New National Human Trafficking Education Centre Launches Online
Education is The Greatest Weapon in Prevention and Intervention
WINNIPEG, Alberta, Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Human trafficking is on the rise in Canada and the only way to stop it is by educating people on the signs to look for and the steps to take to keep family members, friends and neighbours safe. On October 28, 2021 the Joy Smith Foundation will officially launch Canada’s first and only online education centre dedicated to comprehensively addressing human trafficking on a national scale.
The Joy Smith Foundation, widely considered Canada’s leading authority on human trafficking, will oversee the Centre and develop all course content. Joy Smith served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba between 1999 and 2003, and was in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 to 2015. She is a tireless advocate against human trafficking and made Canadian history as the first sitting MP to amend the Criminal Code twice, strengthening sentencing for traffickers and expanding Canadian laws to reach internationally. In 2011, Joy founded The Joy Smith Foundation to combat human trafficking.
“Education is our greatest weapon when it comes to fighting and ending human trafficking,” says Joy Smith. “Canadians may be surprised to learn that it is happening in cities and towns across our country. Every day, at-risk youth and adults are manipulated and forced to participate in the sex trade or labour market. What starts as a seemingly innocent conversation online or in real life can quickly turn into something sinister that affects lives forever.”
The National Human Trafficking Education Centre will provide free and fee-based courses for teachers, parents, front-line responders and all Canadians who want to play a role in the prevention and intervention of human trafficking. It is an important step in preventing human trafficking, as well as helping survivors and their families heal. Instructor-led and online courses range in length and will be easily accessible through the Centre’s portal.
The launch event will bring together a number of special guests including survivors, police officers, community leaders, several of Canada’s favourite music artists - like Paul Brandt, Robb Nash and Steve Bell, the Honourable Peter MacKay and others who will deliver empowering messages from across the nation. Former broadcast host Geoff Currier will host the free 60-minute online event.
“This is a significant day in Canada’s fight against human trafficking,” says Janet Campbell, President and CEO of the Joy Smith Foundation. “We are sending an important message that together, we can prevent this heinous crime and help survivors and families across the nation to heal. It’s a social responsibility we all share.”
Media Interviews and Enquiries Bonnie Elgie Public Relations E: bonnie@bonnieelgie-pr.com C: 403-630-6164
About the Joy Smith Foundation: The Joy Smith Foundation works to provide access to information so that every Canadian man, woman and child is educated and empowered to stay safe from manipulation, force, or abuse of power designed to lure and exploit them in the sex trade or forced labour. https://joysmithfoundation.com
JUST Egg's Pourable Product, Perfect For Plant-Based Scrambles & Omelettes, Comes to Canadian Retailers Nationwide
Highly anticipated format launches at Loblaws, Metro, Walmart, Whole Foods Market and more
TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eat Just, Inc., a company that applies cutting-edge science and technology to create healthier, more sustainable foods, announced today the popular pourable version of its top-selling, plant-based JUST Egg is arriving at leading retailers across Canada, just in time for the upcoming holiday season and family feasts. The news comes on the heels of JUST Egg Folded’s successful launch in the country last spring.
Pourable JUST Egg, which like the folded product is proudly manufactured in Canada, is perfect for scrambles, omelettes, quiches, breakfast sandwiches and a variety of baking applications. It is rolling out now at select Loblaws, Walmart, Metro, Save-On-Foods, Whole Foods Market, Real Canadian Superstore, Federated Co-op, Provigo, Zehrs and No Frills locations as well as a number of independent grocers. The suggested retail price is $5.99 CAD (on-shelf prices vary by retailer and location).
Further satisfying Canadians’ growing appetite for plant-based proteins, pourable JUST Egg cooks, looks and tastes like conventional eggs. The product is packed with clean and sustainable protein and is non-GMO Project verified, cholesterol-free and made without artificial flavours. In addition to retail, foodservice formats of pourable JUST Egg are now available to restaurants via Sysco Canada, Gordon Food Service, and other regional distributors.
“Millions of Canadians are embracing plant-based proteins for healthier, more sustainable diets and we’re thrilled to bring yet another delicious and convenient JUST Egg product to store shelves and restaurant menus across Canada,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just. “By reimagining one of the world’s simplest yet most transformational foods with plants, we’re helping consumers make smart food choices for themselves and for the planet.”
Canada continues to be one of the most requested and strongest market launches for JUST Egg products. The company knew there was substantial pent-up demand in Canada, and it has been validated since the launch of JUST Egg Folded, and with the debut of pourable JUST Egg. After only a few weeks of being on-shelf at a leading natural retailer and a leading mass retailer in Canada, the company’s latest offering has already achieved sales velocities that took more than a year to hit in the U.S. market.
“I’ve been eating JUST Egg Folded since they first launched in Canada and love the taste, convenience and nutrition they provide,” said Nicole Osinga, a well-known Toronto-based registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. “There are so many people shifting toward plant-based eating, including many of my clients, making JUST Egg products an easy swap for consumers. Their products are made with a short list of ingredients, including mung beans, which are a great source of sustainable protein. You can be confident in the nutrition composition of JUST Egg products, all while enjoying a delicious and easy-to-prepare plant-based breakfast!"
According to new research from Mintel1, the world’s leading market intelligence agency, 47 percent of Canadians who consume or show interest in plant-based alternatives say they are interested in eating or drinking plant-based products because they are better for their health, while another one-third state environmental reasons. While 55 percent of Canadian consumers identify as flexitarians or omnivores, Mintel research shows their hunger to try plant-based products is growing, with 62 percent of those who consume or show interest in plant-based alternatives say they plan on eating more of those products in the future.
“When I create recipes, health and flavour are always on my mind,” said Toronto-based Diala Canelo, plant-forward recipe creator and author of the popular website Diala’s Kitchen and cookbook of the same name. “I love the easiness and versatility of using JUST Egg in recipes. From breakfast dishes to baking, the taste and texture is unparalleled. I am honoured to be aligned with a company who puts sustainability first.”
An August poll of more than 1,000 Canadian grocery shoppers2 found that 70 percent who were interested in trying pourable JUST Egg were guided by curiosity and health, with a desire to try a new product. Others looked to JUST Egg to reduce their consumption of animal-based proteins. Most Canadians (81 percent) surveyed by Maru Public Opinion on behalf of Eat Just, believe pourable JUST Egg is a unique product offering and listed an assortment of reasons to consider JUST Egg with health and sustainability as leading factors.
For more information about JUST Egg's availability in Canada, please visit https://www.ju.st/ca.
About Eat Just, Inc.
Eat Just is a food technology company with a mission to build a healthier, safer, and more sustainable food system in our lifetimes. The company's expertise, from functionalizing plant proteins to culturing animal cells, is powered by a world-class team of scientists and chefs spanning more than a dozen research disciplines. Eat Just created America’s fastest-growing egg brand, which is made entirely of plants, and the world’s first-to-market meat made from animal cells instead of slaughtered livestock. The company has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies,” Entrepreneur’s “100 Brilliant Companies,” CNBC’s “Disruptor 50” and a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer. JUST Egg has been named among Popular Science’s “100 Greatest Innovations” and Fast Company’s “World Changing Ideas” and the history-making debut of GOOD Meat was heralded as one of 2020's top scientific breakthroughs by The Guardian, Vox and WIRED. For more information on JUST Egg, visit https://ju.st. For more information on GOOD Meat, visit http://goodmeat.co.
SOURCE Eat Just, Inc.
For further information: Media Contact: Christina Davidson - Harbinger Communications, 289-259-5233, cdavidson@harbingerideas.com
1Mintel Reports Canada, Plant-Based Food and Drink, 2021 2Maru Public Opinion online survey of 1,000+ Canadians responsible for buying groceries (Aug. 4-12, 2021)
Simple, Effective Ways to Boost Your Mood and Make It A Great Day
TORONTO/NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2021— The self-help shelves are brimming with advice about what we’re "supposed to do" to feel better, think better, live better — you name it. But seismic shifts can be overwhelming. Do we really need to climb a mountain to live purposefully and be genuinely happy?
“I am going to share with you a few small ideas that you can use that will make you feel awesome, so that the next time you're looking for ways to improve your day or mood, you'll be able to do just that,” said author Jarrett Robertson.
In his motivational, upbeat book, Make It A Great Day: How To Feel Awesome So That You Can Help Others, the former Hockey pro turned consultant explores the “why” behind the things we can do each and every day to cultivate positive energy and use it to impact those around us. Between the covers of Make It A Great Day, you’ll find practical information and strategies you can act on immediately, including:
• Small changes you can make every day that can lead to big results
• How our moods create chemical reactions in the brain
• Factors that can sap or fuel our positivity
• Your instinctive need for significance, growth, contribution and more
• How to improve your Emotional Intelligence and why it’s more important than IQ
• Ways to develop your self-awareness, empathy, social skills and so much more
“Like anything in life, you can research more, dig deeper, go further, climb higher,” Robertson added. “But what I have learned is that it’s the littlest things that we can do every day that will actually help us take control so that we can give back, help others and make it a great day!”
About the Author
Jarrett Robertson is a former pro hockey player and physique competitor who continues to draw upon everything he learned about overall health and wellbeing to inform his approach to life. The Brown University graduate has been a financial adviser for more than a decade and continues to run his firm in Toronto, Ontario. He is also a consultant at Canada Life. With Make It A Great Day, he brings his message to the masses, helping more people achieve greater success through mastering their own human potential. Robertson strives every day to project positivity and aims to help motivate others to do the same by reminding us that, “Life is not too short, but life is extremely valuable. Make it a great day!”
For more information, please visit www.makeitagreatday.ca, or follow the author on Instagram at @_makeitagreatday.
Make It A Great Day: How To Feel Awesome So That You Can Help Others Publisher: 10-10-10 Publishing
How to Raise Resilient Children in Our Complex World
New York, NY, October 21, 2021 — Being a teenager in today’s “age of anxiety” is scary. Being a parent of a teenager is even scarier. Zoomers may seem more together, more confident and more independent than prior generations, but in fact, they are more anxious, lonely and emotionally fragile, and less resilient to stress, says psychoanalyst, clinical social worker and parenting expert Erica Komisar.
“We are asking children to handle more — more stress, more stimulation, more pressure, more choices and more decisions — without giving them a secure foundation of support, emotional security, and real and meaningful connections,” says Komisar.
Her important new book, Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety, is a comprehensive guide filled with compassionate and practical advice to help parents guide, educate and connect with their children on a range of current topics, including gender and sexual identity, anxiety and depression, disordered eating, ADHD, vaping, social media and bullying, to name a few.
Chicken Little also contains valuable insights intended to help readers prevent, recognize and address mental health disorders, as well as help their teens navigate academic and social pressures, social media and technology usage, increased social isolation and family pressures. With Komisar’s guidance and support, parents will learn how to be beacons of hope and change, as well as how to raise emotionally healthy, resilient adolescents.
About the Author Erica Komisar, LCSW, is a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst and parent guidance expert who has been in private practice in New York City for over 30 years. As a psychological consultant, she brings parenting workshops to schools, clinics, corporations and childcare settings. She is also a contributing editor to the Institute for Family Studies. She is a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post and The Huffington Post.
Erica lives in New York City with her husband and is the mother of three adolescent children.
Chicken Little, the Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety Publisher: HCI Books Release Date: November 2, 2021 ISBN-10: 0757324002 ISBN-13: 9780757324000 Trade Paperback, 288 pages Available for pre-order on Amazon.com
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Top Health Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is one of the most ancient forms of exercise meant for the body and the soul. Basically, yoga is an infusion of breathing exercise, meditation, and body relaxation. According to experts, maintaining regular yoga exercise can provide you with many mental and physical health benefits. Therefore, if you were wondering what kind of health gain you can get from yoga, then you are in the right place. The following are top benefits that are associated with yoga exercise:
Mother with little girl doing yoga indoors
Protects Your Heart
The human heart is one of the essential organs in the body. Fortunately, yoga exercise has been proven to prevent various heart conditions, including slow heart rate and high blood pressure. According to medical reports, high blood pressure is among the major causes of heart problems. Therefore, yoga helps you lead a healthy life free from chronic heart problems.
Eases Depression and Stress Disorders
Yoga is also a good natural mood stabilizer and antidepressant. The human body produces a stress hormone known as cortisol. When cortisol hormone is produced under varied circumstances, it makes one more stressed and depressed. According to research, however, doing yoga can help reduce the levels of cortisol, and increase the level of serotonin, the feel-good hormone. This thus improves your moods, happiness and eases mental disorders such as depression, anger, and many more.
Reduces Back Pain
If you are suffering from back pains, then you should think of having a yoga retreat. Since yoga increases flexibility and strength of the spine and muscles attached, it can prevent or manage various kinds of back pains. However, this benefit can only be realized if you practice specific stretches such as the cat-cow poses, cobra pose, and seated spinal twists. When done properly, these yoga stretches can easily reduce compression in the lower back hence minimizing pain.
Improves Breathing
Breathing is an involuntary activity that allows your body to remove the unwanted carbon dioxide and let in oxygen. Practicing yoga techniques such as pranayama and yogic breathing is known to improve your breathing habits. This ensures that your lungs get sufficient oxygen. In addition, yoga also increases the vital capacity of the lungs. Therefore, its recommended for people suffering from lung diseases such as asthma.
Conclusion
Incorporating yoga exercise into your daily life can help bring several benefits. Therefore, if you want to remain healthy both physically and mentally, you can as well try adding yoga as your favorite exercise. Feel free to contact a professional trainer who will guide you towards achieving your fitness and health benefits goals.
How a Personalized Meal Plan Can Help You Reach Your Health Goals
Whether you want to lose weight or improve your diet, a personalized meal plan is a crucial way to reach your health goals. A well-planned meal should include nutrient-dense foods from all main food groups: proteins, vitamins, vegetables, fruits, and dairy. Rather than memorizing your diet rules and tracking your daily consumption, there are online platforms that make the meal plan an easy task. You can create a meal plan that works best with your personal goals with a personal macro coach. Their objective is to assess your metabolic rate and nutritional plans and educate you on maintaining your progress. Following a healthy meal plan has several benefits, and they are listed below.
Lower Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease is one of the significant causes of death in most countries. The dietary approach to minimize these deaths is eating lots of fruits and low-fat products, limiting drinks and foods containing added sugars, and minimizing sodium intake. Additionally, fiber helps boost blood cholesterol and lowers the risk of stroke, obesity, and heart disease. Reducing blood pressure also helps promote obesity and by limiting their salt intake.
Reduced Cancer Risk
Foods that contain antioxidants protect cells from damage which in turn helps minimize the risk of cancer. Foods rich in antioxidants include berries, pumpkins, carrots, and nuts. Also, a diet rich in fiber and fruits helps minimize the risk of cancer.
Increase the Health of the Rectum
Natural bacteria found in the rectum promote metabolism and digestion. Vitamin K and B are produced by bacteria types that are beneficial to the colon. Low-fiber, high-sugar diets harm the gut flora. This action leads to increased inflammation in the colon area. But foods rich in vegetables and fruits contain nutrients that help good bacteria to survive, that is, a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics.
Diabetes Management
A healthy diet helps prevent complications of diabetes, manage glucose levels, keep the blood pressure within range, and maintain a moderate weight. Diabetic people should limit their intake of foods with too much salt or sugar. The best diet for a diabetic person is fruits and vegetables, foods with a less glycemic index like brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, or wholegrain bread. Fiber is also present in such foods, a factor that helps with digestion.
No matter how you plan to modify your meal plan, ensure you think about your health in the long term. Furthermore, effective diet plans aren't simple, quick fixes. They're lifestyle changes that will help keep your body healthy and on track.
Can Your Psoas Muscle Cause Back Pain?
person touching lower back feeling muscle pain at the back.
Dealing with back pain is never an enjoyable experience. Ever minor back pain can create a large number of problems in your life or keep you from doing the things you once enjoyed, and major or chronic back pain can be downright debilitating. There is a wide variety of muscle, joint, bone, and other health issues that can lead to back pain, but today’s focus is on the psoas muscle and the role it can play.
What is the Psoas Muscle?
Located on the lower part of your spine and pelvis, the iliopsoas muscle group is responsible for helping you move and flex your hips. This group of muscles also works to help keep your hips and lower back stabilized when performing various activities and even when standing up and sitting down.
Unfortunately, the position of these muscles means that they can also be a major source of lower back pain. The biggest culprit is the psoas major muscle, which runs from your thoracic level 12 vertebrae down through your pelvis to your femur. This muscle is vital in flexing your hip and also aids in flexing the lower, lumbar portion of your spine.
The Link between the Psoas Muscle and Lower Back Pain
Most commonly, irritation of the psoas major muscle leads to hip and abdominal pain. However, it can also be a major source of back pain as it can pull on your lower back when the muscle is short and tightened. Essentially, this muscle can pull the lumbar portion of your spine forward causing a more pronounced curvature of your lower spine.
Everyone has a slight curve of their lower spine. However, this increased curve caused by the psoas muscle puts more pressure on the bones, muscles, and joints in your lower back, which can result in pain. In addition, a shortened psoas muscle may also pull your pelvis out of alignment and similarly lead to pain in the lower back and pelvis.
Managing and Treating Psoas-Related Back Pain
Back pain management and treatment start with diagnosing the specific cause of the problem. Unfortunately, the psoas muscle’s vital place on your lower back and pelvis means that it can often pull other areas out of alignment as well. Essentially, any muscle dysfunction can cause your body to compensate and thus lead to other alignment issues and mechanical changes in the body. As a result, it is necessary to not only deal with the original cause of the psoas muscle dysfunction but also any and all other changes that may have resulted from it.
Before self-diagnosing yourself, however, it may be a good idea to start with someone that specializes in back pain management. That way, you are able to get a clear understanding of what is causing the discomfort. For example, what you would do to manage a psoas issue may be completely different than how you would handle a disc alignment issue. Not to mention the additional damage you risk causing by trying to self-treat a psoas issue when it is actually a herniated disk. In addition, if it is psoas-related, it is likely that other muscles or joints need attention as well. A specialist may be able to help support you as a whole instead of one part at a time.
Psoas Releas and Exercises
There are professionals that are trained for what is called a Psoas-release, which is when pressure is applied to certain parts of the psoas and has been reported to relieve some of the pain caused by the psoas. However, this can be very uncomfortable and expensive. Before considering a psoas release, make sure that you have done your research about who to go to and ensure that they have the experience to diagnose psoas issues, not just completing a release.
The number one thing you can do on your own and while at home is stretching. Many hip opening stretches can be beneficial at extending your psoas muscle. One of the most common exercises is by kneeling in a lung position and rocking your body forward while maintaining your back leg position.
Many people who have psoas issues also tend to have weaker glutes or weaker lower back muscles. Because of this weakness, the strength of the psoas can pull the muscles more. By building your glute and lower back muscles, you can help support and keep your psoas in place. Common strength building exercises for the glutes and lower back is a glute bridge. This is where you lie on your back with your knees in the air and your feet close to your glutes. While keeping your head and shoulders on the ground, you raise your pelvis as high as you can and then lower it back down again.
Back pain can be caused by a huge number of different issues. Whether it be the psoas muscle or something else, it is vital that you consult with a physician in order to understand the specific underlying issues that are causing you to experience pain. Only through this will you be able to come up with a proper plan to help you manage, treat or eliminate your back pain altogether.
Prepare Your Heart for the Joys of the Season With Daily Advent and Christmas Devotions
Cleveland, OH, October 15, 2021— As one of our holiest, and busiest, times of year fast approaches, it’s natural to get caught up in the tasks of the season — shopping, crafting, baking, decorating and perhaps traveling. You can bring more meaning and clarity to all of your holiday experiences by spending just a few minutes each day in peaceful reflection.
Father Dr. Maurice Emelu offers readers a daily, prayerful walk with God’s Word in his new, seven-volume series, An Encounter: A Daily Discovery in Divine Word. In Volume One, Fr. Emelu offers insights and Bible verses to accompany the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
“I wrote most of these reflections before the blessed Sacrament. In the presence of the Lord, I found the serenity and peace of soul that inspired more profound, prayerful sentiments within me,” Fr. Emelu said. “I then began to dialogue with God’s words.”
Drawing upon his West African roots, Catholic spirituality as well as his many years of pastoral ministry, Fr. Emelu combines the story-telling culture of Africa with a Western worldview to offer a unique perspective on faith-life and what it means to grow closer to the Lord. He communicates his sentiments and ideas in compelling, relatable ways and applies them to today’s realities. Each passage aims to heal, inspire, teach and encourage through the power of God’s Word.
The next two volumes in Fr. Emelu’s An Encounter series focus on messages for the seasons of Lent and Easter. The topics of future volumes will be announced soon.
An Encounter is suitable for both personal and group faith sharing — for anyone seeking a daily walk with God. It would be the perfect gift for your pastor or loved one.
“Alone with God, the soul hears words that the noisy world often silences,” he said. “Call them a boost for the day or a spiritual companion for everyday life. They are empowering words meant to accompany readers on their own journey of life as they continue to discover the gentle Word of God.”
About the Author
Father Maurice Nkem Emelu, Ph.D., is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Nigeria, and the founder of Gratia Vobis Ministries, Inc., a global ministry for cross-cultural Catholic evangelization and works of charity. He is an Assistant Professor of digital media and Communication at John Carroll University in the United States. The author of seven books, and over 700 blogs and professional articles, he provides robust cross-cultural educational programs through digital media. He is the host of EWTN’s The Faith with Father Maurice and the host/executive producer of Word for a Wounded World teaching series, plus numerous other television and radio works in the global Catholic network. He holds a Ph.D. from Liverpool Hope University, UK, focusing on digital storytelling, media aesthetics and theology, among other academic degrees. An encounter with the Lord when he was 14 changed him in fundamental ways, and today he describes himself as “passionately in love with God and His body, the Church.”
For more information, please visit www.revemelu.com, or follow the author on Instagram (@mauriceemelu), Twitter (@revemelu), YouTube (Fr. Maurice Emelu) or Facebook (Fr. Maurice Emelu).
An Encounter: A Daily Discovery in Divine Word, Volume One: Advent and Christmas Publisher: Bien LLC
Celebrate Canada's National Shawarma Day Today with Osmow’s™ $5 Shawarmas
National Shawarma Day calls on carnivores and vegetarians alike to enjoy perfectly seasoned rotisserie-cooked chicken or crisp-fried falafels at one of 120 Osmow’s™ locations across Canada at prices last seen in 2001, the year Osmow’s launched.
Toronto, ON, Oct. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada’s most popular Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fast, fresh eatery, Osmow’s™ is inviting Canadians to celebrate the second annual National Shawarma Day on October 15 in honour of the historic Middle Eastern street food.
For just $5, Osmow's is offering its legendary Chicken Shawarma wrap or ROCKS™ at its original price, while vegetarians can take part in the day too with a Falafel Wrap or ROCKS™ for the same price.
Shawarma is a tender, fragrant, boldly spiced and marinated meat that slowly cooks as it rotates on a vertical skewer. At Osmow’s™, Shawarma is prepared a little differently. Once the marinated meat is delicately carved, it’s grilled to caramelized perfection and then served on ROCKS (rice), STIX (fries) or classically wrapped in a thin pita bread that’s then expertly grilled. Personalized with add-ons like fresh herbs and grilled vegetables, feta or house-made sauces means there are endless combinations of Shawarma meals bursting with delicious flavours.
A fan-favourite for a reason, be sure to add regular or NEW light and vegan garlic sauce! Only adventurous eaters dare to add Osmow’s™ Scorchin’ Hot Sauce!
“Last year, National Shawarma Day was a huge success!” says Osmow’s™ CEO & Head of Franchising Ben Osmow of the fast-growing Canadian QSR company. “We didn’t simply measure impact by the impressive number of national social posts and line-ups at our locations across the country. We also knew last year’s celebration was a hit because of rave reviews from both people who had never tried Shawarma before and Shawarma aficionados alike! Our National Shawarma Day made news across Canada and spread into the US. We are excited to build on this fun themed day.”
“When my parents opened the first Osmow’s in 2001 and started serving a dish they enjoyed since growing up in Egypt, no one could have imagined that we would be celebrating the official Canadian National Shawarma Day during our company’s 20th anniversary year,” says Osmow’s™ President & CMO Bernadette Farag.
“The time for shawarma is now,” says Ben. “It’s clear that the popularity of Shawarma is on the rise, seen in our impressive growth over the past 20 years into 120 locations! Join us — and all Canadian restaurants serving Shawarma — in celebrating National Shawarma Day today.”
Osmow’s invites all other Mediterranean brands to celebrate October 15 as National Shawarma Day in Canada as this exciting flavourful food niche continues to grow, in the spirit of diversity and cultural exploration. To show your love for Shawarma, order yours today and tag photos, reels and videos with #NationalShawarmaDay, which will help spread word and support the fast, casual restaurant sector and local businesses. For more information about National Shawarma Day and Osmow’s™, visit osmows.com and follow @osmows on all popular social media channels.
About Osmow’s Founded in 2001 by Sam Osmow, the first Osmow’s™ store was located in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada and remains a successful operation to this day. Over 20 years ago, as a recent immigrant to Canada, Sam saw an opportunity to bring his Egyptian roots to the Canadian landscape blending traditional Egyptian cuisine balanced with a North American palate. Filling a void in the current fast-casual culinary marketplace, Osmow’s flavourful dishes with signature sauces such as the fan-favourite garlic sauce keeps bringing customers back to satisfy their cravings. Osmow’s™ has grown to 120 locations and is expanding across Canada. Osmow’s™ invites all other Mediterranean brands to celebrate October 15 as National Shawarma Day in Canada as we continue to grow this exciting flavourful food niche, in the spirit of diversity and cultural exploration.
Board-Certified Washington, D.C Facial Plastic Dr. Michael Somenek breaks down the most dangerous Tik Tok beauty hacks that you should steer clear of.
According to recent statistics, the viral app Tik Tok has reached over 1 billion monthly users. (Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/27/tiktok-reaches-1-billion-monthly-users.html) With several beauty trends going viral on a daily basis, it can be tempting to experiment with these DIY and less expensive solutions than in office cosmetic surgery visits. However, some of these hacks are at best ineffective or downright dangerous.
Face-lifting patches
What is it?
‘Face-lifting patches’ are plastic adhesives used to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles overnight. The purpose is to use tape to constrict the muscles in your face and limit their motion to minimize wrinkles. This is an overnight ritual that requires you to sleep with the tape on, keeping you from frowning or making any expressions during your sleep. Wearing it all night is also said to prevent creases caused by sleeping on your front or side.
Why you should steer clear:
Tape considered strong enough to stay in place throughout the night isn’t made to be safe on the skin and can cause redness, irritation, and acne breakouts. The adhesive has to be incredibly tight and therefore, uncomfortable to use for an extended time to hold the muscles still. There is even a risk of ripping off a layer of the skin as you pull off the piece of tape. This can cause a tear in the skin barrier, and the trauma could result in underlying pigmentation or leave you at risk for a bacterial infection that could potentially scar. In theory, these facial patches should work as they keep muscles in place while you sleep, not allowing them to wrinkle as you move throughout the night. However, they can have the complete opposite effect when it comes to reducing fine lines and wrinkles. When you tape your face to hold muscles still, you’re preventing them from working, while adding resistance. In doing so, you’re training your facial muscles to work harder and, in turn, become more powerful. As they get stronger, it accelerates the formation of those fine lines and wrinkles you were hoping to avoid.
Pore Vacuuming
What is it?
This is an at-home device that is put out by various different companies. It gained traction during the pandemic when many people could not visit doctors for elective treatments. The goal of these tools is to extract dirt, debris, and sebum from the skin in order to reduce blackheads and pore congestion.
Why you should steer clear:
If you have seen videos, it is evident that users saw instant redness. If you don’t know how to set the device appropriately for your skin, putting the volume up to higher settings won’t necessarily remove more blackheads, but it could leave your skin looking as if you just got a hickey. Those with skin issues such as rosacea especially need to proceed with caution. The vacuum can exacerbate these conditions and cause untoward side effects like broken capillaries and bruising. This can even occur with those who simply have sensitive skin. Even if the device is effective, the pores will eventually re-fill again, and preventing this from occurring via this tool is too much wear and tear on the skin.
Sunscreen Contouring
What is it?
The original viral video has a resurgence this past summer. Model Eli Withrow posted a TikTok video where she has sunscreen applied on different parts of her face. She states: “Haters will say it doesn’t work. I’m convinced that if you put a base sunscreen of SPF 30 on, and an SPF 90 on all the spots that you would put highlighter on, the sun will contour your face where you’d put bronzer, and you’ll be natural snatched all summer.”
Why you should steer clear:
There is no way to predict how the sun tans various parts of your face. All areas of the face don’t get the same amount of sunlight. Attempting to control your sun ray exposure through mixing SPF levels is illogical. Radiation bounces off sand, water, and cement hitting the face at different angles. Not only might you not get the “J-LO glow, but you could also get patchy sunburns. While the idea is meant to use tan lines to contour the face, you are risking your skin from a cosmetic standpoint and health-wise in the form of skin cancer. This is not worth the quest for a temporary (at best) contour.
DIY Lip Filler
What is it?
Once again, another pandemic-fueled aesthetic trend. One way people attempt to do this at home is through at-home kits to inject their own lip filler through tools called Hyaluron pens. These use pressurized air to force filler into lips instead of needles which are used in a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist’s office.
Why you should steer clear:
The lips are filled with nerve endings and they swell and bruise very easily. More worrisome than that is improper injection can result in blocked blood flow. Non- physicians don’t have the skills to treat these complications before they lead to serious damage. In addition, since this is not regulated by the FDA, you have no way of knowing what products you are putting into your lips. Even without a substance going into your lips, other methods that use suctioning tools to create a temporary bigger pout can be dangerous as well.
About Our Client
Michael T. Somenek, MD
Board Certified Washington, DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
https://somenekpittmanmd.com
Dr. Somenek received an undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Miami and a medical degree at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He stayed on at this prestigious institution for 5 more years of postgraduate training in otolaryngology or the study of the head and neck. He then completed an intensive fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery under the tutelage of world-renowned facial plastic surgeons Dr. J. Regan Thomas (past president of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) and Dr. Dean Toriumi at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Dr. Somenek is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. As an author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, textbook chapters, and presentations at national meetings, he has contributed extensively in his field.
Dr. Somenek also performs a variety of minimally invasive procedures, both surgical and non-surgical. Surgical options include facial liposuction, the endoscopic brow lift, and the S Lift. These techniques require only very small incisions but can have a dramatic effect on a person’s appearance in the hands of a qualified surgeon with a trained aesthetic eye such as Dr. Somenek. Dr. Somenek’s intensive training in the complex structures of the face, head, and neck make him stand out among plastic surgeons in Washington, D.C. He is a trainer and teacher to other physicians across the country on all injectables and frequently sees patients that need an expert opinion. Even for less invasive procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, he can use his broad knowledge to administer precise treatments that exceed each patient’s expectations.
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