Vista Magazine Issue 89 by BEAUDRY STUDIO

Canada’s Favourite Health Magazine

ISSUE 89 May/June/July 2013

Train for the Sport You Love

The Latest in

Sugar Alternatives

Detox Your Mind! Six De-cluttering Steps

Sports, Depression and TSN’s

Michael

Organic Planet Feature: Reduce Workplace Stress by Adding Green to Your Routine Y O U R

C A N A D I A N

H E A L T H

Landsberg A N D

W E L L N E S S

C O N N E C T I O N

A garden fresh recipe using Carlson Norwegian Fish Oil

Carlson Norwegian Fish Oils can easily be mixed into food or be taken directly off of the spoon. Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil provides the important omega-3s, DHA and EPA. Current medical research suggests EPA and DHA support cardiovascular and cognitive health. Pair Carlson fish oils with fresh, wholesome ingredients, and you’ve got a delicious and healthy snack the whole family will love.

Garden & Sea Salsa Ingredients:

Directions:

2 cups vine ripened tomatoes, chopped 2 Tbsp. red onion, chopped 2 Tbsp. serrano chilies, minced 1/4 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup lime juice 2 tsp. Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil Lemon Flavor

Mix all the ingredients together and let sit for 30 minutes to blend the flavors. Be careful when mincing chilies; they are hot! For a milder salsa, use a jalapeño pepper. For very mild salsa, use a green bell pepper.

For more delicious recipes from Carlson visit www.carlsonlabs.com

Choose Life

Grow Young with HGH From the landmark book Grow Young with HGH comes the most powerful, over-thecounter health supplement in the history of man. Human growth hormone was first discovered in 1920 and has long been thought by the medical community to be necessary only to stimulate the body to full adult size and therefore unnecessary past the age of 20. Recent studies, however, have overturned this notion completely, discovering instead that the natural decline of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), from ages 21 to 61 (the average age at which there is only a trace left in the body) and is the reason why the body ages and fails to regenerate itself to its 25 year-old biological age.

in the blood at the same levels HGH existed in the blood when we were 25 years old.

There is a receptor site in almost every cell in the human body for HGH, so its regenerative and healing effects are very comprehensive. Growth Hormone first synthesized in 1985 under the Reagan Orphan drug act, to treat dwarfism, was quickly recognized to stop aging in its tracks and reverse it to a remarkable degree. Since then, only the lucky and the rich have had access to it at the cost of $10,000 US per year.

The next big breakthrough was to come in 1997 when a group of doctors and scientists, developed an all-natural source product which would cause your own natural HGH to be released again and do all the remarkable things it did for you in your 20’s. Now available to every adult for about the Modern medical science now regards aging as price of a coffee and donut a day. a disease that is treatable and preventable and that “aging”, the disease, is GHR is available now, just actually a compilation of various in time for the aging Baby diseases and pathologies, like a rise Boomers and everyone else in blood glucose and pressure to from age 30 to 90 who diabetes, skin wrinkling and so on. doesn’t want to age but All of these aging symptoms can be would rather stay young, stopped and rolled back by beautiful and healthy all of maintaining Growth Hormone levels the time. Like a picked flower cut from the source, we gradually wilt physically and mentally and become vulnerable to a host of degenerative diseases, that we simply weren’t susceptible to in our early adult years.

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The new HGH releasers are winning converts from the synthetic HGH users as well, since GHR is just as effective (for anti-aging) is oral instead of self-injectable and is very affordable.

GHR is a natural releaser, has no known side effects, unlike the synthetic version and has no known drug interactions. Progressive doctors admit that this is the direction medicine is going, to get the body to heal itself instead of employing drugs. GHR is truly a revolutionary paradigm shift in medicine and, like any modern leapfrog advance, many others will be left in the dust holding their limited, or useless drugs and remedies. It is now thought that HGH is so comprehensive in its healing and regenerative powers that it is today, where the computer industry was twenty years ago, that it will displace so many prescription and non-prescription drugs and health remedies that it is staggering to think of. The president of BIE Health Products, stated in a recent interview,“I’ve been waiting for these products since the 70’s”. We knew they would come, if only we could stay healthy and live long enough to see them! If you want to stay on top of your game, physically and mentally as you age, this product is a boon, especially for the highly skilled professionals who have made large investments in their education, and experience. Also with the state of the health care system in Canada which appears to be going into serious decline, it’s more important than ever to take pro-active steps to safeguard your health. Continued use of GHR will make a radical difference in your health. HGH is particularly helpful to the elderly who, given a choice, would rather stay independent in their own home, strong, healthy and alert enough to manage their own affairs, exercise and stay involved in their communities. Frank, age 85, walks two miles a day, plays golf, belongs to a dance club for seniors, had a girl friend again and doesn’t need Viagara, passed his drivers test and is hardly ever home when we call - GHR delivers. HGH is known to relieve symptoms of Asthma, Angina, Chronic Fatigue, Constipation, Lower back pain and Sciatica, Cataracts and Macular Degeneration, Menopause, Fibromyalgia, Regular and Diabetic Neuropathy, Hepatitis, helps Kidney Dialysis and Heart and Stroke recovery. For more information or to order call 1-877-849-4777 www.biehealth.ca ©copyright 2000 CODE VISTA

Issue 89 | May/June/July 2013

CONTENTS

VISTA

Is the Natural Health Industry Approaching Its Darkest Hour? By Dr Eldon Dahl, ND How regulatory methods are damaging the industry.

Dark Clouds; Silver Linings: Interview with Michael Landsberg By Liberty Craig

A New Age for Sugar Alternatives By Marva Ward, CNP New options are neither synthetic nor highly processed.

Train for the Sport You Love By Dr Cory Holly What sport will make you passionate about fitness?

A Mind-full Detox By Chelsea Schreiner, ND Six steps to detoxing your mind.

Sources of Omega-3 for Vegetarians By Angus Brody New alternatives for people who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t eat fish.

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

Supports the Hippocampus

Time Remember 1.800.387.0177 www.ovos.ca

This issue of

M A G A Z I N E

proudly brought to you by:

Photo Credit: Erich Saide

Publisher’s Word

Trent Nellis Liberty Craig Shelly-Lynn Nellis Michelle Beaudry Dan Tidsbury 1-877-905-7771

Cover Credits:

Photo Credit: TSN Contributing Writers:

Angus Brody, Chelsea Schreiner, Dr Cory Holly, David Suzuki, Dr Eldon Dahl, Jode Roberts, Laura Terlizzi, Liberty Craig, Marva Ward, Michael Bloch, Tracy Kaye Holly

VISTA Magazine 13256 55A Avenue Surrey, BC CANADA V3X 3B3 Tel (604) 591-9991 or (877) 905-7771 e-mail vistamag@gmail.com www.vistamagonline.com

vista Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not neces-

sarily reflect those of the vista Magazine publisher, editors or staff. Readers are encouraged to consult with their health professional before embarking

upon any exercise, medical or nutritional changes. Contents of vista Magazine

are copyright 2013, all rights reserved. vista Magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without written permission of the publisher. To subscribe to vista Magazine and receive delivery to your home or office bimonthly, send $39.95 + HST $4.80 = $44.75 for 1year subscription. Include your address and we’ll ship you our next issue. Single copies are also available for $6.95 + HST $.80 = $7.75. Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40025872 ISSN #1715-8214

Trent E. Nellis - Publisher, Vista Magazine

ring on the sunshine! Wherever you are in this great nation of ours, rejoice because here comes the heat. Nothing is more exciting to me than the change of the seasons and the emergence of spring and summer in Canada. We get the flowers, the sunshine, the outdoor activities: everything. Take advantage of the changing seasons in your area and use the opportunity to get outside and breathe in the fresh air. If you are at all familiar with our nation’s first all-sports television station established back in the early 80s, TSN, then you probably know the man our cover story is about. His name is Michael Landsberg and he is an iconic figure in sports broadcasting in Canada. Michael has interviewed literally thousands of guests from all walks of entertainment, and has been doing so since the 80s. He is funny, witty, self-deprecating and one of the most entertaining figures on sports television today. His story is one of living and thriving with mental illness. Michael has just recently shared his illness publicly and we were fortunate enough to get some time with him to discuss his story. Read on and discover how mental illness affects not only those who suffer from it, but also everyone around them. I encourage you to visit www.vhealthportal.com and download the free vHealth app to your smartphone. Besides hosting all the health-related content you could ever need, this website and app offer consumers exclusive discounts on natural health products direct from retailers, suppliers and manufacturers. The discounts come in the form of daily deals sent directly to consumers’ smartphones via “push notifications.” Customers can redeem the deals at their local retailer, online, or even on the spot through their phones. This is an innovative way for consumers to save big on their favourite natural health products.

Trent E. Nellis, Publisher To contact Trent Nellis via e‑mail, write to thepub@shaw.ca

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

Publisher: Editor: Marketing Director & Associate Editor: Art Director: Copy Editor: advertising sales:

Issue 89 | May/June/July 2013

CONTENTS

VISTA

28 29

Organic planet

Reduce Workplace Stress by Adding Green to Your Routine By David Suzuki with contributions from Jode Roberts Is your office bad for your health and well-being?

Sustainable Living: It Takes a Neighbourhood By Laura Terlizzi A conversation with world-renowned architect David Wong.

Teach Them to Love the Insects By Michael Bloch Unlearning our reaction to insects.

Black Bean Carob Cookies By Tracy Kaye Holly, CSNA Master

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

Editor Selects

Mmmm... Sweet

Nothings!

Enjoy all the SWEETness of bitter-less Stevia with NOTHING to feel guilty about when it comes to calories. That’s right, sweetness with zero-calories. Call it “sweet nothings”. NOW® BetterStevia™ is a zero-calorie, low glycemic, natural sweetener that makes a perfectly healthy substitute for table sugar and artificial sweeteners. Unlike chemical sweeteners, NOW® BetterStevia™ contains pure Stevia extract with a taste that is naturally 60-100 times sweeter than refined sugar. So only a tiny amount is all it takes to sweeten your favourite beverages, foods and desserts! Not all Stevia is the same, though. NOW Foods takes special measures to preserve Stevia’s natural qualities to make ours the best tasting, purest Stevia available. NOW® BetterStevia™ utilizes the whole leaf extract - not isolated fractions - to retain the pure sweetness in real Stevia. We then treat our Stevia with a special chemical-free, enzymatic process that results in a clean, superior tasting sweetener. Our attention to quality guarantees freshness in every serving and gives BetterStevia™ a well-rounded sweet taste that is very close to that of pure sugar, without the calories or guilt. That’s why NOW’s Stevia is called BetterStevia™. Try it today and see how sweet it is. Delicious, Clean, Sweet Taste No Bitter After-taste Zero Calorie Sweetener Regular and Certified Organic All Natural, Gluten Free Versatile – Available in Liquid, Packets, Tablets, and Bulk powder for baking Available exclusively at fine health food stores across Canada from NOW Foods. www.nowfoods.com

Delicious Gluten-Free Baking Mixes PLUS added Fibre and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Additional Omega-3 fatty acids are important for anyone on a gluten-free diet, as research has shown that although the majority of celiac symptoms improve after switching to a gluten free diet, essential fatty acid deficiencies can remain. Purely Bulk’s gluten-free baking mix’s are naturally fortified with fibre and Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA and DHA from Smartgrain® chia and sprouted flax). Purely Bulk Gluten-free mixes taste great, have a texture similar to conventional, gluten-containing foods and are easy to prepare! • www.purelybulk.com

Editor’s Desk

Photo Credit: Cindy Hughes

ow well do you know the other moms at your kid’s school? Or those guys you play beer league hockey with? Or your coworkers, cousins... even your spouse? Did you know that one in nine of them suffers from depression? And because of serious social stigmas that still exist today, many of them may have become expertly adept at covering up their problems. They may seem like the happiest, most outgoing people you know – certainly not people suffering from a mental illness. But their private struggles with the darkness of depression may threaten their very existences. Michael Landsberg is a long-time TSN sports broadcaster and host of the popular show Off the Record. Known for his charismatic – some might say brash – personality, Michael appears full of life and energy on his show. He’s fit, handsome, successful; happily married with two great kids. In short, he has it all. Yet Michael has been battling the vortex of depression for much of his life, and in recent years, he’s gone public with it. Through speaking engagements, his show, and the documentary film Darkness and Hope: Sports, Depression and Me, Michael has reached out to those struggling with depression. He has touched a great many people. He has even saved lives. In this issue of Vista, Michael shares his own story of how he has learned to live without shame and swim against the undertow. This issue is also filled with information on sustainable living, reducing workplace stress, the state of the natural health industry, the latest news in nutrition, and ways to detox not just your body, but also your mind. We hope you take these ideas with you into the healthy, active days of summer! Enjoy!

Liberty Craig - Editor, Vista Magazine

Liberty Craig, Editor

www.vistamagonline.com www.vistamagonline.com

Is the Natural Health Industry

Approaching Its Darkest Hour? By Dr Eldon Dahl, ND

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

n my opinion, we are on the precipice of a major paradigm shift that will reshape the natural health industry forever. Will the industry survive? Absolutely—and it will adapt and thrive, but it will be a far cry from the days of its inception. I have witnessed the changes happening over the years. I entered the health field in 1986. I owned my first health food store, then naturopathic clinic, in 1988. Back then, there was a clear demarcation: organic, natural, and quality were clearly evident. If you wanted health food and natural vitamins, you went to the health food store, plain and simple. The health industry of today is vastly different. The natural roots of our inception grew a healthy tree. However, today’s health industry has grafted in branches that feed from the essence of the roots, but produce fruit that doesn’t necessarily resemble the original. Its properties are questionable in regards to raw material purity, potency and therapeutic value. The demarcations that used to be so easy to see are being blurred in the name of regulatory compliance. Now, under the stewardship of the CHFA, all supplements are under NHPD regulations. To set the record straight so that I am not perceived as opposed to licensing, our entire product line is licensed. Still, no matter what spin is applied, NPNs are in a drug subclass. Through a sleight of hand, they are referred to as “natural health products.” This placement should have been fought like hell, but here we are. Foodbased supplements don’t require warnings and adverse reactions; they do only if one considers mixing them with prescription medicine. Now, supplement warnings closely resemble those of pharmaceutical drugs. I ask you: who benefits from drug-style warnings? Health Canada is happy, and so is the pharmaceutical industry, and when they smile, I get worried. This new “middle-ground” category raises a whole new set of industry security concerns. With the new regulations in full swing, how will creativity flourish without patent protection like what is given to the pharmaceutical industry? I can use my experience of Kava Kava as an example. After 10 years of Kava being banned from the Canadian market, I worked with

a licensing company with the goal of bringing it back. It took three and a half years of submitting clinical evidence, addressing numerous IRN rejections, and spending tens of thousands of dollars before we brought Kava back with a license to be a calmative and a sleep aid. Unlicensed Kava is still classified by Health Canada as high-risk, and if a consumer were to become sick using a non-licensed product, that one strike may be enough to permanently restrict Kava – licensed or not – from ever being sold again. Speaking from the heart and from my love of the health industry, we as an industry must support the intellectual efforts of the suppliers. It is through their efforts that new products enter the marketplace, and without support or incentive, creativity will cease since there is no reward for their efforts. In the pharmaceutical world, a patent is granted to allow for the recovery of investment. However, NPNs cannot rely on recovery being granted, and must instead rely on the industry to recognize their contribution and support their efforts until another supplier is granted a similar license. Another troubling fact is that Canada has the Freedom of Information Act. To obtain an NPN, a supplier spends years compiling research and invests tens of thousands of dollars, plus hundreds of hours. However, a competitor can apply and request that information to be released with little or no effort. Thus far we have had this happen many times. I view this as theft, just like a copyright infringement. Others may see it as free enterprise and an easy opportunity. Maybe I am old fashioned, but it just doesn’t feel right. With these dangers, will our natural industry remain fruitful in years to come? I guess that depends on our gardening skills and how we prune the tree.

Dr. Eldon Dahl, ND, is the founder and CEO of the Life Choice nutraceutical product line. www.lifechoice.net

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A New Age for

Sugar Alternatives

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

By Marva Ward, CNP

www.vistamagonline.com

ealth Canada recently revised its list of “permitted sweeteners.” Below is the sweet and lowdown on the new age of sugar alternatives.

Stevia

As of November 2012, steviol glycocosides, more commonly known as stevia extract, is recognized as a safe alternative to sugar and artificial chemical sweeteners. In Canada, stevia is now approved for use in a wide range of products, including beverages, breakfast cereals, baked goods, desserts, fruit and nut spreads, confectionery, and table-top sweeteners. Stevia is approved as a food additive in many countries around the world, where it is a popular natural-source sweetener and viable sugar substitute. The two components responsible for the sweetness, stevioside and rebaudioside, are 250 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), heat stable, pH stable and non-fermentable. It is suitable for diabetics and any individual looking for an alternative sweetener. It contains zero calories per serving and has a glycemic index of zero (i.e., It won’t impact blood sugar levels). It can be used in cooking and baking; however, due to its concentrated sweetness, it is necessary to alter recipes to accommodate its use. For example, 2.5 teaspoons of liquid stevia has the equivalent sweetness of about one cup of sugar. Stevia is available in liquid, tablet and powdered formats; for the adventurous type, there are also flavoured options available such as vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut and lemon.

Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols (SA) represent another class of alternative, naturally occurring sweeteners. Available in Canada for a number of years, they are manufactured by adding hydrogen atoms to sugar. The result is a sweetener that looks and tastes like conventional sugar, but with a reduced glycemic load and calories. It is because of this similarity to sugar in taste and density that sugar alcohols can be successfully used as a sugar substitute in cooking and baking. Sugar alcohols pass through the digestive tract relatively intact and are eliminated through the bowel. This unique digestive process is the primary reason that they have a relatively low glycemic index (GI) and are popular among diabetics. Alternatively, this may also be problematic for some individuals as overindulgence has been known to cause symptoms such as bloating, gas and diarrhea.

Xylitol

Xylitol (pronounced “zy-li-tol”) is naturally found in low concentrations in the fibres of many fruits and vegetables. Commercially, it is generally extracted from hardwoods or corn. It has been widely approved and accepted by food agencies and industries around the world, particularly because of its safety profile, functionality and di-

verse health benefits. Following are examples of how xylitol has been used. • Baking: The substitution ratio for sugar is 1 to 1, yet it contains about 40 percent fewer calories. • Dental: Xylitol is not fermentable and, unlike sugar, cannot be used as an energy source by bacterial growth and reproduction. Studies indicate that chewing gum sweetened with xylitol significantly reduces cavities and strengthens tooth enamel by enhancing mineral absorption. For this reason, it is also a popular ingredient in natural toothpastes. • Ear and respiratory health: Studies indicate that the act of chewing and swallowing xylitol-sweetened gum assists in the disposal of ear wax by clearing the middle ear and preventing bacterial growth in the Eustachian tubes. Research also shows that it interferes with the bacteria’s ability to adhere to the wall of the nasal and ear cavities and in the case of H. influenzae, adherence to the upper area of the throat canals. • Other health applications: Xylitol has been found to increase the activity of white blood cells involved in fighting bacteria, and thus may help build immunity. It has been proven effective in inhibiting Candida albicans and other harmful microorganisms, including H. pylori, which is implicated in gum disease, bad breath, ulcers and stomach cancer. Research shows that dietary xylitol prevents weakening of bones in rats and improves bone density, indicating a possible future treatment for osteoporosis in humans. Precautionary note: xylitol is toxic to dogs.

Erythritol

Erythritol occurs naturally in some fruits and fermented foods. In a commercial setting, it is produced from glucose by fermentation with yeast. It is 60 to 70 percent as sweet as table sugar, yet it is almost calorie free and does not affect blood sugar, making erythritol the most welcome SA for diabetics and dieters. As with xylitol, it does not promote tooth decay. The most significant difference between xylitol and erythritiol is in the digestion process. Although it, too, is only partially absorbed by the body, it does not go into the lower intestine for elimination. Instead, it is primarily excreted in the urine. Because of this unique digestive pathway, it is less likely to cause any gastric upset. The new age of sugar substitutes, such as stevia and xylitol, are welcome additions to the food category that has historically offered highly processed or synthetic options. At long last, there is a choice.

Marva Ward, CNP, is a registered nutritionist.

Ingredient Sucrose(sugar) Xylitol Erythritol

Sweetness 100% 100% 70%

GI 60 13 0

Cal/g 4 2.5 0.2

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

All sugar alcohols are not created equal when comparing their calorie counts, blood sugar reactions or sweetness. Two examples demonstrate these variations:

www.vistamagonline.com

Train for the Sport

You Love By Dr Cory Holly

www.vistamagonline.com

The following is an excerpt from my new book called Sports Nutrition for Masters Athletes. It’s book nine in the Cory Holly Series. This article is dedicated to every man, woman and child 40 years of age and over! Over the years, I’ve noticed that as time marches on, many people start to lose the drive they once had to train in the gym with intensity, pride and passion. You can see it in some of the young people from time to time, but not often in men and women over 40, and when you do it’s very impressive. It’s always great to see someone in their 50s, 60s, 70s and even their 80s train with a sense of purpose and work towards specific fitness and health related performance goals. Tracy and I train first and foremost for health and fitness. Staying well and functional is very important to us. We are intrinsically inspired primarily from that point of view, plus we read and study health and nutrition research constantly. We listen to audio books on our iPods, read books on our digital readers and attend numerous lectures and conferences on topics related to sports nutrition, health and fitness. That’s one of the most important keys to staying motivated right there. Keep your mind’s eye on the target of functional health and it’s likely you’ll never wander far enough away to lose your focus. I assume that’s one of the reasons you’re reading this article right now. You want to learn, and that’s great. The only day you should stop learning is the day you slide off into oblivion and disappear into the void. One of the things you can do to get back in the swing of things, to help you pick up the pace and train with more enthusiasm, is to find a Masters Sport you love, and train for it. What I mean is that you can shift away from just training in the gym for the sake of it alone, to training for a particular sport. Perhaps one you always wanted to play, but for whatever reason, never had time or made a priority. Well, right now might just be the perfect time. Think about a sport you’d love to play; then, begin to investigate how and where to play it as a competitive Master.

Outside of training for health and wellness, training and competing in different sports will lead to variation in your training and enhance your exercise program. For example, when Tracy and I first moved to Honolulu several years ago, I checked out Masters Track & Field. I’ve been a hammer thrower since high school, and in every province of Canada, and every US State, there’s a branch of Masters Athletics available to participate in. That’s what Track & Field is called in the Olympics: Athletics. Once I decided to get back into the swing of things, in this case literally, I connected with the right people in my area first by searching the internet. I made contact with the president of the Hawaiian Masters Athletic Association, and he invited me to come out and meet the team

at a local high school where they trained. Before you know it, I was throwing the hammer and competing at local events. I met a lot of great local people and of course I had a great time training and competing in the sport. Competing for the pure enjoyment and love of the sport gave me a lot of personal satisfaction. It could be any sport. You name it. Dancing, hockey, table tennis, cricket, soccer, running… you’d be surprised how many people participate in Masters Sports purely for fun, joy and recreational aspects around the world. Many of the sports are very well organized and provide an excellent opportunity for participation either seasonally or year-round, depending on the sport you choose and your location. Personally, I like to bounce back and forth between natural bodybuilding and hammer throwing. Neither sport is violent, and the risk of injury if you train correctly is extremely low. But outside of training for health and wellness, training and competing in different sports will lead to variation in your training and enhance your exercise program for sure. For example, if I’m throwing the hammer, I perform plyometrics and a great variety of conditioning drills out on the track that I never would in the gym. Plus I substitute some of my bodybuilding exercises in the gym for some of the more sport specific weight-training exercises known to be beneficial for hammer throwing, such as front barbell squats, power snatches, speed cleans and a host of specialized core movements. Bodybuilding is all about building mirror muscle, which in most cases isn’t necessarily ideal for most sports. In fact, I know it isn’t by experience. A hammer thrower doesn’t need big bulging biceps or diamond shaped calves for show. They certainly look good but they’re useless on the field. Most hammer throwers are definitely not built like bodybuilders because they don’t train or diet to look like bodybuilders. They train for performance. In fact, this is true for almost all competitive sports. Success in most athletic sports is not based on how you look, success is based on how well you perform, like how fast you run or how far you can throw the implement. There’s certainly a relationship between performing really well and how good you look, but I think you get what I’m saying. Just look at the Olympic 100m sprinters or world-class gymnasts. They’re all exceptional athletes, but they also look really good! When I look at any athlete, I’m thinking: “Is that a healthy physique? How did he or she achieve it? Did they take any GH or test? Where will they be in 20 years?” Unfortunately, few athletes train for health first, but some do, and they’re the ones that impress me the most because they didn’t cave. By getting involved in a competitive Masters Sport that you love to play, you’ll start to get excited about your training in the gym again. Now you have something to train for! You’ll meet new people, acquire new training habits and training methods for your sport, and possibly even travel throughout the world to compete in international events. But the main thing is that you are doing what you love, and believe me, my health-conscious athletic friends, anything less is a compromise.

Join Cory & Tracy in Coquitlam, BC, Saturday, September 28th, 2013, for their annual sports nutrition conference and trade show. The conference theme is Life Extension and includes six expert presenters. Details at CoryHolly.com

&+, &RQIHUHQFH 7UDGH 6KRZ Conference Theme: Life Extension +ROLVWLF )XQFWLRQDO ,QWHJUDWLYH 6SRUWV 1XWULWLRQ +HDOWK )LWQHVV (GXFDWLRQDO 0RWLYDWLRQDO Saturday Sept 28th, 2013 10am-4pm Tickets Online @ CoryHolly.com

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Cover story

Dark Clouds; Silver Linings:

Interview with

Michael Landsberg By Liberty Craig

Photo Credit: TSN

www.vistamagonline.com

by some of those suggestions. “I grew up being chunky and thought that was just who I am. Then I realized I just wasn’t educated. My philosophy now is to eat as much protein as I can. I have a protein shake in the morning and another before bed every day, and often a protein bar mid-morning. I eat a reasonable lunch and an apple on my way home from work. Then I have dinner with my family and try to make the meat the smallest part of the meal and the vegetables the largest part. I tend to become obsessed with one or two foods. For five months, I had a roasted chicken sandwich on Ezekiel bread every single day.”

Behind the Scenes at Off the Record

Depression in the Midst of Happiness

“I’ve done over 3,000 shows in 16 years, and that’s six or seven thousand guests. I have a story for almost everything! Throw out a name, and even if I haven’t met that person, six degrees of separation will allow me to tell a story about someone they know. I think what I really cherish most about the job is the opportunity to meet this wild crosssection of people, and the challenge of trying to get the most possible out of people. Interviewing people who don’t fall into a typical sports category is interesting, too. In the last six weeks, I’ve interviewed Mr T and Donald Trump, both of whom were a ton of fun.”

Life of Sport

“Growing up, I played all sports, followed all sports, was obsessed with sports. I knew over time that I wasn’t going to be a professional athlete, but I desperately wanted to be part of the action. What I was really good at was talking about sports. By the time I was 16 or 17, my only aspiration was to talk about sports on television, but there were no role models in my community. Not a single person I knew went into broadcasting and I thought it was absolutely unattainable. I realized I had no other path to take, so I decided I had to give it a shot. I had nothing to fall back on, so I had to succeed. A safety net can be your biggest enemy.”

Fitness Today

“Most of my physical activity is more fitness than sports. I go to spin class four or five times a week with my daughter. It’s kind of our ‘thing.’ I just bought a Bow Flex and I’m using that regularly. I’ve probably gone to the gym three to five times a week for the past 15 years. One of the challenges with exercise is that doing it week after week, month after month, year after year gets really boring. With a new piece of equipment, it’s like buying yourself a couple of years of being inspired. When you feel like you look pretty good, you will always feel better about yourself. I think it’s very mentally healthy for us to feel like we look good. Of course, no one suffering from mental illness can pull themselves out of it by going to the gym!”

Diet of a Sports Addict

“One of the first interviews I did in broadcasting was with the author of The F-Plan Diet, which was all about high-fibre foods. I was quite a bit heavier than I am now, which is a gentle way of saying I was kind of fat. What she said made perfect sense, and the next day I started living

“It’s an important question: How could someone who seemingly has a wonderful life fall into a place where they didn’t enjoy their life? Inherent in the question is the idea that somehow depression is something we choose; that somehow our circumstances relate to our brain chemistry. But if you look at depression as an illness, like a virus or an autoimmune disease, then you’re not going to ask the question. To me, one of the definitions of depression is waking up and knowing with 100 percent certainty that you will not experience joy that day. How could somebody with so many reasons to be joyful suffer with that? The answer is that one has nothing to do with the other. My depression, I believe, is simply my brain malfunctioning. I have nothing to be depressed about, except that somehow my brain is sending the wrong messages.”

The Stigma of Weakness

“Why is mental illness looked at as a weakness and not an illness? People who have not experienced severe depression tend to believe they could ‘pull themselves out of it.’ I caution them all the time. When I say I suffer from severe depressive disorder, it is not the same thing as you saying you woke up last week and didn’t feel like getting out of bed. They are two different things. “The stigma has lessened, exponentially so in the past four or five years, but it’s still profound and it still ruins people’s lives. A day that is spent depressed is a day that’s no better than death. The only difference is that you can come back from a bad day of depression, if you’re lucky. “So much of it is how we see ourselves. For me, the greatest power I have is knowing that depression is not my choice or my weakness. I am not ashamed when I speak to a room of a thousand people, knowing that probably a hundred of them think I’m weak. The three words I start every speech with are: sick, not weak. Knowing that makes you not worry about the stigma.”

Navigating the Lowest Lows

“The first time I went through this, the only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that I could get help. When I realized I was suffering from depression, I immediately went to a psychiatrist’s office, and she wrote me a prescription. I went downstairs, bought a bottle of water while my prescription was being filled, and took the first pill as soon as it was ready. It helped. The subsequent times when I went off the meds and relapsed, then went back on, it helped again. In 2008, which was my last real fall into the deepest part of this hole, if you

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

t came as a complete surprise to everyone when TSN’s outspoken, energetic, long-time sports broadcaster, Michael Landsberg, admitted publicly to his difficult battles with depression. That nobody ever would have suspected the charismatic Off the Record host of a mental illness is testament to his power to pretend. What’s scary, as Landsberg reminds us, is how many seriously ill people struggle, even lose their lives, without anyone having a clue as to what was going on behind closed doors. Vista was honoured to speak with Michael Landsberg about his robust physical health and the murky waters of mental health.

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Cover story

had said to me, what you are experiencing today is something you will have to live with the rest of your life, I would have had no interest in living. I am on medication now and probably will be for the rest of my life. “Seven days out of eight, I feel good. One day out of eight, I am reminded of just how bad this illness can be. Today, feeling good, I forget. Tomorrow, if I wake up and it’s not a good day, I’m reminded, and I become incredibly frightened that I’m relapsing. After a time, you begin to have confidence that one bad day won’t be followed by five, and isn’t a full-blown relapse. I used to really struggle with that.”

Maintaining a Marriage with Mental Illness

“The first thing you absolutely have to do is be honest with your spouse. If you were a previously happy, extroverted, gregarious person, as I was, and that is taken away, your spouse will immediately think he or she has done something wrong. I think ninety percent of it is being fully honest about what depression feels like to you, and having your spouse understand that it’s not about her and it’s nothing she’s done. However, while she can make your life easier, she can’t fix you; she can’t make you better. You have to do that on your own. The one thing spouses can do is lower their expectations of what mentally ill people are capable of when they’re in that deep, dark hole. You might not understand what it feels like – you can’t – but you don’t need to know to be sympathetic.”

Explaining “Dad’s Depression” to the Kids

“With my kids, especially back in 2008, I put on a really good act. As they’ve gotten older, I’ve opened up and explained why I’m not the person I want to be, or that they want me to be. And that’s tough. Even just saying it makes me feel guilty. “One of the things I’ve tried to do is bring a sense of humour to it. I think the more you poke fun at your illness, the less taboo it is. That environment in which people couldn’t speak about ‘Dad’s Depression’ is from the fifties and sixties. It still exists in this decade, but not in my house. I can make mentally ill jokes, because I’m one of them. One of the problems is that no one wants to talk about mental illness in anything other than hushed tones.”

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

Silver Linings

“My single biggest blessing is my ability to talk about my own mental illness and, therefore, impact other people’s lives. On one hand, depression is the enemy; on the other hand, it’s the friend that has allowed me to feel better about my existence in this world, because in no other way have I ever been able to change people’s lives. I try to speak

as much as I can, and I would love to do it more, but I know that if I gave up being on camera, people would be less interested in what I have to say and I’d be given fewer platforms. Right now, those two aspects of my life feed into one another.”

Opening Up; Saving Lives

“In 2009, Stéphane Richer was a guest on Off the Record. I knew he had suffered from severe depression, but I’d never seen him talk about it. In the green room before the show, I said if I asked you about your depression in the context my having suffered as well, would you be okay with that? He thought about it, and eventually, in a very soft voice said, yeah, okay. We went out there and talked about it for maybe two minutes, tops. When the show went to air we had about 20 emails within a minute, mostly from men. Instead of the usual, ‘You suck Landsberg! You’re a jerk!’ it was: ‘I’ve suffered from what you’re talking about for years. You’re the first person I’ve told. Watching you and Stéphane Richer – a big-mouth host of a show and a guy who won two Stanley Cups – talking about your illnesses without being ashamed made me realize this is not my fault. And that I can go for help.’ I got that letter over and over again.”

“The three words that I start every speech with are: sick, not weak. Knowing that makes you not worry about the stigma.” “There was one in particular that wasn’t particularly significant to me at the time, but we emailed back and forth probably seven or eight times. Then, about two years ago, I got an email saying: ‘I contacted you after you talked to Stéphane Richer. I told you I was suffering from depression and you kept sending me messages telling me to go for help. What you didn’t know is that I was planning on killing myself that day. I’d put a belt over a hook in my closet, and every time I heard the sound of your emails come in, I would give up what I was doing, go answer you, then go back to trying to hang myself. But you kept responding, to the point where I yelled at the computer: man, that guy won’t even shut up in email! Then I thought: if he’s so adamant about this, maybe I should go for help. What have I got to lose? I can always kill myself tomorrow.’ He went for help and told me he now feels like he has the greatest life on the planet. “That is the value of reaching out to people. Probably two dozen people have told me I’ve saved their lives. I say that with total humility. I have a mental illness, so I can relate, and I get platforms made available to me. I’m suited for this because I’ve spent most of my life learning how to communicate. It’s very easy for me to get in front of people and say four words: I suffer from depression. Or, I am mentally ill. I have no problem saying that.”

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VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

“Probably two dozen people have told me I’ve saved their lives. That is the value of reaching out to people.”

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A Mind-full

detox By Chelsea Schreiner, ND

he word “detox” often conjures up notions of restricted diets, fasting, juicing, bowel purging and having to endure constant cravings until those taste buds are altered (which is about 21 days, in case you’re wondering). Although our minds jump quickly to the need to detox the physical body, little thought is given to the importance of a detoxed mind. In modern society, it’s so easy to become absorbed in activities that are external to us. We are constantly bombarded with ways to fill up our minds with tasks and stimuli, with seemingly no reprieve. There never seems to be a purging period, unless you count the mental breakdown you have before you realize you need to book a vacation somewhere – anywhere but here! These days, quiet reflection is replaced by technology, deadlines, to-do lists and self-imposed routines. Why not create a different routine, if not daily, then at least for the short-term. Luckily, a mind-focused detox is not as difficult as it sounds! Follow these simple tips to empty out a cluttered headspace and go from mind-full to mindful.

Turn it Off

It may be hard to give up sitcoms, your cell phone addiction or the latest game on your tablet device, but those external stimuli are far from thought-provoking (even with the latest apps). You may think watching TV is a great way to unwind, but the visual stimuli from the ever-changing pictures are doing a number on your brain and body at the subconscious level. Don’t even consider a TV in the bedroom!

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

Dear Journal

Try turning attention inward and journal about your day. A great exercise that creates focus is to wake up every day and write down three things you are grateful for. At the end of the day, journal about three personal successes of the day. You’d be surprised at how many different things you may come up with. You could also write about what you want to accomplish in the coming month and create realistic goals or ponder deep philosophical questions. Whatever you choose, writing is a great method of expression that is often overlooked.

Let’s Eat

Awareness around eating is something we have lost as a society. We want things fast, and our digestive systems just aren’t meant to run double-time. Instead, practice mindful eating. Take the time to smell the food you lovingly prepared. The digestive system gets revved up the moment you smell food (or even think of it) so don’t miss out on this opportunity for healthy digestion! Take a moment to observe the colours and textures. Notice what sounds are made as you move your utensil through your meal (yes, your food makes sounds). After you’ve done that, actually taste the food! It’s much more enjoyable than inhaling it to get back to the computer or trying to balance a dinner plate while watching TV.

Free Your Right Brain

Paint, doodle, colour with crayons or play with clay. Whatever your medium, being creative unleashes the activity of your right brain, which helps balance the typical routine-bound, left-brained type of person.

Meditate

Ahhh, the word that everyone recognizes as a relaxation technique... until you try it yourself! It can be really difficult to turn off inner chatter, but it is certainly blissful when it can be done. There are many different types of meditation. It can be as simple as focusing on a beloved object and experiencing it with all senses, to practicing clearing the mind completely. Have patience with meditative techniques and recognize that clearing the mind completely may not be an activity for everyone. “Om.” You’ll be surprised at what a difference it can make when you take a break from stress-inducing schedules to re-focus. If relaxation is something foreign to you, take it slow. Sometimes we keep busy to avoid dealing with issues. If at any time you feel you are mentally or emotionally unstable, it’s best to see a health care provider who can help you safely work through these issues. In whatever way you choose to do it, create space to detox your mind and allow your conscience to speak. You might be interested to learn what it has to say.

Read, Then Read Some More

Depending on what you choose to pick up, reading can take you on a journey of self-discovery. If you’re not so inclined to go diving deep into your psyche just yet, picking up a book is still a good choice because it replaces other external distractions with a more inward-based activity. Remember: If you feel the need to uncover mental or emotional issues, seeing a health care practitioner should be priority over self-help books.

Chelsea Schreiner is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Lawrence Park Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic in Toronto. She sees patients with varying concerns but focuses on Digestive Health, Detoxification, Pain Management, Allergies and Hormonal Balancing. In addition to core Naturopathic treatments, Chelsea has additional training in Mesotherapy for skin health and pain management.

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Sources of Omega-3

for Vegetarians By Angus Brody

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

f you follow a strict vegetarian diet, you have to be careful that you are getting enough of certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are required for good health, but our bodies can’t manufacture them. The North American diet is chronically low in omega-3 fatty acids, and those seeking a healthier lifestyle typically try to consume more fish or take fish oil supplements. Those who don’t eat fish, however, must find an alternative source of this crucial nutrient required for brain health, heart health, reduced inflammation and even cancer prevention. Common alternatives to fish oil as an omega-3 source for vegetarians include flax, hemp and marine algae. But another plant-based omega-3 source is gaining increasing recognition among scientists, consumers and vegetarians: echium seed oil. Echium Plantagineum is a plant with pretty purple flowers, related to the forget-me-not. It is native to western and southern Europe, northern Africa and south western Asia. What makes echium interesting and potentially more powerful than flax, hemp and algae sources of omega-3 is its unique fatty acid composition. Omega-3s are found in the form of EPA, DHA and ALA fatty acids. Scientists agree that DHA and EPA are more important for nutrition than ALA. ALA is like the parent fatty acid, as our bodies can convert ALA into both EPA and DHA, though without much efficiency. For example, less than eight percent of ALA is metabolised to EPA. Most marine plant oils are high in DHA but contain little or no EPA. Interestingly, EPA

has been shown to be the best of the three for heart health, as it has proven significantly more effective in lowering both triglyceride and cholesterol levels. What do all these confusing abbreviations mean? If you follow a strict vegetarian diet with no fish content, all you need to know is to look for omega-3 sources that are high in both EPA and DHA, as ALA alone won’t do the trick. Since marine algae contains mainly DHA, and flax and hemp are largely ALA, you may wish to consider the health benefits of echium seed oil, high in EPA and excellent for heart health. Echium seed oil also boasts immune-boosting properties, anti-inflammatory omega-6 GLA content, and omega-9 oleic acid, which is known for balancing cholesterol levels. The healthy omega-3 to omega-6 ratio found in echium seed oil makes it ideal for nutraceutical use. As a vegetarian, your dietary restrictions can make proper nutrition challenging at times. In the confusing scientific rhetoric of omega-3 essential fatty acid supplementation, it’s nice to know that you do have good options, even if you do not want to consume fish or fish oils. As always, finding good-quality supplements with fresh ingredients and minimal fillers is key.

Angus Brody is a health and nutrition advocate and writer, and a regular contributor to Vista Magazine.

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Educating Today... For a Better Tomorrow

Organic planet OP FEATURE:

Reduce Workplace Stress

by Adding Green to Your Routine By David Suzuki with contributions from Jode Roberts

Teach Them to Love the Insects By Michael Bloch

Sustainable Living:

It Takes a Neighbourhood By Laura Terlizzi

Educating Today... For a Better Tomorrow

Reduce Workplace Stress by Adding Green to Your Routine

he modern workday pose – fingers on keyboard, slight slouch, glassy eyes fixed on glowing screen, bathed in unnatural light – can drain vitality, happiness and creativity. Designed to maximize efficiency, this sterile setup actually reduces productivity and job satisfaction. In fact, modern workplaces are the main reason adults now spend about 9.3 hours a day sitting. Medical journal The Lancet estimates this unprecedented level of inactivity is causing 5.3 million deaths a year worldwide, similar to smoking – prompting the Harvard Business Review to suggest that “Sitting is the smoking of our generation.” The good news is that researchers have built an increasingly persuasive case for what most of us know intuitively: nature is good for us. Being regularly immersed in a natural setting can reduce stress while boosting immunity, ingenuity and energy. As neuroscientist Marc Berman explains, adding a daily dose of green to your routine may be the best prescription for dealing with workday stress. His research shows that even simple, brief interactions with nature can improve cognitive control and mood. Why does green time reduce stress? Various studies suggest that exposure to natural settings stimulates “soft fascination” – something New York Times reporter Gretchen Reynolds describes as “a beguiling term for quiet contemplation, during which directed attention is barely called upon and the brain can reset those overstretched resources.” Hard fascination, by contrast, is stimulated by bright, loud activities like watching TV or sports, which require little or no effort but don’t allow for mental rest. Researchers at the University of Michigan estimated that memory performance and attention span can improve by 20 percent after an hour in nature, while University of Rochester studies concluded that being outside for 20 minutes a day is enough to boost vitality. A new study from Scotland demonstrated that brain fatigue can be eased with just a 10-minute walk in the park. But how can we fit more green time into our hectic schedules? The David Suzuki Foundation has a solution. The 30×30 Nature Challenge asks Canadians to commit to spending at least 30 minutes a day in nature for 30 days in May. Participants can take the 30×30 pledge at davidsuzuki.org/30×30Challenge and receive tips about how to add green time to their routines.

Finding your nature fix can be easy. Hold your next meeting outdoors – maybe make it a walking meeting. Invite colleagues to have lunch in a nearby park. Take the scenic route home and go for a walk in a neighbourhood green space along the way. Stop to smell the flowers and take notice of critters, trees and plants. Skip the gym, and head outside for a jog or bike ride. Even if you can’t make it outside for a daily dose of nature, simple changes inside can help make you happier and healthier. As Alan Logan and Eva Selhub document in their book, Your Brain on Nature, workers in windowless settings are more anxious, hostile and depressed than colleagues on windowed floors. Increasing natural light within the workplace has been linked to improved productivity and contentment. Researchers in Texas even found that employees in offices with plants or green-space views felt greater job satisfaction and reported a higher overall quality of life. Increased exposure to nature also leads people to nurture closer relationships and build stronger community bonds. When Capilano University professor Joe Kelly spent at least an hour a day outside each day this March, he observed that “free of the distractions and background noise present in the city, the serenity of nature provides a perfect venue to connect with others.” Even the world’s worst boss should know that employees who are less stressed and healthier are more productive. So why not sign up for the 30×30 Nature Challenge – and encourage your officemates to join? Challenge your entire company to head outside for 30 minutes a day for 30 days. And be sure to take part in the surveys before and after. Tell us how you feel. Does regular time in nature make you calmer? More alert? Happier? Let’s all get into the nature habit. It can make our lives better.

David Suzuki is a co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, and is an awardwinning scientist and broadcaster. Dr Suzuki has received a UNESCO prize for science, a United Nations Environment Program medal and the Order of Canada. Jode Roberts is a Communications Specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation.

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

By David Suzuki with contributions from Jode Roberts

Educating Today... For a Better Tomorrow

Organic planet

Sustainable Living:

It Takes a Neighbourhood By Laura Terlizzi

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

ave you been engaged in conversation with one of the young He showed me photos of his local and international projects minds of today? If so, did you have the opportunity to realand told me many details of how each development was thought out ize how deeply sophisticated and expansive these little minds literally from the ground up. He spoke about how the surrounding can be? The other day, my seven-year-old son asked me at what age environment is taken into serious consideration, and how the buildhe could become a leader in the Supreme Court. At what age could ing must work with and welcome the surroundings rather than the he start changing some of the laws we live by? This question posed other way around. With such a fountain of knowledge presented to by a philosophical small person with a milk moustache opened the me, I asked David: “If there was one message you would like to convey door to a discussion about rules, regulations, communities, and indiabout sustainable housing, what would that be?” vidual as well as social responsibilities. It His eyes brightened as he elabo“Sustainability is making lasting also reminded me about the power of one rated on his vision: for people to unand how the thoughts and intentions of a derstand that sustainability means structural and social relationships single person, young or old, can change community, and to appreciate all that with environments.” the world. includes. He concluded by telling me I was recently honoured to spend an hour with a man whose about his East Vancouver neighbourhood, where residents have come wealth of knowledge and experience stands as impressive as any of the together to create garden-lined sidewalks with berries to be picked by remarkable buildings and structures he has designed. David Wong is passing children. The elderly and young gather for nature walks by the a Canadian-born architect, biologist and urban ecologist. His list of golf course, discovering not only the local wildlife that inhabits the accomplishments is, to say the least, extensive. Yet, when I met with area, but also learning and respecting the value of each other. SustainMr. Wong to learn about sustainable housing, he graciously welcomed ability is making lasting structural and social relationships with envime to share with him the story of my son’s question and the converronments. I left Mr. Wong feeling tranquil and optimistic for a future sation that followed. By the end of our time together, I had an even of genuine understanding for my son and the generations to follow. greater appreciation for the importance of what little people with big minds can teach us; what the elders with well-traveled journeys in life can give us; what each and every insect, animal, tree root, scientific or Vancouver born Architect and Urban Ecologist David Wong founded his first spiritual philosophy has to do with sustainability. architectural company in 1992. In a few years, it became one of Singapore’s David believes that words such as “sustainable,” “eco-friendly” and largest design firms. David has earned a reputation for designing “healthy “organic” have become overused and over-marketed to a point where buildings” and for “place making” – designing homes, regional town centres, environmentally conscientious people are no longer guaranteed to reresorts, and health & wellness spas in over a dozen countries. For more than three decades, his background as a Biologist helped his team embrace ceive undiluted messages that will help sustain us and our world. He sustainability, healing, and a respect for the environment. www.davidwong.ca said, “The word organic means many things to me. As an architect, the word speaks of grass roots, natural and non-institutional-led efforts Laura Terlizzi is an independent writer, fine artist and educator. Born and to community building. I’m also a biologist by training and I realize raised on the west coast, much of Laura’s work is inspired by nature and that there is a proper scientific definition to it… but organic, like so the beautiful environment in which she lives. Ecotraction is produced and many other environmental words, has been usurped by the greenwash distributed by Earth Innovations. Resources, benefits and contact information can be found at www.ecotraction.com. industry.”

Educating Today... For a Better Tomorrow

Teach Them to Love the Insects By Michael Bloch

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

hen the Dalai Lama was asked the most important thing to at the extraordinary strength of the ant, which can lift and carry fifty teach children, his response was, reportedly, “teach them to times its own weight; or the dragonfly that can zip along at speeds of love the insects.” up to 60 miles per hour. We should be in awe of the froghopper that, It’s not uncommon to fear or loathe insects and “creepy crawlies.” when it jumps, accelerates at 13,000 feet per second and endures a GBut it’s not an instinctive thing; in many cases it’s a learned behaviour. force over 400 times its own body weight. Just as beauty among humans is often perceived based on what society Whether common or exotic, “ugly” or “beautiful,” all insects have dictates rather than the eye of the fascinating aspects. Yes, insects can be beholder, so too is it in regards poisonous or cause other problems, so we Insects are a food source; they are to other creatures on our planet. need to eradicate them in some scenarios. Our views may also be shaped pollinators (not just bees), soil aerators, Even the Dalai Lama has a “three strikes through limited experiences with and you’re out” policy with mosquitoes. disposers of waste, controllers of other a species. But bear in mind that everything has its pests and providers of fertilizer. I remember seeing an explace. A termite colony chomping away periment many years ago where at your home isn’t the same as a termite a harmless spider was placed in the presence of a mother and very colony out in the forest. It’s not a problem there; it’s an integral part young child. When the mother didn’t react, neither did the child – of that ecosystem. In fact, only 10 percent of the 2,750 known termite he had no fear of the creature. However, when the same mother then species are “pests.” expressed fear and disgust, it had a marked affect on the child, and Mention the word “cockroach” and many people will screw their continued to do so in experiments that followed. When I was young, noses up in disgust. However, similar to the beleaguered termite, a a friend told me that dragonflies drop acid bombs from their tails. I comparative handful of species have given the entire cockroach world believed him and it took me years to get over my irrational fear of a bad name. Only about 30 species out of 4,500 are associated with dragonflies. These days I smile whenever I see one, thinking back to human habitations. A honeybee is not hell-bent on stinging you – it’s how silly my fear was. far too busy going about its work, and bees aren’t generally aggressive We often see insects as little more than biological robots, pests except in specific circumstances. If a honeybee stings you, it dies. or even monsters – incapable of real thought or emotion. However, To cultivate an interest in and respect for insects is easy. Think the concept of insects not experiencing emotion is being challenged. about the insects around your own yard and run a search on the speSome species may indeed be sentient beings. Regardless of whether cies. You may be amazed by what you discover. Learning more about they have feelings or not, insects are an incredibly important part of these creatures can also alter the way you deal with some insect probour planet. They are a food source, they are pollinators (not just bees), lems you experience. Don’t forget to tell your children what you dissoil aerators, disposers of waste, controllers of other pests and providcover so they may also learn to “love the insects.” ers of fertilizer. In order to “love the insects,” there has to be understanding and Michael Bloch publishes Green Living Tips, an online resource powered by interest. Too often, we are blind to these creatures; crushing them unrenewable energy offering a wide variety of Earth friendly tips and environment derfoot without a second thought, certainly without grasping how inrelated news to help consumers reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact. www.greenlivingtips.com credibly intricate and refined they are. We need to be able to marvel

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Black Bean Carob Cookies By Tracy Kaye Holly, CSNA Master

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

his is a delicious and healthful cookie that’s gluten-free. The taste is smooth and silky and even the toughest cookie critic will love this odd yet flavourful combination. Although they may appear humble, black beans hold a major secret – they are loaded with a rare combination of both protein and fibre. The skin of black beans contains a high amount of phytonutrients called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are responsible for the deep reds, blues, purples, and magenta colours also found in blueberries, grapes and açaí, all of which we know to be powerful antioxidant-rich foods. Anthocyanin consumption is known to decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. It may also aid in the prevention of macular degeneration by protecting the eyes from free radical damage, increasing circulation and stabilizing collagen structures. Black beans provide heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation. They’re also an excellent source of molybdenum, which is an element involved in

energy production and lipid metabolism. In addition, black beans are a very good source of dietary fibre and folate. Black beans are also a good source of manganese, muscle-building protein, energy-producing magnesium, thiamin, phosphorus and iron. Protein, fibre, and powerful antioxidants – all wrapped up into a tasty little nugget for you to make dessert with!

Black Bean Carob Cookies

Ingredients • 2 cups cooked black beans • 3 whole eggs (room temperature) • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract • 12 oz extra firm tofu • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce • 2 tbsp coconut oil • 1/2 cup unpasteurized honey or coconut palm sugar • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 cup chocolate whey or hemp protein powder (brown rice, pea protein) • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 cup carob chips

• 1 cup of your favourite nuts and seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, hazel nuts) • 1 cup raisins/currants/dried cranberries or blueberries • 2 tsp crushed chili peppers (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Puree beans in blender or food processor. Add tofu and blend. 3. Add the rest of wet and powdered ingredients and blend until well mixed. 4. In large bowl, mix dry ingredients with fork. 5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir with spatula until mixture is smooth and creamy, then lightly stir in carob chips, dried fruit, nuts and seeds. 6. Use tablespoon to scoop onto greased cookie sheet or parchment paper. 7. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool and dig in! Yield: approximately three dozen mediumsized cookies.

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Editor Selects 2.

Thyroid Support

The thyroid gland is the Master and Commander of many bodily processes, directly influencing circulation, respiration, and tissue growth and repair. Life Choice Thyroid Support Homeopathic works gently with the body to help relieve symptoms of thyroid imbalance such as weakness, fatigue, cold hands and feet, dry skin and chilliness.

www.life-choice.net

1. Mojos

The Mojos from Wicked Audio are chic earbuds that incorporate fashionable colours from bud to cord. In addition to a unique design, they also sound great, delivering enhanced bass for an impressive music listening experience. The Mojos are also packaged with three cushion options, for a unique fit for everyone. They are available in seven bold colours including red, purple, teal, yellow and more.

www.wickedaudio.com

Organic Coconut Nectar

Step aside syrup. The coconut alternative, simply harvested from coconut flower sap, is an excellent source of iron with a low glycemic index. Experience the rich caramel flavour and versatile consistency of Organic Coconut Nectar in hot beverages, cooking and baking. Naturally gluten-free, GMOfree and vegan. Taste the Quality of Sweetness® from foods by Organika®.

4. The Healthy Shopper Makes Every Day Earth Day

The Healthy Shoppers, Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky, believe it’s easy to make every day Earth Day, because what’s good for us is good for the environment. They focus on the importance of reading labels to know what’s in the products we buy. The Healthy Shopper Coupon Book for Natural & Organic Products includes their top “picks” for spring 2013, such as Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread, Simply Natural Organic Salsas, Hyland’s Homeopathic for restless legs and leg cramps, and Natracare’s 100 percent organic, biodegradable and compostable feminine hygiene products and wipes.

www.thehealthyshopper.ca

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

www.organika.com

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Press Release ConsumerLab.com’s Survey Rates Carlson Laboratories as #1 Fish Oil Brand!

n the ConsumerLab.com 2013 Survey of Vitamin and Supplement Users, Carlson Laboratories was ranked as the top rated fish oil brand based on consumer satisfaction. These results were based on responses from over 10,000 ConsumerLab.com e-newsletter subscribers collected in November and December of 2012. ConsumerLab. com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Carlson has been specializing in the finest Norwegian fish oils for more than 30 years. The family owned and operated company takes great pride in maintaining high quality standards not only with its fish oils, but with all of its products.

Carlson Laboratories President Carilyn Anderson states, “We are extremely pleased to win this prestigious award. At Carlson, we have always been devoted to helping people live healthier lives, and receiving recognition for our hard work is a real honour.”

Carlson Laboratories has been supplying high quality vitamins and nutritional supplements for over 45 years. Our Norwegian fish oils are renowned for their purity, freshness and great taste. Call us today for more information at 1-888234-5656, or visit your local natural foods store. J.R. Carlson Laboratories, Inc., 600 W. University Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. www.carlsonlabs.com

Life Choice Now Has the Only Legal DMSO in North America

ife Choice supplements has once again pioneered the legal reintroduction of a sought-after supplement into the North American market. DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) is known for both its powerful smell and its amazing pain-relieving abilities.

VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 89

First synthesized in 1866 by Russian scientist Alexander Saytzeff, DMSO initially caught attention for its ability to combine with almost any chemical. Later, in 1959, a study conducted in Great Britain found that DMSO was also capable of protecting red blood cells and other tissues from freezing conditions. A few years later, Dr. Stanley Jacob began investigating ways to safely freeze human kidneys, and came across DMSO. His discoveries about the compound would lead him to become DMSO’s biggest advocate.

DMSO became widely known as an incredible pain reliever and transporter. However, despite its growing popularity, the FDA only permitted DMSO usage for the treatment of interstitial cystitis. As the controversy escalated, DMSO received even more national attention.

In 1980, the show 60 Minutes did a special on DMSO, demonstrating its capabilities through personal testimonies. The initial broadcast received 70 million views, and Dr. Jacob’s office was swamped with calls. DMSO commonly comes in either liquid or gel form. Both have been known to help with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). The liquid helps to temporarily reduce the pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions of the large joints, such as post-traumatic soft tissue injuries, acute bursitis, strains and sprains. The gel is known to help with sunburns and wound healing (such as cuts, skin irritations, and burns). Now, Canadians can safely explore the healing potential of DMSO and utilize it for their specific needs.

Life Choice was founded in 1986 with a commitment to provide the natural health industry and its clientele with supplements of the finest quality. For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Dr. Eldon Dahl, please call 1-866-226-1722 or e-mail info@life-choice.net.

“From my personal experience with DMSO, this product is highly therapeutic and very potent. I strongly suggest that you use only a licensed, medicinal grade product and further suggest that you use it sparingly in order to feel the effects and lessen any discomfort.” Trent E. Nellis - Publisher, Vista Magazine

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Clients and I love the convenience of Click4Time's Online Booking Systemâ&#x20AC;?

Sony Baron - Clinical Counsellor - Vancouver, B.C. Award Winning eSheduling System Clients love the convenience of booking 24/7. Single or multiple Email and SMS notiications. Very easy to use for everyone. Works on most mobile devices. Clients can print their receipts at tax time. Fast and Secure, daily backups included.

www.Click4Time.com/health

boost energy without the crash

COMING NEXT ISSUE

energy for the everyday... & unexpected moments increases energy

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Dr. Elvis Approved

For franchise inquires: sangstersfranchise.com

Photo credit: Phyllis Lane

Interview with Baywatch Star and Thyroid Health Advocate

Gena Lee

Nolin

Plus... • • • • •

Nutrition for Growing Bodies and Minds The SuperfoodsYou’ve Never Heard Of Breast Cancer Awareness:Three Keys to Breast Health Raw FoodsYou’ll Love Avoiding Xenoestrogens

Before

After

(8 weeks)

the art of beauty Tuesday, June 4, 2013 7:30 to 10:00 pm At Holt Renfrew $140 Join us for a girls night out in support of Arts Umbrella! Treat yourself to a spa service of your choice, see the latest must-have summer fashion trends, discover tips on holistic living and more! Funds raised at Indulge will support Arts Umbrellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bursary and free-of-charge Outreach programs. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an evening that will leave you looking and feeling fabulous! Visit www.artsumbrella.com/indulge to purchase tickets online.

Presented by:

Event Partners:

Klik Photography Kuna Photography

Nourished from Within TM Events and Promotions

Touchpoint Creative Vivian Thom

xoxolat

The SKN Spin & AfterGlow Combo Only

$129 at www.SKNshop.com

I encourage you all to take the SKN Spin and AfterGlow Beautiful Skin Challenge in 2013. This combo is the most effective homecare rejuvenation system available. Using the SKN Spin and AfterGlow Replenishing Skin Oil just once a week will transform the health of your skin. You can expect improved skin tone and texture, a natural glow, and reduced appearance of fine lines, crowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet, and pore size. Also, this powerful combination helps stimulate the key growth factors that slow down thinning of the skin and stimulate natural collagen. Discover the difference with SKN Spin and AfterGlow today! Amanda Beisel (R.Ac) is the owner of SKN Holistic Rejuvenation Clinic in Yaletown and specializes in Medical Skin Needling and Cosmetic Acupuncture.

Buy Now For a full list of retailers visit:

www.SKNspin.com

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Beyond Pain Relief If pain is the problem, RECOVERY is a potent solution that targets the root causes of the pain. By inhibiting damage to cells, curbing inflammation, relaxing tension and increasing a cell's ability to receive hormones, RECOVERY often brings results far beyond expectations. Proof is in the results.

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