5 Ideas - Optimal Wellness Niagara
Transcription
5 Ideas - Optimal Wellness Niagara
magazine fall 2015 Microderm an ULTIMATE skin EXFOLIATION Surviving Chronic Pain making stress your ally German New Medicine Introductory Workshop OWN Meet October 17th the Experts Day! Niagara Prehab & November 4th Wellness joins OWN Children: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds 5 Ideas to improve your financial health content s Healing Hands: Focusing on Wellness for the Elderly page 16 Microderm: An Ultimate skin Exfoliation page 18 OWN Naturopathy: Metagenics Programs page 20 Niagara Prehab & Wellness page 22 Garden City Food Co-op page 24 5 Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health page 8 Children: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds page 12 What Good is Gratitude? page 15 RECIPE: Pumpkin Ravioli page 26 Surviving Chronic Pain: Making Stress your Ally page 28 OWN Favorites page 30 schedule OWN Family page 34 German New Medicine Introduction October 17, 1:00 - 3:00 pm with Mary Kovacs Registration Required OWN Meet the Expert Day! November 4, 4:00 - 7:00 pm Doula Training November 13 & 14 Stress Management November 17, 6:30 - 8:00 pm November 21, 9:00 am - Noon with Charle Peck Mondays Gentle Kripalu Yoga 9:00 am Elaine Beane Prehab, Rehab 12:00 - 2:00 pm Adam Burtnik Pilates (All Levels) 5:45 pm Wayne Oliver Tuesdays Personal Training Wayne Oliver Wednesdays Prehab, Rehab 12:00 - 2:00 pm Adam Burtnik Gratitude is NUTRITION for a living RELATIONSHIP. W Steve Maraboli elcome to our 2015 Fall Edition E-mag! Fall is synonymous with Thanksgiving and now is truly a great time to give thanks. If you haven’t already, develop an “attitude of gratitude” and see where it takes you. Sure, we have to say goodbye to the summer and the weather is definitely getting colder but with Fall comes great things like spectacular fall foliage and comfort food! It’s especially important to be grateful when things aren’t going our way. Remember, no matter how trying times can be you can always find something to be thankful for. Just recently, on the advice of Natalie Haig, I attended a very inspiring Power of Success seminar in Toronto with Tony Robbins. He is a big proponent of the power of gratitude. He believes that you shouldn’t wait for an excuse to feel good. Celebrate when there is no reason to celebrate. When we do this it changes our mindset, it gives us an opportunity to get “unstuck” and if we stick with it that will create momentum. “Where attention goes, energy flows.” When we focus on what is wrong, more wrong will come to us. When we focus on what is right, our whole perception changes. How do you do this? You can’t change your state with your head, you have to do it by first changing your physiology. Use your body, your breath, change the way you move! Emotion is created by motion. For example, pretend you are cheering for your favourite sports team, imagine Team Canada has just won a gold medal. Jump up and cheer!! It’s all within you. You already know what those feelings feel like. Bring them back. You will be surprised how good you feel. Of course, you will feel silly doing it but, believe me, even that will put a smile on your face. So, take some time to feel grateful for all the information that is available to you in this FREE edition of our E-mag. Now that’s really something to feel thankful for! With gratitude, Monica Wilson OWN Co-founder schedule continued... Thursdays Gentle Kripalu Yoga 9:00 am Elaine Beane Fridays Metabolic Training 6:15 am Wayne Oliver Personal Training 9:00 am Wayne Oliver magazine Own • Live a healthier life • Seasonal recipes and nutrition information • Wellness practices for the whole family • Downloadable information for better living • Special offers and discounts only found in OWN Magazine y ou r he al th. .. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! cont ibut ors Monica Wilson Co-founder OWN, RYT Trevor Van Nest Money Coach Stephen Tripodi ND Co-founder OWN, Medical Director, Naturopath France Di Paola Certified Oncology Aesthetician, Electrologist, Laser Technician & Skin Care Specialist Caleen Martin Editor-in-Chief, OWN Magazine Garden City Food Co-op Community Owned Local Foods Grocery Adam Burtnik Registered Kinesiologist 5 Ideas to Here are five random ideas to improve your money health. There’s no time like the present to make sure you’ve got some of the basics down. I really enjoy meeting with people and discussing their money situation. Everyone has different stories, different backgrounds, different personalities and different goals. And what might work for some may not work for others, so it really tests my creativity and knowledge to make sure my clients achieve their short and long term objectives – regardless of what they are trying to accomplish. Light bulb Today I want to share some random and unrelated ideas that may improve your money health. You will have heard about some of these before, but others may be new to you. 1. Pay yourself first A phrase coined by many before me, but one that rings true for millions. The concept is one where a portion of your income is saved for your future. Because you don’t miss what you never see, if the money comes right out of your chequing account automatically on pay day the dollars will grow painlessly. This is a great way to save for your retirement, your next car or your next vacation and yes, even your home – because a mortgage is also a form of paying yourself first. 2. Buy things with cash saved There is nothing better than paying for things with money saved (see #1). On the other hand, there is nothing worse than paying for things on credit without a plan to pay them off. It’s hard to enjoy the memories of a vacation that you’ll be paying for over several months or years. Arriving home from a vacation without a bill waiting for you helps the good memories last longer. Saving cash for purchases also ensures you can afford the things you buy, another way to know you are living below your means. 3. Get rid of debt – as fast as you can Members of the Forbes 500 list was asked recently “What is the most important thing you did to generate your wealth?” The answer by 75% of them was this: “Eliminate debt as fast as possible.” Not surprisingly, those who earn interest are far better off than those who pay interest. Some may choose to disagree with this, as a lot of money can be made using leverage (investing other people’s money). However, if you think about it, it’s debt and unexpected negative events that force people into bankruptcy, not a hefty savings account. Improve your Financial Health 4. Teach your children about money Our personal legacies are what we leave behind – memories, things we stand for and perhaps some financial gifts. If you teach your children what money can do when managed well, what money can do for others, and the power of compound interest your personal legacy will extend to the next generation. If you believe financial literacy is important, don’t wait for the schools to develop curriculum. Talk to your children about giving, saving and spending; teach them about advertising; warn them about salespeople; let them make mistakes with their money. Developing healthy money habits in them will pay dividends for decades and give them a leg up as they begin their working lives. 5. Don’t forget to give One of the best things about money is what it can do for others. If you believe the old adage ‘Giving is better than receiving’, than try to give ‘off the top’ before the month begins. If you wait until the end of the month, there may be nothing left. There are thousands of wonderful charities – all of which rely to some degree on public support. There are places of worship that need the support of their congregants. There are organizations of all kinds that don’t survive without the generosity of the public, so think about what means something to you and plan on giving regularly. No one regrets a generous act. Trevor Van Nest, B. Comm. (Hons.) CFP® Trevor is the Founder and Owner of York Region Money Coaches* (2010) and Niagara Region Money Coaches (2014). Now living in the Niagara Region, he is passionate about educating clients and helping them make great money decisions for themselves and their families. With 25 years of experience in the financial services industry in areas ranging from Credit Cards, Insurance, Investing, Banking and Lending, Trevor combines an understanding of the financial services industry with a heart for teaching. Subscribe to my Blog www.dailygood.org children healthy bodies healthy minds By Dr. Stephen Tripodi, ND As parents we have an immeasurable impact on our child’s eating habits. Children will learn what and how to eat from their parents. This means that if we are not optimizing our diet how could we expect our children’s brains to function optimally at school. For optimal function, our brain requires a consistent source of nutrients. Every essential nutrient can be found in our food; however, research has shown that it is getting more difficult to attain the levels required on a daily basis from our general diet. More importantly though, most of the nutrients that are known to be critical for optimal health of the child’s growing brain are primarily found in foods that seem to be eaten less commonly in our fast-paced lifestyle. In North America we generally don’t find the type of starvation or protein-calorie malnutrition that is more common in the Third World. What is observed is micronutrients malnutrition. Our food supply has been significantly altered by a wide range of chemicals including food additives, preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, not to mention a less than ideal amount of healthy nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Junk food, fast food, and general convenience foods tend to be more appealing to children yet they lack the vital nutrients, and may contain ingredients that are harmful to the developing brain. Buying organic fruits, vegetables, and grains is one way to reduce the negative exposures. Reasonably this is not always possible so washing whole foods thoroughly before use is also an excellent method of reduction. There are many fruit and vegetable sprays on the market; a quarter cup of vinegar for each gallon of warm water can also be useful. Be aware there will likely remain some residue in the foods you eat as not all chemicals can be washed or peeled away. Fats Protein Your child’s need for essential fatty acids depends to a large extent on other foods in their diet. The more processed the food, the more our bodies require EFAs. Air and high temperatures can also destroy EFAs. The richest sources of EFAs are nuts, seeds, beans, and fish. Focus on a variety of nuts and seeds (best in their raw form), beans (especially kidney and navy), and the inclusion of some fish into the diet. Flaxseed oil can be added to such foods as salad, applesauce, yogurt, or vegetable dishes. It is not recommended to cook with this flaxseed oil. Protein provides amino acids; the tiny nutrient building blocks that help us form antibodies (for our immune system), hormones and neurotransmitters - the foundational units that allow communication between brain cells. There is a tremendous impact on optimal brain function by blood sugar irregularities. Protein helps us to balance the rise and fall of blood sugar levels. A kid who skips breakfast for example or eats breakfast with inadequate protein will tend to be more irritable, easily distracted and hyperactive. Excellent sources of protein are found as eggs, legumes such as beans and peas, fish, nuts and seeds, soy products such as tofu and soymilk, meat, and dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and milk. Water I find water to be one of the primary forgotten nutrients in most children’s diet. More so than relying on thirst as a signal, drinking water must become a habit for children. Most kids when given an opportunity to drink water will have a surprising sense of thirst. However, if it does not become a habit the signal for thirst is often ignored throughout their busy day. If dehydration occurs frequently, then the sensation of thirst can eventually become inefficient. Water is essential for the function of the immune, detoxification, elimination, and respiratory systems. Such problems as increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, constipation, fatigue, irritability and poor ability to concentrate are just a few of the more common issues the child may face with less than optimal water intake. Start off simple by ensuring your child begins each day before breakfast and again after school, with a glass of water. It may be prudent to send your child school with a container of water as opposed to directing them to drink water from fountains. Standalone water dispensers can help establish a habit for children as most units are at their height. This helps build their independence in drinking water. Keep in mind this is only a start. The requirements for water will increase as the child becomes more active (e.g. sports, dance, etc.). Fats in general have gotten a bad rap over the years. The emphasis should be on minimizing saturated and hydrogenated fats, as they can damage our healthy fats. EFAs (essential fatty acids), a component of our bodies fat content, are crucial to the health of our children’s brain and immune system. Our body produces a certain amount of EFAs but it is essential that they come from our diet. Fish oils are another source of essential fatty acids that our brain uses for growth and repair. As the contamination by chemicals and heavy metals of many fish oils can be damaging to a child’s developing brain, chose only those sources that have been highly purified. Immune System Health Sugar consumption leads to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. This triggers an urgent response to bring the blood sugar levels back to normal. With regular consumption of sugar-containing foods, blood sugar levels may become unstable producing hypoglycemic periods (temporary low blood sugar levels). Children may experience this as headaches, mood swings, a craving for more sweets, decreased ability to focus and concentrate, panicky or anxious, and sudden fatigue. The challenge is to be aware of the high offenders. The following are some of the more common names by which sugar is known: fructose, sucrose, brown or invert sugar, dextrose, maltose, lactose, xylitol, sorbitol, and honey. While not sugars themselves, white flour products (white bread, buns, pastries, cakes and cookies) are quickly converted in our bodies to sugar. Some soft drinks contain up to 12 teaspoons of sugar per 8 ounces (1 cup or can). Studies have shown that sugar and refined carbohydrates have a depressant effect on the immune system as early as an hour after eating them. This predisposes children to infections and allergies. Reduction of the most concentrated forms of sugar is a wonderful first step to safely and effectively begins to strengthen the child’s immune system. Adding proteins, fiber, or healthy fat/oil to a snack or meal can help offset blood sugar irregularities. Food Sensitivities Food sensitivities are adverse reactions to certain food(s), which, among other symptoms include impaired thinking and behavior. The current primary cause for increased incidence of food sensitivities appears to be excessive, regular consumption of a limited number of foods, which are often hidden as ingredients in commercially prepared foods. This may also include the impact of high levels of preservatives, stabilizers, artificial colorings and flavorings. Look at your child (and yourself) for the following frequent and typical signs of food sensitivities: dark circles and/or puffiness under the eyes, horizontal creases in the lower eyelids, chronic (non-cyclic) fluid retention, chronic swollen glands, frequent infections, and frequent digestive upset. Symptoms of food sensitivity usually occur within four days after eating the offending food. Most parents are unaware that they’re maybe a negative reaction to the foods their child eats. Ironically, the foods to which we react are very often the foods that we crave the most. Most of what was discussed applies to adults as well as children. Since children imitate their parents, setting a good example by eating well can benefit the entire family. We want to focus on beginning the day with breakfast, ensuring adequate water intake and eating healthy and sufficient amounts of protein, good fats, and unrefined carbohydrates (whole foods) to sustain balanced blood sugar levels. Avoidance of foods that detract from our bodies, and encouragement of foods that contain essential nutrients to optimize brain function can dramatically improve back-toschool learning. A comprehensive assessment with a Naturopathic Doctor can help you navigate the many facets of a healthy body and healthy mind, including in-office and blood testing options to reliably identify food sensitivities. Dr. Stephen Tripodi, B.Sc, (H.K.), N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor in private practice in St. Catharines, Ontario. He may be reached at 905-988-9009 for more information or to book a consultation. Advertise in OWN Magazine! OWN wants to insure that everyone has the ability to receive the care they deserve. That’s why we have created the OWN Community Fund. 80% of the funds used to advertise in OWN Magazine will go into this fund, allowing us to offer sliding scale rates to clients. RATES 1/4 Page Ad: $75 1/2 Page Ad: $125 Full Page Ad: $275 Priority Location (first half of the magazine): +$75 JOIN OWN IN GIVING NIAGARA THE CARE IT DESERVES For additional information regarding advertising contact Monica Wilson. safe, gentle relaxation massage... in the comfort of your own home/residence focusing on ...healing hands... wellness • 15 years experience in gentle relaxation massage tecniques & esthetic services • 5 years as an Activities Co-ordinator with the elderly in England including stroke, Alzheimer’s and dementia patients • 7 years as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for Brain Injury • Police clearance for vulnerable populations Gentle relaxation massage can relieve anxiety and depression and provide comfort to touch-deprived elderly. Many elderly cannot manoeuvre up to and onto a massage table, sit in a massage chair for any length of time or travel to a spa comfortably or at all. My approach is gentle, sincere and intuitive. This allows the client to maintain dignity and privacy in the comfort of their own home or residental facility while enjoying the benefits of: • gentle massage • companionship • one on one communication • attention and compassion I have employment, client and client family member references. All this puts you and your loved ones in good healing hands. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to book an appointment. Lisa Gormley 905•964•6361 [email protected] To keep it gentle and non-invasive I focus on the 7 areas that provide the most comfort: hands, feet, ears and head. This can improve a person’s quality of life immeasurably. Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life Sanaya Roman Microderm an ‘ULTIMATE skin EXFOLIATION’ W hen we hear the word “Microdermabrasion”, it sounds like a medical procedure. It may seem invasive, when truly it is the most NON-INVASIVE deep cleansing facial when performed by a trained professional. • Microdermabrasion is the ULTIMATE EXFOLIATION. This gentle skin resurfacing begins by exfoliating debris that clog pores; build-up of excess sebum (oils), black heads, pollution, product or make-up. tissues where live cell formation occurs. Faster cell turnover increases collagen formation to improve skin elasticity and texture. The entire face, neck and décolleté can be treated in one visit. The surface of the hands can also be treated to smooth the texture by gently removing dry rough skin. • It is the ULTIMATE in ANTI-AGING improving the skin’s colour, tone, circulation and softness. Technically speaking, it removes 30% to 35% of dead skin cells that form on the surface (Epidermis) which does not come clean with regular cleansing. Debris is safely removed by tiny diamond-like Corundum Crystals, a natural mineral often found in toothpaste and lipstick. The best time to have a Microdermabrasion facial is in the FALL when our skin is no longer exposed to the sun. It will benefit greatly by removing the environmental aggressors such as; pollution, excess sweat, sun tan lotion, dust and pollen. The SPRING and WINTER months are also beneficial in order to maintain a healthy skin. Microdermabrasion is successful in treating enlarged pores, uneven pigmentation due to sun damage, blackheads and comedones, fine lines and wrinkles due to the aging process. The softening of superficial scars and stretch marks is also possible. • It is non-carcinogenic and nontoxic. The entire area being treated is swept over with the crystals 3 times. The first sweep is to remove dead skin cells and debris, the second is to concentrate on problem areas and the third is to re-even the abrasion. The impurities are eliminated to stimulate new living cells deep in the skin (Dermis). This gentle mechanical action stimulates blood flow, increases skin cell nutrition and allows oxygen to penetrate deep in the Microdermabrasion is considered an outpatient procedure and is virtually risk free. The entire process is approximately 2 hours with a personalized consultation, skin analysis and treatment. Cleansing, toning, anti-aging serums, mask and moisturizer are used to nourish and hydrate the skin. Most people experience an instant glow and can resume their normal activities. This rejuvenating facial is often required more often depending on the age and condition of the skin. To maintain the results AFTER BEFORE Have no fear, microderm is here… achieved with your first treatment, it is recommended in repeat sessions once per month or as a series of 6 twice a year. Fighting the aging process on 3 levels; epidermis, dermis and subdermis, the improvement can be quite dramatic. Results Most clients see immediate improvement in the look and feel to their skin such as: • healthier complexion • smoother younger-looking skin • redefined and firmer facial contour • reduction in fine lines and wrinkles • reduced pore size • increased skin elasticity • improved textural irregularities Ms. Di Paola owner of Confident Image Chez France consults with all clients and reviews expectations prior to any facial. Her clinic offers a variety of the latest technologies to provide optimum results when treating the skin. Microdermabrasion also works well in combination with IPL (Intense Pulse Light) Laser when treating sun damaged skin; sun spots, dilated capillaries and wrinkles. Microdermabrasion treats the skin from the “outside-in” preparing the skin for further advanced treatments while the IPL Laser treats the skin from the “inside-out”. (Additional information on IPL Laser can be found at; www.confidentimagechezfrance.com under Skin Rejuvenation.) All with no downtime or adverse effects! IMAGINE BABY SOFT SKIN AND LOOKING 10 YEARS YOUNGER! Risks If you have health concerns or specific skin conditions, you should consult with your doctor about possible side effects and risks associated with this procedure in your particular case prior to your facial. weeks prior to • 2 Microdermabrasion, sun exposure or tanning beds should be avoided. • The use of Retinol-A, AHA or Glycolic Acid should be discontinued for 3 to 7 days prior to the Microdermabrasion. • Chemical Peels and prescription medication for ACNE should be discontinued for 3 – 6 months prior to your Microdermabrasion. • Clients with Diabetes Type I, active acne, skin lesions, viral lesions, Herpes Simplex1 Shingles, Eczema, seborrhea dermatitis, severe rosacea or dilated capillaries, skin cancer or auto immune disease, Vitiligo or sunburned skin SHOULD NOT UNDERGO MICRODERMABRASION. ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR PRIOR TO ANY TYPE OF FACIAL. Continued on Page 26 Healthy Transformation Designed to be the last weight loss program you’ll ever need. The Healthy Transformation Weight Loss Program was designed to stimulate your metabolism to burn unhealthy fat while giving your body important nutrition for overall health—helping you to look and feel better. Ask your OWN Naturopath Clear Change™ Welcome to the Clear Change Program The Clear Change Program enhances the body’s natural metabolic detoxification process while providing adequate fuel for both cleansing and other daily activities. Getting healthier is important — and so is feeling your best. The Clear Change Program will show you how to do both. Get started today! Ask your OWN Naturopath naturopathy Dr. Stephen Tripodi, BSc. (Human Kinetics), ND Naturopathic Doctor, Clinic Director and Co-Founder of Optimal Wellness Niagara Stephen practices naturopathic family medicine in both St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, Ontario. He maintains special interests in: • • • • • • food and nutrition metabolic and hormone imbalances digestive disorders musculoskeletal injuries diabetes and cancer prevention and treatment optimizing athletic health and performance Dr. Stephen Tripodi OWN Medical Director, Naturopath Dr. Tripodi enjoys keeping pace with current trends in the field of natural medicine and his practice reflects it through the use of specific testing and treatment options, that blend the best of nature’s wisdom with modern scientific research. Some of his advanced certifications include: • Intravenous Therapeutics • Biopuncture and Mesotherapy Injections • ElectroDermal Testing He makes use of progressive lab diagnostics to assist in understanding the complexities of each persons health. Ask your OWN Naturopath Niagara Prehab & Wellness is a health practice in St. Catharines providing early health interventions to maintain and improve your quality of life. Specializing in exercise and activity therapy, prehabilitation and rehabilitation, we help you get well and stay well! Located at Optimal Wellness Niagara, surrounded by a great family of Practitioners; it is our mission to provide exceptional cost-effective healthcare by establishing quality patient relationships based on knowledge, trust, and understanding. It is our goal to promote healing and great quality of life in all our patients. We will work with you to improve your condition, get you back to full-function, and keep you healthy! All of our services are available in clinic or in the comfort of your home! • • • • • • • • Prehabilitation Exercise Training Injury Rehabilitation Sports Injury Treatment Exercise & Wellness Programs Preventative Medicine Falls Prevention Programs Group Exercise Everyone is in their own pursuit of health and wellness. Let us help you get there and stay there! We take an evidence-based approach to your pursuit; utilizing current research and ensuring your care is personalized to your specific needs. Success in your treatment is our success as Practitioners! Check out our website and follow our blogs to find out more about each of our specialised services and gain some helpful health and wellness tips. We want to help you begin your pursuit of health and wellness! Visit us Online Read our Blog www.gardencityfoodcoop.ca Ask an Expert Do you have a question for one of our wellness experts? Each quarter we will be picking questions from our readers to answer in the next issue of OWN Magazine. Submit your questions in the form below and watch your inbox! Form Available in Online Publication Cost You can erase years from the appearance of your skin naturally without the use of invasive procedures. Age is but a number and beauty is skin deep! It’s never too early or too late to start a good skin care regime. Microdermabrasion can be performed on teenage skin with specific concerns and is most beneficial for ages 25 and up as well as mature skin up to 75 depending on condition. Alternate exfoliating products such as natural enzymes are available for the delicate / reactive skin and clients over 75. France Di Paola Prices for the treatment vary between $105 and $165 per treatment depending on the product selection. To assist you better, give us a call or see facial menu on our website. A professional opinion and treatment performed by a trained technician will provide the best possible results. Electrologist, Laser Technician & Skin Care Professional CONFIDENT IMAGE CHEZ FRANCE Located within Optimal Wellness Niagara 26 Hiscott St., St. Catharines 905-931-0686 [email protected] www.confidentimagechezfrance.com Pumpkin Ravioli 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 24 wonton wrappers 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter Chopped parsley Combine 1 cup pumpkin, 1/3 cup Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Spoon about 2 teaspoons pumpkin mixture into center of each wonton wrapper. Moisten edges of dough with water; bring 2 opposite sides together to form a triangle, pinching edges to seal. Place ravioli into a large saucepan of boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt; cook 7 minutes, and drain in a colander. Place 1/2 cup broth and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in pan; bring to a boil. Add ravioli, tossing to coat. Sprinkle with parsley. Pumpkin ravioli is a fall favorite but because it uses canned pumpkin, you can make it year round. This quick and easy ravioli recipe uses wonton wrappers in place of homemade pasta. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 4 ravioli) Find this recipe at www.health.com Surviving chro making stress your ally Stress is not harmful? We’ve been told that stress is harmful to our health, that it increases our pain levels but what if that was a misconception? What if there was a way of making stress work for us rather than against us. It’s all about perception. Stress is only harmful to us when we believe it is. Research being conducted by health psychologist, Kelly McGonigal has been changing opinions on how harmful stress really is and has made me completely reevaluate how I interpret the stress I have in my life while living with the challenges of chronic pain. Those living with chronic pain or any health condition that has the potential to become debilitating includes a unique set of stressors. Dealing with doctors who have limited knowledge on our condition and how to effectively treat it. Dealing with family and friends who don’t understand what is going on with us and how drastically our health conditions change our daily lives. Trying to deal with insurance companies and disability claims. And trying to deal with the financial pressures of supporting our family but also taking care of our own health needs. These can become overwhelming and push us deeper into depression, anxiety and increase our overall pain. Changing your physical response But what if by changing our beliefs about stress we could actually change our bodies physical response to it? McGonigal cites a study conducted in 2012 by the University of Wisconsin which tracked 30,000 people in the United States for 8 years. They were asked how much stress they have experienced within the last year and whether they believed that stress was harmful for their health. The university then used public death records to find out how many of these individuals had died over the 8 year span of the study. What they discovered was that those who had a large amount of stress in their lives had a 43% increased risk of death; however, that was only true for those who also believed that stress was harmful to their health. The study participants who had a large amount of stress in their lives but did not believe it was harmful had a lower percentage of death risk than even those who had very little stress in their lives. That would make the ‘belief’ that stress is harmful the 15th largest contributor to death in the U.S. in 2012. Not stress itself, just the belief that it was harmful. Killing more than skin cancer, HIV, AIDS and homicide. Another study at Harvard University put 2 groups of students through a social stress test. One group being taught how to see their physical stress responses as beneficial to their health while the other group was given no information for dealing with stress. This was done in order to evaluate the constriction of their blood vessels during stress which has the potential of leading to cardio vascular disease. They found that those who were taught to rethink their beliefs on their physical stress response had no change in their blood vessel constriction and therefore no increased risk of cardio vascular disease. In fact, their physical response was identical to that of those who experience joy or perform acts of courage. Stress hormones help us McGonigal states that these results have to do with the hormone oxytocin, also referred to as the cuddle hormone. This hormone enhances our social instincts and encourages us to create closer relationships, to crave physical contact with friends and family, it enhances empathy and makes us want to reach out and support those we care about. But this warm and fuzzy hormone is a stress hormone. It’s released in our bodies during times of stress, extreme joy and extreme acts like those involving great courage. This hormone literally prepares our bodies to reach out to others and meet the challenges that are before us. It onic pain: and not an enemy is an anti-inflammatory; helping our blood vessels stay relaxed during stress. In addition, it works with our heart receptors to heal any heart damage caused by stress. For those of us dealing with chronic pain conditions, stress is seen as a major contributor to heightened pain levels. We’re told to eliminate as much stress from our lives as we can, we’re told all about the harmful affects of stress on our physical and emotional well-being. Stress cannot be completely eliminated, it just isn’t possible. We can however, adjust our perception of it. Stress is simply an unmet challenge that presents itself in our lives. It requires thought and creativity and assistance from those around us to meet and surmount these challenges successfully. We have an array of possibilities to reduce stress in our lives; yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy but what if we could see stress differently, thus having a completely different physical reaction to it? What would that mean for chronic pain patients? be enhanced which benefits our immune system and our physical responses to everything happening in our lives. It gives us the strength and confidence to communicate our needs to those we include in our lives and care about. We could see significant decreases in our overall pain levels and our capacity to function on a daily basis. We would know that stress is not leading us into further anxiety and an inability to cope with our challenges but preparing us, energizing us to carry us through. This has the potential to give chronic pain patients their lives back. _____________________________________________________ Keller, Litzelman, Wisk, et al. 2012, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health Jamieson, Mendes, Nock, 2011, Harvard University, Department of Psychology http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_ make_stress_your_friend by Caleen Martin Caleen is the Editor-in-Chief of OWN Magazine; after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Caleen Rather than fearing stress, avoiding it, becoming has dedicated herself to research and education overwhelmed by it and becoming more introverted in on chronic pain. She encourages others to our suffering we should be experiencing the physical pursue the best life possible, in spite of physical signs of stress as a positive sign. A sign to open up and reach out to others. A sign that our amazing bodies challenges. are preparing us to meet the challenge head-on with strength and the extraordinary ability to heal ourselves. Here are some suggestions for changing your perceptions on the physical responses our bodies have to stress: • When your heart races, know that your body is preparing you for action, allowing you to meet the challenge. • Breathing faster is allowing more oxygen into your system. • Sweating is regulating your body temperature, no different than when you exercise. Stay hydrated. • Racing thoughts are our sign that we need to reach out to others and ask for help whether from friends, family, your doctor or therapist. By taking stress and retraining our perceptions to make it a benefit to our health rather than a risk factor we can not only reduce our health risks in the future but possibly eliminate one of the major contributors to increased pain and flare ups in our present. 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Sweet candied apple and coconut with notes of caramel and cinnamon www.teavana. com Himalayan Rock Salt Lamps The salt lamps possess multiple beneficial properties for humans including the ability to act as an air purifier (electro-magnetically and atmospherically); the fact that the salt mineral contains 62 elements including sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium and germanium which all have deep, subtle effects on the human body; the ability to increase feelings of relaxation and calm; and the fact that the lamps act as a powerful air ionizer. willowden.wix.com FREE Online Program 436 Vansickle Rd, St Catharines, ON L2S 0A4 Promoting Healthy Living in the Workplace FREE Program 30% OFF True Heart Shiatsu Have any aches and pains? 30 minute Chair Massage $25 Contact Sophie Campbell (289) 690-0949 w ww . s op h ie c a m p b e ll. c a click here to download coupon family Adam Burtnik Sophie Campbell Registered Kinesiologist Shiatsu Therapist, Chair Yoga Practitioner Tania Mercury Wayne Oliver Registered Yoga Teacher Dr. Angelina Yee Consulting Medical Doctor Personal Trainer, RMT, Classical Osteopathic Student Beth Cooper Christine Dernederladen Vicky Sgourormitis Dawn Shickluna Registered Massage Therapist OWN Reception Grief & Empowerment Coach Psychotherapist & Consultant Dr. Stephen Tripodi Monica Wilson Rashmi Biswas Lynn Blundell France Di Paola Sandra Jean Edgar Rachel Goulet Rev Natalie Haig Mary T. Titov Trevor Van Nest Susan Wiley Didi Wilson OWN Medical Director, Naturopath Skin Care Specialist Vibrational Sound Therapy Co-founder OWN, RYT Registered Yoga Teacher Money Coach Registered Yoga Teacher Osteopathic Manual Practitioner Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, RMT, Reiki OWN Bookeeper, Clinic Support Hypnotherapist, Reiki, Reflexology Nia & Ageless Grace Instructor Live Simply. Dream BIG. Be Grateful. Give Love. Laugh Lots. Optimal Wellness Niagara 26 Hiscott Street St. Catharines, ON www.optimalwellnessniagara.com