Good Health News - July 2015

GOODHEALTHNEWSJuly 2015Volume 7 - No.9HEALTH TALK: DANGERS OFSUNSCREENHealth in Motion director Natan Gendelman talks about how to maintain ahealthy & balanced lifestyle.IN THIS ISSUEPg. 1Health Talk: Dangers ofSunscreenPg. 2Health Benefits of theSunPg. 3Buying Shoes For YourSpecial Needs ChildPg. 4Natural LipBalm RecipePg. 55 Foods ThatHelp ArthritisLife ProgramPg. 6Our Brand NewVitaPlus ProgramWith a stark contrast from even 20years ago, during which sunscreen becamepopular in the media and medicalexperts started talking about protectingyour skin to prevent skin cancer, mostpeople now slather on sunscreen beforethey even step outside. However, thisis the paradox, in our efforts to preventthe number of cases of skin cancer, therates of melanoma cancer have actuallybeen rising for the last 30 years, accordingto the American Cancer Society. Ofcourse there are other factors that maybe contributing to increased cases ofskin cancer; however, this still suggeststhat sunscreen may not be the best wayto protect your skin. It’s also no secretthat many sunscreens contain highlytoxic chemicals that are harmful to ourbodies. The EWG (Environmental WorkingGroup) have a list of toxic sunscreenchemicals to watch out for here.So why do we use sunscreen so liberallyand how come many of us grewup never knowing what sunscreen waseven all about? I remember from mychildhood that my mother would justask me to cover up with a t-shirt, shorts,and a hat. She would also have me stayinside from 12PM – 4PM (typically whenthe sun’s rays are the harshest), especiallyif it was particular hot out.I just came back from Cuba, and I sawpeople doing the exact opposite on thebeach every day. People would come outat 10 or 11 o’clock in the morning and layout under the hot burning sun (after rubbingon globs of sunscreen) until 4PM.When you lay out under the sun for solong, the pores of your skin get widerand the sunscreen is absorbed evenmore into your body and subsequentlyinto the bloodstream. So if you are usinga sunscreen that is highly toxic, then thesame toxicity will be in your body.It is far better to protect your skin bycovering up (i.e. clothes, hat, sunglasses)and by staying out of the sun duringthe hottest time of the day. Remember,that your skin also has a natural way ofprotecting itself, through darkening ofthe skin (i.e. tanning). If you still feel thatyou need the extra protection affordedby sunscreen, then try to use organicones or you can even try making yourown at home with all-natural ingredients!Good luck!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE SUN• Sunlight can ease mild depression. There has beena lot of research on the link between sunlight andmood. One solid study found that sunlight actually increaseslevels of a natural antidepressant in the brain.On sunny days, the brain produces more of the moodliftingchemical serotonin than on darker days.This time of year, everyone wants to be outside. It feelsso good to have the warm sun on our bare skin. If youhaven’t heard that being out in the sun, unprotected, putsyou at risk for wrinkles, at best, and skin cancer, at worst,then you’ve probably been living under a rock!However, while most people are aware of the dangersof too much sun, many don’t realize that sunlight confersenormous health benefits as well. Keeping in mind thatyou need to have some precautions when you go outdoors,let’s look at some of the surprising benefits of sunlight.• Sunlight contributes to bone health in older adults.It is well known that vitamin D stimulates the absorptionof bone-strengthening calcium. The process of vitaminD manufacture begins when sunlight changesthe 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin into vitamin D3.Emerging research is showing a direct correlation betweenboth bone density and blood levels of vitaminD3. Higher blood levels of vitamin D3 are associatedwith a lower rater of fractures of virtually all types;lower blood levels of vitamin D3 are associated with ahigher rate of fractures of all types.• Sunlight can improve sleep quality. When sunlighthits your eyes, your optic nerve sends a message tothe gland in the brain that produces melatonin (a hormonethat helps you sleep); the gland decreases itssecretions of melatonin until the sun goes down again.In other words, exposure to sunlight during the dayincreases the natural production of melatonin at night.Low levels of melatonin production are linked to poorsleep quality, especially in older adults.• Sunlight is beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients. Exposureto full-spectrum light throughout the day coupledwith darkness at night can help improve some aspectsof Alzheimer’s disease—reducing agitation, increasingsleep efficiency, decreasing nighttime wakefulness,and decreasing nighttime activity in these patients.• Sunlight may lower risk for multiple sclerosis. MSis more common in populations that live farther fromthe equator. People who move from a low-risk area to ahigh-risk area before the age of 15 acquire a higher riskof developing MS, whereas those who make the samemove after adolescence retain a lower risk. These observationssuggest that environmental exposure, andin particular, early sunlight exposure (which is correlatedwith vitamin D levels) in the first two decades oflife, influences the risk of developing MS.

BUYING SHOESFOR YOURSPECIAL NEEDSCHILDChoosing the right shoes for your child can be tricky, butit’s important to take your time to find the right fit. Mostof the time, we just try on the shoes in the store and theylook and feel fine, even the salesperson says they looknice on us. So why is it that sometimes, once we takethese shoes home and walk in them for a bit longer, thatour feet start to kill us? The reason is because we didn’ttake our time in finding the right fit for our shoes. It’s bestto walk, jump, and even run in them (when applicable).When you try on shoes for the first time, your feet shouldfeel very comfortable, like they’ve always belonged there.If you feel that something is wrong or even a slightly bitoff about the shoes, don’t buy them. There’s no such thingas “they’ll stretch out” or “I’ll fit better in them later afterbreaking them in.”Choosing the right pair of shoes can be very difficult intoday’s world, what with all the different varieties; varyingstabilities and cushioning; and overall technology that gointo sneakers nowadays. There are shoes for pronators,supinators, ones with arch support, etc. If you feel thatsomething is even a little bit wrong when you try on a pairof shoes, don’t buy them. You can do a lot of damage toyour feet by wearing shoes that are not right for you. Forexample, if you have a normal arch, you should not buyshoes that have extra arch support or any other type oftechnology in them, otherwise it may lead to sharp andheavy feet pain. If you wear shoes with extra arch supportwhen you already have a normal arch, the muscles thatform the arch of your foot will eventually atrophy, leadingto deformity of the bones, which will cause your archto collapse, resulting in flatter feet. Therefore, try to findshoes that are simply neutral and are comfortable for normalarched feet.These same tips apply for children and adults alike. Fora child with special needs who has certain deformities intheir feet, it will be even trickier to find good shoes. Don’tjust listen to the salesperson, but ask your child how theyfeel in them. If your child is non-verbal, then you will haveto inspect the measurements yourself. Do the shoes feeltoo tight? Too small? Are their feet sliding in them? Arethey slipping off the heel? Is there enough space for thetoes? Does your child seem comfortable in them? Arethey crying? You should also avoid buying shoes that are alittle bit too big for your child on the idea that “they’ll growinto them.” By making your child wear the wrong size, itcan disturb the development of their foot.Kids that are starting to learn how to walk, includingthose with developmental delay, will have difficulty walkingin their shoes because there is a huge biomechanicaldifference between walking barefoot and in shoes. Therefore,when kids first start learning to walk with shoes ontheir feet, it may be difficult for them. Having said this, it’sbest to follow the same rules as above when choosingyour child’s first pair of shoes. Make sure they fit comfortably,are a bit firm, and fit to the size of the child’s foot(don’t buy a size up to save money) to ensure that yourchild’s arches are able to develop normally. Good luck!

Natural Tinted Lip Balm RecipeNatural Tinted (or un-tinted) Lip Balm is a great alternative for those who don’t regularly wear lipstick. Tinted Lip Balmis a smoother and and glossier recipe that lipstick, and more like a traditional lip gloss. It is made with completelynatural ingredients and a little goes a really long way. You can colour your lip balm with a tiny drop of natural red foodcoloring and added lemon and vanilla for scent, though you could leave it unscented or add an essential oil you like.Ingredients:• 2 tablespoons coconut oil• 1 tablespoon beeswax• 1 tablespoon shea butter• 1/2 teaspoon red or rose mica powder• optional: 2-4 drops of peppermint essential oilWhat to do:1. Melt the coconut oil, beeswax and shea/cocoa butter in a glass jar sitting in a small pot of simmering water (notboiling) and stir gently until melted (be careful not to get any water into the mixture).2. When melted, carefully stir in any colors or essential oils, if using. You can use lemon and vanilla for scent and alittle red coloring or cocoa powder for color. A couple drops of peppermint will make it similar to Burt’s Bees Lip Chap.3. Once colors/scents are mixed in, use a dropper to transfer to tins or lip chap containers. Let cool.4. Apply the versions in the tins with your finger or use the version in plastic container as you would regular lip chap.

5 FOODS THAT HELP ARTHRITIS• Broccoli: Broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables,may help reduce your risk for developing arthritis! Acompound found in broccoli, sulforaphane, preventsinflammation and may also slow down the symptomsof osteoarthritis (particularly the destruction of cartilagein joints). For more health benefits of broccoli,read here.• Almonds: Not only are they healthy for your heart, butalmonds may also help relieve symptoms of arthritis.Almonds and other nuts contain monosaturated fatsand omega-3s, which are effective anti-inflammatoryagents. They also provide vitamin E and magnesium,both of which may help reduce your risk for developingchronic inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis.• Oranges: Citrusy foods that are rich in vitamin C,such as oranges, may be helpful for people sufferingfrom arthritis. In one 2002 study, researchers foundthat those who had a higher intake of vitamin C had asignificantly reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.These fruits also contain antioxidants that helpprevent inflammation from occurring in the body.• Beets: Betalain, a powerful antioxidant found in beets,is known to be an effective anti-inflammatory, whichmay help to bring pain relief to arthritis sufferers! Formore health benefits of beets, read here.• Garlic: Fresh garlic is very potent and great forstrengthening our immune system and for relievingarthritis symptoms. It contains chemicals, like allicin,that exhibits strong anti-inflammatory properties. Garlicis also rich in sulfur, which helps repair cartilagedamage and relieves muscle and joint pain!LIFE PROGRAM“Since we’ve been cominghere, Poppy has madeso many improvementsand has learned to do somuch. When we first came2 years ago, Poppy’s movementsand skills were verylimited. She couldn’t roll,she couldn’t pick things up,she couldn’t hold things,and she couldn’t sit withoutthrowing herself back. Nowshe can roll, she can holdthings, use her hands, andshe can sit with minimalsupport. She’s almost crawling, she can stand, and can even takesteps with support. The LIFE Program has taught Poppy so muchand she is now on her way to crawling, something we didn’t thinkwould ever be possible.”- Haley Lyons, Poppy’s motherMini ProgramFor: kids 0-12 & 12-16 with CP, ABI or stroke Frequency: 2times a week, 2 hours/day Duration: Ongoing as neededMaxi ProgramFor: kids 0-12 & 12-16 with CP, ABI or stroke Frequency: 5times a week, 4.5 hours/day Duration: 4 weeksContact us if you are interested in booking for 2015.For more information, visit our website:www.healthinmotionrehab.com.Have something you’d like to share?E-mail us! We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to:healthinmotion@bellnet.cawww.facebook.com/EnabledKidswww.facebook.com/healthinmotionrehabwww.twitter.com/EnabledKids

WHAT IS VITAPLUS PROGRAM?VitaPlus therapy is an all-natural treatment for people suffering from chronic illnesses, which activates the body’s innateability to regenerate healing through a completely organic and vegetarian diet, juicing, natural supplements and vitamins,detoxification and cleansing. Based on osteopathy manual practitioner Natan Gendelman’s extensive experience of successfullytreating various conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn diseaseand so on, the VitaPlus methodology and program is based on a whole body approach which reactivates the immunesystem and develops an environment in which diseases cannot survive.It Consists Of:• Entirely organic and vegetarian diet plan, including juices,meals and snacks• Up to 5 litres of fresh pressed juice daily• Detoxification and cleansing• Massage therapy• Health coachingVitaPlus ApproachWe see the body as a single unit of function, which encompassesthe mechanisms and ability to heal itself. Our treatmentreactivates and boosts the immune system, whichfights and kills diseases.How Do We Do ThisVitaPlus treatment is a full intensive detoxification andcleansing regimen focused on restoring and reactivating thebody’s ability to heal itself.