Younger consumers are the most calorie-conscious, suggesting need for calorie labelling as standard, says GlobalData

Over one-third (35%) of global consumers are actively trying to reduce their consumption of calories. Millennials are showing the greatest interest and are more open to the positive health benefits associated with reducing calories, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION: Please click here for enlarged image

GlobalData’s Q4 2016 global consumer survey highlights that motivation to reduce intake appears to fall as age increases, with younger age cohorts displaying the greatest interest in cutting calories. In fact, 36% of millennials are trying to reduce calorie intake, compared with only 29% of the silent generation. Consequently, evidence suggests that younger consumers are more receptive towards calorie reduction and its positive health benefits.

This carries importance as new research from Cambridge University UK suggests that placing calorie counts on menus in food outlets can reduce portion sizes. The results of this research suggest that when provided with calorie information, intake was reduced by one-eighth (12%).

Charles Sissens, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “These findings could shape the way food outlets and food/drink packaging operate, with many adopting a more authoritarian approach; packaged food/drink products and indeed restaurants and cafés could increase the presence of calorie labelling, thus indirectly coercing shoppers and diners to choose healthier options and contribute towards the global effort to reduce calorie intake.”

Surprising Things That Could Be Causing Anxiety

www.comprehendthemind.com

Anxiety is a mental illness that disrupts daily life causing feelings of impending doom along with unwanted thoughts and unpleasant physical symptoms.  Some people are more predisposed to anxiety than others. Did you know that there are “external” factors/habits in our daily lives that can increase anxiety?  Dr. Sanam Hafeez  a NYC based neuropsychologist and Teaching Faculty Member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College shares surprising things that could be causing anxiety. You may see several on this list that are causing jitters in your own life.

1. Cigarettes 

Often, people who smoke tend to rely on cigarettes to ease their anxiety. However, nicotine found in cigarettes affects your brain, including your mood. But nicotine also ramps up blood pressure and heart rate, two physical symptoms that can mirror anxiety. In addition, the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke also may cause breathing problems that the body responds to as if it's suffocating, increasing the likelihood of panic attacks. The relief a smoker feels is temporary and will likely return and cause an even greater risk of anxiety symptoms Studies have found that those who quit smoking for more than two weeks had lower anxiety levels than when they were smoking regularly.

2. Caffeine

The jitters, shakes, and irregular heart rhythm one might get after a dose of caffeine can feel an awful lot like a panic attack, especially if you are already susceptible. That's because caffeine stimulates your "fight or flight" response, tricking the body into feeling like it’s being chased by a lion even when there is no danger present.  If caffeine makes you anxious switch to decaf coffee, and do not drink energy drinks such as Redbull which are loaded with caffeine. Be wary of PMS medications like Midol which contain a hefty dose of caffeine as an active ingredient.

3. Medications

Medicines that contain caffeine, such as Anacin, Empirin, Excedrin, No-Doz, and cough medicines. Decongestants, such as phenylephrine, including Sudafed PE can bring on symptoms of anxiety or panic.  Some ADHD medications also list anxiety or nervousness as a possible side effect. These medications include Adderall, Ritalin, and Straterra to name a few. Some birth control pills can contribute to feelings of emotional disturbance including depression and anxiety. Asthma medications can cause symptoms of anxiety for some patients. The National Institute of Health reports that the use of bronchodilators can lead to feelings of anxiety and nervousness. If you are prone to anxiety, make your doctor aware of this to be sure that both OTC meds and prescriptions will not exacerbate your symptoms.

4. Alcohol

Anxiety and alcohol use are often connected. People often drink to relax and reduce anxiety, and in some instances, chronic alcohol abuse can lead to anxiety. With both alcohol use and anxiety being so prevalent in the US, it’s no surprise that the two are often linked. Drinking alcohol can influence the brain chemistry and change the levels of serotonin. Alcohol can affect your mood and decrease the “feel good” chemical in your brain increasing feelings of anxiety and depression. Long-term heavy drinkers may be exposed to a higher risk of anxiety.

5. Hormonal Activity

Hormones are the messengers to the brain and when your body is under stress due to internal factors such as the menstrual cycle, this can lead to mood changes and irritability. Adrenal issues — imbalances in the body's stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, and the precursor hormone DHEA — can cause a variety of symptoms that seem to be mental health-related, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Cortisol aka “the stress hormone” can have a powerful effect on your brain, and anything that increases cortisol production or decreases cortisol reduction (such as a lack of exercise) can cause anxiety. Other hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and thyroid can all affect anxiety. If you feel hormones may be the culprit of your anxiety, consult your internist who can do a full blood workup.

6. Skipping Meals

Skipping meals can affect your brain, which can lead to a drop in serotonin levels creating symptoms of anxiety. This can cause, mood swings, stress, fatigue and unsteady blood sugar levels.  As a result, one might experience shakiness, dizziness, confusion, and difficulty speaking.  Prevent these blood sugar swings by eating frequent small meals and keeping snacks on hand.

About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com

For the First Time: Fastest Growing Frozen Pizza Brand in the U.S Launches in Canada

Made in Canada and Available at Sobeys, Whole Foods Market and Select Retailers Beginning This Month

LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2018 – CAULIPOWER ®, the fastest growing frozen pizza brand in the U.S., is launching its signature cauliflower-based foods in Canada, starting with four better-for-you pizzas: Margherita, Three-Cheese, Veggie, and Plain Crust. All of the pizzas are proudly made in Canada and will be available in more than 100 Canadian retailers, including Sobeys, Whole Foods Market West, Urban Fare, Nature's Fare Markets, Nutter's Bulk & Natural Food, Natural Food Pantry, Organic Garage, Vita Health, Nesters Market Grocery Stores and additional grocery stores throughout the next month.

CAULIPOWER is the leading innovator in the category, hacking America’s comfort foods to make them more convenient and nutritious. CAULIPOWER disrupted the American market last year with its debut cauliflower-crust pizza line that doesn’t hide vegetables but celebrates the nutritious and delicious food group as the star of the meal. The naturally gluten-free pizzas are lower in calories, sugar, fat, and sodium and higher in protein, fiber, and vitamins than most traditional and gluten-free pizzas, while being naturally nutrient-rich, gluten-free, and delicious. CAULIPOWER went from 60 stores to 8,000+ in the U.S in just one year.

“Even before expanding in the U.S., we received an outpouring of requests from our Canadian neighbors to bring CAULIPOWER up north! Well, we listened and now are incredibly proud to produce the pizzas right where they'll be enjoyed,” said Gail Becker, Founder and CEO of CAULIPOWER. “With the increased availability of information about the food we eat, more and more people are seeking healthier options, but may not have the time, access, or resources to make those choices happen – CAULIPOWER is here to help bring everyone together over one, better-for-you plate.”

For more info and to find a Canadian retail location near you, visit: www.EatCAULIPOWER.com

There’s CAULIPOWER in numbers – the team is growing!  For more info on CAULIPOWER job opportunities, email: info@eatcaulipower.com

About CAULIPOWER

CAULIPOWER reinvents our favorite foods to be naturally nutritious, righteously delicious and accessible to all. CAULIPOWER products use real cauliflower, not highly processed synthetics, resulting in nutrient-rich, naturally gluten-free options lower in calories, sugar, sodium and fat than traditional offerings. CAULIPOWER is innovating a new market category, making convenient options that taste like conventional recipes available and easy for mainstream grocery shoppers.

Former Edelman President, Gail Becker, launched the company in February 2017 with an introductory line of frozen pizzas and plain crust that quickly became the fastest growing frozen pizza brand in the U.S. Inspired by her two sons with celiac disease, Gail cracked the code with an easier way to make cauliflower crusts accessible to busy, modern families. CAULIPOWER proudly supports OneSun, a program creating edible gardens at underserved schools across the country to educate kids on where their food comes from, combat obesity and inspire a new generation to love and harvest vegetables. To learn more, find a retailer or get recipe inspiration at EatCAULIPOWER.com and with the @CAULIPOWERED community on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Developed vs developing countries:
What's the impact on healthcare coverage? 

In developing countries, access to universal healthcare is deemed “urgent”, while in developed nations, governments focus on increasing access to additional private healthcare coverage to supplement government-run universal coverage.

Reportlinker reveals country statistics to help understand these variations:

• In a developing country like India, universal healthcare coverage is a pritority. The number of citizens with healthcare coverage has risen strongly and steadily since 2014 and is forecasted to continue rising through 2021. However, the quality of that healthcare can vary dramatically between different states and between urban versus rural areas.

  When it comes to supplementary private coverage:

- In Australia, 55% of citizens have access to it, a high coverage rate that rose dramatically across the past 10 years.

- In Finland,15.4% of people have it, numbers went upward every year from 2009 through 2015.

- In Chile, the private coverage percentage is 30.3% as of 2016 after two huge upward spikes in 2011 and 2014

- In the world’s largest economy, the United States, supplementary private healthcare coverage is very small, owned by less than 8% of citizens.

- In Germany, the percentage for privately owned supplemental coverage has risen steadily every year since 2006 and was at 23.1% as of 2015. Germany was ranked number 10 in the world on a list of the 16 nations with the “best” healthcare coverage.

- The United States didn’t make the list at all, while its northern neighbor, Canada, was on there at number 16.

Getting Fit: 5 Ways to Become the Master of Your Own Body

With spring right around the corner, it’s important to take care of your pre-summer body and become the master of your own body. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can do this, such as eating more vegetables and getting a better night’s sleep. However, here are a few more ways you can master your own body and get in shape.

Eat More Fruits and Veggies

One of the best ways to become the master of your own body is to simply eat more fruits and vegetables every day, even if you don’t like them. Eating more consistently healthy meals will help prevent you from gaining unhealthy weight and raising your blood pressure. All you have to do is mix in a small serving with every meal, it’s that easy.

Exercise Every Day

Another great way to slim down and become the master of your body is to exercise every day. This can be anything from walking up and down the stairs a few times, walking to the bus stop every day, and hitting the gym every night. As long as you’re getting some cardio in every day, you can work on lowering your overall weight and live a healthie

r life, which is essential to your well-being.

Work with a Personal Trainer

When you have a fitness goal, working with a professional trainer can be very helpful. They can provide one on one instruction to help you achieve your fitness goals. Plus, they will also ensure you are performing the exercises correctly and safely. Additionally, trainers like those at Halevy Life can help you to stay motivated when reaching your goals. If you a

re serious about getting results, then working with a trainer is a necessity.

Drink Water

Your body needs water to survive. Unfortunately, most people do not drink as much water as they should on a daily basis. Experts recommend drinking eight cups of water every day. Instead of reaching for a sugary soda or juice, fill up with refreshing water.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Getting restful sleep every night is just as important as eating well and

exercising. Your body needs time to rest and recover after a long day. Without enough sleep, you will not have the energy to continue to be healthy. Try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night.

To become the master of your own body, ensure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercising every day, drinking water, and sleeping well. These steps will help you live a healthier version of yourself and feel better doing it! So, what are you waiting for? Start becoming the master of your own body today!

STEM Camp, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Bruce Power are pleased to announce the launch of two STEM Camp’s in the communities of Saugeen and Neyaashiinigmiing this upcoming summer. Through discussions and coordinating with the community Youth Leaders and Bruce Power's Indigenous Relations team, this initiative will be the first-ever STEM Camp to be carried out within First Nations.

The purpose of providing a STEM Camp to these communities is to provide inspirational and fun educational activities for Indigenous children aged 5 through 13 and to provide a mechanism to learn more about their history and culture through, or in conjunction with, STEM-based activities. This is a pilot project that, if successful, could be transferred to other First Nation communities.

Kevin Cougler, CEO and Founder, STEM Camp: “The STEM Camp’s in the communities of Nawash and Neyaashiinigmiing are a wonderful opportunity to merge the world of STEM and traditional Indigenous teachings together. We are extremely honoured to be asked to participate in this initiative and hope other First Nations communities will decide to participate in the future.”

“We are very excited to have our youth participate in this pilot project. We need more Indigenous engineers, doctors, and scientists in Canada. STEM Camps are a fantastic opportunity for our young people to get exposure to science and technology,” - Chief Lester Anoquot of Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation.

“We are pleased at the opportunity to bring STEM education initiatives to our community. Partnering with STEM Camp in this pilot project is something that we are proud to be a part of and we look forward to seeing the program incorporate our traditional beliefs and values. Thank you to Bruce Power for its sponsorship”.  - Chief Greg Nadjiwon, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation

"Bruce Power is proud to support the promotion of STEM in our local communities. It is particularly special to be a part of this remarkable pilot project in Saugeen and Nawash First Nations." said Mike Rencheck, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Being a part of this effort aligns with our focus areas of STEM education, cultural growth and youth development and we are excited about this program."

About STEM Camp

STEM Camp is a Canadian registered not-for-profit organization with a mandate to offer quality STEM-based programming through educational activities. STEM Camp started in 2013 and specializes in summer camps designed to inspire children ages 5-13 through hands-on and inquiry-based activities in the STEM fields. In the summer of 2017 STEM Camp was expanded in Ontario to 46 locations resulting in 8500 campers enrolled. In 2018 STEM Camp has committed to 77 locations including 15 francophone and/or bilingual and to the exploration of pilot projects within indigenous communities.

Author’s note: STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Contact Info:

Larissa Mendonca, Public Relations and Marketing

STEM Camp

t: 519-475-6600 x11

e: lmendonca@stemcamp.ca

w: stemcamp.ca

f: facebook.com/SummerSTEMCamp

Media Newsroom Page

https://stemcamp.ca/sc-news/

Harnessing that post-vacation high

According to research from 2017, nearly half of Canadians travel over March Break. Each year, we come back to work with more energy, having slept better and taken a break from stress. Warmth and sunlight in vacation destinations give us a dose of vitamin D and boost our energy.

Research published in the Journal of Occupational Health found short vacations have a positive effect on health and well-being even after you return home. It also found these positive effects diminish fairly quickly (2-4 weeks). But how can you extend that post-vacation high? Kelly Musovic, personal training divisional manager with GoodLife Fitness suggests taking advantage of the 'honeymoon period' after a vacation to hit the gym with renewed focus and additional energy. Physical activity produces 'feel good' hormones so we can feel optimistic and cheerful even after we go back to the grind. Exercise also promotes deeper sleep, helping reduce stress and function better during the day.

Musovic suggests the following tips:

Watch out for holiday creep: It's tempting to on a few extra days after your vacation to do nothing. Days can easily turn into weeks, so it’s important to get back to your exercise routine as soon as you can when you return.

Drink lots of water: Drinking eight glasses of water a day will help reduce post-vacation bloat, improve circulation and make you more alert.

Stock up, prepare healthy meals: Soon after your land. Be sure to get to the store and stock up on healthy foods. Prepare some nutritious options so you’ll have healthy meals during your first days back in action. Now’s a good time to incorporate some new foods that you tried on holiday.

Create a fitness plan: Plan your exercise routine and book it into your calendar now before the demands of work and family take over. Planning is half the battle when it comes to establishing a routine that sticks.

Start something new: Now is a great time to try a new fitness class or take up a new sport. Channel your inner dancer with a barre or ZUMBA class. Or maybe try out martial arts like kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu or BODYCOMBAT. Mixing it up is good for your body and your motivation.

Ease back into your routine: Don’t compensate for the downtime with two hard-core hours of cardio. Lower the intensity and weights for your first few workouts, then build back up gradually.

Full body exercises: Look for exercises that target the bigger muscles. Try doing basic moves like push-ups, body weight squats, reverse lunges and dumbbell presses. Build up your reps over time and try to stop just before exhaustion.

Get your heart rate up: If you’re looking to burn fat and calories, cardio and high-intensity interval training are great choices. Try a spin class or a quick moving group fitness class like BODYATTACK. Remember to build up the intensity over the first few weeks.

Musovic and fitness experts in your area are available to talk more about harnessing the positive effects of vacation to launch a fitness routine. We can also connect you with gym members who have been away on vacation and are kicking off their spring exercise programs.

Copyright Dragan Grkic

Always choose clean and fresh eggs. When purchasing eggs, open the carton and make sure they’re clean, and intact. Handle with care: Chickens can harbor Salmonella without showing any signs of being sick, so all unpasteurized eggs -- even those that are fresh, organic, or unbroken -- can contain Salmonella. Buying in-shell pasteurized eggs reduces that risk. Wash your hands thoroughly. Everybody, including children, must wash their hands with soap and water before and after handling eggs – which includes prepping, cooking, cooling, dyeing, hiding and hunting them.

Be smart with Easter eggs. Decorating eggs for the holiday is a joy, but do it safely by using only food-safe dyes. Use care when hiding eggs outside or in. The total time for hiding and hunting eggs should not exceed 2 hours. Avoid areas where eggs would come in contact with pets, wild animals, birds, or lawn chemicals. Eating eggs that have been on the ground is not recommended. Don’t hide cracked eggs because bacteria could contaminate the inside. Cracked eggs should never be used. A good alternative is to use plastic Easter eggs for the hunt, and save the real eggs for eating.

Refrigerate, refrigerate, refrigerate - your eggs at 40°F or below. Safely storing and cooking your eggs before consumption is important. When storing eggs make sure they go inside the fridge, not the fridge door. Once hard-cooked, refrigerated eggs can be stored for up to one week. Eggs can be out of refrigeration for 2 hours (when it’s under 90°F) and still be safe to eat. Colored eggs being used as decoration (for several hours or days) should not be eaten. Even though eggs will show signs of spoilage (taste, smell, appearance) when they’re past the “best by” date, we don’t recommend using this as an indicator of an egg’s safeness – mainly because eggs that harbor Salmonella taste, smell, and appear exactly the same as “normal” eggs.

Avoid cross-contamination and cook eggs thoroughly

• Using soap and water, wash your hands and all surfaces that may have had contact with raw eggs. This includes countertops, pots and pans, utensils and dishes.
• Don’t let in-shell eggs, raw whites or yolks cross contaminate foods that will be eaten raw.
• Eggs should be cooked until the egg white and yolk are firm. A lightly cooked egg with a runny yolk increases your chance of pathogenic contamination. If a recipe calls for lightly cooked eggs, we recommend using pasteurized egg products.
• Dishes with eggs in the recipe must be cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C)
• Eggs should be eaten or refrigerated within 2 hours after cooking.
• Do not eat eggs that have been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Know the safest way to boil eggs
According to Deirdre Schlunegger, Chief Executive Officer of Stop Foodborne Illness, when cooking hard-boiled eggs, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Cover the eggs with at least one inch of water. When the water is at a full boil, remove the pan from the heat source and let the eggs stay in the water for between 12-18 minutes, depending on the size of the eggs. After the eggs have set for the appropriate amount of time, run cold water over them. When the eggs are cooled enough to handle, put them in the refrigerator.

If you and your loved ones celebrate the holidays at a restaurant, and the dish calls for lightly cooked eggs—as some sauces do—ask your server if the dish can be prepared using pasteurized eggs, or liquid egg products, when possible.