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Editor’S Corner
Serving the greater Ottawa area since 2007
spring/summer 2014 publisher
Judy Field EDITOR
Kinneret Globerman CONTRIBUTorS
Michael Calvert Deb Gleason Kaylene Johnson Kent MacLeod copy eDITOR
McE Galbreath DESIGN
Sandy Lynch PHOTOGRAPHERs
Jessica Deeks Jamie Kronick writerS
Patrick Darvasi Peggy Edwards Debra Huron Jeff Mackey Nicola Maule Barb Wilson Social media
Debra Huron
Y
ou know that old adage: Time flies when you’re having fun. Well, we at Healthwise Ottawa can’t believe that it’s already our 7th anniversary issue! And to kick it off, we have a number of articles that celebrate wise and healthy lifestyles. Healthwise Ottawa has always taken an eco-conscious approach to our content and this issue is a perfect example of that. Our series on cycling has loads of information on that eco-friendly mode of transportation — from an article on Ottawa’s cycling infrastructure, to what to wear, to some interesting groups you might consider joining. We like food as much as you do. Our cover story on the collaboration of two local artisan chefs and the treats they are creating together will have you salivating. And, always a favourite (as we’ve been told), our recipes this issue focus on healthy snacks for the active adult. Oh, and speaking of collaboration, an Ottawa-based cancer treatment centre is using an holistic, therapeutic approach to the treatment of the disease. And if you need some motivation to dust off those New Year’s resolutions and get healthier, the feature on two Ottawa women who beat some challenging illnesses can’t help but make you want to get into a health-wise frame of mind. We, at Healthwise Ottawa, toast you, our faithful readers. We hope you keep on reading and supporting our loyal advertisers, without whom we would not be celebrating seven stellar years. Keep on keeping health-wise. Kinneret Globerman
Healthwise Ottawa is published seasonally by Healthwise Publications Inc. and is printed by Dollco The LoweMartin Group in Ottawa.
Michael Sunderland (Michael’s Dolce) and Erica Gilmour (Hummingbird Chocolate): Creating confections in a spirit of collaboration. To find out the story behind their creations and other chef “partnerships,” turn to page 30.
CONTACT US
Editorial Comments healthwiseottawamag@rogers.com Advertising Enquiries 613-858-4804 or healthwiseottawa.ads@rogers.com www.healthwiseottawa.com
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Jamie Kronick
All rights reserved. Reproduction of content in any form is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the publisher. The information provided in this publication is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified and licensed health care provider. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Healthwise Publications Inc. Occasionally, Healthwise Ottawa receives unsolicited material for publication. Healthwise Publications Inc. may edit, use, or publish such material in whole or in part without compensation to the writer, unless otherwise prearranged.
4 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
s p r i n g / s u m m e r 2 014
W H A T ’ S IN S ID E
6 Ottawa: Capitalizing on Safety for Cyclists A vision for making this a great city to cycle in 10 Cycling for a Cause: Two Businesses on a Mission Cycle Salvation and RightBike are helping people garner skills and get jobs
15
15 Snack Smarts for Active Adults If you’re active, you need healthy snacks and Deb Gleason’s got ‘em 20 Championing Climate Change: A Family Affair The McKenzies lessen their environmental footprints 25 Cycling Fashionistas Fashion alternatives for urban biking
25
30 Culinary Collaboration in the Capital Local artisan food-preneurs create gastro-delights 36 Fitness: The Springboard to Recovery How two local women took charge of their illnesses 42 Lyme Disease: What You Need to Know 46 Take Note!
36
48 Cancer Care: A Collaborative Approach Melding complementary treatment with conventional medicine 52 Cycling: A Sustainable Way to Travel 60 Clearing Up the Hormone Confusion! Are they dangerous...or safe? Good questions, with some answers 63 Sensually Green: Eco-Products for Your
48
Sexual Health
66 Canyon Sage: Inspired Adventures with
an Octogenarian
The Vegetarian Dining Contest See contest details on page 70. Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 5
Ottawa:
Capitalizing on
Cycling is safe and scenic on Ottawa bike paths 6 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Safety for Cyclists By Patrick Darvasi
“T
he benefits are multiple: improved individual health, reduced public health costs, greater transportation mobility, improved equity (as cycling is affordable to virtually everyone), a more vibrant business environment on complete streets, attractiveness to a growing number of tourists.”
last 30 years, Citizens for Safe Cycling and the City of Ottawa have been working together on different levels,” he says. “We started out as a real cyclists’ advocacy group. Over time, our cooperation evolved — for a number of years we even ran the cycling education programs. Now, the city has a number of full-time cycling planners.”
That’s Capital Ward Councillor David Chernushenko commenting on how cycling can improve the well-being of our city. A frequent cyclist himself, he understands that cycling makes a lot of sense. And so does Hans Moor, president of Citizens for Safe Cycling,
The City of Ottawa’s Transportation Committee is at the forefront of planning and infrastructure development. It oversees the implementation of the Ottawa Cycling Plan (OCP) — a 20-year strategy, ending in 2031, that aims to establish a 2,500 kilometre, citywide network linking suburban and urban communities. Other OCP objectives include making transit stations and platforms as bikeaccessible as possible, having bike racks on all new buses, expanding the presence of bike parking throughout the city, educating the public about bicycle safely, and promoting cycling as a mode of transportation.
“If you improve cycling conditions,” says Moor, “you’ll make it easier for people to take a bike. That in turn saves money on public transport budgets and road budgets. A bike path costs a fraction of a car lane, as you don’t need reinforced road beds to carry 18-wheelers. A healthier population is obviously less of a burden on our public health budget and that means, indirectly, less taxes. Citizens for Safe Cycling has been cooperating with the local government and with its planning department to make Ottawa a safer and better city for cyclists. “Over the
The OCP is quite extensive and it is leading to definite improvements in cycling infrastructure. One good example is the Laurier Avenue segregated bike lane. Nevertheless, there are still noticeable gaps or missing links on some of the routes.
Photos: Hans Moor
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 7
specifically focused on identifying missing links and community linkages throughout the city. Of the $70 million in funding up to 2031, $31 million has been identified to help improve connectivity by investing in missing links and community linkages — the largest single investment category. “For the Ottawa on the Move program, a major objective was the completion of missing links,” says the Councillor. “These include projects like the O-Train pathway that will connect the Ottawa River pathway to Dows Lake, the extension of the Sawmill Creek pathway to Brookfield and the East-West Bikeway — most of which are anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.” In August of 2012, the Share the Road Cycling Coalition awarded Ottawa’s first Gold Bicycle Friendly Community Award. It was a recognition of the city’s year-after-year commitment to cycling.
“We all know the examples of bike paths that suddenly end,” says Moor. “Top of the list at Citizens for Safe Cycling is filling in the gaps and connecting the existing infrastructure.”
“Within the next five years, the city hopes to achieve Platinum status,” says Councillor Egli. “The city has approved new policies intended to ensure that cyclists’ needs are always considered, and increasingly accommodated whenever trade-offs need to be made on scarce right-of-way allocation, or the design of busy intersections.” Examples of such policies include a level of traffic stress measurement for cyclists, the promotion of “complete streets” (defined on the City of Ottawa website as streets that are designed “to meet the needs of all users — pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and motorists”), and improved bike parking requirements for new developments.
Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of the Transportation Committee, is well aware of this. The Council-approved OCP 2013
While improving Ottawa’s cycling infrastructure is a key part of the OCP, encouraging people to actually get on their
Bike trough at Hartwell Locks makes navigating the stairs a breeze
8 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
bikes is also very important. People need to feel safe on their bicycles and realize that it is a beneficial mode of transport. The city is aiming to increase the bike modal share across the capital.
“We know that the best and brightest in today’s labour force are very mobile. They are looking for great places to live and raise families. They are looking for vibrant, ‘complete’ streets and neighbourhoods.”
“Worldwide, commuter cyclists tend to cycle about 8 kilometres one way,” says Moor. “But not everyone lives 8 kilometres or less from work in Ottawa. So the OCP is aiming for higher bike use for day-to-day chores in all neighbourhoods. Think of your trip to the library, the corner store, or Tim Horton’s. Many of these trips are only 2 to 3 kilometres.”
For more information on the Ottawa Cycling Plan, visit www.ottawa.ca/en/ residents/transportation-and-parking/ cycling/ottawa-cycling-plan. HWO
Schoolchildren in Ottawa are being educated about cycling so that they can develop healthy transportation habits from a young age. Through partnerships with Green Communities Canada and local school boards, the city has been encouraging children to ride or bike to school. Ultimately, though, the effort to get more people cycling involves reaching out to people of all ages and offering them relevant knowledge. “Making standardized bike skills/safety training available to all citizens and mandatory for schoolchildren is crucial,” says Councillor Chernushenko. The good news is that Ottawa is well on its way to becoming a much safer and friendlier city for cyclists. And in the minds of many, this is a true sign of progress. “Any great city in this 21st century needs to be one where citizens have choices in their modes of travel,” says Councillor Chernushenko. “When cycling is seen as a safe and appealing option for most trips, then more people will not only choose to cycle more often, they will feel better about their city.
Signage points you in the right direction
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 9
By Peggy Edwards
O
ld bikes and their parts don’t have to be consigned to landfills in this city, thanks to Cycle Salvation and RightBike. The two local businesses are on a mission to provide training and jobs for people who face barriers to employment, while rescuing used bikes and refurbishing them for resale at low costs.
Cycling for a Cause: And they do this under the umbrella of the Causeway Work Centre, which offers a range of employment support programs. Causeway works with local employers to place its clients in jobs — 18 to 20 monthly, in addition to the 12 people employed at Cycle Salvation and the 6 to 8 at RightBike. “Our goal is to help people learn the skills they need to get a job or to create their own,” says executive director Don Palmer. Causeway began in 1977 as a not-for-profit organization focused on helping people with mental health concerns and addictions find employment. It is now a recognized leader in the development of social enterprises that meet community needs. Palmer attributes the Centre’s success to a commitment to innovation and a willingness to take risks. “We provide a bridge to independence for people who are struggling to find and keep a job. To do that, we need to be resourceful and establish unique initiatives that the community will support, and that fit the needs of our clients at the same time.”
10 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Cycle Salvation The idea for Cycle Salvation was inspired by the people coming to Causeway for help. “Most of them arrived on old bikes,” says Palmer, “because they could not afford other transportation. They already had an interest in bicycle mechanics. We saw a niche for employability and a marketplace for refurbished bikes. We took the risk to
to employment, while at the same time diverting bikes destined for scrap. “We are mostly about the people part of our mission,” says manager Paul Wylie. “But profit is important, too, if we are to maintain a sustainable business. We are also committed to helping the planet. We practice all of the 3Rs — reduce, renew, and recycle. I think a lot of people in the Ottawa community appreciate that.”
Two Businesses on a Mission Part of people development is creating a supportive work environment. “We build on people’s strengths,” says Wylie. “We take time to talk about common issues around employment and life goals. Sometimes, we may look like a motley crew, but we are a solid business with employees who work to their best capacity.”
establish a social enterprise business and it worked.” Cycle Salvation aims for a triple bottom line — profit, people, and planet — by providing training and employment in bike mechanics to people facing barriers
Staff at Cycle Salvation refurbish donated second-hand bicycles, which are then resold. Prices range from $40 to $70 for as-is bikes and $100 to $350 for completely overhauled bikes. In 2013, the business took in 1,000 bikes and sold close to 600 to satisfied customers. The shop at 473 Bronson Avenue is co-located with re-Cycles, a volunteer-run, non-profit, community bike shop. Mike Bridge, who has been with Cycle Salvation for two years, talks fondly about the bikes he puts back together. “Each bike has its own attitude. Some of them fight you, some of them overhaul easy. I’ve just
Photos: Courtesy of Causeway Work Centre
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 11
finished a high-end rebuild that will get a good price. She’s a beauty.” Bridge, 48, plans to launch his own mobile bike repair business later this year. With the help of a Causeway mentor, Bridge has developed a solid business plan and made the connections he needs to go out on his own. “Going to Causeway was a big help to me,” says Bridge. “I was in the wrong kind of work and I had housing problems. At Cycle Salvation, I found a job I love and got a fresh start. If you are ready to work, Causeway will set you in the right direction.” Staff at Cycle Salvation hone a variety of important skills beyond bike mechanics. Last year, they served some 6,000 people, which means hands-on learning about customer service, communication, and handling sales. “I learned something new every day about fixing bikes, but also
about how to work with people,” Bridge says. “I learned how to manage a business when I stood in for my manager when he was away.” RightBike RightBike is a community-oriented bikeshare service that promotes supportive employment and sustainable transportation. “Bike-sharing can be a great introduction to cycling,” says RightBike manager Shane Norris. “It lets someone save the up-front costs of buying and taking care of a bike. Eventually, it can lead people to decide that they want to use cycling as a more efficient and environmentally friendly form of travel in our city.” The bike-sharing service is easy to use. RightBike annual memberships ($60), day passes (just $5), and three-day passes
Cycle Salvation manager Paul Wylie (far right): helping staff build on their strengths, while building bikes 12 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
($20) are available for purchase online or at RightBike hubs (see sidebar). Pick up your purple, ready-to-pedal bike at one of the hubs and it is yours for the day and evening. Return it to any of the hubs when you are finished and lock it up with the secure lock that comes with it. Employees at RightBike — men and women — deliver and pick up bikes, service them, interact with customers and businesses, and participate in community events. “We have great partners in the community who help make the business work,” says Norris. In turn, RightBike helps to organize and participate in many community cycling events — over 20 last year. RightBike also makes its headquarter space available for community groups and businesses to use for demonstrations, events, and workshops. HWO
RightBike Hubs ◆ R ightBike HQ
1A McCormick Street
◆ Causeway Work Centre
22 O’Meara Street
◆ Hintonburg Community Centre
1064 Wellington Street West
◆ Cyclelogik
1111A Wellington Street West
◆ Mountain Equipment Co-op
366 Richmond Road
◆ Dovercourt Recreation Centre
411 Dovercourt Avenue
◆ Glebe Community Centre
175 Third Avenue
◆ Kunstadt Sports
680 Bank Street
176 CAMERON AVE
PH: 613-730-7207 I INFO@OTLBC.COM
www.otlbc.com
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Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 13
How You Can Support These Cycling Enterprises Visit the following websites for more information on these initiatives, their sponsors and partners, times of operation, upcoming events, and other details: ◆ www.causewayworkcentre.org ◆ www.cyclesalvation.org ◆ www.causewayfoundation.org ◆ www.rightbike.org Buy a bike from Cycle Salvation, and use RightBike services (and recommend them to others), including the DIY repair service ($5 an hour; free for RightBike members). Host a RightBike hub or a workshop or event at your place of business. You can also become a sponsor and have your support recognized on the fleet of purple bikes. Donate bicycles and bike parts and drop them off at Cycle Salvation (473 Bronson Avenue), Habitat for Humanity (2370 Walkley Road and 7 Enterprise Avenue), RightBike (1A McCormick Street), or Phat Moose Cycles (98 Hawthorne Avenue). Or call 613-722-4440. Bikes can be in any condition but should be adult size. Donate supplies including clean, old sheets and T-shirts, and old toothbrushes (used for cleaning), toiletries, and cleaning supplies for the bathrooms. Donate money online at the Causeway Foundation website, in person, or by mail. Donations of $50 or more to the Causeway Work Centre gives you two complimentary passes, invitations to events, and more.
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14 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Snack Smarts for Active Adults By Deb Gleason
S
nacking is an important source of calories and nutrients for active people. It gives you a needed boost before your workout, helps you sustain energy output during your workout and with recovery afterwards. Unfortunately, the grocery aisles are full of highly processed, nutrient-void snacks that our bodies have a hard time digesting or even recognizing as fuel. This can lead to a loss of energy and inflammation in the body, which is the active person’s enemy. Snacks made with whole foods from plant sources are the key to energy and fighting inflammation. Choosing real food your body can use right away without increasing inflammation makes good sense. The recipes from my Energizing Whole Food Snacks virtual cookbook are not only gluten-free and vegan, they are made with whole foods which your body recognizes as fuel and can use efficiently. Dates, nuts, seeds, oats, quinoa, and anti-inflammatory gems like ginger and turmeric are some of the whole food ingredients used in these delicious recipes. They are easy to make, and can be stored in the freezer for great grab-and-go snacks when you need them. They also pack well for longer training rides and races. HWO Deb Gleason is a certified holistic nutritionist and vegan lifestyle coach. She has a series of virtual cookbooks including recipes, shopping lists, and cooking videos on her website (www. debgleason.net) designed to empower you toward an easy transition to a healthy vegan lifestyle.
Want to dig into a protein-packed energy bar right out of the oven like the one Gleason’s enjoying? Turn the page for this and other tasty snack recipes from Gleason’s Energizing Whole Food Snacks virtual cookbook.
➥
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 15
ProteinPacked Granola Bars (Makes about 20 bars) Photos: Courtesy of Deb Gleason
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
2 cups rolled oats 1 cup cooked chickpeas, mashed ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds ½ cup dried cranberries ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut ⅓ cup pecans 2 teaspoons cinnamon ½ cup almond butter ⅓ cup maple syrup 2 chia eggs* ½ teaspoon sea salt
Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until very well-combined. Add the mixture to a 7" x 11" baking pan lined with parchment paper; this will make a thick granola bar. If you prefer, use a larger baking pan for a thinner bar. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, or until you see the top and sides browning. Allow to cool and then cut into squares. *To make chia eggs, mix 2 tablespoons ground or whole chia seeds with 6 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and set aside for 10 minutes until mixture becomes gel-like in its consistency.
16 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Chocolate Chip Granola Bites (Makes 12 bite-size balls)
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
½ cup cooked* quinoa ¾ cup oat flakes ⅔ cup toasted shredded coconut ¼ cup almond butter ¼ cup ground flax seeds (or ground chia seeds) ½ cup mini dairy-free chocolate chips or raw cacao nibs ¼ cup maple syrup ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl with your hands until the mixture becomes very sticky. Form small balls and store them in the fridge. *To cook quinoa, add twice as much water to quinoa in a small pot, cover with a lid, and allow mixture to come to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and allow mixture to simmer for 15 minutes or until all of the water is absorbed.
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 17
Chocolate Ginger Antiinflammatory Energy Bars (Makes about 30 bars)
INGREDIENTS ½ cup raw almonds ½ cup sunflower seeds 16 big soft dates, pitted (I like Medjool dates) 6 tablespoons hemp seeds (also called Hemp Hearts) 6 tablespoons chia seeds 4 tablespoons raw cacao or cocoa powder 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1 tablespoon ginger root peeled and minced or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS Make sure you have taken the pits out of the dates. Add all of the ingredients to your blender or food processor. Blend until the nuts
18 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
are in small pieces and the mixture is sticking together nicely. Remove mixture from your blender or food processor (if using a food processor, mix with hands in a bowl until it becomes sticky — you may need to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water) and place on a piece of parchment paper. Cover with parchment paper and use a rolling pin to spread out the mixture until it is about ¼-inch thick. Leave the mixture between the parchment paper, and place it in the freezer, allowing it to chill for about an hour. Remove it from the freezer and cut into bars using a knife or pizza cutter. You can store the bars in the freezer in a freezer-safe container (they won’t freeze solid). Note: You can also wrap them individually in plastic wrap to easily grab and go.
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 19
Championing Climate Change: By Michael Calvert
This is the conclusion of a two-part series profiling how Scott and Keely, and their daughters Kieryn and Taya, have impressively lessened their environmental footprint. They show us how we can do the same. “It isn’t easy being green.” — Kermit the Frog
The family (left to right): Scott, Taya, Keely, and Kieryn in their energyefficient home
20 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Photo: Jamie Kronick
A Family Affair I
n the last issue of Healthwise Ottawa, we learned how the McKenzie family of Old Ottawa East made dramatic reductions in their home energy consumption and their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, using an easy-tounderstand, three-step process.
The first step was to reduce their home energy consumption by 25 per cent, spending little or no money doing that. Things as simple as changing the kind of light bulbs in their home saved the McKenzies some $200 each year. Reducing the use of “phantom” power, the power drawn when devices are actually turned off and achieved by unplugging the freezer and home electronics when not in use, also made a significant saving. The second step was to make some key investments to reduce the family’s energy consumption and GHG emissions even further. The McKenzies already lived in an energy-efficient R-2000 home, so they installed two solar air heating units and a solar hot water system, replaced their energy-guzzling hot water tank, and started purchasing their power from Bullfrog Power. (While we can’t all live in an R-2000 home, we can nonetheless seal leaks, improve our home’s insulation, and install energy-efficient furnaces, doors, and windows.) Once they implemented these first two steps in their three-step process, the McKenzies reduced their GHG emissions by about
half. Impressive, right? But the family didn’t stop there. The final step — still ongoing — in the family’s prescription for reducing GHG emissions is more challenging, as it involves making some fundamental lifestyle changes and perhaps a few sacrifices, too. The objective is to reduce energy consumption by 80 per cent, which should make all the effort worthwhile. Investing in Bullfrog Power or another renewable energy provider might be considered enough. But, although this reduces electricity GHG emissions to zero, it is equally important to keep energy demands low. Using high-consumption appliances (like the washer, dryer, and dishwasher) during non-peak hours is an easy way to reduce peak demand on the electricity grid and simply a matter of changing our daily schedules. When possible, we should avoid using “convenience” appliances in our homes. Using a whisk instead of an electric mixer, letting hair air-dry rather than blow-drying it, or singing in the shower rather than listening to the radio are all simple ways to reduce energy consumption. Other changes are not so easy. For instance, living closer to work to walk rather than drive could significantly reduce automobile gas consumption. Scott and Keely were both able to change jobs and work closer to home. But obviously, this is often not an easy change to make. Nor is it always possible. Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 21
On the other hand, the couple had to deal with an unexpected increase in their automotive use when their daughters began taking weekly riding lessons in rural Ottawa. And then, after deciding not to get a second car and getting an electric bike for Scott’s short trip to work, the McKenzies were confronted with a decision of conscience when Keely’s parents generously offered them a used vehicle. Luckily, the car was a hybrid, so the impact on their GHG reduction goals was manageable. What we eat significantly affects GHG emissions. Having our own gardens, even small ones, and shopping at local farmers’ markets are both “green” ideas. A household diet that is predominantly vegetarian, local, or organic can reduce GHG emissions. This, of course, could be a major lifestyle change for some, so, as a start, why not institute a weekly practice of meatless Mondays? (Go to www. meatlessmonday.ca for more details.) Even the most dedicated carnivore could handle that, especially knowing that animal agriculture is responsible for between 18 per cent and 25 per cent of GHG emissions worldwide! Where and how we vacation and spend our recreational time is another area that can significantly impact our environmental footprint. Taking up cross-country skiing rather than snowmobiling or trading the motorboat for a kayak are conscious choices we could make…which would also have an added health benefit. A dream eco-vacation in Costa Rica is clearly not as green as a camping trip to Prince Edward County so, if you are travelling by plane, you should purchase carbon offsets to reduce the impact of air travel.
The McKenzies love to travel and, even though they have replaced some of their flying vacations with driving trips, this is still an area where they are above the average in reducing their GHG emissions. Every family will have areas that are easier to make changes to than others, so it’s a good idea to start with those first. It is clear that the McKenzies are a good model for us all. Scott recommends a longterm plan that involves all three steps, as described in this series. The secret to success is not to try to accomplish everything overnight but, instead, make the changes gradually over time — maybe over a ten- to twentyyear period. To ensure we are meeting our GHG reduction goals, we can begin by measuring our current emissions and then setting targets. We should all be able to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in the first year. The McKenzies realized a 50 per cent reduction in just three years, without a major impact on their lives. Cutting our emissions in half may take the rest of us up to 10 years, but it is certainly still a noble goal. Living sustainably should be a universal objective. The results clearly justify the effort — not just in a reduced environmental impact on our community and on the planet, but also for the personal benefits of living a longer, healthier, stress-free life. See, Kermit? HWO It’s easier than you think!
Michael Calvert is an Ottawa eco-preneur, and green building and healthy living advocate.
For energy-saving tips, turn to page 24! 22 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
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Help us create a future free of MS! Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 23
25 Ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are measured in kilograms of CO2 per year. The average Canadian household generates about 27,000 kg CO2 per year. To break that down a bit, the average refrigerator creates about 250 kg CO2 per year. The following chart lists a number of actions we can take to reduce our GHG emissions by a total of 25% — with the potential savings shown for each. Energy-Saving Actions
Heating and Cooling Electricity Transportation Food Consumption and Waste
Savings
525 Set the furnace to 20 C when you’re home, and to 17 C at night and when you’re out Use cold water to wash clothes 215 o Set the air conditioner to 25 C when you’re home 200 and 28oC when you’re out Turn down the hot water heater to 50oC 190 Use low-flow shower heads and faucets 140 Install compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs in 10 250 of your most-frequently used light fixtures Unplug your second fridge 250 Unplug your freezer 170 Stop using a clothes dryer 50 per cent of the time 130 Put TVs and computers on power bars and turn them 70 off when not in use Slow down to 100 kilometres per hour on the highway 275 Walk or bike to work one day per week 200 Take the bus to work one day per week 120 Carpool to work one day per week 100 Reduce idling by five minutes per day 100 Don’t eat meat for one day per week 370 Buy local food when possible 225 Grow your own herbs and vegetables 200+ Don’t eat prepared food one day per week 100 Drink tap water instead of bottled water 90 Take a driving vacation every second year instead of flying 1,800 Compost your food waste 400 Reduce your garbage by one bag per week 300 Recycle — use your blue and black boxes 160 Stop using a gas lawn mower or snow blower 90 o
TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS SAVINGS (25%) Source: Seventh Generation Community Projects and Tucker House
24 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
o
6,670
Cycling Fashionistas By Nicola Maule
I
f you’re looking for fashion inspiration while riding your two-wheeler to work and you’re not into lycra, check out the visually appealing and sometimes jaw-dropping Ottawa Velo Vogue blog. It was the brainchild of thirty-somethings Zara Ansar and Michelle President, who combined their creative talents in fashion and photography with their passion for cycling.
Photos: Courtesy of Ottawa Velo Vogue
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 25
“We both bike to our day jobs as federal public servants and we were noticing an increase in the variety of outfits of Ottawa’s cycling commuters that did not include lycra,” says Ansar. “We were excited to see more and more people decked out in dresses, skirts, suits, scarves, and highheeled shoes, while riding bikes of all styles and models. We were starting to feel like we were biking on the streets of Copenhagen
26 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
or Amsterdam. A light bulb went on and we came up with the idea of profiling cyclists with an edgy style or European flare.” The Ottawa Velo Vogue blog went live in July 2011 with a profile of a chic local cyclist. Since then, over 50 profiles have been posted on the blog. Each profile involves an artsy photo shoot of the fashionista cyclist, shot by Ansar, and a
short interview about why the person loves to cycle, a favoured cycling route, how to improve the cycling experience in this city, the brand of bike the person is riding, the clothing worn, and the preferred spot for a cold one after a ride. “At first, we were profiling people we knew; my landlord, for example. Then we got braver and began approaching people we
saw out on the streets. Now, more often than not, people are approaching us and want to be featured on the blog,� says Ansar. She profiles a wide cross-section of people including CBC personalities, tattoo artists, bankers, yoga instructors, and university professors. If you know of a chic Ottawa cyclist, drop Ansar a line at ilovevelo@ ottawavelovogue.com; she would love to hear from you.
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 27
Get more inspiration on chic cycle attire at the third-annual Ottawa Velo Vogue Fashion Show in June 2014. This bicycle fashion show is unique in Ottawa in that it features the latest in bike wear for men and women from international and local designers, new and vintage bikes, and cycling accessories. This show sells out quickly; for information
on where to purchase tickets, visit www. ottawavelovogue.com. All proceeds from the event goes to Cycle Salvation, a business that provides training and employment in bike mechanics to people who are economically disadvantaged. (See the article on the business in this issue.) At last year’s event, over $3,500 was raised for Cycle Salvation. The photos on the Velo blog are worth a thousand words. I can think of a few myself: healthy, wealthy, and wise. It is obvious that all the cyclists profiled are getting their daily fresh air and exercise, saving money on gas, helping to protect the environment, and looking chic while doing it. Hope to see you on the bike paths this spring. I might even try riding in heels. HWO
Nicola Maule is a writer who loves meeting new people and helping them network in her hometown of Ottawa. A partner in the communications and events management firm Connection360 (www.connection360.ca), she is always looking to bring new and exciting events to Ottawa.
Curious about fashionable Ottawa cyclists? Go to www.ottawavelovogue.com to see what people are wearing as they pedal around town.
28 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
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Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 29
Culinary Collaboration in the Capital By Nicola Maule
T
here’s a new trend in Ottawa and it’s taking place amongst local artisan food producers. These food entrepreneurs are combining their efforts to form “partnerships,” with the city’s foodie consumers the lucky beneficiaries. One such relationship transpired in the summer of 2012. It was a Sunday morning when Michael Sunderland, owner of Michael’s Dolce gourmet jam, met Erica Gilmour, owner of Hummingbird Chocolate and a newbie at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market. Sunderland fell in love with Gilmour’s 70% cacao, single-origin cacao chocolate bars that she makes by hand. “Erica and I have the same philosophy about making artisan products, which is to use the freshest ingredients, add some interesting flavour combinations and some tender loving care, and the product will sell itself,’’ says Sunderland. He had an epiphany and started experimenting with jam recipes
incorporating Hummingbird’s Bolivian dark chocolate, finally settling on the classic pairing of raspberry and chocolate. It met with instant success and is now one of Sunderland’s top-selling jams. “People love the velvety texture of the chocolate raspberry jam and it goes exceptionally well with plain Greek yogourt, ice cream, crepes, scones, or as a garnish on dessert plates.’’ Gilmour wanted to reciprocate Sunderland’s gesture and discovered that he made candied ginger. “I found a recipe for candied ginger dipped in chocolate and began experimenting with putting chunks of candied ginger into my Hispaniola chocolate bar, and it was a hit,’’ she says. The successful collaboration between the two “foodpreneurs” got Gilmour thinking about other local artisans out there who might be able to use her dark chocolate. As a result, more products were born. “Artisan food producers in Ottawa are very Photos: Jamie Kronick
30 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Michael Sunderland and Erica Gilmour mix jam with chocolate to produce a collaborative creation Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 31
open to helping one another, so it has been quite easy and fun to connect with them and create new products,” says Gilmour.
bar made with Nicaraguan cacao beans topped with chunks of maple sugar to make it sweet and crunchy.
Since appearing in Sunderland’s chocolate raspberry jam, Gilmour’s dark chocolate has been a hot commodity. Pascale’s Ice Cream is making a Hummingbird Chocolate sorbet, and Westboro’s World of Tea Master Tea Blender, Ji Li, is making cacaomint and chocolaty chai tea blends using Hummingbird’s chocolate nibs. Equator Coffee in Almonte is looking to collaborate with Gilmour to make a coffee chocolate bar and chocolate-covered coffee beans, and a local brewery is looking to make a chocolate stout. Local maple sugar from Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush is now being used instead of organic cane sugar to make a Hummingbird Chocolate
“We are thrilled to partner with other local artisans, and now we have to keep up with demand, but that is a good challenge to have,” Gilmour says. Currently, Hummingbird makes 1,200 chocolate bars a week, which begins with roasting cacao beans and ends with wrapping each bar by hand. Thus inspired, Sunderland is on a mission to integrate local farmers into his jam production. “I have always leaned toward making food simple, using the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmers, and this is what I try to do when I make my jam,” he says. “I am inspired by the California chef and author Alice Waters, who is a pioneer
Hummingbird Chocolate Artisanal Delights Erica and Drew Gilmour began experimenting with making chocolate in 2011 out of their kitchen in Stittsville. They started selling their Hummingbird Chocolate bars at farmers’ markets in 2012. The couple’s steady success has allowed them to move to a larger workshop in Almonte and to distribute their artisan chocolate bars to over 30 locations in the Ottawa area, as well as in British Columbia and Holland. The Hummingbird workshop is open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and tours of the workshop and chocolate tasting happens
32 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
every Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visit www.hummingbirdchocolate.com to register for the workshop tour, which costs $4 for adults and $2 for children. You will also be able to pick up chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs if you visit in April.
of a culinary philosophy that maintains that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally.” Waters has created a community of local farmers to assure her restaurant has a steady supply of quality ingredients. In 1996, Waters created the Edible Schoolyard at a middle school in Berkeley, California. It consisted of a one-acre garden, an adjacent kitchen-classroom, and an eco-gastronomic curriculum. The program is now nationally recognized for its efforts to integrate gardening, cooking, and sharing school lunch into the core academic curriculum. The success of the Edible Schoolyard has encouraged similar programs that use food traditions to teach, nurture, and empower young people.
In fact, in Ottawa, the Canadian Organic Growers’ city chapter has established organic school garden programs in 23 schools across the city. Ottawa has a blossoming artisan foodproducing community dedicated to making the highest-quality products using the freshest ingredients sourced from our region, whenever possible. The artisans are shining examples of the slogan “think globally, act locally.” Their collaboration with one another is inspiring and in turn has inspired new delicious creations. Alone, they make great products; together, they are making even better products that we can all enjoy. We can look forward to the farmers’ markets this season and support our local producers, while finding new, tasty treasures to try. HWO
Michael’s Dolce Gourmet Confections Michael Sunderland trained as a chef and worked as head pastry chef at Ottawa’s Vittoria Trattoria before he started Michael’s Dolce jams out of his home in 2009. He makes 14 unique flavours of jam, such as citrus ginger marmalade, pear vanilla, chocolate raspberry, and blueberry lavender. His newest jam is Peach Sriracha (homemade chili sauce). Now he operates out of a workshop on Gladstone Avenue that he shares with two other artisan food producers, and supplies over 30 stores in Ottawa and 10 stores around Ontario. He also makes candied ginger and candied citrus peel. For details about Michael’s Dolce jams, see www.michaelsdolce.com. To enjoy his rhubarb and cherry jam recipe, turn to page 34 in this issue.
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 33
michael´s dolce Rhubarb & Cherry Jam INGREDIENTS 2½ pounds rhubarb stalks, cut into 3-inch lengths 2 pounds organic cane sugar ⅔ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest 1¾ pounds pitted cherries
INSTRUCTIONS Combine rhubarb, sugar, and lemon juice in a stainless steel pot.
Place the pot on medium-low heat, stirring until juice begins to run from the rhubarb; then increase the heat to high and continue cooking. Bring to a boil for a few minutes; there should be ample liquid in the pot. Add the pitted cherries, and lower the heat. Cook until the jam has thickened, about 10 to 15 minutes; stir in the lemon zest. Ladle into mason jars; process according to manufacturer’s instructions. This jam is a great addition to Greek yogourt!
34 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
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Fitness: The Springboard to Recovery
Lisa Saunders
Story by Barb Wilson Photos by Jamie Kronick
36 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
W
e often read about the benefits of physical activity in our daily routines: improved metabolism, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and increased energy, to name a few. But can a good level of physical fitness improve recovery from illness or help manage disease?
20 years of teaching figure skating, you couldn’t perform a simple turn without falling? And then, people began looking at you a little strangely, because you didn’t seem to be talking all that clearly. Why couldn’t they understand you?
Two Ottawa-area women know it can. Their stories reveal strength — of character and of physical tenacity — in their relentless efforts to reclaim an active lifestyle after facing serious physical setbacks and challenges. Each woman has taken a different journey, and each continues to be a work-in-progress.
The married mother of three began to notice changes to her balance and coordination in March of that year. At her club’s annual skating show, Saunders was shocked to find she couldn’t complete the basic turns she’d been teaching pupils for 20 years. A few months later, she fell from her bike, fracturing her clavicle. Not long after, she was having trouble speaking.
A Marathon of a Different Kind Suppose that one day you woke up and found that your body wasn’t working? You’d been feeling out of sorts, but couldn’t quite figure out if it was just an overall sluggishness or something more serious. And then, you tumbled from your bike at 39 — after having cycled for the majority of your life, both for leisure and as a triathlete. And what if, after
Was this a nightmare? Yes, actually. Its name is Lyme disease and it struck Lisa Saunders of Perth, Ontario in the spring of 2009.
This just wasn’t Saunders at all, and she knew instinctively that something was very wrong. After a year of undergoing a battery of tests including a lumbar puncture and an MRI, she connected with specialist Dr. Steven Bock of Rhinebeck, New York. His diagnosis was something she’d feared: Lyme disease. Her symptoms had presented enough evidence earlier in her illness that she’d had a blood test for the disease, but it had come back negative. This time, there was no doubt. So after more than a year of living with the disease, Saunders was finally able to get the treatment she required. Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 37
Now, almost four years later, Saunders is working hard in her pursuit to regain her active lifestyle. But she still has a few kilometres left to go to return to optimal health, something she knows about, having been a four-time Boston Marathon participant, and an Ironman challenger in Lake Placid in 2005. Good health was something Saunders took for granted before the spring of 2009. While there’s no clinically defined timeline for making a full recovery, she acknowledges her progress. “I see small changes every day that get me back to me,” she says. Saunders has restarted her daily morning routine of running before work. “I used to run 10 kilometres most mornings; now I can only manage 6 kilometres, but that’s still progress. I know I’m not able to do my old speed work and hill work like I used to because I’m not quite there yet, and I still have some residual neurological damage,” she admits. Good balance still eludes her. “The thing I miss the most is not being able to figure skate. I’m petrified to be on my skates, as the ice is slippery and my ability to skate isn’t there.” Her coordination is a work-in-progress, but Saunders is determined. Her speech, once difficult and slurred, has returned to 98 per cent of its pre-illness state. She is convinced her fitness level before March 2009 helped her recovery over the last four years. “I try to get seven or eight hours of sleep every night. I prioritize a healthy diet and exercise daily, but I
38 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
always did. I truly feel if I hadn’t been as healthy as I was before getting so sick, I would never have recovered to the extent I did.” The stalwart support from her family was also a key motivator in Saunders’ recovery. “Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Husband Brian, parents Garry and Vivian Munroe, sister-in-law and marathon partner Leslie Mclean, and Saunders’ children all kept her spirits up. She recalls how her now 17-year-old son Logan vowed as a nine-year-old in 2005 to compete alongside her at the same Lake Placid Ironman triathlon his mother had completed that year. While neither he nor his mom may accomplish that assignment this year, he is no slouch when it comes to following in his mother’s fitness footsteps. “So far, he has done a few half-marathons and an Olympic distance triathlon [a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre cycle, and a 10-kilometre run],” Saunders says proudly. Instead of a mother-son competition, the Saunders clan — including Logan, daughter Lexi, 15, and younger son Nolan, 13 — will volunteer at the Lake Placid event, as they have done for the past nine consecutive years. It’s been a long road for Saunders and her family, but this runner knows something about stamina, and she is putting some serious distance between herself and the effects of this insidious disease. For more information on Lyme disease, turn to page 42 in this issue.
Noni Nathoo A “No-Quit” Attitude Pays Off This 33-year-old personal trainer at the downtown Ottawa’s GoodLife Fitness studio doesn’t know the meaning of “quit.” Noni Nathoo was diagnosed with a devastating and rare form of lymphatic arthritis at birth, but enjoyed an active life as a youth, dancing and playing national-level competitive soccer. Then, at 15, the disease hit her hard, paralyzing her within two years. Her doctors predicted she would likely never walk again, telling her the disease and its effects were permanent. Nathoo was shocked and angry at the prognosis but, before long, began looking for answers. “One thing that kept occurring to me was the fact that the doctors seemed surprised that the onset of the disease was so sudden and that I’d managed to become a competitive athlete despite having had this condition since birth,” she recalls. Nagging at her was an incessant feeling that there was a solution to her illness. “I simply had a stubborn feeling that I was supposed to decode or figure out what was going on, but I didn’t have any idea what that was,” she says. After reading volumes of self-help guides and tomes on natural healing, she consulted a naturopath who was
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 39
able to help her regain some upper body mobility. And slowly, through the support of family, sheer determination, and a belief that she was meant to walk again, Nathoo began to make progress. Unwilling to remain immobile, she fought her way out of bed each day and slowly began a painful, frustrating journey to stand, then to walk. “I turned to reading to educate myself about meditation and the power of the mind, and the resilience of our bodies and our immune system. I can only define my persistence as stubbornness and an inability to accept it [immobility].” Nathoo was convinced she was supposed to do more with her life than accept her physical limitations — and that conviction led her to her passion, albeit by a circuitous route.
Noni Nathoo on the TRX Suspension machine 40 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
By age 18, Nathoo had regained her mobility, and later completed a university education and worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Disillusioned with her inability in her chosen career to make a difference in the world of disease management, she considered her next path. Having joined GoodLife Fitness in 2007 to reactivate her physical activity, which had declined while she’d been working, Nathoo found inspiration in the group fitness classes. She also found her niche in a mixed martial arts-based cardio program offered by the club — so much so that the staff offered her an opportunity to instruct. Nathoo excelled and was well on her way to becoming a certified fitness instructor. “I was feeling better overall
despite the fact that movement was a struggle day to day due to chronic pain and flare-ups, but I knew I was on the right track, as these were becoming manageable and less debilitating.” A new fitness program that focuses on full-body strength workouts convinced Nathoo that she’d finally found her path. “This program [TRX Suspension Training] centres on working your core muscles and relies on body weight to act as the resistance in strength training,” she says. And then an interesting thing happened: her joint inflammation began to subside, her bone density increased, and her joints became stronger. There was no doubt in her mind that this program was working to manage her own symptoms. While not
the pharmaceutical solution to disease management to which Nathoo had originally hoped to contribute, she felt that she was making a difference. “I was coaching the TRX program and felt great doing it. I never thought this is where I would end up but each day, working with my clients and getting up on stage and teaching, I am reminded how lucky I am,” she enthuses. Finding her passion in fitness and movement, Nathoo truly believes that she has found her own elixir of life. Now, as a personal trainer at the club since 2011, she has come full circle, back to enjoying an active life helping others...and a life full of everyday victories over a disease she refuses to allow to reclaim her again. HWO
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Lyme Disease: By Barb Wilson
T
he Public Health Agency of Canada (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca) defines Lyme disease as “a serious illness spread by the bite of…blacklegged ticks…that feed on the blood of animals, including humans. People can come into contact with ticks by brushing against vegetation while participating in outdoor activities, such as, hiking, camping and gardening.” The risk for Canadians is generally low, but Ottawa, Perth, and Montreal are in the direct path of migratory birds that could be infected with the pernicious disease. If left untreated, the disease can attack the nervous, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems of the body.
Lyme Disease is on the Radar The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta recently raised its estimate of Lyme disease diagnoses annually in the U.S. from 30,000 to 300,000. In Scotland, scientists and physicians are teaming up to tackle what they believe has been a 1,000 per cent increase in the disease in the last decade. Awareness of this devastating illness is beginning to take hold. And that’s none too soon for Ottawa-based physician Dr. Jennifer Armstrong. The doctor is an environmental illness specialist
who also treats victims of Lyme disease, and she believes there are increasing numbers of sufferers in Canada. Before confirming a Lyme disease diagnosis, Dr. Armstrong takes methodical steps to rule out any other illness. Often, the symptoms of Lyme disease can look like other maladies such as environmental illnesses from allergies to chemicals and toxins or the presence of mold. Dr. Armstrong believes that detecting any underlying allergies, infections, or diseases is the key to optimizing the recovery of a Lyme disease sufferer. The immune system can be so busy tackling other conditions that it can’t effectively battle Lyme disease. “By the time patients come to see me, they are often so sick they’re ready to give up. Some have very little support because no one believes they’re really ill; or they’re financially drained from being sick, off work, and paying for treatments,” says the doctor. A red rash, resembling a bull’s eye, is often associated with Lyme disease. However, not all sufferers will develop the rash, which makes diagnosis problematic. “One of the most important things people should confirm is that they’re living in a safe home that’s free of mold,” the doctor stresses. Living with mold can produce headaches, severe fatigue, and joint pain — also symptoms of Lyme Photos: Courtesy of Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation
42 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
What You Need to Know
Playing in a grassy field shouldn’t be a debilitating activity Camping under the stars shouldn’t be a debilitating activity Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 43
disease. The U.S offers a urine test that detects the biochemical by-products of mold, but so far no such equivalent exists in Canada.
Improved Tests Will Help Current testing protocols for Lyme disease in Canada are also being vigorously debated in the medical community. Blood tests for the disease, alone, can be inconclusive. In order to get a blood test for the disease, a patient must reside in an officially designated Lyme endemic area. This is because officials believe that patients who reside outside such an area will typically produce a false-positive result. Those who want a blood test and live outside of the defined endemic area are forced to look to the U.S. for help. Because Lyme-carrier ticks are often transported by birds, many of them migratory, a growing number in the scientific and medical community believe formerly designated boundaries of Lyme endemic areas of Canada should be revisited. Blood tests examine the proteins, or bands, in a tick’s cell membranes to seek out Lyme disease. There are several important bands that can yield information about the disease, yet Canadian tests focus only on some, not others. “In Canada, we have removed some of the bands that are quite significant in diagnosing Lyme. Also, some strains would not show up on our current tests, so we may be missing diagnoses,” Dr. Armstrong speculates. If a blood test does detect Lyme disease, antibiotics are often prescribed. Ottawa pharmacist Scott Watson has dispensed shortterm antibiotics to patients diagnosed with
44 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
the disease and, while he doesn’t normally see them once their course of medication has been completed, he’s optimistic the short course of antibiotics helps. “In my estimation, patients do seem to improve — yet I don’t know that I’ve noted anyone to be cured,” he admits. Watson is hopeful the efforts to help the medical system define the disease and protocols for treatment will help all health care providers better understand and manage the illness. As a member of the Maryland-based International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society or ILADS, Dr. Armstrong and her colleagues have debated this and other issues. “We know we don’t have all the answers, and that this disease is complex. However, we do know that testing needs to be more exhaustive, and that we need to boost the immune system of sufferers by looking at allergies and toxicities to optimize a patient’s recovery. Simply treating patients with antibiotics is not enough,” she concludes.
A Lyme Disease Strategy for Canada The disease has caught the attention of political leaders in Ottawa. Green Party leader Elizabeth May proposed Bill C-442, An Act respecting a National Lyme Disease Strategy, which is currently at second reading. The Bill calls for a number of activities designed to raise awareness about the disease and establish best practices for the medical community to minimize risks to public health. The Bill also includes a call to provincial and territorial ministers responsible for health, in consultation with the medical community and patients’ groups, to develop a national strategy to tackle the issues of timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
“I became aware about the disease through a friend of mine who is wheelchair-bound with the effects from Lyme disease,” says May. “Several of my constituents also talked to me about the disease and its effects. It’s sort of an orphan issue, however. No one has taken ownership of it.” May knows the disease and its potentially devastating effects make it a truly nonpartisan issue. “This is really about compassion — the Bill seeks to establish awareness and prevention of the disease, improve diagnosis and treatment through better informationsharing in the medical community, and deliver a strategy to find a cure.” The Bill will continue through a second reading this spring and, if supported, will go to Committee for further examination. Then, a third reading and, it is hoped, a final HWO vote in June.
Playing in a field of green should not be harmful to one’s health
Links of Interest Public Health Agency of Canada: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/lyme-eng.php An article from the Scotland Herald on collaboration between scientists and doctors: www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/scientists-and-doctors-unite-to-defeat-tick-bitedisease.23053908 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates for Lyme disease in Americans: www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0819-lyme-disease.html International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society: www.ilads.org The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation: www.canlyme.com
Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 45
TakeNote! Commitment to Care: Watson’s Pharmacy & Compounding Centre
S
cott Watson and wife Katie Lafferty’s Watson’s Pharmacy & Compounding Centre provides prescriptions and overthe-counter products delivered with solid advice, education, and customer care. That care has resulted in Watson’s Pharmacy & Compounding Centre being named the top integrated pharmacy in Canada at the 2013 Commitment to Care & Service Awards held in Toronto in November last year. The award, one of nine national prizes, recognizes outstanding service, practice, and professionalism from among all independent pharmacies and major drugstore chains across Canada. Watson’s Pharmacy was the only pharmacy from Eastern Ontario recognized during the ceremony. Watson’s Pharmacy also sells high-quality supplements and vitamins tailored to specific health needs. This individualized approach extends to the compounding lab, where Scott
Katie Lafferty and Scott Watson
Watson himself works hand-in-hand with physicians to develop customized medicines that may not be commercially available. The family-owned pharmacy first opened its doors in 2006 with its store at 192 Main Street in Old Ottawa East; in 2012, the second location opened at 1308 Wellington Street West in Wellington Village. Thank you, Scott and Katie, for your ongoing “commitment to care” in our community!
Seeing Clearly for 100 Years: Bastien Prizant Optometrists
T
hree generations of Bastiens have been eye doctors in downtown Ottawa, and 2013 marked the 100th anniversary for this familyrun business.
Michel Bastien began practising optometry in 1972 and Harry Prizant joined the practice in 1982. It was Michel’s dream to get to 100…and they did it! Their secret? Good service, hard work, and honesty — all values that Bastien and Prizant were raised with. “We love people. People feel it!” In honour of their 100 years, Bastien Prizant Optometrists are donating 100 pairs of eyeglasses to the Ottawa-Carleton District 46 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Dr. Michel Bastien and Dr. Harry Prizant
School Board for students who cannot afford them. Congratulations, Michel and Harry, on your HWO century of clear-sightedness!
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Cancer Care: By Barb Wilson In our last two issues, we profiled two professionals from the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre who use less conventional approaches in caring for cancer patients: a clinical nutritionist focussing on whole foods in her dietary counselling, and a psychotherapist who offers psychological tools to help in healing. We continue the series in this issue by introducing you to two medical doctors who embrace an interdisciplinary and complementary approach to cancer care in the city. One is a naturopathic doctor; the other, a medical oncologist. Both see a need for collaboration between complementary and conventional medicine disciplines.
C
ancer patients these days are challenging health care providers to offer them a variety of therapeutic options. In Ottawa, the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) is meeting that challenge.
while natural remedies have existed for centuries, they began to take a back seat to conventional medicine with the emergence of successful pharmaceuticals and an emphasis on evidence-based health care.
With naturopathic and complementary medicine added to conventional therapies, the OICC’s naturopathic doctors, therapists, nutritionists, and other health care providers give patients a range of choices in managing their disease. Delivered together, conventional and natural approaches have the potential to provide a means for patients to better manage the effects of their disease, and enjoy a better quality of life.
No one is more aware of this than naturopathic doctor Dugald Seely, Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO). He is the founder and executive director of the OICC, and leads the Centre’s clinical practice and cancer research program. The doctor recognizes the need for better research on natural therapies to move these treatments into the realm of acceptability among more conventional medical practitioners. “There’s no question we’re far from where we want to be. It’s slow, but we’re making progress,” he admits.
Traditionally, naturopathic and conventional medicines have existed as two solitudes in their approaches to disease treatment. And
Photos: Jessica Deeks
48 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
A Collaborative Approach
(Left to right): Dr. Shailendra Verma and Dr. Dugald Seely: collaborators in complementary medicine Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 49
“An environment of healing needs to take place for the best patient outcome,” says Dr. Seely. He is seeing a collaborative approach work quite successfully between his facility and The Ottawa Hospital. Rather than having patients hesitate to consult a naturopathic practitioner for fear of appearing disloyal to their traditional oncologists, some of the more pioneering conventional practitioners are advocating a whole-person approach to disease management, involving complementary therapies. While not the norm, the practice of “whole care” is gaining traction in the medical community.
Dr. Dugald Seely takes a less conventional approach to cancer care
One Size Does Not Fit All As any medical practitioner will tell you, cancer treatments vary in their success rates, depending on the patient’s individual condition. What works successfully for one may not work for another. A collaborative approach to treatment can provide patients with more choice and involvement in their own care. The conventional approach to treating cancer tends to group together patients who suffer from similar symptoms and disease progression, and provides standard therapies that include a combination of surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. In Canada’s financially challenged health care system, there is little room for tailored or individualized approaches. That’s where the complementary naturopathic therapies, offered through clinics like the OICC, can help.
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In fact, hospital leaders often tell Dr. Seely that patients are increasingly asking about options for their cancer treatments beyond those of the oncology clinics. “Patients are familiar enough with the traditional cancer treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy, but they’re increasingly seeking a whole-person approach to their care,” he says. A strong advocate for this approach is Dr. Shailendra Verma, a medical oncologist at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, who has practiced at the The Ottawa Hospital since 1985. He is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and is an adjunct research professor in the Institute of Neuroscience at Carleton University. He is also a member of the OICC’s scientific advisory board. “There is no question that the relationship between health practitioner and patient is very important,” says Dr. Verma. “We can drive patients’ treatments with fear, or we can drive them with knowledge. I believe it’s important to give patients all the information we can so they can make informed choices about their care, including the option for naturopathic therapy.”
Dr. Verma notes that unconventional, or natural therapies, are not taught in medical schools because of the fundamentally different approach to disease. Conventional medicine simply can’t understand the naturopathic approach. In Dr. Verma’s view, it is more important than ever for there to be dialogue and collaboration.
Facing the Future and the Challenges Ahead There is a growing body of evidence regarding the positive effects of natural therapies, but, as Dr. Seely admits, it’s not as well-known as the research generated for conventional medicine. This research, the cost of which is staggeringly high, is often supported financially by large pharmaceutical companies that have a vested interest in evaluating the results of their products. “We conduct systematic reviews to digest what’s currently out there
with respect to the evidence from natural treatment outcomes. We need to get to a non-biased literature review and, from that, extract what is relevant for patients. There’s still much that we don’t know.” Performing that review and gap analysis, however, costs money. Says Dr. Verma, “There is simply not enough objective information regarding natural therapies to drive them forward in a concerted fashion. Testimonials are not data, and that’s a fundamental block to moving naturopathic medicine forward in the conventional arena.” Dr. Verma’s role as a scientific advisor with the OICC is to help move that yardstick forward. “Dr. Seely recognizes the requirement to increase the quantity and quality of research into naturopathic medicine in order to enhance its value in the medical arena. For that reason, he and I are committed to ensuring sound research is undertaken. We need to lobby very effectively for the funds to do that.” Both doctors are adamant about one thing: respect. Respect for each other to understand the role naturopathic therapies can play alongside conventional treatments, and their common commitment to seeking to expand the evidence to support that approach. But above all, respect for patients’ choices regarding their own disease management.
Dr. Shailendra Verma advocates for a wholeperson approach to cancer treatment
And so, if Dr. Seely and Dr. Verma have their way, there will be greater collaboration between naturopathic and conventional medicine. Good science will bolster the credibility of natural therapies, and the scientific and medical communities will gain a better understanding of natural treatments and their role in patient wellness. Perhaps most importantly, cancer patients will have more options for their approach HWO to care.
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Cycling:
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ycling is a terrific way to exercise, or commute around town, or do a bit of both. And to get you motivated, we asked writer Jeff Mackey to profile three very different organizations that focus on bicycling in a unique way…and also, with an eco-friendly approach. Whether you’re an agriculture buff who loves good food made locally, a retired person who enjoys being physical, or a biking aficionado who’s not afraid of a tough and challenging ride, read on. You might just be inspired to get into gear by one of these groups and join them for one of their varied cycling jaunts. 52 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
A Sustainable Way to Travel Challenging Your Inner Activist
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he Otesha Project isn’t the type of organization that throws together a standard, run-of-the-mill cycling tour. The motivated group believes in changing the world by making small changes in one’s own life that add up to a big difference.
bicycle and just ride away; it is quite empowering,” explains Kayla Siefried, programs coordinator at The Otesha Project. “You feel like you’re a truly humanpowered machine that can get from point A to B, and you don’t need to rely on fossil fuels to get around.”
Otesha operates a set of experiential learning and environmentally conscious bike tours nationwide that can incorporate anything from performing a play to learning about how to farm mushrooms. These trips are not exactly the Tour de France. The bikes are loaded like pack mules for their journey, and accommodations can vary from a bed in the house of an Otesha supporter to camping out under the stars.
Along with learning about some of the different aspects of organic farming, riders are taught the information and skills they need to live more sustainable lives and make a difference in their communities when they return home. Perhaps most importantly, everyone involved in an Otesha Project tour should expect to get some dirt under her or his fingernails.
“It feels really awesome to pack everything you need to survive on the back of your
The Project puts on two different types of tours, with about 15 riders for each. The tours on the West and East Coasts
Photos: Courtesy of The Otesha Project
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are more physically demanding, geared to 18- to 30-year-olds, and are based around a live performance about sustainability and social justice, a play called Cycling Through Change. Alternatively, the tours that leave from Ottawa and Toronto are for all ages and focus more on agriculture, the ethics surrounding the food we eat, and a sustainable life cycle. In 2012, The Otesha Project ran one such Pedal to Plate Tour in Ottawa. The nine-day, 300-kilometre
Cyclists get down and dirty in an Otesha Project tour 54 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
tour went to some of the region’s smalland large-scale organic farms, featured talks from a diverse group of sustainability advocates, and more than a bit of fresh air. Last year, the tour took place in Toronto, but it will be back in Ottawa in 2015. “The tour around Ottawa is pretty awesome for beginner cycle tourists,” says Siefried. “If you have a well-fitted bike and train your body so it won’t get sore, and if you take your time, you can get pretty far on a fully loaded bike. It just takes some forethought.”
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The word “Otesha” comes from the Swahili word “reason to dream.” To date, the dream has become a reality for The Otesha Project: it’s reached about 165,000 Canadians through its tours, performances, workshops, and keynote presentations. Otesha has also trained over 500 sustainability advocates through their cycling program. People looking to ride on an Otesha Project tour are considered volunteers and are expected to conduct some fundraising to help support the ride. If you’re interested in The Otesha Project and its various endeavours, check out the website at www.otesha.ca.
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Touring Community Gardens by Bike
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rban agriculture and cycling make for an interesting combination — one which Just Food recognizes. The mission of this local grassroots, non-profit organization is to “work towards a vibrant, just and sustainable food system in the Ottawa region.” Over the last seven years, it has led a bike tour that visits some of Ottawa’s centrally located community gardening projects. The annual Urban Agriculture Bike Tour runs in late August and offers people interested in urban agriculture a chance to see the community gardens in their city, first-hand. The goal is to raise awareness about community gardening and sustainable food systems, share in some of
the history surrounding the gardens and, of course, munch on some of the delicious local snacks. Popular stops on the tour include the Children’s Garden at Robert Leggett Park, Lees Avenue Community Garden, and Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden, among others. “You get a chance to meet the community gardeners at their site and hear about what it was like to grow a site in a particular urban space and some of the different challenges that can bring,” says Terri O’Neill, Community Gardening Network Coordinator with Just Food. “The coordinators of the gardens are usually eager to share with people the fruits (and veggies) of all their labour after working so hard to get a garden up and running.” The approximately 15-kilometre ride also swings by some front yard edible gardens in neighbourhoods like Old Ottawa South. “It is not meant to be a timed event, just a leisurely thing to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon,” says O’Neill. “It’s something fun we can all do together, but you can take it at
Checking out the Lees Avenue Community Garden Photos: Courtesy of Just Food
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are encouraged to provide a donation to Just Food.
your own pace, meet some new people, and enjoy some lovely local food.” Given how susceptible the event is to the weather, the turnout for the tours can vary drastically year to year; fortunately, cyclists can hop on and off the tour as it weaves through the city. Organizers estimate the ride has brought out about 60 participants each August in recent years. The tour is free, but participants
Highly active in the Ottawa community gardening scene, Just Food runs various projects in the city, ranging from publishing a “buy local” food guide to running the Just Food Farm, a community food and sustainable agricultural hub on the west side of Blackburn Hamlet. If you want to participate in the bike tour in August or want to learn more about Just Food, you can sign up for its newsletter at www.justfood.ca for all the latest details and developments.
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Putting the “Tire” into Retire
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taying fit in retirement isn’t easy for everyone. It can be tempting to slip into bad habits as one gets older. Being active can become more and more challenging. The members of Ottawa’s Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society (CCCTS), however, are not the type to just sit around and watch the clouds go by. The group of over 70 Ottawa-area cyclists, almost all of whom are retired, range in age from their mid-fifties to well over 80. “I think [we are popular] because retired people have the time and they don’t particularly want to join a club that only rides on the weekends,” says Barbara Wilson, coordinator of the Ottawa chapter of CCCTS. “This gives us a chance to ride during the weekdays when it is less crowded on the bike paths and roads we use.”
During cycling season, the group meets on Tuesdays for longer rides, usually around 100 kilometres, and Thursdays for slower, shorter distances. Many of the club’s members have been riding together for years. If the weather permits, they like to take picnic breaks for lunch and chat in the sun before continuing their ride; if the weather isn’t cooperating, the group often eats at restaurants. Among the club’s members is a man who will not let his age dictate how he chooses to stay fit. “He is an amazing man,” says Wilson. “He is 84 and very ‘with it.’ His riding has slowed down a bit in the last couple of years, but he still does his best to get out there and ride.” The Ottawa club, which is one of the larger CCCTS chapters in the country, really is a city-wide group. It organizes rides from one end of the Ottawa area to the other.
Photo: Courtesy of CCCTS Ottawa Chapter
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“We don’t do too many rides inside the city; the idea is kind of to get out of it,” says Wilson. While Britannia Beach is the default location for starting their rides, club members like to change up the startpoints and routes to keep things fresh. Generally, the rides are destination-based, with a clear start and end point in mind beforehand. Cyclists can volunteer each week to organize a tour and lead it to a destination of their choosing. “I live in Orleans so I tend to lead a lot of the rides out east, because we have some lovely destinations out here — places like Bourget and Russell and Limoges,” says Wilson. “In the West End, we might go
to a place like Pinhey’s Point, Carp, or sometimes Metcalfe.” One needs to be cautious when cycling, and the club is careful to ensure their members’ safety. Wilson says that CCCTS is very “stringent” about being safe on roadways. “Some of our rides are totally on bicycle paths, but most of our rides are on roads because we tend to be faster riders and there is a speed limit on the bike paths.” If you’re thinking of joining the CCCTS, go to www.cccts.org to find out more about local rides and CCCTS-led international tours. Potential new members are welcome to join the Ottawa group for one ride to see for yourself if the club is right for you. HWO
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Clearing Up Hormone By Kent MacLeod
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re hormones safe or are they dangerous? Should a woman supplement with hormones or not? What is the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones? While medical doctors should be educating women about the risks and benefits of hormones, many doctors are unfamiliar with bioidentical hormones. Hormone replacement therapy can be crucial for women going through that time of life — menopause — jam-packed with mood disturbances, weight gain, hot flashes, insomnia, lack of concentration, low sex drive, and more. In fact, many women are either unaware of the benefits of hormones or are simply too scared to try them. Are hormones safe, or not? It depends on which particular hormones a person is prescribed and the relative risks associated with that person’s medical history or alternative treatments. In the past, it was common for women to use synthetic hormones. More recently, the Women’s Health Initiative research study demonstrated that these hormones posed more risk than benefit and the study actually ended before its completion, as the women taking synthetic hormones were at 60 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
an increased risk of breast cancer. That is when the medical world generally stopped prescribing hormones. However, the research did not differentiate between the effects of synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones. The latter, unlike synthetic hormones, mimic a woman’s natural estrogen and progesterone. Research shows that a combination of bioidentical progesterone and estrogen does not increase the risk of breast cancer. Of course, there are risks to using any medication, but how do hormones compare to the alternative? A woman going through perimenopause (the period of time before menopause) often experiences a lack of sleep because of constant waking throughout the night. A lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk of death from all causes, and contributes to weight gain, depression, and anxiety. This eventually leads the doctor to prescribe sleeping pills and antidepressants. Do the risks associated with hormones outweigh the risk of taking sleeping pills or antidepressants? The answer is, no. Sleeping pills and antidepressants are addictive and may be detrimental to overall health. Estrogen is extremely important when it comes to clearing cholesterol in the body.
the Confusion! During menopause, the lack of estrogen tends to increase a women’s total cholesterol, putting her at an increased risk of experiencing heart issues. Many doctors will then prescribe a statin drug to control the concern. Statin drugs are known to have multiple side effects including physical pain. Bioidentical estrogen might be a better alternative for many women, as it addresses the root cause of the problem.
bioidentical hormones, with one of Canada’s expert gynecologists in the field of hormone replacement therapy. The gynecologist asked the doctors what they did to treat perimenopausal and menopausal women. All of them indicated that they prescribed antidepressants. When the gynecologist asked why this was the case, most of the doctors in the room
So why are doctors not prescribing bioidentical hormones? Many do not know the difference between synthetic hormones and the bioidentical ones. They are unaware that bioidentical hormones are the same as the hormones produced by the human body and pose significantly less risk. Case in point: A dozen family doctors were invited to attend a recent seminar in Ottawa on
Š Robert Bayer | Dreamstime.com
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explained that their patients did not ask them about hormones. Antidepressants are addictive, reduce a person’s natural serotonin (happy-brain chemical), reduce one’s sex drive, and can increase suicidal rates in certain individuals. By visiting the wrong doctor, a woman might end up on Prozac instead of progesterone. This treatment method does not address the root cause of the problem and the woman will eventually end up on a sleeping pill, a cholesterol pill, a diabetes pill, or some other unnecessary medication. Pharmaceutical companies are aware of the benefits of bioidentical hormones and are making them commercially available through prescription. The challenge with these is that they only come in one dose. When a woman is about to begin taking hormones, she must first get an idea of what her natural levels are. Some women might only need progesterone; others might require estrogen, as well. Women are not created equally, which means they should not be supplementing with the same dose. Compounding is a pharmaceutical term that means making a drug in different
doses (higher or lower) and with different ingredients (no dye or similar additives that are found in prescription drugs). With compounded hormones, a woman’s hormone intake can be custom-made for her! In the end, what matters most is that women are aware of the benefits of bioidentical hormones. By using them, women can save themselves from the negative effects of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms without resorting to a cabinet filled with pills. Clearing up the hormone confusion is key to removing the misery of menopause. HWO Kent MacLeod is the founder and CEO of NutriChem Compounding Pharmacy and Clinic. An international thought leader, he is also an awardwinning pharmacist with over 30 years of clinical experience in delivering patient-centred health care. MacLeod is a published author and an international speaker on current health issues. See www.nutrichem.com.
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Sensually Green: Eco-Products for Your Sexual Health By Debra Huron
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aroline Séguin and high school friend Martee Larocque don’t shy away from talking about healthy sex. Their online business sensual-intelligence.ca offers ecosexy products that reflect the women’s desire to help adults enhance sexual pleasure in body-safe and eco-friendly ways.
(Left to right): Caroline Séguin and Martee Larocque are passionate about their eco-sexy products
Photos: Jessica Deeks
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Body-safe? Eco-friendly? What do these terms mean inside the world of adult sex toys and lubricants (or lubes, as they’re often referred to)?
registered holistic nutritionist, to stock only products that support good health. It’s a bonus that many are Canadian-made and designed.
According to the two business partners, adult sex toys are eco-friendly when they do not rely on disposable batteries. Energy for the vibrating toys mostly comes from a wall plug, although some can be charged using a computer’s USB port. Not using petrochemicals in their manufacturing is another way these products can be eco-friendly.
For Séguin, the focus on body-safe products began when she was pregnant with her first child. She now has two boys, aged two and four. “During my first pregnancy, I read a book called Healthy Child, Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan, and then I threw out absolutely everything with parabens. I shouldn’t say that I freaked out, but I freaked out.
Body-safe? Here’s where the two thirtysomething Ottawa entrepreneurs really show off the intelligence part of their company’s name. Investigating the materials that go into sex toys has taken Séguin and Larocque into the underworld of nasty substances that commonly exist in the adult toy world (see our sidebar, The Pathogenic P’s). Months of research led Séguin, who has a background in retail and marketing, and Larocque, who is a
“I have an aunt who had breast cancer and survived. I have a grandmother who had uterine cancer. This is something I became really concerned about. In utero, babies already have parabens in their bloodstream.” The lubes available on drugstore shelves often contain parabens, which are known to disrupt hormone function. “People will think about buying eco-friendly shampoo and body-safe soaps, but they’ll never think about what’s in their lube. They just think: that’s what’s on the shelf, and there’s no alternative.” Séguin and Larocque were well aware of the sensitive parts of customers’ bodies that their products would contact. During the research phase, for her part, Larocque spent hours conferring with a former work colleague who is a biochemist. “I would take ingredient lists [for lubes] over to him, and he would be, like, ‘yeah, no, yeah, no…that’s more benign than this.’ We were very blessed to have someone like him [involved].”
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Larocque describes the adventure with sensual-intelligence.ca as “a very human experience.” We all have sex, she says. “It’s an integral part of life.” The shame that older people might feel still exists. When she and Séguin attend fairs and festivals with their display, they meet people — mostly women — who have felt only shame about sexuality all their lives. “We have our pictures on our website, so we’re showing people that we’re not ashamed,” Larocque says. “We are womenrun, and this work is our passion. We care about what it is people are putting in and on their bodies.”
The duo uses email to answer questions from customers. Their website also features a chat function. They have garnered about 500 customers since they launched the online business in February of 2013. Friends and family supported them at the start, they say, but aside from a driver for local orders, it’s really just the two of them who keep things going. And do they use brown paper bags to deliver their goods? Of course not! They use bright green, biodegradable plastic bags — or cardboard boxes for larger orders travelling across or outside the country. HWO
The Pathogenic P’s
You will not find these at sensual-intelligence.ca! Parabens are preservatives found in many creams and lotions. They are proven to disrupt estrogen functions. Larocque says: “In women, they are linked to any kind of ovarian or uterine or breast cancer. Breast tissue biopsies exposed parabens in the tumours of breast cancer patients. That’s very alarming.” Parfum refers to chemical scents. Says Larocque: “When you see ‘parfum’ on a label, this one ingredient can contain hundreds of ingredients. By law, the companies do not have to list the stuff that makes it up. So when you see that word, just steer clear because it’s a chemical soup. That’s how I see it.” Séguin adds: “Even though ‘parfum’ may be listed at the end of the ingredient list and is
0.15% of the product, when you smell the product, there’s a strong scent! So why don’t they have to list what it contains? Maybe we should know what it is!” Phthalates are chemical substances added to plastics to increase flexibility. Canada banned them from children’s toys in 2011. Larocque: “The number of [sex toy] products we carry is much lower than other companies because we refuse to sell any of these blends [that contain phthalates], especially the jelly toys, or those with skin-like materials. These are the toys you want to steer clear of.” Séguin: “Some emit a strong odour on their own, and manufacturers will often use a baby powder scent to cover up the plastic smell.”
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Dick Griffith: he may be over 80, but he’s still paddling strong 66 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
Canyon Sage: Inspired Adventures with an Octogenarian By Kaylene Johnson Publisher’s Note: In October 2013, my husband and I joined friends for an adventure vacation in the Grand Canyon. Our whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River with Wilderness River Adventures (www.riveradventures.com) was an incredible experience. Meeting Dick Griffith and Kaylene Johnson on this trip made it even more special…Griffith shared stories of his wilderness travels as we made our way along the river.
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heer canyon walls rose vertically on either side of the Colorado River as we approached the churning whitewater. Dick Griffith and I knelt on the floor of the inflatable raft, a position from which we were less likely to be swept overboard. The next moment, a cold wave crashed over us. I gasped for breath as one wave after another pummelled us. It felt like being flung around inside a washing machine, not knowing which side was up. The raft was hung up on a rock with water pouring over the top. When we finally lurched out of the hole, Griffith was battered but grinning. A slight grimace indicated a badly bruised hand, but he never complained. The man is 86 years old and the oldest living river runner of the Grand Canyon.
I met Griffith at a family dinner in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2010. His son brought out binders full of photos and travel journals for me to see. I quickly fell headlong into Griffith’s colourful adventures as he travelled thousands of miles across the American West, Mexico, Alaska, and the Canadian Arctic. It took a while to convince Griffith that his stories needed to be told to an audience wider than his immediate family. Eventually he said, “You do it.” And so, I set about writing his biography Canyons and Ice: The Wilderness Travels of Dick Griffith. Over the course of a year, Griffith and I met weekly to discuss his adventures. From his diaries, I learned how he pioneered rafting in the Glen and Grand Canyons and was the first to run the notorious Lava Falls in an inflatable raft. I read about how he and his late wife, Isabelle, were the first to descend the canyons of the Barranca del Cobre in Mexico. We talked about the fortitude it took for Griffith to ski and walk more than 6,000 miles alone and unassisted across Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. And we talked about the close calls that pushed him up against his own mortality. After recounting the harrowing details, he would say, “It was no big deal.”
Photo: Kaylene Johnson
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I often think of these sessions as Tuesdays with Morrie meets Into Thin Air. Through the course of the year it took to write the book, we became good friends. I had never rafted the Grand Canyon and, especially in light of the book, I wanted to experience this adventure with Griffith himself. He agreed to go along on the first commercial trip he’d ever taken. Griffith had gone on dozens of private trips as a boatman and cook, as recently as 2011. On this trip all the work would be done for us — our only job was to sit back and enjoy the scenery by day and the stars by night. Our river guides were delightful hosts through a landscape that defies description. Griffith was not content to be a passenger on the trip, however, and by the second day
he had finagled his way to a seat at the oars. He rowed much of the length of the river, leaving the big rapids to the younger guides. He finessed the smaller rapids and made sport of getting the guides wet, while sparing the rest of the passengers. Each morning, he got up early and watched the guides rise sleepily from their slumber on the boats, chiding them. “Let’s get those sticks in the water!” he’d say. They laughed with him, revelling in the stories he told along the 364 kilometres of river. Griffith had lived much of the river-running history that these young guides had learned as part of their jobs; he knew the men and women in the very stories they recounted to their clients. What It Means to Stay Healthy at Any Age
As I watched him interact with people on the trip, I thought about the things that Griffith has done to remain vibrant well into his 80s. He has stayed active all his life. Sedentary is not in Griffith’s vocabulary. Over the years he has paid little attention to fitness for its own sake, but, nonetheless, he is always on the move. He cuts and stacks wood for his wood-burning stove. He walks his dog daily. He stays engaged. He calls himself a political junkie and reads the latest news from around the world. In our international group of river travellers, he knew the presidents and prime ministers of all their countries and had conversational knowledge of their current political affairs.
Photo: Kaylene Johnson
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He volunteers. He has made it nearly a fulltime job to volunteer for the Eagle River Nature Center in Alaska, where over the years he has built cabins, outhouses, and many miles of trails. He grumbles about being too busy at times, but it doesn’t keep him from his new hobby of building custom dollhouses for his great-granddaughter.
Photo: Courtesy of Dick Griffith
He maintains a sense of humour. While he laments that his strength and stamina are not what they once were, he is quick to make people laugh. He often tells people in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s that they are in their prime. “Don’t waste time complaining,” he says.
Griffith (in yellow vest) finesses the rapids. You can read more about this extraordinary man and this Grand Canyon adventure in Kaylene Johnson’s book, Canyons and Ice.
On the last night of our 14-day oar trip through the Grand Canyon, I stared up at the canopy of stars and thought, “I think that at this point in his life — after all he’s achieved and all that he’s been through — Dick Griffith is still becoming his very best self.” I quietly pondered this under the canyon’s night sky. Perhaps that is what Griffith has really taught me since I have known him: the finest gift to others and to ourselves is when, at any stage in life, we are still becoming our HWO best selves. Kaylene Johnson is the author of Canyons and Ice: The Wilderness Travels of Dick Griffith. She lives in Eagle River, Alaska (www.canyonsandice.com). Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 69
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Watson’s Pharmacy & Compounding Centre www.watsonspharma.com . . . . . Back Cover
Young Living − Melanie Farrell-Cook
www.facebook.com/ melyounglivingessential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
READER’s CONTEST — Enter to win
The Vegetarian Dining Contest! Your chance to win gift certificates to Café My House, La Belle Verte, The Green Door, and The Table Restaurant. The lucky winner will dine on delicious vegetarian meals made with fresh, local, and organic ingredients. See www.healthwiseottawa.com for contest details. Deadline date: June 3, 2014 70 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA Spring/Summer 2014
We are naturopathic doctors, medical doctors, counsellors, nutritionists, researchers, patients, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. We are your not-for-profit community partner and together we are building integrative cancer care. The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre.
To make an appointment call 613.792.1222 or visit www.oicc.ca Spring/Summer 2014 HEALTHWISE OTTAWA 71
Watson’s& PhaRmacy national award winner for top integrated pharmacy program!! Scott Watson
Professional Compounding Centers of America
Old Ottawa East 192 Main St. 613- 238-1881
Wellington Village 1308 Wellington St. 613-238-1882
WWW.WATSONSPHARMA.COM