4 Natural Methods That Help Cyclists Deal with Cramps

During a strenuous ride, you might begin to feel a twinge in your muscles, and that slight discomfort will most likely turn into serious muscle cramps if you aren’t careful. While some over-the-counter products can help with muscle cramps, you should consider trying a few natural methods for dealing with cramps as well.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is one of the most effective ways to delay or prevent cramps, and you need to be sure that you are drinking plenty of water before, during, and after your workouts. For longer rides, you might need to carry two or three bottles with you or stick to loops so that you are close to water at all times. Your body will also lose quite a bit of water while you are sleeping, and that is why many experts suggest drinking a full glass of water as soon as you wake up.

Consume Electrolytes

Drinking water is a great start, but you need to make sure that your body has enough electrolytes as well. Those minerals regulate how much water gets into your cells, and you won’t be able to stay hydrated if you don’t have any electrolytes in your system. Luckily, there are many different electrolyte products to choose from, and that includes beverages, gels, bars, and lozenges.

Boost Your Intake of Carbohydrates

Carbs are a vital macronutrient that your body turns into energy, but many people steer clear of carbohydrates if they are trying to lose weight. While cutting back on your carbs will help you on your weight loss journey, you need that macronutrient if you are engaging in hard rides. When you don’t consume enough carbs, the glycogen in your muscles will disappear, and that is going to increase your risk of cramps. Some of the healthiest carbs for cyclists include sweet potatoes, chickpeas, quinoa, oatmeal, and brown rice.

Use CBD Products

For immediate relief, you might want to consider using some type of CBD oil. CBD can be taken as a capsule, gel, or spray. Those products have exploded in popularity in recent years, and many high-level athletes are now using CBD to treat a variety of aches and pains. In addition to potentially relieving muscle cramps, CBD could also minimize inflammation, reduce anxiety, and improve your focus.

If you continue to struggle with severe muscle cramps whenever you go out for a ride, then you need to speak with your doctor or a physical therapist. Chronic cramps are sometimes caused by other serious medical issues that require comprehensive treatments.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

4 Workout Plans That Help with Osteoporosis

An individual workout plan should be based on as many personalized factors as possible, including fitness goals and current health status. People diagnosed with osteoporosis should always consult with their physician about the safety of their workout plan before proceeding. There are many types of workouts that can help manage the condition, but certain exercises can greatly increase the risk of bone fracture or break.

Indoor Aerobics

Many fitness activities can be divided into high, low and non-impact depending on the nature of the exercise. Aerobics are a typical inclusion in any workout routine, but people with osteoporosis have to carefully balance what kind of aerobics they perform. High-impact workouts like dancing or jumping rope can build bone strength, but also have the highest risk of injury. Low-impact exercises, like walking or using an elliptical machine, can also improve bone and muscle strength with only minimal risk of injury.

Balance and Flexibility

Balance and flexibility are important for everyone, but they are particularly valuable to people who have weakening bones. Even a relatively minor slip-and-fall can become a serious, and painful, inconvenience when you break or fracture a bone on a rough landing. Exercise routines that include a lot of stretching and balancing can help protect bones even when they don’t directly increase skeletal strength.

Strength Training

Intense muscle-building workouts may not be ideal to go alongside most osteoporosis treatments, but controlled and responsible fitness plans can include some weights. Free weights and equipment can both offer opportunities to improve muscular strength throughout the body, which helps retain good posture, maintain stability and improve various daily activities. When in doubt, people with osteoporosis should talk to their doctor and consider working with a personal trainer when developing a safe exercise routine.

Incremental Improvements

No matter what kind of workout you want to pursue based on your personal goals and level of bone health, it’s important to recognize the hazards presented by osteoporosis. People with this condition are more likely to suffer long-term bone injuries and often take longer to heal afterwards. This means you need to emphasize form and safety throughout any kind of fitness routine, especially those that include weight-bearing exercises. Increases in weight or duration should always be made in minor increments to avoid over-stressing bones and muscle.

Regular workout plans are a fundamental component of most osteoporosis treatment plans. Achieving fitness goals can help improve skeletal strength and reinforce muscles to help them better support the body’s bones. As long as plans are designed with the condition in mind, the right workout plans minimize the risk of injury without limiting opportunity for personal improvement.

Fitness resolutions for a new decade

Every year, one in three Canadians sets a new year’s resolution involving fitness. But 2020 isn’t just any new year. The threshold to a shiny new decade presents a huge opportunity to reset our fitness goals.

According to Kim Lavender, vice president of group experience with GoodLife Fitness, now’s the perfect time to start the decade off right with a workout program that suits your goals and fits your lifestyle.

Last decade: Workouts that work

canfitpro’s annual survey of Canadian fitness professionals found certain trends remained in the top 10 for most of the decade (2010-2019). Canadians have been choosing more efficient, functional fitness options that help them enjoy their lives more, including:

  • Functional fitness – exercises that help prepare us for the things we do in daily life
  • High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) – interspersing short bursts of high intensity exercise with short periods of rest to get the most challenging, effective workout in the shortest time.
  • Nutrition and healthy eating programs – These are nutrition programs designed to help you adopt healthier eating habits that complement your exercise program to see the results of your efforts sooner — whether it’s weight loss or advancing your overall fitness level.
  • Older adult training – This signals the growing demand from Baby Boomers looking to adopt healthier habits to maintain their health and quality of life into their 60s and beyond.
  • Express workouts – Participants to perform multiple exercises at a fast pace to generate maximum results. This is an effective approach for people on a tight schedule – perfect for lunch time or after work.
  • Body weight training – Using your own body weight to create resistance builds strength and muscle and burns fat without the need for equipment, making it easy to get started and do anywhere and less intimidating for beginners.

This decade: Add more mind to your muscle
Finding more balance between mental and physical health promises to continue into 2020 and beyond, including more focus on functional movement and active recovery, mental resilience and the flexibility to fit all kinds of exercise into our busy lives. Some fitness trends to watch as we begin the new decade include:

  • Active recovery – Active recovery helps prevent injury and promote muscle growth and flexibility. Active recovery can take different forms, such as:
    • Less intensive cool down exercises at the end of your workout that keep you moving but lower your heart rate.
    • A lighter workout on your day off to maintain strength, give muscles a rest and work on better form.
    • Foam rolling to massage muscles, or yoga to improve flexibility and increase range of motion.
  • Exercise as prehab/rehab – Studies show that building in regular exercise before surgery can improve recovery times. Supervised physical activity is also a vital part of recovering from health issues and procedures like heart attacks, joint replacements and other surgeries and even head injuries like concussions.
  • Micro HIIT – With a typical HIIT workout, you’re supposed to do 20 minutes at least three times a week. Micro-HIIT involves short bursts of HIIT exercises (1-3 minutes) that can be done whenever you have a few extra minutes during the day. Lavender suggests exercises that feel like play to help you stay mentally engaged (e.g. medicine ball slams, battle ropes, skipping).
  • Consciously decelerate – Take a break from constantly pushing yourself to focus on calmer activities without time limits or pressure. Conscious deceleration encourages you to spend energy on things like gardening, cycling, walking your dog to balance your workouts. It can also include taking time to meditate, do some yoga or practice mindfulness to reduce stress, improve focus and restore energy. 
  • More grit, less grind – Expect to see more intense bootcamp style workouts that push you outside your comfort zone to build mental resilience, or grit, while you boost your fitness. By pushing yourself to a new level, you expand your mental and physical stamina that translates into more confidence and power in life.

Looking ahead to the new decade, one thing is clear...fitness can be personalized to suit individual goals, mood and lifestyle. Lavender adds there are so many options and types of individual and group exercise that there’s something for everyone, making it easier to find the time and the energy to workout...for another decade. 

Fitness professionals in your area are available to talk more about new directions in fitness for 2020 and beyond and to demonstrate exercises that reflect these trends.

Breast Reduction Plastic Surgeries Among Most Popular for Men 

Expert surgeons at the Nordesthetics clinic explain that the popularity of male breast reduction is fueled by the need to appear more masculine. According to them, male patients tend to choose facial plastic surgeries for the same reason.

December 19, 2019. According to the statistics of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, male breast reduction is among the top-5 most popular men’s plastic surgery procedures with 24,753 such surgeries carried out in the US in 2018. A similar level of popularity of male breast reduction is registered in Europe where the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons includes this procedure among the UK’s top-5 most popular male surgeries.

In some clinics, gynecomastia surgery has become the most popular male plastic surgery comparable in popularity to female breast augmentation. There are surgeons who claim that male breast reduction has become the new “staple procedure.”

“Male breast reduction is the most often requested male plastic surgery procedure at our clinic,” confirmed Dr. Andrius Pajeda, a surgeon at the Nordesthetics clinic - the leading plastic surgery center in the Baltics. “I think the main reason is that the breast is one of the most noticeable gender features not only in female but in the male body as well. Larger breasts are often considered ‘unmanly,’ which is the reason why men are so interested in their reduction.”

Male breast enlargement is most commonly caused by an imbalance between the female hormone estrogen and male hormone testosterone. In some cases, the male breast enlargement does not depend on the patient's physical activity or diet and plastic surgery remains the only solution.

According to Dr. Pajeda, the desire to highlight the gender features also explains why facial corrections are so popular among men. Facial surgeries, especially the nose and eyelid corrections are also high on the list of the most popular choices of male patients.

The new developments in male plastic surgery also confirm that patients are looking for a more masculine appearance. The technique of abdominal etching is a good example. This new procedure allows the surgeon to sculpt the ‘six-pack look’ of the abdomen using liposuction - the removal or transfer of body fat. Experts predict that abdominal etching will constantly grow in popularity as liposuction and abdominal plastics are already high on male plastic surgery wish-list closely following the nose correction and breast reduction surgeries.

“Generally speaking, I’d say that men are very practical about their plastic surgeries. They start with the most noticeable features and end with intimate. Although penis enlargement ads create the impression that this is the ultimate goal of manliness, actually the intimate surgery is at the bottom of the most popular male surgical procedures list, at least in our clinic” commented Dr. Pajeda.

The scale of men’s plastic surgery at the Nordesthetics clinic is growing continuously. The clinic’s surgeons have treated almost 290% more male patients this year than the previous year. This trend is expected to continue as the growth of men’s plastic surgery is registered worldwide. Gynecomastia, rhinoplasty, liposuction and abdominal surgery remain the top priorities of men who choose the Nordesthetics clinic because of high-quality service and affordable prices.

Nordesthetics clinic is one of the leading centers of medical tourism in the Baltic states. Located in Kaunas, Lithuania, the clinic provides plastic surgery procedures to foreign patients of whom the majority come from the UK and other EU countries. Nordesthetics clinic offers European standards of high-quality surgery for prices 2-3 times lower than those in the UK and Western EU. In addition to that, the clinic provides full travel support to their patients as well as personal assistance during their stay.

The price of gynecomastia surgery at the Nordesthetics clinic is 1,800 Eur, which is 2-3 times lower than in the UK. The same ratio is valid for rhinoplasty and other most popular men’s plastic surgery procedures.

ABOUT NORDESTHETICS

Nordesthetics is a private plastic surgery clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, part of Nordclinic, offering high-quality services and focusing on foreign patients. It is equipped with modern diagnostic and surgical facilities. Medical professionals at the clinic speak fluent English and show personal attention to every patient. www.nordesthetics.com/en/

4 Tips To Destress During A Hectic Christmas

Simple Techniques to Fight Off Stress During the Holidays
Do you find yourself being short tempered throughout the month of December? There is nothing abnormal about it. Often times, men and women find themselves under great strain during the holidays. Maybe they are concerned over their jobs, getting their loved ones the right gifts, or merely putting up with their in-laws over the holiday. That doesn’t even include the crowded shopping malls and packed parking lots. There is no question that Christmas time can be overwhelmingly stressful. At least there are 4 simple strategies, from using a pure CBD tincture to watching what you drink, that can provide phenomenal assistance in reducing holiday stress.

1 - Take Advantage of CBD Products
While colorful CBD gummies are always fun, the most effective trick to keeping your cool during the holidays may be to rely on an amazing CBD oil tincture for sale. After all, cannabidiol is a natural compound that has gained popularity for helping people improve their moods by stimulating the serotonin in their brain cells. With the best CBD tincture to combat stress, a user can experience a peace of mind in no time. That means it will be easy to stay calm and cool with the rowdy kids and annoying house guests during Christmas dinner won’t be a problem this year. 

2 -  Be Honest

We all know somebody who is throwing a Christmas party this year. It makes no difference if you are talking to your employer, neighbor, or even your best buddy from childhood, always be truthful. If you truly don’t want to go to your office’s holiday dinner or neighbor’s Christmas Eve party, politely pass on the invitation. A person will get over a denied invitation. So it’s really not worth getting caught in a lie or showing up to a fiesta in a grumpy mood. In other words, say what you mean and mean what you say when it comes to Christmas get-togethers.

3 -  Remember to Catch Your Breath

Whenever you find yourself under physical or mental pressure, it is crucial that you pay attention to your breathing. If it is shallow, you should try to fix it right away. A smart trick is to take your time inhaling and exhaling deeply and slowly. Try to feel both actions in every part of your body, from your tippy toes to the end of your nose and the top of your head. Not only is this tension fighting technique nice and easy, it can be performed just about anywhere and in any situation. Whether you are in line at a department store or stuck in holiday traffic on the highway, deep belly breathing can help you stay calm and cool in just about any aggravating situation.

4 -  Create an Ideal Environment

With so many hours spent at work, boring holiday parties and getting ahold of unappreciated presents, you must dedicate some time to yourself. Maybe plan a few hours that you can treat yourself to a nice spa or a massage. Of course, you can always spend your “me time” resting in your bed, if not your favorite chair. Dim the lights and play The Dark Side of the Moon, or whatever music chills you out. Turn off your phone and unplug from cyberspace for a little while. Complete relaxation is just around the corner.

5 Techniques To Help You Relax

The Best Tricks to Unwind, Like a CBD Tincture
Iwoke up in a marvelous mood this morning. But when I tried entering the highway to get to work, I got stuck in a traffic jam. Then I got stressed out when some guy honked at me for trying to merge into the left lane. I got to work no more than 10 minutes late, but I still got a dirty look from my boss. To make matters worse, the office lost the internet for the entire morning. It’s not even lunchtime, and I feel completely overwhelmed. Thankfully, I am familiar with 5 highly effective tricks, like a pure CBD tincture and avoiding social media, to ease myself of physical and mental pressure.

1 -  CBD Tincture
Perhaps the best way to stay calm and cool in tense moments is to take advantage of a high potency CBD tincture for sale. Just like CBD gummies, the powerful tinctures are wonderful at helping people manage stress. At the same time, a user never has to worry about a euphoric “high” from hemp derived CBD, unlike the THC in marijuana. The top CBD oil tinctures on the market are also fast acting and last for several hours at a time.

2 -  Ease Your Muscles
While not much out there compares with the effectiveness of powerful CBD products, you can try progressive muscle relaxation to put your system at ease. For example, stretch out the muscles in your toes for 5 or 10 seconds at a time. Then relax them and breathe easy for 30 seconds. You can repeat the exercise three times before working your way through other muscle groups. Yoga is fantastic method of loosening up your muscles, as well as your mind.

3 - Get Creative
Another nifty tip to fight off pressure in a hectic situation is to be imaginative. Just think, how would William Shakespeare or John Lennon handle the same circumstances. While you may not want to write a sonnet or stage a weeklong bed-in, there are always artistic outlets to help keep your mind focused and get things off your chest. Have you ever tried painting the sky or knitting a sweater for your spouse? Find a way to develop something positive from the circumstances.

4 -  Don’t Be Lazy
Whether you are at work or home, acting sluggish can have negative circumstances. A prime example is taking a bath. In theory, the warm water is supposed to be soothing, along with some candlelight and classical music in the background. But in reality, the water gets cold too quickly. You may be hanging out with germs that lead to staph infections. Cell phones often fall underwater, and filth-muck builds up on the tile. Trying to take a bath can become more of a strain than a relief.

5         

Finally, it is wise to avoid social media and news outlets, especially during controversial events. Unfortunate occurrences, like a friend’s recent divorce or the death of a loved one can easily bring down one’s spirits. You may also get reminded of broken relationships and other lousy stuff that happened to you in the past. There is no reason to look at a high school bully’s family photo or read his political rants. As long as you remain positive, relaxation can be a walk in the park.

Major Change to America’s Retirement System Offers Flexibility and Options for Small Businesses

 Bipartisan SECURE Act Approved by Both the House and Senate, Soon to Become Law; Biggest Change to America’s Retirement System in Over 10 YearsDALLAS, TX – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a spending bill, expected to be signed into law by President Trump, which includes the SECURE Act, also known as the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019.”  Keith Hall, President and CEO the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, applauded both the House and Senate for acting on the bipartisan measure representing the biggest change to America’s retirement system in over a decade.“With retirement security continuing to be a looming crisis for American families, including family owned small businesses, the bipartisan measure approved by Congress and headed to President Trump for signature into law will streamline and expand retirement savings opportunities for all Americans,” said Hall. “Small businesses often carry debt and stretched bottom lines to keep their operations afloat, but this major change to our retirement system offers them options to save more for their retirement at every income level and employment structure.”  The Trump Administration’s 2018 executive order opened multiple employer plans (MEPs) to small businesses and “expand(ed) access to workplace retirement savings plans for American workers.” The executive order would no longer require small businesses to have formal business ties and instead would allow small, independent employers to join together through MEPs to offer workers access to 401k retirement savings plans. Click here to read NASE’s statement on the 2018 executive order. “There are now many options and vehicles available to Americans who operate in various employment structures and income levels allowing them to save. With a changing workforce, the key to retirement savings is offering different options, more flexibility and innovative plans for millions of Americans – including the small business community. We continue to support ways to make it easier to save by removing barriers, reducing operating costs and requirements while incentivizing opportunities to invest in financial retirement,” concluded Hall.    Click here to view the Details on the SECURE Act’s Changes to America’s Retirement System 

Matthew Anderson appointed President and CEO of Ontario Health

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, the Board of Directors of Ontario Health announced that Matthew Anderson is joining the new provincial health care agency as its President and CEO effective February 1, 2020. 

Anderson has extensive team-building, system change and health care experience, including immersion in hospital and community networks, is highly focused on the needs and experiences of patients and caregivers, and brings a wide range of experiences to draw on to lead the transformation of Ontario's health system. 

Since 2016 he has been serving as the President and CEO of Lakeridge Health, a health system and hospital network that serves Durham Region, Ontario. He has been working in health care since 1992 and rose quickly to leadership positions, becoming Chief Information Officer of University Health Network (UHN) in 1998, a Vice President at UHN in 2000, and was named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40 by the Globe and Mail in 2004. In 2008, Matthew was named CEO of the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network and in 2010, became CEO of William Osler Health System.

"Matthew joining Ontario Health as its President and CEO is a significant step towards building a modern government agency that, once fully established, will be responsible for creating a patient-centred, connected health care system that delivers high-quality services to Ontarians where and when they need them with the respect and dignity they deserve," says Bill Hatanaka, Chairman of the Board of Ontario Health. 

Much work has been done in preparation for today's announcement which included a rigorous, national search and extensive consultations with many stakeholders across all health sectors to assist in identifying the right candidates for this role.   

"We are delighted to have Matthew join our team and are eager to work with him," adds Hatanaka.

Currently, Ontario Health comprises highly-skilled staff from 19 health care agencies from across Ontario, who are bringing their combined knowledge, strengths and experiences into one integrated organization, collectively applying the best of what they do – through one strategy and one set of priorities - to actively support those on the frontlines and to benefit all Ontarians.

"I am extremely pleased that Matthew has agreed to bring his years of leadership experience in improving health care to his new role as President and CEO of Ontario Health," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "As a trusted, innovative and dynamic leader, he will play a key role in helping to transform our public health care system around people's needs to drive real improvements that patients will experience first-hand and that help end hallway health care."   

Under Anderson's leadership, the team at Ontario Health will:

  • Support and help achieve the government's goal of ending hallway health care

  • Improve the quality of Ontario's health care by measuring it, creating evidence-based standards for what quality care looks like, and holding health care providers and organizations accountable for making improvements 

  • Meet the health care needs of local communities through digital health and virtual care platforms, quality improvement initiatives as well as workforce planning and support

  • Apply key learnings from Ontario's world-class cancer system to address other areas of need – such as mental health and addictions and other chronic conditions

  • Leverage digital systems in order to drive efforts to modernize the current health care system

  • Pace change and achieve transformation while protecting front-line care

  • And engage with professional stakeholders, patients, families, other caregivers, Indigenous, Francophone and other communities and partners to ensure Ontario Health's insights are rich, its relationships are strong, and the opportunities forged together are beneficial to all Ontarians

"I am looking very forward to joining Ontario Health and supporting the creation of a modernized and more integrated patient-centred health care system," says Matthew Anderson.  "The potential for our collective strength in partnership with health sector stakeholders, patients and their caregivers is enormous."

Ontario Health, once fully established, will be the provincial agency responsible for ensuring Ontarians receive high-quality health care services where and when they need them. www.ontariohealth.ca

SOURCE Ontario Health

Seasonal influenza vaccine market across China, India and Japan set to reach US$1bn by 2028, says GlobalData

The size of the seasonal influenza vaccine market across the three major Asia-Pacific (APAC) growth markets (3GM*) will grow at a modest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4% from US$914m in 2018 to US$1.05bn in 2028, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. 

The company’s latest report, ‘Seasonal Influenza: Forecast in Asia-Pacific Markets to 2028’, reveals that the launch and increasing use of quadrivalent influenza vaccines in China and India, respectively, as well as the launch of plant-based vaccines in Japan will potentially provide stronger protection against seasonal influenza infections and drive growth over the next ten years.  

Philipp Rosenbaum, PhD, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, explains: “The launch of the first inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccines in China from Sinovac Biotech, Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products and Wuhan Institute of Biological Products; new quadrivalent vaccines from Biken and Denka Seiken in Japan; and the launch of quadrivalent live-attenuated vaccines from the Serum Institute in India and AstraZeneca/Daiichi Sankyo in Japan will drive the growth across the 3GM. 

“Additionally, the launch of the first non-egg-based vaccine in Japan, Medicago’s virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine MDG-2271 quadrivalent, will initiate the transition away from egg-based vaccine in the APAC market and will drive the growth in the 3GM during the forecast period.” 

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IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION: Please click here for enlarged chart

Key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData stated that higher vaccination rates are a major unmet need in the 3GM seasonal influenza market. Influenza immunization is not part of the national immunization programs in China and India, so vaccines have to be paid out of pocket, leading to vaccination rates of only 1.8% in China and 2.2% in India.

Rosenbaum concludes: “The launch of next-generation plant-based influenza vaccines in Japan will address the urgent unmet need of influenza vaccine efficacy while concurrently providing a platform to address environmental needs such as vaccine hesitancy. Universal influenza vaccines that will potentially provide multi-strain and multi-season protection are in development in the US and EU, but are not projected to launch until 2028 in the 3GM. Clinical trials necessary to prove long-term influenza virus protection will have to cover multiple influenza seasons.” 

3GM*: China, India and Japan. 

Ever wondered what balance of exercise, sleep, food and work delivers the best outcomes for your physical and mental health? A team of scientists led by researchers in South Australia is embarking on a four-year study to find out.

The international team will use 200,000 data sources from Fitbits, activity monitors and time-use surveys linked with health data to create a prototype.

University of South Australia lead researcher Dr Dot Dumuid said first-class prototype would provide personalised advice on how best to use a 24-hour period for specific health outcomes.

She said Israeli mathematicians, University of Adelaide computer scientists as well as global behavioural epidemiologists and public health specialists would develop an analytical method to work out the ideal length of time needed on activities in order to achieve particular outcomes.

The software will form the basis of an online tool allowing people to improve time management while achieving the optimal health for their lifestyle.

“Every day everybody is given 24 hours. How people allocate that time to activities impacts their health,” Dr Dumuid said.

“We already know that things like screen time, exercise, sleep and work-life balance influence health, but now we are thinking about these things as linked parts that together make up a complete day. So, rather than talking about activities in isolation, we talk about ‘healthy days’ or ‘the optimal mix of activities’.”

The project was this month awarded a $951,708 grant from Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council to collate data, create and test optimisation methods and develop a prototype.

“We already have access to many such data sets and we are reaching out to studies across the world to gain access to their data also,” Dr Dumuid said.

“But because people measure time in lots of different ways and there are different brands and different parameters that people have used in their studies, we will have to do some calibration across the different studies to make sure they can be put together.

“In industry optimisation, this kind of data happens all the time. For example, people optimise the mix of fertilizer to get the best crop yields but then there are also other factors like the lowest cost.”

Dr Dumuid said the usability of the prototype would be tested in a ...

Brains Bioceutical Corp. is pleased to announce the completion of its US$30m Capital Raise

VANCOUVER, Dec. 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Brains Bioceutical Corp. ("Brains") is pleased to announce the completion of its US$30m Capital Raise, including US$19m raised exclusively by Canaccord Genuity, and strategic partnership with a leading European Medical Cannabis Group. Brains' founders and senior management participated with equity in the raise.

This sophisticated, sizeable and strategic transaction solidifies one of the largest partnerships operating in the Medical Cannabis sector in Europe. 

Brains is a global leader in EUGMP- certified production of plant-based cannabidiol (CBD) as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical use.  Brains has already signed supply agreements with leading global pharmaceutical and health and wellness companies and commenced shipment to several countries around the world.  

Brains is one of the few phyto-cannabinoid CBD API manufacturers in Europe with EudraGMDP certification currently in commercial production. Brains' CBD API (its primary offering to the market) is MHRA licensed for both human and veterinary use and contains 99.7% CBD and zero Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  Part of the capital raised will be used to expand Brains' existing UK CBD API production growing its current annual capacity from 864,000g to 6,912,000g per annum, a near seven-fold increase.

Brains' CBD API is currently in use in a Phase III clinical trial for refractory epilepsy in adults conducted by a leading global pharmaceutical corporation.  Brains expects a positive outcome from this advanced clinical study and will be ramping up CBD API production to meet anticipated demand. Brains' API has successfully been produced and shipped as a "Specials" medicine, approved by the MHRA, within the U.K.  The Brains team of skilled scientists and researchers are finalizing plans to create additional APIs for dominant cannabinoids including THC, CBG, CBN, CBC and more.

Q1 2020 will see Brains launch its branded nutraceutical CBD range of products in top tier health and wellness retail and pharmacy chains in the UK. All Brains' products, own-brand and white-label, will bear the 'Brains Inside®️' trademark to provide the quality assurance stamp of EudraGMDP CBD API. 

Brains is also well positioned to navigate the strict Novel Foods requirements in the UK from the Food Standards Association (FSA) and in Europe by the European Commission's (EFSA) for CBD products.

Brains phyto-cannabinoid pure CBD API has successfully been tested by the INRS Laboratory, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) facility. These screening reports have confirmed that Brains' CBD API is free of THC, pesticides and other banned substances listed by WADA. Brains is first of its kind in the industry to get such a confirmation from a WADA- accredited laboratory for the purity of its CBD and the absence of prohibitory substances. WADA has removed CBD from its banned substance list.

The Brains partnership with a leading European Medical Cannabis Group creates a vertically integrated Medical Cannabis operation and has (via its subsidiaries) inter alia received in-principle approval from a European jurisdiction to obtain a license (to permit for the cultivation, extraction, processing, manufacture, storage, transport, import and export of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived products) and to establish a high-quality cannabinoid processing facility.

About Brains Bioceutical Corp:

Brains Bioceutical Corp is a leader in GMP – certified production of naturally sourced active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.  Brains Bioceutical is one of the only cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers in production today and is involved in academic and clinical trials across the globe.  

Brains Bioceutical Corp. Senior Management Team is made up of a rare hybrid of pharmaceutical and consumer goods executives-having held C-suite and other senior positions with companies such as GW Pharma, Merck, Seattle Seahawks, Golden State Warriors, Danone, Earthbound Farms, International Herbs, Cascadia Specialties and The Royal British Navy. This experience allows Brains to execute at a hyper-efficient level in the pharma and wellness categories.  

Brains' wholly owned subsidiary in the UK, BSPG Laboratories is one of only nine companies that has the commercial capability and EudraGMDP certification to produce natural CBD API. Brains is currently manufacturing a line of phytocannabinoid THC-free CBD API products. These products will be available across the UK early 2020.

MHRA Registered API: Inspected and Registered with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency). API Certificate Number: UK API 48727

For further information, please contact: 

Calvin Rasode, Director of Marketing 
Telephone: 1-855-927-2476 
Email: calvin@brainsbio.com 
Website: www.brainsbio.com  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: 
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Brains Bioceutical Corp. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements should they change.

SOURCE Brains Bioceutical