World Kidney Day focuses on women's health
Canadian kidney organizations call for education, engagement and research investments
MONTREAL, March 7, 2018 /CNW/ - One in 10 Canadians has kidney disease. Are you, or is someone you know affected?
This World Kidney Day, March 8th, The Kidney Foundation of Canada along with the Can-SOLVE CKD Network and the Canadian Society of Nephrology are urging Canadians to learn more about their kidney health. Ask your doctor about a simple blood test that can identify common kidney problems, and have your blood pressure monitored regularly.
"This year, World Kidney Day falls on the same date as International Women's Day, offering a unique opportunity for us to focus on women's kidney health," said Elizabeth Myles, Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. "The Kidney Foundation of Canada, in partnership with Can-SOLVE CKD and the Canadian Society of Nephrology, encourage and empower women to educate themselves to maintain a kidney healthy lifestyle."
Through the theme of this year's World Kidney Day, "Kidneys and Women's Health – Include, Value, Empower", the international organization is calling for affordable and equitable access to kidney health education, care and prevention for all women and girls globally.
Four million Canadians live with chronic kidney disease (CKD). An estimated 3,000 Canadians die from kidney disease each year. It is the 9th leading cause of death for women in this country. Indigenous peoples, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.
"By involving patients, many of whom are women, in identifying research questions and contributing to the network's work as a whole, we are working to make a real difference in the statistics and the lives of Canadians living with kidney disease," said Dr. Adeera Levin who, along with Dr. Braden Manns, are Co-Leads of the Can-SOLVE CKD Network. "In support of the unique health issues of women and girls living with kidney disease, the network has recently appointed Dr. Sofia Ahmed as Sex and Gender Lead. In this role, Dr. Ahmed will advise our research teams on issues related to sex and gender as they carry out their work."
Women are more at risk for certain kidney diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and both acute and chronic kidney infections. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can affect a woman's ability to start a family, and raise healthy children. Pregnancies among women with kidney disease carry different risks, depending on levels of kidney function, and can lead to serious health complications such as pre-eclampsia, and preterm births.
"There is no cure for kidney disease, and it has devastating consequences on the quality and quantity of life for those affected," said Dr. Deborah Zimmerman, President Elect of the Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN). "Kidney disease impacts women of all ages, limiting their ability to build a career and start a family. Well-earned retirement may be replaced by treatment schedules that interfere with the ability to travel and enjoy grandchildren. We need to find better ways to minimize the tremendous burden of symptoms, and simplify treatments. Helping the patients of today and tomorrow requires a renewed investment in research."
To find out if you have any of the risk factors for kidney disease, take this short quiz: www.kidney.ca/risk
The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC) is the national volunteer organization committed to eliminating the burden of kidney disease through funding and stimulating innovative research; providing education and support; promoting access to high quality healthcare; and increasing public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation. Since 1964 The Kidney Foundation of Canada has contributed over $119 million to medical research projects to ensure that treatment options and patient results continuously improve.
The Can-SOLVE CKD Network is a pan-Canadian patient-oriented kidney research initiative established in 2016 to help transform treatment and care for Canadians living with, or at risk of developing kidney disease. The network is funding 18 research projects, with questions based on key issues identified by patients. The Can-SOLVE CKD Network is also working to address the gaps in kidney health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in this country.
The Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) is a society of physicians and scientists specializing in the care of people with kidney disease, and in research related to the kidney and kidney disease. Their vision is that all Canadians with or at risk of kidney disease will receive optimal patient-centered care and achieve best outcomes. Members of the CSN support innovative research to improve outcomes for patients with kidney disease. The Society also holds workshops and training programs for nephrologists. This year the CSN is marking a milestone 50th Anniversary.
Learn more
www.kidney.ca/world-kidney-day-2018
www.cansolveckd.ca/world-kidney-day-2018
www.csnscn.ca
SOURCE Kidney Foundation of Canada
Baylis Medical wins Best Managed Companies award
TORONTO, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Baylis Medical Company is proud to announce that it has been named a 2018 winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies, one of the country's leading business award programs honouring excellence in Canadian-owned and managed businesses.
Established in 1993, Canada's Best Managed Companies recognizes those that demonstrate innovation in management and business practices, and sustained growth. This year, Best Managed companies were selected on the basis of having a clear strategy and vision, investment in capability and commitment to talent.
Behind Baylis Medical's success is a long-standing culture of empowering employees across all departments to take an innovative approach to their work. The company fosters an environment focused on learning, continuous improvement and employee development.
"We are thrilled to have won this designation," said Deb Douma, Director of Human Resources at Baylis Medical. "We operate under the deep-rooted belief that Baylis is at its best when our employees are at their best. This makes it all the more important to give them the tools and confidence to continually contribute to our ultimate goal: developing innovative solutions that improve the lives of people around the world."
This focus has resulted in rapid growth for Baylis Medical. The company is expanding its range of products to deliver added value to patients and physicians. It is also increasing its employee-base, including its sales team, as it expands into new and existing international markets.
"Having the in-house expertise allows us to efficiently identify issues faced by physicians and their patients, and deliver innovative solutions more rapidly. Being named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies validates our employee-centric approach to business," said Kris Shah, President of Baylis Medical.
Canada's Best Managed Companies' awardees will be honoured at the annual winners' gala taking place on April 11 in Toronto.
About Canada's Best Managed Companies
Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $15 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, TMX Group and MacKay CEO Forums. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.
About Baylis Medical Company Inc.
Baylis Medical develops and markets high-technology medical devices used in the fields of electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, and spinal procedures. Our vision is to develop and market innovative medical therapies while Improving the Lives of People Around the World. The company has offices in Montreal and Toronto (Canada), Boston (USA), London (UK), and Munich (Germany). For more information, visit www.baylismedical.com.
PRM-00305 EN J-1,2,3 V-1 © Baylis Medical Company Inc., 2018. The Baylis Medical logo is a trademark or registered trademark of Baylis Medical Company Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Baylis Médical
Overcoming barriers to cervical cancer screening: New health innovation project empowers women to collect their own samples at home
MARKHAM, ON, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - As the world celebrates International Women's Day, a team of Ontario health innovators is working to expand access to culturally safe HPV screening among new Canadians and Indigenous Peoples.
Although cervical cancer is highly preventable, only 61 per cent of eligible women in Ontario are currently getting screened with a Pap test. Barriers such as lack of awareness, transportation and cultural sensitivity remain, particularly for vulnerable communities. International research shows self-sampling is an effective way to empower women and reduce cervical cancer deaths among under and never screened populations.
Designed in Ontario, Eve Kit is a personal health screening system that allows women to collect their own sample, mail it to the lab for testing, and access their results through a secure website. In addition to privacy and convenience, Eve Kit offers validated diagnostic testing and is Health Canada licensed.
Building on the success of self-sampling programs globally, the health innovation team will work closely with community members to design a new culturally safe HPV testing program that aligns with Cancer Care Ontario's screening guidelines and is closely integrated with primary care for appropriate follow-up. The new model will provide evidence and insights to support broad adoption of HPV self-sampling within the public health care system.
The project is being led by Saint Elizabeth Health Care and includes partner organizations Eve Medical, Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, N'Mninoeyaa Aboriginal Health Access Centre, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, Roche Diagnostics and Mount Sinai Services.
The Government of Ontario recently announced grants for 12 new projects through its Health Technologies Fund. HTF is a program of the Government of Ontario's Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS), administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). The grant for this project totals $469,000, with matching in-kind contributions from the partner organizations.
QUOTES:
"This project embodies the kind of collaboration that we need to innovate in health care – especially for underserved groups. It has been amazing to see a solution progress from need, to idea and development, and now community partnership and demonstration."
Jessica Ching, CEO, Eve Medical
"Health innovation is about empowering people and designing processes and experiences that work for them. With broad adoption, this proven patient-centred approach can help to reduce health inequities and improve access to care for underserved communities."
Shirlee Sharkey, CEO, Saint Elizabeth Health Care
FAST FACTS:
- Cervical cancer is preventable when detected early
- There are 1,550 new cases of cervical cancer in Canada every year (Canadian Cancer Society, 2017)
- Immigrant and Indigenous women have lower rates of screening than the general population, putting them at increased risk for cervical cancer
- Many women, particularly those in hard-to-reach groups, prefer self-sampling to the Pap test, based on its convenience and privacy
About Saint Elizabeth
Saint Elizabeth is a national social enterprise providing home care, health solutions and education to people where they are and when they need it. With Canadian roots and more than 100 years of expertise, the not-for-profit charitable organization is accelerating health care innovation to support healthy lives globally. Through its team of 9,000 health leaders, Saint Elizabeth delivers 20,000 care exchanges daily, totaling 50 million in the last decade alone. Learn more at saintelizabeth.com or find us on social media.
SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care
Obesity and mental health identified as top health concerns facing Ontario school-aged children
Ophea led survey sheds light on parental attitudes toward Health and Physical Education, health issues, physical activity, healthy schools, and safety
TORONTO, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Parents believe that Ontario schools have an important role to play in the health and well-being of their children, according to a recent survey commissioned by Ophea. The survey looked to better understand parental perspectives on pressing health issues and the important role schools play in supporting their children.
The provincially representative survey, which included more than 600 parents of school-aged children across the province, found that obesity (37 per cent) and mental health (32 per cent) were the top health issues identified facing Ontario children. Concerns have risen significantly about mental health (increase of 22 per cent) and addiction (increase of 9 per cent) since Ophea's last survey in 2010. Today, most parents (79 per cent) believe that the H&PE curriculum helps to address these concerns.
"Ontario schools have an important role to play in the health and well-being of our children, whether it is physical activity, health education, addressing mental health issues or discussing diet and nutrition," said Chris Markham, Executive Director and CEO of Ophea. "Though the majority of parents are satisfied with the Health and Physical Education offered at school, we see that there are concerns about the minimal amount of time dedicated to these programs. We should be challenging ourselves to ensure this is a priority."
In 2014, the Ontario government committed to encouraging 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children, and through this survey, 99 per cent of parents strongly agree about the importance of that goal. Most parents (89 per cent) also agree that schools have a critical role to ensure children are physically active during the regular school day. However, it was found that only one quarter of parents (26 per cent) report that their children are active to that standard, and the reported level of physical activity declines with the age of the child.
"Beyond health professionals and themselves, parents see teachers as the most trusted source of health information for their children," says Lori Lukinuk, President of Ophea's Board of Directors. "We call upon education partners to work with Ophea to support our schools to continue to be healthy schools - accepting and caring about physical safety and encouraging involvement amongst all students."
Ophea remains committed to working with school boards, government & non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations to ensure the health of Ontario school-aged children is top of mind. For more information including the full survey report and infographic highlights, visit www.ophea.net/advocacy.
About the Survey
A survey of 651 Ontario-based parents of school-aged children was completed online between October 23 and October 31, 2017, by Environics Research Group.
About Ophea
Ophea is a not-for-profit organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities through quality programs and services, partnerships and advocacy. Ophea's vision is that all children and youth will value and enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy, active living. To learn more about Ophea visit www.ophea.net.
Change Your Eating, Change a Whole Lot More
“When you change your eating, it’s not just your eating that will change,” says Cassandra Ohlsen, MD, author of the recently released book, Enlightened Eating: The Eightfold Path to Health.
“The United States is one of the fattest and least healthy populations nations in the world”, she says. “We want the pleasures of the foods we like, and then we want a quick fix -- a pill -- to counteract the harm we’ve done to ourselves by eating them.”
But nutrition science is confusing and the hefty advertising budgets of the food industry can derail people. The incredible number and range of studies and science about food and diet is sometimes contradictory. People eat for countless reasons, including stress relief, to relieve fatigue, to comfort themselves, to accompany the alcohol they drink, to please others, to be included in family gatherings and social situations, to celebrate their heritage...seldom is it simply for health.
“What we eat impacts everything: from how much we weigh, to how we feel, how much we sleep, and our bodies ability to switch on disease-preventing genes and switch off disease-causing genes.
“The bottom line however is simple - The best fix is to change how you eat and switch to a plant-based, whole foods diet,” she says. “Instead of overeating high-calorie, fat-laden, prepared, processed, and unnatural foods, indulge yourself by eating nutrient-rich, calorie-sparse natural foods -- vegetables fruits, beads and whole grains.”
Dr. Ohlsen offers a guide is all about navigating this path and you don’t have to be a Buddhist to receive the benefits of their principles.
“You can change your health by changing what you eat”, she says, “as well as how to change how you think and act with regard to food. You can transform your relationship with food and change from the inside out.”
Here are a few of her recommendations.
- Thinking specifically about what you want--not what you don’t want. Getting to a new way of eating requires a new way of thinking. Since solutions always begin with thought, problems have to be solved first in our mind. Begin by doing the following:
- Name what you want to change. Perhaps there was a diagnosis of a serious medical problem and the issue is at least partly a result of the way you’ve been eating. Or maybe it’s simply time to improve or preserve your health, and to do that there needs to be a change in diet. Or maybe one might want to contribute to preserving the environment and stop contributing to the abuse of animals through factory farming. Name it.
- Reflect on how you got to this place. What created this problem? Was it due to mindlessly overeating? If you have high cholesterol is it because you're eating too much animal fat? Did you experience some kind of childhood trauma, or do you sometimes have bouts of depression? Only by knowing the reason behind the problem can you then actively change it.
- Visualize the new behavior in your mind before you practice it. Visualize yourself choosing more plant-based foods and enjoying the tastes and textures of the food. Do this in as much detail as possible. See the colors, hear the crunch or other sounds associated with eating delicious food. Feel the enjoyment and the satisfaction of eating nutritious foods, and the good feelings that come from treating your body well.
- Say positive statements aloud to yourself. This might include, “I see myself eating more healthfully each and every day. I am in the process choosing foods that are better for me and the environment. I see myself becoming healthier, thinner, and more fit. I love feeling good that I’m making positive choices, and not adding to the suffering of animals.”
- We become what we envision. Focus on the present moment and observe our thoughts and guide our minds. Do our thoughts work against our new way of eating, or do they encourage us in it? Do we tell ourselves we’re happy with our new eating, or tell ourselves we’re deprived? If the latter, we are much less likely to stick with it.
- Create the thoughts that will lead to that next action. Many of us want to change something but don’t know how. To change our eating habits (or any habits for that matter), identify the problem, look for the causes, eliminate them, and live with the solution through our plans, thoughts, actions, and daily awareness.
Once you begin to take control of your mind, it’s time to take control of your food.
How to transition to plant-based eating.
Tip: Think differently about what you already eat.
1. Consider fruits, vegetables, beans and grains as the main focus of a meal rather than side dishes. This not only helps with the transition, it also automatically increases the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat daily.
Fruit: It’s satisfying, contains no salt or fat, provides a lot of great nutrition.
What to do: Have it washed and cleaned and available at all times for snacks. Throw it in a backpack, lunch box, briefcase, desk drawer or in the car. Throw into smoothies. Make it easy to grab a piece of fruit, rather than a sugar-filled energy bar or candy bar.
Salads: Make them a more prominent part of your meal.
What to do: Throw in more veggies, make it larger, add more protein or fruit -- apples, berries, and dried fruits such as raisins, cranberries, and dates. Beans, nuts, hummus, edamame and tofu are good protein additions to salads. Experiment. You’ll surprise yourself at how good and satisfying salads can be.
Sandwiches: Create a salad between two pieces of bread.
What to do: Load it up with raw vegetables--lettuce, tomato, avocado, cucumber sprouts, or whatever veggies you love. Add a dip for extra flavor.
Snacks: When you’re hungry, go for something that will nourish you, not chips or candy or cheese.
What to do: Stuff raw vegetables with nut butter or soy cream cheese or hummus. Raw veggies can be used with many different types dips. Beans can be mashed or pureed and used as a dip with veggies, or as a sandwich spread or eaten with vegetables as a light meal.
2. The Square Meal Plan
Imagine a square divided into quarters. In one corner there are dark-green leafy and other vegetables. In another corner there are legumes such as nuts, beans peas, tofu, or peanut butter. Fresh fruits are in the third corner, and some kind of whole grains are in the forth. Eating this way, you’ll be sure to get all the vital nutrients you need, including protein.
A whole foods, plant-based diet, along with Buddhist psychology changes everything. It gives you a new way of reasoning, overcoming obstacles, and eliminating impulsive behaviors. It will help you to:
- Know when to stop eating
- Become aware of the space between thought and action, allowing you to make good decisions
- No longer consume anything mindlessly -- food, alcohol, TV or anything else
- Become aware of the now
- Accept responsibility for how you live
- Feel wonderful knowing you didn’t cause any other living being to suffer for your food
- Feel lucky to be able to eat in such a way that you no longer have to worry about weight
- Know that eating has become a very spiritual thing
“Let us eat in such a way that we keep our compassion alive, reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet, and reverse the processes of global climate change”
--Thich Nhat Hanh
***
Enlightened Eating: The Eightfold Path to Health
Cassandra Ohlsen, M.D.
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Cypress House; First edition (December 11, 2017)
ISBN-10: 187938499X ISBN-13: 978-1879384996
About the author:
Cassandra Ohlsen, m.d., is a diplomate certified in Internal Medicine. She received her medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of USC and has been in practice for over twenty years. She has also practiced in Africa and India: In 1984, she worked with Mother Teresa at her Home for Dying Destitutes and her Children’s Home in Calcutta. Dr. Ohlsen also cared for the medically underserved at a Los Angeles clinic, helping to rebuild community health after the Watts riots; in Fresno, California, where she attended to migrant farm workers; and at the Monterey County Health Department, where she took care of indigent adults and children. Enlightened Eating is her first book. http://www.drcassandraohlsen.com/
What others are saying:
“Dr. Cassandra Ohlsen is one of those rare physicians whose goal is to help you understand that what and how you eat is foundational to your personal health, the health of others we share the Earth with, and the Earth itself. If you want more energy and vibrant health, her book, Enlightened Eating, will give you that and a lot, lot more.”
John Robbins, President of the Food Revolution Network; Author of Diet For A New America and The Food Revolution
“If you are looking to improve your eating habits, Enlightened Eating is the perfect place to start. This life-changing book translates complex nutrition information into simple, practical guidance and helps you take in hand the power of good nutrition.
Neal D. Barnard, MD, FACC, Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine
How Some Executives Give Their Brain Waves A Workout
Successful CEOs and entrepreneurs, as well as ambitious middle managers, often seek ways to keep their mental faculties sharp to stay ahead of their competition.
But training your brain to perform at peak levels isn’t easy.
And that’s why some executives are turning to neurofeedback sessions – a kind of biofeedback for the brain – to improve their mind’s executive function and performance.
“Improved health and mental focus can help you balance the stressors of daily living while keeping you headed toward your goals,” says Dr. Ed Carlton, founder of the Carlton Neurofeedback Center (www.carltonneurofeedbackcenter.com) and author of the book The Answer.
“For example, for people who are seeking a promotion or a career shift, or planning to start their own business, neurofeedback training can help improve their executive function and their performance.”
Inspirational speaker Tony Robbins is a fan of neurofeedback training. So is Olympic beach volleyball champion Kerri Walsh-Jennings.
Carlton refers to neurofeedback as “fitness training for the brain,” which is perhaps why it’s appealing even to Olympic athletes.
Here’s how it works: The process begins with a brain map, which locates the specific areas that need help to function more efficiently. Once these areas are identified, neurofeedback training can improve their function. The technology uses computers to monitor brain-wave patterns while the patient relaxes and watches a movie or video. The visual and audio inputs are varied, providing feedback based on the training goals from the brain map. The results are lasting and there are no side effects, Carlton says.
While neurofeedback can be used to improve executive function, it’s also used to treat ADD and ADHD, depression, autism, seizures, traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic-stress disorder.
Carlton says there are a few important facts business executives should know if they’re interested in the benefits of neurofeedback training:
- Why the brain’s executive function is important. Executive function refers to the complex neurological processes in the brain’s frontal lobe that help you plan, manage time and get organized. “This is where we learn to keep details in our head, come up with different ways to solve problems, and start and complete tasks,” Carlton says. This requires a complex set of skills such as being able to pay attention, self-monitor and regulate emotions.
- How neurofeedback training helps. Neurofeedback can help you regain your focus and reduce mental clutter that can impact memory and organization. “After patients start the training regimen, many of them tell us the first thing they notice right away is that their quality of sleep improves,” Carlton says. “As training continues, performance improvements follow.”
- Professional development as self-care. Neurofeedback training doesn’t alter your personality or change who you are, Carlton says. “It’s simply a training gym of sorts to help your brain make new connections that keep it in balance, which helps better regulate emotional states, improves attention and focus, and enhances working memory,” he says. “For anyone in business, all of these skills are keys to improving your performance edge, helping you break out of patterns or start new ones, and sharpening your cognitive performance over time.”
The weekly neurofeedback sessions take about half an hour and are painless and non-invasive, Carlton says. The results also last a long time.
“Once your brain learns new ways to respond,” he says, “it continues learning much the way we remember how to swim year after year.”
About Dr. Ed Carlton
Dr. Ed Carlton is founder of the Carlton Neurofeedback Center (www.carltonneurofeedbackcenter.com) and author of the book The Answer. He is a chiropractor, but prior to that worked for nine years as an engineer. Carlton’s interest in his current profession came about because of his own experience with bipolar disorder. "My first degree is engineering. Neurofeedback is a cross between medicine and engineering, using the best of both to provide relief for my patients. The Answer explains how neurofeedback stopped my bipolar symptoms, and how it can help others do the same.”
Health Food Innovator Edward & Sons Trading Company, Inc. – First To Introduce Miso-Cup® Instant Soup & Gluten-Free Baked Brown Rice Snaps® To American Consumers – Marks 40th Anniversary Milestone
CARPINTERIA, CA., MARCH 8, 2018 - The first Whole Foods Market wouldn’t open in Austin, Texas, for another two years. The first Sprouts wouldn’t make its debut in Arizona for another 24 years. Vegetarians were relegated to the shadows in most supermarket settings, and for much of the population, the term Vegan sounded like something out of “Star Trek.”
The year was 1978 and the health food revolution was in its infancy. But a young man named Joel Dee with a vision of what the industry could one day become saw the future. And it was delicious.
As a young man, Joel worked alongside his two brothers and their father, Edward, in the family’s iconic New Jersey-based business, Smarties Candy Company. But, as fate would have it, Joel’s interests extended well beyond the confection industry.
“I was responsible for export sales at the candy company and found it difficult to maintain a healthy, satisfying diet while on-the-road,” Joel recalls today. “Health food stores sold wholesome foods that required a kitchen and a long cooking time, both in short supply to a `road warrior’ such as myself. Conventional supermarkets sold convenience foods that were laced with preservatives and artificial ingredients, which I was determined to avoid. To make things even tougher, I had recently become vegetarian, so my restaurant menu options were often limited to salad and potatoes... not exactly a balanced diet.”
Adds Joel, “I was a traveling salesman who needed portable, nourishing, easy to prepare vegetarian food without artificial ingredients, but I couldn’t find it anywhere in 1976 America. I wondered: Could I be the only person who wants this? I hadn’t planned to start a new business, but I felt somewhat obliged to. If I wouldn’t take on the job of creating wholesome, vegetarian convenience foods, it occurred to me that no one else would either.”
With that motivation in mind, Joel began a two year effort to develop Miso-Cup® instant soup mix and, with its launch in 1978, Edward & Sons Trading Company, Inc. was born.
A History of “Firsts”
As it turned out, introducing instant Miso-Cup soup would be only the first of numerous company innovations that would continue for the next forty years. In 1979, for example, Edward & Sons introduced Baked Brown Rice Snaps® whole grain, gluten free crackers, decades before American shoppers would demand gluten free groceries on a massive scale. Numerous “first-to-market” vegan organic products followed, including canned coconut milk, hearts of palm, pineapple chunks and mandarin oranges, Worcestershire sauce, croutons, panko, ice cream cones and many more.
According to Joel, “We tend to do`firsts’ because that’s what we’re passionate about. We are driven to provide new options to our health-aware consumers, while creating markets for our ethical organic farmers and packers around the globe. We’re proud of our activities that protect native forests and support conversion from conventional to organic farming, which nourishes the environment while enhancing the well-being of everyone along the supply chain from farm to table”
Indeed, Joel and his team have successfully developed so many different products over these past 40 years that they’ve chosen to create subsidiary brands to market and distinguish them all, including the flagship Edward & Sons® brand as well as Native Forest®, Let’s Do Organic®, Let’s Do Gluten-Free®, More Than Fair®, Nature Factor®, Road’s End Organics®, Premier Japan® and The Wizard's®.
Regardless of the brand name on the package, however, all products under the Edward & Sons umbrella are defined by the company’s longstanding commitment to excellent vegetarian food and to its enduring motto: Convenience Without Compromise.®
As Joel sums up, “We remain a vegetarian company that’s mission-driven to offer consumers delicious and nourishing convenience foods free of artificial ingredients. That’s how we’ve run the business for the past 40 years and it’s how I envision Edward & Sons to be run for the next 40 years - and beyond.”
How Eating Disorders Impact Your Mental Health
Many people aren’t educated on the effects of eating disorders on a person’s mental health. This may include friends and family. Since a person’s emotions are so complicated, it may even be difficult for some doctors to distinguish symptoms.
It’s extremely important for the affected person’s friends or family to understand the person’s feelings. Here are some ways an eating disorder may impact someone’s mental health.
Fearful Anxiety
It can be frightening to go without food for days at a time. This can lead to anxiety and a negative state of mind. It’s difficult to think without the proper sustenance.
Eating too much can also make a person feel anxious. This leads to more eating and gaining additional weight which makes the person’s thoughts rush even more. Being bullied or abused in any way may lead to eating disorders.
Delusional Thoughts
The person may start to blur the differences between imagination and reality. They may have delusional thoughts about their own spiritual or religious beliefs. Destroying random household objects for seemingly strange reasons can occur.
He/she may hear noises that aren’t there like the radio playing when it’s not on. This hypersensitivity may lead to believing animals or statues are speaking to them.
Strong Emotions
Traumatizing feelings and unwanted emotions may be out of control in the person’s mind. Deep emotions can make a person feel like doing impulsive things like screaming. Or they could just cry deeply and a person may not understand why.
He/she may feel unloved, unwanted and misunderstood. Try not to be alarmed at their shocking depth. Imagine how you would feel in similar circumstances and just be there for them.
Lonely Isolation
Isolation can be the worst thing for a person with an eating disorder to endure. It’s important to have a support system. They need unconditional love right now. One option if a loved one needs help is Center for Change. In extreme circumstances, it may be necessary to get the additional aid that they may need.
If you know someone who has an eating disorder one of the best things you can do for them is to try to understand their feelings. Don’t assume they’re crazy because they may never forgive you for it and they might assume you don’t care about them. Get them help if necessary and give them the empathy that they may never receive otherwise.
New standards help both health care professionals and patients manage opioid use
TORONTO, March 7, 2018 /CNW/ - In response to Ontario's opioid crisis, Health Quality Ontario today released three standards outlining what quality care looks like where opioid use is concerned.
Called quality standards, they offer direction to health care providers and patients on when to use opioids - and the non-opioid treatments to consider first – for people with acute pain (due to things like a broken bone or surgery) or chronic pain (commonly caused by arthritis or lower back pain).
The third standard outlines how to treat people with an opioid use disorder or addiction. There were 1,053 opioid-related deaths in Ontario from January to October 2017, compared with 694 during the same time period in 2016. People with opioid addiction have a mortality rate of 10 times more than the general population.
Data recently released in two Health Quality Ontario reports also shows that nearly two million people in Ontario fill prescriptions for opioids every year - translating into one in every seven Ontarians, or 14% of the province's population – and more than 40,000 Ontarians were newly started on high doses of prescription opioids in 2016. This, despite evidence that those who receive prescription opioids at higher than recommended doses are several times more likely to suffer an overdose or become addicted compared to those on lower doses.
Quality standards outline what high-quality care looks like for conditions where there are large variations in how care is delivered, or where gaps in access to care exist – like with conditions where opioids are being prescribed. They are based on the best available evidence and are developed in consultation with experts and patients with lived experience. They also include recommendations on proven supports that health care professionals can use to address gaps and barriers to care.
"There are many options available to health care providers to improve the health of people in pain, making it challenging to know what the best plan of action should be," says Joshua Tepper, president and CEO, Health Quality Ontario.
"Opioids play an important role in managing pain, but we also need to minimize the harm that can be caused from these medications, including the symptoms that come with addiction, opioid overdoses and death. In addition, we need to help patients who have an opioid use disorder and offer them evidence-based care. The quality standards released today will ensure patients with acute pain, chronic pain and an opioid disorder receive the highest quality of care. They have the potential to save a lot of lives and prevent enormous suffering."
The quality standards also offer guidance to health care professionals on how to not suddenly discontinue prescription opioids so patients do not turn to street sources.
In recognition of increasing opioid-related deaths, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care launched a comprehensive strategy in 2016 focused on opioid prescribing and monitoring, improving access to pain treatment, and enhancing addictions supports and harm reduction. These three standards support this provincial plan and other efforts.
These standards of care will be put into action through coordinated efforts with a number of health care organizations who are providing health care providers with customized data, tools and additional supports to help them help patients manage their pain.
"The hope is these standards will enable health care professionals to better identify addiction and manage the potential harmful consequences of long-term opioid use," says Sheryl Spithoff, a family physician, addiction medicine physician at Women's College Hospital, and one of the chairs of the committees advising Health Quality Ontario on the creation of these standards. "They are also designed to create an environment where patients feel comfortable discussing their opioid use without fear of judgement, and to explore all pain management solutions that are in their best interest."
These three opioid standards are part of Health Quality Ontario's broader quality standards program. Other recent topics include hip fracture, major depression and wound injury. For more information about the quality standards program visit: http://www.hqontario.ca/Evidence-to-Improve-Care/Quality-Standards.
About Health Quality Ontario
Health Quality Ontario is the provincial advisor on the quality of health care. With the goal of excellent care for all Ontarians, Health Quality Ontario reports to the public on how the system is performing, develops standards for what quality care looks like, evaluates the effectiveness of health care technologies and services, and promotes quality improvement aimed at sustainable positive change. Visit www.hqontario.ca for more information.
SOURCE Health Quality Ontario
Prostate Cancer Foundation BC Announces the Raymond James Father's Day Walk Run June 17, 2018
VANCOUVER, March 7, 2018 /CNW/ - Prostate Cancer Foundation BC and The Island Prostate Centre are pleased to announce the Raymond James Father's Day Walk Run on Sunday, June 17, 2018. With the support of investment dealer Raymond James as the title sponsor, the Father's Day Walk Run is celebrating its 20th anniversary raising funds and awareness for individuals and families living with prostate cancer in British Columbia.
The Raymond James Father's Day Walk Run is held in five locations: Metro Vancouver, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Victoria. The event encourages communities to come together to support and celebrate the men in their lives on Father's Day. Prostate cancer is the number one cancer for men with 1 in 7 being diagnosed in their lifetime. Funds raised support research grants in the province for improved diagnostic and treatment options as well as to provide support services for those living with the disease.
Each year, the Raymond James Father's Day Walk Run attracts a wide range of participants, from serious runners to those wanting a fun filled family day, to join in 10km and 5km runs or walks. Adult registration is $40 and no charge if the participant raises $150. Kids 12 and under are free to attend and all activities at the event, including food, entertainment, prizes, and t-shirts, are included in registration. To find out more about how you can join the Raymond James Father's Day Walk Run and support prostate cancer in British Columbia, please visit the event website (www.thefathersdayrun.ca), Prostate Cancer Foundation BC (www.prostatecancerbc.ca), or the Island Prostate Centre (www.islandprostatecentre.com)
About Raymond James:
Raymond James is a leading full service independent investment dealer. Through its network of approximately 7,500 financial advisors across Canada and the United States, the firm serves more than 3 million individuals and families and manages more than $727 billion in client assets under administration on their behalf. Raymond James and its employees share a desire to give back to the communities in which they work and live.
About Prostate Cancer Foundation BC:
Prostate Cancer Foundation BC is a volunteer based organization that represents BC's prostate cancer patients, their families and communities. The Foundation provides research funds as well as programs for survivorship, advocacy and to increase awareness about the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
About Island Prostate Centre:
The Island Prostate Centre provides prostate cancer knowledge, awareness and support services. It supports Vancouver Island men and their families at every step of their journey through diagnosis, decisions, treatment, and recovery of prostate cancer.
For additional information, please visit
www.thefathersdayrun.ca http://www.raymondjames.ca www.prostatecancerbc.ca www.islandprostatecentre.com
