Author: trainitright

Dating While Sober:  How to Pass Up Booze Without Passing on Love

www.beachway.com

When it comes to dating, “let’s grab a drink” is often the go to first date invitation. Many opt to cure first date jitters with a libation or two to “chill out” and feel more comfortable.  What happens if you are a recovering alcoholic and you can’t opt for “liquid courage” to get you through those awkward dating moments? For approximately 30-million Americans who identify as recovering from alcohol abuse, dating while sober is often a tricky reality. With tips on how to pass on booze but not on love, is Dr. Duy Nguyen, D.O., a Board-Certified Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry practicing at Beachway Therapy Center, a drug and alcohol rehab in Boynton Beach, Florida.

 

  1. Take the lead and suggest a dry date.

The easiest way to maintain sobriety is to avoid situations where alcohol is present. Having several alcohol-free dating options already in mind can empower you to steer the date in a dry direction more easily.  Opt for daytime dates that are more activity focused, get you outside enjoying quality time together away from any bar. “Doing activities that aren’t conducive to drinking such as museums, galleries, fairs, and festivals could be fun. People who don’t drink often are the most creative when it comes to choosing fun dates,” says Dr. Nguyen.

 

  1. Create your new story and get honest.

In the spirit of 12-step recovery, which emphasizes the importance of self-honesty, aim for truthfulness in how you present yourself. If an on-line dating profile questionnaire asks how much you drink, don’t let fear about what others may think prevent you from checking the “Never” box. “Frame out when and how you plan to reveal what inspired your decision not to drink. Simply saying that you no longer drink alcohol is enough in the beginning. When you get to know someone better then share your story from a place of an achievement you’re proud of,” Dr. Nguyen encourages.

 

  1. Get clear on what you want in a partner.

If someone has an issue with you not drinking, then they clearly aren’t the right person for you and that’s okay. Decide if you would prefer to date someone who understands recovery, may even have been through it themselves or is a health enthusiast who also doesn’t drink.

 

Dr. Nguyen says that, “While there are a lot of benefits to dating those in recovery, it can also lead to risky situations. There are often times in which one partner relapses and the other follows, although this isn’t a guarantee.”

 

If you decide that you want to date non-recovering people, it’s best to have some clean time under your belt and be solid in your recovery, as this can lead to tempting situations.

 

  1. Trust your gut, nerves can be a good indicator!

Your nerves could very well be indicating that there is something there. That is, chemistry. Dr. Nguyen says, “Alcohol typically dulls our sensory and emotional experience so without it we’re open to the raucous disarray of emotions that warp us when we’re under the spell of a potential new love. Of course, that doesn’t make the experience of a new relationship any easier. Try to reframe the experience in a way that embraces these jitters.”

 

  1. Don’t make love the new addiction.

On top of the excitement that comes with meeting a potential new partner, scientifically we produce numerous hormones that can increase that excitement. “A new relationship can very much become a replacement drug,” says Dr. Nguyen. He adds, “Many confuse infatuation with love, so it’s a good idea is to take it slowly. Again, make sure that you are at a place emotionally that can handle all of the new feelings that come with dating and be prepared if relationships don’t end the way you expected.”

 

  1. Embrace the awkward.

“Being sober will probably increase the number of awkward pauses, says Dr. Nguyen. “We’re sharper and more present when we’re not drinking which can actually be used as an advantage to navigate conversation and ask the other person about themselves which enables a deeper connection and more trust,” he adds.

 

  1. Keep first dates short.

The majority of first dates that extend into the wee hours of the morning are alcohol fueled and can lead to unintended promiscuity. Dr. Nguyen suggests going into the date with a self-imposed time frame in mind, two to three hours and then making another date if there’s interest. For a recovering alcoholic, especially someone in early sobriety, being “forced” to bar hop will be like white knuckling it on a scary roller coaster.

 

If you feel dating is hard enough and are more comfortable with dating others who practice a sober lifestyle, there are many options:

 

https://www.sobersinglesdate.com

 

https://www.12stepmatch.com

 

http://www.soberandsingle.com

 

https://www.aadatingservice.com

 

https://www.soberdatingservice.com

 

About Dr. Duy Nguyen:

D.O. is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist at Beachway Therapy Center trained in general psychiatry who specializes in providing psychiatric care in a variety of settings including residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient mental health, and the VA Medical Center. Dr. Nguyen is committed to providing a high level of evidence-based psychiatric care in the drug rehabilitation setting in addition to having a holistic focus on healing and recovery.

 

About Beachway Therapy Center http://www.beachway.com

Beachway provides a continuum of care, from PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) to Outpatient services. The facility offers a fully individualized treatment plan that meets the clinical and medical needs of each client usually lasting between 30 and 90 days.  Beachway provides an extremely low client to therapist ratio and under high level professional supervision, clients can begin to recover in a safe, residential-like environment.  CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) motivational interviewing, addiction counseling, 12-Step orientation, DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy,) trauma-informed practices and a wide variety of supportive group therapies are offered.

 

Imfinzi® (durvalumab) is the First Immunotherapy to Demonstrate Significant Overall Survival Benefits in Unresectable, Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

 

Phase III PACIFIC data presented at the IASLC 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Toronto shows 32 per cent reduced risk of death for patients treated with Imfinzi compared to standard of care

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, AstraZeneca presented full data from a planned interim analysis of the Phase III PACIFIC trial at the Presidential Symposium of the IASLC 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Toronto, Canada. The results showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) benefits for patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with Imfinzi (durvalumab), compared to placebo regardless of PD-L1 expression.

The Phase III PACIFIC trial results were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showing Imfinzi reduces risk of death by 32 per cent (hazard ratio [HR] 0.68, 99.73% confidence interval [CI]  0.47-0.997; p=0.0025). At follow up, median OS was not reached in the Imfinzi arm (NR; 95% CI, 34.7–NR). In the placebo arm, median OS was 28.7 months (95% CI, 22.9–NR).1

"The overall survival results from the Imfinzi PACIFIC trial represent a major breakthrough in treating patients with Stage III, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer," said Dr. Barbara Melosky, medical oncologist and Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia. "Our goal in the Stage III lung cancer setting is to treat patients with the intent to cure them; today's data shows that we are getting closer to that goal by significantly extending life with treatment with Imfinzi following chemoradiation therapy."

The safety and tolerability profile of Imfinzi was consistent with that reported at the time of the progression-free survival (PFS) analysis. Among patients receiving Imfinzi, the most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 20% of patients) versus placebo were cough (35.2% vs. 25.2%), fatigue (24% vs. 20.5%), dyspnea (22.3% vs. 23.9%) and radiation pneumonitis (20.2% vs. 15.8%). Thirty per cent (30.5%) of patients experienced a grade 3 or 4 AE (adverse events) with Imfinzi vs 26.1 per cent with placebo, and 15.4 per cent of patients discontinued treatment due to AEs with Imfinzi compared to 9.8 per cent of patients on placebo.

Imfinzi is currently approved in Canada, the US, EU, Switzerland, India, Japan and Brazil based on the PACIFIC trial. Other global health authority reviews and submissions are ongoing.

About Lung Cancer and Stage III Advanced NSCLC
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in Canada and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately 28,600 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017.2 This represented around 14 per cent of all new cancer cases in 2017.3

Stage III, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 35 per cent of all new NSCLC diagnoses, and approximately 80 per cent of these patients are unsuitable for surgery.4 In Canada, on average, only 15.1 per cent of people diagnosed with NSCLC are likely to live five years after their diagnosis following chemoradiation therapy.5

While patients diagnosed with Stage III NSCLC are treated with the intent to cure the cancer, the majority of patients who benefit from chemoradiation therapy, up to 70 per cent, experience progression through metastasis.6

For more information about lung cancer visit www.LVNG.ca.

About the PACIFIC Trial
The PACIFIC trial is a Phase III, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial of treatment with Imfinzi in 'all-comer' patients (i.e. regardless of PD-L1 status) with unresectable, Stage III (locally advanced) NSCLC who have not progressed following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy.

The trial is being conducted in 235 centres across 26 countries involving approximately 713 patients. The primary endpoints of the trial are PFS and OS, and secondary endpoints include landmark PFS and OS, objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response.

About Imfinzi (durvalumab)
Imfinzi is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, countering the tumour's immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses.

Reviewed under Health Canada's accelerated approval framework, Imfinzi received Notice of Compliance with Conditions (NOC/c) in May 2018 for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable NSCLC whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy.7 Approval was granted based on data from the Phase III PACIFIC trial demonstrating that Imfinzi extended PFS for patients by nearly one year (11.2 months) versus placebo.8 With this approval, Imfinzi became the first and only approved immuno-oncology therapy following chemoradiation therapy for patients in this setting.

Imfinzi has also been granted NOC/c in Canada for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or whose disease has progressed within 12 months of receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery.9

Clinical studies of Imfinzi are ongoing, including the MYSTIC in NSCLC and CASPIAN in small-cell lung cancer. Phase III trials in which Imfinzi is being studied for 1st-line treatment as monotherapy and/or in combination with tremelimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody and potential new medicine, for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC. The POSEIDON trial is investigating Imfinzi with and without tremelimumab in combination with chemotherapy in a similar patient population.

About AstraZeneca's Approach to Immuno-Oncology
Immuno-Oncology (IO) is a therapeutic approach designed to stimulate the body's immune system to attack tumours. At AstraZeneca and MedImmune, our biologics research and development arm, our IO portfolio is anchored by immunotherapies that have been designed to overcome anti-tumour immune suppression. We believe that IO-based therapies will offer the potential for life-changing cancer treatments for the majority of patients.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of primary and specialty care medicines that transform lives. Our primary focus is on three important areas of healthcare: Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease; Oncology; and Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity. AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. In Canada, we employ more than 675 employees across the country and our AstraZeneca Canada headquarters are located in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.astrazeneca.ca.

References
_____________________________
1 Antonia, S., Villegas, A., Daniel, D., Vicente, D., Murakami, S., Hui, R., Kurata, T., (…), Özgüroğlu, M., Overall Survival with Durvalumab after Chemoradiotherapy in Stage III NSCLC. (2018) New England Journal of Medicine. Accessed September 25, 2018. Available at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1809697?query=featured_home
2 Canadian Cancer Statistics. 2017. Accessed August 16, 2018. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/statistics/?region=on
3 Ibid
4 Zhao, Q., Wang, Z., Huang, W., Wang, Q., Yu, S., Zhou, T., … Li, B. (2016). Phase III study of cisplatin with pemtrexed or vinorelbine plus concurrent late course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Oncotarget, 7(7), 8422–8431. http://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.6871
5 Auperin, A., Le Pechoux, C., Rolland, E., Curran, W., Furuse, K., Fournel, P. (2010) Meta-Analysis of Concomitant Versus Sequential Radiochemotherapy in Locally Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 28, no. 13 (May 2010). http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2009.26.2543
6 Bradley J.D., Paulus R., Komaki R., Masters G., Blumenschein G., Schild S., Bogart J., (...), Choy H. Standard-dose versus high-dose conformal radiotherapy with concurrent and consolidation carboplatin plus paclitaxel with or without cetuximab for patients with stage IIIA or IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer (RTOG 0617): A randomised, two-by-two factorial phase 3 study. (2015) The Lancet Oncology, 16 (2). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(14)71207-0
7 Ibid
8 Ibid
9 AstraZeneca Canada Inc., IMFINZI® (durvalumab), Product Monograph. May 2018.

SOURCE AstraZeneca

By Choosing To Understand And Embrace Change, We Can Control It To Our Advantage

Morristown, TN, September 25, 2018 ― We are all affected constantly by change—and whether it's positive or negative change, our first response is usually fear. We fret over what this change will mean for us, and set up all sorts of scenarios in our mind of its possible outcome. But the truly successful men and women in business have a good understanding of change and use it to their advantage. If we continually avoid change, we stay in a rut and lose control of our life because we will have lost our freedom.

Ralph Masengill's latest book, Conquer Change and Win,  is the result of forty years of experience as a consultant, coach, advisor and public relations strategist, observing change and showing business leaders that embracing and understanding positive change is the guaranteed way to effective quality improvement and substantial profit enhancement. Out of this experience Ralph learned that successful people share certain traits: they are willing to take a calculated risk and endorse positive change, and they have learned how change affects their emotions and how to overcome this fear.

Masengill speaks from wisdom learned over his vast career, infused by an ethics-based value system of helping others and the community. While his own life has had its share of personal challenges, tragedy and triumph—his professional career has been defined by great success. In fact, Masengill Marketing Associates has been the recipient of over 850 national and regional advertising and marketing awards. In Conquer Change and Win, this best-selling author gives readers an easy-to-follow book, peppered with humor, that includes clear charts and graphs to illustrate important points.

Masengill's quote says it all: "Quality, like the flu, is catching. The more you are around it, the more you will see the advantages and want to be a part of the quality process. In other words, quality begets quality.”

Ralph Masengill is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and his postgraduate work includes the Dr. W. Edwards Deming course on quality and quality management. He and his wife Dianne live near the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, where he enjoys woodworking, oil painting, sailing and helping with his favorite charities in his spare time. They have four grown children, two dogs and a cat.

For more information on the author or his book, please visit http://masengill.com.

Conquer Change and Win
Available at all fine bookstores, the author's website, and Amazon.com and Kindle.
ISBN:  978-1515191872

Canadian Junior Hockey League players face off against concussions

 

New concussion program will provide a mental health safety net for 133 teams and over 3000 players across the country

SASKATOON, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and The Co-operators announced today the first national concussion program available across the CJHL to safeguard player mental and physical wellbeing. The CJHL Concussion Program Funded by The Co-operators establishes a mandatory concussion protocol for the CJHL that will implement clear guidelines for the recognition, assessment, and management of concussion.

"Player safety is our number one priority," said Brent Ladds, President of the CJHL. "The long-term effects of concussion are a growing concern for our organization, our athletes and their families. This is a major milestone for improving concussion management standards in junior hockey. We are grateful to the SJHL Assistance Program which provided the foundation for this program. Thanks to the partnership with The Co-operators we are able to make it available to our players across the league."

Although most individuals who suffer concussion recover without lasting effect, research shows that 10–20% of concussion patients may face a difficult recovery, sometimes leading to mental health issues1.

"We recognize that junior hockey players can be vulnerable to concussions because they're playing a contact sport. We want to support them as they pursue their hockey careers by providing an extra safety net with this concussion program," said Kevin Daniel, Executive Vice President at Co-operators Life Insurance Company.  "We see supporting initiatives like this that protect mental health, especially for youth, as an essential part of our commitment to building healthier, more sustainable communities. We're proud to work with the CJHL on this national concussion program to provide peace of mind for parents, players and the league."

The CJHL Concussion Program will use innovative mobile and web-based software from HeadCheck Health, Inc. (HeadCheck) that will allow team trainers to perform the concussion protocol and the league to monitor compliance. Under the new program, a player's concussion history will be digitally tracked and transferred with them for more informed healthcare decisions. "We look forward to working with the CJHL to ensure that all players, regardless of team or skill level, will be afforded the same level of concussion care, said Harrison Brown, CEO of HeadCheck. "We're very pleased that The Co-operators are aligned in our mission of improving player safety."

HeadCheck and the CJHL will regularly review aggregate data and continuously improve the program.

About CJHL
The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada.  The CJHL represents 133 teams and more than 3,000 players. The CJHL operates under the auspices of the Hockey Canada Branch structure and is a member in good standing within Hockey Canada. The CJHL is the only sanctioned Junior A Hockey League in Canada and has over 3,000 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college levels across North America. The CJHL is comprised of the BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL, SIJHL, NOJHL, OJHL, LHJQ, CCHL, and MHL. For more information on CJHL please visit http://www.cjhlhockey.com

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian co-operative with more than $41 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products.  The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information, visit www.cooperators.ca.

About HeadCheck Health, Inc

HeadCheck provides concussion management software that is customized to the requirements of any concussion policy. A mobile app can be used to document suspected concussions, run concussion assessments and track an athlete's concussion history. An enhanced web dashboard provides an overview of testing activity, more thorough athlete management, and the monitoring of concussion policy adherence. The system provides medical and non-medical roles to support the varying medical qualifications of individuals working with teams. All data is securely stored and meets the latest health privacy standards. Over 400 organizations across North America use HeadCheck as their primary tool for concussion management, including the CJHL, BC Hockey, UBC, Edmonton Oil Kings, BC Rugby, Eastern Washington University, Rugby Ontario, St. George's School, and Okotoks Minor Hockey. For more information visit http://www.headcheckhealth.com

CJHL Concussion Program Funded by The Co-operators

HeadCheck Fact Sheet

HeadCheck Health provides concussion management software to help the CJHL's 10 Member Leagues perform their concussion protocol as part of the new CJHL Concussion Program Funded by The Co-operators. The software will allow each league and the CJHL itself to monitor compliance to the protocol and find areas to make player safety improvements.

How It Works

  • Team trainers utilize HeadCheck to document suspected concussions and perform any concussion testing required by the protocol
  • Player history can be transferred from team-to-team or league-to-league with authorization
  • Concussion history for all players will be securely stored in the HeadCheck system
  • Information can be transferred with the player to medical professionals for proper diagnosis
  • Care partners such as clinics will receive access to HeadCheck to log any notes or perform additional assessments
  • Medical clearance can be run through HeadCheck to ensure players only return-to-play with proper clearance
  • League can monitor protocol compliance through HeadCheck's web dashboard
  • HeadCheck and league commissioners review reporting on aggregate data to make safety improvements

HeadCheck Service

  • Technology training sessions for all individuals using the mobile app
  • Create profiles for all 3000k athletes and any new players who enter the leagues
  • Set up accounts for partner clinics and authorized personnel
  • Handle trades and player movement
  • 24/7 ongoing customer support
  • Customized reporting and review sessions with commissioners
  • Certified AT support for any baseline testing required by teams
  • Notifications and alerts are sent out when suspected concussions are logged in the system

About HeadCheck Health, Inc

HeadCheck provides concussion management software that is customized to the requirements of any concussion policy. A mobile app can be used to document suspected concussions, run concussion assessments and track an athlete's concussion history. An enhanced web dashboard provides an overview of testing activity, more thorough athlete management, and the monitoring of concussion policy adherence. The system provides medical and non-medical roles to support the varying medical qualifications of individuals working with teams. All data is securely stored and meets the latest health privacy standards. Over 400 organizations across North America use HeadCheck as their primary tool for concussion management, including the CJHL, BC Hockey, UBC, BC Rugby, Eastern Washington University, Rugby Ontario, St. George's School, and Okotoks Minor Hockey. For more information visit http://www.headcheckhealth.com

SOURCE The Co-operators

Vitamins are essential in our daily routine, but how do you know what you should be taking in your 20’s compared to your 40’s, or 60’s?

 

Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O., a New York-based Osteopathic Physician board-certified in family and anti-aging medicine, is sharing his top recommendations for vitamins you should be taking through the generations:

 

  • Your 20's –In our 20's, we’re super active, so Vitamin B is really important. Vitamin B will keep you energized throughout the day and prevent you from crashing. Vitamin C is another important vitamin that will boost your immune system and slow down the skin’s aging process.

 

  • Your 30's – Our 30's require a lot of vitamin D, which helps strengthen bones and keep your teeth healthy. Vitamin D deficiencies can cause health issues such as bone abnormalities and increased bone tenderness, which can lead to osteomalacia. This is especially important in the winter months as Vitamin D levels from the sun are harder to absorb.

 

  • Your 40's – Once you reach 40, be sure to get a lot of calcium and potassium. You should also be taking a multivitamin daily. A multivitamin helps with memory loss and lowers the chance of cancer.

 

  • Your 50’s – In our 50’s, Omega 3 is a key vitamin in your 50’s since it lowers blood pressure and prevents heart disease. There are three types of Omega-3’s, one being DHA, that improves eye health. These fatty acids can also fight off inflammation in the body.

 

  • Your 60’s – Come 60, Vitamin B12 is known to keep nerve and blood cells at its healthiest, while also preventing anemia, making you tired or weak. Iron maintains healthy muscle function as well, so this is a must.

 

New Report Echoes Concerns of Deceptive Marketing
in Snack Bar Industry:

Separating Misleading Nutrition Claims from Nutrient Dense Brands

https://www.cornucopia.org/2018/09/new-report-echoes-concerns-of-deceptive-marketing-in-snack-bar-industry/
Cornucopia, WI — Last December, The Cornucopia Institute, a nonprofit food and farm policy group, released a comprehensive report and accompanying scorecard that exposed the misleading marketing practices by food industry giants that market candy-like energy bars as healthy and nutritious.

The report, Raising the Bar, Choosing Healthy Snack Bars versus Gimmicky Junk Food, details how snack bar quality varies among brands, even among the brands that market themselves as “made with” organic ingredients.

In its newly released October 2018 issue, Consumer Reports, a leading nonprofit product rating and review organization, echoed Cornucopia’s findings that many energy bars don’t live up to the healthy impression manufacturers represent.

Consumer Reports found that many of the 33 bars they analyzed are highly processed. Consistent with Cornucopia’s findings, Consumer Reports also found many bars packed with added sugar.

“It’s good news that more consumer advocacy groups are exposing many of these snack bars for what they really are—unhealthy alternatives to whole, nutritious foods,” stated Anne Ross, a Cornucopia policy analyst and researcher. “Both reports offer great utility and rate different products. Consumer Reports focuses on nutrition, while Cornucopia’s report also evaluates the addition of synthetic additives, some of which have been associated with serious adverse health reactions.”

Cornucopia’s scorecard analyzes over 50 snack bars, most of which are USDA certified organic. Only 11 of the 33 bars analyzed by Consumer Reports are certified organic. Consumer Reports rated bars for nutrition and taste to assign an overall score, with an evaluation of ingredients comprising 60% of the nutrition score.

Cornucopia’s report outlines how consumers get a safer and higher quality product with USDA certified organic brands over conventional mass-marketed brands.

Published research and documentation have consistently illustrated that organically produced products have a lower level of agrichemical residues and are nutritionally superior.

Cornucopia’s report also reveals that low levels of hexane, a neurotoxin, have been detected in common snack bar ingredients, including protein isolates. With the exception of USDA certified organic bars, many snack bars contain protein isolates which are hexane-extracted.

The highest rated brands on Cornucopia’s scorecard are USDA certified organic and use only organic fruits, nuts, and seeds without any added sugars, gums, flours, preservatives, or protein isolates.

Cornucopia’s mobile-friendly tool helps consumers separate the safer and more nutritious products from those with unsubstantiated or misleading health claims.

Mark A. Kastel, Cornucopia’s codirector and senior farm policy analyst, stated, “We are informing consumers of questionable marketing claims by food manufacturing behemoths that blur the line between health and hazard for the sake of corporate profit. Using our scorecard, consumers can weed through these claims to decide which products are better for human and environmental health and which are better left on the shelf.”

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MORE:

Both Cornucopia and Consumer Reports gave high marks to bars manufactured by Nature’s Path and Pure Organic. Cornucopia assigned “excellent” ratings to Nature’s Path Organic Superfood bars and to Pure Organic’s Dark Chocolate Berry. Consumer Reports recommended Nature’s Path Organic Superfood Dark Chocolate Peanut Snack Bar and Pure Organic’s Wild Blueberry Fruit & Nut Bar.

Consumer Reports gave Kind Plus Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants with Macadamia Nuts the top score for taste. Cornucopia’s report, which focuses on additives and processing in assigning scores, noted that although Kind bars use real nuts and grain, they are full of conventional ingredients, sugary syrups, and hexane-extracted soy protein isolate and soy lecithin.

Cornucopia’s report illustrates the benefits of USDA certified organic products, including the difference between certified organic snack bars and those “made with” organic ingredients. Because USDA National Organic Program regulations provide industry-friendly loopholes for the use of conventional, hexane-extracted ingredients in the “made with” organic category, USDA certified organic products are superior.

The Four Strangest Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight & What to Do
New York Times bestselling author Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman Author of “Radical Metabolism: A Powerful New Plan to Blast Fat and Reignite Your Energy in Just 21 Days,” is available for interviews.
Liver toxicity
If you have a roll of fat around your middle, you may have what is commonly referred to as ”fatty liver.” What does this mean? It means your liver has stopped processing fat and begun storing it. When the liver is sluggish every organ in your body is affected, and your weight loss efforts will be blocked from almost every angle.
False Fat
Many individuals carry an extra 10 to 15 pounds of fluid trapped in their body tissues, which contributes to bloat, puffiness and cellulite. My esteemed colleague Elson Haas, MD coined a term for this: “false fat.” Some of us—about 15 to 25 percent—are more salt-sensitive than others. Fluid retention can be caused by excess sodium, food sensitivities, hormones, adrenal stress and dysregulated insulin.
Insufficient Omega-6 Fats
People today are getting a huge dose of terrible quality omega-6s, largely from processed foods that contain cheap, rancid, highly refined (and usually genetically modified) inflammation-producing vegetable oils, which are omega-6s. This is the reason our omega-6 to omega-3 ratios are so far off-kilter. However, increasing your omega-3s solves only half of the problem.
Parasites
Parasites are a hidden epidemic that often trigger weight gain, sugar cravings, anxiety and sleeplessness, and they wreak total havoc on your digestive system. Some of the risk factors for parasite exposure include travel, pets, daycares, restaurant dining, raw and undercooked foods (especially pork and sushi), and drinking tap water.
About Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, The First Lady of Nutrition:
Diet and nutrition trendsetter Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, NY Times bestselling author of the soon to be released book Radical Metabolism: A Powerful New Plan to Blast Fat and Reignite Your Energy in Just 21 Days (Aug 28, Da Capo Lifelong Books), is a multi award-winning author of 30 books on weight loss, diet & detox, women's health, men's health, perimenopause, menopause, beauty and the environment. Her The Fat Flush Plan series and Before the Change were NY Times bestsellers.

New Trial Data: Senzer's Inhaler Delivers Cannabinoids Faster at Lower Doses

 

LONDON, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The physical uptake of pharmaceutical cannabinoids when inhaled through Senzer's unique respiratory device is more than 50 times faster than oral delivery, at just a fraction of the dose, according to data released today under a clinical trial conducted in the US.

Senzer, a UK-based drug delivery company, reported the success of a 36-subject pharmacokinetic trial conducted in the US by its partner, Insys Therapeutics, Inc. a leader in the development, manufacture and commercialization of pharmaceutical cannabinoids and spray technology. Insys holds the license to use Senzer's device to deliver the cannabinoid, Dronabinol, in the US and the trial is part of its goal to achieve regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Senzer's patented device allows conversion of cannabinoids into very small particle sizes, and other research by the Company has shown that this allows delivery of actives deep into the lung, into the smaller distal passageways. Unlike other respiratory approaches, such as nebulizers or mainstream inhalers, Senzer's offering can result in a much more rapid uptake of the drug, comparable to injectables or IVs.

"These positive results generated by Insys show how our device can deliver cannabinoids faster and in much smaller doses, which should be of great benefit for both patients and health professionals," Senzer CEO Alex Hearn said. "Our approach is unique in this exciting sector, and offers a simple and minimally invasive way to ensure much more effective delivery of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids."

Insys reported the study enrolled 36 subjects and compared a single 0.35 mg dose of inhaled dronabinol to a single 5.0 mg dose of oral dronabinol (Marinol capsule). The findings indicated that inhaled dronabinol, even at just 7% of the oral dose, had a much faster absorption rate. The difference in Tmax-–the time to peak concentration (Cmax) of drug in blood plasma-–was over 50 times faster with the test product: 2 minutes with the inhaled dronabinol, compared to 1.53 hours with the oral dronabinol. In addition, Cmax with both formulations was similar, despite the considerable difference in doses, Insys reported.

"This pharmacokinetic study provides evidence of our unique drug-device combination's viability as a mechanism to deliver dronabinol into the distal lung for rapid systemic absorption," said Steve Sherman, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for INSYS Therapeutics. "Its completion represents the next step in our clinical development program for dronabinol inhalation as an investigational product concept, which has future potential in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including anorexia in cancer."

About SENZER

SENZER Ltd. is a U.K.-based inhalation technology company specializing in the development and commercialization of therapeutic delivery systems of cannabinoid products, and it is developing a pipeline of inhalation and delivery products to meet unmet medical needs. Senzer's platform is based around a patented device that allows swift and effective inhaled delivery of cannabinoids, as well as other active pharmaceuticals.

About INSYS

INSYS Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes innovative drugs and novel drug delivery systems of therapeutic molecules that improve patients' quality of life. Using proprietary spray technology and capabilities to develop pharmaceutical cannabinoids, INSYS is developing a pipeline of products intended to address unmet medical needs and the clinical shortcomings of existing commercial products. INSYS is committed to developing medications for potentially treating anaphylaxis, epilepsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, opioid addiction and overdose, and other disease areas with a significant unmet need.

SOURCE Senzer Limited

Reclaim your skin with Dermakalm specialty skincare line

 

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - November is eczema awareness month. Also known as dermatitis, eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry skin with very itchy red patches that may ooze, become scaly, crusted or hardened. Eczema can affect any part of the body and anywhere from 10 to 20% of the Canadian population is affected.

Although genetic, immunological and environmental factors play a key role, the specific cause of eczema is not known. While no cure has yet to be found for eczema, and no treatment successfully works for everyone, there are ways to manage eczema to make it more tolerable including: frequent bathing and moisturizer application, as well as the use of over-the-counter (OTC) creams designed for eczema such as Dermakalm.

Dermakalm Eczema Creams are non-greasy, specialized formulations containing aluminum silicate which help provide temporary relief of symptoms of atopic eczema and hand and contact eczema.

Unlike other eczema product offerings, Dermakalm is free of corticosteroids, fragrance, parabens and artificial colouring. Dermakalm helps activate the skin's own repair mechanism through the combination of moisturizing lipids and a mineral complex.

Developed with dermatologists, Dermakalm Eczema Creams are available OTC in adult and infant/children (eight weeks and older) formulations for atopic eczema and in adult formulations for hand and contact eczema.

  • Dermakalm Eczema Cream (Face and Body)
  • Dermakalm Eczema Cream for Infants and Children (Face and Body, eight weeks+ years old)
  • Dermakalm Hand and Contact Eczema Cream

If you've experienced it yourself, you know how frustrating it can be dealing with eczema. Skin ailments can adversely affect an individual's mental well-being and severely influence their personal, professional and social life. Common psychological problems associated with skin issues include feelings of stress, anxiety, anger, depression, shame, social isolation, and low self-esteem.

Dermakalm can help break the cycle, allowing you to reclaim your skin.

To learn more, please visit dermakalm.com/eczema

SOURCE Paladin Labs Inc.

SE Health marks 110 years

 

MARKHAM, ON, Sept. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - This Canadian social enterprise is no stranger to change. Marking its 110th year this September, Saint Elizabeth – now known as SE Health – has been a driving force of health innovation and care since 1908. What started out as four visiting nurses in downtown Toronto has evolved into a mobile team of 9,000 health professionals bringing a full range of services to people and families in homes and neighbourhoods across Canada.

"The playground today is very different but the core inspiration for our work as a not-for-profit charity remains the same: Empower people with the knowledge and tools to live their best lives – and work with partners to build a stronger and more inclusive society," says Shirlee Sharkey, who has led SE Health as its CEO since 1992.

As corporate brands transform to become more purpose-led, organizations like SE Health must continue to evolve their skills and offerings to fill gaps and create value. It is this type of agile thinking that fuelled the launch of SE Global, an advisory services arm that is helping international health systems improve the patient experience, grow a quality talent pool and optimize operations. Earlier this year, SE Health formalized a new partnership with Royale Home Health to support knowledge transfer, capacity development and best practices in the Middle East.

Closer to home, SE Health works with governments, hospitals, regional health authorities, the seniors' living sector, and individuals and family caregivers to help Canadians live and age with health, vitality and dignity. This includes partnering with health systems to design and deliver specialized transition and reactivation programs that bridge care from hospital to home. Other partnerships include working with digital health companies like Fonemed to open the door to new possibilities in care.

With an aging population, the demand for smart services and high quality care in the home will only continue to increase. That bodes well for the future of SE Health, which has grown 144% in the past decade alone and operates both a standalone research centre and network of health career colleges to meet the knowledge and education needs of a rapidly-changing industry.

In the future, the way we live and die will be nothing like what it has been for the past century or more. To prepare the organization for its next 110 years, SE Health has established SE Futures, a core team of disruptors and designers that is guiding stakeholders towards a future that is more predictive, proactive, decentralized, continuous, people-powered and values-based.

Reflecting on the success and evolution of SE Health, Ms. Sharkey highlights the role of its culture and people: "They say in life, you get what you give. At SE Health and Elizz, we're about spreading hope and happiness and that's something that never gets old."

To learn more about the ways SE Health is dedicated to a brighter future of health care at home, view our 2018 Impact Report or explore our new website at sehc.com.

About SE Health
SE Health is a not-for-profit social enterprise applying knowledge, vision and drive to forever impact how people live and age at home, today and into the future. With Canadian roots and 110 years of expertise, the organization brings quality excellence and innovation to home care, seniors' lifestyle, and family caregiving. Through its team of 9,000 Leaders of Impact, SE Health delivers 20,000 care exchanges daily, totaling 50 million in the last decade alone. Visit us online at sehc.com.

SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care