As this season progresses, and we continue to wait for news on when things will fully reopen, I am finding myself feeling increasingly stressed about pretty much everything.  With this endless waiting for restrictions to be lifted, and the uncertainty of what is to come in our future, it’s hard not to let things get to you.   What will our new “norm” look like?  Will our jobs be safe? Will our economy bounce back? It’s enough to drive anyone a bit sideways.  Certainly, we can all use some help managing this stressful time.

So, there are the well-known stress-busting techniques that you can implement such as meditation, exercise, singing at the top of your lungs while driving, etc.  Albeit helpful, these techniques provide short-term relief.

Adding nutritional support to help combat stress should be incorporated into everyone’s daily regime at every age.  We know that anti-oxidant rich foods like berries, fish oils, greens, nuts and seeds, and dark chocolate are great for fighting oxidative stress, but there is another group of foods and botanicals that really helps the body manage mental and physical stress over a longer period.  These are called adaptogens.

Adaptogens are herbs and botanicals that increase bodily resistance to physical, chemical, and biological noxious agents, and encourage homeostasis in the body without disturbing body functions at a normal level – well that’s the more scientific explanation any way.  In a nutshell, these botanicals and herbs help the mind and body deal with stress in a way that prevents exhaustion and over-release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, that keep us in a constant state of fight or flight.

The negative side-effects of consistent over-release of cortisol include weight gain, generally around the abdominal area, mental and physical exhaustion, and a number of other undesirable conditions.

Take note that adaptogens are effective when taken over a period of time, so they are not meant to be a quick fix.

Which adaptogens are the best?  Depending on what you’re trying to achieve health-wise, there is no wrong choice.  Adaptogens are found in botanicals and herbs like – ashwagandha, ginseng, reishi mushrooms, aloe vera, rosemary and milk thistle, to name a few.   They are able to help the body balance out in a number of ways such as soothing exhausted adrenal glands, boosting energy levels and cognitive function, lowering blood sugar, boosting mental performance and physical stamina, and so on.  The possibilities are truly endless.

If you would like to learn more about adaptogens and which ones are the best for your needs, feel free to send us an email to info@monkeytreewellness.com.

Until then, we wish everyone a peace and tranquility, and a positive outlook for tomorrow.  Namaste.

Brave Toronto Police Traffic Unit officers are being hailed as heroes.

Police say they stopped a speeding Lamborghini on July 28 in 22 Division and arrested the vehicle’s driver who was allegedly sought on an outstanding warrant.

The driver faced new charges after an investigation by officers led to cash, drugs and a gun, police say.

“An adult male was arrested for outstanding warrant and faces new charges,” police said in a release.
Little else is known but the suspect who is before the courts on some serious charges.

The officers were thanked by many on social media for the heroic job that they performed in making the arrest and seizures.

“These officers are the best,” georgeandressa wrote. “Thanks for putting yourselves at risk in order to make Toronto a safer community.”

Another writer maintained the Lamborghini “should be the subject to civil forfeiture as the proceeds of crime.”

“Can the police keep the car,” another man wondered.

The base price of the fabled Lamborghini Urus is $211,000 and the luxury vehicles can reach millions of dollars.

A last-ditch bid is being sought by the Lakeshore Village BIA to stop the opening of a shelter for the homeless until public hearings can be held in the community.

A letter was sent to Mayor John Tory and other City officials on Monday calling for a video vote on July 28, into the opening of the shelter at Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Eight St., be deferred until there has been public consultations, said Chris Korwin Kuczynski, Chair of the Board of the BIA.

“We have not had a response from the Mayor,” Korwin Kuczynski says. “We are hoping that residents will get their say into this matter.”

The move by the City to acquire 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which includes a vacant office building and Bi Way Store, has split members of the community with some property and business owners against the shelter, and many others who disagree citing the homeless have to live somewhere.

The BIA held a meeting and members say they stand to lose funds to their treasury since the shelter will be subsidized by the City and not commercial.

The acquisition was adopted on July 7 by the General Government and Licensing Committee and considered by City Council in a record two-weeks.

“The use of the property as a municipal shelter will support City Council’s direction to expand the number of permanent new shelter beds by 1,000,” according to City officials.

The City said the two properties ‘create a large-sized property that allows flexibility in responding to changes in shelter standards and demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.’

Officials with the City’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration say in response to the virus more space will be required with a two-metre separation between beds and other distance requirements.

“As demand for municipal shelters changes, the property can be partly or wholly transitioned into supportive or transitional housing,” according to the City.

Preliminary site investigations have been completed and sufficient funds for renovation and remediation have been made available.

If City Council approves the acquisition of the properties, renovation to shelter standards will commence in 2021 for the shelter to begin operations in 2022. It is estimated that it will contain about 100 beds.

The shelter will serve equity-seeking groups such as seniors, people with disabilities, individuals with mental health issues, the working poor, Indigenous people, people who identify as LGBTQ2S and other vulnerable groups.

Members of City Council are expected to vote on July 28 in favour of opening a controversial shelter for the homeless at the corner of Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Eight St., in New Toronto.

The former vacant office building and BiWay store at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., are already listed as a new shelter location that is ‘coming soon’ to Toronto.

The New Toronto shelter is among six listed on a city website as coming soon. The others are at 2299 Dundas St. W., 705 Progress Ave., 354 George St., 4117 Lawrence Ave. E., and 101 Placer Crt.

“The City will be adding 1,000 new permanent shelter beds along with replacement shelter beds for the George Street Revitalization project,” according to the website. “New locations will pilot a new shelter service model to help with the integration of services within their local communities.”

The City is in the process of purchasing the property at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for re-purposing into a municipal shelter, the website explains.

“A community engagement plan will be developed for this site and will include a number of activities, including opportunities to speak to staff and to get involved with integrating the new service into the community,” it promises.

The website says City Council has delegated authority to staff to find and select new locations for shelters.

“The City is not required to seek community input or permission on the location of new shelter sites,” City officials say.

The City has set aside funds to maintain and bring the shelter up to standards and it is expected to be opened in 2022 with about 95 beds.

The acquisition was adopted on July 7 by the General Government and Licensing Committee and will be considered by City Council on Tuesday July 28.

The City said the two properties ‘create a large-sized property that allows flexibility in responding to changes in shelter standards and demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.’

The opening of a shelter has split members of the community with business and property owners who do not want the facility on their main street. There are many others who say the homeless require a place to live.

The shelter will serve equity-seeking groups such as seniors, people with disabilities, newcomers, individuals with mental health issues, the working poor, Indigenous people, people who identify as LGBTQ2S and other vulnerable groups.