Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 23, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A4 NEWS LOCAL A4 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2014 S HIVERING outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Saturday, about 50 members of Manitoba's Venezuelan community belted out the national anthem of the beleaguered South American country. They joined thousands of demonstrators around the world this weekend staging " SOS Venezuela" rallies to raise awareness of what's happening in Venezuela and to show support for its people who have been cut off by a media blackout. An economic crisis, rampant crime, and food and medicine shortages in the oil- rich country have sent demonstrators into the streets. Government opponents say indiscriminate violence is being used by supporters of President Nicol�s Maduro to stifle dissent across the country. Maduro, successor to the late Hugo Ch�vez, is under fire for the country's problems. In Venezuela on Saturday, people braced for the possibility of more political violence as supporters and opponents of Maduro's government planned competing rallies in a bitterly divided country. In major cities across the country, people awoke to smouldering barricades of trash and debris in some streets, but there were no reports of major overnight incidents. At Saturday's rally in Winnipeg, demonstrators whipped out cellphone cameras to take photos of each other holding signs saying Canadians support the freedom of Venezuelans to post on social media. The demonstrators braved the bitter - 30 windchill and carried their signs, kids and message to The Forks. Many people aren't aware of the situation in Venezuela, said Betty Paz, who immigrated to Canada six years ago. Paz said she worries about human rights being at risk right now for people in many countries, such as Venezuela and Ukraine. She sees Winnipeggers as having a role to play in speaking out for those who can't. " The human rights museum is here - let's use this for something good," said Paz. Standing next to her at the rally was Debbie Mihalyk, from Winnipeg's Ukrainian community. She has friends in Venezuela and came out to show her support for the people there. " I've come here to support them," said Mihalyk. " I don't think it's right, what the government is doing to people." - with files from The Associated Press carol. sanders@ freepress. mb. ca Free speech under fire, protestors say Troubled Venezuela under media blackout By Carol Sanders T HE Olympic Winter Games are officially coming to a close. If only our winter could be so short. In a recent interview with Winnipeg- born Olympian Clara Hughes, she explained how serving as flag- bearer for the Canadian team in 2010 required training in its own right. Her trainers supported her body for this task through targeted nutrition and conditioning. They considered flag- bearing to be an athletic undertaking, even for a proven champion. Here in Winnipeg, our bodies might be acclimatized to the cold, having endured many long, harsh winters. The fact is, regardless of our training, this weather can still take its toll, especially as we move through February. Energy might be at its lowest. We might feel burned out, weaker, and downright low. And unfortunately, we might not all be snowbirds. So as we make our final push from winter into spring, we can take a cue from Clara, and support our body to its best - and it's a marathon, not a sprint. Among the top energy producers in the body are B complex vitamins, which are characteristically depleted with stress. They fuel many energy pathways, also helping to support your mood, metabolism and even relieve leg cramps. If you don't find winter stressful, or have zero stress in your life, then perhaps these aren't for you. Otherwise, and barring any harmful interactions, I recommend taking a B- complex 50 mg twice daily, with food. Some people will report stomach upset - even nausea - when taking these. If that's the case, it might be a sign your body's digestive juices are not adequately doing their job. If so, let your health care practitioner know so you're not wasting your energy on energyenhancing nutrients that aren't even being absorbed. There's one nutrient that energizes the heart, enhances memory and focus and increases the availability of oxygen to the cells: carnitine. This is something I consider for patients with concerns related to the brain ( depression, brain injuries, memory or dementia) or heart ( angina, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol), and especially for those recovering from a stroke. Carnitine can be deficient in vegetarians, those with low iron, or with lower levels of B vitamins and vitamin C. For my fellow vegetarians, as the highest sources are found in red meat and dairy, I recommend replenishing this nutrient, which is also useful in minimizing wrinkles. Available as l- carnitine or acetyll- carnitine, there are non- prescription and prescription forms, the dose of which should be tailored to the individual. Essential for energy production, magnesium activates over 300 enzymes in the body. It helps our muscle strength and endurance ( therefore helping the heart muscle), while also supporting feelings of calm and a restful sleep. It's particularly useful for those dealing with fatigue, muscle cramps, jaw tension ( known as TMJ) and stress. Before supplementation, I suggest factors that deplete its stores first be corrected. Intake of alcohol, caffeine, sugar, trans fats, and even excessive fibre can lead to magnesium deficiencies. Another major culprit is the phosphate in soft drinks. Many medications can deplete it as well, including antibiotics, asthma medications, diuretics and chemotherapy. If supplementing, choose a highly absorbable form called magnesium glycinate taken at bedtime. It can also minimize constipation because it loosens the stool, a positive side effect if the dose is tailored for you ( or diarrhea if it's not). Aside from targeted nutrients, sound sleep, nutrient- dense whole foods and infusing some fun into each day are critical pieces of supporting your body's energy. Find a way to incorporate one enjoyable activity for 10 to 15 minutes daily, whether it's petting your dog, singing to music, sewing, yoga, prayer and meditation or ignoring social media. This simple step not only promotes positive endorphins, but takes the burden off of your body to produce stress hormones like cortisol. Since excess cortisol ultimately degrades muscle and impairs our immune system and sleep cycle, you don't want to underestimate the importance of fun to optimal body function. Let's not let February be synonymous with fatigue, frustration or any other f- word that comes to mind when thinking of winter ( neither flurries, frozen nor fed- up). Instead of hibernating the rest of the winter, ' go for the gold' in the energy event. And like Clara, you might have more to look forward to in the summer season as well. Tara Maltman- Just is the executive clinician and licensed pharmacist at Vitality Integrative Medicine in Winnipeg. www. vitalityintegrativemedicine. com Energy woes not uncommon come winter Your Health By Tara Maltman- Just Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd jumps into a group photo with the Wheat City Wings floor hockey team from Brandon, who earned second- place at the 34th annual Kinsmen Winnipeg Winter Games, a part of Special Olympics Manitoba. Ladd handed out awards and signed autographs at the close of the games Saturday at St. John's- Ravenscourt RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS School. Brandon team beams DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Debbie Mihalyk ( left) and Betty Paz at the SOS Venezuela rally on Saturday afternoon. A_ 0 4_ Feb- 23- 14_ FP_ 01. indd A4 2/ 22/ 14 10: 54: 51 PM ;