Community News
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

To Floss or Not to Floss?

By now, most of us have heard of the recent Associated Press (AP) article, which looked at 25 peer-reviewed studies on flossing. The article cited weak or unreliable evidence that flossing has long-term benefits (published Aug 2016). The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) continues to support flossing as an effective preventative measure to remove plaque, the main cause of gum disease. Floss is meant toclean between teeth and under the gums (areas where your toothbrush can’t reach). If you avoid interdental cleaning, you are missing as much as one third of your tooth surface! There are other tools available, such as interdental or proxabrushes and mechanical devices, such as Waterpik (or AirFloss). However traditional floss is the most cost effective option and, therefore, the one most often recommended. If you have any questions, contact your local dental office.

Dr. Sarah Keating Sangalang, www.reflectionsdentalhealth.ca

Self-Awareness Is Key

How could you ever repair a vehicle if the causes of what made it break down were invisible to you and everyone else? This statement is true for nearly everyone in all aspects of our lives (not our vehicles). We desire to improve our health, relationships, and life but we have no idea what is actually preventing us from achieving these desired improvements. “I would fix it if I knew what it was’” is a common theme for many of us. Becoming self-aware leads us to uncover and understand what are the hidden causes and factors. It also gives us the opportunity to release, move on from, and heal whatever the invisible factors have been. Self-awareness leads to answers. Answers lead to solutions. Solutions lead to living a most excellent, healthy, balanced, and productive life. Are you looking for solutions? Self-awareness is the key!

Shannon Russell, www.bodymindfreedom.net

Mindful Holiday Eating

It’s not the shortbread or chocolates that’ll get you. It’s what you THINK about the shortbread and chocolates that’ll do it every year. It’s the extreme all or nothing thinking, the good food/bad food mindset that’ll turn a couple cookies into ten. It sounds something like this: “get it while you can and lose it in January” or “I’m not gaining an ounce this year.” Mindful eating is the middle ground. Conscious eating decisions that leave you feeling better after eating, holidays or not. Less food provides more joy and satisfaction which lends itself well to savoring all the season has to offer. The basics to ask yourself this season before eating and drinking: 1. “Am I Hungry?” 2. “How Hungry Am I?” 3. “What do I REALLY want? 4. “How much will satisfy my hunger/craving while leaving me feeling peaceful? 5. “How do I want to feel in my body after I’m done eating?”

Lisa Kehler, www.offyourplatenutrition.ca

Healing with Crystals

Crystals and gemstones have amazing holistic healing abilities and can be used for many applications such as meditation, reiki, and chakra clearing and balancing. With a little practice and intuition, anyone can interpret the immediate characteristics of a stone. For example, red is the colour of action and red stones can invigorate and enliven in the same way that the blood in your body gives you life. Amethyst is a good crystal for protection against all sorts of negative energy. It expands the mind, encouraging creativity, intuition, and calm. Rose quartz is a beautiful crystal for love, compassion, tolerance, and radical self-love. Citrine is the prosperity crystal. It attracts abundance, as well as boosting your self-esteem! Hematite protects against negativity. Its mirrored surface deflects other people’s moods and bad vibes.

Sherri Versluis, www.thepreferredperch.ca

Stay Active This Winter

As the days get shorter, temperatures begin to drop, and the snow flies it becomes increasingly challenging to stay active. There are numerous strategies a person can implement to combat inactivity through the winter months. The first choice is to bundle up and get outside. Snowshoeing, skiing, skating, snowball fights, and snowman making are all great activities that can only be enjoyed at this time of year. There are also many ways to stay active indoors. Recreational sports leagues and gyms are available throughout the city. However, workouts can be performed in the comfort of your own home with little to no equipment. They can be self -guided or you can follow along with a workout video. If doing a formal workout isn’t for you, then try doing some housework or walking the malls. It’s important to develop a workout program and stay active this winter!

Kristi Hunter, prairietrailphysio.ca

10 Ways to Cultivate Self-Acceptance

Be intentional. Articulate your goal of self-acceptance and dedicate yourself to it each day. Celebrate your strengths. Name one of your strengths each day. Create a support system. Surround yourself with people who accept and believe in you. Forgive yourself. Accept past mistakes, learn from them, and move on. Shush your inner critic. Be gentle to yourself and treat yourself the way you would a loved one. Grieve the loss of unrealized dreams. Acknowledge the loss and then move forward. Perform acts of kindness. Giving to others enriches your life. Be kind to yourself. It is not selfish to love yourself. You are worthy of self-compassion. Understand that acceptance is not resignation. Letting go of the things you cannot control allows you to grow. Speak to your highest self. Visualize your best self in times of stress. Tap into the wisdom that lies within you.

Canadian Mental Health Association Manitoba, www.winnipeg.cmha.ca

Disappointment: What Really Matters?

Disappointment is a natural and inevitable part of life that we can’t avoid when we allow ourselves to dream, hope, love, connect, and envision our lives going in a certain direction. When we are engaged in relationships, not everything always goes as planned. We can’t help but bump into both the known and hidden expectations as to how our life should be, wish it could be, or want it to be. Whether we become disappointed with ourselves, with others, or life circumstances it lets us know what’s important, what we need and an amazing opportunity to clearly assess if this specific person, situation, or circumstances can meet our needs at this time. Welcoming the reality of what really is and grieving the disappointment of what can’t be, helps us make room for a new acceptance of what is actually possible!

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

Grow Your Mo’

Movember is the month formerly known as November, where men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men. One in eight men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Prostate cancer can be slow-growing and some men who develop it may live many years without ever having the cancer detected. It is important to get screened regularly so that if you do develop prostate cancer, the appropriate action can be taken. The moustache is our ribbon. This Movember, grow your Mo and use it to raise funds for men’s health.

Care At Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Community Event

As part of Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week, St. Raphael Wellness Centre is hosting the “SEX AND ADDICTIONS Conference” on November 15-17th at the Norwood Hotel.

The conference begins on November 15th from 7-9 pm with a public forum, entitled, “ Porn Crisis? The Porn Dilemma in Today’s Culture.” Discovering that someone close to you is secretly watching porn is usually met with a range of emotions and most of us do not feel prepared to navigate a conversation about it. This community presentation will describe six principles of sexual health that can be a foundation for talking with someone about their use of pornography.

This will be followed by a day and a half discussion on sex/drug-linked behaviour.  Family members, counsellors, therapists, mental health professionals and others who want to help individuals talk about and address issues of sexual health and substance addiction will want to attend.

www.straphaelcentre.ca

 http://straphaelcentre.ca/srwc-conference-2016-2/