Five tips for a happy and healthy New Year

(NC) Canadians often mark the beginning of a new year with reflection and resolutions. Making small changes is often the best way to keep up the momentum and stay motivated. Here are five simple tips for a healthier New Year:

Stress less: Whether it's experienced at work or at home, stress can have a negative impact on one's health, productivity and relationships with family and friends. And at a time of year when sunlight is scarce and the weather is dreary, it's important not to let stress bring you down. Try to take more time to decompress and incorporate regular exercise, which has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mental health.

Make nutritious choices: It's been shown that North American diets contain far too much salt and sugar, leading to health problems like strokes and weight gain. It's important to make healthy choices and consume a well-balanced diet consisting of whole grains, vegetables, fruit, milk and alternatives, protein, and healthy fats each day, to provide the body with the energy, vitamins and minerals it requires.

Keep it simple: Goal setting plays an important role in personal success and development – but it's important to have realistic expectations for yourself and for others. Making a 'to-do' list while keeping each goal specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (S.M.A.R.T) can prove to be productive and extremely rewarding.

Get active: After a holiday season of delicious indulgence, sometimes clothes don't fit like they used to. Not only will hitting the gym help shed a few pounds and improve confidence, but it can also help lift mood and increase energy levels. Plus, exercise has been shown to help reduce stress.

Focus on overall health: It's important that any symptoms out of the ordinary (irritable mood, lack of concentration, sexual dysfunction, low energy etc.) be investigated. In men over the age of 45, these symptoms could be a sign of health related issues, such as hypogonadism or Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome, also referred to as Low Testosterone (Low T). It's important to address anything out of the ordinary with a doctor. For more information on Low T, visit www.lowt.ca.

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Five things you need to know about Canada's Olympic hockey jersey

(NC) For generations, kids have grown up dreaming about putting on the Team Canada Olympic hockey jersey and representing their country.

At the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, Canadian athletes on the men's, women's and sledge hockey teams will realize their dreams when they slip on any of the three new jerseys that were designed by Nike to showcase Canada's national pride and unique passion for the sport.

Here are five interesting facts about the new Olympic hockey jerseys that you can share with friends while cheering on Team Canada this February:

• The jerseys are incredibly light: With lighter-weight crests, numbers and letters that are heat transferred instead of stitched, the Team Canada jersey weighs just 448 grams and is 15 per cent lighter than those worn in Vancouver in 2010.

• The jerseys are green: Don't worry. While the actual jersey colours are red, white and black, all three versions are made from 73 per cent recycled polyester as part of Nike's commitment to produce performance apparel with reduced environmental impact. In fact, each jersey is made from up to 17 recycled plastic water bottles.

• The jerseys celebrate Canada's rich hockey history: Inside each jersey's collar, you will find 12 gold maple leaves to represent Hockey Canada's total number of Olympic and Paralympic gold medals – eight in men's hockey, three in women's and one in sledge.

• The jerseys are inspired by the past: To help design Canada's jerseys, Nike employees combed the archives of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. In addition, the jersey Team Canada wore in the 1920 Olympics was even brought to the Nike Campus and was one of the inspiration points for the black jersey.

• Prepping for the Gold: The gold piping on the badges and gold maple leaf on the shoulders were included to remind the world of Canada's goal to win gold medals in Sochi.

More information is available online at www.nike.com.

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Wasaga Beach Print Edition of Beach BOOSTER Publication #77 December 22, 2013

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Wasaga Beach Print Edtion Beach BOOSTER No. 76 December 8, 2013

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Beach Booster 75a

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Men four times more likely to have a heart attack when shoveling

(NC) For many Canadians shoveling snow is their least favourite winter chore. Research has also shown that it can be deadly.

Research completed at Queen's University in Kingston that found a clear link between shoveling snow and sudden cardiac events. The research also suggested that the risk for men was four times that of women and also four times greater if the person had a family history of heart disease.

The culprits are cold air, which puts extra strain on our hearts; the burst of start-and-stop effort; and the fact that most people don't warm up their muscles in advance.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation also suggests the following tips:

• Don't shovel immediately after waking up or after eating a meal.

• Walk around for a few minutes or marching in place to warm up.

• Don't shovel after drinking coffee or alcohol; drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Cover your head and neck, as well as your mouth to warm the cold air slightly when breathing in.

• Take it easy! Clear the driveway in stages, don't overload the shovel and take a break if you feel out of breath. Just like you wouldn't run a marathon without training for it, don't try to clear all the snow in one session if you are in less than top physical shape.

Emergency medical officials urge people to talk to their doctors before shoveling season. If you've previously experienced a heart attack, stroke, or had heart surgery in the past, then you may want to ask a family member or neighbour for help.

It's also important for Canadians to learn how to recognize SCA and to be ready, willing and able to jump in and take fast action. Immediately delivering CPR (to keep the blood flowing) and using a defibrillator within five minutes gives the best chance for survival. The Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator is the only new-generation defibrillator specifically designed for the home. The unit is safe can be used by virtually anyone in an emergency.

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