Johanna Pigeon, Broker

When buying a home there’s always the usual list of “must haves” and the “nice to have” …it’s important to differentiate between the two before you go out and view homes.

Your wish list will not only serve to keep you focused when on the hunt but also be a valuable guide for your real estate professional to find the right fit.  It also opens up discussion if you’re not the sole decision maker…you may be surprised with what your  co-buyer deems essential which may lead to some compromises. Take into account your budget, housing needs and lifestyle!

1. Your price range will be the primary factor of which areas are available to you.
2. Make a list of the typical housing needs; minimum bedrooms/bathrooms, parking, deck/balcony, etc…
3. House or condo? Are you prepared and willing to maintain a home (who’s going to cut the grass!) or is the freedom of condo living more your speed?
4. Are you an “urban, walk out the front door with access to all the conveniences” kind of person…cafes, restaurants, galleries, shops.
5. Are you willing to commute to get that larger home with the great big backyard? Test drive rush hour traffic beforehand …could you handle it daily?
6. Are schools and day care a factor?
7. Need to be close to transit? Check the schedule and try out the bus route.
8. Try on a neighbourhood…hang out for the afternoon and get a good feel for it. Return at night with a friend; would you be comfortable coming home late from work?
9. And how much work are you willing to put into it?  Cosmetic work only, ready for that handyman special or looking for move-in condition?

Over one million people are diagnosed per year in North America with skin cancer!

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND

Although being in the sun can be great for vitamin D production, too much sun can be problematic over time.  Soaking up the sun exposes the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, some of which is naturally reflected by the skin but the rest is absorbed by living cells.  The absorbed UV damages cells causing sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer.

Most people slather on sunscreen or sunblock with good intentions to help protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.  The problem is not all sun protection products are created equally.  There are a lot more things to consider besides sun protection factor (SPF) when choosing a sunscreen.

1. Does it protect from both UVA & UVB radiation?
2. Is it actually chemically stable in sunlight?
3. Do its ingredients have any known or suspected health hazards?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) in Washington DC recognized the need for scientific analysis of sun protection products.  They analysed 1,085 products on the market with information compiled from studies, toxicity information and product formulations to rank them for safety and effectiveness.

Only 15% of 1,085 products analyzed met criteria for safety and effectiveness!

Some of the worst offenders were Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena.

What they found….

Products lacked UVA protection

7% of products did not contain ingredients that would help shield the body from UVA.  Long term exposure to this type of long wave radiation is linked with skin cancer.

They couldn’t stand up to the sun

44% of products contained ingredients that may be unstable in the sun making it questionable as to whether they will actually last as long as they claim.

Ingredients may be linked with skin cancer

Most commercial sunscreens contain oxybenzone.  It absorbs UVA & UVB rays.  The problem is that oxybenzone is now actually thought to cause some forms of skin cancer!

Dr. Samantha’s top pick:

Kiss My Face 100% Paraben Free Sunscreen with Oat Protein, SPF 30

To find out how your sunscreen ranks, check out the EWG’s list of best sunscreens at www.cosmeticdatabase.com

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By Liz Radzick

I love to talk and I love to hear about other people’s ideas. Sometimes I get frustrated trying to do both of these things. Why? Because the person I’m communicating with is unconsciously doing something that blocks my connection with them.

Whether it’s a personal or business situation, try to avoid the following behaviours:

1.      Not Being Present

Have you ever been on the phone with someone and felt like they weren’t really listening to you? Perhaps you could hear keyboard clicks or other noise that indicated you weren’t their sole focus. I’ve had conversations that suddenly didn’t make sense because the other person spontaneously started talking to the gas bar guy and spoke right into their phone as if the communication was meant for me.

Perhaps you’ve been in a meeting when someone was texting under the table during a presentation. Or perhaps you’ve tried to talk to a colleague and they kept typing on their computer while talking to you. It’s hard to connect with people who are multi-tasking.

Make sure this isn’t you! Give your full attention to the person or group you are with. By being present you let others know they matter and that you are interested in what they have to say. By demonstrating this type of social generosity and respect you will create a lasting positive impression and stronger bond with the people you interact with.

2.      Waiting to Speak vs. Listening

I admit I am sometimes guilty of this one. I rationalize by telling myself that I’m such a great idea person that it’s hard for me to keep quiet when what you’re saying is stimulating so many ideas in my head. You can tell when I’m doing this because I’m probably compressing my lips and holding my breath while leaning forward as if I’m going to pounce on you. Or I actually clip off the end of your sentence with my exhaled interjection.

To become a better listener, you must become present -be in the moment, try breathing in and out slowly and imagine that you are a digital recorder – repeat each sentence in your head as the person finishes saying it. Look into their eyes and unclench your fists. Relax. There is enough time for you to speak once they have finished talking.

3.      Interrupting

This behavior has “Epic Fail’ stamped all over it. You know it’s annoying when people do it to you. It’s no less annoying when you do it to others and it screams “unprofessional.” Do it with Boomers and you will be perceived as young and arrogant Nobody wants that.  See #2.

Everything we needed to know we learned in kindergarten: Play nice and wait your turn.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 next week!

Have a communication question or want to share a communication pet peeve? -Post here!

Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND

There is much controversy surrounding soy products.  Not only is 95% of North American soy genetically modified but it is also documented to have a weak estrogenic effect.  This gets really scary when we consider the prevalence of hormone-related cancers like breast cancer. 

Not all soy is created equally though.  There are actually 2 types of soy:

1. Non-Fermented: isolated soy protein, soy milk, soy beans, soy oil
2. Fermented: miso, soy sauce, tempeh, soy yogurt

Non-fermented soy tends to be more processed.  Vegetarians should use caution using soy milk or soy protein as a primary protein source.  These products contain enzymes that can block protein absorption and inhibit the production of protein-derived hormones.  Daily consumption may also inhibit the uptake of thyroid hormones which will disrupt the body’s metabolism.

Energy and other nutrients can also be disrupted with too much non-fermented soy.  They contain hemagglutin that can decrease the ability of red blood cells to absorb and distribute oxygen in the body.  Another compound call phytic acid latches onto nutrients like iron and inhibits absorption.

Traditional Asian diets contain fermented soy products.  The fermentation process actually increases the digestibility and bioavailability of nutrients in the food.  The fermentation process deactivates hemaggluting and enhances protein absorption.  Tofu, although not fermented, is processed in a way that removes the compounds that inhibit nutrient and protein absorption.

If breast cancer risk is a concern, you need to consider the estrogen effects of soy. Soy contains isoflavones which are linked with estrogen production. Non-fermented soy products are most likely to create estrogens that are associated with breast cancer where as fermented product contain an isoflavone form that stimulates an estrogen that is not associated with breast cancer. If you want to play it safe, skip the soy milk and tofu but savour some soy yogurt!

Have a question or comment Post here!

By Amanda Laird

Spring has sprung!

Now that the warm weather has returned and I have hung up my coat and scarf for another year, I’m in the mood for lightening up in the kitchen too.  Next to a salad, I always think of fish as a go-to light dish.  This dish is loaded with vegetables, omega-rich salmon and only one tablespoon of olive oil between two people.

This dish is prepared en papillote, which means “in parchment”, en français.  The fish is piled on a bed of leeks and peppers, and then wrapped into a pouch and baked in the oven allowing the moisture inside to cook the fish and steam the vegetables. 

I love making this dish because it is a simple, no-fail recipe that gives the impression that you are an accomplished chef!  Presenting your sweetheart or your dinner guests with a parcel never fails to delight.  And who doesn’t love a dish that can do double duty: quick enough for a weeknight, but with enough chutzpah you can serve it to your dinner guests.

Steamed Salmon with Orange & Tarragon

For two

Ingredients:

2 x 5oz centre cut salmon filets

1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

1 tablespoon freshly chopped tarragon

1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1/2 leek, white only, julienne

1/4 red pepper, julienne

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and fresh pepper

2 11″ x 18″ sheets of parchment paper

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. In a bowl, add shallots, tarragon, zest and orange juice. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Mix well until incorporated and set aside.

3. In a second bowl, mix together sliced leeks, green onions, red peppers, parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil. Season with salt and fresh pepper.

4. Season both sides of salmon with salt and fresh pepper.

5. Place one sheet of parchment paper on your work surface. Fold in half crosswise and open it up like a book. On one half of the sheet, place half of the leek mixture (step #3), about an inch away from the crease. Layer salmon over the leek mixture and top with a dollop of the orange/tarragon mix.

6. Fold the sheet over top of the fish and ingredients. Twist the two edges of the sheets together until completely sealed and oval. If you’re feeling romantic, you can fold it into a heart shape!

7. Place the package on a baking sheet and repeat the process for the second piece of salmon.

8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until packages puff up and fish is cooked through.

9. Remove from the oven and serve immediately, cutting the paper open from the top. Be careful, the steam is hot and can burn you if you’re not careful!

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND

If you are trying to lose weight, increasing your metabolism can help you burn more calories with less work.  You’ll find hundreds of advertisements endorsing products that claim to enhance your metabolism, many holding false promises in a bottle. Here are some research-based suggestions.

Break the fast: Think about a fire as it dies out, the flames grow weaker and burning slows. If you add wood, the flames grow and the fire intensifies -burning at a quicker rate.  Your metabolism is slow ‘burning’, like the fire, while you sleep.  In the morning, the sooner you fuel your metabolism the sooner things start to burn. 

Eat your protein: Protein is harder to break down, so you burn more calories digesting protein than a slice of bread.  Eating protein will also prevent your blood sugar from spiking and causing your body to store calories.

Eat several small meals throughout the day:  Women’s bodies are built to outsmart starvation, so your metabolism shuts down after a few hours without food.  Eating every few hours will keep your metabolism elevated.  Eating well balanced small meals throughout the day that contain protein, carbohydrates and fat will optimize your metabolism.

Fat free isn’t always the answer: Your body needs fat to function properly; without proper dietary intake it will try to hold on to existing fat to stay alive.  Biochemically, you need to be taking in good quality fat in order to burn fat.

Burn more calories with cardio: Challenge yourself to burn a few extra calories every day.  Go for a walk, hop on your bike or hit an aerobics class.  20 minutes a day can go a long way!

Increase your resting metabolism with weight training: Not only will muscle conditioning make you leaner, but the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest.  Muscle requires more energy than fat so consider moderate weight conditioning 2-3 times per week.

Drink your water: Thirst is an inefficient signal in the body.  You are usually dehydrated by the time you feel thirsty.  Your body needs water to function optimally so keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day.

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