Be on the alert for fraud and scams F


raud is the number one crime against older Canadians. Com- mon types of fraud and scams include identity theft, credit or debit card fraud, online scams, and phone and door-to-door scams. Though anyone can be a victim of fraud, older people are frequently tar- geted because they are perceived as financially stable, trusting, generous, and courteous.


Older


adults may also be home during the day to answer the door or phone and, depending on the circum- stances, may not have family or friends close by to ask for a second opin- ion.


Hon. Kelvin Goertzen Minister’s Message


To protect yourself from frauds and scams, here are some tips recommended by governments and organizations from across the country: • Trust your gut. If you think it’s a scam, don’t be afraid to hang up the phone, say no, delete the email or walk away. • Con artists try to pressure you into making quick or unwise choices. If someone is trying to convince you to sign a contract or provide your personal information, take time to reflect and investigate the situation. Don’t sign or commit to anything without taking time to think it over. • Don’t pay to win or inherit mon- ey. Never send money to someone you don’t know or trust. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. • When it comes to computers, con artists randomly target email addresses,


hoping for a response. If you click a pop- up ad, you could inadvertently allow a third party to install a virus or malicious software on your system, and access your personal information. To protect yourself, learn how to protect your computer and manage your email safely. • Sharing personal information online in- creases your risk of iden- tity theft. Guard your personal information and don’t share PINs, pass- words or other personal identifiers. Only provide addresses


and phone


numbers to people you know and trust.


• Never give out your credit card, bank account number or personal infor- mation to someone over the phone, at the door or over the Internet unless you know the person or organization you are dealing with. • Cover your hand when entering


your PIN at bank machines and when making store purchases. • When in doubt, ask someone you trust for advice.


Resources Available


In addition to the tips I shared above, there are a number of resources you can access to protect yourself against fraud and scams: The Consumer Protection Office hears, mediates and investigates con- sumer-related complaints. For more in- formation, phone the CPO at 204-945- 3800 (Winnipeg) or 1-800-782-0067 (toll-free), or email


www.manitoba.ca/cca/cpo.


Hide your PIN number at bank machines. Sign up for alerts at consumers@gov.


mb.ca. Consumer protection advice is sent directly to your inbox.


The Manitoba Securities Commission takes action to prevent scams before they happen. The commission also reviews all types of scams and fraud complaints and offers brochures, fact sheets and other information to help protect people from fraud. For more information, including brochures and fact sheets, contact the MSC at 204-945-2548 (in Winnipeg) or 1-800-655-5244 (toll-free); or email securities@gov.mb.ca or website www. mbsecurities.ca . The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre col- lects information and criminal intelli-


gence on telemarketing fraud, Internet fraud, identity theft and other types of fraud. To find out about different types of fraud, how to report fraud and how to protect yourself, visit their website at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude. ca/protectyourself-protegezvous/index- eng.htm.


For more information about seniors programs and services in Manitoba, please call the seniors information line at 204-945-6565 in Winnipeg, toll-free 1-800-665-6565; or email seniors@ gov.mb.ca.


Hon. Kelvin Goertzen is the MLA for Steinbach and the minister of health, se- niors and active living.


Improving health by reducing inflammation I


nflammation is part of the body's natural protective process, a re- sponse to potential threats. Chemi- cals are produced that promote healing in response to an injury, or exposure to allergens or infection. Characterized by redness, painful or stiff joints, or swollen tonsils, inflam- mation is a component of our immune defense system that helps to de- termine what is safe and what is dangerous. We need to appreciate when we get a sore throat or a swollen ankle, as that vi- tal response is part of the healing process. But when the immune system over- reacts, that can contribute to health concerns includ- ing fatigue, insomnia, de- pression, anxiety, digestive problems, skin conditions, and weight manage- ment issues. While normally caused by trauma, inflammation can also be caused by autoimmune reactions to physical and emotional stress, digestive problems, poor diet, high insulin levels, and hor- monal imbalances and infections we're not even aware of including periodon- tal disease. Lifestyle and environmental triggers may include lack of exercise, allergies, chemicals found in cleaning products and cosmetics, and insufficient sleep.


manage and mitigate the stresses, cre- ating a balanced, healthier, mind and body.


Inflammaging: As we age, low-


Nathan Zassman Natural Health


grade infections, injury, and exposure to environmental toxins can result in a moder- ate, continual state of stress tied to inflamma- tion, sometimes referred to as "inflammaging." This inflammatory state normally resolves itself but can progress to more chronic non-resolving in- flammation. While mod- erate inflammation can be beneficial, low-grade continual inflammaging produces higher levels of inflammatory compounds that


are associated with dementia, Alzheimer’s


Health has been described as the abil- ity of an organism to adapt to stress. From the moment we're born, our immune system is challenged by these internal and external elements that all produce a response. Unless the system over-reacts, this adaptive immunity makes us stronger and more resilient to disease, as our immune system helps


April 2017


disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration, osteo- porosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions linked to the immune system. Healthy Digestion: With the body’s highest concentration of immune cells (70-80%), our digestive system is foun- dational to achieving optimum health. I encourage everyone to focus on a whole-food, high-fibre, nutrient-rich diet that includes colourful vegetables, berries, nuts, seeds, and spices. Try to incorporate more seafood (rich in healthy fats), as well as sprouted foods which are easier to digest. Naturally anti-inflammatory, these foods contain higher nutrient levels and beneficial bacteria. Dietary choices should sup- port digestive function, which can be enhanced by consuming fermented foods, and foods like legumes, beans, lentils, and peas that are high in resis- tant starch when cooked and cooled.


Eat Slowly, Chew Well: Victorian health food enthusiast Horace Fletcher proposed that “nature castigates those who don’t masticate.” One of the most important habits for maximizing the benefits of healthy foods is to eat slow- ly and chew thoroughly. Thorough, slower chewing and finishing your meal when you are about 80% full can help take the stress off the digestive system and also assist with weight control. Healthy Fats: Eating enough healthy


fats is critical, as one of the major sourc- es of inflammation is the consumption of the wrong types of fats and oils. Choose oils that are minimally pro- cessed (cold pressed and organic when possible) and that are high in medium chain triglycerides (coconut, palm, but- ter), monounsaturated (macadamia nut, olive, avocado), and alpha-linole- nic (camelina, flax). Fats that are highly processed and composed largely of pro- inflammatory omega-6 (linoleic acid) can actually contribute to inflammation. Oils to avoid include corn, sunflower, safflower, soybean, sesame, walnut, rice bran, peanut, grape seed, and canola oil. Nitric Oxide (NO): Include leafy


green vegetables that boost nitric oxide like Swiss chard, collard greens, spinach, kale, beets, and watercress. The “miracle molecule” nitric oxide dilates blood ves- sels, naturally lowering inflammation and boosting circulation. Nutritional supplements including freeze-dried beet juice powder, L-Citrulline, Neo-40, and Pycnogenol can further


increase


nitric oxide levels and provide amazing overall health benefits. Don’t Overcook: Even the healthi-


est foods can produce inflammatory disease-causing chemicals when over- cooked. Acrylamide, advanced glyca- tion end products (AGEs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and polycyclic aro- matic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can all be


created when foods are heated to tem- peratures exceeding 248 °F. These toxic chemicals can be reduced by using low- er-temperature cooking methods like sous vide, and by eating raw or lightly steamed vegetables.


Cook Colourful Vegetables and Fruits: Contrary to what some raw foodies believe, the important antioxi- dants in brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables are more bioavailable when cooked and consumed with a healthy fat. I generally recommend eating green vegetables raw, but the bioavailability of critical antioxidants found in red, yellow, orange, blue, and purple vegeta- bles can be enhanced with light steam- ing. I also recommend lightly steaming cruciferous vegetables, which when consumed raw can potentially interfere with thyroid function. To learn more about reclaiming the lost nutrients of fruits and vegetables, I recommend the book Eating on the Wild Side by Jo Rob- inson.


Anti-inflammatory Superfoods: In addition to NO-rich leafy greens like spinach and kale, I also recommend arugula, parsley, cilantro, and bok choy, as well as cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, and gai lan. Sardines, herring, and salmon are great sources of protein and omega 3 essential fatty acids. Just a few of the other nutrient-dense superfoods to eat regularly include raw cacao, beets, chia seeds, sprouted flax seeds, blueberries, walnuts, ginger, and turmeric. Antiox- idant-packed matcha green tea and hi- biscus tea are great drinks to mix into your daily routine.


Regular consumption and better preparation of


these foods can help


manage inflammation and bring signifi- cant long-term health benefits. Nathan Zassman is the owner and presi- dent of Aviva Natural Health Solutions.


www.lifestyles55.net 15


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