Community News
Does Your Dog Have Hot Spots?

They’re commonly known as hot spots, but the medical term for those bare, inflamed, red areas you often see on dogs is acute moist dermatitis — a bacterial skin infection. Anything that irritates your dog’s skin enough to make him scratch or chew can lead to pain and infection. A hot spot’s location can help your vet diagnose its cause. Fleas, for example, may be the source of a hip hot spot, while a hot spot at the ear might point to ear problems. Treating hot spots may involve shaving and cleaning the irritated area, antibiotics, steroids, or topical medications, depending on how bad the hot spots are, and how much pain your pooch is in. Healthy skin is the key to preventing hot spots! If your pooch has a thick, heavy coat, groom him regularly to prevent his coat from matting. Matted fur traps moisture and parasites, creating the ideal environment for hot spots.

Lisa Tustin, Professional Pet Services

 

Successful Love Stories

“I joined Camelot Introductions and thought I would not have a match and could go on with my happy single life knowing that I had tried and it wasn’t meant for me. Then, we were introduced and one year and one month later, we were married! Lianne gave good advice and continues to support us. I have never been happier in my life, with all the ups and downs, there is nowhere else I’d rather be than with my husband. I love him so much.” ~ M.

“I joined Camelot Introductions and met the love of my life (my soulmate). Richard was my first match. I felt an instant connection with Lianne. She is so intuitive! Richard and I met 2-1/2 years ago; got engaged on April 24 and our wedding day was on August 22. I am so thankful to Lianne. What a wonderful journey it has been!” ~ Liliane.

Camelot Introductions, CamelotIntroductions.com

6 Ways to Alkalize Your Body

Did you know that your immunity is based on how alkaline your diet is? Having an overly acidic diet eventually leads to a weakened state, and our bodies become susceptible to disease. Here are six ways to alkalize – and healthify – your body!

1. Drink plenty of water. Drink half your body weight in ounces every day to keep your body systems regulated. For an extra boost in alkalinity – add lemon!

2. Trade coffee for tea. Green tea is highly alkaline. Try jasmine, sencha or matcha.

3. Kick that sugar habit. Use stevia, coconut sugar or small amounts of honey in place of sugar.

4. Eat more greens. Vegetables are highly alkaline and oxygen rich. Consume fresh green vegetables often as possible.

5. Move. Exercise to create more oxygen and qi flow in the body and to avoid stagnation.

6. Reduce stress. Meditate as often as possible, practice deep breathing, do yoga, and get plenty of sleep.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Cantaloupe & Cucumber Salad

Here’s a refreshing side salad for a change of pace. It’s delicious served with a spicy grilled chicken, tofu, or fish. Or serve this over a bed of leafy greens with extra dressing on the side. Gently fold together 1/2 small cantaloupe and 1 medium cucumber (cut into 1/2 inch chunks), 1/2 cup crumbled feta, and 6 big basil leaves (sliced thinly). Whisk and add to salad: 1 tbsp olive oil, 2-3 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and freshly ground salt and pepper to taste. Top with 2 tbsp sunflower seeds. (This is the perfect place to showcase your gourmet balsamic vinegars and good quality olive oil. Skip the salt and sprinkle with a little Fleur de Sel for some drama!)

Lisa Kehler, OffYourPlateNutrition.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 Shetreat-Klein, 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.

Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, Dirtcure.com

Food Cravings and Health

Do you ever find yourself wanting a certain food and you need have it right this second? If yes, then your body might be sending you a message that your hormones might be out of balance. If you are under stress and have cravings, this can be related to adrenal function, which, if not addressed, can lead to exhaustion. You may crave sweets and salty foods, and drink more caffeine during the day. Finding successful ways to handle stress and adding the proper adrenal support is important. Cravings can also be associated with the menstrual cycle in women and may be in addition to depression, irritability, and/ or mood swings. During menstrual cycles, proper nutrition and lifestyle considerations are important to aid in balancing hormones. Cravings can also occur when you’re trying to lose weight. This may occur if you are restricting your diet and not getting the proper nutritional balance.

Dr. Ana M. Cvitko, N.D.
DrAnaCvitkoND.com

Ayurveda Therapy

Ayurveda is an ancient medical science that is more than 5,000 years old. Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge. According to Ayurveda, each person is born with a basic body constitution called Prakruti. If there is a changing nature or situation in the body, imbalance (or Vikruti) occurs. The aims of Ayurveda are Ayus (long life) and Arogya (diseaselessness), with ultimate spiritual goals. Health is achieved by balancing what are known as bodily humors or Tridoshas at all levels, according to an individual’s constitution, lifestyle, and nature. At Ayu Revive, the focus is providing the highest level of service in an environment that promotes wellness, relaxation, and beauty. Organic Ayurvedic oils, herbs, and SVA transdermal preparations are used for the treatments. Oils and herbs are chosen based on the imbalances found during pulse assessment.

Purnima Chaudhari, Ayu Revive
AyuReviveAyurveda.com

Taking Control of Finances

Wish you had a secret savings account for bills that pop out of nowhere? Learn our Save to Spend 6-Step Strategy. Forms are online at www.creditaid.ca/save-to-spend. 1) Transaction Register, or app like My Check Register – Record what’s going in and out, and include all monthly pre-authorized debits. 2) Monthly Budget Form – Prepare a draft spending plan and estimate monthly spending for each category. 3) Irregular Expenses – Identify annual costs that you can save for monthly, such as vehicle/house repairs or birthdays. 4) Payroll Planner – Can help you identify expenses to pay, by pay period. 5) Track the Real Spending – Save all receipts each month, add them up by category, and enter on the Monthly Budget Form. 6) Separate Savings Account, i.e., “My Secret Savings” – Save “irregular expenses” in a separate savings account each month and move these funds from chequing into a savings account you can name by category.

Brian Denysuik
Creditaid.ca

Eliminate Brain Fog

When we call the plumber, we expect to see debris from unclogging the pipes that needed addressing. Little did we know that those pipes had accumulated so much “guck” over the years! The same, unfortunately, can be said for our bodies. Too often, it is only when the “pipes” don’t work anymore that we call for help. When our lymphatic system and our arteries get clogged, illness gets diagnosed. With so little flow in our system, we shouldn’t be surprised if we are experiencing a foggy brain. On our journey towards wellness, we can expect some “guck” to be released when we visit a practitioner. To support the “plumbing” experience, we need good tools: water to flush the guck, rest so the body can integrate the changes it needs to make, and good protein to increase the brain’s energy resources.

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW
Brainwave Optimization®
LaLobaTraumaRelease.com

Get More from Vacations

Do you find it takes you up to three days to get into “vacation mode”? Summertime is vacation time, and your time away is far too precious to spend it trying to “hurry up and relax”. Once you do wind down, do you often get sick? The go-go-go nature of our lives means that once your system has a chance to calm down, your immunity also goes down the tubes at the same time, leading to illness or exhaustion. Floating therapy before your vacation can help you get your mind and body back into balance so that you can actually be more present on your vacation. And isn’t that what vacations are really for?

Leah & Brad, FloatCalm.com

Natural Product Review: Garden of Life

Dr. Formulated Probiotics are clinically studied probiotics for mood and relaxation support. In his latest book, Brain Maker, Dr. Perlmutter presents riveting and novel research revealing a strong connection between our mood and the bacteria living in our digestive tracts. The exact mechanisms through which bacteria modulate our mood have yet to be understood fully, however, studies have shown that our microflora affect certain neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate and influence our state of mind. The Dr. Formulated Mood+ was specifically formulated with 50 billion CFUs and 16 different strains of bacteria. It contains clinically studied Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum in the same amount shown to significantly decrease cortisol levels and thus support a balanced mood, relaxation, and emotional wellbeing. The formula has additional organic Ashwagandha extract, an adaptogenic herb shown to further support stress management, and organic Alaskan blueberries for antioxidant support.

Aviva Natural Health Solutions
AvivaHealth.com