September 2016

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Back by POPULAR DEMAND Water infusion Session This event was a such a great success that we decided to have another one. For those of you who didn't have the chance to come and have a taste of our freshly home made infusion water … Here's your chance. Come and have fun creating your own infused water to take home and enjoy.

Time: 6:30

Infused Water Infused water is a trend on the rise. It informs the general public about its benefits and healthy alternatives to sugary beverages. In collaboration with CISSS Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Cassandra Buteau-Pilon, Neighbours provided an information session on infused water, the importance of keeping hydrated and a fun activity in creating your own infused water. 20 participants enjoyed the session and left with an infusion bottle and information package.

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Boost your health, increase your energy and nourish your spirit Power foods are defined as foods that naturally contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional benefits. They can energize you, boost your immune system, and help ward off certain diseases. Incorporating these special foods into your diet is a simple way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Power Foods & their benefits Heart Disease Beans: Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and boost heart health by supplying the mineral magnesium, which helps to keep blood pressure in check. Fatty Fish: Omega-3 acid in fish such as wild Alaskan salmon help improve triglyceride levels, stabilize heartbeat, lower blood pressure, curb heart-harming inflammation and reduce stroke risk. Arthritis Omega-3 rich foods: Fatty acids help fight arthritis by easing inflammation Cherries: An inflammation fighter, cherries may help decrease arthritis-related inflammation

Onions: Quercetin & vitamin C work together to stop inflammatory chemicals from wreaking havoc on joints. Source: Power Foods from the editors of whole living magazine

According to the latest Japanese Scientific Research, a full ripe banana with dark patches on the yellow skin produces a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. The more dark the patches it has, the higher its immunity enhancement quality; hence, the riper the banana the better the anti-cancer quality. A yellow skinned banana with dark spots on it is 8x more effective in enhancing the property of white blood cells than a green skin version. Eating just 1 banana a day increases immunity.

Did you know?

Back to School Safety: Backpacks

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As summer draws to a close, back-to-school season is in full effect. Remember to safely share the roads with school buses, pedestrians and bicyclists, and provide children with the necessary knowledge to stay safe at school. When you move your child's backpack after he or she drops it on the door, does it feel like it contains 40 pounds of rocks? Maybe you've noticed your child struggling to put it on, bending forward while carrying it, or complaining of tingling or numbness.

If you've been concerned about the effects that extra weight might have on your child's still-growing body, your instincts are correct. Backpacks that are too heavy can cause a lot of problems for kids, like back and shoulder pain, and poor posture. The problem has grabbed the attention of lawmakers in some states, who have pushed for legislation requiring school districts to lighten the load. While we wait for solutions like digital textbooks to become widespread, there are things you can do to help prevent injury. While it's common these days to see children carrying as much as a quarter of their body weight, the American Chiropractic Association recommends a backpack weigh no more than 10 percent of a child's weight.

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Things Not to Say to Your Aging Parents Sometimes our elderly parents make us a little nuts. Seniors often know that their memory and cognitive and physical abilities are declining, and reminders are only hurtful. Since forewarned is forearmed, here are five common things we often catch ourselves saying plus suggestions for less hurtful ways to say them. 1. “How can you not remember that!?” Seniors often lose short-term memory before long-term and forget all kinds of things we think are monumentally important, like where they put their glasses or the keys. Instead: Place a few Post-its notes around.

2. “You could do that if you really tried.” Simple tasks, like tying shoes, can become next-toimpossible if you have arthritis in your fingers or your back doesn’t bend easily. And being shamed into trying something doesn’t help. Say instead: ‘We can figure out how this can get done.’ 3. “I just showed you how to use it yesterday.” Gadgets with lots of buttons and options pose a special challenge for someone whose cognition or eyesight is failing. Say instead: I’ll show you again.” 4. “What does that have to do with what we're talking about?” Conversations with elderly parents often “go rogue” — either because they can’t keep their mind on the thread or they are simply bored and want to change the subject. Say instead: Explain why the conversation was important to you. Another option: Say nothing and just listen. 5. “You already told me that.” And you don’t ever repeat yourself? We all say things more than once — but because elderly parents seem to do it all the time, we lose our patience with them. Instead: Just listen. The most important thing is that as our parents age, we go out of our way to maintain good relationships. When dealing with elderly people, let your motto be, ‘Reframe, don’t blame’. A slip of the tongue can unleash a world of hurt and ill will. As exasperating as elderly parents can be, spouting off without thinking will only make them — and you — feel bad.

10 Commandments of mental health 1. Think positively, it’s easier 2. Cherish the ones you love 3. Continue learning as long as you live 4. Learn from your mistakes 5. Exercise daily ; it enhances your well-being

6. Do not complicate your life unnecessarily 7. Try to understand and encourage those around you 8. Do not give up; success in life is a marathon 9. Discover and nurture your talents 10. Set goals for yourself and pursue your dreams

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Down syndrome, redefined Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition. The occurrence of Down syndrome is universal across racial and gender lines, and it is present in approximately one in 781 births in Canada. Down syndrome is not a disease, disorder, defect or medical condition. It is inappropriate and offensive to refer to people with Down syndrome as "afflicted with" or "suffering from" it. Down syndrome itself does not require either treatment or prevention.

The sole characteristic shared by all persons with Down syndrome is the presence of extra genetic material associated with the 21st chromosome. The effects of that extra genetic material vary greatly from individual to individual. Persons with Down syndrome karyotypes may be predisposed to certain illnesses and medical conditions, but that genetic arrangement does not guarantee their development. The same illnesses and conditions are also present in the general population. Timely and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these illnesses and conditions improves both the length and quality of life, to the same extent as would be expected in the population without Down syndrome. Vigilance on the part of health care practitioners is required to identify and treat any of them if they arise. Conversely, studies have shown that people with Down syndrome have a statistically lower risk of developing certain other illnesses and medical conditions. That genetic arrangement does not guarantee that they will not develop. Down syndrome commonly results in an effect on learning style, although the differences are highly variable and individualistic, just as in the physical characteristics or health concerns. The most significant challenge is to find the most effective, productive methods of teaching each individual. The identification of the best methods of teaching each particular child ideally begins soon after birth, through early intervention programs.

Each sign reads : ‘Taking our place in society’

Source: http://www.cdss.ca/information/general-information/what-is-down-syndrome.html

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Health benefits of Activated Charcoal Activated charcoal is a potent natural treatment used to trap toxins and chemicals in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so the body doesn’t reabsorb them. It’s made from a variety of sources, but when used for natural healing, it’s important to select activated charcoal made from coconut shells or other natural sources. One of the most popular activated charcoal uses is for the safe and effective treatment of poisoning and drug overdoses. It’s used in emergency trauma centers across the world. In addition, it’s used to reduce bloating and gas, lower cholesterol, treat bile flow problems safely during pregnancy, and even prevent hangovers. Research shows that activated charcoal works better than stomach pumping (gastric lavage) in some situations. Whenever you take activated charcoal, it’s imperative to drink 12-16 glasses of water per day. Activated charcoal can cause dehydration if adequate amounts of water aren’t consumed in tandem.

In addition, this helps to flush out the toxins quickly and prevents constipation experienced by some individuals. Here are some ways activated charcoal are used, and how it works: 1. Whitens Teeth—It works to whiten teeth by adsorbing plaque and microscopic tidbits that stain teeth. 2. Alleviates Gas & Bloating- It works by binding the gas-causing by products in foods that cause discomfort. 3. Treats Alcohol Poisoning & Helps Prevent Hangovers- While activated charcoal does not adsorb alcohol, it does help quickly remove other toxins from the body that contribute to poisoning. Alcohol is rarely consumed in its pure form; mixers that include artificial sweeteners and chemicals are common. Activated charcoal removes these toxin 4. Water Filtration- Activated charcoal traps impurities in water including solvents, pesticides, I industrial waste and other chemicals. 5. Skin and Body Health- Activated charcoal uses extend beyond internal applications. For external treatments, it’s effective at treating body odor and acne and relieving discomfort from insect bites, rashes from poison ivy or poison oak, and snake bites. Source: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/

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First Nation’s Health in Crisis: Suicide Epidemic After 11 people tried to kill themselves, a remote Ontario First Nation has declared a state of emergency to prevent deaths among young people. This suicide epidemic took place in Attawapiskat, a reserve of about 2000 people, located at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River on James Bay in Northern Ontario. Jackie Hookimaw, a member of the community said the latest round of youth suicide attempts started with the death of her great-niece Sheridan, who took her life in October. She was 13 years old. Suicide is not just an on-reserve problem: The renewed attention on suicide crises on reserve had led some critics to propose urban resettlement as a solution. Indigenous suicide problems do not disappear in cities, however. A Statistics Canada report released in January found that more than one in five off-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults reported having suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives. Problems with suicide on reserve can be more acute, though, due to challenges of distance and availability of mental-health services. Charlie Angus, the MP for the Attawapiskat area and NDP indigenous affairs critic, said northern communities aren’t given the resources to deal with complicated grief. “When a young person tries to commit suicide in any suburban school, they send in the resources, they send in the emergency team. There’s a standard protocol for response. The northern communities are left on their own,” he said. “We don’t have the mental health service dollars. We don’t have the resources.”

Indigenous suicide is not just a mental-health problem Conditions on reserves lag behind those in the rest of Canada in more respects than just suicide and health: Unemployment, lack of access to education and substandard infrastructure are factors too. Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency five years ago over a housing crisis that James Anaya, then UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples, said “seems to represent the condition of many First Nation communities living on reserves throughout Canada, which is allegedly akin to Third World conditions.” Studies have pointed to economic hardships and the legacy of colonialism as key factors in high indigenous suicide rates. The January Statscan study, for instance – which reviewed findings from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey and the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – found a strong connection between residential-school experience and suicidal thoughts. Doing more to prevent suicide was one of the recommendations of last June’s report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools. Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said in a statement regarding the Attawapiskat suicide crisis that improving the wellness of indigenous peoples will require a focus on improving the socioeconomic conditions they face. Meanwhile, Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said he has offered Chief Shisheesh of A his support and is pressing for long-term help for the community in addition to immediate action, adding that the crisis is a “national tragedy.” Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

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Tips for Happier mornings

There are plenty of good reasons for starting each and every day as well as you possibly can. Here are some ways to make sure you get out of the right side of the bed and ease yourself into things with a positive, calm attitude . S l e e p

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The natural light of the rising sun will send a signal to your brain to slow down its production of melatonin and bump up your levels of adrenaline, an indication that it’s time to wake up. When the alarm goes off, you’ll already be half awake.

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That way you don’t have to jump out of bed and rush through your morning. You can begin the day instead by lying in bed, slowly waking up.

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Stretch every extremity on your body for at least 15 seconds. Try this even before you open your eyes. Lift your arm and begin by stretching each finger, then your hand, then your wrist, then your arm. Next, move on to the other arm. Then your toes, feet, ankles and legs. Finally, end with a neck and back stretch that propels you out of the bed. You’ve just limbered up your muscles and joints, and enhanced the flow of blood through your body, providing extra oxygen to all of your tissues.

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For truly relaxing mornings, reduce the number of choices and decisions you make to zero. Go about this in two ways: first, make your morning decisions the night before – what clothes to wear, what to have for breakfast, what route to take to work and so on. Second, make as much of your morning routine as possible. Really, there’s no need to vary your breakfast, timetable or bathroom ritual from one morning to the next. Source: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/

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Health Committee Members N E I G H B O U R S R E G I O N A L A S S O C I AT I O N O F R O U Y N N O R A N DA Office Location: 139 Murdoch Mailing Address: PO Box 2277 Rouyn-Noranda, Qc, J9X 5A9 Phone: 819-762-0882 Email: [email protected]

This project has been carried out thanks to funding from Health Canada

CALENDAR INSIDE! Please refer to our cutout calendar on page 7 of this bulletin to keep track of what events and activities will be coming up next!

Mrs. Elsie Sullivan, Health Committee Chairperson Mrs. Janice Beaudin-Nolet Mrs. Cairine Osborne Mrs. Marilyn Brethour Mrs. Nathalie Chevrier Neighbours Staff