Today more than ever, a healthy immune system is important. According to Healthline, Aronia berries may strengthen the immune system and even counteract some infections. Aronia –grown in BC – contains powerful antioxidants that remove harmful free oxygen radicals from cells. In the spectrum of nutrition, berries rank near the top, and among berries, none are more nutritious than the Aronia berry. Research shows that in diabetics, Aronia berry juice, when taken regularly, reduced blood glucose. Aronia extracts have also reduced inflammation and improved immunity. And in hard-to-treat cancers, combining Aronia with chemotherapy improved the effectiveness of conventional drugs.
Community News
Survey Participants Needed!
In Canada, hospital readmissions of patients with chronic disease may be preventable with improvements in home self-care, in-home monitoring, self-tracking, and better training in health self-management practices. Given this prevention perspective, the University of Victoria – Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health has implemented a two-year randomized controlled research study; the Victoria Assistive Devices and Coaching (VADAC) Study. VADAC is looking for volunteers to become study participants. If you are * a senior (65 years+) * live in the Victoria to Nanaimo region, *have one or more chronic health conditions, and *have internet / WiFi access, contact the Project Co-ordinator, Suzanne toll free 1-866-902-3767.
Gambling Outreach Support
If you are looking for support but not seeking counselling, our Gambling Outreach Support team provides confidential and personalised one-to-one support to anyone concerned about their own or a loved-one’s gambling. Gambling Outreach Support is offered in every community across BC, providing information, support, referrals, and accompaniment to resources, including peer support organizations such as 12 Step groups or Smart Recovery and online self-help resources. Other support includes community support organizations such as bankruptcy trustees, legal services, housing services, community mental health services and debt management services. Our services are FREE and available by phone, text, web chat, or in person.
Music Therapy and Neuroscience
McGill Unversity’s Dr. Daniel Levitin has found that as a result of exposure to music, levels of immunoglobin A, an antibody linked to immunity, increases. In another study he found significant evidence of music’s anti-anxiety properties. Montreal Neurological Institute’s Dr. Zatorre has found that a brain structure called the striatum is stimulated by music to release dopamine which increases feelings of pleasure. Music therapists are continually training to integrate and apply research findings into practice in order to better serve people of every age, from babies to Alzheimer’s patients.
Brain Exercises for Seniors
It’s important for people of all ages to keep their brains healthy with regular workouts, but especially so for seniors. Here are five ways you can keep your mind sharp as you age: 1) Play a game. Try a sudoku, crossword, or jigsaw puzzle, or play a game of cards with friends. 2) Get moving. Regular exercise increases blood flow to your brain and increases neurons. 3) Listen to or play music. Science shows that music is a great brain booster. 4) Eat right. A healthy diet is crucial for cognitive health. 5) Learn something new. Keep your mind engaged!
Reiki Really Works
Reiki is an energy healing treatment that works holistically; on the whole body, mind and spirit. Natural healing vibrations are transmitted through the hands of a Reiki practitioner to the body of the recipient. Reiki treatment can relieve stress and pain, induce relaxation, release emotional blockages, accelerate natural healing, balance subtle energies, and support other medical modalities, including traditional therapies. Reputable medical facilities are now offering patients alternative healing programs such as Reiki, and are analyzing the benefits and submitting them for review and compilation. Look at your options on how you can learn Reiki to experience personal healing and also to help others.
Book Club: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both a memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It offers a piercing, electrifying examination of the restrictive expectations women are issued from birth; shows how hustling to meet those expectations leaves women feeling dissatisfied and lost; and reveals that when we quit abandoning ourselves and instead abandon the world’s expectations of us, we become women who can finally look at ourselves and recognize: There She Is.
Thank you, Live Life Alarms
My husband is in the early stages of Alzheimers. He continues to enjoy riding his bike and I used to get very worried as he would sometimes have difficulty finding his way home. Getting him a Live Life mobile alert was the best thing we have done as now I can readily find out quickly where he is. He recently went out cycling and was gone for some time so I called him on his alert pendant. Not only could I talk with him but the Mobile Alert sent me an automatic return text showing his exact location on Google Maps. This has given me so much confidence now and allows him to continue doing what he loves. ~ Vicki Ogston.
How Does Bemer Therapy Work?
All functions of the body are controlled by electromagnetic signals, much of which is generated by exercise. Without motion the tissues suffer from insufficient levels of electromagnetic energy. Exercise also stimulates the circulation and thereby the oxygenation of our tissues. Insufficient oxygen in the cells is thought to be the root cause of most illnesses including cancer. BEMER not only increases the electro-magnetic energy of all the cells, it also improves the circulation and oxygenation of the tissues. This encourages each cell in the body to function optimally and to correct metabolic and energetic abnormalities, which result in freedom from disease. Thus, the physiological effects of BEMER treatment are similar to the benefits of exercise.
Rhythm from the Inside Out
Digestion, blood pumping through our veins, and breathing are just a few of the functional rhythms inside us that we rely upon to live. When we are unwell, we sometimes say that we are feeling ‘out of sorts’ or ‘out of sync’; it is a bit like losing one’s rhythm. We know when we have found it again because we feel more ‘in the groove’. Music therapy can be helpful in re-discovering that intrinsic rhythm when retrieving it ourselves is a struggle (as with mood and social cognitive disorders; rehabilitation from brain injury, stroke, or heart attack; cerebral palsy; Huntington’s disease; etc.).
Boost Mental Health & Performance at Work
During this global pandemic, the need for mental health support has increased fourfold. As an employee, the best thing you can do for your mental health is to be vocal. If you are struggling, speak up or use the Wellness Together Canada free resources. Waiting causes longer term damage impacting productivity and quality of life. If you are an employer, ask how you can support your team every day. Then, make or get a Mental Health First Aid kit and put it somewhere visible to demonstrate mental health is just as important as physical health. Include things like motivational cards, mindfulness colouring sheets, stress balls, breathing exercises and general resilience tips.
