Physical activity plays an important role in your health and quality of life by making you feel healthier and stronger. Being active helps to improve your balance, reduce your risk of falls and injuries, and can help you stay independent longer. So take the initiative! It’s never too late to start and you don’t need to go to a gym to add a little exercise to your routine; consult your doctor and ask to learn more about exercises that can be done while sitting in your chair!
Community News
Ask The Expert
Q. My New Year’s resolution is to take better care of my health. What do I need to do to maintain my eye health?
A. Nothing magical. Protect your eyes from the sun and other sources of UV light. Don’t smoke. Keep yourself healthy with diet and exercise, and make sure your family doctor is in the loop. Get your eyes examined – there are plenty of ways to optimize your vision and make your eyes feel more comfortable. Detecting a hidden eye disease or other health problem is another benefit of the examination.
Preventing Bunions
A bunion is a bump that forms on the side of the foot, by the big toe. Once thought to be caused by wearing pointed-toed shoes, bunions are now considered, in most cases, to be the result of fallen arches. Fallen arches cause a change in how the feet work and bunions are one of the possible symptoms. This means they can be prevented, if the foot arch is corrected early enough. It also means the bunion could return after surgery, if the cause of the bunion is not addressed. Custom orthotics are one component of an appropriate treatment plan for bunions.
Winter Health
Winter is the darkest, dampest, and coldest time of the year; however, this should not be construed as a bad thing. In nature, winter is a time of hibernation, and for people, it is a time of introspection. Some basic recommendations for winter to stay healthy are: dress appropriately (wool); eat cooked or warmed foods to counteract the cold temperatures outside (soups, stews); avoid copious amounts of raw vegetables, juices, or chilled foods and beverages; use spices like ginger or cinnamon; and sleep longer (go to bed earlier, wake up later).
New Year Resolutions
It’s wonderful to want to make changes in your life. The problem is, change doesn’t happen overnight, and most resolutions end up being abandoned. Then we feel guilty about it. Consider, instead, small sustainable steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Being healthy isn’t just about what we eat and how much we weigh. Real wellness includes how we talk to ourselves, our outlook on life, and how we deal with stress. Feeling better can start with any of these things. See January as only the beginning of your wellness journey!
4 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immunity
There are plenty of natural remedies to help you boost your immune system and stay healthy all winter long:
1. Focus on Vitamin D. Did you know that most people have low vitamin D levels? Even dangerously low, within a range that could severely limit your immune system.
2. Eat More Garlic. Garlic is one of the most potent of all superfoods that goes back thousands of years for treatment of illness.
3. Get Your Probiotics. 70% of your immune system lies in your gut flora and the health of the friendly organisms in there to protect you against pathogens and sickness.
4. Avoid ALL processed foods and sweetened soft drinks. This is no time to bombard your body with processed foods, fried foods, high-fructose corn syrup, refined sugars or chemical additives.
Book Club: Ageless Soul
Living a Full Life with Joy and Purpose by Thomas Moore. Aging is the process by which one becomes a more distinctive, complex, fulfilled, loving, and connected person. Using examples from his practice as a psychotherapist and teacher who lectures widely on the soul of medicine and spirituality, Moore argues for a new vision of aging: as a dramatic series of initiations, rather than a diminishing experience, one that each of us has the tools―experience, maturity, fulfillment―to live out. Ageless Soul will teach readers how to embrace the richness of experience and how to take life on, accept invitations to new vitality, and feel fulfilled as they get older.
Vegan Cashew “Cheese”
Are you interested in trying a vegan diet, but aren’t ready to give up all cheese? You must give this recipe a try! Here’s what you need: 3/4 cup raw cashews, 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ cup water, ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, black pepper to taste. Here’s how to do it: Place cashews in a bowl with warm water and soak for at least 2 hours. Drain and add to food processor along with all other ingredients. Pulse until thoroughly combined. Enjoy this “cheesy” alternative!
Adapted from www.eatliveandplay.com
Take Care of Your “Winter” Body
Winter is the darkest, dampest, and coldest time of year; however, this isn’t always a bad thing. In nature, winter is a time of hibernation. For people, it is a time of introspection. Following basic health recommendations for winter can keep you healthy. Dress appropriately (wool). Eat cooked or warmed foods, such as soups and stews, and use spices such as ginger or cinnamon. Avoid copious amounts of raw vegetables, juices, or chilled foods and beverages. Go to sleep earlier and sleep in later for rejuvenation.
Dr. Ross Ralph, Dr. TCM, R.Ac., DOMP., Courtenay Healing Centre, CourtenayHealing.ca
Living with Diabetic Neuropathy?
One of the complications that may occur with diabetes is a gradual loss of sensation in your feet. If this happens, you may become unable to feel small stones or pressure areas inside your shoes. Sores can develop without you knowing and can quickly become a serious problem. Prevention of sores and open wounds includes using seamless socks, seamless footwear, and custom molded foot orthotics to provide an even distribution of pressure under the feet and position the feet optimally inside the shoes. Ensuring your feet are protected against skin breakdown is the best course of action in keeping them healthy for years to come.
B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics, MitchellPandO.com
Benefits of Dog Ownership
Research supports the statement that ‘people who own dogs live longer’, and pet owners have some great advantages in balancing daily living. Your dog gets your day started with a much-needed walk, and possibly a couple more throughout the day. You are loved unconditionally by your furry friend. You take time to groom, train, talk to, and play with your dog – social interaction that can offset hours spent on the computer and phone. A dog can change your life, add to your life, give you a life, and extend your life! Not a bad thing to consider. Barbara Guidetti, Happy Paws Pet Food, HappyPaws.ca
