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Health

Eye Care Tips For People Over 50

It’s always important to look ahead so you don’t bump into things. The same goes for looking after our eyes as we age. When we get over 50, our eyes begin to age as well due to cataracts, diabetes, diet, and overall health. So, we pulled together some quick insights about keeping those peepers healthy and strong as we age! As we age, our eyes’ lenses gradually stiffen (like our muscles some days!). This can become noticeable in our 40s but accelerates into our 50s. We can notice this through changes in near-vision activities such as reading, sewing, or even using a smartphone. If you have to move objects farther away to gain focus, this is why. Our pupils also become smaller and less responsive into our 50s. You’ll notice this if you need more light for reading or doing detailed tasks. It’s often why people over 50 tend to

Staff April 2, 2025

Cover Story

Longevity Secrets: Boost Energy, Health, and Brainpower

In the quest for health and vitality, women face unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to longevity. As a functional medicine doctor, I’ve spent years studying how to optimize health from a root-cause perspective, which often leads me to the fascinating world of biohacking. Today, I want to take you on a journey to explore how we can harness the power of biohacking, specifically through understanding mitochondrial DNA, adrenal health, and brain function, to not only increase energy but also support lasting longevity. Let’s dive in and uncover how women can thrive well into their golden years! The Role of Mitochondrial DNA and Telomeres in Longevity Mitochondria are the energy powerhouses in our cells, responsible for producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of life. Interestingly, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited exclusively from the mother, making it particularly significant for women’s health and longevity. Over time, mtDNA can accumulate

Dr. LuLu Shimek October 1, 2024

Health

Joyful Movement for Health

Deciding to lose weight or get healthier is a big decision, one that many people put off. When they finally decide, they are immediately out of their comfort zone. If they sign up for a gym membership, a dance club, or even a walking group, they will immediately be surrounded by people who have been there, done that, and have a certain look and confidence. At least that’s how it seems to someone just starting out. One of the first steps many people take is to sign up for a gym membership. Few things are more intimidating than walking into a gym for the first time. Every direction you turn you see fit people, complicated machines, and endless walls of mirrors. Asking for help is beyond overwhelming, so you march yourself over to the treadmills and spend an hour walking in place. While walking is great and a perfectly valid

Ashley Pellerin December 4, 2023

Health

Facing Your Health

As you read this – please start to be aware of your breathing. Are you breathing fast? Shallow breaths? As you bring awareness to your breathing, begin to focus and feel your body. Let’s really dive deep. Let’s do a body scan. Close your eyes and tap into your breathing and how you feel. Start with your toes and move up all the way to the top of your head. Try to release and relax your body as you move up from your toes. Imagine if you are being “beamed up” like in Star Trek. Your body is made of millions of particles. Feel your body and its deepest parts. Is everything okay? You know better than anyone how you are feeling and your health. Take an honest assessment. Are there any problem areas that need to be addressed? Anything sore? Does anything feel stiff or stuck? Digestion? Heartbeat? What

Denise Swan May 28, 2023

Cover Story

The Casino of Life – Pursuits & Pleasures

Pursuits and Pleasures – The Casino of Life What are you knowingly doing that is risking your health? We are all doing something. Whether crossing the street or taking drugs, there are risks to everything in life. Are we playing the right games? For instance, downhill skiing can be considered reasonably risky to your health, but if one prepares and accepts the risks, one can find great joy and pleasure from hitting the slopes. The same holds true for smoking cigarettes. The nicotine high attained from smoking can be a wonderful and pleasurable feeling for many, but it has risks. Thinking about what risks we are willing to take or not take is a great practice to help us define the boundaries and guidelines we want for our lives. We come to the game of life like visiting a casino, betting on pleasures versus risks hoping to win in a

Max Brennan May 1, 2023

Fitness

Walking your way to better health

There is no question, it’s been a tough couple of years. COVID-19 brought a lot of uncertainty, impacted our physical health and mental well-being and eroded our social connections. In the meantime, Canadians became more sedentary. It’s time we hit the reboot button. According to Greg Wells, Ph.D., a performance physiologist and a senior associate at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, “If you look at humans from an evolutionary perspective, we are designed to walk. And when we walk long distances, we get healthier. Our muscles and bones get stronger. Our spines function better, blood flows to our brain and bodies, and the benefits are profound. We also know that the risk of 13 different types of cancer decreases when you walk for as little as 15 minutes a day.” If you’ve ever doubted the power of taking a walk, consider how you feel when you get outdoors in nature. Walking

Marylene Vestergom September 1, 2022

Fitness

How to Fall in Love With Exercise Again

How does exercise improve mental health? Even if You Hated Exercise All Your Life: Try This 7 Step Fun Strategy Based on Neuroscience.

Dr. Christine Sauer May 3, 2022

Health

What you need to know about prediabetes

What is prediabetes? Prediabetes means you are on your way to get full-blown type 2 diabetes — unless you do something about it now. Prediabetes is a window of opportunity — a chance to PREVENT or delay type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is the time to seek help. How is prediabetes diagnosed? It is diagnosed by a blood sugar test. Usually an A1C test or a fasting blood sugar. An A1C measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. A1C of 6 to 6.4% = prediabetes, or Fasting blood sugar of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L = prediabetes. Once the A1C reaches 6.5% or the fasting blood sugar reaches 7.0 mmol/L, you have type 2 diabetes. Most people do not have noticeable symptoms of prediabetes, and everyone over the age of 45 should be tested at least once a year. How common is prediabetes in seniors? Very common! The rates

Karen Graham January 10, 2022

Health

Yukon moves to protect seniors from shingles virus

CanAge, Canada’s National Seniors’ Advocacy Organization, is applauding a recent announcement made by the Government of Yukon that the best-in-class shingles vaccine (Shingrix) is now available to all adults aged 65-79 in pharmacies. The previous age cutoff for the vaccine was 70 and options for where to get the required 2 doses were limited and unclear, leaving many older people in the territory vulnerable to shingles—a debilitating and painful virus that can lead to permanent nerve damage and loss of vision. The announcement follows a critical review of the territory’s adult immunization efforts by CanAge earlier this year, which placed Yukon among the worst performers across Canada in vaccinating seniors. “By expanding coverage and access to the recommended shingles vaccine (Shingrix), the Government of Yukon has taken a major step toward keeping seniors in the territory safe from what can be a truly excruciating viral infection with life-long effects,” says

Alex Hurst December 8, 2021