PIZZA HUT® AND BEYOND MEAT® STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEBUT OF BEYOND ITALIAN SAUSAGE™ CRUMBLES AT LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE

Following a successful test, Pizza Hut Canada is adding Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles as a permanent menu item to meet growing consumer demand for plant-based protein

To celebrate this expanded launch, the two leading brands are offering Canadians everywhere a chance to win a free Great Beyond pizza when they share their "little flexes" on Instagram 

TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2022 /CNW/ - Pizza Hut® and Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND) today announced the launch of plant-based Beyond Italian Sausage™ Crumbles as a permanent offering at Pizza Hut Canada locations nationwide. Available on three irresistible Beyond Meat® dishes, Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles are designed to deliver the meaty texture and mouthwatering savoury taste that fans love about Pizza Hut's traditional Italian pork sausage. These new menu items are exclusive to Pizza Hut and are back by popular demand after a successful trial in Toronto and Edmonton last summer. 

"After seeing great excitement from Pizza Hut fans across Toronto and Edmonton last summer, we're beyond thrilled to give Canadian fans everywhere the opportunity to try and fall in love with these Beyond Meat menu items," said Amy Rozinsky, Head of Consumer Marketing, Pizza Hut Canada. "Pizza Hut and Beyond Meat have a shared vision to innovate new and exciting products that will delight our guests. Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles offer a delicious plant-based twist on our classic pork sausage that you'll have to taste to believe."

As more and more Canadians adopt flexitarian diets, the two brands are making delicious, nutritious and sustainable protein options more widely accessible year-round. The three mouthwatering Beyond Meat menu items at Pizza Hut are:

  • The Great Beyond™: A specialty pizza crafted with savoury Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles, paired perfectly with fresh veggie toppings that include sliced red onions and tangy banana peppers, served up on any Pizza Hut crust. 
  • Beyond Italian Sausage™ Alfredo Loaded Flatbread: A crispy flatbread topped with flavour-packed Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles, roasted red pepper, creamy alfredo sauce and mozzarella cheese. 
  • Beyond Creamy Alfredo: A savoury pasta alfredo dish layered with Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles, onions, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese that delivers a creamy, delicious bite.

For those who love to customize their orders, Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles can also be added as a topping to any existing pizza offerings of any size. Made from simple plant-based ingredients without GMOs, soy or gluten, Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles contain 20g of protein per serving, derived from peas. 

"With the combined strength of our brands, we are continuing to increase the accessibility of plant-based protein for Canadians everywhere," said Deanna Jurgens, Chief Growth Officer, Beyond Meat. "At Beyond Meat, we believe that small changes like choosing plant-based protein on your favourite pizza, can make a positive impact on human health and the health of our planet."

To kick off this national launch and the New Year, Pizza Hut and Beyond Meat want to recognize the little flexes in life — like finally finding that lost sock at the bottom of the drawer, successfully parallel parking in one attempt or trying out plant-based protein for a more flexitarian diet. Instead of coming up with grand, overly ambitious New Year's resolutions only to quickly abandon them, this year Pizza Hut and Beyond Meat are celebrating the small, everyday victories by rewarding fans with a chance to win a free medium Great Beyond Pizza. Starting January 10, Canadians can enter by visiting @PizzaHutCanadaon Instagram and posting a comment with their little flex and tagging two friends.1

The delicious Beyond Meat menu items are exclusive to Pizza Hut on pizzahut.ca and through the Pizza Hut app or pick-up. From January 10 to January 30, Pizza Hut's popular Buy One, Get One (BOGO) deal will allow Canadians to try pizzas topped with Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles at no additional cost when they purchase a regular-priced medium or large pizza.Then for six weeks starting on January 31, Pizza Hut's $5 $5 $5 deal will allow pizza lovers to order a pizza (or three!) with Beyond Italian Sausage Crumbles for only $5 with a regular-priced large pizza. 

This national launch is part of a larger global strategic partnership between Yum! Brands, the parent company to Pizza Hut, and Beyond Meat to create delicious and innovative plant-based protein menu items to meet the growing consumer demand for more diverse protein options. Canada is the second market to permanently offer Beyond Meat menu items nationally. After a successful trial of Beyond Meat Pizzas in the UK last year, Pizza Hut brought them back as a permanent menu option at all Pizza Hut UK Delivery locations in July 2021. 

About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is proud to be one of Canada's largest pizza restaurant chains with over 450 locations nationally. Globally Pizza Hut is the world's largest pizza restaurant company with more than 18,000 restaurants in over 100 countries. No matter where you find a Pizza Hut, they are making sure each meal customers enjoy is safe, delicious, and unmistakably Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM). Hungry for more information? Check out www.pizzahut.cawww.facebook.com/PizzaHutCanadawww.twitter.com/pizzahutcanada and/or www.instagram.com/pizzahutcanada.

About Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ: BYND) is one of the fastest growing publicly-traded food companies in the United States, offering a portfolio of revolutionary plant-based proteins made from simple ingredients without GMOs, bioengineered ingredients, hormones, antibiotics or cholesterol. Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat products are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet. Beyond Meat's brand commitment, Eat What You Love™, represents a strong belief that there is a better way to feed our future and that the positive choices we all make, no matter how small, can have a great impact on our personal health and the health of our planet. By shifting from animal-based meat to plant-based protein, we can positively impact four growing global issues: human health, climate change, constraints on natural resources and animal welfare. As of September 2021, Beyond Meat had products available at approximately 128,000 retail and foodservice outlets in over 85 countries worldwide. Visit www.BeyondMeat.com  and follow @BeyondMeat, #BeyondBurger and #GoBeyond on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Beyond Meat Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements are based on management's current opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, not historical fact, and involve certain risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions. Actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events could differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. While Beyond Meat believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements made herein including, most prominently, the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Beyond Meat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 1, 2021, and Beyond Meat's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 2021 filed with the SEC on November 12, 2021, as well as other factors described from time to time in Beyond Meat's filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. Beyond Meat undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

_______________________
1 Contest runs from January 10 to January 24, or until supplies last. Contest open to all Canadian residents excluding Quebec. 1,500 pizzas available to win total. 
2 Second pizza must be of equal or lesser value. 

SOURCE Beyond Meat and Pizza Hut Canada

New York employment litigation attorney Peter Glennon is available for comment on New York City's stringent new vaccination requirements for private employers due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that went into effect yesterday.

He weighs in below:

New York City is once again aggressively promoting vaccine mandates that may run afoul of its powers and possibly violate anti-discrimination laws. With its stringent new requirements that all on-site workers be vaccinated, the city is testing the limits of how far a vaccine mandate can go in the U.S., especially when the vaccine appears to mainly reduce the severity of the illness and not its spread. Courts are already looking closely at the federal mandate, so we'll soon see whether the city must scale back its ambitious plans to promote vaccination. Of course, next week’s administration change may alter these rules before the Supreme Court decides on President Biden’s mandate. 

The new requirements also raise questions about the city's Key to NYC program for customers of retail shops and restaurants, which currently limit the unvaccinated from going inside a restaurant for anything more than using a restroom or picking up takeout. With all employees required to be vaccinated, that raises the question of whether the limited “reasonable accommodations” options may be broadened to comply with disability laws for those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons. 

All of this is happening against a backdrop of a worker shortage. If more stringent requirements force potential workers who have been hesitant to go ahead and get vaccinated, they could help. But if they end up leading more people to drop out of the workforce at a time when small businesses are already struggling to fill vacant positions, the requirements could lead to more collateral economic damage.

Leading COVID-19 Testing Solutions Company Predicts Massive Surge in Workplace Testing Demand Following Reinstatement of OSHA Testing Mandate 

New York (December 28, 2021) – A Biden administration rule that requires workers at companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated against COVID or undergo weekly testing is back on. Now, leading COVID testing solutions company, Reliant Health Services is predicting a last-minute rush as companies with over 100 employees scramble to put plans in place to stay compliant. Company leaders urge American businesses to move swiftly.

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay on the rule on Dec. 17. The rule was blocked on Nov. 6, just one day after it was formally issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

The White House welcomed the decision. “The OSHA vaccination or testing rule will ensure businesses enact measures that will protect their employees,” Kevin Munoz, a White House spokesman, said in a statement. “Especially as the U.S. faces the highly transmissible Omicron variant, it’s critical we move forward with vaccination requirements and protections for workers with the urgency needed in this moment.”

Reliant Health Services, a team of pandemic experts dedicated to limiting the spread of COVID-19 through advanced testing solutions, is forecasting a significant surge in demand for workplace testing, as OSHA will start issuing citations for lack of compliance on Feb. 9, 2022. Reliant’s turnkey workplace testing solution avoids the workplace disruption caused by large scale testing facilities set-up on company property. The rapid tests are FDA Authorized and Medically Supervised through a tele-health session (proctored), without the need for employees to visit a clinic and risk further exposure. It enables employees to test and receive results in minutes at their home, their desk, in their cars or wherever is convenient - minimizing workplace disruption and concerns about privacy. Result reports are delivered electronically in .pdf format within an hour of completing the test and programmatically integrate into HR systems and tracking platforms.

“Now is the time to act,” explains internationally renowned COVID expert, COVID media consultant for NBC, ABC and more, and Chief Medical Advisor for Reliant Health Services, Michael Daignault, M.D. “OSHA’s mandate is a smart move, and I urge all businesses to move as swiftly as possible, as the surge is going to be enormous.” 

 “It is critical companies align with a partner like Reliant who has the proven ability to rapidly scale-up testing operations with minimum workplace disruption at an economically acceptable cost. We are anticipating a last-minute rush as companies scramble to put plans in place to ensure compliance with the mandate. They really need to take action now to ensure they do not risk non-compliance fines, productivity loss, the risk of the unavailable testing supplies and a last-minute logistical scramble,” explains Monica Beeman, Senior Vice President of Special Operations at Reliant Health Services. 

To set-up OSHA compliant COVID testing with Reliant Health Services, visit: https://relianthealthservices.com/getstarted/

About Reliant Health Services

Reliant Health Services is a turn-key workplace and community COVID-19 testing solution. Our experience working with large scale testing initiatives has given us a perspective on testing that we are able to pass on to our clients and communities. Conducting consistent testing requires a nuanced approach to supply-chain logistics, management of human resources, and a compassionate approach to interfacing with the lives of employees and community members.

By reducing the friction in test coordination, we deliver a world class experience. By utilizing highly precise testing protocols, with minimally invasive specimen collection methods, we create the most comfortable and efficient experience possible for persons undergoing testing. To learn more, visit: https://relianthealthservices.com

Trends Shaping Canada’s Restaurant and Hospitality Industry in 2022
RC Show shares new food & beverage trends set to change how we dine; see how COVID-19 has shifted Canadians’ dining experiences moving forward

TORONTO, December 21 2021 - As COVID-19 continues to significantly impact the hospitality industry, how we dine in 2022 continues to change. RC Show reflects on the past year and looks forward to getting ready for the months ahead. With the theme of REVIVAL in mind, Canada’s largest foodservice and hospitality event has created its list of top food trends and innovations that will shape dining experiences and the restaurant industry in 2022.


From February 27 - March 1, RC Show 2022, aims to reunite the restaurant and hospitality industries and prepare businesses for the revival of the industry through a dynamic in-person and virtual broadcast event. The action-packed, three-day event will bring even more access to the industry’s top brands and suppliers as well as programming from global thought leaders who will be assembled to discuss key industry issues to support the relaunch of the industry.Here’s a taste of what you can expect at the RC Show and from 2022 dining experiences:

Food & Beverage Trends:  This last year, food and beverage trends centred around comfort cuisine, touchless ordering and the innovative technology to bring dining experiences to our doorsteps. It was also a year of awareness and health - both personal and environmental - encouraging consumers and companies to consider what they were eating and serving respectively. With the pandemic continuing to encourage new ways to look at food, here’s what you can expect moving forward:

Buzzless Spirits

Socializing and spending time with others seems to be one of the greatest aspects missed during the pandemic. We miss connecting with others. Such social settings often make us feel inclined to drink because everyone is drinking around us. However, more companies, like Grüvi and Seedlip, are looking to create more inclusive social settings by creating delicious non-alcoholic beverages that can be consumed anywhere, anytime. Alcohol-free drinks are also a staple at Rival House and Lyres, whose range of award-winning crafted non-alcoholic spirits have been able to pay homage to classic favourites without anyone being the wiser. These new boundary-pushing non-alcoholic spirits provide the perfect alternative for patrons looking to stay social without the alcohol count.

Ingredient Awareness

2022 consumers want to know what is in the food they are consuming and they want foods jam-packed with nutrients to boot. They are demanding it. Brands like Ardent Mills are working to bring simple yet quality ingredients into the spotlight with their in-house made breads, pastas and gluten-free pizza dough. Others, like Loop Mission, are using otherwise rejected products to minimize food waste while informing consumers of what is going into their beverages.

Adaptogenic Food & Beverage 

If 2021 taught us anything, it’s that we need to focus on our health and wellbeing, both physical and mental. 2022 is shaping up to be a new year of prioritizing healthy, organic and simple but quality food, beverages and ingredients. While most foods tend to emphasize customer’s physical health, there is a growing shift towards foods that also help your mental wellbeing. Beverage brands like Boreal Botanical Brewing are stepping the game up with adaptogenic drinks, beverages that contain ingredients which work to prevent the effect of stress on the body. Even the superfood beetroot is finally joining ingredients front and centre as a nutritional and circulatory health powerhouse in Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s new Grass Fed Organic Beetroot Honey Yogurt.

Food trends back by popular demand: Flexitarian diets, heritage and fusion cooking, virtual cooking classes, fermenting, preserving or canning foods, alternative sugars, mushroom drinks and convenient comfort foods.

Specialization: It’s not news that brands and restaurants have had to adapt to ensure their business stays afloat. Innovative chefs and restaurants were able to pivot to maintain their businesses and keep customers satisfied, with many of these changes set to last well beyond the post-pandemic. Here are a few of those changes that you can expect to see going forward:

Specialty DTC Grocery Goods 

Some brands were able to weather the lockdown better than others, by innovating

products and their overall business model, adapting diner in-person experiences and finding a way to bring products/experiences directly to consumer’s doorsteps. Canadian-based company Giraffe Foods has found a way to bring restaurant products (in particular custom sauces and signature flavours) directly to diners by helping brands break into the retail space.

Restaurant and Beverage Kits & Subscriptions

Even though indoor dining has opened to the public, not everyone is ready to return to restaurants. Brands like Ascari Group have met that challenge headon and now offer custom kits field to the brim with house-made fare, curated premium luxury food products and premium spirits and mixes. Award-winning beverage expert and one of RC Show’s Bar Curators Evelyn Chick recently introduced Love of Cocktails, a place for people to connect, enjoy fun virtual cocktail making sessions and order customized cocktail kits to their home. Others such as Mildred’s Temple KitchenGeneral Assembly Pizza and Chef Drop have found a way to innovate and create premium meal kits from top chefs and restaurants, recreating the full indoor dining experience from the comfort of any home kitchen.

Sustainability: The pandemic saw diners proactively seeking out brands that consider their carbon footprints and their impact on the environment. That level of consumer awareness will not go away anytime soon as consumers continue to make food and beverages choices which are environmentally conscientious.  

B2B Waste Reduction Platforms

Consumers and brands are finally working together in an effort to reduce food waste and make environmentally-friendly dining decisions. Apps such as Too Good to Go give customers the option to connect with restaurants and save surplus food from going to waste. RESTOVERT/ RESTOGREEN aims to create an eco-responsible catering network, while brands like Alfred Technologies, work directly with companies and restaurants to prevent inventory waste. Other brands, such as Waterwise, are tackling different elements of the industry’s carbon footprint, focusing on both consumer and environmental health through sustainable, custom water purification systems.

Meal Upcycling

While some brands are working directly with consumers to reduce food waste, others are reworking ingredients gone to waste at their source to create completely new meals. Upcycling and food scrap cooking are leading the charge of reducing food waste by contributing to a circular economy. Brands such as Trendi are using “ugly” foods that would have been thrown away to create meal kits, and Upcycled Food Festis encouraging restaurants to innovate and bring the conversation surrounding food waste to the forefront by incorporating upcycled ingredients into their menus.

Innovative and Responsible Packaging

Packaging is also starting to get a facelift with diners moving away from traditional single-use plastics to more sustainable alternatives. Consumers are looking for brands that consider their carbon footprint at every step from food production to packaging and distribution. Companies like Calibre and Evanesce are turning to biodegradable and compostable materials for packaging, while ensuring everything remains recyclable.

Farm-to-phone

Restaurants and food companies are having to adapt to bring the dining experience to the customer’s front door. Another way companies have evolved to meet this demand is by bringing the freshest produce from farm to doorstep, through virtual farmers’ market apps such as Bae Greens or brands such as Goodleaf, who work to bring organic and vertically-grown greens directly to the end-user all-year round.

Technology: Technology was crucial to the restaurant and hospitality industry during the pandemic, as touchless ordering, digital menus and food delivery became staples to keep people staff. That won’t change in 2022.

Robot Retail

Robotics and AI have been making strides across every industry and the restaurant and hospitality sectors are no exception. Robot retail is making its way into our dining experiences – from sanitation and disinfection to serving and hosting, to ensure everyone’s safety. Brands like GreenCo Robots are leading the charge of robotics-led dining experiences, bringing innovative and high-tech solutions to problems brought about by the pandemic.

Contact-free Everything

The hospitality industry had to adapt and fast, making services contactless at every touchpoint. QR codes, touchless menus and payment options are just some of the new procedures that brands have had to adopt. But has this added too many steps? Brands such as BarConnect and Mealsy have answered that call with tools designed to create a safer space, reduce food waste, lower labour costs, increase table turnover and provide faster service all at the same time, as well as help out companies and customers minds at ease with automatic and digital vaccination certification options.

365 days of Alfresco dining

While some are choosing to remain at home, many continue to flock back to restaurants to reconnect with friends and enjoy long awaited in-person dining experiences. To help alleviate the stresses of reduced indoor capacities on restaurants and ease customers back into dining out again, restaurants and bars are turning to outdoor dining and businesses such as Unichairs Inc.  and Pop Up Street Patios to help turn their limited outdoor spaces into stunning temporary patios. To combat the colder weather, brands such as Bum Contract and Mensa Heaters offer heating solutions that turn even the coldest Canadian climate into a cozy alfresco dining experience.

You can see these trends and much more at the RC Show 2022, a place for the industry to come together to REVIVE THEIR BUSINESS like never before. For more information on the show, visit www.rcshow.com

Follow us and the conversation on social: #RCShow #FeedingtheRecovery #RestaurantsAreFamily @RestaurantsCanada

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Media Contacts:

Lisa Raffaele  │  647.896.0743  │  lisa@bubblegumcanada.com

Dena Gouweloos  │  647.825.3927  │  dena@bubblegumcanada.com

Follow us and the conversation on social: #RCShow #FeedingtheRecovery @RestaurantsCanada

About RC Show – since 1944

Canada’s leading foodservice and hospitality event showcasing cutting-edge products, pioneering people and transformative ideas. Attendees can shop, taste, learn, connect and grow their business with multiple days of business-building action, including featured areas, competitions, workshops and RC Hospitality Week events tailored to educate, motivate and lead the industry. RC Show includes the latest trends, a dynamic selection of innovative products, and influential speakers assembled from around the globe, designed to help operators grow their businesses. An annual event not to be missed. Learn more at www.rcshow.com

About Restaurants Canada
Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association advancing the potential of Canada’s diverse and dynamic foodservice industry through member programs, research, advocacy, resources and events. Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s foodservice sector was a $93 billion industry, directly employing 1.2 million people, providing Canada’s number one source of first jobs and serving 22 million customers across the country every day. The industry has since lost hundreds of thousands jobs and could lose as much as $44.8 billion in sales in 2020 due to the impacts of COVID-19. www.restaurantscanada.org


The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries Exposes Myths and Realities About Health Care Sharing 

WASHINGTON D.C. — Will my doctor treat me if I don’t have health insurance? What if I have a very large medical need? Is health care sharing contributing to the rising cost of health care?

These are a few of the misconceptions that The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.orgencounters when it comes to the myths about Health Care Sharing Ministries. 

The ACA recognized that Health Care Sharing Ministries have enabled hundreds of thousands of faith-centered people to honor God through their health care and come together as a community to share each other’s medical expenses. 

Every month, members contribute a set amount that is shared between the other members to pay their medical bills. Each ministry does this differently—some have an online sharing technology system to approve the sharing of funds, while others facilitate the sending of individual checks from members to the member in need. When members go to the doctor, hospital, or incur a medical cost, they submit the bill to their community through their ministry. Expenses that meet the ministry’s guidelines are shared by the community and payment is made to the family in need, or directly to the doctor. 

“For decades, Health Care Sharing Ministries have worked hard to educate and raise awareness about their unique solution for high health care costs, including addressing inaccuracies and misunderstandings,” stated Katy Talento, executive director of The Alliance. “As the health care landscape changes rapidly, The Alliance serves to infuse doses of reality that bust these myths and give people a true picture of Health Care Sharing.

Some of the most common myths include the following:

MYTH #1: Medical providers won’t treat me and my family if I don’t have health insurance.

REALITY: This myth is proven wrong every day, as members of Health Care Sharing Ministries have shared billions in medical needs since their inception. That sharing would not happen if there weren’t bills to submit. In other words, the fact that needs have been submitted means that members went to doctors or other health care providers, were treated and received bills, which they then submitted for sharing.

Health Care Sharing Ministry members are often “cash-pay” patients, and because the provider avoids insurance paperwork, many have come to appreciate, and even prefer, Health Care Sharing Members. Members also receive significant medical cost discounts for being direct pay patients in many cases. Other ministries enter into contracts that provide access for their members to pre-agreed prices for care. 

MYTH #2: Health care sharing ministries are like health insurance.

REALITY: Because Health Care Sharing Ministries are not health insurance, health care sharing does not work like health insurance. Rather than make premium payments to an insurance company, members are sharing directly with other member families who have submitted needs that qualify for sharing. Health Care Sharing Ministries are arrangements in which Christians assist one another with medical expenses through voluntary giving.

In fact, 31 states have laws clarifying that these ministries are not providing health insurance and not subject to state health insurance requirements—requirements that would undermine their ministry approach. One critical distinction for Health Care Sharing Ministries, unlike health insurance, is that need sharing is not based on what members can receive financially if they have a need in the future, but on how members can help others with the needs they have right now, as outlined in Acts 20:35.

MYTH #3: A “big need” would “break” a health care sharing ministry.

REALITY: Health Care Sharing Ministries have always understood the reality of health care costs. Members of Health Care Sharing Ministries have been sharing needs since 1981, when the oldest ministry began, and are seeing God provide not only for financial needs totaling more than a hundred million dollars every month, but also for physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Health Care Sharing Ministries have handled many “big needs” over the years, from open heart surgery to long-term struggles through cancer treatment. 

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries was established as a 501(c)(6) trade organization to represent the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministries which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators and policy makers, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information about Health Care Sharing Ministries.

Learn more about The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.  

What Causes Saggy Breasts? (It's Ok if You have them) 

What Works and What Doesn’t to Remedy It?

As Explained By a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

www.lakeshoreplasticsurgery.com

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The medical term for sagging breasts is ptosis. Changes in the breast are normal as we age. Other factors can also lead to breasts that droop. There is no set age for women when this occurs. Someone in their twenties can have ptosis and conversely, a woman in her 40’s can have perky breasts. There are numerous factors that contribute to sagging. Ultimately, age does come into play for everyone at the onset of menopause when there is a loss of fullness and elasticity.

There are abundant myths about what works in terms of prevention. Although some things are simply in nature’s hands when it comes to sagging, there are some things women can do in terms of prevention says Dr. Michael Horn, a board-certified Chicago plastic surgeon who is also a breast specialist.

Is One Bra Better than Another?

“I think a sports bra is best, but really any bra that offers real support is actively preventing the effects of gravity,” suggests Dr. Horn. Constrictive garments might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but unfortunately, they are a fact of life.  “As most women age, the tendency to have loose skin develops.  If a woman doesn’t wear a supportive bra on a regular basis, it will in fact contribute to the sagging or stretching of the breasts over time.”

The Breastfeeding Dilemma

New moms can relax. Research shows that breastfeeding does not cause breasts to sag. It’s the weight gain during pregnancy that can stretch the ligaments and lead to sagging later on. Women who are pregnant should do their best to gain an amount of weight that is healthiest for them and the baby. For any woman, pregnant or not, a dramatic change in weight will likely cause breasts to change.

Can You Exercise Your Breasts Back Into Shape?

“A longstanding misconception has been that exercise will strengthen and tone the pectoral muscles, thus pumping the breasts back into shape.  Let me set the record straight by saying there is no evidence that any procedure other than plastic surgery will correct breast shape,” asserts Dr. Horn.  “Even trying to strengthen the pectoral muscles under the breasts will make little or no difference.”

Creams and Pills Can Prevent Sagging

According to Dr. Horn, “For decades there have been pills and creams on the markets that claim to prevent sagging or increase breast size. There is no magic lotion or pill that can do either.”

Smoking

Although this one probably goes without saying, smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health including your skin! Your skin ages much faster when you smoke, and your skin becomes weakened because the chemicals decrease the blood supply to the skin surface.

Genetics

Your body’s skin elasticity, breast size, and breast density all affect how your breasts look. Every woman has a different breast tissue ratio. Some women have “fatty breasts” while others have firmer more fibrous ones. Naturally, heavy, softer breasts are more apt to sag than firm small breasts. Due to genetics, you might also have thin skin which is less supportive and if you are lucky, stronger skin that will hold your breasts tighter.

Crash Dieting

This should be avoided at all costs. Yes, women will fluctuate five pounds or so, which is no problem. However, if you keep gaining and losing the same twenty or more pounds, your body and skin will not respond well. Your breast tissue in particular will become more and more slack, like a cheap sweater that goes through the wash.

Here’s what you can do

Sunscreen

Along with smoking, one health mishap that can lead to dire consequences is avoiding sunscreen. When the sun is out, sunscreen should be your best friend. The sun, though it feels great on your skin, harms more than it helps. UV ray exposure can cause early wrinkles and damage; it also stretches out the collagen in your skin, leading to breast sagging.

Your sleep position

If you sleep on your side this may cause your breasts to sag more over time. This is because one will dangle downward and the ligaments will stretch. If you sleep on your back, the breast weight is fully distributed on your chest and may help with “perkiness.” As a side note, sleeping on your back is also better for keeping your face youthful as well.

What’s an easy non-surgical fix to look better? Perk up your posture!

Good posture is really basic. Although it won’t change the anatomy of your breasts, if you are standing or sitting with hunched shoulders and a bent back, this emphasizes sag and puts additional pressure on the breast tissue. When you stand with your shoulders out, it thrusts the breasts upward without looking fake or obvious.

Get a better bra

Everyone looks and feels better when they are wearing a garment that fits them perfectly. The key to looking lifted is finding the perfect fit. There are many online guides to help you find your perfect size and many online companies have fit calculators as well.

Seek help from the pros if your self-esteem is suffering

If your breasts are affecting your self-esteem, or preventing you from wearing the clothes you want, wearing a bathing suit, or dating, the only way to physically change sagging is through surgical intervention. Make sure you are doing this to please you! Options include breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast lift with augmentation.

Dr. Michael Horn

Board- Certified Chicago, Illinois Plastic Surgeon

www.lakeshoreplasticsurgery.com

With more than 10,000 breast augmentation surgeries performed during his career of more than 23 years, Dr. Horn is known in the Chicago land area as the authority on breast augmentation. His artistic eye, mastery and surgical skill in performing various face and body procedures, his dedication to patients’ safety, combined with his focus on unparalleled care and attention, make him one of the most sought-after surgeons in the Midwest.

Dr. Horn earned his medical degree at Loyola University in Chicago. He completed a general surgery residency with the Medical College of Wisconsin, as well as a sub-specialty training in plastic surgery with a second residency at Loyola University. Dr. Michael Horn is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Chicago Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Horn is a frequent lecturer on the subject of plastic surgery and his work has been featured in several professional publications. He frequently attends national meetings to continue developing innovative plastic surgery techniques. His ongoing commitment to patient safety and satisfaction is evident in the personal attention and care he provides to each of his plastic surgery clients. From the initial consultation to the final follow-up exam, Dr. Horn provides compassionate treatment tailored to the specific needs and goals of each individual. 

Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Fail? How To Make Them Stick

www.drhaleyperlus.com

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Studies show that only 8% of Americans who make a New Year's resolution keep them all year, and 80% have failed by the start of February. Making yearly resolutions dates back 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. While the motivations have changed since then, the practice remains. The two most common goals that we make in the US are eating healthier and vowing to exercise. So why do these best-laid intentions often fail to come to fruition and what can people do to change that? We tapped the expertise of Haley Perlus, a sports and performance psychology Ph.D.  

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail?

Your mindset needs to change before you can expect different outcomes from others. 

Any resolution can be a worthwhile goal, but it likely won’t come to fruition until you make changes from within to achieve it. Even when you know what you want and why you want it, we all have stories that prevent us from personal growth, make us victims to our circumstances. Until we reframe our stories, we will have trouble keeping our resolutions. 

You don’t have an accountability structure to help you sustain change. 

Big changes and lofty goals do not occur like magic. Despite the struggles, challenges, and pushback, they demand sustained action towards the goal. Unwavering action is hard to achieve independently because it takes us out of our comfort zone and habits. The larger the goals, the more critical is it to have outside accountability assistance, especially as time goes by after the “honeymoon” phase of the excitement wanes and the challenges arise. 

Achieving your dream scares you and subconsciously, you sabotage them.

Your conscious self may want to achieve a goal, if your subconscious is scared, it likely won't happen. This is what’s known as a “hidden barrier.”

Setting Resolutions That Stick

How often have you heard people say, “this is the year I’m going to get in shape.” When you think about it, that’s a vague statement. Does that mean the person has a number on the scale they want to hit? Do they intend to complete a marathon? Do they have a body fat percentage goal? Do they want to walk 10,000 steps a day? The point is, you need to have clearly defined goals. They also need to be goals you believe you have control over and can actually achieve.  

 Track your progress. 

In psychology there is a core principle: “if you can measure it, you can change it.” What this means is that measurements serve as a source of inspiration to allow you to see where you began and where you are.  Keeping track of your goals also helps you identify the successful journey along the way to achieving the end result. You also can evaluate plateaus or “glitches” in your progress and tweak your efforts. 

Don’t keep your goals a secret from everyone 

You don’t have to post your resolution on social media, but telling some trusted friends or family members could give you the support you need and hold you “accountable.” Let’s say you want to quit vaping, perhaps by sharing your goal, you might take it more seriously as others know you have set an intention to do something. Make sure you choose people you really don’t want to let down. This might be difficult, but take the challenge on to help yourself.  

Stop “all or nothing” thinking; it’s progress not perfection 

Many of us are guilty of this type of thinking. If we are dieting and eat French fries, instead of viewing it as a blip on the radar, we think, “well, there goes my diet, might as well have dessert now, and I’ll restart next Monday.” Or, “I don’t have time to work out for an hour as I intended, so what good are 20 minutes going to do?”  Often, something is better than nothing and taking baby steps toward our goals is better than taking no steps at all. People throw in the towel on one bad day or when they didn’t achieve “the full goal” intended. The secret is to keep pushing forward.

www.drhaleyperlus.com

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Dr. Haley Perlus knows what it takes to overcome barriers and achieve peak performance. As an elite alpine ski racer, she competed and trained with the best in the world, pushing herself to the limits time and time again. Now, with a PhD in sport psychology, Haley continues to push boundaries and drive peak performance, helping athletes and Fortune 100 executives reach their goals. 

Haley works with individuals and teams to manage and expand their energy capacity while increasing resilience, focus and drive. Dr. Perlus is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, professor, author and consultant to Division I athletes. She has spoken at many events some of which include VISTAGE, Tec Canada, Elite Fitness and Performance Summit and Trilogy Athletes. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado lecturing on applied sport and exercise psychology at the graduate level. She has authored several books including The Ultimate Achievement Journal and The Inside Drive and her articles have been featured in publications such as Thrive Magazine, Fitness Magazine, IDEA Fitness Journal, EpicTimes, Telluride Inside, MyVega and BeachBody®. 

Dr. Perlus earned her PhD at the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis on social psychology of sport and physical activity, her MS at the University of Florida in sport pedagogy and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Western Ontario in kinesiology. Haley loves both water and snow skiing, and hiking. Her favorite meal is anything that requires only chopping or blending.

Sunnybrook launches innovative new artificial intelligence research lab with $1-million gift from TD Bank Group

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group has donated a $1-million gift to establish the Augmented Precision Medicine Lab at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The Augmented Precision Medicine Lab will develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems to help improve the clinical care that patients receive in the fields of cardiology, cancer and other chronic diseases. Sunnybrook's rich and complex data stores will be harnessed to develop clinical risk prediction models that will enable physicians to provide personalized care to patients and potentially improve outcomes. 

With this investment, Sunnybrook will have the resources it needs to build technological infrastructure, attract more talent, and accelerate a number of innovative projects either planned or underway. 

"This generous gift will unite medical experts, computer scientists and industry partners to harness the power of big data and machine learning to drive personalized approaches to medicine," says Kelly Cole, President and CEO, Sunnybrook Foundation. "TD has long been a dedicated supporter of innovation at Sunnybrook and we are delighted to take this next step together."

The Augmented Precision Medicine Lab will work closely with industry partners to develop powerful new diagnostic tools, bring them to communities across Canada, and ultimately improve health outcomes. 

"AI in medicine will undoubtedly improve the quality of care that patients receive, and, perhaps more importantly, it will improve health-care equity by dramatically widening access to underserved communities and populations," says Dr. Alexander Bilbily, a physician and computer scientist at Sunnybrook who will serve as the director of the new lab. "And by recognizing the essential role that industry plays in health care, we create a clear path from the lab to the patient where these tools can have a real impact on the patient journey."

The Augmented Precision Medicine Lab's first project aims to leverage Sunnybrook's extensive experience with patients with COVID-19 to create AI tools that can identify which patients are more likely to deteriorate. As a result, doctors will be empowered to closely monitor and improve care for these patients. The tool is being developed for use in smaller community hospitals, which demonstrates how AI can extend the reach of medical knowledge to smaller centres with less experience, thereby improving health-care equity for patients in underserved areas.

"The funding announced today will help Sunnybrook enhance its research and develop AI technologies to advance quality health care for patients who need it most," says Janice Farrell Jones, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. "Through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank's corporate citizenship platform, we are proud to support this important initiative that will ultimately help patients living with cardiac conditions, cancer and other chronic diseases access equitable and personalized care."

Together, Sunnybrook and TD Bank Group are inventing the future of health care.

About Sunnybrook

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.3 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada's premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation, and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada's war veterans.

SOURCE Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

What Type Of Headphones Should You Buy For Exercising?

Whether you are running on a treadmill inside a gym or going down a trail in your local park, it's always great to be able to listen to your favorite tunes along the way. Along with being able to keep you motivated and limit any distracting noises, having music or motivational messages in your ears during your workout can make getting fit more enjoyable. If you're searching for the best headphones to use for your workout, make sure they meet the following criteria.

Comfort and Fit

To begin with, always make sure whatever you select is comfortable and fits securely. While you don't want anything pinching your head or ears, you don't want headphones that will be rattling around or falling off as you exercise.

Easy to Use

When you are ready to begin your workout, the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around with your headphones. Whether it's trying to figure out if they are fully charged or how you can link them to your smartphone's Bluetooth capabilities, you may find yourself losing valuable time and becoming more and more frustrated if you don't have headphones that are very easy to use.

Good Sound Quality

Since you've probably had other types of headphones in the past, you know how much the sound quality can vary from one pair to the next. Thus, before you purchase a new pair, check the sound quality to make sure you like what you hear. From the volume fluctuating between loud and soft to ensuring your headphones have excellent volume control features, play different types of music you'll be listening to so that you're satisfied with their sound quality.

Sweat Resistant

Needless to say, you expect to work up quite a sweat during your workout. After all, if you don't, getting fit will probably not happen anytime soon. When selecting your headphones for working out, always buy some that specifically say they are sweat-resistant. Otherwise, you may discover your headphones die on you in the middle of your workout.

Safety Features

Finally, remember that your workout headphones do not have to be the type that cancels out all the noise around you. In fact, you'll be much safer if you buy headphones that have a "hear-through mode" as one of their main safety features. With this feature, you'll be able to hear traffic and other people around you just enough to alert you to any possible problems.

Once you get workout headphones that have these and other great features, your workout will be more enjoyable as well as more productive.

Pfizer and BioNTech Receive Health Canada Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine COMIRNATY in Children Ages 5 Through <12 Years

  • With this authorization, COMIRNATY is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine available in Canada for use in this age group
  • Authorization represents an important milestone with the potential to help protect school-aged children from COVID-19 infection

KIRKLAND, QC and MAINZ, Germany, Nov. 19, 2021 /CNW/ - Pfizer Canada ULC and BioNTech SE today announced that Health Canada has authorized COMIRNATY, the companies' COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to under 12 years of age . For this age group, the vaccine is to be administered in a two-dose regimen of 10-μg doses given three weeks  apart. The 10-μg dose level was carefully selected based on safety, tolerability and immunogenicity data. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Canada for individuals 5 to under 12 years of age. 

"We are very proud to share this news with Canadians today. This is a day so many parents, eager to protect their young children from this virus, have been waiting for," said Fabien Paquette, Vaccines Lead, Pfizer Canada. "With this Health Canada authorization, we have achieved another key milestone in our ongoing effort to help protect families and communities, and to get this disease under control." 

"Today's authorization is supported by clinical data showing a positive benefit risk profile and high vaccine efficacy in children, underlining its potential to address a current public health need," said Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. "As children 5 to 12 years are approaching the end of the year, both in and out of the classroom, our goal is offer a vaccine to help keep them safe and protected. We will continue to work towards broadening the access to our vaccine, also for younger age groups."

Health Canada based its decision on data from a Phase 2/3 randomized, controlled trial that included ~4600  children 5 to under 12 years of age (2,268 from the original group and 2,379 from the supplemental safety group). 

Shipping of 10-μg pediatric doses to Canadian immunization sites in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada will begin imminently (ages referred to as 5y to <12y on the vial and 5 years to <12 years on the carton). 

COMIRNATY (also referred to as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine), which is based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology, was developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in Canada, the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries. Submissions to pursue regulatory approvals in those countries where emergency use authorizations or equivalent were initially granted are planned or ongoing.  

AUTHORIZED USE IN CANADA:
COMIRNATY is indicated for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 5 years of age and older. COMIRNATY must be injected intramuscularly only.

About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified healthcare portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on LinkedInFacebookTwitter or YouTube.

About BioNTech 
Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Regeneron, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de

SOURCE Pfizer Canada Inc.