Pure Summer Sweetness
Summer is sweet in so many ways – beaches, warm sunshine, biking, golfing, ice cream, BBQ’s and cool refreshing drinks. However, depending on what you use to sweeten the later, these wonderful summer-time treats can cause bitter results. Refined/processed sugars are stripped of nutrients - all that’s left are empty calories, which can not only add up to added pounds, but also decrease your immune system (1 teaspoon of white sugar contains 16 calories and suppresses your whit
Chill Out This Summer
Summer is here and we all know it’s far too short, so time to get outside and take advantage of the warm weather and our favorite outdoor activities! Whether you enjoy wheeling, hiking, biking, walking, water-skiing, gardening, sailing, canoeing or kayaking you’ll want to cool off and quench that thirst afterwards with something refreshing right? Well before heading to the fridge and reaching for the calorie laden ice cream or artificially flavoured sport drink-hold on! I’v
Edible Sunscreen
I love the summer. As soon as the sun starts shining and the temperature gets about 15 degrees, I spend as much time outside as possible. However we all know that too much of a good thing can be bad for us, and too much sun can result in nasty sunburns. Those of us with SCI are more susceptible to sunburns for several reasons, such as lack of movement and sensation, reduced circulation, the common tendency towards poor diet and the intake of antibiotics. While it makes sense
Eat Well, Get Active & Stay Healthy!
We all know that eating well and working out are essential to good health – and this couldn't be more true for people with SCI. Numerous SCI studies show that including certain nutrients in your diet and getting physically active 3-4 times a week can help improve your strength and endurance, reduce pain and depression, prevent the development of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as keep you looking good, feeling great, enhance your independence a
Eat Your Way to a Healthy Heart
It’s a hard fact to swallow, but the reality is people with spinal cord injuries face a host of secondary health complications – cardiovascular disease (CVD) being the most serious. CVD is the leading cause of death for people with spinal cord injuries. It is well documented that people who have sustained SCI’s tend to have reduced HDL (good cholesterol) levels and increased LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels, all of which contribute to an increased risk of heart
Spring Refresh: Easy Detox
Spring is a time of re-newel, re-growth and rejuvenation! This season often motivates us to Spring clean our home, tidy up closets and re-plant the garden, so why not also apply this same revitalizing energy to your body! One of the best ways you can do this is to cleanse your liver. With over 500 crucial jobs, your liver is one of your hardest working organs. In addition to its vital role of detoxifying harmful substances, your liver’s other main roles include, filtering you
Indigestion, Gas & Bloating? Try Eating This...
I know it’s no revelation to anyone who has experienced a spinal cord injury that this type of neurological damage can significantly affect one’s elimination function. But what many people don’t realize is just how much their digestive function is also affected. A spinal cord injury alters our peristalsis, the involuntary contraction of smooth muscles that propels food through our digestive tract. Not only does this compromised peristalsis function effect how our food is dige
Better Breakfast Choices Without the Guilt!
So let’s begin with the most important meal of the day - yes our Mother’s were right… its BREAKFAST! It’s been estimated that people with mobility impairments must exert 7x's the energy to accomplish the same physical tasks as an able-bodied person, so it’s vital to properly fuel your body every morning. Now before you pour yourself a big bowl of processed cereal or detour to your local drive through for a double-double and toasted bagel to get your morning kick - WAIT!! Thes