As we age our skin changes. It doesn’t hold moisture like it used to; it becomes chronically dry. One reason for this is that the enzyme that converts linoleic acid into moisture-holding gamma linoleic acid (omega 3) begins to slow down. When we are young our skin turns over robustly; old skin cells slough off and new fresh skin cells take their place. As we age, this process also slows, and layers of dead skin cells seemingly glue together, making our skin appear thick and dull forming wrinkles much more easily than young skin. Turn to nature for powerful solutions! Use a natural day cream that contains GLA oils like evening primrose, borage or black currant seed, a moisture rich gentle exfoliating paste, and a healthy dose of antioxidants inside and outside. Antioxidants include vitamins, minerals, herbs and essential oils. Health is beauty!

Karen VanDyck
www.naturesfirstbeautybar.com

An elderly relative, adjusting to the loss of living independently and the death of her sibling, quietly admitted “I’m all alone now.” Despite living a highly engaged life – maintaining an extensive social network, living in the same city for over 50 years, and cultivating relationships within a close faith community, her sense of loneliness was palpable. Her experience is neither unexpected – particularly for someone who has outlived many of her peers, or sadly, unique. During a counselling session, a client stated “I feel invisible. I disappear into my room and only leave when I have to.” The sentiment was similar, although this client, at fourteen, appeared to be highly connected through social media. Social isolation is not the same as choosing to spend time alone, and it can have negative impacts on mental and physical wellness. An empathetic counsellor can offer practical support to break a pattern of social isolation.

Sophia Sorensen, BBA, MA, RCC
www.sorensenproctor.com

The proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body’s ability to detoxify and regenerate tissues, filter out toxins and foreign substances, recover crucial substances that have escaped from the blood, and maintain a healthy immune system. It’s a complex system comprised primarily of vessels and lymph nodes working in cooperation to accomplish these tasks.

Unlike the circulatory system, which uses the pumping of the heart to circulate its blood flow, lymph vessels rely upon hundreds of tiny muscular units contracting throughout the body to propel the lymph. These contractions enable the lymph vessels to transport numerous substances (i.e., proteins, toxins, hormones, fatty acids, immune cells) to the lymph nodes, which can then eliminate the waste. The action of these muscular units can be hindered or stopped, however, due to fatigue, stress, emotional shock, cold temperatures, infections, lack of physical activity, age, chemicals or food additives. When the lymph circulation stagnates, fluids, proteins, cells and toxins accumulate and cellular functioning is significantly comprised. This opens the way to many physical ailments and hastens the aging process.

Lymphatic drainage is a hands-on technique designed to activate and cleanse this human fluid system. It’s origins can be traced to two traditions in particular: the published research of Frederic Millard, a Canadian osteopathic physician (1922) and Emil Vodder, a Danish massage practitioner and doctor of philosophy (1932). Over the years, methods based on the discoveries of these two pioneers have been honed, refined and explained. Today, lymphatic drainage techniques are employed as standard scientific practice throughout Europe and are gaining greater recognition and use within the American health care community.

Laurie Pryce
www.biodynamicbody.ca

L-Carnitine with Chromium is a blend of two nutrients that play important roles in the metabolism of fat. L-Carnitine is required for the breakdown of fats into energy, while chromium supports healthy glucose metabolism. Its main function is to help insulin carry sugar into muscle cells where it is stored as energy. A lack of chromium could cause fluctuating bloodsugar levels which trigger sugar cravings. As a carbohydrate dependent society, increasing the amount of L-Carnitine & Chromium in our diet in our formula’s proportions will assist the body’s ability to manage its carbohydrate cravings and, in turn, assist with a successful weight management protocol.

Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee in the World.

Andrea & Brett Griffin
www.weightlosscoffeehub.com

What’s one of the first things you notice when you meet someone? Their smile! A smile says a lot about a person. Have you ever met someone whose teeth were obviously artificial and you could tell they weren’t fitting right? What was your first impression? People spend thousands of dollars on hair care products, makeup, and facial creams but fail to realize that it’s their ill-fitting, worn out dentures that are the biggest problem and causing them to look older than they actually are. Denturist’s today have the technology and products to make you look years younger while maintaining a natural smile. Not only will you chew your food better, improving digestion and stomach issues, but you can feel more confident and secure knowing just how natural and beautiful your smile is. Call your Denturist today. You will be amazed by how affordable they are and what a difference they can make in your life!

Kent Roberts RD
www.burnsidedentureclinic.com

Spring is here and so are the drastic changes in weather.  Rain, followed by sun, clouds and lots of wind, sometimes all in the same day!

We’ve all got that uncle that predicts weather based on his knee pain, but at UC Life Chiropractic Centre we’re hearing from people that can tell a weather change is coming due to the pressure changes felt inside their sinuses and head.  Headaches and migraines are often the result of these changes and in some folks a debilitating pain can come on and last for days.

The reason?  As environmental barometric pressure changes (increases or decreases), so too does the internal pressure inside your head.  For most of us, we have a buffer zone that allows for this pressure change to occur relatively unnoticed, but for some, there just doesn’t seem to be room inside the head to handle even the smallest bit of change.

In these frustrating situations, we’re often dealing with a physical obstruction to the natural flow of fluids in and out of the head and the openings that allow for these fluids to pass.  The most important area is located at the top of the neck at the junction between the head and the neck.  If structurally misaligned in this area it just makes it harder to keep our bodies in a comfortable zone.

Does this sound like you or someone you know?  Let’s check and see if we can help you see life!

Dr. Matthew Kittleson, UC Life Chiropractic
www.uclife.ca

Over the past few years, I have seen several children who were affected by parental cannabis use prior to conception or in utero. They improved when I treated them with homeopathic doses of cannabis. Homeopathy is based on the principle of like cures like, so a substance that can create certain symptoms in a healthy person can be used to treat similar symptoms in a sick one. Cannabis and many other drugs and chemicals are can leave energetic or epigenetic imprints in parents which may be passed along to the child and cause a variety of health issues. If a child has a combination of developmental problems as well as chronic sinus or bladder and reproductive system issues he or she may have been affected by parental cannabis use and may benefit from treatment with homeopathic cannabis. Also consider careful detoxification of drugs and chemicals with homeopathy when planning a pregnancy.

Dr. Anke Zimmermann BSc. ND. FCAH
www.drzimmerman.org

Starting the Change Process: Building on the 6 stages of changing habits (Pre-contemplation,Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Termination), it has been proven that without a plan or readiness, trying to change a habit is likely to fail. Motivation is key. You need compelling reasons why you want to change a habit. You must be aware of the pain associated with continuing on your current path, and the rewards of changing. “Should” is not compelling! To increase motivation, use others as inspiration. Model the behaviour of someone with the behaviour you want, or notice the ill effects of the habit you want to change. Talk about or journal in detail what you DON’T want to clarify your desire. Include emotional elements; we all are attached to our habits. Next, detail what you DO want. Then focus on inconsistencies between your current behaviour and your desired change. This will put you in touch with reality and increase your motivation!

Juhree Zimmerman R.N., B.Sc.N., M.Ed., C.P.C.C., O.R.S.C.C. Master Certified Coach,

www.strategyforsynergy.ca

After the age of 40 we begin to lose our ability to focus up close, and to help with that, we have progressive lenses. However, one pair of glasses may not always cover all of our needs. Computers play a big role in our lives today, but unfortunately when viewed with progressives can cause some difficulty in viewing. With progressive lenses, we often have to tilt our head upward, which can create neck strain. Single vision reading glasses have a fixed focal point, so they may be great for reading, but we tend to lean into our computer to see the screen. With Nikon office lenses, a very large portion of the lens is dedicated to the computer, but still has a separate reading area to help when print is held close up. The office lenses will give a much wider viewing angle and are positioned higher so that you can look straight on at the monitor.

Dr. Nicholas Catchuk
www.iris.ca

Worrying is an understandable response to life stress – we get anxious that things won’t work out, and so we start thinking about the situation. We can be trying to solve things, or to prevent bad events from happening; or we find it hard to stop rehearsing terrible stories in our heads! Worrying can become a troublesome habit. Other signs of anxiety include poor sleep, having trouble with concentration, being extra jumpy or watchful, or getting easily upset. Anxiety can also show up as physical discomfort or even panic. Exercise can help. But sometimes we need to talk to someone, to feel heard and to get a new, non-judgemental perspective on things. A counsellor can provide a safe place to figure it out – whether you need calming techniques, to change your habits of mind, or to get help making other changes in your life.

Mary Munro MA, MC
www.marymunro.ca

Over your life so far have you become an optimized version of your own self?  Optimization is used to describe beneficial developments in technology but what “body bugs” have you optimized lately? Most of us can boast intellectual and spiritual optimization however, in many cases the physical body becomes neglected, less optimized than it was as an earlier/younger version. Some bugs just never get “fixed”!  Without optimization they leave permanent degeneration leading to arthritis, poor performance or chronic pain. The Feldenkrais Method of movement education when used is an incredible tool for learning and optimizing your physical body. By using this method you can learn to move with awareness and intention that will benefit and enhance how your body functions for a lifetime. For chronic shoulder issues check out this simple shoulder optimization lesson by Roxanne Derkson RMT, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner www.vivitherapy.com/blog (March 2016)