Let's talk about the prevalence of youth suicide and take action, say Ontario Psychiatrists
Report shows that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of young people
Suicide is the leading cause of death among Canadians age 15 to 34, after car accidents, says an alarming report from Ontario Psychiatrists. But unlike car accidents, the report identifies that the number of suicides across Canada has remained unchanged for more than four decades, with 70 per cent of mental health issues starting in childhood and suicide accounting for 24 per cent of all deaths among young people. Ontario Psychiatrists are calling for immediate action, releasing a report that makes strong recommendations and calls on government to mend system gaps and reduce the risk of suicide among Canadian youth.
"Despite the prevalence of mental illness and suicide among young Canadians, today's society is still facing challenges around stigma and access to services making it far too hard for our youth to get the care they need," said Dr. Diana Kljenak, Co-Chair of the Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists. "Heroic efforts by Bell Let's Talk and others within our health care system, government and communities are made everyday to encourage discussion around suicide and mental illness, but we need action. Now."
The report Stemming the Tide: Strengthening youth suicide prevention in Ontario and in Canada, was developed by Ontario Psychiatrists with input from Ontario policy analysts, national mental health organizations, clinicians, researchers, as well as psychiatrists and individuals with lived experience with suicide. Outlining the current state of mental health and youth suicide, the report points to system gaps and funding issues as areas in need of improvement.
Ontario Psychiatrists identify the need for greater leadership on the issue and list seven challenges and recommendations to address the problem of youth suicide:
Invest in better mental health support for children.
Close the system gaps.
Build better care coordination and service alignment.
Improve the collection and quality of data.
Provide better access to funding.
Provide better support for parents, families, caregivers and communities.
Invest in child and youth mental health research.
"The federal and Ontario government have agreed that our mental health system needs to improve in order to meet the needs of Canadians whether they are in crisis, at risk of crisis or averted a crisis," said Dr. Gary Chaimowitz, Co-Chair of the Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists. "Suicide is a symptom of mental illness. By taking action to address mental illness and improving access to treatment, we will improve care and reduce the suicide rate among young Canadians."
About the Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists: The Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists is a formal partnership of the Ontario Psychiatric Association and the Section on Psychiatry of the Ontario Medical Association. The Coalition represents over 1,900 psychiatrists in Ontario. One of the Coalition's primary goals is to advocate for improved mental health services in Ontario and to work with other stakeholders and government to develop better policy. Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and provide high quality mental health services to Ontarians.
SOURCE Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists
Looking to eat well? Keep it simple to make it stick
Stock a smart pantry to stay on track
At the start of 2017, many of us vowed that this year would be different. In 2016, we were too busy to grocery shop, our kids turned their nose up at dinner – so we caved and got takeout more than we’d like to admit. But this year it was going to be different. We were going to eat better, take proper care of ourselves and our families, and not fall into the same traps. But chances are old behaviours have already started rearing their heads, prompting many of us to ask: what am I doing wrong?
You’re doing nothing wrong. Contrary to popular belief, it can take anywhere from 18 to over 250 days to form a new habit. Every single one of us operates on a different timeline, which means our environment greatly influences our success. And when it comes to forming new eating habits, what we keep in our kitchen – or put in our pantry – can sway what we actually end up eating.
Not to mention, getting a meal on the table during the week is no easy task. There is a reason why dinnertime has earned the title of the “witching hour.” From picky eaters, to turning into a short-order cook, or being just too tired to shop, these parental pain points have us yearning for a mid-week win. Well, wait no longer. Help is on the way, with the Minute Rice® #WeekdayWin Challenge. Need a 15-minute recipe for a real? A meal your picky eater will actually eat? Our #WeekdayWin network - a community of moms, foodies and family experts - has the answers. For the next eight weeks, our network will uncover the best, mom-endorsed recipes and meal planning tips to solve the most common pain points for Canadian families. Sourced from their community of moms, our network will help families across Canada to create a new habit with simple meals they can feel good about. After all, who knows better than Mom?
So just what are those dinner time dilemmas for parents?
Shop your pantry for that mid-week win.
Recent Canadian Minute Rice® Research confirms that eight-in-ten women (82%) say that when they’re too busy to grocery shop, they rely on a stocked pantry with key items like rice, pasta or olive oil to prepare easy, wholesome meals at home. As much as many of us romanticize the idea of the daily, European-style shop, our busy North-American lives rarely – if ever, during the week – allow for it.
“When you spend as much time online as we do, you can be lured into falsely believing that every meal you make needs to be an original creation, with carefully-sourced ingredients that were bought day-of,” says family food blogger and #WeekdayWin Network member Julie Albert, who co-founded Bite Me More with her sister Lisa Gnat. “We love cooking like that occasionally, but we can’t do that every day. Our pantries are packed with simple basics that we can quickly match up with a few other ingredients to satisfy our families when we have lots of other things going on,” echoes Lisa.
Kid Friendly meals? The struggle is real.
Every parent has experienced it in one form or another – the long-faced, pouty-lipped expression coupled with an “I don’t want to eat this” (or on worse days a “you can’t make me.”) Minute Rice’s study reveals that nearly four-in-ten parents admit to struggling to find kid-friendly meals their family will eat, and 36% avoid dinnertime altercations altogether by preparing a different meal or dinner for their kids than they do for the adults.
If the adults want fish and veggies with rice, it’s easy enough to substitute scrambled eggs in place of fish, or fruit in place of veggies, without having to create a second full meal from scratch. Interestingly also, a person’s willingness to do this may somewhat depend on where they live: the research shows that people in Ontario are almost twice as likely to customize meals for kids as those from the Prairies.
“Between school, work, and activities many parents have limited time with their kids these days,” says Julie. “Many simply don’t want to spend family time fighting over dinner. Pantry ingredients like instant rice allow for easily adaptable meals that every member of the family can enjoy.”
In keeping with these sentiments, the majority of women (79%) feel that meals they can make at home in 15 minutes, with fewer ingredients, make their life easier during the week. And simple ingredients can help solve that dinnertime dilemma.
Wholesome doesn’t have to be pricy.
The study also revealed that 67% of Canadians want their family to eat wholesome and natural foods, but they feel it’s expensive to do so consistently. In reality, it doesn’t have to be. There are many wholesome foods available that don’t cost an arm and a leg – and many of them can live in your cupboard, which can come as a surprise to some Canadians.
For example, half of us don’t know that instant rice is simply rice that’s been partially pre-cooked, a fact men and women equally agree on. One in four of us admit to not knowing what instant rice is at all.
“Rice is a grain we’ve been eating for thousands of years, that is simple, delicious, naturally fat-free, gluten-free, and non-perishable,” says Norma D’Onofrio, Senior Brand Manager, Minute Rice. “Our instant rice is just rice that’s been partially pre-cooked and dried so that people can save time at home. No additives, and it’s just one ingredient. It’s really that simple.”
This means that those who stock their pantry with staples such as instant rice are in a position to save cooking-time, while also eating a wholesome grain that’s been around for ages.
“Once you’ve decided that rice is going to be a part of the family meal, you only have to select a veggie and a protein to complete your plate,” says Lisa. “A simple solution is imagining your meal in terms of ‘thirds’. Pairing a grain, a serving of vegetables and a protein – like beef or chicken – can be your family’s formula to making dinner time easy in three simple steps.”
What’s your #WeekdayWin?
Most Canadians decide what’s for dinner about an hour before they start cooking, and when you’re in the middle of your busy week, it’s fair to assume that creativity is waning. So start your year off right by following #WeekdayWin for our network’s inspiration, tips, and the winning mom-tested recipes tasted and scored by our network of savvy moms and Canadian families. And there’s more. This February 8th, Bite Me More will provide some mid-week inspiration on our Facebook Live debut which tackles 15 minute meals (for real). Need further motivation? Visit MinuteRice.ca for versatile, delicious and easy 1-2-3 meal ideas and see our network in action.
You’ll soon get used to the satisfaction of consistently getting a meal on the table that’s good for your family – and that you can feel good about serving. Achieved your first Weekday Win? Celebrate with us and share your #WeekdayWin to inspire others. We’ll bask in your glory, and you may even have the opportunity to be showcased on our site.
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About Minute Rice: Made by the Catelli Foods Corporation, Minute Rice pre-cooked instant rice is available in tastes and formats that suit all palates. Wholesome, 100% Natural, Premium Long Grain White Rice; Premium Whole Grain Brown Rice - that’s ready in ten minutes; convenient Ready to Serve Cups; flavourful Basmati and Jasmine varieties. For more information, visit MinuteRice.ca.
About the Research Study:
A survey of 1578 Canadians was completed online between November 28th and December 1st 2016 using Leger’s online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
Training Tip Tuesday – How to Pick a Running Shoe
Hi there! Coach Alicia here. You may or may not know that in addition to being a Kinesiologist, Prep Coach, Certified Personal trainer and a Fascial Stretch Therapist that I am also an elite Track and Field Coach. I have owned and operated my own Track and Field club, coached Team Canada at the World Maccabi Games and I am the current head coach of Ryerson University. I have accumulated many sprint and hurdle certifications and you could say I know a thing or two about how to choose the right running shoe.
Choosing the right running shoe is very important not just for a runner, but for many other types of athletes including: recreational sports, performance-based fitness and particularly for a fitness competitor. Why? Because when you increase your cardio, you are racking up the mileage on your shoes, wearing them down with every training session. Not only do you now have to replace your shoes more often (on average it should be replaced every 5-6 months), but if you are doing two-a-days with double cardio, this might need to be more often!
Now when it comes time to buy a new shoe we often go for the best-looking shoe (I have even been guilty of this), our favorite brand, our favorite color or even worse a shoe that may simply may be on sale. Firstly, like any other product you pay for quality. I advise you not to cheap out when it comes to your cardio kicks. Buying a cheap shoe for cardio is like fueling your body with over-processed fast food instead of premium, organic whole food. It simply doesn’t run as efficiently as it should.
Did you know that shoes come with motion control? What is motion control? Firstly, let me tell you about what overpronation is. It is a common trait that affects most runners, leaving them at risk of knee pain and injury. Overpronation can lead to foot fatigue or accidents when left untreated. This biomechanical issue is usually experienced by flat-footed runners. Having motion control shoes will likely help you improve your running economy and performance while facilitating a stable and cushioned ride. Motion control shoes have stiffer heels than support-focused shoes for better pronation control or correction. Motion control shoes have premium cushioning technologies that provide a firmer midsole for better support, but are less flexibility. They also have Teutonic support features which help ease the stress in the quadriceps while running. This is very important for people who are quad dominant.
Overpronator’s need stability or motion control shoes. So, go ahead and look at the bottom wear of your shoe to see which one you may be. If you have a regular wear (heel to toe off) you are a neutral runner. If you have the wear of an overpronator (worn more on the outside of the sole) you most likely will need a shoe with motion control.
How can you tell if a shoe has motion control? You will usually see a darker part on the inside sole of the shoe. This is usually grey in color. In some shoes the grey can be approximately an inch, in others a few inches, and some can be half of the shoe. This means the motion control is mild, medium or maximum. If you slightly pronate you need mild, if you pronate moderately you need medium and if you overpornate severely you need maximum motion control.
What brands come with motion control? I’m sorry to break the bad news but most of the popular shoes like Adidas, Nike, Puma and Converse are all neutral shoes. If you are a pronator you may be doing yourself more harm than good by putting your feet into a neutral shoe. Brooks, New Balance, Asics, Mizuno and Sketchers all have motion control shoes.
If you don’t feel confident enough to go to a store or buy motion control shoes online my best advice is to either go to a Running Room or a New Balance store. Why? Because all employees at these two stores should be trained to assess your running gait and give you options of motion control shoes that will work for you. They will get you to try the shoes on in the store so that you can get a feel for the different shoes and feel the difference in your gait with them on before purchasing them.
Make sure to choose the right size and fit of a shoe once you’ve decided on a shoe. To enhance running performance and avoid injuries pay attention to correct sizing and fit. Make sure to have a roomy toe box and consider that type of socks you intend to wear when you purchase a new pair of motion control running shoe. If you are wearing a thicker or thinner sock than usual it will change the fit of the shoe once you get into your regular socks.
Trust me when I say that choosing the right shoe will change your cardio by making you a more efficient runner, decrease your aches and pains from your ankles to your knees and even in your back. It will also boost your training so that you can get the maximum results for your effort! Thank me later and happy running!
Tetley Tea Talks - #TetleyFindYourBalance
Recently Tetley Tea hosted a Tea Talk Event in Toronto which I got to attend. Think about Ted Talks but for tea. They had healthy snacks, tea samples and talks on Ayurvedic and tea topics. This was a unique one of a kind experience and I learned a lot about Tea Ayurveda that I did not know. The new line is divided into the 3 categories called Dosha's : vata, pitta and kapha. To find out your dosa click here.
They sent me home with a care package that includes all three of the teas from their new line. I love them all but the cool pitta is my fav! Let me know if you pick them up and give them a try! Trust me when I say they will help you find your balance and that they are delicious as well!
For all of you runners, you know first-hand how running safely is a year-round focus. Especially during the colder months when it gets darker earlier and visibility is low, safety should be a top priority for those who are still hitting the pavement. The following is a guide on running safety that's being shared by SimpliSafe. It includes a ton of examples on how technology can not only help with your training, but how it can also keep you safe and focused. They specialize in wireless security systems, so they definitely know a thing or two about keeping us safe.
Study: Brain Exercises May Help with Impact of Ringing in the Ears
A study just published in JAMA Otolaryngology indicates that certain brain exercises from Posit Science may help patients better cope with tinnitus – a condition commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears.”
The US Centers for Disease Control estimates some 15% of Americans (about 50 million people) have experienced tinnitus; roughly 20 million Americans struggle with burdensome chronic tinnitus; and two million have extreme and debilitating cases. The global number has been estimated at about 360 million people.
In 99 percent of cases, people with tinnitus hear a persistent or intermittent sound (ringing, tones, buzzing, whistling, clicking, etc) that cannot be heard by others, nor objectively measured. In recent years, it has been reported that the incidence is particularly high among firefighters and other first responders exposed to loud sound blasts – a group that was heavily represented in this study.
Typically, individuals with tinnitus have worse than average working memory, selective attention, processing speed and reaction times. The researchers hypothesized that since the plasticity-based brain exercises in BrainHQ had been shown effective in these areas in other populations, they might be beneficial in tinnitus.
In the study run at Washington University in St. Louis, researchers randomized 40 patients, who reported having bothersome tinnitus for at least six months, into an intervention and a no contact control group. The intervention group was asked to train one hour a day, five days per week, for eight weeks with a regimen of online auditory brain training exercises derived from the online BrainHQ exercises from Posit Science. Another 20 healthy adults acted as a second control for comparison purposes.
Intervention and control participants were measured at the beginning and end of the eight-week training period across a number of behavioral and cognitive self-report instruments, through brain scans and with qualitative assessment.
Researchers reported no significant between group differences on the behavioral and cognitive self-report instruments, but the qualitative assessment indicated that half the intervention group reported they felt improvement in their tinnitus.
When asked how much their tinnitus had changed from the start of the study, 50% of the intervention group reported they experienced improvement (with 30% reporting they were much or very much improved), as compared to only 15% in the control group who reported improvement (all of which was reported as minimal improvement). Researchers noted that the qualitative assessment mainly reported improvements in tinnitus, memory, attention and concentration.
The MRI neuro-imaging showed significant between group differences, with the intervention group showing strengthening in areas associated with control and attention. The researchers found this to be consistent with the hypothesis that the plasticity-based exercises drive structural changes in the brain associated with better outcomes.
"We believe that continued research into the role of cognitive training rehabilitation programs is supported by the findings of this study, and the role of neuroplasticity seems to hold a prominent place in the future treatments for tinnitus," the researchers reported. "On the basis of our broad recruitment and enrollment strategies, we believe the results of this study are applicable to most patients with tinnitus who seek medical attention."
“These are encouraging results in addressing a common condition that can have effects ranging from the bothersome to the severely debilitating and life-altering.” said Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science, the maker of the BrainHQ exercises. “These results further earlier work using our exercises and assessments in this area. We plan to seek additional support for further research, which may someday allow us to bring to market a targeted program for people with tinnitus.”
Financial tips from Snowe Saxman Money Oracle
Snowe’s Bio
Snowe Saxman is a Success, Wealth & Women’s Expert + two-time Amazon Best Selling Author, also known as the Money Oracle. She was a millionaire at age 25, living on food stamps + bankrupt by age 35 and now she is earning multiple six figures on her way to Millions again. She is married to love of her life, Paul. They have 7 children and 2 grandchildren. Yes, Snowe is a Glamma. Someone way too young and gorgeous to be called Grandma. She has been able to channel a painful past into a purposeful future and rebuild her global empire by teaching women God-Inspired success, financial & business strategies. Snowe had been featured on The Huffington Post, US News & World Report, Chase.com, Fast Company and hundreds of radio stations across the country.
How to decide what kind of at home business a busy mom should start?
There are three questions you want to ask yourself when you begin to think about starting your own business.
1)How much time do I have to invest in a business per week? Today we have so many options to help us work from around our families because of the internet. It truly gives you the freedom to design your life and reach billions of people all around the world, which I did not have when starting my first business almost 20 years ago. However, you still need to sit down with a weekly plan sheet and figure out exactly how much time you can devote to a business each week especially as a busy mom. A more traditional business like becoming a beauty blogger, coach or a service based consultant is going to require more of a time investment than the many wonderful direct sales and network marketing opportunities. They allow you to ability to step into a business model
Without having to develop the entire business plan.
2) What financial resources do I have available?
just like the time consideration, you must figure out how much money you have to invest and how long you can work a business without profiting. More traditional businesses require a bigger financial investment. You can “boot strap”, but that means you are not taking a profit, so you have to figure out how long you can do that. Direct sales and network marketing opportunities do not require the same amount of financial investment, but you will need to invest something, so you need to know up front how much do I have. More traditional businesses can take as long as 3 to 5 years to be totally profitable. Direct sales and network marketing can be 3 to 5 months, so understanding this when starting out is so important.
What gifts, talents of experience can I monetize? I truly believe that everyone has something they can monetize and turn into a business. Begin by taking an inventory of the things you are really good at, so that you can begin to find what you can turn into a business. Ask yourself, what can I do with my eyes closed? What do people always ask for me help with? And what would I do for free?
These are really great questions to figuring out what to monetize. And this is another reason why I am hosting an exclusive online this Sat, called Financially Free. Learn more here and grab your free divine financial gift bundle snowesaxman.com/FinanciallyFree
How to create more money and work around children at the same time
A weekly plan sheet is a great building block to use for your success! Take time at the beginning of each week and actually hand-write you schedule and goals for the week. The time that you spend actually writing everything down solidifies those times in your mind because it turns on a system in our brains which signals it's importance, meaning that you’re more likely to follow through with your plan.
Your weekly plan should be mapped out in blocks of time, so that you can work without interruptions and so that you do not multitask. Multitasking reduces our brains potential. For a busy mom this can mean nap time, while the kids are at school, or once everyone has been put to bed. So instead of trying to work while taking care of a baby, wait until your little ones are asleep.
Spend your morning blocks that you have available for your creative thinking; use that time to focus on marketing and other income producing activities. Then use your afternoon and evenings for responding to e-mails, scheduling and other things that require higher brain activity. First thing in the morning has been scientifically proven to be the best time to create.
The number one thing in order to allow yourself to be able to work while having young children is communication. Divide your time so that they understand that there’s “mommy’s work time” and “their time” and help them understand the differences. The greatest way to make this a success is ensuring that during “their time” they have your undivided attention. This allows for quality moments and intentional conversations that can be the foundation for your family’s growth as well.
More tips to becoming a smarter business woman can be found during my exclusive online event “Financially Free” this Sat. Learn more here SnoweSaxman.com/financiallyfree and to get your free divine financial gift bundle.
Creative ways to make more Money in 2017 & The best ways moms can increase their income
Health/Beauty, Finance, and Relationships are the top things that people are always willing to pay to get wisdom and advice about. Can you offer relationship advice? How about a financial service or a fitness guide? If so, then you maybe on your way to financial success this new year. Or you could choose a direct sales or network marketing business that specializes in one of these areas.
What gifts, talents of experience can you monetize?
I truly believe that everyone has something they can monetize and turn into a business. Begin by taking an inventory of the things you are really good at, so that you can begin to find what you can turn into a business. Ask yourself, what can I do with my eyes closed? What do people always ask for me help with? And what would I do for free?
These are really great questions to figuring out what to monetize. And this is another reason why I am hosting an exclusive online this Sat, called Financially Free. Learn more here and grab your free divine financial gift bundle snowesaxman.com/financiallyfree
Money Makeover Tips & The Importance of Having a Date with Your Finances Weekly
Put on your favorite dress, lip gloss and pour a glass of champagne! Engaging with your finances should be something that is enjoyable and inspiring. Set aside time each week to be alone with your finances, so that you can review everything coming in and going out. This is important for anyone, but imperative as a business owner. I know lots of women, even myself, don't always enjoy looking at numbers. This is why I teach women to have money dates and make it fun!!
In order to have a successful business and be financially stable, you have to be aware of where you are financially. Start with knowing exactly what bills you need to pay, even down to the simple things such as toiletries and clothing. Literally, science has proven that people who write their goals down and review them, not only achieve them, but they earn 10 to 100 times more than people who do not. We cannot avoid our money! We must take control of our finances, so that we can live financially FREE!
Make saving for an emergency fund a priority, having at least $400 aside for unexpected things that life throws at us.
If you’re ever going to overcome your debt you have to know where you are today and set goals for the future. What we focus on is what grows, so spend time understanding your financial situation and determine the best method for you to feed your piggy bank.
More tips to being a savvy financial woman can be found during “Financially Free” an exclusive online event with Snowe Saxman SnoweSaxman.com/financiallyfree
The Importance of Money Mindset & How Our Past Experiences Shape Our Spending AND our children's.
How we relate to money today is completely shaped by our past experiences and most likely a result of what we were taught between the ages of 2 and 5.
Between the ages of two and 5 our conscious brains begin to form and our core beliefs are developed by what we are taught directly and indirectly. Then our life experiences either solidify these truths or totally change them.
What you believe about something will determine how you act and therefore the results you see in your life. This all happens on a subconscious level, so you are not even aware you have a belief that limits you and holds you back. I completely understand because I have been there myself. This is exactly how I went from millionaire to bankrupt and living on food stamps. We must begin to think about what we are thinking about, so that we can create the life that God intends.
If you grew up being told that the rich get richer or that there was never enough money, you will take that belief on in your core and it will guide you without you realizing. What we think about, we truly bring about. And what we model to our children will do the same thing in their lives.
More tips to being a savvy financial mom can be found during “Financially Free” an exclusive online event with Snowe Saxman www.SnoweSaxman.com/financiallyfree
We've all seen the post on Instagram that says a Sunday well spent brings a week of content. We over here at Train It Right couldn't help but agree! Sunday's are a great day to relax, reset and get ready for the work week ahead. But like many, you're probably on a journey of health and fitness. Eating clean and sticking to a plan can be one of the hardest parts of your journey. The best way to combat failure in this is planning and prepping. Though there are many food prep companies (and they are great) prepping your own food can be simpler and easier than you think.
Here are a few tips to help you ease into prepping your own food:
* Create a grocery list based on your food plan and shop the day before prepping
* Lay out all of your containers
- Use your open counter space to house your containers and place the food in the containers as you go. So when your spinach is ready go ahead and ration it out for each meal as you go.
* Cook all at once
- The cool thing about a full kitchen is several appliances. Example... You can bake your fish or and chicken in the oven while cooking your sides such as spinach, kale, broccoli and more on the stove top. Multitasking at its finest!
- You can also make use of the racks in the oven and bake several items at once. Just keep strict watch of the timer.
* Wash the dishes as you go
- This helps with clean up which speeds up the process. A secret of all chefs!
*Remember why you're doing it
- Lets face it, some of us just don't like to cook. With that being said, remember why you're investing the time now. Not only are you sticking to your meal plan to ensure you meet your goals, but you're saving time and money!
Happy meal prepping.
Want a delicious Super Bowl meal that burns belly fat and help you get lean? Chili! You can even use fatty ground beef. [Recipe below.]
Husbands, boyfriends and other men over 40 can also build testosterone levels – and have more energy, more strength and less belly fat, according to Clark Bartram, 53, Performance & Nutrition Industry Expert for Six Pack Abs, and Lead Advisor to the International Sports Sciences Association. When men’s testosterone levels are low, they face muscle loss, low energy and loss of sex drive. Additionally, their body stores most of the food they eat as belly fat.
Clark Bartram cooks testosterone boosting, belly fat burning chili, his Super Bowl meal of choice.
When a man turns 30, his testosterone levels can decrease by 1-2% a year. By the time he reaches his 40s and 50s, his testosterone production can be down to half of what it once was, according to Bartram.
“Giving you half the testosterone production and double the belly fat – that’s not good,” he says. “That’s why it’s so important for us older men to start boosting our natural testosterone immediately.”
Rather than get testosterone treatments or “legal steroids” (with frequent side effects) from a physician, Bartram says, “Let food be your medicine.”
The fats in red meat as well as salmon and tuna boost testosterone, he said. Other such foods are: almonds, garlic, eggs, cabbage, spinach, asparagus, avocados, bananas, watermelon, citrus fruit, grapes, and honey.
For Super Bowl chili, adding white button mushrooms are a key ingredient to blocking estrogen, the female version of testosterone. Estrogen can cause a man to bloat, develop breast tissue and store more fat around the waist. Rising estrogen levels also cause your belly fat to start producing a testosterone killing chemical that creates even more estrogen.
At TestMaxMeals.com, Bartram offers more testosterone boosting food tips, 3 so-called “healthy” foods that can dramatically decrease testosterone levels, and 3 “cheat” foods that boost testosterone. He also explains how to quickly prepare and cook an entire week’s worth of your favorite testosterone boosting foods in less than an hour and at a low cost.
Clark Bartram’s Super Bowl Chili Recipe
2 lbs. ground beef (15% fat) 1 can kidney beans
1 cup white button mushrooms 1 can black beans
1/2 cup chopped onions 1 can organic chopped tomatoes
2 tbs. chili powder pinch of salt
jar organic tomato puree garlic to taste
1.) Sauté ground beef until it is brown.
2.) Place meat into big pot and add all other ingredients.
3.) Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 30-45 minutes.
Enjoy.
Whole Health Pharmacy Partners and #SickNotWeak work together to provide better support for patients with mental health needs through pharmacies.
"Our new partnership with Michael Landsberg and #SickNotWeak is exciting, because we know there is a real need for more tools and training in pharmacies to better serve the mental health needs of our communities," commented Dean Miller, CEO of Whole Health Pharmacy Partners. "Between driving awareness, providing more education and resources, and connecting to the #SickNotWeak community, we believe our pharmacies will be better positioned to support mental health needs."
The first initiative in this new partnership is #Here4MentalHealth, which is a program designed to raise awareness of mental health needs within the pharmacy, and the communities they serve. After completing extensive patient and caregiver research, a comprehensive program was developed and includes:
Education day with specialized training from a multidisciplinary team deepening capabilities of pharmacy staff to support patients in their respective communities.
Handouts developed through conversations with patients and caregivers, so the contents are inspired and guided by people who truly understand the experience.
In-store peer-to-peer support through interactive weekly challenges encouraging people to share their tips and perspectives related to the management of their mental health needs.
Mental Health Mondays, wherein pharmacy staff will be wearing #SickNotWeak attire to build awareness for mental health.
Social media campaign highlighting the findings from the patient and caregiver research, and engaging online communities about mental health.
Downloadable support tools for all pharmacists interested in delivering better care for these patients.
The #Here4MentalHealth supports Canada's mental health strategy Changing Directions, Changing Lives, by supporting the recommendation to "Provide access to the right combination of services, treatments and supports, when and where people need them."
Michael Landsberg, the founder of #SickNotWeak, added, "We patients know so much about being on the receiving end of health care. Whole Health Pharmacy Partners came to us and asked how they can do a better job on the giving end. This is rare and amazing. These conversations helped build tools that will make a significant difference in the lives of people who can really use the support."
"Given that most people see their pharmacist more regularly than they see their physician, we think this initiative will make the burden that so many patients feel they carry around, a little bit lighter. And sometimes that little bit of help can make all the difference," says Michael Landsberg.
With one in five Canadians being affected by mental health problems or illness, there is a real need to deliver better care at pharmacy. Especially since patients often overlook the pharmacy as a source of support and help for mental health needs.
Dean Miller added, "We want patients and caregivers to know that the pharmacy is a safe and accessible place to get additional help and support. The uniqueness of the contents for this initiative is that it was effectively developed by patients, for patients, which is not as common as you'd expect. After #Here4MentalHealth launches, we will continue to work with the #SickNotWeak organization to develop more programs which can connect with patients through a deeper understanding of their needs, and what works for them."
About Whole Health Pharmacy Partners One of Canada's newest and fastest growing pharmacy banners, with stores from British Columbia to Ontario, Whole Health Pharmacy Partners is a like-minded partnership of independent pharmacists, committed to delivering the best possible patient programs and a business model that helps ensure long-term sustainability. Along with over 20 stores already part of the network, hundreds of pharmacists have already expressed interest in this unique new model that offers partners: Long-Term Equity, Transparency, Operational Autonomy, Geographic Exclusivity, and Proven Leadership. For more information visit www.wholehealthpharmacy.ca.
About #SickNotWeak Founded by Michael Landsberg, #SickNotWeak is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people understand that mental illness is a sickness, not a weakness. With his decades-long television career, combined with his decades-long battle with depression and anxiety, Landsberg is uniquely qualified to fight back against the stigma that surrounds mental illness. #SickNotWeak hopes to lead by Landsberg's example of approaching the conversation surrounding mental illness in a raw and candid way, mixed with a dash of that Landsberg attitude and humour. For more information visit www.SickNotWeak.com.
