14 minute read
HEALTH & WELLNESS
HEALTHY FOOD TRENDS We’ll Be Devouring in 2021
By Colleen Thompson
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We’ve said adios to 2020 and we’re looking ahead to brighter days with a focus on boosted immunity. The pandemic changed the way we live and eat and several of those trends are not going anywhere: plant-based foods, Zoom cooking classes and meal kits are all here to stay. While chickpeas, fruit jerky and hard kombucha are all poised to steal the spotlight.
1. Oil Change
Move over olive oil, there is a whole new crop of oils moving in to take your place. Home cooks in particular are experimenting with oils that add unique flavours, along with healthy perks, to salad dressings. Expect to see more pumpkin seed, walnut and hemp oils imbuing your recipes.
2. Hard Kombucha
The hard seltzer market has been growing exponentially for the past few years, so it’s no surprise that boozy kombucha is now flexing and muscling its way onto shelves. It’s part of an overall trend towards low ABV cocktails. All kombucha contains a small amount of alcohol — usually less than 0.5 per cent as a by-product of fermentation. Hard kombucha ferments for an extra few weeks for an ABV of between four-to-seven per cent.
3. Everything Old is New Again
See ya sourdough; pickling is taking your spot! The technique may be 4,000 years old, but pickling is a thing again. With more time on our hands, and many more people growing their own food, pickling has seen a resurgence. At the peak of canning season last year, pickling popularity even led to a shortage of glass jars. The simplicity of the process, the desire for healthy quick snacks and a hobby to destress, is set to continue through 2021.
4. Fruit & Veg Jerky
Cited by Entrepreneur Magazine as the "sustainable snack of the future," fruit and veggies are taking on a new form. As the world continues to embrace all things plant-based, startups are getting very innovative with flavour-packed jerky mushrooms to adventurous dried jackfruit snacks.
5. Chickpea Everything
The humble chickpea is officially the world’s most versatile legume. Whole Foods Market has listed them as a top trend for 2021. Move over falafel and hummus as we usher in chickpea pasta, chickpea pizza crust, chickpea salad, chickpea tofu and even chickpea cereal. It checks all the boxes: gluten free, high in protein, plant-based and rich in fibre.
Best of the Best 2021
Honey & Ginger: Truly a Homegrown Brand
By Dave Johnson Photos Bruce Jollimore
Honey & Ginger is delighted to announce they have moved their Bedford store to its new location at 26 Peakview Way, Larry Uteck East in Bedford.
The new location allows them to expand the quality products and services they offer to support you on your journey to optimal health. They also continue to serve customers and wellness centre clients and patients at their Dartmouth location at 262 Baker Drive.
“We continue to focus on what have traditionally been our strengths,” says owner Barb Brennan, ”including supplements, personal care, grocery items and most importantly, great customer service.”
In addition to their health food store, the new location offers practitioner services
– Barb Brennan
in private treatment rooms. Sessions can be booked with their naturopathic doctor, holistic nutritional consultants, reiki practitioner or with a physiotherapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy. Practitioners focus on the underlying cause of illness while addressing immune support, food sensitivities, meal planning and elimination diets, as well as pelvic health concerns ranging from bladder issues to constipation and pre and postnatal issues. Their knowledgeable team will walk you through the process.
Honey & Ginger is committed to Atlantic Canadian vendors (Marky B Protein Cookies, Goodmore Kombucha, Honibe, Outcast Up-cycled Nutrition, and many more). When products cannot be sourced locally, they aim to be as Canadian as possible.
“We are proud of our relationships with suppliers, vendors and customers,” says Brennan. “Mutual respect and support are very important to us.”
The company is also happy to expand their cosmetics and beauty section in their new space, offering well-researched, high-quality, affordable products. Honey & Ginger strives to provide a safe environment for staff and customers, while keeping the COVID-19 shopping experience as normal as possible. They will continue to offer enhanced in-store shopping with roomier aisles, curbside pick-up, delivery in HRM, and acrossCanada mailout. And, if they don’t have what you are looking for, they will do their best to find it.
Staff members are committed to the highest level of individualized service and take part in ongoing training. They listen to customers and help them find the information they need to choose the best product to suit their needs. “We are grateful for our customers who continue to challenge us to expand our evergrowing product line and knowledge base,” says Brennan.
The Honey & Ginger team is especially looking forward to hosting community education sessions and workshops when it is safe to do so. Come by and talk natural health and holistic nutrition, or let Barb share her passion for running, yoga, live music, and local wines. Or simply visit to enjoy that special aroma that can only be found at a health food store.
Barb Brennan, owner
Honey & Ginger 26 Peakview Way Larry Uteck East, Bedford Store and Wellness Centre: 902.431.0801
262 Baker Drive, Dartmouth Store and Wellness Centre: 902.431.0801
honeyandginger.ca
Best of the Best 2021
THE TEN SPOT
Gift Cards: Always the perfect gift!
The original “anti-spa” beauty bar
By Katrina Geenevasen Photos Bruce Jollimore
When you feel like a 10, you feel as if you can conquer the world... or at least take on your day. And in some ways, it’s kinda the same thing.
It’s for this reason Megan Gaetz decided to bring the best of the beauty biz to Bedford with THE TEN SPOT.
“It’s all about confidence,” she says. “When you look good, you feel good, and then you do good. Appearance isn’t everything, but a little boost of confidence is going to get you walking taller with your chin up. When you feel good about yourself, it’s easier to make someone else feel good, giving them that same boost of confidence. It’s contagious, and it’s going to continue to be passed on from person to person throughout the day.”
Touting itself as the original anti-spa® beauty bar, THE TEN SPOT is on a mission to make everyone feel their best. With every woman who leaves with freshly painted nails, a perfect pedi, or the salon’s famous Brazilly Wax, THE TEN SPOT is proving it knows just what needs to be done to accomplish precisely that.
Ever since the very first Ten Spot opened its doors on Queen Street in Toronto in 2006, the salon has operated with a single goal: to beautifully bridge the gap between upscale, elaborate spas and suspicious salons that offer toogood-to-be-true deals.
“THE TEN SPOT is upbeat, trendy and modern in how it looks, but then also in the way it feels when you walk in,” says Gaetz. “Clients walk into a space that’s bright and colourful, and nobody wears uniforms; people are dressed to be themselves and embrace their personalities.
“There’s good music playing, it’s a little bit louder than your typical spa, your choice of Netflix is playing in the treatment rooms and a great rom-com
is playing in the main mani-pedi room. It’s as if you’re walking into a friendly neighbourhood where you can relax and just be yourself.”
The salon’s services, says Gaetz, are efficient yet impeccable; there’s a reason the franchise has been scoring “best of” awards in every city they land in.
“We believe in the ability to do a service in a shorter period of time by cutting out non-essential parts of the service,” she says. “So you’re still getting a scrub and massage when you’re having a manicure done, but it’s not going to take 30 minutes. It’s a perfectly-done service in a short amount of time. Come in on your lunch break and head back to work with 10 perfectly painted toes or fresh brows!”
Not only this, but the services are also executed by staff members who enjoy being at work — and it shows.
“When you come in, it’s a space where people are smiling and where you can tell the staff enjoy being here and enjoy being with each other. You feel like you’re welcome here and you feel like you can be part of that friendship.
– Megan Gaetz, owner
You can feel like you’re being brought into a community.
“Yes, we are a franchise, but we are owned and operated by locals who love what they do and exist to leave you feeling like the 10 we know you are.”
You deserve to feel like nothing less than a 10 every day — so why settle? Book your appointment online at THE TEN SPOT today. THE TEN SPOT 936 Bedford Highway, Unit 105 902.407.5707 bedford@thetenspot.com
WITH Christina Rogers-Lunn President, Hearing Institute Atlantic
YOUR HEARING MATTERS
Hearing is connected to so many important health factors. People do not always realize that their ability to hear well can help foster a healthier lifestyle. Statistics show that hearing loss affects one in eight Canadians of all ages, and 50 per cent of the population over the age of 65 has hearing loss.
Research has shown clear links between hearing loss, diabetes and cardiovascular health, and more recently to changes in the brain and the progression of dementia. Left untreated, hearing loss can lead to depression, stress, anxiety and fatigue. It’s tiring when you’re straining to hear, unaware of what has been said, and trying to follow conversations; by the end of the day, you, and your brain, can be exhausted.
Why don’t more people seek hearing help?
Many people don’t even notice they have hearing loss. Often it can be their friends, family or coworkers who notice it first. Hearing loss is said to be an invisible condition and its onset is often gradual, so people make adaptations and changes over time to compensate.
From my time working in our clinics and speaking with clients, I’ve come to realize that knowing who to trust, where to find a good audiologist and knowing which brands of hearing devices are good ones, can make a big difference. People are often given misinformation or hear about not-so-great experiences from friends and family, which can lead to worry or result in them not seeking much-needed help. Cost can also be a substantial barrier to seeking help. Many folks do not want to have a hearing test for fear it will lead to a recommendation of hearing devices. As technology gets better and hearing devices become more robust, reliable and have the ability to work in a wireless Bluetooth world, costs remain high. The good news is that over the lifetime use of a device, the cost will be relatively low, and most companies offer a budgetfriendly solution for their clients, or in-house payment plans.
And finally, awareness! Most people just do not have hearing health on their radar. Think about it. When was the last time you had a hearing test? We often see people for their first hearing test in late adulthood, when gradual changes have already started to occur. Our audiology team recommends having your hearing tested starting at age 40, and regularly thereafter, based on the results.
Early diagnoses, intervention and treatment of hearing loss, if needed, leads to better overall hearing health and improvements in lifestyle factors. I know not everyone grows up wanting to wear a hearing device, but if you have a treatable loss, the great news is that we can help. We can also help you find fantastic products that may just surprise and delight you.
Hearing is a vital sense. We need to hear to stay connected to the activities and people we love. Value it, treasure it, and have it looked after by a trusted and respected business and audiology team. See them for regular check-ups and take action when it becomes necessary.
Don’t wait or put it off, and don’t dismiss how important good hearing is to your overall health and well-being.
Christina Rogers-Lunn
Hearing Institute Atlantic Halifax, Clayton Park, Bedford, Lr. Sackville, Dartmouth, Bridgewater, New Minas, Yarmouth 902.482.2222 info@hearinginstitute.ca hearinginstitute.ca
WITH Dr. Magda Barnard Bedford Orthodontics, Metro Orthodontic Specialists
Safety and Excellent Orthodontic Outcomes are our Top Priorities
At Bedford Orthodontics and Metro Orthodontic Specialists, we pride ourselves on excellence in cleaning, sterilization and infection control — and we always have, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our offices have state-of-the-art sterilization centres and equipment, regular testing and meticulous disinfection. In addition, due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, we have upped our game to reflect the specific requirements that are necessary to keep everyone safe from this novel coronavirus.
We are very fortunate, because as I write this, we have very few cases in Nova Scotia. However, this could change, and we are always vigilant. You are safe in our office. The Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Dental Association, along with the province and our chief medical officer of health, ensures we have all the best guidelines at our fingertips to keep you protected from COVID-19.
So what will look different when you come for an appointment at our office? You will see that we have a pre-screening questionnaire for COVID-19 that we will ask you to fill out online or on your cell phone. It will only take a few seconds. We will also remind you that we are social distancing and that our wait room is limited. Essentially, your car may be your “wait room” when you arrive for the visit. It is a good thing our wait times are very short, because the magazines and ipads you may be used to seeing in our wait area have been temporarily removed. They are frequently touched surfaces and we are not taking any risks!
Once you come into the office, we will take your temperature with a touchless thermometer and ask you to wear a mask or we will provide one for you. We will also review your screening questionnaire to ensure there were no changes since you filled it out or to answer any questions. You will see our staff wear face shields and masks, and we will usually be wearing scrubs like the ones you see medical doctors wear in the hospital and on TV!
The front desk has sneeze guards installed and we offer touchless payment options and appointment scheduling.
In the main clinic, we have excellent air exchange from our HVAC filtration, state-of-the-art sterilization centres and disinfectants. We have also installed additional HEPA filtration and have also installed partitions between chairs, as an extra safety precaution. We have gone above and beyond. We treat our patients like family, and this is what we would want for our family. No detail was spared or overlooked.
So please give us a call to schedule your next visit. We will provide you with the same care we are known for, but with a COVID-19 safety twist to keep you and your loved ones safe while you get the smile of your dreams. Dr. Magda Barnard
B.Sc., D.D.S. (with distinction), M.Sc. (Orthodontics), F.R.C.D(C)
Bedford Orthodontics
Suite 206, Sunnyside Mall 1595 Bedford Highway, Bedford 902.835.6531 www.bedfordortho.com
NOW also welcoming patients at: Metro Orthodontic Specialists
Suite 200, 5991 Spring Garden Road Halifax 902.423.7331 www.metroortho.ca
