Research suggests people who follow a Mediterranean diet lose 52% more weight than the standard low-fat diet because it isn’t just a fad or limited list of foods. It’s a lifestyle based on a balanced approach to your meals, which focuses on produce, healthy fats, whole grains, legumes, fish, and even some red wine. Committing to losing weight for three months using the Mediterranean diet as a base, along with three booster products and three lifestyle changes, guarantees results. And there is no meal skipping! Look and feel great for all of your holiday parties and events!
Valdine – Modere, Valdine.ca
Community News
Take a Load Off
Maintaining workplace mental health is vitally important. Stats show that most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work. Using break times is one effective way to improve overall mental health and boost productivity! Oftentimes, busy schedules and looming deadlines prevent us from taking breaks when we need them most. A short time away, doing something we enjoy, helps to reduce stress and emotional exhaustion, while providing a fresh focus and the necessary energy to accomplish tasks. Stretching, walking, listening to music, and reading or watching something funny are all ways to help lighten the load.
Stacey Shule Krueger, CMHA MB & Wpg, mbwpg.cmha.ca
Selective Hearing or Something More?
Think you’d notice if you have impaired hearing? Think again.
Those with hearing loss are often the last ones to recognize it. Unless the impairment occurs through sudden physical or medical-related trauma, hearing loss generally occurs slowly over time. This gradual change presents itself as people mumbling, unclear voices, or difficulty hearing through background noise. Friends and family are usually the first to notice when they aren’t being heard, or when they are consistently asked to repeat themselves. You may be tempted to brush it off as selective hearing. But if those close to you have said they suspect you have a hearing loss, it’s time to get your hearing checked.
Enhanced Hearing Centres, EnhancedHearingCentres.com
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. Mindful eating is the middle ground. Less food provides more joy and satisfaction. The questions to ask yourself this season before eating and drinking are: 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, Off Your Plate Nutrition, OffYourPlateNutrition.ca
Why We Should Meditate
In today’s crazy world, we could ALL benefit from daily meditation. During most of the time that we are awake, we are bombarded with our internal dialogue, which sometimes isn’t the friendliest. Meditation can help quiet this negative self-talk, as well as combat stress and make you sleep better, feel happier, and be more peaceful. Other benefits include:
• Decreased blood pressure and hypertension
• Lowered cholesterol levels
• Reduced production of “stress hormones”, including cortisol and adrenaline
• More efficient oxygen use by the body
• Increased production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA
• Improved immune function
Product Review:
Serrapeptase, the little miracle enzyme! Serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme, which means it breaks down long protein chains into amino acids that the body needs. These enzymes bind to the alpha 2 macroglobulin in our plasma where it is shielded from the immune system while retaining its enzymatic activity. They are then free to roam through the blood stream seeking to break down hard protein (non-living tissue), fibrin surfaces, scar tissue, granuloma, and even thin out mucous to ease conditions such as chronic sinusitis.
It’s been proven to be a safe and effective alternative to NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) and should be taken on an empty stomach. The capsule must be a special DRcap (Delayed Release capsule) or enteric coated capsule that allows the Serrapeptase to pass through the stomach to the small intestine where the enzyme is then released. Enerex.ca
Book Club:
What To Do After “I’m Sorry, it’s Cancer.” An Exceptional Guidebook for Navigating Your Way to Health and Happiness. Two-time survivor Wanda St. Hilaire provides easy-to-read information that you will not get at your local cancer centre. Learn how best to navigate your cancer journey and make empowered, informed decisions. St. Hilaire’s mission is to greatly reduce suffering and ensure you maintain a high quality of life through, and well beyond, cancer. You’ll discover how to uncover imbalances for healing and you’ll create a unique and personalized wellness plan that will help you on toward health and happiness. ImSorryItsCancer.com
Is Your Skin Dry?
Colder months often wreak havoc on even the clearest complexions. Ganban-yoku, a Japanese thermal therapy, can not only provide lasting deep warmth for the body, but also a smooth, silky complexion. This is because of the sebum released during the session, which acts as an extra coating on the skin’s surface. This helps smooth and keep the skin moisturized, while making it glow. Ganban-yoku is also a useful relaxation therapy. By reducing stress, hormone levels stabilize and can result in better skin. The reduced stress level can also increase production of sebum to fight dry skin. Mieko Morisawa, PoccaPocaSpa.com
Do’s and Don’ts of Dating
In today’s distracted world, where people are panicked when they don’t have instant access to their electronics, face-to-face meetings can be a foreign concept. When getting to know someone, it is important that they feel you are giving them your undivided attention. Cell phones need to be on silent and put away while on a date. Exes are not discussed. Communication needs to be real. Texting and emailing are not appropriate ways to get to know someone. Take the time to call them and have a real conversation. Do an activity on your date where you have ample time to get to learn more about the person. Mini golf, bowling, the zoo, or walking through craft shows are some suggestions that allow you to get to know one another without pressure. Lianne Tregobov, CamelotIntroductions.com
Stressed about Stress?
Stress is often thought of as something that happens to us. However, stress is a response to an event and therefore mostly within our control. A major study found that when people view unpleasant physical sensations, like a racing heart and nervousness, as helpful instead of harmful, the risk of heart disease, stroke, and early death diminishes greatly. How can we change our mind about stress? By intentionally subjecting ourselves to a healthy stressor. Fifteen minutes of intense exercise releases endorphins – our body’s natural pain killers and stress fighters – which helps us associate a positive feeling with stress-inducing events. Sean Miller, CMHA MB and Winnipeg, mbwpg.cmha.ca
Does Your Pet Need Dental Care?
It’s not surprising that many of us don’t think too much about periodontal disease in our pets…at least not until something starts to look…or smell…bad! Often, there are no obvious signs, but just as with humans, our pets’ overall well-being is very dependent on the state of their teeth and gums. Infections, gingivitis, and broken teeth all can have very adverse effects on their systemic health, as well as being just as painful to them as it is for us. Your veterinarian can help with tutorials on dental home care and prevention. Treatment may include diet, oral rinses, brushing, and of course, professional cleaning done by your veterinary team.
