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Health Concerns

Mental Health Is Mostly Invisible

Through the works of Sebastian Junger, I was surprised to learn that in all societies, as affluence rises, so do rates of depression and suicide.  

Jim Carey once said that he hoped that everyone could become rich and famous so that they would have the chance to realize that material wealth and prestige do not bring lasting peace or happiness.  

Toward the end of his life, Robin Williams said that he used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone, only to realize that it is even worse to end up with people who make you feel alone. Read more

 

Understanding Pain Killers and Inflammation

An all-too-common mistake that I've encountered over the years is taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to address muscular and ligamentous strains and sprains.

If you take an appropriate dose of acetaminophen to relieve pain associated with a soft tissue injury, you'll likely be fine as long as you prioritize resting your body and not aggravating the injured area. Read more

 

A Priceless Gift

On a program that I recently viewed, a highly likeable character explained that she wore a watch designed for those who are blind because she appreciates the constant reminder of the value in thinking about what life is like in another person's shoes.

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, and in my book, is one of the most important virtues we can adopt into our beings.

To empathize requires that we put down the lens with which we view and process the world, and attempt to truly feel what another person is going through. Read more

 

If Allowed Only 10

Assume that you are allowed to make 10 investments over the course of your life. How much care will you put into making each of your allotted 10 choices, and once you've decided on which assets you wish to invest in, how much time will you spend caring for them?

Put another way, do you see yourself as being a trader, someone who hops in out of whatever is in or out of favour today, or are you an investor, a person who prefers to hold the best quality assets you can find for the rest of your life? Read more

 

A Simple Way to Maximize Arsenic Removal While Cooking Rice

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A recent study funded by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council indicates that replacing cooking water part way through the process of cooking rice decreases naturally occurring trace arsenic in brown rice by over 50 percent and in white rice by 74 percent.

Here's how for 1 cup of uncooked brown rice: Read more

 

What To Do If You Fall Through Ice

In a suburb of Ottawa, there's a river that mostly freezes over in the winter and becomes a trail for snowmobiling enthusiasts. This river narrows as it runs past the backyard of a friend of mine. Narrowing translates to faster water flow, which makes it less likely that the river will freeze over in that location.

My friend tells me that just about every year, one or two unsuspecting snowmobilers come ripping down the river trail and end up going through thin ice and drowning. Just a few years ago, a man and his young daughter tragically died in this way.

Even if you aren't into snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, or other popular outdoor winter activities, it doesn't hurt to know how to maximize your chances of surviving if you fall through ice.

In the following videos, Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht - a thermo-physiologist and professor at the University of Manitoba - shares tips on how to survive after falling into icy cold water. Below the video, you'll find a summary of a few key points to share with loved ones. Read more

 

How Much Alcohol Is Okay?

Updated on October 19, 2020

Approximately 11 million people in the United States and Canada use some form of sleep aid on a regular basis, with alcohol and antihistamines being two popular choices.

Contrary to popular belief, having a nightcap - 5 ounces of wine, 1-2 ounces of a distilled spirit like tequila, vodka, or whiskey, or 8-12 ounces of beer - does not improve sleep quality. In fact, having a nightcap actually takes away from the amount of restful sleep we experience. Read more

 

Zoom Out and Consider

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Look at the people you spend time with and consider which of them don't care how much money you have or don't have, what kind of car you drive, what you wear, what you've accomplished, or what you look like. Read more

 

Things We Can't See About Others

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Most children who grow up with immigrant parents have a few memories that they carry for the rest of their days. Read more

 

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