family health & life june-july 2010

8/9/2019 Family Health & Life June-July 2010

1/28

Family Health & LifeJUNE-JULY 2010ISSN 1920-8855

PM 42007514

HealthyAlternatives

to Caffeine

VITAMIN D

CHANGINGINTERES

RATES IN CANADARISK OR OPPORTUNITY

Natural Cure

ThroughHomeopath

Do You

Need AWill ?

VIPASANA

MEDITATION

FREE

COPY

BABIES & SIGNLANGUAGE

LAW

Are You Getting Enough of It ?

In This Issue


2/28


3/28

3

IN THIS ISSUE

6 Under the weatherExploring the importance of Vitamin D and why getting just

more of it may be useful

8 Homeopathy - A gentle approach to permanent cureHow this alternate healing method may help you more than just

cure an illness

10 Babies & Sign Language - Yes its Possible !Our sign language expert throws light on how babies

communicate using sign language and why parents should

learn it.

12 Beat the Java ItchCoffee may not be your only alternative when looking forsomething that wakes you up in the morning.

14 Labels Reading 101What do food labels mean? Should we really read them ?

15 Out with the old - In with the newPersonal coach Guy Letts has some suggestions that can help

enhance your life and career

16 Noble SilenceOne mans personal journey into exploring meditation the hard

way and the fruits it bore

18 Interest Rates - Risk or OpportunityThe true meaning of how interest rates can be our friend as

well as a foe

20 When should I make a WillWhy making a living will could be the best parting gift for your

family

23 Back to the BasicsHelping your pets live better, feel better and yes Happier too!

ALSO

19 Book Reviews

19 Fun Food facts

24 Fun Human Body Facts

25 Recipes

26 Cosmetic Review

Family Health & LifeJUNE-JULY 2010


4/28

4

Issue 2, Vol 1

June-July 2010

Published by

Agnitio Media Corporation

Toronto Airport Corporate Centre

2680 Matherson Blvd., Suite #102,

Mississauga, Ontario L4W 0A5

Tel : 905-486-0197

Website: www.thefamilymag.com

Email: [email protected]

Publisher & Editor in Chief

Ian Khan

Photography

STOCKLIB by EPICTURA

Creative Director

Sabeen Syed

Contributors

Kendra Fleming, Beverley Isla , Jana McLean,

Melissa Manzo, Sarah Maughan, Guy Letts,

Drew Tapley, Bob Neil, Clint N Ali, Ashley Hain,

ISSN 1920-8855

Circulation5000 copies Controlled

Letters to the Editor

[email protected]

Advertising Inquiries

[email protected]

Graphic Design

South Productions

Notice

Agnitio Media Corporation and the people

associated with it take no responsibility for

any claims made by the advertisers & do notendorse any products or services advertised.

The publisher takes no responsibility for any

content that is published in this magazine. All

articles are purely the opinion of the writers.

No part of this publication may be reproduced

in all or in part, without written permission from

the publisher

Canada Post Publications Agreement No

42007514

Hello Folks !

Summer is probably my most avorite season o the year. The Outdoors is alive andthere are just so many possibilities when it comes to enjoying the sunshine and the

weather. By now you must have either already gone on a summer vacation or are looking

orward to one. I you havent, then its time to explore and go places right here in Ontario.

You would be surprised at what you can nd !

We have had an overwhelming response to the rst Issue o Family Health and Lie

(FHL). Readers have loved the content and sent us hundreds o comments and kudos,

which has not only strengthened our resolve but also lited our spirits. Thank you so much

or your patronage.

This issue o FHL brings with it a new wave o practical inormation. I am excited to

have a ew new contributors on board who have provided us with some excellent ood or

thought. In this issue you can read about the importance o Vitamin D, Sign language or

Babies, Homeopathy, Changes in Canadian Interest rates, and some other very interesting

topics.

I am also pleased to inorm you that FHL is now also being distributed at select Fitness

and Health Clubs around the GTA. I you would like us to distribute the magazine to any

specic area or location, let us know.

Lastly in our rst issue we eatured the Circle o Hope Cancer Foundation and also had

the opportunity o attending their yearly get together held in Brampton. It was truly an

inspirational experience to see so many people support Cancer Survivors and their amilies

and we wish that more such organizations would help support other causes. I Family

Health & Lie magazine can be o any help in promoting a cause that you support, please

let us know and we will do the best we can.

We at Family Health & Lie would love to hear back rom you. Drop us an email at

[email protected] with your comments, questions and suggestions and even

topics that you would like us to cover in our uture issues. I assure you that it is our

constant endeavor to make Family Health & Lie better with ever y issue.

Enjoy Reading and Have a Great Summer!

Here is to healthy living!

Regards

Ian

[email protected]

Editorial

Family Health & Life

AGNITIOMEDIA CORPORATION


5/28


6/28

6

Laughter may be the best

medicine, but these days Vitamin

D is r unning a close second.

Previously thought to only prevent

childhood rickets, its multiple benets were

unknown until recently. Today Vitamin D

is the most talked about supplement in the

medical community! Never beore has a

vitamin received such marquee treatment;

turning it into the vir tual celebrity o

vitamins.

What has sparked its popularity and why

is it so important to you and your amily?

Well, according to Statistics Canada: 1.1

million Canadians (or about our percent

o the population) are considered Vitamin

D decient. The Canadian Pediatric

Surveillance program states that the

prevention o rickets using Vitamin D is

largely overlooked in Canada; logically, one

can assume that the benets o Vitamin D

are overlooked too.

Under the weather?You may just need a little

of the sunshine vitamin

by Kendra Fleming

Feature Article


7/28

7

DWhether it be a laissez aire attitude

towards vitamin supplementation, or a

lack o general knowledge, it is clear that

Canadians should be better inormed

about the benets o Vitamin D. Studies

prove that a lack o Vitamin D can resultin osteoporosis, certain cancers and

autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis,

depression and schizophrenia. I am sure

the average Canadian would think twice

about Vitamin D i they knew the potential

damage resulting rom deciencies as well

as the health benets related to a diet that

includes Vitamin D as a daily supplement.

What is it?

Coined the Sunshine Vitamin,

Vitamin D is naturally produced by the

body when exposed to sunlight. The

main source o Vitamin D is created aterexposure to ultraviolet B rays, so all you

have to do to get your daily dose is spend a

little time out in the sun.

Vitamin D is a nutrient that helps the

body use calcium and phosphorous to

build and maintain strong bones and teeth.

In adults, inadequate levels can lead to

weak bones resulting in Osteomalacia (a

sotening o the bones) and Osteoporosis

(decreased bone mass and tissue). Both

o these afictions can lead to serious

ractures, and severe bone deterioration.

Low levels o Vitamin D during

childhood can cause rickets, a disease

that results in sot bones and skeletaldeormities. Additional consequences

o insucient levels in children include

seizures, ractures, lower-limb deormities,

abnormal growth o teeth, as well as

delayed developmental milestones.

Vitamin D is also crucial to the health o

pregnant women and is necessary during

the rst trimester to provide the calcium

needed or etal bone growth. Inadequate

levels o the nutrient can result in low birth

weight, thwart bone growth, and increase

the possibility o neo-natal rickets.

Where to get it?

Although the best source o Vitamin

D is rom the sun, the Canadian Cancer

Society does not recommend relying

solely on the sun or our daily intake.

The use o sunscreen is important to

ward o skin cancer, which decreases

the absorption o Vitamin D; however,

levels can be maintained through the

use o supplements and through oods

that contain Vitamin D. Health Canada

Recommends ollowing the Canadian Food

Guide and drinking two cups o milk or

ortied soy beverages a day.

Why are Canadians at risk?

Canadians are more susceptible toVitamin D deciencies than our neighbors

to the south because o our geography.

We only get hal a year o optimal vitamin

D sun. Our long, dark Canadian winters

make it hard or us to get enough natural

sunlight to synthesize the vitamin. Within

Canada there are also Vitamin D disparities

between categories o race and ethnicity.

Statistics Canada ound that Caucasians

have substantially higher concentrations o

Vitamin D than the levels o non-Caucasians.

People with darker skin pigmentation are

more at risk o Vitamin D deciencies

because they make less o the vitamin.

Adults over the age o 50 are also atsignicant risk because our bodies ability to

make the vitamin decreases with age.

How much Vitamin D should you be

getting?

Health Canadas recommendations

0-1year: 200 IU per day

2-50 years: 200 IU per day

51-70 years: 400 IU per day

+ 70 years: 600 IU per day

Children

Health Canada recommends that

breasted inants under the age i 1 receive

a Vitamin D supplement o 400 IU per day.

Supplementation should begin at birth and

continue until the diet includes enough

Vitamin D rom ood sources or until the

child reaches the age o 1. Inant ormulas

in Canada are ortied with Vitamin D and

contain adequate amounts o the vitamin.

Ater the age o 1, all inants should receive

at least 200 IU o Vi tamin D per day.

Adults over the age of Fifty.

The recommended intake level o

Vitamin D is higher or those over 50 in

order to maintain good bone health. While

the Canada ood guide is a good source or

nutrition, Health Canada states that adequatelevels o Vitamin D cannot be ound rom

ood alone: supplementation is necessary or

those over 50 to prevent bone ractures. A

daily vitamin supplement o 400 IU daily is

recommended, and is easily purchased at

your local drug store or pharmacy.

Health Canada reminds Canadians that

there are risks to taking too much vitamin D,

as with taking too little. Canadians should

not exceed the recommended daily intake

level set or adults (2000 IU/day) rom either

a supplement, or through diet. Too muc. h

Vitamin D can cause increased amounts o

calcium to be deposited in the body, whichcan lead to calcication o the kidney and

other sot tissues including the heart, lungs,

and blood vessels. As with anything and

everything: moderation is key

Add a little spice to your li e by getting

outside and enjoying the sun, we all know we

could use it and with precious little time to

enjoy it, outdoor activities are a sure re way

to get your Vitamin D. But dont orget the

sunscreen, and since it will limit your intake

o Vitamin D rom sunlight alone, you could

also add a little spice to your shakes or juice

drinks by mixing a Vitamin D tablet into

your avorite morning beverage and let the

sunshine vitamin do the rest!

Kendra Fleming is a freelance writer, who contributes to

newspapers and magazines writing about yoga, health

and family. She has a BA in Sociology with a minor in

English and is currently working on her rst childrens

novel. She lives just north of the GTA with her family.

Contact [email protected]

Today Vitamin D is the most talked about

supplement in the medical community!

Never before has a vitamin received such

marquee treatment; turning it into the

virtual celebrity of vitamins.


8/28

8

We all will eventually reach a

certain realization that who

we really are is not the shell orbody we live in. Rather, we are

consciousness, a being that encompasses an

inner orce or what some school o thoughts

call the Vital Force or Immaterial Wesen.

It is this vital orce that orchestrate our

bodies to help us grow in the most natural

and gentle way. For as long as we do our

part in keeping our temporary shell sae, our

inner being will do its role in maintaining an

internal equilibrium.

Through the awareness o this inner,

invisible wesen that everyone possess,

we can come to understand what would

Homeopathy A gentle approachtopermanent cureTo view health in its entirety is to look at the different school of thoughts to how our bodies are viewed.

Natural Cures

by Beverley Isla

happen should this orce be disrupted. This

brings us to the dierent approaches that

medicine exemplies. Dierent schools omedicine have taught various views to this

concept. For example, allopathic medicine

may view that a particular physical symptom

is the cause to a breakdown in our bodily

unctions....called disease or illness. Holistic

medical elds, on the other hand, believe

that it is not that particular symptom that is

o utmost importance but the whole being.

Notably, Classical Homeopathy

highlights the vital orce as being the rst to

acknowledge a mistunement in our bodies.

The symptoms we observe when we eel

an alteration in our health is really our vital

orce communicating to us that there issomething going on that should be noticed.

Thereore, the role o symptoms is really to

let us know that our inner wesen is weaning.

So how does homeopathy approach illness

or the disturbance o our whole

being in relation to bringing out

complete and permanent health?

I there is an imbalance to our

internal equilibrium communicated

to us through symptoms, the intention

o a homeopathic remedy is to initiate

the bodys ability to heal itsel.

(Remedies are prepared rom

plant, mineral and animal products.

They are also tested and proved

only on humans). Contrary to

the allopathic approach

to cure, homeopathy

intends to ocus

not on the one


9/28

9

symptom the patient talks o but rather

ocuses on the person as a whole. In

addition to the patients physical illness,

their mind and emotions are considered

as well. In this way, the homeopathic

practitioner sees their patient, not through

a tunnel vision, but rom a holistic

perspective. Through inductive reasoning,

all the patients symptoms can then start to

paint the whole picture or the homeopath.Unlike allopathic medicine, once all the

symptoms are determined, only then

can the right remedy be known. The

appropriate remedy will lit not only the

physical symptoms but can relieve mental

and emotional upsets as well.

Homeopathic medicine also diers

rom allopathic medicine through their

primary principles. Firstly, the law like

cures like is one o the oundations o

homeopathy in which a remedy that is

closest to arousing a similar suering to

the one it is supposed to cure will lead to

a gentle, permanent healing with no sideeects. In this eld, painul treatments

including surgery are avoided at all costs.

As Hippocrates states, disease is born o

like things and by the attack o like things

people are healed. Homeopathic remedies

also uses very minute doses to the extent

where there are no molecules o the

source in the substance. Yet, it is this very

dilute solution where the medicinal powers

are beyond our senses that our innermost

ailments can be permanently cured. In

addition, using one remedy in this minimum

dose is o importance in the strategy o

healing. In this way, single dose remedies

will prevent complications as well having the

most powerul eect.

In contrary, allopathic medicine doesnot acknowledge our dynamic vital orce as

playing a crucial role in homeostasis. Rather,

disease is seen as the cause o itsel however

it is not possible or the cause to be identical

to the eect. For this reason, allopathic

medications are opposite to the symptom

itsel in order to suppress the symptoms. It

is believed this will annihilate the disease.

Allopathic medical practitioners also ocus

on one symptom without giving attention

to the whole picture. But what occurs is a

temporary alleviation beore the symptom or

illness returns stronger, only aggravating the

whole mistunement o the vital orce.

A harmul aspect o allopathic prescribing

involves the use o large, requent doses o

unknown compounded medical substances.

Not only does this weaken the body ur ther,

i used repeatedly, a new disease may erupt.

As explained in Hahnemanns Organon 6th

edition, a main allopathic method is drainage

where nature is imitated only bringing

stronger irritations. For instance, agonizing

surgical procedures include: amputations,

vomiting, bloodletting, extracting bodily

fuids, electric shocks or paralysis and

eliciting nosebleeds or headaches. As such,

any attempts to relieve the disease symptoms

through opposite principles will increase

the malady urthering our vital orce rom

initiating the bodys sel healing powers.

With societys standards, notably North

Americas medical school o thought, the

public has been trained to view their health

in a restrictive manner. Patients have

become used to going to the doctor or a

quick visit to x a particular symptom. This

leads to an expectation o immediate results

through the suppression o their symptoms.

Allopathic medicine may still be dominant in

some countries but as more people realize

the scars it has let on many, alternative

medicine will continue to pave the way.

As more and more experience this inner

transormation, health will no longer be

taken or granted but a way o lie or many.

Beverly Isla is founder of www.everlastinghealthdirectory.

com and author of Making It In High Heels released

in 2008. Beverly nds it satisfying to take on projects

and work experiences that can help others reach their

potential as well as assist meaningful projects to gain

more international distribution. Contact her at

[email protected]


10/28

10

Baby sign language has become

a great way to learn together

and bond with your baby. You

probably have heard o baby sign

language rom one o your riends. Baby

signs can become a common vocabulary you

can use with your baby. It is derived rom

American Sign Language (ASL). Baby signs

are not the same as ASL used by Dea adults

which is a ormal language with its own

syntax and grammar. The simple and natural

version o baby signs is easy, practical and

un! Taking a class to learn some new signs,

singing songs and meeting new moms is the

new and cool thing that parents are doing

today with their hearing babies.

The main reason to teach babies sign

language is because it decreases babys

rustration and alleviates temper tantrums.

wide. Parents everywhere understand it is

a un and worthwhile tool or both you and

your child.

Does sign language aect my babys

language development? is oten the rst

asked question o curious parents. 100%

absolutely not! Babies want to talk and they

prove this through their continual babbling.

When they are physically able to talk, they

will. In the meantime, sign language will

bridge the communication gap until the

baby learns how to produce words. Studies

have only shown that sign language will

only accelerate the development o a childs

language and reading skills. Signing babies

also accumulate larger vocabulary than non-

signing babies. When signing with your

baby make sure to continually talk to them

so that they maintain a valuable exposure

to both the verbal and signed language.

Parents should have no concern that signing

will hinder their speech development.

It is best to teach babies to sign between

the ages o 6-12 months. Many babies are

seen producing their rst sign beore their

rst birthday. Signing early will give you an

early start in learning the signs, but do not

Babies& Sign

Language

- Yes itsPossible !

Young Mothers

Jana McLean

BA, BEd, DipEd

They are then able to communicate their

wants beore using their spoken language.

Instead o playing a guessing game and

increasing your rustration level, imagineshowing your wee-one the signs or milk,

more, nished, or sleep. Teaching your

baby a simple language early can help them

when they are able to produce spoken

words. Babys rst words are usually those

that they can also sign. Baby sign language

promotes development o language skills and

helps their understanding o communication.

It is a great way to start the acquisition o

language skills!

ASL is a century old language. However,

using sign language with hearing children

started in the 1980s when Special Needs

teachers began using it with their students.

Improvements o language skills were

amazingly clear. It quickly spread to hearing

parents using it with their developing child

as a mode o early language development.

The eectiveness o this program is proven

as the trend grows and more amilies sing

the praises o this easy and valuable learning

skill. Presently, baby sign language is mainly

used in North America, but with the help o

the internet, it is quickly spreading world-


11/28

11

be rustrated as your baby will only be able

to produce the signs around 8-10 months.

Learning sign language with an older

child is also benecial or various reasons.

Today, many daycares and preschools are

taking on this un way o communicating

in their daily schedule because they are

seeing the direct benets. Viewing a music

class or drop-in play group, you will oten

see signs intermingled with their singsong routines. Toddlers pick up signs

extremely ast, and they love singing their

avourite songs with a ew signs sprinkled

throughout the tunes.

There are many ways o learning some

basic everyday signs to teach your baby.

You will nd various books (adult and kid

centred), videos, fashcards and YouTube

can also be very helpul. Attending

sign language classes conducted by sign

language expert is denitely the best way

to learn. Just like any language, i you

dont use it, youll lose it. You will want to

learn signs that motivate your baby suchas signs or mommy and daddy, milk, or

their avourite toy. Making

up signs is discouraged

because it is conusing or

both o you i you orget

your invented signs. Stick

with the ASL, it is a beautiul

language and i you happen

to orget the sign it is easy

to learn it again. Taking a

structured class will also teachyou some signs o your childs

avourite songs. You will be amazed

how entranced your child becomes

when you are signing and singing!

Learning baby sign language is really or

everyone! With the magic o sign language,

you are bound to hear less tears, see and eel

less rustration, and understand when youre

child is tired or hungr y. What could be better

or you and your child than that?

Author: Jana McLean (BA, BEd, DipEd)

Certied Teacher

www.mysmarthands.com


Jana has been teaching for 10 years as a Special Needs

teacher. Presently, she does early intervention with

babies with a hearing loss. In her free time, she loves

to play Ultimate Frisbee, sew, and of course, teach baby

sign language! She has a passion for giving all children

necessary tools for communication, and if her voice was

better, shed be a professional singer!


12/28

12

HealthyAlternatives

to DrinkingCoffee

Food

Beat the Java Itch:

by Melissa Manzo

3


13/28

13

For many o us, starting our

mornings with a Cup o

Joe in hand has become

a necessity -we rely on its

smell, its taste and its stimulating

eect to get us up and going

or the day. While coeedoes have its upsides, it

most denitely has its

downsides as well: it can

cause nervousness,

sleeplessness, and

worse yet, addiction.

Kicking the habit

cold turkey could

cause a series o

other maladies:

headaches,

shakiness,

irritability, and

so on. Why notsubstitute, then, your

regular java intake

with something a

little healthier, and

thats just as

satisying, stimulating and comorting as

your habitual daily grind? Not convinced the

java beans healthier counterpart exists? We

beg to dier, with the ollowing three healthy

alternatives to drinking coee.

I you are seeking an alternative thatis just as stimulating as coee, but that

omits its jitter-y side eects, then do as the

South Americans do: drink yerba mat, a

tea-like beverage so popular in countries

such as Argentina, Brazil and Ur uguay,

that they have mat houses as opposed

to North American coeehouses. Yerba

mat contains three dierent stimulant

compounds, called xanthines, one o which

is caeine. However, the combination o the

three compounds increases energy without

producing the subsequent crash eect

commonly caused by coee.

Mat is rich in antioxidants, thosepowerul agents that ght o oxidative,

cellular damage, thereby reducing the

risk o diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

According to Dallas Clouatre, Ph.D., member

o the American College o Nutrition and

contributor to health publications including

Total Health, mat inhibits LDL (low-density

lipoprotein) oxidation, which is linked to

damage o artery walls and the ormation o

plaques.

Looking to shed a ew pounds in addition

to kicking o your coee itch? Mat can

help with that too. A study conducted

in 1999, in Lausanne, Switzerland, has

shown that mat has a thermogenic eect,

meaning it actually encourages the body to

burn calories. The green South American

leaves also increase metabolism, slow down

digestion (consequently reducing ood intake

and suppressing appetite), and can thereore

aid in weight loss.

Though yerba mat provides a myriad o

health benets, its smell and taste must be

acquired, to say the least. I aroma is your

utmost criterion when it comes to co ee

substitutes, then why not opt or Rooibos,

the latest coeehouse craze to come rom

the distant Cederberg Mountains o South

Arica. Rooibos, meaning red bush, has

a subtle sweetness to it, along with hints o

vanilla and caramel. Rooibos is technicallya tisane, an herbal, ca eine-ree inusion.

Interestingly enough, however, it is also

a legume, one o the greatest sources o

soluble bre, as well as other essential

nutrients such as olic acid, iron, calcium and

magnesium. As is the case with mat, this

ruby red inusion is also a signicant source

o antioxidants.

I your idea o a soothing pick-me-up

is something along the lines o a (calorie-

inducing) mochaccino, then carob powder

may satisy both your chocolate and coee

cravings. Yet another member o the legume

amily, carob, which comes primarily romthe Mediterranean coast, has a cocoa-like

taste. Carob powder has a total bre content

o over 80%; has been shown to have an

eect on lowering LDL cholesterol; improves

digestion; is caeine-ree; and once again, is

a terric antioxidant.

Whether you seek taste, texture or

stimulus rom your daily pick-me-up, these

three all-natural options can be satisying

substitutes or coee. Add milk, honey,

cinnamon, or whatever your taste buds

desire to any o the beverages, and voil!

You have a mat latte, a sweet-red rooibos or

a cina-carob-cino the recipe to kicking o

a bad habit and possibly developing a whole

other healthier addiction.

Melissa Manzo is a freelance writer from Montreal,

and contributor to online lifestyle publications.

With a B.A. in Arts and Languages, she also boasts

a background in cultural event management and in

the spa and beauty industry. Contact her at

[email protected]

Whether you seek taste, texture or stimulus from your daily

pick-me-up, these three all-natural options can be satisfying

substitutes for coffee.


14/28

14

So youre at the grocery store and

you need to get some beans or

your amous bean salad. You have 2

hours until that BBQ so that already

cuts out dried beans and now youre let with

dozens o canned beans to sort through.

What do you grab - The cheapest? The most

attractive label? The biggest can? The closest

in your reach? Reading labels takes only a

ew seconds, and i it takes longer than that

then the ingredient list is too long and does

not contain natural ingredients so its best to

skip that product. Now I know what youre

thinking but Sarah, all canned beans contain

the same nutritional inormation dont

they?. Yes, they do, BUT their ingredients

dier widely. The nutritional label and the

ingredients go hand in hand, ater all theingredients are what hold the nutrition (ie.

Vitamins and minerals), not a set o numbers

on a label. Just because something contains

24 grams o carbohydrates doesnt equate to

vitamin and mineral status. Where are they

carbohydrates coming rom whole grains

or sugar?

Okay so back to canned beans, all brands

are not created equal because some contain

preservatives and chemicals and others do not.

Ingredient List 1 Chickpeas, water,

salt, Disodium EDTA

Ingredient List 2 Organic chickpeas,

water, kombu seaweed

They both contain chickpeas, which is

great because thats the ingredient you need.

However, one contains Disodium EDTA.

Do you know what that is? According to

Wikipedia.com, it is used to sequester metal

ions in aqueous solutions...[to reduce] water

hardness in laundry applications...and used

extensively in the analysis o blood. Wait a

second, none o those uses have ANYTHINGto do with ood. Interesting. For this product

is acts as a preservative, but do you really

want to be consuming something that also

has the above unctions as well? You can only

wonder what it is doing to your body. So i

your recipe doesnt call or Disodium EDTA

and you just want the chickpeas then buy

the other brand that uses natural seaweed to

keep the beans shel stable. A bonus to the

use o seaweed is that it breaks down the

bers to help make it easier to digest i ts a

win-win! Beans beans the musical ruit...you

know the rest.

So the next time youre heading down the

grocery aisle, remember that not all brands

are created equal, and read the ingredients

along with the nutritional label because it

is the ingredients that you are consuming

that provides the nutrients, not a label with

numbers.

Sara Maughan is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist at

totum lifescience www.totum. ca. She can be reached at

[email protected]

Health Corner

By Sarah Maughan

B.A, RHN

Label Reading 101

Canned Beans


15/28

15

Spring has nally sprung.

Everywhere we are surrounded

by a bounty o new growth as trees

and plants begin to thrive. Spring

cleaning is also well underway as we dust o

our patio sets, prepare our garden beds, and

clean out the garage. Ever ything is anew.What better time to grow a little and do

some spring cleaning on ourselves. Whether

we are talking about starting an exercise

routine, a 100 mile diet, or taking up a new

activity, now is the perect time to ollow

natures lead and implement some changes

in your lie. Here are ten points to help you

put your desires, aspirations and goals into

action.

n1) Make sure you clearly dene what it is

that you want. Dont just say you want to

lose weight, be specic and say how much

weight you want to lose and over what

time period. Have specic denitions and

targets or the things you want to achieve.

n2) Be realistic and dont set your goals too

high. Make sure that the things you want

are achievable and manageable otherwise

youre setting yoursel up or ailure.

Sometimes we use sel-deeating behavior

and ensuing ailures as a way to justiy and

rationalize our current state, Well, I tried

to lose weight...

n3) Keep the number o your goals

manageable. I there are six things you

want to achieve, dont try to do all six at

once. Break your goals down into smaller

groups, and deal with a ew at a time, then

move on to the next set o goals. I would

recommend undertaking no more than

three goals at a time.

n4) Have concrete strategies, actions and

tasks associated with the goals you want

to achieve along with timelines. Again, its

about being as specic as possible. Dont

be araid to ask others or ideas about

strategies or actions that will aid you withyour goals.

n5) Write down your action plan. This

will help make it a real, material thing

as opposed to being an abstract idea. It

will also act as a guide that can be easily

reerenced.

n6) Look at your action plan daily as a

means o orientating yoursel to the task at

hand. Have your goal and plan accessible

to you throughout the day to help you stay

ocused. I would recommend reading it

three times throughout the course o the

day.

n7) Visit your overall strategies and

timelines regularly to stay on track and to

make any necessary adjustments to your

overall plan i need be.

n8) Dont worry i you get o track.

Sometimes things happen, whether by

design or by accident, that change our

circumstances. Avoid getting stressed

i you are diverted rom your plan. Deal

with the situation, collect your thoughts,

restructure your plan, and resume your

course o action.

n9) Take negative comments in stride.

Many people relish in the ailure o others

and act as inhibitors to positive movement

and change. Remember, these are their

issues, not yoursmove through them as

you do with the wind.

n10) Have perseverance and stick to your

plan. Your will is what drives action, andaction is necessary or changestay

ocused.

I you keep to these simple rules and

really desire change, then the change you

want will be the change you have. I am

reminded o a poem I learned in grade eight

by Mark Twain: Habit is habit and not to

be fung out o the window by any man,

but to be coaxed down the stairs a step at

a time. Remember, be patient, instant sel-

gratication and quick xes rarely results in

any real long-term, lasting change.

Guy Letts is a cer tied coaching practitioner and founder

of New Leaf Personal and Professional Coaching Services.

You can contact Guy by email at,

[email protected] or visit his

website at www.newleafcoachingservices.com.

Out With

the Old,In Withthe New

Personal Development

by Guy Letts


16/28

16

Noble SilenceTen Days in a Vipassana Meditation Retreat

One Mans Personal Journey intoExploring Meditation the hard Way

and the Fruits it Bore

Soul


17/28

17

by Drew Tapley

Most o us nd it dicult to

keep quiet in a movie theatre

during a lm, or or a ew

hours in the librar y. The most

I had ever gone without talking to anyone is

probably a day, and even then, it would have

been on my own terms with a dozen lms,

CDs and magazines at my disposal. It was,

thereore, not an easy decision or me toenter a Vipassana Meditation retreat or ten

days and take a vow o complete silence.

Everyone has their own reasons or wanting

to do a course o Vipassana, but i youre

looking or a vacation or ree lodgings or ten

daysthis is no Holiday Inn. There is work o

a very emotional nature to be undertaken here;

and you go deepas in take a canary with you

and spare batteries or your headlamp. You

wont see anything approximating normal

society inside one o these retreats, and you

will be expected to attend ten hours o guided

meditation sessions each day. You unction

alone and entirely within your own headspace,which means you will ght demons you didnt

even know about, as well to the ones you have

eluded or years. Sound like un? So, why on

earth would anyone do such a thing?

Im not a monk. I style my hair, eat meat,

drink beer, play rock music, curse, and watch

horror movies. I had just nished a very

intensive postgraduate degree which let my

mental and emotional closet in need o a good

clean. I had given mysel a month o down time

and decided this was the right moment or

me to clean out my closet with the Buddhist

technique o Vipassana (literally: to see things

as they really are). I had heard about it sixyears ago whilst on a trip to India when I was

dabbling with meditation. Years later, a leafet

in the library advertising local courses gave

me the opportunity to read urther into it, and

eventually sign up. My girlriend thought I

was nuts, along with most o my riends. What

ollows is a very brie diary o each day as I

lived it at the Ontario Vipassana Meditation

Centre, about an hour rom Toronto.

The grounds o the Centre are nestled

within 140 acres o woodland, and split into

two halves to segregate men and women into

separate living, dining and recreation areas.

The Meditation Hall is also gender divided

or meditation. During my stay, I couldnt

actually keep a written diary as all writing

materials were prohibited, along with reading

material, music, mobile phones, DVD players,

and any other orm o stimuli.

DAY ONE

As the sound o a gong disturbed my

sleep, I realized it was 5 a.m. and time to head

to the Meditation Hall. Matt, my roommate,

undoubtedly elt as I did with his earlier

enthusiasm o yesterday hidden somewhere

under the blankets. I didnt know this o

course, because I couldnt ask him. Day one

o noble silence had begun, and the noise was

deaening. It was an odd sensation beyond

uncomortable when we both got dressed in

silence and tried to avoid eye contact.

Ater twelve hours inside my own head,

it was still only 5 p.m. Today has been the

longest day o my liealone with me, mysel

and I. At this point, I cannot conceive oanother nine days o this, let alone one more

day. I I am to reach day ten at all, which

seems highly unlikely right now, I have to

take each day as it comes; and sometimes

each hour.

Its now blindly obvious how daily

distractions and little occupations consume

our time. Without them, time is a vacuous

hole to ll. My mind has been shovelling

snow into a urnace all day. I have elt the

weight o every minute passing through me,

and heard it chime aloud like a high school

assembly clock. I have tasted every breath

going in, and coming out.

Finding the right meditation posture

takes some doing, and the popular choice

is either kneeling or sitting crossed legged.

I already have more blankets and cushions

than a Saudi prince, but my lower back is

still very sore and I chance upon a legless

wooden chair rom the store room that some

other interns are using.

The lunch in here is delicious wholesome

goodness, and worth enduring ve hours o

morning meditation or.

DAY TWO

I awoke this morning as i I had just

walked o the set o Star Wars. My dreams

were so vivid and complex that I was

expecting Yoda to be asleep under my bed.

I generally eel stronger today, more

at ease with the technique, and better

acquainted with the idea o what a day means

in this place.

The concept o noble silence is beginning

to gain more denition. There are several

signs within the Centre reminding interns o

the house rules; chie amongst them being to

maintain noble silence at all times.

All orms o communication are barred:

gesticulation, eye contact and physical

contact o any kind. This has provensomewhat dicult when sharing a room with

someone. Strictly speaking, holding the door

open or intimating i the light can be turned

o are both orms o communication. There

can be no hal measures, so I have made a

decision rom the onset to abide by the rules

to the best o my ability. However, Im rather

curious over how its technically possible

to break one o the ve precepts (to abstain

rom telling lies) when you cant speak.

DAY THREE

I have the distinct impression that I

have unwittingly annoyed my roommate. Ocourse, I have no way o knowing or sure, or

even apologising. Did I turn o the bedroom

light beore he had nishing reading the

ceiling tiles?

Today I am searching or a reason to stay

another seven days. Judging by the body

language I witness rom the other internsI

am not alone in this struggle. The rst

day was a novelty, and the second day elt

amiliar and productive. I have decided that

this course is like heart bypass surgery, and

I wouldnt hop o the table midway through

that!

Were still developing the technique

with breathing meditation, and on day ve

well start to work deeper with sensory

meditation. Even at this stage, Ive started

a process o cleansing which I can eel at

work. The seating posture is not working

or me anymore, so I borrow a wooden oot

stool that looks like a sawn-o section rom a

church pew.

A young woman starts sobbing rom

across the Mediation Hall. Shes obviously

very upset, and I notice a ew other interns

are disturbed by this and probably want

to comort her. The instructor watches

her closely but is reluctant to interrupt an

apparently necessary process at work.

This article will be continued

in our next issue.

Drew is a freelance writer and book editor originally

from the UK, and now living in Toronto.

Contact him at [email protected]


18/28

B

oth the good news and the bad

news is this: interest rates have

been at record lows or so long

that they eel like the norm.

For anyone with variable debt, or with

recently acquired or renanced debt such as

a mortgage or loan, things couldnt be better.

Rock-bottom interest rates have oered an

opportunity or consumers to apply more o

their money to the repayment o the principal

on a mortgage or other loan.

With rates as low as they are, it is

reasonable to assume that they will soon

be on the way up. Why? Because as the

economy has improved, the need or record

low rates is diminished, and infation

presents a more prevalent risk.

I the overnight rate increases as

predicted in the nal quarters o 2010 and

into 2011, interest rates on everything are

expected to ollow suit. In act, longer term

xed mortgage lending rates have al-ready

begun moving up in response to rising long

term bond yields.

In February, Finance Minister Jim

Flaherty introduced more stringent

mortgage standards in place to help protect

consumers rom taking on too much

debt part o an ongoing eort to ensure

homebuyers dont go too deeply into debt

and to curb speculation.

For the average Canadian, a prudent

move would be to review personal nances

beore higher rates become a reality. Even

i you are in a decent nancial position now,

would rising rates put you at risk? Now is a

good time to take any needed precautions

to ensure that your spending and debt wont

cripple you when higher rates arrive. You

dont want an additional debt burden to orce

you to withdraw unds rom your savings or

rom money that you need or day-to-day and

other planned expenditures.

I you are looking to make the mosto lower rates while they are still here,

review your mortgage de-tails. I you have

breathing room in your cash fow today then

a variable rate may still be a good option.

Todays variable rates are signicantly lower

than 5 year xed mortgage rates. I you are

mortgaged to the max and i you have a

variable rate mortgage, consider locking in

at todays rates.

On a broader level, other things you can

do to prepare or the possibility o higher

rates might include reviewing the maturity

dates on any GICs or other xed income

vehicles you own.

I you have GICs that need rolling over,

consider choosing a short timerame so your

money wont be locked in at a lower rate

when higher rates be-come available. I you

moved to GICs during the downturn in the

markets, consider whether they are still the

right investment decision or you as markets

recover.

Decisions on how rising interest rates will

aect your nances and your investment

portolio should not be made without the

advice o a nancial proessional. Call us to

discuss the actors that aect your personal

situation. We have the knowledge and up-to-

date inormation that can help you make an

inormed decision about your portolio.

This article presents general information only and

is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investments.

Neil Bobb, Fellow, Society of Actuaries is a consultant with

Investors Group can be contacted at

[email protected]

Interest rates:Riskor opportunity?

The answer is YES

Financial Corner

by Neil Bobb,

Fellow, Society of Actuaries

18


19/28

ANATOMY FOR YOGA

Authors: Nicky Jenkins & Leigh Brandon

Publisher: McGrawHill

ISBN: 978-0-7-163362-8

yAnatomy for Yoga is an excellent resource if

you want to see what Yoga I really doing for

you. The book opens up with an introduction to

the Human Body and talks about things such as

postures, body planes and body systems.

A majority of the book is dedicated to Yoga Postures,

their importance and an anatomical and muscular

view of the positions. The illustrations are very

detailed and give a clear picture of which muscle

groups are affected by every covered Yoga posture.

Authors Nicky Jenkins and Leigh Brando have covered every posture in great detail and

the book is an excellent resource to understand Yoga postures. A must have for every Yoga

enthusiast.

EZEKIELS

MEDICINE

Author: Steve

Coffman, B.Sc.

Publisher:Yorkshire

Publishing

ISBN:

9780881443936

yA highly researched treasure trove of

useful and factual information about

living healthier and better naturally. Ezekiels

Medicine opens up new world of medicine

using biblical methods and remedies to treat

a huge range of medical conditions. Quoting

references from the Bible, the book has a

unique approach to medicine and is an easy

read for the rest of us. The book provides an

in depth analysis of what the author calls

Gods Low Cost Health Care Plan. The book is

a great read.

Aunt Jemima pancake our, invented

in 1889, was the rst ready-mix food to

be sold commercially.

Caffeine: there are 100 to 150

milligrams of caffeine in an eight-

ounce cup of brewed coffee, 10

milligrams in a six-ounce cup of

cocoa, 5 to 10 milligrams in one

ounce of bittersweet chocolate, and

5 milligrams in one ounce of milkchocolate.

Californias Frank Epperson invented

the Popsicle in 1905 when he was 11-

years-old.

Capsaicin, which makes hot peppers

hot to the human mouth, is best

neutralized by casein, the main protein

found in milk.

Fun food facts

19

Cast iron skillets used to be the leading

source of iron in the American diet!

Chinas Beijing Duck Restaurant can

seat 9,000 people at one time.

Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine

(PEA), a natural substance that is

reputed to stimulate the same reaction

in the body as falling in love.

World wide, consumers spend more

than $7 billion a year on chocolate.

Annual per capita consumption of

chocolate is 12 pounds per person.

Fried chicken is the most popular meal

ordered in sit-down restaurants in the

US. The next in popularity are: roast

beef, spaghetti, turkey, baked ham, and

fried shrimp.

Fortune cookies were invented in

1916 by George Jung, a Los Angeles

noodle maker.

Each American eats an average of 51

pounds of chocolate per year.

Goulash, a beef soup, originated in

Hungary in the 9th century AD.

Bookreviews


20/28

20

Law

About Wills

The scariest part o living is thinking

about your death, but it is important to make

sure that your amily and other loved ones

are provided or i anything happens to you.

I you do not have a Will then now is the time

to give it serious thought. I you have made a

Will and you want to make amendments then

do so now because it will be too late to make

those changes i something should happen

to you.

Always make sure that your wishes are

properly documented because the court shall

look at your Will as the nal proo o your

wishes regarding your assets on your death.

Remember - i you do not have a written Will

the courts will assess what is to happen to

your assets and they will order the disposal

o your assets in the way they believe is

best. The problem is that this may not be

according to your wishes; so make sure you

look seriously at the making o a Will at the

earliest.

What is a Will?

A Will is a document containing your

instructions and wishes as to how your

property and assets are to be distributed

ater your death. Any person, o any age,

should seriously consider a Will at the

earliest. A Will should not only be or people

who have reached an age where death is not

ar away. People die at all ages and a Will

is needed especially i you have assets and

property to be allocated to those you wish to

benet.

A Will is the expression o the persons

wishes concerning how their property is

to be distributed. It is a written statement,

signed in compliance with the various

ormalities covered by legislation. It is a

legal document containing the names o the

people you want to benet, as well as details

o your possessions at the date o your death.

The people you want to benet are called

beneciaries.

by Clint N. Ali

MBA BSc Licensed Paralegal

When Should I

Make a Will


21/28

21

Your property or possessions will

include everything you own, such as your

home, land, vehicles, bank accounts,

benets o insurance policies, urniture,

boat, investments such as shares, personal

jewellery, artwork, and so on. A Will is the

only way you can ensure your assets shall be

distributed according to your wishes ater

your death.

What is a Valid Will?

A valid Will is a Will that is accepted by

the court and put into eect by the court

granting what is known as probate. Probate

is approval or acceptance by the court o how

your assets are to be dealt with.

A valid Will must have the ollowing

eatures:

It must be in writing - handwritten,

typed or printed.

It must be signed with your signature

at the end o the document. It must be witnessed by at least two

other people present at the time o signing.

They need to acknowledge they were

present and must sign the Will as witnesses

in your presence. They do not have to be

together at the same time o signing.

I your Will is not made in this manner

then the court may not accept it and it

would be unenorceable (the courts Will

not enorce it). The court has discretion to

grant probate (probate is conrmation that

the Will is valid and accepted) and your

possessions could be disposed o as i you

hadnt made a Will at all. When the court

exercises this discretion, it has to be satised

that the document sets out clearly how

you wanted your assets to be allocated ordistributed.

About Completing a Will

Most people know that they need to put

together a Will sometime beore they die.

Unortunately, the majority o people do not

have a Will. They do not think about writing

up a Will until they are past the age o 50.

Writing a Will doesnt need to be

expensive. Once it is done you can rest

easy, knowing that your wishes Will be

ollowed ater your death. Most Wills can

be composed quite simply. Others are

more complex and involve more people,

substantial assets, and cash. These Willsshould be discussed with lawyers who

specialise in this area.

While a Will is not critical i you do

not possess much (e.g. property or

distributions), you may have personal items

A Will is the expression of the persons

wishes concerning how their property is to be

distributed. It is a legal document containing

the names of the people you want to benet, as

well as details of your possessions at the dateof your death.


22/28

22

such as jewellery, manuscripts, or trophies

that you want to be let to specic people.

Having a Will claries this and saves any

arguments later on.

I your estate, possession and property

are valuable, you should ensure that a

Will sets out your wishes and instructionsclearly. It might be inconvenient or you to

set up a Will while you are alive, but it could

save arguments and ghting amongst your

beneciaries.

Why Make a Will?

I a person dies without making a Will

then the rules according to law shall apply. I

you die without a Will the term is; you have

died intestate. I you die intestate then the

Succession Reorm Act Ontario 1996 rules

apply on how your property is distributed,

and who the beneciaries would be. It may

not be according to your wishes, so dyingintestate is not a good position to be in as ar

as your beneciaries are concerned.

Because most o us do not know when

we are going to die, we should approach

the drating o a Will as i we havent many

days let on this earth. This is important

because it saves arguments amongst amily

members and beneciaries ater your death.

Additionally, what happens i you are in a

coma or become incoherent and there is

no Will with regards to your hard earned

assets? Fortunately, there is an option most

consider when preparing their Will and that

is having a Power o Attorney or Propertyand or Personal Care in place. The Power

o Attorney options allows you to appoint

someone to take care o your health care and

property in the event that you are incapable

to do so.

The ollowing are a ew examples o what

could happen i you died intestate. You may

not be particularly happy about some o

them.

I you die without spouse or children,

but are survived by your parents, then your

parents will generally receive all the assets o

your estate.

I you die and are survived by a spouse,

then the whole o your estate will generally

pass to your spouse.

I you die and are survived by a

spouse and children, the estate will most

likely be divided between your spouse and

children, as determined by the courts. The

split o your estate between your spouse

and children can cause problems or your

spouse, who may have to sell a amily home

in order to pay out the shares to the children.

I you die without spouse, children

or parents, but are survived by brothers

and sisters, then your estate will be divided

equally amongst those brothers and sisters.

There are a number o reasons why

you should make a Will as soon as you can.

These are:To protect your loved ones.

Making a Will is one o the only ways

to be certain that your lietimes work and

assets, built up over the years, are passed on

to the people you want. It provides security

or your amily and those you are responsible

or. Most o your lie would be spent

building up your assets. These may consist

o home, car, insurance policies and other

investments, etc. You Will want those assets

to go to the people you choose, rather than

to someone else.

Smooth transer o assets.

Having a Will enables your assets to

be transerred smoothly on your death. Youneed to prepare a detailed list o your assets,

as well as your personal goals beore putting

your plan in place. Your ultimate plan will

involve investment advice and planning,

so that there is a provision or the orderly

transer o your assets.

To secure your childrens uture.

I you have children (under adult age),

you may wish to nominate guardians and

make arrangements or their upkeep and

education.

I you are currently in your second

marriage, you need a Will to protect the

members o your new amily. A marriage

generally invalidates any Will made prior tothe date o marriage, so unless you have a

new Will including reerence to your new

amily, your new amily may not get the

protection you want.

I you die without a Will your partner

could stand to lose assets and mementos that

rightly belong to him/her

Also, i you die without a Will, your

estate Will be subject to additional taxation

that could be avoided

Another important point is that i you

currently have a Will, but have divorced or

have had other unoreseeable circumstances

aect your lie, you should consider

amending your Will accordingly to prevent

your estate rom alling into the hands o

individuals you would not want it to. For

example, a divorced ormer spouse can still

inherit rom your estate because a divorce

does not automatically cancel a Will.

Clint is a Licensed Paralegal and works

for Ali Law Professional Corporation.

He can be contacted at [email protected]

Law

Because most of us

do not know when

we are going to die,

we should approachthe drafting of a

Will as if we havent

many days left on

this earth. This is

important because

it saves arguments

amongst family

members and

beneciaries after

your death.


23/28

23

Often we wait until we are

diagnosed with an illness

before we take action to

improve our health. I was

guilty of this with my 18 year old cat,

Snapper, who was diagnosed with kidney

disease three years ago, and suffered

from frequent urination, constipation,

and vomiting. His future looked bleak.

Yet, after seeking guidance from a holistic

veterinarian and committing to changing

his diet to organic unprocessed food,

the results were astounding. About six

months later, his coat was silky smooth,

most of his symptoms subsided, and he

generally seemed more content. Not

only did friends and family notice a

visible difference in Snapper, but also

blood work from the vet conrmed his

transformation.

Whether your pets are in tip-top shape or

not, here are a few suggestions that will

keep your furry friends in deep delight:

n1. Give your pet a daily groom.

Daily brushing for your pets not

only removes dirt and secretions

directly, but also stimulates

the skins natural elimination

processes as well. Holistic

veterinarian, Dr. Pitcairn, author

of Dr. Pitcairns Complete Guide

to Natural Health For Dogs and

Cats, said it best, a clean animal

is a beautiful animal, and more

importantly, a healthy one.

n2. Carve out time for touch daily. Like

people, pets have an innate need for

touch for the same reasons as we do.

Animals are emotional creatures

with thoughts and feelings; as

humans, they experience pain,loneliness, and anxiety. Each dog

has a sweet spot that gets their back

legs kicking in pure pleasure when

you rub their tummy, and you know

when you have found your cats

favorite spot along their back or

under their chin.

n3. Feed your pet a fresher, more

natural diet. This suggestion is

truly the key to unlocking your

pets potential. Just as nutrition

enthusiasts promote unprocessed

whole foods for us, your pet will

also benet from a raw and/or fresh

food diet. It is certainly a lot easier

to open a bag of kibble, however;

over the long term, the extra effort

will result in longevity and a much

higher quality of life, especially for

aging pets.

In my case, I star ted eeding my cat

organic cooked millet, parsley, and resh

sh. I would cook up a batch o millet, chop

up a bunch o parsley, and store them in the

ridge or up to ve days. For the sh, I kept

it rozen and would cut o a small piece,

thaw it in hot water, and then mix it in. I set

out two meals a day, one in the morning and

one in the early evening, and ensured the

ood was at room temperature; it is easiest

or them to digest, according to my research.

For the rst ew days Snapper reused to eat

his new resh ood; I basically had to orce

eed him by bringing the bowl to him and

putting the ood in my hand; he nally gave

in. Within a ew months, he started pawing

at me or certain oods I was eating such as

eggs, oatmeal, and beans and rice. I later

learned these oods were actually good or

him; animals are intelligent indeed! There

may be a bit o trial and error at rst, and

bouts o rustration, though the pay-o will

make it all worthwhile.

In terms of fresh vegetables, according to

Dr. Pitcairns Complete Guide to Natural

Health For Dogs and Cats, the best-

liked vegetables for dogs include alfalfa

sprouts, lettuce, and mixed greens, nely

grated carrots and zucchini, parsley,

and potatoes. Spinach, Swiss chard,

and rhubarb should be avoided as it

interferes with calcium absorption. Cats

generally do not like eating vegetables.

Wheatgrass is loved by almost all

animals. Nutritionally, it is a natural

cleanser, helping to detoxify organs,

especially the liver and intestines, and

helps to prevent tumors from forming

in their digestive tract. The best way to

add wheatgrass to your pets daily diet is

to chop it nely and add it to their food,

or buy wheatgrass juice and give them a

little saucer full daily.

As we make a commitment to improving

health for ourselves and our children, it

is important to recognize that our pets

can greatly benet from a revamp in diet

and daily touch as well. While I only

became interested in holistic pet health

when I discovered my cat had kidney

disease, I believe it is never too early to

start a healthy regime to promote optimal

wellness in our beloved pets.

Ashley Hain is a Registered Massage

Therapist, certied in reexology, and is

currently practicing in Toronto, Ontario.

She welcomes any questions in the realm of

holistic healthcare.


Backto the Basics

Natural Pet Health

by Ashley Hain

HBA, RMT


24/28

Fun Human BodyFactsThe brain uses over a

quarter of the oxygen used

by the human body.

Your heart beats around

100000 times a day, 36500000

times a year and over a billion times

if you live beyond 30.

Red blood cells carry

oxygen around the body.

They are created inside the

bone marrow of your bones.

The colour of a humans

skin is determined by the

level of pigment melanin

that the body produces.Those with small amounts of

melanin have light skin while

those with large amounts

have dark skin.

Adult lungs have a

surface area of around 70

square metres!

Humans have a stage of sleep that features rapid

eye movement (REM). REM sleep makes up around

25% of total sleep time and is often when you have your

most vivid dreams.

The smallest bone found in the

human body is located in the middle ear.

The staples (or stirrup) bone is only 2.8

millimeters long.

Infants blink only once

or twice a minute while

adults average around 10.

As well as having unique

ngerprints, humans also

have unique tongue prints

The left side of your body is

controlled by the right side of your

brain while the right side of your body is

controlled by the left side of your brain.

Antibiotics are only

effective against bacteria,

they wont help in ghting off

a virus.

It takes the body around

12 hours to completely

digest eaten food.

Your sense of smell is

around 10000 times more

sensitive than your sense

of taste.

Your nose and ears

continue growing throughout

your entire life.

Body

24


25/28

25

RECIPE

Grilled Avocadoand Tomato Salad

INGREDIENTS

10 vine ripened tomatoes, quartered

1 Sun dried Tomato, cut into strips

4 avocados, peeled, halved, and pitted

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 lemons

1 red onion, sliced

1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted light brown in the oven1/4 pound Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1 Preheat grill to medium heat.

2 Cover large platter with tomato quarters, set aside.

3 Place avocado halves in a bowl and drizzle with two tablespoons

olive oil, juice of one of the lemons, salt and pepper. Place

each half, at side down, on a hot open grill for about 30 to 45

seconds. Cook on the at side only. When well caramelized,

remove and place on top of the plated tomatoes.

4 In another bowl, squeeze the other lemon over the sliced red

onion and mix well. Add the remaining olive oil, season with salt

and pepper. Place onions in the empty avocado pit holes. Spoon

the remaining lemon/olive oil mixture over avocados and onions.

5 Top with green goddess dressing, distributing generously on all

sides. Sprinkle pine nuts and grate cheese on top.

6 Drizzle with a little bit of chopped coriander or basil for a unique

taste.

GRILL SAFELY

Top BBQ

safety Tipsu Check your grill thoroughly for leaks,cracking or brittleness before using it.

u Clean out the tubes that lead into theburner.

u Make sure the grill is at least 10 feetaway from your house, garage, ortrees.

u Store and use your grill on a largeat surface that cannot burn (i.e.-

concrete or asphalt).

u Dont use grills in a garage, porch,deck or on top of anything that cancatch on re.

u Keep children away from res and

grills. It is a good idea to establisha safety zone around the grill andinstruct children to remain outside thezone. A chalk line works great for thispurpose.

u Have a re extinguisher, a garden hose

attached to a water supply, or at least16-quarts of water close by in case ofa re.

u Dont wear loose clothing that mightcatch re.an open ame. The ame

can easily ashback along the uids

path to the container in your handsthegrill, they are ammable!

Food


26/28

Family Health & Life does not endorse any of these products. All products tested by Family Health & Life for review purposes only.

OLAYPRO-X AGEPROTECTION

SPF30 BOX

This product is idealfor the hot summer

when you needsomething which

helps prevent wrinklesas well as protects you

from the sun.

HERBALESSENCESSHAMPOO

The Herbal Essencesshampoo smellsfresh and keeps the

hair shining. It alsohelps with Fizzinessand works well in theblistering summerheat. Perfect for thesummer !

U TAMPONS

Bright colored,

individually packed.Nice to carry around in

the purse. This is therenewed feminine hygieneproduct from U, but with a

great new look.

OLAYREGENERISTANTI-AGINGEYE ROLLER

Nice little package with alot of punch. Say goodbyeto dark circles and puffyeyes. The roller applicator isconvenient and non messy.

SECRETCLINICAL

SPORTMARATHON

FRESH

A stronger deodorant

for the summer. Thisnew sport marathonfresh stick can workwonders not only for

an active lifestylebut also in Torontos

summer days.

Tested by

FHL

Girls Corner

26


27/28

5 9 8

4 7 2 5

3 4

1 4

5 6 3 4

2 6 7

5 7 4

9

2 1 3A

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and

each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

.

Sudoku Jigoku

Mazes

Entertaining

Games

Slitherlink


28/28

family health & life june-july 2010

Documents