January 2020

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Healthy Recipes

Garam Masala & Curry Chickpea Lentil Stew

Butternut squash, although commonly known as a vegetable, is actually a fruit! It has a beautiful yellow flesh that is packed with the antioxidant beta carotene, a plant pigment that is also loaded with vitamin A. Combined with organic tofu, this soup is a great punch of plant-based protein, fibre and many nutrients. SEVES 4-6 PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES INGREDIENTS 1 bpa free can of chickpeas 1 bpa free can of stewed tomatoes 1 can full fat coconut milk 1 small onion chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 bunches of fresh spinach 1 cup red lentils, soaked over night 1 fresh turmeric root, peeled and grated 1 knob fresh ginger root, peeled and grated 1 tablespoon garam masala seasoning 1 teaspoon mild curry powder 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS In a large pot, add the canned tomatoes, chopped onion, garlic, grated turmeric and ginger. Next, drain the

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Andrea Saliba January 26, 2020
Health

Yoga for managing chronic pain

Gentle movement, breathing techniques and meditation allow us to work with pain and create habits to improve our wellbeing on both good days and bad. This article is not about how you can heal your pain through yoga. I think one of the worst things we can tell people with chronic pain is, “I have the solution—I can fix you,” because you’ve heard it a million times. You’ve probably tried a million different things, too. Recommendations about diet, exer- cise, doctors and clinics. “My friend’s brother said this,” etc. What I can share with you is a tool you can use to help deal with pain. Gentle movement patterns for the good days to keep the blood flowing and your joints moving and mindfulness techniques for when the pain takes over and it seems to be all you can think about. Chronic pain, no matter where it is experienced, is

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Lisa Greenbaum January 20, 2020
Health

An easy guide to understanding hormones

Hormones do more than just alter our moods. Hormones are fast-acting chemical messengers that circulate through the bloodstream communicating with different organs, forming the endocrine system. Hormones are produced selectively within major endocrine glands such as the pineal and pituitary glands in and near the brain, the thyroid and thymus glands in the upper chest and throat region, the adrenals and the pancreas near the kidneys, and the gonads (ovaries and testes in females and males, respectively). Hormones are carefully regulated in the body to keep us in balance. The glands and their hormones have specific functions in the body. For example, the pituitary regulates growth as well the functioning of the other glands in the endocrine system. One interesting hormone it regulates is oxytocin, the hormone that causes the contraction of the uterus during pregnancy. Oxytocin is also known as the “love” hormone in science because it appears to

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Dr. Mandy Wintink January 15, 2020
Healthy Recipes

Home made oat milk

Making your own oat milk at home is easy—and what’s even better is that it allows you to choose your own ingredients and avoid additives. You can also make your oat milk guaran- teed gluten-free by using gluten-free oats. Oat milk, a plant-based milk substitute, has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Vegan, as well as lactose-, soy-, and nut- free—oat milk is an excellent and delicious “milk” option for those with dietary restrictions. Oat milk is easy to make, affordable, low in fat, and is enriched with nutrients like calcium, potassium, iron, fibre, and vitamins A, B, and D. Homemade oat milk recipe Get creative and make it yours by adding more or less sweetener, or add cinnamon for an extra kick. Ingredients 1 cup of rolled oats 4 cups water 2 Tbsps pure maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract 1⁄4 tsp salt Directions Add all of

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Charmaine Millaire January 14, 2020
Health

The benefits of staying fit as we age

Aging is an inevitable aspect of life. Here are a few tips to improve your quality of life as you age. An annoying fact of life is aging. It happens to all of us and it can sneak up on us. The good news is that maintaining an active lifestyle has positive benefits on our overall health, which in turn can improve quality of life. Almost half of Canadians are now over the age of 45, and many are looking for ways to stay active or get in better shape as the years pass. We tend to think of gyms, sports clubs, and road races as being designed only for young svelte athletes.  The reality however is that more adults are making choices to ensure they stay fit through their senior years. Marlene Sykes, Coach for the Newmarket Road Runners agrees that she has noticed an increase in the ages

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Karen Wynne January 13, 2020
Health

The 5 pillars of wellness

lness is a journey, and we define it by the five pillars of health, lifestyle/adventure, nutrition, fitness, and mental wellbeing. We often hear the words health and wellness tagged together, but really, health is a part of wellness. We see more magazines, books, podcasts and blogs about wellness, but it can be confusing at times and defining it can be like tossing sand in the wind. At Silver, we believe that wellness is defined by five main pillars. Taken together, they comprise what it means to be well⁠—to be happy, and fulfilled. Wellness is about looking after oneself. When we look after ourselves, we can create our own best lives. And also help others, especially those who mean the most to us. The good news is, you don’t have to go to extreme efforts to live a life of wellness. Small changes in daily habits and thinking a little differently

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Alex Hurst January 13, 2020
Health

When anti-depressants aren’t enough

Seventeen years ago, Dr. Stuart Eisendrath piloted research into the therapeutic effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on people experiencing clinical depression. Ever since, he has been helping those who struggle with depression dramatically improve their symptoms and quality of life by changing how they relate to their thoughts and feelings. In When Antidepressants Aren’t Enough: Harnessing the Power of Mindfulness to Alleviate Depression (New World Library, October 1, 2019), Dr. Eisendrath outlines an easy-to-implement MBCT program that has been scientifically proven in a U.S. National Institute of Health study to bring relief to chronic sufferers of depression by helping them realize that their thoughts are not their reality.  We hope you’ll enjoy this Q and A with him about the book. Q: What is Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)?  A: MBCT is a blend of some aspects of cognitive behavior therapy with mindfulness meditation.   Mindfulness meditation is an ancient Buddhist technique that has been secularized

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Alex Hurst January 9, 2020
Fitness

The latest fitness technology for 2020

Every January there’s a huge technology show called CES or Consumer Electronics Show, held in las Vegas. Companies from around the world showcase their coolest gadgets and gear and this year, there was no shortage of fitness technologies on show! We rounded up some of the best fitness technology for 2020 that you might want to take a look at. From sneakers to rowing machines and more. In every case, these gadgets have sensors in them and connect to an app on an iPhone or Android device. The Livall BH51 Neo Helmet This is a pretty cool cycling helmet for mountain biking or just road riding. It’s packed with sensors that detect acceleration and deceleration. It also includes a mic and speaker so you can take calls via Bluetooth on your phone and has LED turn signal lights! One cool thing is it has fall detection so if you zonk

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Giles Crouch January 9, 2020
Longevity

Do you really need smarthome gadgets?

From lightbulbs to doorbells and even toilets, it seems technology is coming into every part of our home these days. But do we really need all the technology? Does it really help? Well, the answer is yes and no. The one smarthome technology we recommend you avoid in Canada though? The smart lock for your door. Unless you’re okay calling a locksmith in the dead of February to get it opened. This is the one piece of smart home tech I’ve had fail on my own house and heard some tales of woe from friends and the locksmith who fixed mine one -10C day in January. Which as Canadians, we know isn’t that cold. There is some useful smart home technology though. And some of it is just fun, such as luminous panels you can arrange in a pattern on a wall and have it change colours from your smartphone.

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Giles Crouch January 8, 2020
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