Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine Summer 2013

wellness

Okanagan Health &

Summer 2013

OHW Magazine

MAGAZINE

Stand Up and Paddle for our lakes, for fitness and for fun P. 15

Crazy Busy Stress P. 10

Going Gluten Free

Complimentary

P. 12

The Great Drug Debate P. 23

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contents

Summer 2013

Volume 1 Issue 3

15

Stand Up and Paddle!

NATURAL HEALTH 8 The Power of Food Reactions Food allergies and intolerances can wreak havoc with your immune system.

The good news is, with a proper diet, your immune system can be healed.

10 Crazy Busy Stress Don’t let the stress in your life make you sick. Recognize stress factors before they take over, and learn to relax a little.

NUTRITION 12 Going Gluten-free–the Right Way Choosing a gluten-free diet is easier than it once was, but is it always a healthier choice?

14 Don’t Forget the Salt Sodium often gets a bad rap, it’s an essential part of our diet.

FITNESS 15 Stand Up and Paddle Stand up paddleboarding is as much about our lakes as it is about fitness and fun. No wonder it’s become so popular in the Okanagan.

18 Running Stronger Adding these exercises to your running routine will make you a better runner– really!

21 Encouraging Kids to Play Help your child learn to play, and be active for life.

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Photo by Morten Byskov

WELLNESS

PET HEALTH

23 The Great Drug Debate Are brand-name drugs worth the extra money?

27 When your Cat Pees in the Worst Possible Places Many cat owners have dealt with inappropriate urination. Find out why cats pee where they shouldn’t, and what you can do to help.

24 Vedic Astrology–The Science of Light There may be more to stargazing than just a sky full of stars…there could be a sky full of answers.

25 Serious about Sunscreen A not-so-gentle reminder why it’s so important to apply sunscreen before heading outside.

26 Hearing Loss and Your Brain–A Unique Connection Hearing loss can result in auditory deprivation within the brain if it’s not assessed and treated early.

IN EVERY ISSUE: 6 Your Questions Answered 28 Healthy Bites 29 Mel’s Marvelous Recipe 30 Community Events

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 3

From the OHW Team

OHW Magazine

Okanagans Own Health & Wellness Magazine

PUBLISHER LMR PUBLISHING Leanne Christie info@ohwmagazine.com EDITOR Maureen McEwan editor@ohwmagazine.com ADVERTISING SALES Melissa Spooner 250.550.0521 sales@ohwmagazine.com Leanne Christie 250.503.7472 info@ohwmagazine.com OHW Magazine Proudly published by LMR Publishing four times a year.

All rights reserved. No part of OHW Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. The views expressed in OHW Magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. Although all reasonable attempts are made to ensure accuracy, the publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions anywhere in the publication or on the website. OHW Magazine reserves the rights to ads produced for advertisers.

Publication Agreement #42490022 Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine is owned and operated by LMR Publishing.

Return undeliverable to LMR Publishing, 5816 Tern Place, Vernon, BC V1H 1R2.

Phone: 250.503.7472 Email: info@ohwmagazine.com Website: www.ohwmagazine.com

Leanne Christie Publisher

Maureen McEwan Editor

I

t’s summer in the Okanagan and at OHW Magazine we are overjoyed at its arrival! Like most locals, we’re looking forward to those warm summer days, balmy summer nights, and all those other wonderful things that are associated with summer in the Valley. Like the vast variety of outdoor activities that are just outside our doors, the loads of fresh produce available from our own gardens or the local farmers markets, the beautiful scenery that ranges from rolling farmland to dry desert beauty, and just an overall feeling of wellbeing.

We’re excited to be taking part in the first annual Okanagan Trestles Tour, which takes place Sunday, July 14. We’ll be riding our bikes for 80 km (yes, that is a very long way) starting from Myra Canyon in Kelowna and finishing in Penticton. It’s fair to say this is the first time we’ve been happy to hear that things will be all downhill from here!

Melissa Spooner Advertising Sales

We’re also planning to get out on our stand up paddleboards (be sure and check out our cover story on this favourite new Okanagan pastime) and spend some time stargazing (you’ll see there’s more to the stars then meets the eye when you read Vedic Astrology–The Science of Light).

If you’re a runner, you’ll enjoy our Running Stronger article, and if you’re curious how generic drugs compare to brand name drugs, then The Great Drug Debate is must read. This issue is jam-packed with lots of interesting information including articles on hearing health, food allergies, glutenfree diets and so much more. So take some time to relax and catch up on your reading, and enjoy summer to the fullest! p.s Be sure to spend some time practicing your yoga moves so you're ready for our Fall issue's feature on yoga.n

Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

Subscription: For your free copy send your mailing address to info@ ohwmagazine.com or visit the website at www.ohwmagazine.com

OHW Magazine wants to keep you up to date on the latest local health and wellness information.

Printed by: Print Advantage, Richmond, BC

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Cover Story Photos by Morten Byskov.

Kalavida Surf Shop owner Kevin O’Brien enjoys a paddle on Kalamalka Lake, Vernon, BC

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Letters to the Editor

Dear Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine, I saved the Cosmic Cookie recipe from the first issue of your magazine and only just tried the recipe last week. They are fantastic! They are easy to make and loaded with yummy ingredients. When I decided to make them I hadn't planned ahead and was sure I wouldn't have all of the ingredients but I did. My kind of cookie! Anyway thank you for printing the recipe I've made them twice in the last two weeks and will likely make them many more times.

Andrea, Vernon, BC Editor’s Note: We have had many requests for the nutrituional value of the Cosmic Cookies in our Winter issue. The calorie content per cookie when 24 cookies are made is 260 calories. The nutrient breakdown is as follows: 4g protein, 31g carbs, 3g fibre, 14g fat, 4g saturated fat However as Mel points out, even though the calories seem high, the cookies are nutrient dense, full of fibre etc.

Hello OHW Magazine, I a very excited to have just received my OHW Magazine; thank you! I am very happy to see the article about coconut oil, which, as Claire mentioned, is a misunderstood oil which is very beneficial to good health. However, and I am sure you’ve received many e-mails about this already, Claire mentions that LDL is the “good” cholesterol and HDL is the “bad cholesterol”.

And the ‘good LDL’ is repeated twice in the article so I can only assume this isn’t a typo. The opposite is correct--HDL is he good and LDL is the not good cholesterol. Kindly let Claire know as it can be very confusing to those just starting out on their healthier journey.

Sincerely, Suzanne Corno, Kelowna BC Editor’s Note: In The Coconut Oil Myth article in our Spring issue, it incorrectly labeled the types of cholesterols. It should have read: Others claim coconut oil is comprised of medium chain triglycerides that can actually increase good HDL cholesterol levels and lower bad LDL cholesterol levels. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. www.ohwmagazine.com

Lori Anderson is the owner

Contributors

of the award-winning North Okanagan Skin & Laser in Vernon.

Her passion is educating others on achieving and maintaining healthy skin. Lori is a medical aesthetician, is trained in the Pastiche Method of Advanced Skin Analysis and Skin Needling, and is a Certified Laser Technician and Permanent Makeup Artist. North Okanagan Skin & Laser was voted Best Place for Non-Surgical Makeovers in 2012 Best of The Okanagan.

Louise Blais, BSc. MA, is the owner of Wellness Speaks, a wellness consulting company based out of Summerland, BC. Louise thrives on change and challenge. She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, completed the TransRockies and the TransAlps and most recently relocated to BC from Ontario. She is currently a Human Kinetics faculty member at Okanagan College and the Fitness Director at Riverside Fitness and Health in Penticton. See more on Louise at www.facebook.com/ wellness.speaks.louiseblais.

Judy Bradshaw, RHN, ROHP, has offered her services as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist for the past nine years, and during that time found that the time taken for an in-depth oneon-one consultation brings results. Judy uses her knowledge as a holistic nutritionist along with energy testing techniques to assess the body’s needs and dislikes so a personalized protocol can be made for the client. Her practice, Balance Within Coaching, is on Pandosy Street in Kelowna, and she can be reached at 250-861-1156. Or, read more at www. balancewithin.ca Leeann Batchford was born

and raised in Saskatchewan, and took a great interest in natural nutrition when she was hired

by Sangster’s Health Centres’ head office in Saskatoon. During her employment, she became a Certified Product Advisor and Certified Nutritional Consultant and considers herself a student of holistic nutrition as learning is ongoing. In 2011, she and her husband Corey moved to the Okanagan where they purchased the Sangster’s Health Centres store in Penticton.

Morten Byskov has been passionate about photography for many years and started his own business in 2002. His days revolve around business, real estate, portrait, wedding and sports photography, with some wildlife and travel photography on the side. He has taken his camera through Banff, San Francisco, Yellowstone National Park, Mexico City, Denmark, Florida and New York City. In addition to photography, Morten also does website and graphic design. More on Morten at http://mfoto.ca Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 5

Contributors Brian Cole, GBA, is President of BCGI Benefits, a firm whose specialty is helping mid-size companies manage the rising cost of group insurance and employee benefits. After 15 years in the business, Brian and his company have developed two groundbreaking programs. The Benefits Report Card and Let’s Talk about Drugs both use education to manage or reduce the cost of employee benefits.

Carole Davis is an international Vedic astrologer with 35 years

of experience, and is based in the Okanagan Valley and Vancouver, B.C. Most recently she has been invited to provide astrological sessions at the Osman Jaan Centre in Istanbul, Turkey and England.

For in-person or telephone consultations, call 1-888-406-9688 or 250-309-2736. Or, visit Carole online at www.caroledavisastrology. com

Local experts answer our readers’ questions...

Q

Why do we need to know what the pH of our body is, and why is it so important?

Dr. Shelby Entner is a naturopathic physician and co-founder

of Okanagan Natural Medicine, the largest award-winning clinic of natural medicine in the Okanagan. She has lectured across North America about hormone health, healthy digestion and optimal aging and has been supporting patients for more than 12 years with nutrition, herbal medicine and bio-identical hormones. She can be reached at 250-275-1672 or at www. oknaturalmedicine.com

Tosha R. Hodgson, BA, MClSc, Audi (C), Registered

Audiologist and Hearing Instrument Practitioner, earned her Master degree in Audiology from the University of Western Ontario and has more than 15 years of experience assessing hearing, prescribing and fitting hearing aids, and providing hearing protection. Her private practice audiology clinic in Vernon offers patients a medical model of hearing health care. She is registered under the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia (CSHHPBC) and is nationally certified in Audiology by the Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA). Visit Tosha’s website at www.rockwellaudiology.ca.

Shannon Mazerreeuw, BKin, is the Sport Program Leader (North Okanagan) for PacificSport Okanagan. Partnering with Greater Vernon Rec Services, she runs school and sport programs, helping kids to become more active. As part of the PacificSport Okanagan team, Shannon also helps facilitate sport education and coaching courses, supports the growth of local sport organizations and empowers sport leaders, like coaches, teachers and camp leaders, to help kids fall in love with being active.

Dr. Lily Miller graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2008. She joined the Vernon Veterinary Clinic in July 2008 as a full time associate veterinarian.

Lily cares for all companion animals but her passion lies with the horses. Lily enjoys running, yoga, riding her horse and hanging out with her husband and their four dogs and three cats.

Marijke van de Water holds a BSc in Clinical Nutrition and a

diploma in Homeopathic Medicine and Science. She has been in private practice for more than two decades as a gifted and widely respected medical intuitive and healer for people and animals.

During this time she developed The Marijke Method™, a unique and specialized method for customizing comprehensive and individual health programs. She is the author of two books: Healing People: The Marijke Method™ and Healing Horses: Their Way! Visit www.rivasremedies.com for more information.

The pH of the urine is a good representation of the state of your body’s cells. It tells us whether or not the cells are healthy and able to rejuvenate (heal us) or if they are degenerating (dying). Our bodies need to be at a pH level of 7.4 (slightly alkaline) as the minimum for a healthy environment to empower the cells to do their individual tasks in the body.

This way they are keeping us painfree, healthy and fully functioning.

When the pH of the body is too acidic, you’ll find that all manner of sickness and disease manifest; cancer, diabetes, arthritis, gout, and acid reflux just to name a few.

These are warning signs that the cells of your body need help getting back to the proper pH balance. Your body knows how to heal itself, all you have to do is give it the proper tools to do the job. And remember, true health starts at the cellular level.

Cindy Levington, along with husband Phil, owns Suede Hills Organic Farm near Savona, BC. If you’re interested in finding out your body’s pH level, visit their website at www.suedehills. com and ask for a free pH test strip package, or call 1-877-682-1188.

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Your Questions Answered

Q

I’m thinking of buying a new bike, but haven’t ridden in years. What kind of bike should I be looking for?

Several styles of bikes are available–the best one for you will depend on what type of riding you plan on doing. The following information may help you decide:

Cruiser Bike (left): Perfect for a short ride, or going for coffee or groceries; typically single- or 3-speed gearing.

Comfort Bike: With front and seat post suspension, these bikes range from 3 to 21 speeds and are better suited for longer rides (like 90 minutes) or for hillier and rougher terrain.

Hybrid Mountain: This is a blend between a mountain bike and a road bike with front shocks, 29r wheels, 21- to 27-speed gearing and slightly larger slick tires. Great for travelling on gravel paths as well as pavement.

Mountain Bike: If you’re keen to ride off-road, then this is the category for you. Several styles of mountain bikes exist, but generally XC bikes are suited for climbing, mountain bikes are great for hilly terrain and the Downhill bike is perfect for descending.

Road Hybrid (right): These bikes typically have carbon forks and no suspension, which keeps the bikes light and good for climbing hills. These bikes have road frames, wheels and drive trains with a mountain bike bar, shifter and brakes. This is a great fitness bike that you can ride for hours, or even use for light touring.

Road Bike (left): The lightest of bikes and meant for the road only. Most frames are made of either aluminum or carbon. Carbon is lighter than aluminum and it absorbs the vibration from the road, resulting in a smoother ride. Carbon frames are well suited for rides that are 2 hours or longer.

Regardless of the type of bike you choose, always be sure to wear the proper safety gear, helmet and gloves and carry an emergency kit with water, pump, spare tube, patch kit, cell phone and a mini tool. Have fun and ride safe!

Peter Dorey is an avid cyclist and the owner of Olympia Cycle in Vernon, BC www.ohwmagazine.com

Q

I’ve heard of Kinesio tape, but what is it and what are its benefits?

Kinesio Tape is made of 100 percent cotton, meaning it’s comfortable and breathable. It has 140 percent longitudinal elasticity which mimics the flexibility of human skin and muscles. The acrylic adhesive is heat-activated, light, mild and hypoallergenic, causing less skin sensitivity or irritability than other tapes.

Kinesio Tape is completely latex-free and the unique wave design keeps it airpermeable as it lifts the skin and channels away moisture. It is also quite durable and comfortable enough to be left on for three to five days per application.

Kinesio Tape is applied over specific locations of the body to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused or tired muscles and support muscles in movement 24 hours a day. The taping is non-restrictive and allows for full range of motion. In contrast, more traditional sports tape is wrapped around a joint strictly for stabilization and support during activity. Kinesio Tape is used to treat anything from headaches to foot problems and everything in between.

Just a few examples include rehabilitation from sports injuries, plantar fasciitis, lower back strain and pain, postural retraining, knee and shoulder conditions, and more.

Paul Dournovo, RMT, is also a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner and the owner of Apple Valley Massage and Kinesio Taping in Kelowna, BC. Visit Paul’s website at www.applevalleymassage.ca

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 7

d in Canada

Natural Health

The Power of Food Reactions If you’re suffering from one or more health issues, perhaps it’s time to take a look at what you’re eating.

Marijke van de Water explains.

By Marijke van de Water, BSc, DHMS “What is food for one, is to others bitter poison”…..Lucretius

I

A healthy diet, supplements and herbs are, however, excellent therapies to prevent the immune system from deteriorating to the point of hypersensitivity in the first place. And they can rebuild your immune system after the offensive foods have been eliminated.

t’s common knowledge that our food literally provides us with the staff of all life. What’s not so common knowledge is how the foods you choose to eat can actually interfere with structure, function and vitality. They can create a variety of uncomfortable symptoms as well as contribute to, What Are Food Allergies? and actually cause, a number of diseases. Just as healthy The word allergy is derived from two Greek words foods can help us restore health, unhealthy foods (which meaning “altered reaction.” This are often disguised as healthy altered reaction is an adverse ones) can keep us diseased and immune response to a food unwell.

Just as healthy foods can protein (antigen) whereby the Eating healthy foods is beneficial help us restore health, offending food invokes the and health-giving, but unfortunately, release of antibodies to destroy the damaging results of eating unhealthy foods (which are it or to neutralize its action. unhealthy ones overpower the often disguised as healthy The subsequent discharge goodness of wholesome foods. For ones) can keep us of histamines and chemicals example, you can eat salad greens, causes varying degrees of fruit and cruciferous vegetables diseased and unwell. inflammation that can affect several times per day, but if your virtually any body system. habit of eating yogurt and granola True allergy reactions most commonly cause symptoms every day for breakfast is causing you symptoms such as chronic sinus congestion, fatigue or nausea, your otherwise of swelling or itching of the lips or tongue, skin hives, healthy food habits will never rescue you from your itching or rashes, difficulty breathing and diarrhea, nausea symptoms. Likewise, supplements and herbs will never be and cramping. Anaphylactic allergic reactions are lifeable to neutralize a food reaction; only the elimination of the threatening reactions that are often triggered by nuts, fish, offending food will give relief. So yes, you will have to give dairy products and eggs. In other words, the violence of the reaction causes major inflammation, possibly resulting up your yogurt and granola if those are the culprits. in closed airways, serious swellings and even loss of consciousness.

Food allergies, including anaphylactic shock reactions, don’t indicate a problem with the food, but rather that there Solve your health problems with Marijke van de Water is a problem with the immune system; an immune system this easy to follow guide loaded with that can be healed.

HEALING AH HA! information about food,

Create Your OWN Health Program PEOPLE The Marijke Method

nutrition and natural medicine.

BY MARIJKE VAN DE WATER B.Sc, DHMS Health & Nutrition Specialist Homeopathic Practitioner Medical Intuitive & Healer

Learn more at www.marijkehealspeople.com AVAILABLE AT: Nature’s Fare, Select Bookstores, Amazon.com and rivasremedies.com

What Are Food Intolerances?

Food intolerances on the other hand are defined as sensitivity to certain foods caused by the body’s inability to properly digest or fully process them, which leads to chronic symptoms and illness. Food intolerances or sensitivities means there’s a problem with the food, most notably

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dairy products, wheat products, sugar, and unhealthy, rancid fats.

The continued ingestion of these food groups over the years intoxicates and damages the colon and the immune system through excess fermentation.

This causes an imbalanced colonic eco-system which predisposes it to colon diseases such as colitis or cancer, and also opens it up to the invasion of bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites whose toxins damage the intestinal walls, making them more permeable.

This abnormal permeability is known as “leaky gut” and allows toxins and impurities to migrate into the rest of the body causing the auto-intoxication of any or all body systems, which then result in a variety of toxic reactions.

Food intolerances can and do cause a variety of different symptoms in a variety of different body systems and can show no selectivity in their target. It is apparent, however, that food reactions are more likely to cause symptoms in those areas of the body that are already weakened or compromised. That’s why different people exhibit such unique symptoms, even though they may be eating the same offending foods. Some common food intolerance “syndromes” include:

• Respiratory–coughing, asthma, congestion, bronchitis

vertigo, memory loss, tinnitus (ear ringing), fatigue

• Gastro-intestinal–diarrhea, constipation, bloating, nausea, cramping, ulcers, heartburn • Skin–hives, rashes, eczema, psoriasis, itching, acne • Urinary–bladder infections, frequent urination, bedwetting, cystitis, kidney inflammation • Immunity–susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, allergies, ear infections • Cardiovascular– atherosclerosis, heart arrythmia, blood pressure imbalances, circulation • Musculo-skeletal–arthritis, joint pain, osteoporosis, weakness, fibromyalgia

• Brain–depression, anxiety, mood swings, ADHD and ADD, learning difficulties, mental dullness, inability to think, phobias, dementia • General–fatigue, hypoglycemia, starch and sugar cravings, diabetes, obesity Hidden food sensitivities cause people to suffer some of the most common, chronic and incapacitating health problems. Unfortunately, they’re often unaware that foods have anything to do with their problems. As a result they keep buying medication, often for years, to ease their symptoms as they’re convinced their condition is incurable. Yet all food sensitivities and intolerances can be identified and eliminated, every immune system can be restored and most food-related health problems can be overcome. n

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Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 9

Natural Health

Crazy Busy Stress Ever feel like you’re on a merry-go-round and can’t get off? Being constantly busy and stressed out isn’t any fun, and it’s not healthy either.

By Dr. Shelby Entner, ND

H

ow many times have you caught yourself answering the question, “How are things?” with the answer “Busy, crazy busy!”

It has become a common answer in our modern world. People are always rushing around, trying to squeeze everything on their to-do list into one day and feeling like there is never enough time to get it all done.

Being completely booked and in demand every hour of the day can make us feel efficient and needed, but it can also quickly turn into feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

When we talk about stress, we often consider events like death, divorce, sudden job loss and other significant events as being the most stressful.

Physical and emotional stress can be both pleasant and unpleasant; the difference being how the event affects us. Having a baby, running a marathon, getting married or getting a new job are exciting but can also bring a new level of stress to our lives.

“It’s a bear....run!”

Our stress response, also known as “fight or flight,” is an ancient biochemical message that is a lifesaving mechanism controlled by our adrenal glands. When we are in an emergency situation (i.e., a bear chasing us in the woods or we’re

swerving in traffic to avoid an accident) our cortisol levels increase, helping the body to survive by increasing our muscle contraction, our heart rate and our breathing so we’re ready to deal with the threat. After the threat passes, our body is supposed to return to a normal resting state. The trouble is that our modern lifestyle is constantly

triggering the stress response even when we’re not in danger, telling the body that the bear is around the corner so stay alert! These days it is unlikely that we’ll get eaten, but meeting deadlines, caring for children or elderly parents or trying to pay the bills on time all make the body react the same way.

Medical research suggests that up to 90 percent of all illness and disease is stress-related, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stress is a driving factor in unhealthy weight gain (due to stress-coping behaviours like overeating but also hormone changes that gives us that “spare tire” weight gain), early aging,

heart disease and cancer. Increased cortisol affects our immune systems, raises our blood sugar, disrupts our sleep cycles and can trigger other hormonal difficulties like menopause, PMS and erectile dysfunction.

The early signs of chronicallyelevated cortisol can look pretty good on people in the beginning. They’ll often tackle nearly anything and still have room on their plate for more.

Over-stimulated and restless, they often seem to enjoy the highs of things like intense exercise and deadlines. Over time, the cortisol hormones can’t keep up with the intense demand and symptoms of being “wired but tired” start to happen.

People feel exhausted in the day but still spend hours trying to fall asleep at night. And when they do drop off, they wake up in the middle of the night with a racing mind and a pounding heart. Guess what comes next? They’re just plain tired. They can’t get enough sleep, nor enough coffee, and they’ve no interest in anything except the couch. Most of the time these patients come to us because there is nothing wrong with their blood tests but they know they aren’t depressed. They are simply exhausted; the adrenals glands have left on vacation and taken all of the cortisol with them.

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cont’d on page 12 www.ohwmagazine.com

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Nutrition

Going Gluten-free–the Right Way Gluten-free foods are more common than ever before, but are they actually healthier?

By Leeann Blatchford, CPA, CNC ome people may think going gluten-free is a fad while others who suffer from eating gluten know it’s absolutely not.

Some eliminate gluten from their diet because they think it’s healthier while others must avoid it all together.

What’s often forgotten, regardless of your reason to go gluten-free, is that there’s a nutritional deficit that comes with eating a gluten-free diet.

S

A common scenario You’ve just spent an hour scouring the aisles of the grocery store, filling your cart with heaps of gluten-free foods. You even grabbed gluten-

free cupcakes because after all, you deserve them! If that is becoming a common occurrence–buying various foods just because they’re gluten-free, chances are you’re not doing yourself any favours. Many of us think that foods with a big, bold “Gluten-free” on the package are always healthy; the truth is they’re not.

Giving up gluten Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. These grains are the main ingredients in many of the foods we consume daily including breads, pastas, baked goodies and cereals.

Celiac disease is a serious condition

in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten.

This prevents the body from absorbing most other nutrients like protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for optimal health. People with celiac disease have to avoid gluten all together.

People who are considering eliminating gluten from their diets must educate themselves and be aware that it’s not necessarily a healthier way of eating, nor should it be a “diet” to lose weight. Studies show gluten-free diets can be deficient in fibre, iron, folate, niacin, thiamine, calcium, vitamin B12, phosphorus, proteins and zinc.

In addition, many pre-packaged

Cont’d from page 10 Relax for better health So now what? It’s easy to understand how we get to this place, especially after years of good and bad stressors.

Both men and women are equally affected but usually women are quicker to seek help. Since the cortisol levels affect other hormones most women will notice a connection to their female hormones, affecting PMS, fertility or menopause. Most men feel a lack of vigour, a decreased interest in sex and they often start to become “grumpy old men” before their time.

Start correcting these stress-related issues by addressing the stresses in your life. We can’t just escape from familyand work-related pressures but we can change how

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we handle them. Start by setting up more reasonable expectations for yourself and others and ask for help.

Assess your priorities and then eliminate the tasks that you don’t enjoy or are not absolutely essential. A lot of our “busyness” is often self-imposed. For example, when I found myself mindlessly surfing a high school associate’s Facebook vacation pictures and realized that it wasn’t relaxing but simply contributing to my “I’m so busy working on the computer today” feeling, I literally had to step away from the computer. Try not to fill your day with tasks like checking texts, emails, and social media sites when you have a busy work day ahead of you.

Have you recognized yourself in any of these descriptions? We can change the way we handle stress in our lives, and there are many natural options to help correct the imbalances that stress has caused to our health.

Address your stress issues and start to repair the cortisol imbalances today with lifestyle, nutrition, herbal and natural hormonal support.

And try this: give yourself an unscheduled hour every weekday and don’t fill it with work. Lie down on the couch, pet the dog, read a book or use the time to do something healthy for yourself like cook a good meal or go for a walk.

And, right now, put down this article and look around you for 30 seconds and take a few deep breaths. We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Take some time to explore the Okanagan, dip your toes in the lake, climb a hill and take in the view. The reason we live here is for the lifestyle so allow yourself time to enjoy it. n

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Nutrition protein in a form readily available gluten-free foods contain extra where gluten is hiding, and make your for use by the body. additives and preservatives to make own salad dressings and sauces.

• Probiotics, which can increase them taste oh so good (like fat, sodium the healthy bacteria in the gut to and sugar which increases the calorie Supplement your gluten-free diet boost the immune system and content) while not enough nutritional Because gluten-free diets are ward off illness. value (fibre, vitamins and minerals) have been added back in. Therefore often deficient in various nutrients, • Digestive enzymes, when added at meal time, can help with gas and eating gluten-free packaged foods for considering adding the following bloating. Enzymes are naturally weight loss can often have the reverse supplements to your diet: produced in the gut but slow effect due to the higher down as we age. fat content.

Watch for gluten in the following foods: • Multivitamins, The answer to eating - Soy Sauce - Low-fat dairy products particularly those with high gluten-free the right way - Salad dressings - Deli meats amounts of b-vitamins is to understand what - Sausages - Gum (50mg or more), and you are consuming.

- Flavored coffee and - Candy minerals are also a good Focus on whole foods teas - Stamps and envelopes addition. that are not processed.

Balance your diet with Choosing to go glutenfruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy (unless you have • Fibre, as it lowers total and LDL free is a big decision, whether you cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, have to avoid gluten due to a medical eliminated dairy as well) and suitable grains like quinoa, buckwheat and balances intestinal pH and speeds condition or because you want to make brown rice. Remember that gluten is the passage of foods through the a lifestyle change. But it doesn’t have sneaky–it hides in the least suspecting digestive system. Women should to be difficult, just be sure to educate of products, like salad dressing, consume 35 grams of fibre per day yourself to ensure you’re getting the vinegars, marinades, soy sauce and and men as much as 40 grams per nutrients you need. And remember, just because a product is gluten-free day. beer.

Learn how to read food labels to find • Amino Acids, as they can supply doesn’t mean it’s a healthier choice. n

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Nutrition

Don’t forget the Salt We often hear about the dangers of eating too much sodium, but it’s possible that some of us may not be getting enough.

By Judy Bradshaw, RHN, ROHP

S

alt, or more specifically the sodium component of sodium chloride, is often the target of health warnings about high blood pressure. With all of the messages to “‘lower your intake,” it’s easy to believe that salt falls into the same category as hydrogenated fats, or high fructose corn syrup, which should be eliminated from your diet because they do more harm than good. Remember, however, that sodium is an essential nutrient which is found in every cell of our bodies. It is used for many things, including the maintenance of our body’s water content, the transfer of electrical signals for muscle contractions and nerve signals, and the movement of other nutrients across cells. Salt is also important for the maintenance of proper blood pressure.

Almost all natural foods contain some sodium. It is found in tiny amounts in fruits and vegetables, and higher amounts in seafood and meat. According to Health Canada however, this source of sodium only accounts for 12 percent of the average Canadian’s sodium intake. Processed foods (including restaurant and fast foods) account for 77 percent of the sodium we eat, and the remaining 11 percent comes from added table salt. For people eating an average diet and wanting to lower their sodium intake, eliminating table salt can be a simple place to start, and looking for lower sodium processed foods can make a big difference. But you’ve likely heard this message before.

If you’re making an attempt to eat as healthy as possible, you need to consider your own sodium intake levels.

Working as a holistic nutritionist, I often come across sodium deficiency as a common problem with clients who are truly eating healthy.

How much is enough?

Finding yourself low on sodium can happen very innocently. Eating less processed food while adding in more whole fresh foods will greatly lower the amount of sodium in your diet. Those who have concerns about high blood pressure may stop cooking with salt, and stop adding it to their meals, resulting in far less sodium in their diet.

Some reduction in sodium may be beneficial however it is also possible to end up with far too little of this nutrient in your diet. While trying to eat healthier, you may end up having new symptoms and problems. If you cook mostly from scratch with whole foods, and eat very little processed food, you could likely benefit from adding a bit of salt to your meals.

Many of the symptoms of being low in sodium have to do with the maintenance of water levels within the body. They can include dizziness, headaches, leg cramps, abdominal cramps, muscle weakness, lethargy, difficulty thinking, diarrhea, bloating, and decreased blood pressure. If you are feeling dehydrated without being thirsty, or feel like the water just isn’t going in, you may need sodium.

So how much salt is actually needed? Salt itself is 40 percent sodium and 60 percent chloride. Therefore, 5 grams of salt (about 1 teaspoon) contain approximately 2 grams or 2,300 mg of sodium. For people between the ages of 14 and 50, The Public Health Agency of Canada has set adequate intake levels (AL) for sodium at 1,500 mg, and Tolerable upper levels (UL) at 2,300 mg. For those 51 to 70 years of age, the AL is 1,300 mg, and the UL is 2,300 mg.

The importance of additional sodium is no surprise to athletes, but may be overlooked by the average person lightly sweating under the Okanagan sun. While sweating, sodium (along with other electrolytes) is washed out. When more water is needed to stay hydrated, more sodium is also essential. Your salt cravings in the summer heat are probably well warranted.

Sodium is an essential nutrient, just like potassium, calcium and magnesium, it just happens to taste much better. Because it is added to many foods for flavour and preservation, getting too much of this nutrient is a more common problem than not getting enough. But for those people who are not eating any processed foods, and who’ve eliminated sodium from their diets, getting enough sodium should also be considered. Salt tastes good for a reason, and that’s because we need it! n

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Cover Story

Stand Up and Paddle for our lakes, for fitness and for fun!

Stand up paddleboarding is more than just a craze, it’s a culture…

By Maureen McEwan

W

e all live in the Okanagan for various reasons, but it’s safe to assume that most of us, if not all of us, love that we’re so close to water. Clean, warm, freshwater lakes are ours to enjoy, and hopefully protect, throughout the year. They play a key role in the environment, our culture, even in our economy as they attract people the world over to experience what we’re lucky enough to enjoy every day.

So take a moment to appreciate our lakes. Be good to them and keep them

clean, respect them and understand their power, and most of all enjoy them–particularly on a warm summer day when they offer a cool and relaxing haven from the dry Okanagan heat.

Because when it’s hot, and the water is warm, there’s no better place to be than in the water. Better yet, make that on the water, on a stand up paddleboard. Nothing compares to the sights, sounds and smells you’ll experience from paddling at your own pace. It’s as close as any of us will ever get to walking on water.

If you’re keen to give stand up paddleboarding a try, rent a board and consider taking a short lesson. Boards are available to rent throughout the Valley, on average about $25/hour. Here are a few places to consider: - Kalavida Surf Shop in Vernon: www.kalavidasurfshop. com or call 778-475-5808 (rentals available by the hour, day or weekend).

- Gyro Beach Watersports in Kelowna: www. gyrobeachwatersports.com or call 250-764-6462.

Beachride Rentals in Peachland: www. peachlandbeachrentals.com or call 250-503-8286. www.ohwmagazine.com

If you haven’t yet tried this popular Okanagan pastime then it’s time you did. Stand up paddleboarding (often referred to as SUPing) is a fun way to literally get up on the water by simply standing on a paddleboard and paddling.

Stand up paddleboards look similar to surfboards. In fact, that’s how the sport originated, by surfers, in Hawaii, as a way to train for their sport when there was no surf. In the last few years, the sport has really come into its own, particularly in the Okanagan.

- Penticton Paddlesurf in Penticton: www. pentictonpaddlesurf.com or call 250-492-1168 - Sun n’ Sup in Naramata: www.sunnsup.com or call 778-514-5594 Once you’re hooked, consider buying your own.

Good-quality boards start around $900 and go up to about $2,500. You’ll also need a paddle, a leash (that straps to your ankle so your board doesn’t get away if you do fall in) and a carry bag. But remember, no uniforms, rental fees, lift passes or built-in practice times–it’s just you, the board and the water.

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 15

Cover Story

Michelle from Kalavida Surf Shop

It’s unquestionably a fun summer activity, but there’s also a unique culture around this environmentallyfriendly sport that bodes well with the Okanagan lifestyle.

Stand up paddleboarders believe in taking care of the waters they paddle in, and caring for the environment they play in. They’re also keen to welcome newcomers to the sport, whether they’re trying it for fun or if they have aspirations to paddle competitively.

This embracing attitude, says Rainer Udala of Peachland Paddle Board Rentals, is what the paddleboard culture has become known for.

“There’s a positive feeling around stand up paddle boarding–it’s knowing you can do it and achieving what you set out to do. I can have someone up [on a board] in 10 seconds–everyone can do this.”

And that’s just one of many great things about stand up paddleboarding; anyone can do it. Another is that it is what you make it. Paddle on your own, in a group, with your kids, or your dog, no matter what your age. It’s a sport, a leisurely pastime, an effective way to work your core, or an idyllic way to get out on the water and experience your surroundings. Paddle on the lake, on a river, on the ocean–choose calm waters, waves or down winders;

Liam Williamson tries some creative moves on his stand up paddleboard

you can even do yoga on your board or many of the exercises you do at the gym. The point is stand up paddleboarding is whatever you want it to be, but guaranteed it will always be fun.

Our passion for paddleboarding Vernon’s own Kalavida Surf Shop, which was the first shop in Canada dedicated to stand up paddleboarding, has attracted all kinds of people–locals and tourists–who are keen to try the sport. And, of typical paddleboard culture, owners Kevin O’Brien and

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Cover Story Michelle Mitchell warmly to try something different.” welcome anyone who So if you’ve been wondering wants to try it out. what stand up paddleboarding Located right on the is like, this is the summer to north end of Kalamalka give it a try.

Lake, Kalavida Surf Shop “When we ask ourselves has become home base why we live here, it’s because to most of the area’s stand we want to be on the water,” up paddlers.

“Vernon says Eileen. And for many of is a natural hub for us that means on a stand up paddleboarding with all paddleboard–the perfect way to Kevin, Bowan, Liam and Michelle post paddle the rivers and lakes,” says respect our lakes and have fun 17- and 18-year-olds, and we’ve had Kevin, “and Kalamalka at the same time. n Lake is the flattest, warm water lake women in their 70s. They’re all looking in the region, making it an idea place to paddle.” The surrounding natural beauty, which includes the Bishop Bird 2014 FORESTER EARNS THE Sanctuary, is just an added bonus.

HIGHEST SAFETY ACCOLADE Because of the shop’s location, paddleboarders are easy to spot, which has piqued many people’s curiosity about the sport. “People see it, and ask “What’s that?”” says Kevin. After a brief explanation or a short demo, they realize, “Wow! I can do this!” The sport, he adds, has attracted many 2014 people, particularly women, because WELL * it’s something they can do easily, EQUIPPED $ FROM including maneuver the board on their LEASE/FINANCE ** 24 months own. “So it’s also about independence as low as and freedom,” says Kevin, and that can be as important as the physical benefits that come from paddling.

2 0 13 O U T B A C K 2 . 5 i C O N V E N I E N C E Because stand up paddleboarding is easy to master you’ll see SUPers nearly anywhere you go in the Okanagan. You’ll find a variety of * rentals, while some shops, like Well equipped, $ plus AWD from Kalavida Surf Shop and Sun n’ Sup LEASE/FINANCE CASH 24 mos., as low as INCENTIVE in Naramata, sell boards, paddles † ** OR and all the various accessories, not to % $ mention fun summer gear like hats, flip flops, board shorts and more.

Eileen Meehan, who owns Sun n’ Sup with her husband Peter Gibbenhuck, opened up their shop in Naramata in 2011. Together they’ve created the same passion for paddleboarding in Best Mid Size Utility Vehicle ALG - Residual Value Award the south Okanagan.

4th Year in a Row “Stand up paddleboarding definitely *MSRP of $28,015/$30,515 on 2014 Forester 2.5i (EJ1 X0)/2013 Outback 2.5i Convenience 6MT (DD1 CP) including freight & PDI ($1,595), documentation has its own culture and following,” fees ($395) and battery and tire tax ($30). License, taxes, insurance and registration extra. **2.9%/0.5% finance and lease rates available on all new 2014 Forester/2013 Outback models for a 24-month term. ††$2,000 cash incentive on 2013 Outback is for cash customers only and cannot be combined with says Eileen. “Once you try it you love Subaru Canada supported lease/ finance rates. Vehicles shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Financing and it, and those who haven’t are definitely leasing programs available through Toyota Credit Canada Inc. on approved credit. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Offers valid for a limited time and are subject to cancellation. See your local Subaru dealer for complete program details. ▲ Ratings of “Good” are the highest rating awarded for performance in intrigued by it.” But perhaps one of the four safety tests (moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear) conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org). To earn a 2013 TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must receive a “Good” rating in all four of these tests. ♦ Based on ALG’s 2013 Residual Value Award for Best Midsize Utility. best things, adds Eileen, is that it has attracted a variety of people. “It has BC’s first Subaru dealership since 1979 brought in a lot of people who aren’t 4407 27 STREET, VERNON, BC sports oriented, particularly women.

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Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 17

Fitness

Running Stronger Variety is the spice of life–even for runners.

Don’t believe it? Read on to find out how a few simple exercises, and one 30-minute workout a week, can make you a faster, stronger, healthier runner.

By Louise Blais

R

unners love to run…a lot….and usually outdoors. In fact, most runners hate running indoors so much they will brave below zero temperatures, wind and slippery road conditions throughout the winter just to run outside. So with summer here, it’s difficult to imagine running anywhere but outside. But what if a few indoor workouts could really improve your running…or make you more resistant to injury? Would you come back inside once or twice a week?

Undoubtedly running is a great workout but to be the best runner you can be, it shouldn’t be your only workout. Improving your overall strength with a few simple exercises will improve your running efficiency (which will help you run further or faster) and will also help protect you from injuries that can sideline you for weeks.

Muscle imbalances can occur whenever people train exclusively with one type of exercise, and unfortunately these imbalances can result in injury. Preventing this is often quite simple and with just 30 minutes per week, can add the counter balance the body needs to become stronger overall. Common muscle imbalances for runners usually involve the muscles around the hips and the core.

Strengthening these areas has been shown to prevent injury as well as rehabilitate injured runners. Of course, if you are currently experiencing an injury, nothing will replace seeing a health care practitioner for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

The exercise routine detailed below should take less than 30 minutes. Performed once or twice a week it can make a

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world of difference to your running. These exercises can be done at home or in a gym. And, as an added bonus, try the 30-minute treadmill or stationary bike workout that has been shown to be the most effective way to improve the performance of seasoned runners. This workout utilizes the tenets of HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, and has been shown to dramatically improve almost every fitness parameter a runner could care about (like V02max, lactate threshold, time to fatigue, etc.) Ideally, this workout will be performed once a week in lieu of a regular training run. Consider taking it indoors on the days the thermostat is high enough to make your outdoor workouts a little uncomfortable.

The Performance Drill–or Tabata Intervals These HIIT intervals can be performed on a treadmill or a stationary bike. Due to the high intensity of these drills, only use a treadmill if you are comfortable running quickly. If not, the stationary bike will be your best option. On the treadmill, the safest way to perform the intervals is to use a combination of speed and incline to increase intensity as opposed to just using speed. The Tabata protocol involves 20 seconds of high intensity work with 10 seconds of rest.

Performing eight work and rest intervals is considered one cycle of Tabata.

Start the workout by warming up for 5 to 7 minutes at a moderate running pace (or cycling pace if on the bike). Once warmed up, add speed and incline and run as hard as you can for 20 seconds. For your 10 seconds of rest, you can either slow the treadmill down and jog or just carefully jump onto the side panels and rest. If on the bike, add resistance and increase your cadence, working as hard as you can for 20 seconds.

Reduce your resistance and slow your pedaling for your 10 seconds of rest. Repeat those intervals 7 more times to complete the cycle. Allow yourself a few minutes to recover and perform another cycle of Tabata when you’re ready. Three cycles of Tabata should be enough to sufficiently challenge your body to become fitter and faster. Adding this workout once or twice a week to your running routine will result in far greater benefits than your usual 5-km jaunt around the neighbourhood

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Fitness For all of the strength training exercises below, choose the right amount of resistance that will challenge your ability to do the exercise correctly 12 to 15 times. If you can perform more repetitions than that, add more resistance. But remember…technique matters.

Exercise 1 | The Squat There is no denying the overall usefulness of this exercise…for everyone. It strengthens all of the muscles of the hips and knees and will ensure you can always get up from a seated posture. Start by positioning your feet just wider than shoulder distance apart. Keeping your knees tracking in the same direction as your toes, slowly lower your body down until your thighs become almost parallel to the floor. Keeping your weight back over your heels is important for strengthening the gluteal muscles so if you think you may fall backwards, place a bench or chair behind you.

For a more advanced and far more functional version, try the Goblet Squat. In this version, you will use less weight but travel down much deeper. Keeping your feet firmly planted on the floor, hold a weight against your chest with your elbows pointing down. Slowly lower the hips allowing the elbows to press the knees wide keeping them over your feet (your toes will be pointing out slightly). Lower your hips as far as you can then press your body weight back up.

Exercise 2 | Hamstring Curls

Exercise 3 | Hip Extension (or Bridging)

This exercise will require either a stability ball or a TRX. Lie on your back and place your feet on the ball (or your feet through the foot cradles of the TRX). Lift your hips off of the ground until you become a nice straight line from your ankle to your shoulder. Holding your hips elevated, slowly draw your heels in towards your hips.

Lie on your back with your knees bent and directly above your ankles.

Without arching your back slowly lower and raise your hips. Hold a dumbbell on your hips to increase the intensity of this exercise.

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Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 19

Fitness Exercise 4 | Standing Hip Abduction Place exercise tubing around one ankle and affix the other end to a railing. Stand beside the railing and slowly raise the outer leg away from the midline of the body. Keep the hips and torso in line with each other.

Exercise 5 | External Hip Rotation With the exercise tubing still around the outer ankle, slowly raise the leg while externally rotating at the hip (the foot will turn away from the front of the body). The movement here will be smaller than in the previous exercise.

Exercise 6 | Front Plank with Gecko Variation Place your hands and feet on the floor with your shoulders directly in line with your wrists. Your hips should be low enough to ensure your body is a straight line from your shoulders to ankles. Slowly lift the right leg and draw the right knee towards the right elbow, pause for one second and repeat with the left leg. Perform 10 to 15 repetitions per side. To ensure stability in the upper body, do not allow the shoulder blades to fall toward each other and keep your gaze just in front of your body.

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Fitness

Encouraging Kids to Play

Physical literacy is a key component when it comes to building a healthy foundation for kids–and keeping them active for life.

By Shannon Mazereeuw and the PacificSport Okanagan team

W

hen it comes to the activity levels of Canadian kids, the statistics are alarming:

• 46 percent of Canadian children get three hours or less of active play per week, including weekends. * • 63 percent of Canadian children’s free time after school and on weekends is spent being sedentary. * • Only 7 percent of Canadian children reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day *

before they can write words, and be taught numbers before they can add and subtract, they also need to be taught how to move. Like the other forms of literacy, physical literacy is best taught at a young age.

The Canadian Sport for Life organization, which is made up of health and recreation professionals, created a framework for sport development called “Long Term Athlete Development,” or LTAD. Since 2007, 50 of the 52 national sport organizations have adopted this model and as a result, changes are being made to sport nationally,

How can we change these statistics and encourage children to be active and play? The answer is physical literacy.

What is physical literacy?

Simply put, physical literacy is a person’s ability to confidently perform movement skills in a variety of environments, including in the air, on the water, on ice or snow and on the ground. If children develop a strong foundation of physical literacy before the age of 12, they are more likely to have the confidence and skills to be active for life.

Vernon 250-503-1129 Vernon 250-503-1129 West Kelowna 250-768-2254 West Kelowna 250-768-2254 Kelowna Rutland 250-861-5880 Kelowna Rutland 250-861-5880

Physical literacy–an important skill set Just like children need to be taught their ABCs www.ohwmagazine.com

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 21

Fitness provincially and locally. The model is based on a sevenstage approach, with the first three stages being the most critical. These stages and learning outcomes include: 1. Active Start (for 0 to 6 years of age) • fitness and movement skills developed as a FUN part of daily life 2. FUNdamentals (for 6 to 9 years of age) • Learn movement skills and build overall motor skills • Play many sports • Focus on the ABCs of athleticism: agility, balance, coordination and speed 3. Learning to Train (9 to 12 years) • Learn sport skills • Play a variety of sports For children between 0 and 9 years of age, there should be a focus on learning fundamental movement skills. These skills help children build confidence before learning sportspecific skills. For example, throwing is a fundamental movement skill. A sport-specific skill for throwing would be learning how to throw a football or baseball.

Focusing on FUN! Believe it or not, children like to play so they can have fun and be with friends. Too often, adults get wrapped up in the competition and winning. As a result, negative pressure is placed on children to live up to adult-minded expectations.

Unfortunately the majority of kids drop out of organized sport by age 13.

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The first three stages of LTAD focus on the fun of activity and sport, making the activities inclusive, and encouraging all children to be involved. This includes making sure there is enough equipment for all and that the size of the equipment is age-appropriate.

Consider asking the following questions before enrolling your children in a sport program: 1. Are the staff trained or certified?

For sport, coaches should be NCCP-trained.

Recreation professionals can also be trained in NCCP courses, as well as, in courses like BCRPA’s High-Five program.

2. Is the environment safe for activity?

Do they have an emergency action plan and staff trained in first aid? Is the equipment appropriate for the size and age of the children?

3. Is the program focused on LTAD and physical literacy?

PacificSport can help you find quality programs The provincial network consists of five notfor-profit organizations working together to support increased sport participation and improved sport performance. These multisport centres are partners in the promotion, education and program alignment of the Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) movement to improve the quality of sport and physical activity in Canada.

From Enderby to Osoyoos, PacificSport is committed to developing sport at all levels by providing opportunities for long-term sport development, coach education and world-class athlete services.

To find a quality sport program or to discover how PacificSport is “powering sport” in your community, go to www. pacificsportokanagan. com or contact your nearest centre.

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Online Resources for Physical Literacy Active for Life Articles and resources for parents with kids learning to be physically literate. www.activeforlife.ca Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) More information on the seven-stage approach of Long Term Athlete Development www.cs4l.com PacificSport Okanagan Quality program information and local sport organization listings.

www.pacificsportokanagan.com

Physical Literacy Physical literacy and you (PLAY) provides tools that can be used to assess a child’s physical literacy. www.physicalliteracy.ca

North Okanagan (Vernon): Shannon Mazereeuw at ssmart@ pacificsport.com or 250-550-3678 Central Okanagan (Kelowna): Carolyn Gillespie at cgillespie@pacificsport.com or 250- 469-8852 South Okanagan (Penticton): Sherrie Pope at spope@ pacificsport.com or 250-276-2142 n

*Statistics provided by ParticipACTIONActive Healthy Kids Canada Report Card 2012

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The Great Drug Debate

Wellness

Are brand-name drugs better than their lower priced generic counterparts? Brian Cole, a group insurance specialist, shares his thoughts on this ongoing debate.

Keep reading and decide for yourself.

By Brian Cole, GBA

I

t’s true. Most of us are at fault for wasting too much money on brand-name prescription drugs. As a population, Canadians purchase brand name drugs at a much higher rate than do our American counterparts.

In my line of work, I regularly hear people complain that they want more benefits, more wellness initiatives, more vision care, more dental coverage, more, more, more.

However, when Canadians visit their doctors or pharmacists they rarely ask one very important question, “Is a lower cost alternative available?”

It astounds me how very few Canadians take any time at all to find out if they could be smarter consumers of prescriptions drugs and waste less money.

Let’s take a moment to define waste. I define waste as spending more for a product or service without noticeable improvement from that product or service. I also define the majority of brand-name prescription drug purchases as a waste because I don’t believe that brand-name drugs are better than their generic equivalent. But don’t take my word for it.

I recently spoke with Mr. Don Cocar, owner and practising pharmacist at Dyck’s Pharmacists in Kelowna. Dyck’s Pharmacists run four retail operations and also operate the Outpatient Pharmacy at Kelowna General Hospital. Don is also the vice president for the BC Pharmacy Association.

I asked Don a few questions about prescriptions drugs: Q: Don, what is the difference between a generic drug and a brand-name drug?

A: There effectively is no difference. The active ingredient [the part that treats the disease] is exactly the same as in the brand. The only difference is the additives in the tablet.

Q: I have heard some people say that they are allergic to those additives. Is a person more likely to be allergic to the generic drug?

A: No, there is no difference in allergies between the generic and the brand-name drug. A patient is equally as likely to be allergic to the additives in the brand-name drug as the generic equivalent.

Q: Would you be comfortable purchasing generic drugs for your own children?

A: I am 100 percent comfortable purchasing generic drugs for my children.

about the money we take out of the hat, we can reduce costs, and maybe, just maybe, free up some cash so we can have more_________ (you fill in the blank).

Here’s a real-life example. Lipitor is a very common brandname drug used to treat high cholesterol. Lipitor costs as much as $250 for a 90-day supply. Mylan-Atorvastatin (one of the generic equivalents) costs $75.60 for the same 90day supply. That means Lipitor costs 230 percent more than its generic equivalent. Why on earth would we spend 230 percent more for something when, in Don Cocar’s opinion, “There effectively is no difference”?

It begs the question, why do Canadians continue to purchase more expensive brand-name drugs at much higher rates than Americans?

The answer is simple: we are not making smart choices.

Our group insurance plans continue to reimburse us for the brand-name drug. Every time our doctor prescribes a drug, we need to ask for a lower cost alternative. If we don’t, our plan will, more often than not, pay for the more expensive equivalent drug.

I asked Don what happens if a drug is declined at his pharmacy. He said that his pharmacists will call the doctor and work with that doctor to find a suitable drug that the patient’s plan will cover. In my opinion, Canadians need more pharmacists like Don. A great pharmacist will help us make informed decisions. It’s time to ask for help and start controlling our drug spending.

If we, as Canadians, increase the number of generic drugs we use, we would have millions of dollars available to use towards injury and illness prevention. Imagine spending that money on health and wellness initiatives that prevent future health care costs. If we reduce those health care costs we can free up even more money for other preventative strategies. This presents an amazing spiral scenario that can lead to healthier and far more fulfilling lifestyles for Canadians.

And it all starts with one important question for our doctors and pharmacists: Is a lower cost alternative available? n

Let’s consider this information and understand why it’s important to you.

Your employer purchases group insurance on your behalf. It’s important to understand that group insurance is like a hat. When your employer pays premium for you, it’s money in the hat. When you make a claim, you take money out of the hat. At the end of the year, if the hat is empty, your premiums will cost more next year. Yes, this is over simplified, but the basic reality is true. If we can be smarter www.ohwmagazine.com

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 23

Wellness

Vedic Astrology–The Science of Light If you’ve ever felt the need for guidance in your life, look to the planets for a better understanding.

By Carole Davis

V

edic astrology originated in ancient India and is also referred to as the “Science of Light.” Simply put, it is an interpretation of the energy of the planets and the magnetic and electrical fields they emit, and how that energy influences the lives of all living things on earth.

A person’s astrological chart is a snap shot of the solar system and the heavens (stars) at the moment of birth. It is a unique and valuable map of who you are and what you will experience in your life. Vedic astrology helps you understand why things are happening in your life and gives you tools to improve the areas that are causing dissatisfaction.

“Vedic” comes from the word Veda in Sanskrit, which means knowledge. Vedic knowledge embodies every area of human experience–spiritual, medical, political, technical, cultural and astrological, all which are found in the Sanskrit Vedic writings. The Vedas are the oldest text in the world, and historical writings of the Vedas show an intellectually and spiritually advanced culture going back more than 5,000 years.

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Throughout the centuries, astrology has been studied by some of the greatest scientists in history including Ptolemy, Newton, Einstein and Freud. And, for just as long, many of the world’s leaders and great thinkers have consulted astrologers for advice and answers.

How Vedic astrology can help The three main branches of the Vedas are Yoga, Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Astrology. All are directed toward achieving emotional, spiritual and physical wellness. An astrological chart provides the directional guide to achieve this.

Vedic Astrology works in harmony with Ayurvedic medicine to heal the body, mind and spirit. The third branch, Yoga, is a comprehensive set of spiritual practices designed to help us realize the greater universe of consciousness that is our true nature. Yoga itself means to unite, coordinate, harmonize, work, or transform. Simply put, Veda is spiritual wisdom and Yoga is its application.

The various forms of Yoga in the Vedas include eating pure food, having pure thoughts and performing pure actions. A person’s chart shows weakness and strength in the spirit, body and mind; with this knowledge preventative measures can be taken to perfect heath and prevent diseases before they develop.

Because Vedic astrology is highly predictive, a consultation with a Vedic astrologer will give you direction and understanding with all aspects of your life. For example, what type of career are you best suited for and when are the opportunities for advancement? Or, it can help you determine your ideal partner, his or her personality traits and when you will marry. Vedic astrology can also shed light on your family, including the number of children you’ll have and their personality traits. Your health–which areas of your body are susceptible to disease and the timing of issues that could result without preventive action. Even your finances, such as when and where to invest your money, or if you should start a business or partnership. These are just a few of the areas that can be focused on in a Vedic astrology consultation.

Paramahansa Yogananda’s guru and teacher who was also a Vedic astrologer named Swami Shi Yukteswar, said, “I use astrology to understand the Laws of nature and the collective and individual trends of mankind. Astrology is a science and depends on the laws of nature to operate. This understanding gives the power to heal the issues plagued by mankind. Astrology was meant to give the secrets of the universe and that is the understanding of what selfrealization is; which is to know oneself is to understand everything in the Universe. It is all within us.”

Vedic Astrology is an undeniably powerful tool that enables you to see your Karma and your life events. Let it help guide you along your path to awakening, and to your true state of being. n

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Wellness

Serious about Sunscreen The Canadian Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of Canada share skin cancer statistics that are downright scary: one in seven Canadians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime; skin cancer represents onethird of all new cancers each year; skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada. We just can’t stress enough the importance of wearing sunscreen.

By Lori Anderson

W

ith the summer upon us, many of us will be spending time outdoors in the warm Okanagan sun. Whether relaxing at the cabin, boating on the lake, mountain biking or golfing, we can safely enjoy activities in the sun as long as we take some extra precautions to protect ourselves from harmful UV exposure.

With more than 80,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Canada each year, more than 5,000 being melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer), it only reinforces why sunscreen is an important part of daily skin health.

When you choose your sunscreen it’s important it provides protection against both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays; this type is usually referred to as broad-spectrum sunscreen. UVA rays are responsible for skin aging and wrinkling while UVB rays cause reddening of the skin and sunburn. Both, however, contribute to skin damage and skin cancers.

The SPF or Sun Protection Factor rating is a measure of the sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB rays.

(There currently is no measurement to indicate the protection from UVA rays.) The SPF rating is a measure of the time it would take you to burn if you were not wearing sunscreen as opposed to the time it would take with sunscreen on. For example, if you can stay in the sun for 10 minutes without burning and use a sunscreen with SPF 15, your sunscreen will protect you for 150 minutes in the sun before you start to burn. It must be applied correctly (30 minutes before going out

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in the sun) and in the correct amount in order to be fully effective (1 ounce per adult). Having a higher number SPF factor than 30 doesn’t increase the protection factor by a lot (SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UVB rays and SPF 45 blocks 98 percent), but it does enable you to spend more time in the sun before burning occurs.

Reapplying your sunscreen every two hours and after swimming are also key factors to ensure you are

getting the protection you require. Sun exposure is cumulative which means it adds up day after day so it’s important to protect yourself, even on overcast or hazy days. On those sunny days, in addition to applying sunscreen, remember to cover up, seek shade whenever possible, and wear a hat and sunglasses. Enjoy the sun, and the great outdoors, knowing your skin is protected year round. n

Mind-Body Attunement Therapy ® Training Centre The Mind-Body Attunement Therapy Training Centre provides Certificate and Diploma level training in Mind-Body Attunement Therapy, as well as weekend workshops to enhance the skills of the Mind-Body Attunement Therapist.

www.Mind-BodyAttunement.com Mind-Body Attunement Therapy is an attachment and trauma focused therapy that combines traditional interpersonal therapies of pioneers such as Freud and Bowlby with current neurobiological approaches influenced by contemporary therapists such as Schore and Levine.

Mind-Body Attunement Therapy utilizes the processes of our social nature as it replicates the pattern of attunement in a healthy attachment to facilitate the client’s reintegration of mind and body. This process reactivates the natural healing systems that allow the nervous system to heal and grow. As the nervous system resets, the state of mind is increasingly based in the circumstances of the present moment thereby allowing a general state of peace and calm, with appropriate appraisal of and reactivity to threat. An attuned mind and body have access to a flexible range of coping strategies which reforms the personality and enhances the sense of self.

Mind-Body Attunement Therapy Certificate Mind-Body Attunement Therapy Diploma Mind-Body Attunement Therapy Workshops

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 25

Wellness

Hearing Loss and Your Brain–A Unique Connection Although Statistics Canada reports that more than one million Canadians suffer from hearing loss, some studies show that number may reach well over three million.

Detecting hearing loss–and treating it early– is important; audiologist Tosha Hodgson explains why.

By Tosha R. Hodgson, Audiologist

W

e are all familiar with the old adage “use it or lose it” but have you ever considered that it is also relevant to your hearing?

Our brains are responsible for hearing–not our ears. Our ears serve as a conduit to channel sound to our brains.

Our brains are responsible for determining which sounds are important and which are noise that can be ignored. Our brains allow us to localize sound, and to understand speech and language so we can communicate with one another.

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Our brains translate sound so that it is meaningful to us.

When a person has hearing loss, the brain that was accustomed to hearing can no longer translate sounds in the same way. The result is auditory deprivation.

Often people who know they have a hearing loss do not seek help, often for a variety of reasons. It could be that some think hearing loss only happens to the elderly.

Or perhaps they’re embarrassed to wear hearing aids.

And some think that asking others to repeat themselves is not an issue, that missing parts of conversations is of little concern. Unfortunately, the repercussions of not seeking help outweigh the inconveniences of poor hearing.

Speech audiometry testing is just one component of a complete audiological assessment. Specifically, word recognition ability testing partially reveals how well an individual’s auditory centres of the brain process and organize speech.

Speech is very complex, comprised of specific sounds that can have very subtle differences between them, i.e., “th” and “f” sound very similar. The brain requires all these sounds to organize them into word and sentence patterns so they can be understood accurately. One missed sound, or confused sound, can potentially change the whole meaning of an entire sentence or phrase.

Research has suggested that when the auditory system is under-stimulated, auditory nerves can weaken and lose their ability to process different sounds. This deprivation can lead to difficulty understanding speech. The auditory nerve is sound’s highway to the brain. If sound can’t reach the brain for long periods of time, the brain’s ability to interpret sound properly can diminish.

A number of theories exist about why auditory deprivation occurs, but two of the predominant theories are: a) the lack of sound stimulation causes the brain to lose some of its ability to process sound, and b) the brain adapts to the reduced sound levels.

A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience 2011 by researchers at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, found that sound deprivation can accelerate atrophy (weakness) of the auditory centres

26 Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

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Pet Health in the brain. The study also found that the brain tissue in the auditory areas was reduced in people with hearing loss.

Lead author of the study, Jonathan Peele, PhD Research Associate with the Department of Neurology, stated “as hearing ability declines with age, interventions such as hearing aids should be considered not only to improve hearing but to preserve the brain.”

Auditory deprivation was first documented in 1984 when Silman, Gelfand, and Silverman published their study which followed hearing impaired adults who had an equal hearing loss in both ears but only wore one hearing aid. Their findings suggested that the ability to understand words significantly decreased in only the un-aided ear (Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1984).

Previously, it was thought that just one hearing aid was enough to treat hearing loss, even if both ears were impaired. The Silman et al. study prompted hearing health care professionals to re-think how they prescribed hearing aids. Clinicians began fitting aids binaurally (both ears) in an effort to prevent auditory deprivation effects.

Research in this area is not without controversy as the quality of evidence provided in many of the studies is open to discussion.

Currently, the general consensus among hearing health professionals is that two ears are better than one. And, the sooner hearing is assessed, and hearing loss treated, the better.

Baseline audiological assessments are recommended by age 50, and earlier if there is any history of hazardous noise exposure (workplace noise, music, firearm use) or any family history of hearing loss.

So give your brain a break and be proactive about your hearing health.

Have your hearing thoroughly assessed by a regulated audiologist and seek treatment early if a hearing problem is identified. Your brain will thank you for it. n

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When Your Cat Pees in the Worst Possible Places

Many cat owners have discovered that their cats don’t always pee in the litter box. Dr. Lily Miller offers some insight as to how you can help your kitty get back to litter box basics.

By Dr. Lily Miller, DVM

I

nappropriate elimination by cats can include urinating or defecating anywhere in the home, but outside of the litter box. While the definition seems simple, the reasons your cat may be exhibiting this behaviour certainly aren’t. This is a problem most of us cannot tolerate in our homes and it is one of the leading causes why cats are relinquished to shelters and, sadly, euthanized. In our clinic it’s also the number one behavioural appointment we see for cats.

While there are many causes of inappropriate elimination, we can generally separate them into two main categories: medical and behavioural.

Medical issues can include bacterial infections, kidney diseases, diabetes, and painful conditions such as arthritis and inflammation of the bladder.

Behavioural elimination is extremely complicated and isn’t completely understood. Stress and anxiety can play a role in litter box aversion due to the cat’s distaste for the litter itself, the actual litter box or even where it is placed in the home. How do you tell the difference? A physical exam, urinalysis and other diagnostic tests are required to truly tell the difference between medical and behavioural elimination, although sometimes the

two categories may overlap. Here are some clues that can point you in the right direction: Behavioural clues: • Spraying on vertical surfaces • Spraying on doors and windows • Using the litter box at times but not always • Urinating on particular substrates (like soft towels, beds and floor mats) • Defecating outside of the litter box Medical clues: • Straining and vocalizing during urination • Passing small amounts of urine frequently • Blood-tinged urine • Excessive licking of genital area • Urinating on horizontal surfaces that don’t seem to be substrate-related Let’s assume we have ruled out any medical issues–now what? How can a happy cat, which sleeps on the couch up to 20 hours a day, be stressed?

Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 27

Pet Health Cat stress is very different than dog stress and often cats use urination as a way to communicate this stress to us. Stress for a cat can include neighbourhood cats in the area vocalizing or spraying on windows and doors, house guests, new pets, changing the furniture around, and any change in the owners’ work schedule or their presence in the home.

Multiple cat households frequently lead to one or more cats with inappropriate urination. It can seem like the feline roommates are getting along but there is often a constant battle for staking claim of their territory in the home and it may not include any obvious aggression. It’s recommended to have a least one litter box per cat in the home and, if possible, more. Having several scratching posts and other shelves and climbing opportunities allows cats in multiple-cat households to find their own area for privacy when required. The product Feliway can increase the happy cat pheromones in the environment, decrease stress and promote emotional stabilization. It comes in both a spray and a diffuser and is highly recommended in all

multi-cat households and any homes with feline behavioural issues.

Does a cat actually care what kind of litter and litter box it has? Yes! Cats are extremely clean and do not like to use litter boxes that are dirty or have a bad odour. This means that their litter box must be scooped daily but it also requires regular washing. Cats may avoid their litter box because they don’t like the type of litter, the shape or location of the box. Many of us prefer to use scented litter and boxes with hoods for our own convenience but your cat might not appreciate the notion. Sometimes it’s actually a mobility issue as getting in and out of a deep box can result in pain for some older arthritic cats. Many feline behaviourists recommend providing a litter box smorgasbord for cats that have started inappropriate urination.

Offering a variety of box styles and litters at one time and seeing which one your cat prefers can help find the

right solution much more quickly than continually switching litters and boxes.

“Feline idiopathic cystitis” (FIC) is a common inflammatory condition that bridges both medical and behavioural issues in cats. No actual medical cause is found but the cat still has blood in its urine and often strains and is uncomfortable. While this condition is far from completely understood, environmental stress is thought to play a huge role. After addressing all possible sources of stress for these cats, medical management including supplements to improve the mucus lining of the bladder and daily anti-anxiety medications should be considered.

When it comes to inappropriate elimination in cats the bottom line is there is no single solution. It’s important to work closely with your veterinarian to rule out medical issues and provide good observations that can help you work as a team to resolve this unwelcome problem. Solving this issue requires a great deal of patience and hard work, but the end result is well worth the effort. n

Healthy Bites

Do You Know Your Health Score?

O

ur fast-paced lifestyles often result in increased stress levels, lack of sleep and high body mass indexes. These factors combined with environmental concerns like UV radiation and pollution, increase free radical levels in our bodies. These imbalanced molecules can damage cell membranes, killing cells in our bodies or damaging DNA, which can cause or exacerbate many different diseases. This oxidative damage can also accelerate the aging process.

In order to combat free radicals, nourishing your body with antioxidant-rich foods is a necessary component to ensure good health. Unfortunately, it’s always been difficult to measure the antioxidant activity in your body–until now.

Through the power of science, the MonaVie VIEW Antioxidant Scanner is an optical instrument that measures important carotenoid and flavonoid antioxidant levels in living human skin. The VIEW measures these antioxidants using a combination of patented and patent-pending biophotonic technologies, referred to as reflection spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Both levels are combined into an antioxidant score displayed on the screen of a smart-phone or tablet computer that is interfaced to the instrument via blue-tooth communication. Within seconds of placing your finger

inside the Monavie VIEW Antioxidant Scanner, you’ll know if you’re consuming enough antioxidants to combat free radicals in your daily life.

The VIEW’s five-second quick scan gives you a colour on the spectrum of antioxidant health, and the 30-second scan offers a more comprehensive numerical Health Score. This accurate and exclusive window to what’s happening inside your body will help you determine if your diet, workouts and lifestyle are providing you with enough antioxidants to prevent disease and delay aging.

For more information on obtaining your own health score, visit www.monavie.com/en/view, or call Heath Fletcher at 250-309-5226. n

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Healthy Bites

Three Cheers for SOTA!

T

he South Okanagan has a new trail advocacy group.

The South Okanagan Trail Alliance (SOTA) was formed as a successor to the Penticton and Area Cycling Association. SOTA is a multi-discipline, non-motorized group which negotiates land access, trail-building, signage and maintenance issues with BC Parks, the Crown and private land owners.

Its mandate covers an area between Summerland and Oliver north to south, Road 201 and Apex Resort east to west and includes hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, trail runners and naturalists.

The non-profit group is partially financed by sales of Andrew

I

Drouin’s SweetSingletrack.ca website and print publication; copies are available in nearly every outdoor sport and book retailer in the South Okanagan, including Oliver, Penticton, Summerland, Peachland, West Kelowna and Kelowna.

This trail guide book highlights in excess of 100 trails in these regions, complete with detailed trail and trailhead descriptions, each accompanied by a full-colour map.

Support the trails you love to hike!

For more information, check out www.southokanagantrailalliance. com or www.sweetsingletrack.ca n

Mel and Sally’s Great Granola

t’s summertime in the Okanagan and berries are in abundance. Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are all grown locally, are readily available and are so versatile and easy to add into our diets. Best of all, berries are a great source of anti-oxidants, a natural way to fight disease.

Berries make perfect snacks; they can be added to summer drinks such as sun tea, or they make a wonderful addition to salads.

They can be the main ingredient in desserts, such as mixed berry crisp, and they’re a great addition to your favorite cereal. Keep in mind that most boxed cereals are very high in added sugars (4g = 1tsp), and it’s not unusual for a ½ cup serving to have 3 tsp of added sugar!

Which is why we’re providing a healthy granola recipe this issue. Sally Stewart, a regular contributor to OHW Magazine, first introduced me to this recipe. Over time I have made some additions and omissions–primarily based on what I have in my cupboards (no sunflower seeds, add pecans!)

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The entire recipe only requires ½ cup honey and ½ cup orange juice for sweetening–which is pretty sweet in a healthy way! Add in 1 cup of fresh berries, or when out of season, use frozen. Just heat up on your stove top, no need to add sugar, then top off your bowl with 2-3 tbsp of Greek yogurt. A healthy breakfast with a taste of the Okanagan!

Ingredients

Great Granola

6 cups large flake oats 1½ cups sunflower seeds 1½ cups pumpkin seeds 3/4 cup flax seeds, hemp and/or chia seeds 1 cup wheat germ 1⁄2 cup skim milk powder or protein powder

1 tbsp cinnamon 2 cups chopped mixed dried fruits 1⁄2 cup honey 1⁄2 cup orange juice 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated canola margarine, Earth Balance or organic butter

Instructions 1. Mix together all dry ingredients, except for dried fruit, in a large bowl.

2. Heat the honey, juice, margarine (or equivalent) and vanilla in a small pot until mixture is melted.

3. Stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and mix thoroughly 4. Turn into two large roasting pans and bake at 165°C (325°F) for 30 minutes, stirring often!

5. Cool; then stir in dried fruits. Store in an air-tight container. n Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine 29

Upcoming community events July 4: Vernon & District Kennel Club Show at Lavington Park in Lavington. Visit www. vernonkennelclub.com for more info.

July 7: Midsummer 8K takes place in Kelowna. For more info, visit www. interiorrunningassociation.com July 7: Valley First Grandfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan in Penticton. For more info and to register, visit: www.grandfondoaxelmerckx. com July 14: Ride the historic Kettle Valley Rail Trail during the first annual Okanagan Trestle Tour! Join OHW Magazine on this fun 80-km bike ride, complete with BBQ and wine expo. More details at www. okanagantrestlestour.com

Aug 10: The Rattesnake Island Swim in Peachland offers swimmers a choice of a 3.1-km or a 7-km swim. Register at www. peachland.ca

Sept 8: Pooch Partners Trail hiking/ running Series–their fourth event for you and your dog. For more info, visit www. poochpartners.ca

Aug 10-11: The Vernon Paddling Centre hosts the National Iron Championship Races at Kin Beach in Vernon. Check out www.vernonpaddlingcentre.ca

Sept 8: The Bike Barn 10K in Penticton– contact Scott Buchanan at bikebarn10k@ gmail.com for more details.

Aug 11: Pooch Partners hosts its Second Annual Doggie Duathlon–great fun for you and your pooch. More details at www. poochpartners.ca Aug 11: The North Face Dirty Feet–6 Hr Enduro mountain bike race in Kelowna.

Enter as a team of 4, 2 or go solo. Sign up at www.dirtyfeet.ca

July 14: The third event in the Pooch Partners Trail hiking/running series. For more info and to register, visit www. poochpartners.ca and click on events.

Aug 17-18: Prospera Vernon Dragon Boat Festival & Pledge Drive takes place at Kalamalka Lake Beach in Vernon. Visit www.gorowandpaddle.org for more details.

July 14: The Okanagan Regatta takes place at Paddlewheel Park in Vernon. This free event is fun for the whole family!

Aug 18: Pushor Mitchell Kelowna Apple Triathlon–for more info and to register, visit www.appletriathlon.com

July 14: The North Face Dirty Feet Trail Run #3 takes place in Kalamalka Lake Park in Vernon. Run 5 km, 10 km or the half marathon. To register, visit www.dirtyfeet.ca

August 23: The Second Annual Back to Earth Community Harvest Festival takes place at Lavington Park in Lavington. For more information, call Back to Earth Enviro Products at 250-550-6789.

July 20: Across the Lake Swim is the largest and longest running open-water swim event in Canada, and it takes place in Kelowna. Get all the details at www. acrossthelakeswim.com

August 25: The Kidney Foundation walk takes place in Polson Park, Vernon and in Gyro Park, Kelowna. Check out www. kidney.ca/bcwalk

July 20: The 27th Annual Boston Pizza Jr. Triathlon takes place in Penticton for kids between the ages of 8 and 15. More details at www.pentictontriathlonclub.com

Aug 25: Challenge Penticton Triathlon, the ultimate in ironman competitions, takes place in Penticton. Check out www. challenge-penticton.com for all the details.

July 20-21: The North Face Dirty Feet– Mountain Bike Weekend and village crit race at Sun Peaks in Kamloops. Ride 20, 40 or 60 km; sign up today at www.dirtyfeet. ca

Aug 30-Sept 1: Kalamalka Classic Stand Up Paddleboard Festival. For more info, visit www.kalavidasurfshop.com or call 778475-5808.

July 21: The Peach Classic Triathlon–the oldest triathlon in the Valley–takes place in Peachland. Visit www.peachclassic.ca for more information.

July 27-28: The BC Cup and BC Championships for mountain biking take place at Silver Star Mountain in Vernon. For more information, visit summer.skisilverstar. com July 27-28: The Kamloops Marathon, which also includes a 5-, 10-, and 21-km run, takes place in Kamloops. Check out www. bcracreview.com July 28: Peachland Sprint Triathlon, for teams or individuals. Swim 750 m, ride your bike 20 km and finish with a 5-km run. Visit www.peachland.ca for more details.

Aug 30-Sept 1: Silver Star Freeride Festival is a two-day bike festival jampacked with bike races, demos and much more; happening at Silver Star Bike Park: www.summer.skisilverstar.com Sept 1: Summerland Sprint Triathlon, Kids of Steel Triathlon and a Corporate Challenge event take place in Summerland. Visit www. orcaswimclub.net for more information.

Sept 8: The Parkinson SuperWalk takes place at Waterfront Park in Kelowna. For more details and to register, visit https:// cause2give.unxvision.com Sept 14: Vernon’s Ultimate Frisbee Tournament–lots of fun at Marshall Fields in Vernon.

Sept 14: The Parkinson SuperWalk takes place in Vernon’s Polson Park and Salmon Arm’s McGuire Lake Park. Visit https:// cause2give.unxvision.com for all the details.

Sept 14: Prospera Credit Union’s Cinema Under the Stars takes place at Polson Park in Vernon. Starts at dusk, by donation.

Sept 14: Steve King 100 Km Classic Relay and Ultra Princeton to Summerland; limited to 50 teams and 50 solo runners.

For more info, and to register, visit www. stevekingclassic.com Sept 14: Salmon Arm Bike For Your Life Century Ride–a fun event that promotes a healthy lifestyle, family solidarity and community involvement. Visit www. bikeforyourlife.com Sept 14-15: Last weekend of bonus riding at Silver Star Bike Park. Check out summer. skisilverstar.com for all the details.

Sept 22: The Kidney Walk/Run in Penticton starts at Riverside Village. Visit www.kidney. ca/bcwalk to register.

Sept 22: Calling all mountain bikers to the Test of Humanity Race in Summerland.

Choose from five different categories and enter as a soloist or a team. For more info and to register, visit www.testofhumanity. com Sept 22: The Peak to Beak Run takes you from Knox Mountain to Quail’s Gate Winery in West Kelowna. For more info, call Trevor Haaheim 250-762-9252, or email him: trevorksc@shaw.ca

Sept 6-8: The 13th Annual Penticton Dragon Boat Festival takes place at Skaha Lake Park in Penticton. For more info, visit www.gorowandpaddle.org

Sept 29: The Campbell Mountain 6.5K run takes place in Penticton and is the second race in the Starting Block X-Country Race Series. Visit www. interiorrunningassociation.com

Sept 7: The Kelowna Wine Country Marathon, complete with a post-race wine and music festival. Visit http:// destinationraces.com/runbc/ for more information.

If you’d like to submit an event for our listing, please email us at: info@ohwmagazine.com For a complete event listing, visit us at www.ohwmagazine.com n

30 Summer ‘13 - Okanagan Health & Wellness Magazine

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