New parents often wonder how they can use music at home for their newborns, even if the parents don’t have any musical skills. Regardless of culture or place of birth, some aspects of childhood are universal. Lullabies were sung to us and all children sing, dance, and play rhyming games. That part of our lives may seem distant by the time we have children of our own, but there is a warehouse of songs, games, and music in our memories. Reconnect with the songs you once loved as a child and share them with your newborn. Your singing doesn’t have to be professional; it just has to come from your heart.
Community News
Get Your Mouth Checked!
An oral health exam is critical to the maintenance of your overall wellbeing. You should have your mouth checked at least once a year for prevention and treatment of any ailments. Even if you don’t have any live teeth, it’s important to make sure there are no signs of infections or early signs of cancer, growths, or cysts, and that your dentures are fitting you well. Leaving problems untreated usually leads to pain, periodontal disease, or tooth loss, and could make treatment more difficult, so it’s best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them.
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
Don’t Be the Water Filter!
Disinfecting our drinking water for more than a century with chlorine ensured it was free of the microorganisms that can cause serious diseases, such as typhoid fever. To this day, chlorine remains the most commonly used drinking water disinfectant. However, chlorine has been shown to promote a generation of free radicals within the body. Drinking tap water has been linked to bladder, breast and bowel cancer; and long-term effects of drinking, bathing, and swimming in chlorinated water has been shown to cause malignant melanoma. According to Dr. Rona, M.D., chlorinated water destroys most of the intestinal flora–friendly bacteria that help not only with the digestion of food, but with the production of vitamins B12 and K. Chlorinated water has been shown to destroy vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All of these factors have been shown to result in skin irritations, including eczema, acne, and rashes. TotalWaterCleaners.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
Expressive Arts at Home
Formal expressive therapies should be facilitated by a professional, but that doesn’t mean your children can’t have fun with the expressive arts at home! Encourage them to explore their creative side with their siblings or friends. Let them paint; play with clay, playdough, or puppets; sing a song; or improvise with a tambourine, rattle, or drum. Incorporating the expressive arts into your child’s life can have such great benefits, particularly if mental or behavioural challenges are present. But they aren’t just for coping; they also have great effects on a child’s normal development. Sophie Von Herrmann, Expressive Arts Therapist, B.Ed., M.A., VictoriaExpressiveTherapies.ca
Blackheads – Causes and Treatments
Blackheads, also referred to as “open comedones”, are small spots on the skin that surface when oil and dead skin clog the pores.
You may be tempted to pick, pop, and poke to get rid of blackheads quickly. There are better ways, so resist the urge.
If you are prone to blackheads and pore congestion, opt for oil-free makeup, lotions, and sunscreen. Home peels and exfoliation products can remove blackheads using active ingredients like salicylic acid and glycolic acid.
Regular monthly professional treatments will keep your skin clear and healthy. A good treatment provides exfoliation, as well as softening and drawing out the blackheads. Chris Laidlaw, DMK Skincare, DMKSkinCare.ca
Make Peace with Family
Families can be amazing – sometimes! They can be our strength, or they can leave us feeling crummy – undermined, discouraged, saddened, powerless, trapped, guilty, or abandoned. We don’t always get the fair treatment we want. Family members can be overbearing, or act like sneaks or victims. Sometimes, they criticize your choices, no matter what you do! How do you hold your ground without lashing out or checking out? How do you build the life you want? Counselling can be a safe and neutral place to discuss strategies to deal with family and reclaim your life. Mary Munro, MaryMunro.ca
What is Biohacking?
These days, it seems like you can hack nearly anything to get the most bang for your buck. If only we could hack our own bodies, right? Welcome to the world of biohacking! Biohacking is the process of making changes to your lifestyle in order to “hack” your body’s biology and feel your best. Everything we put into our bodies affects how we behave. By biohacking yourself, you can transform your body to feel like the best possible version of yourself. Come meet the experts at the 27th Annual Victoria Health Show to learn about the latest trends, products, and services to help you live your best life ever! PV Events, PVEvents.ca
Change isn’t Easy
“No, not this year,” you say. “Resolutions don’t work for me anyway.” But have you ever spent any time discovering WHY? Change is a very big deal. To change something about ourselves and then maintain the change, we need intention, determination, a detailed plan, support, and patience. We need to know ourselves and prepare for our weak moments. We need a rescue plan if we fall off our change horse. Counsellors are equipped for supporting change with you. Include at least one session with a counsellor when you are planning the details of your change. It can make all the difference! Barbara Gilmore, clinical counsellor, BGilmoreCounselling.com
Resolutions and Positive Thinking
A new year stretches in front of us, and the idea of setting resolutions for 2018 is energizing for some and so overwhelming for others. Success or failure of past resolutions comes to mind, and this can be uplifting or very discouraging. When you’re feeling discouraged, motivational guru Zig Ziglar provides this simple truth: “You do everything better when you’re thinking positively than when you’re thinking negatively.” We always want to do better, whether that be shopping smart, saving money, or planning for the future! Take a moment to think positively about what your financial actions in 2018 will be. Doris Minervini, Abakhan & Associates, Abakhan.com
