Did you know March is Nutrition Month? This year's theme celebrates food from the fields where it is grown... all the way to the table where it is enjoyed.  

 

Farmers in New Brunswick produce a variety of healthy foods that are available at local markets, farm stands or even baskets delivered to your door. Seasonal vegetables and fruit can be enjoyed fresh or freeze them so they can be enjoyed all year. Potatoes, apples, blueberries, squash are just some examples of what NB has to offer. Local milk, eggs, poultry and meat are also plentiful in New Brunswick. Choose foods grown close to home for optimal nutrients and taste; this will also reduce your carbon foot print and support your local economy.  

 

In the Fredericton area we are lucky to have an amazing weekly market on Saturday mornings. There are many seasonal farm stands that are also available, such as Harvey's Big Potato and the Country Pumpkin. The Jolly Farmer offers a remarkable service that provides a weekly fresh food basket! New Brunswick is the third largest Maple Syrup Producer in the world! Bring your families to see how it is harvested and enjoy small amounts to flavour your favourite healthy dishes, such as salmon or buckwheat pancakes.  

 

Healthy food should also be celebrated at the table. With our busy lifestyles it can be difficult to find time to prepare healthy, home cooked meals. However, preparing and enjoying family meals has many benefits. Children and teenagers eat more fruits, vegetables and milk products when involved in family meals. This provides a great opportunity for conversation and a chance teach kids about food and preparing healthy meals.  Watching television and other distractions should be avoided when eating. It is easy to lose track of what you are eating and can lead both children and adults to overeat.  

 

With so many foods available, I challenge you to be mindful of the foods you purchase, prepare and eat. Celebrate foods grown locally in New Brunswick and across Canada ... and enjoy healthy family meals whenever possible. Happy Nutrition Month!

 

For more information on Nutrition Month visit  Dietitians of Canada

 

 

The CNS:  Your Lifeline  By: Dr. Jason Fortier    and Dr. Kelly VanSlyke

 

What does a healthy nervous system mean to you?

 

How many people think about the health of their nervous system?  Not many, unless you have been into a Chiropractor's office.  Our CNS, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), is the master controller of the whole body - every single system, and every single cell; it tells our body what to do and when to do it.  We also do not think about how to keep a healthy nervous system, or what may make it unhealthy.  Good spinal health will lead to good overall health, but how do you know when there is a problem?

 

Most people rely on symptoms to tell us how we are doing, and categorize ourselves as healthy or unhealthy based solely on whether or not we are experiencing discomfort, pain, or in the absence or presence of a disease process.  When you consider that ONLY 10% of our nervous system can relay symptoms to the brain; that leaves 90% to chance!  The remaining 90% of the nervous system controls motor (muscle) function, organs, glands and blood vessels.

 

The Chiropractor's goal is to locate problem areas (misalignments, areas of stress) along the spine that are interfering with the messages being sent from the brain to the body, and from the body back to the brain.  Long term interference of the nervous system will eventually lead to symptoms, which will then compel a person to get checked out; this is very reactive, and often requires more effort to correct.  Having your spine checked regularly for areas of stress is essential to achieve a healthier nervous system, this in turn, allows the body to self regulate and self heal at its best.  When nerve function is optimized - better quality of life can be obtained!   

 

Knowing what you now know about the CNS, you realize that the nervous system is vital to overall health!  Of course, optimal health and wellness involves living a healthy lifestyle, including: eating well, thinking well, and moving well!   

 

If you would like to learn more about how Chiropractic can lead you onto a proactive path of health and wellness, please contact Dr. Jason or Dr. Kelly.

Precision Pilates online scheduling software has an app that allows you to see our daily class schedules!  How convenient is THAT?!

How many classes should I do each week?

I absolutely recommend that all of my clients do at least two classes every week.

Combining a Mat Class with a Tower (apparatus) class is the ideal situation.    The body can get better feedback on its alignment, centre, and create ideal movement with the assistance and resistance of the springs.  

This feedback is then taken into the next Mat Class as corrections to movement and posture and the body can more easily adapt all of these ideals into everyday life.

Want to try a Tower class to see? Precision Pilates has 6 on the schedule each week.  Pay a Drop-In fee to check it out!

Do the times not work for you?  Let me know as the schedule will be getting re-worked as clients provide me with feedback.