courses through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, mind and spirit, creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace. Reiki is a simple, safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that anyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with medicine to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

C.T., www.prairiewellnessretreat.com

Cardioflex Q10

A supportive nutritional supplement for doctor recommended diet and exercise plans that is designed for cardiovascular health. Cardioflex Q1O is a unique blend of vitamins and amino proteins taken daily as supportive natural therapy to enrich cardiovascular health, establish cholesterol balance, and reduce CRP (C-reactive protein). Strengthen the cardiovascular system. Dissolve atherosclerotic plaque. Relieve the pain of angina pectoris (chest pain). Reduce the likelihood of blood clotting, heart attack or stroke. Increase heart and other muscle strength and stamina. Reduce blood and tissue lipids (fats) and cholesterol. Reduce C-reactive protein (CRP indicates artery inflammation) as well as homocysteine levels. Increase antioxidant intake and activity to slow aging. Help natural immunity against viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Reduce hypertension and improve overall circulation. Manitoba Made, Innotech Nutrition product.

Nutrition Plus, www.nutritionplus.com

Chocolate Hemp Snackers

Need a quick pick-me-up that’s loaded with protein, fibre, and is a little bit sweet? Try a Chocolate Hemp Snacker. Hemp Snackers are the innovative crunchy macaroon-like energy bar listing organic hemp seed as the #1 ingredient. Full of protein, fibre, Omega 3’s and 6’s, inulin, antioxidants, and magnesium, they’re a snack you can feel good about eating. Because they’re dehydrated at low temperatures rather than baked, they’re crunchy and easy for your body to digest. We chose organic Canadian maple sugar to sweeten them with, both for the unique flavour as well as the nutritional benefits. Only 150 Calories per one bar.

Natalie Dueck, www.rawnata.com

February is Heart Month!

Today, heart disease and stroke take one life every 7 minutes and 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor. Cardiovascular disease is caused by controllable and non-controllable risk factors. Controllable risk factors would include smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity. Non-controllable risk factors being age, gender and heredity. Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include squeezing chest pain, problems breathing, and pale or bluish skin. It is important to know that not everyone will experience chest pain during a heart attack. Women (and some men), people with diabetes and the elderly can experience what we call “soft signs” which can include mild, unfocused chest discomfort, tiredness, gastric discomfort and flu-like symptoms. It is strongly recommended to attend a First Aid, CPR and AED certification course to be able to properly identify and attend to emergency situations should they arise.

Yvonne Harder, www.eastmansafety.ca

5 Ingredients to Stay Away From

1. Parabens: Widely used as low-cost synthetic preservatives. They have been linked to cancer, and having an estrogenic effect.

2. Phthalates: Very toxic ingredients that aid in skincare absorption. Classified as “probable human carcinogens” by the EPA.

3. Petrochemicals: Many household cleaning products are loaded with petrochemicals, and this is linked to the rise in cancer and other diseases.

4. Cosmetic Fragrance: Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum which can cause skin irritations.

5. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: The second most concentrated ingredient in shampoos and soaps. Also used in car wash detergents. In sufficient amounts, SLS is capable of changing the information in your genetic makeup. Read your labels – the FDA requires that label ingredients are listed in the order of highest concentrations – meaning that the highest level of ingredients are listed first.

Balance Your Hormones – Naturally!

Hormones are chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your health as they travel in your bloodstream throughout your entire body. Hormone imbalance is the root cause of various diseases and disorders. Some of the most common side effects of hormone imbalance include: Infertility, Weight gain, Depression, Fatigue, Insomnia, Low libido and Hair loss. Organs and glands like your thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, testicles and pancreas regulate most of your hormone production, and if your hormones become even slightly imbalanced it can cause major health issues. The good news is there are ways to balance your hormones naturally. Start with your diet! Foods packed with healthy fats like coconut oil, avocados, grass-fed butter and wild-caught salmon. Antioxidant rich fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds help strengthen your endocrine system, as they cancel the effects of free radicals on the body. Consumption of organic food with plenty of clean, filtered water is essential if you want to keep your balance!

Nichole Guthrie

Exercise…The Best Medicine

“What if I told you that this drug treats everything? And that it helps prevent almost every illness you might get, including certain types of cancer?” asks Jordan Metzl, MD sports physician. What is it? Exercise! If you’ve made a resolution to begin exercising this year or you’ve renewed your commitment to workout regularly, read on to find out why that is the best resolution you could have made. Regular physical activity can help prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even some cancers. Exercise can lower both of those, can reverse type 2 diabetes, help alleviate depression, and relieve arthritis pain. Metzl is a big fan of strength training and high-intensity interval training, which has been shown to have great results in improving fitness and burning calories. The Curves circuit is a 30 min. high-intensity interval workout consisting of the resistance machines and metabolic conditioning stations. We also encourage members to walk or do some other cardio between their Curves workouts.

Curves International 2015, www.curves.com

PRO-TEC

PRO-TEC is an antioxidant-rich supplement specially formulated to protect against free radicals. It also supports the delicate hormonal balance and maintains proper pH of the blood, keeping it from becoming acidic which can lead to chronic disease. PRO-TEC helps strengthen and protect the cardiovascular system, reinforce connective tissue in your joints and muscles that break down as we age, prevent absorption of toxins, support hormonal balance to maintain the proper ph of the blood, and more. The formulation includes Grape Seed Extract, Wild Mexican Yam, and Aloe. It is the unique combination of these plant-derived components that work together to promote stronger vascular and connective tissue integrity while increasing absorption and elimination of the toxins that can cause pain and cellular destruction. It’s never too late to begin to bring your system back into balance. Experience how good you can feel!

Darlene Savage, www.peopleswaylc.com

Winter Hazards & Your Cat

It can be a scary situation. You get into your vehicle and you hear a faint sound. When you pop the hood, you’re able to see that a tiny kitten has crawled in. Year after year we see our share of cats who have been injured because they just wanted to keep warm. During the winter months, a kitten, who doesn’t have very much body fat, can get quite cold. When he feels the warmth coming from your engine, up he goes. It may seem like folklore, but there have been several instances of this happening. If you suspect a cat could get under your car, honk the horn or bang loudly on the hood before starting the engine. Ultimately, cats do seek shelter in and around vehicles and some are badly injured, burned, or killed when drivers fail to notice their presence. Always keeping your cats indoors is the best way to keep them safe from vehicle dangers.

Lisa Tustin, Veterinary Assistant

New Year’s Resolutions!

Have you made New Year’s Resolutions for 2016? Here is something to question – “If these resolutions are so important, why have I not done them before? Am I actually ready to execute these changes, or am I creating them because I ‘should’?” Instead of resolutions that often aren’t honored or successful even before the first month of 2016 is over, WHAT IF you made a list of positive emotions you wanted to feel in the New Year instead? “I choose to work on feeling healthier” avoids self-recrimination rather than “I will quit smoking”. “I will connect with people who are important to me.” Is less pressuring than “I will call my relatives more often”. “I can choose exercise as a way to honor my body” is more flexible than “I will go to the gym three times a week.” Successful, guilt-free resolutions that you will follow through on! All the best in 2016!

Maureen Becker, www.sourcewithin.com