Simone Waters | Silver Magazine

Travel

Top 5 Canoe Adventures in Canada 2022

The brilliant mind of Pierre Burton once said, “a true Canadian knows how to have sex in a canoe.” The reality might be a bit different, but the sentiment is there! The canoe was invented by the original indigenous peoples of Canada, most often made with birch bark, wood and pitch. It is a marvel of engineering, showcasing the ingenuity of First Nations. It is so versatile that it was adopted by Western European explorers and settlers as it is able to carry its own weight in freight, can be easily portaged and serve as a shelter or windbreak. Today, the canoe is an icon of Canada and while we may not need it to discover new trade routes, it is a great way to explore and access much of Canada’s great wilderness in all our lands and provinces. Canoeing offer us a chance to leisurely explore, stopping at scenic

Simone Waters July 21, 2022

Featured

Life without a doctor

The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the critical issues facing the province’s healthcare system.

Simone Waters April 12, 2022

Longevity

Choosing the best tablet in 2022

While it might seem there are a lot of choices for tablet computers, there are really only three in terms of the Operating System (OS), which is the software they use. There’s iPadOS (Apple), Windows (Microsoft) and Android (Google.) Then there’s eInk tablets. With Windows, there are some other brands like HP and Acer that offer their version of tablets, but none of the Windows ones are just tablets like iPad or Google tablets. Only Apple and Microsoft have really focused on improving their tablet experience over the last few years, with Google only recently signalling it is going to pay more attention to tablets again. The Benefits of a Tablet Portability is perhaps the best reason. They’re far lighter than a laptop and can easily go anywhere. Today, you can pretty much do as much on a tablet as you can a laptop or desktop. Most have attachable keyboards

Simone Waters February 7, 2022

Healthy Recipes

Smashed chickpea & avocado sandwich

Who doesn’t love a delicious hearty sandwich? This one is lighter on the bread by using a thin pita bread and made with chickpea and avocado–the perfect blend of healthy fat and protein. Protein and healthy fat are two essential macronutrients that help sustain the body and provide energy all day long. INGREDIENTS 1 can of organic BPA free chick peas 1 large avocado juice from 1 lime 1⁄2 tsp ground turmeric pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) pinch of salt fresh cracked black pepper 1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro 1 pita bread cut into half DIRECTIONS In a high-powered blender or food processor, add the canned chickpeas, avocado, lime juice, turmeric, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using). Blend until completely smooth and well combined. Next, spread some of the mixture into each pita bread half and finish with the fresh cilantro. More recipe inspiration: you might find this sweet potato and

Simone Waters November 30, 2021

Health

What do to before & during a bout of cold or flu

Three things are certain in life: Death, taxes and the flu. Both the common cold and the flu are viral infections that can’t be cured by medication, though symptoms can be mitigated. As with many of life’s problems, time and rest is the greatest healer. It comes for us all eventually, but the best way to stave off a viral infection is to keep in tip-top shape. Support The immune system is a complicat- ed network of reactions that, to this day, is not completely understood. Taking care of your whole body can give it the best chance to do its job. Keep your healthy lifestyle choices consistent. Avoid smoking, eat a balanced diet, make time for a good night’s sleep and exercise regularly. Even a half hour walk every day can make a world of difference to your body. Multivitamins: Especially if you follow a restrictive diet, a good quality

Simone Waters November 8, 2021

Health

Dementia research and what we’re learning

Dementia, such as Alzheimers, is of top concern for Canadians as they age and for their parents, especially those in their 50’s and dealing with aging parents. A recent study by Baycrest a teaching hospital in Toronto, found Canadians are unsure about available resources for them and their parents and find it difficult to get the right information. The study also found that less than one in five people are confident about their knowledge in preventing dementia. One in four Canadians over 45 don’t know when to start taking steps to prevent dementia and only 16% of study respondents indicated having any type of plan ion place to deal with it. “Almost 80 per cent of our long-term care residents are living with dementia. Through Baycrest’s ground-breaking research and innovations, compassionate care and renowned educational programs, we are striving to take critical steps forward in paving the way towards a

Simone Waters October 18, 2021

Health

Aging, brain health and omega-3

We know omega-3 oils can help with inflammation and joint health. Research suggests it may also help our brains as we age. As we age, omega-3 can play a key role in joint and muscle health, but it can also help with brain cognition and diseases such as dementia and Alzheimers. Since 2005, research has been increasing and we’re understanding more of the benefits it may bring. While more studies are needed, those that have been done indicate increased amounts of omega-3 can help reduce inflammation in the brain, which can lead to depression and dementia as we age. Other research is pointing to omega-3 playing a role in helping children with ADHD as well as adult sufferers in combination with their medications. We note that omega-3 does not cure or offer an alternative treatment to pharmaceuticals, it is a supplementary treatment that can be included in ongoing care of

Simone Waters September 1, 2021

Longevity

Fighting climate change with Artificial Intelligence

In 2021 it would seem, we’ve reached an inflection point with regard to capitalism and climate change. In 2020, Bloomberg estimated some $500 Billion was being spent on technologies to fight climate change. Now, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is joining in. Now, governments and central banks are beginning to finance more technologies on the climate change front than ever before. This is good. First, a quick primer on AI. The term Artificial Intelligence is an umbrella term as AI is a combination of different technologies. They can be mixed and matched to work together or as stand-alone for various uses. For example, in search engines, two key AI tools are used; Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning. Then there’s neural networks and expert systems. There are other subsets and tools, so AI is a complicated mix of tools. When you think of AI in Hollywood terms such as the Terminator, that’s

Simone Waters August 27, 2021

Health

Mindfulness: The Darker Side

There’s no doubt that mindfulness can and has helped millions of people. New research is showing there can also be a downside. From helping reduce anxiety and stress to being more focused, mindfluness has many benefits and has even been incorporated into prison programs in the U.S. and Canadian systems. New research from the University at Buffalo however, suggests that mindfulness can make us more selfish and impact our social behaviours. The research looked at a rang of what are called prosocial behaviours, or the range of behaviours we have when we’re around other people. From how we interact with others to the actions we may take in certain settings. In the research, Dr. Michael Poulin, an assistant professor of psychology looked at how people view themselves and their place in society. In Asian countries, people tend to see their relationships with others as interdependent versus in countries like Canada,

Simone Waters August 22, 2021