Provata Health Launches Groundbreaking Virtual Reality Guided Meditation App
PORTLAND, Ore. (November 22, 2016) -- Leading digital health company Provata Health announced the launch of Provata VR, a virtual reality (VR) guided meditation app available on the App Store. The app signifies the Portland startup’s aim to pioneer a new category of digital health: Virtual Reality Preventive Care.
With Provata VR, users escape to a variety of stunning locations around the world, including tropical waterfalls, secluded beaches, dazzling Northern Lights and even underwater coral reefs. Selecting from a collection of guided meditation exercises, users train their mind to positively impact their productivity and mood in immersive, idyllic settings.
The app also introduces meditation biofeedback, a patent-pending system that leverages advances in physiological monitoring to enhance the meditation experience. Users can sync popular wearable devices, such as Apple Watch, to visualize the effects of their meditation sessions on their heart rate. Through smart feedback, Provata VR helps users better understand which meditation exercises, locations, and times of day have the greatest impact on their heart rate.
“Virtual Reality presents an opportunity to expand digital health to new frontiers,” said Alex Goldberg, CEO of Provata Health. “The typical guided meditation approach—an audio recording instructing you how to meditate—hasn’t advanced much technologically in decades. Combining VR with mindfulness meditation and biofeedback monitoring lets users transport themselves to relaxing environments while seamlessly tracking their progress, bringing new dimensions to the meditation experience.”
As mindfulness meditation grows in popularity, scientific research reveals its benefits are widespread, including increased productivity, lower stress, as well as improved focus, cognitive skills and memory. The effects extend to physiological measures as studies indicate that meditation can help to lower risk of strokes and heart attacks. Studies suggest mindfulness meditation may even alleviate chronic pain by activating brain regions associated with pain control.
Provata Health provides the first commercial digital health program proven to improve both the physical and mental health of participants in a peer-reviewed medical journal. “Given the mounting evidence of the positive effects of meditation on our mental and physical health, Provata VR truly embodies our emphasis on providing holistic digital health solutions that address our total health,” Goldberg explained.
Currently the fastest-growing private tech and healthcare company in Oregon, Provata Health partners with employers, health plans, and hospital systems to provide evidence-based programs proven to improve the health of employees and lower medical costs. Provata VR marks the company’s first product available to both employers and consumers alike.
Anyone can download the app for free and upgrade to the premium version, which will be available at no cost to employees participating in Provata digital health programs through their employer or health plan.
Watch the Video: http://provatahealth.com/vr-health#provata-vr-video
Website for the app: http://provatahealth.com/vr-health
Download the app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/provata-vr-guided-meditation/id1121506806?ls=1&mt=8
Link to Release: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161122005302/en/Provata-Health-Launches-Groundbreaking-Virtual-Reality-Guided
Celebrate the holidays with swoon-worthy gifts from Toronto's favourite brands: Province Apothecary, Bacchus & Barley, Studio Fitzroy, Erin Tracy Bridal & Fine Jewellery, MISFITSTUDIO and VdeV Maison
The lights are strung, the snow is glistening and the streets are filled with joy. That's right folks, the holiday season is finally here. As the holiday spirit grows, so does your shopping list. Finding uniquely stunning gifts for your loved ones can be a battle. Fear not, Toronto's favourite brands have created exciting holiday gift guides with something for everyone on your shopping list. Celebrate the holidays this year with Province Apothecary, Bacchus & Barley, Studio Fitzroy, Erin Tracy Bridal & Fine Jewellery, MISFITSTUDIO and VdeV Maison. From beauty and fashion to fitness and home, these luxe Canadian brands will brighten your holiday season.
Give the gift of glowing skin with Province Apothecary's all-natural holiday must-haves
New Radiant Body Oil with Argan + Black Cumin - $28.00
Province Apothecary is here to gift young, radiant skin this holiday season with the new Radiant Body Oil. Province Apothecary's new Radiant Body Oil with Argan & Black Cumin is a luxurious blend of pure plant oils formulated to benefit all skin types. Let this rich body oil moisturize and nourish your loved one's skin and enliven and empower their spirit. Province Apothecary's beautiful blend of botanical carrier oils softens the skin, while geranium, clary sage, lavender and frankincense essential oils stimulate your creativity, boost cellular circulation, tone your skin and gently detoxify the body.
New Sea Salt Soap - $14.00
Does someone on your shopping list have sensitive skin? Meet the perfect soap for everyone! Province Apothecary's rich soap gently cleanses with the moisturizing benefits of pure, unscented botanical oils of coconut and olive. Canadian sea salt infuses the skin with beneficial trace minerals and draws toxins out of the body naturally, resulting in soft, healthy skin. Say goodbye to dull winter skin and hello to a radiant complexion with the new Sea Salt Soap.
New Sweet Orange & Bay Essential Oil Incense - $16.00
For a limited time only, Province Apothecary has the perfect scent for the holidays.Province Apothecary's new Sweet Orange & Bay Essential Oil Incense is the perfect way to uplift spirits and calm the mind through aromatherapy. Let the smell of Sweet Orange & Bay wash over your home with their soothing aromas. Whether your setting the mood for a holiday party or finding that perfect gift for that special someone, Province Apothecary's new Sweet Orange & Bat Essential Oil Incense has got you covered this holiday season.
Bacchus & Barley has leather lovers covered this holiday season with this leather accessory wish list
The Necessities Tray (Spotted Cow-hide) - $59.00
The Necessities Tray is designed for those who like to keep their essentials organized. Ever go to head out the door and can't find your keys, wallet, or phone? We used to have that problem until we discovered these trays. Problem solved. Every full-grain leather tray is totally unique as a result of the distinct markings on the hide. The tray also unsnaps to flatten for easy travel. The Necessities tray is a gift everyone can enjoy!
Available in spotted cow-hide, jet black, copper and whiskey brown
Night on the Town Wallet - $59.00
Bacchus & Barley's minimalist credit card wallets, made of full-grain leather, are perfect for someone who loves a night on the town. Don't pull a Costanza, put away your bulky wallet and keep things simple by taking only the necessities. With a slim design, the Night on the Town Wallet kills "fat pocket syndrom." This is the perfect gift to keep your friends and family organized while painting the town red.
Available in: copper, whiskey brown, chevron navy, black and red.
Leather dog collar (brown) - $65.00 - $75.00
Does fido need a holiday gift this year? Bacchus & Barley teamed up with a local tack shop to bring you these handmade saddle leather collars, giving your dog a look of elegance. In addition to their raw beauty, these leathers have been tried and tested to take on the wear-and-tear of your playful pooch. These products are crafted to grow more beautiful over time and are guaranteed to last the lifetime of your dog. Give that cute doggy in your life a classy gift this year. Matching leashes available as well.
Available in: brown and black
Stun at every holiday party with Studio Fitzroy's glamorous dress rentals
The Last Word Dress by Pink Stitch - $65.00 for 4 day rental
Your favourite LBD is finally here in RED, just in time for the Holiday Party season! Book this one early because she's a magical little number that looks good on everyone. Plus, POCKETS. Also available in Black and Blue.
Fully lined.
Back zipper.
Midi length.
Night Shimmer Mini Dress by Free People - $60.00 for 4 day rental
This piece is the cutest little sequin party dress with nude lining. This dress looks gorgeous layered under a faux fur or even over a black turtleneck for when you're heading straight from the office to the party!
Poly/Nylon blend.
Imported.
Marchesa lace Gown by Elle Zietoune - $100.00 for 4 day rental
Be still our beating hearts. Ultra feminine long sleeved lace bodycon off the shoulder gown for when you need to get really fancy this holiday season.
Hidden back zipper.
Built in cups & boning.
Designed in Australia.
Imported.
Perry Set off the shoulder crop and tulle skirt - $90.00 for 4 day rental
Bring sexy back this holiday season with this flattering number. High waist tulle overlay ballgown skirt with a lace off the shoulder crop top! Crop it like it's hot, ladies.
Designed in Australia.
Imported.
Sparkle this holiday season Erin Tracy Bridal & Fine Jewellery's his and her gift guide
For him
Koi Band Ring - $225.00
Sterling silver or gold
For him
Koi Tag Necklace - $295.00
Sterling silver
For him
Koi Link Bracelet - $295.00
Sterling silver with matte black plating
For her
Talon Necklaces - $125.00
Sterling Silver, Gold Fill, Rose Gold, Crystals
For her
Deco Luxe Rings - $390.00
Sterling Silver or 10K Yellow Gold, Crystals
For her
Caldera Earrings - $250.00
Gold Fill, Grey Moonstone, Quartz
Celebrate the holidays with a healthy mind and body courtesy of MISFITSTUDIO
MISFITSTUDIO Gift Card
The MISFITSTUDIO gift card is the perfect holiday gift for the spiritual, fitness gurus in your life. Adopting a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to movement, MISFITSTUDIO takes the mind, body and soul on a wild physical journey with the MISFITMETHOD. Rooted in yoga, informed by pilates and inspired by dance, MISFITMETHOD incorporates movement as meditation.With two studios in Toronto, located on Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue, MISFITSTUDIO is the perfect place for health conscious Torontonians to re-centre, balance and move. Simply load up the gift card and wrap for a great holiday gift!
Deck the halls this season VdeV Maison's favourite holiday home accessories and gifts
Wool throw made by Latvia - 178.00$
Get snuggled up by the fire this holiday season with this stunning wool throw. Made with 100% lambswool, this cozy piece comes in red, black and grey.
Dimensions: W:79" X H:51" (W:201cm X H:130cm)
Alpine Candle - $28.00
Nothing says the holidays like the perfect candle. This soy wax candle comes in a variety of
festive colours and scents. The green Alpine Candle smells of festive evergreen and embers. The indigo Alpine Candle smells of the sea, with a driftwood and indigo. For the man in your life, The brow Alpine Candle has the smell of tabacco and moss. Finally, the white Alpine Candle smells of sweet woods and mint.
Dimensions: H:3" X Ø:3.5" (H:8cm X Ø:9cm)
Fox bar glass - $12.00
Love to serve spirited holiday drinks? VdeV Maison has the perfect bar glasses for you. These quirky glasses boast a lovely gold rim and a decorative painting of a fox, sun, moon or pineapple. Which one will you choose?
Dimensions: H:5" (H:13cm)
Cinema Lamp - $60.00
Have fun this holiday season with VdeV Maison's Cinema Lamp. With 100 interchangable letters, you can select a festive, joyful message to illuminate your home. The Cinema lamp has Battery-powered LED or USB cable included, powered by an on/ff switch. The lamp requires 6 AA batteries or USB plug adaptor (not included).
Dimensions: W:12" X H:8.5" X D:2" (W:30cm X H:22cm X D:5cm)
Cindy Necklace - $24.00 
Add some sparkle to your holiday outfit this season with VdeV Maison's stunning Cindy Necklace. Available in three colours, gold, silver and copper, this lovely piece makes for the perfect gift for a lovely lady.
Dimensions: W:17" (W:43cm)
About: Province Apothecary is a holistic skincare and wellness brand recognized both for it’s effective natural skincare products and custom organic facials. PA is leading the way in green beauty with a unique blend of 100% active plant based, synthetic-free ingredients, establishing itself as a brand focused on a whole-body approach to beauty.
Owner and founder Julie Clark's journey into natural skincare developed out of her own struggles with allergies and eczema. Unable to find products that were pure and effective enough to heal her sensitive skin, she began blending her own. Now an accredited Holistic Health Practitioner and Aromatherapist, Julie continues to develop new products drawing inspiration from her facial clients, the weather and the seasons.
Province Apothecary sources the highest quality organic, wildcrafted ingredients from each Canadian Province and hand-blends these ingredients in small batches to create skincare that will nourish + balance skin. Julie’s favorite ingredients include: seaweed from Nova Scotia, maple syrup from Quebec, organic sunflower oil from Ontario, organic beeswax from Alberta, organic lentil flour from Manitoba, and organic raspberry oil and glacial clay from British Columbia. PA is blending the wilds of Canada into nourishing and balancing skincare.
All products are free from: petroleum, parabens, synthetic fragrances and ingredients, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, dyes, alcohol, solvents, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), palm oil or derivatives, cosmetic grade ingredients and toxins of any kind.
Stockists: 50 Canadian + USA retailers including Urban Outfitters, Whole Foods Market, The Detox Market, Well.ca and Credo Beauty. All products can be ordered online both in Canada and the US - and can shipped nationally.
Visibility: Province Apothecary PA has been featured internationally in print and online by Vogue, Huffington Post, InStyle.com, Garance Doré, Wallpaper, Cool Hunting, Protein, Refinery 29, and Our Body Book. In addition, a number of Canadian publications including: Fashion, En Route Magazine, Chatelaine, Flare, Elle Canada, Today’s Parent, Toronto Life, Globe and Mail, and The Toronto Star.
THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT LIPOSUCTION? THINK AGAIN. 10 OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS/MYTHS ADDRESSED
OR YOU COULD DO IT VIA TRAINING - For PT inquiries and online training email go to www.trainitright.com/programs
GUEST POST:
www.zannisplasticsurgery.com
Liposuction is one of the top 5 most common surgical procedures in The United States. Approximately 363,912 procedures are performed each year. While every lay person knows that ‘liposuction sucks out fat,’ many are misguided about the procedure in terms of who is an appropriate candidate, how long the results last, and what the procedure can and cannot accomplish. Dr. John Zannis is a New Bern, North Carolina plastic surgeon who seeks to set the record straight.
Fat Will Come Back Somewhere Else After Lipo
The “fat return” fear is something plastic surgeons hear about pretty often, which is understandable! “New fat does not ‘find its way’ elsewhere after liposuction. This is one of the most common liposuction myths out there. Liposuction removes part of the fat in an area, but if the body is overwhelmed by a large amount of calories that are not burned they are stored proportionately in every remaining fat cell in the body, ” Explains Dr. Zannis. Fat cells aren't distributed evenly to begin with, and after lipo (or any type of fat cell removal) they definitely won't be distributed evenly. Even though individual fat cells grow evenly, there will be fewer in the places where the lipo happened, so those places won't fill out the same way they used to (which is what lipo patients want). Remaining fat cells in the rest of the body will pick up the slack. These cells will gain fat evenly, but not in the areas you're used to gaining in, since the fat cells in those places were liposuctioned out. He adds, “The more fat cells removed, the more the remaining fat cells will gain when you gain weight.”
Are the results of liposuction permanent?
The results of liposuction are intended to be permanent. What this means is that the fat cells which are removed will not reappear, but if you gain weight in the future, fat can accumulate in surrounding areas and the remaining fat cells in your treatment area can become larger. Dr. Zannis adds, “While the fat cells are permanently gone, you can once again find yourself with unwanted fat if you gain weight, so your healthy habits will determine whether you maintain your liposuction results.”
Is Liposuction a Reasonable Treatment for Obesity?
“Liposuction is not a good treatment for obesity,” says Dr. Zannis. He adds, “Liposuction is not effective, even as a last resort, for people who are unable to lose weight by dieting and exercise.”
Are There Non-Surgical Alternatives to Liposuction?
“Liposuction is still considered the gold standard for body contouring: It’s the most predictable, and it’s performed in a single treatment, says Dr.Zannis. However, there are minimally invasive alternatives though they won’t give you as dramatic results and treatments may need to be repeated for the desired effect. The most effective non-invasive options use heat, cold, or ultrasound on the surface of the skin. These alternatives include, but are not limited to:
CoolSculpting
UltraShape
Vanquish
Liposonix
Kybella (currently only FDA-approved for use underneath the chin)
How much weight will I lose from liposuction?
Liposuction actually has little effect on the number on your scale. It is not a method for weight loss but is instead a way to address specific areas of stubborn fat, also known as body contouring. However, many patients who want to lose weight find great success by reaching their goal weight first and then using liposuction to fine-tine the appearance they’ve worked so hard for.
Can liposuction reduce sagging skin?
“Liposuction solely focuses on removing fat, so it will not tighten excess skin. However, some patients benefit from a surgery which combines both fat removal and skin excision, like a tummy tuck or arm lift accompanied by liposuction,” says Dr. Zannis.
Will I have scars after liposuction?
Any surgery will leave a scar, but the scars from liposuction are particularly small and subtle. Dr. Zannis explains that, “The incisions only need to be large enough for the tiny tube which removes the fat, so the incisions are very small and are strategically placed in areas that are as discreet as possible.”
Does Liposuction Treat Cellulite
Cellulite is the fat right below the surface of the skin. It typically looks bumpy and uneven because the fat pushes through the connective tissue. While many people think it is unattractive, cellulite doesn’t present any health concerns. “It’s also not removed by liposuction, although the procedure might make your cellulite less visible. If it’s a concern for you, you can discuss options for reducing the look of cellulite with your doctor,” says Dr. Zannis.
Instant six pack abs & breast reductions are possible with liposuction
But it's important to manage your expectations. “The less fat you have, the more likely you will achieve sculpted, six pack abs than patients with higher body fat (despite having more fat removed),” Dr. Zannis stresses.
The More Fat Removed, the Better
“Actually, the more fat you remove, the higher the chances for risks you don’t want to deal with such as lumps and bumps.These fears are most likely driven by the fact that patients request aggressive treatment of localized fatty deposits. The more fat that is removed, the greater the potential risk of developing these problems,” says Dr. Zannis. The American Society of Plastic Surgery recommends limiting liposuction to 5 liters (about 11 pounds) in an outpatient setting.
Hispanic Adults with Diabetes Could Benefit from Peer Support Interventions
MU study finds peer support interventions effective at improving blood sugar levels of minority patients
Diabetes is a global health problem that disproportionally affects individuals of ethnic and racial minorities. Minorities are more likely to experience complications from the disease, and the death rate from diabetes among Hispanics is 50 percent higher than non-Hispanic whites, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.
In the study, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine examined the effectiveness of peer support interventions, where diabetic patients received support from a person who had knowledge from their own experiences with diabetes or someone who had been affected by diabetes, but may not have the disease themselves, such as a caregiver or family member. The researchers found that the interventions were effective at improving the blood sugar levels of participants from minority groups, especially those of Hispanic ethnicity.
“Peer supporters can help diabetic patients better manage their disease by providing advice on diet and exercise regimens, monitoring blood sugar levels and coping with the new diagnoses,” said Sonal Patil, M.D., assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine at the MU School of Medicine. “Peer support interventions have been suggested by the World Health Organization as a way to improve self-care behaviors of diabetic patients, but an adequate review of the effectiveness of such interventions has not happened.”
Patil and her colleagues analyzed results from 17 randomized control trials on diabetic peer support interventions conducted from 1960 to 2015. The researchers compared blood sugar levels of patients who received peer support to those who received similar care, but did not participate in peer interventions. Patil found that peer support interventions modestly improved patients’ blood sugar levels, with the most significant improvements found in studies with predominantly minority participants.
“Previous research has found that when culturally appropriate health education is provided to people with diabetes who belong to ethnic minority groups, their glycemic control and knowledge of diabetes improves,” Patil said. “Our findings suggest that peer health coaches might provide more culturally appropriate health education in ethnic minority populations, particularly Latino ones.”
Patil said that peer support interventions not only help diabetic patients, but also provide benefits to the peers delivering the support.
“Previous research has found that being a peer supporter to others actually increases one’s own self-management of the disease,” Patil said.
More random control trials are needed with African American participants before she can determine the effectiveness of peer support for that specific community, Patil said.
Additionally, Patil noted that peer support interventions should be done in conjunction, and not in place of, regular visits with the patient’s health provider.
Patil’s study, “Peer Support Interventions for Adults with Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Hemoglobin A1c Outcomes,” recently was published in the Annals of Family Medicine. The study was funded with internal funds from the University of Missouri Department of Family and Community Medicine.
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About the MU School of Medicine
The MU School of Medicine has improved health, education and research in Missouri and beyond for more than 165 years. MU physicians treat patients from every county in the state, and more Missouri physicians received their medical degrees from MU than from any other university. For more information, visit http://medicine.missouri.edu/.
HelloFresh Canada expands nationwide
HelloFresh Canada is now delivering its healthy and convenient meal kits from coast to coast, to help all Canadians answer that age-old question: “What’s for dinner?”
“The entire team is proud of the progress we’ve made in just six months since our launch. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our current customers in Ontario, and we’re certain people across the country will soon see the benefits of our meal kits,” said Ian Brooks, Managing Director, HelloFresh Canada. “This expansion reinforces our mission to provide nutritious, tasty meals to Canadians.”
HelloFresh’s unique culinary experience streamlines meal preparation by sending at-home cooks inspirational recipes and pre-measured, pre-chopped ingredients to make meals from scratch in 30 minutes or less. HelloFresh takes care of the meal planning, shopping, measuring, and delivery, leaving time for the fun parts: cooking and eating!
The service is simple – customers visit HelloFresh.ca, or download the app on Android or iOS. From there they choose their subscription option (Pronto Plan or Family Plan), and select their meals for the upcoming week. Meals are delivered weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays directly to customers’ doorsteps, packed in state-of-the-art boxes to ensure each delivery arrives fresh.
Recipes are developed in the HelloFresh test kitchen by an in-house culinary team headed by Irene Ngo. The meal kits contain seasonal ingredients, along with step-by-step recipes and nutritional information.
“We love sharing the joy of cooking every day in a way that is approachable and rewarding. We believe that healthy eating patterns start in the home, and our kits get Canadians started with easy and delicious recipes, and high-quality ingredients,” said Ngo. “Our recipes explore new flavours and deliver crowd favourites, and get people on the path to healthy eating.”
The globally renowned organization first launched in Ontario, in June 2016, and will now reach nine provinces, excluding Quebec. The company continues to adapt its services to meet the ever-growing demand for “cook from scratch” meals. Subscribers globally are rediscovering the joy of food with HelloFresh by preparing healthy, tasty meals they can be proud to place on the dinner table. Canadian meal kits start at just $10.85 per plate. Visit HelloFresh.ca for all the available options.
Twitter: @HelloFreshCA
Facebook: Facebook.com/HelloFresh
Instagram: @HelloFreshCA
#HelloFreshLife
About HelloFresh
HelloFresh currently operates in the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, and Canada. HelloFresh delivered 22.1 million meals in the 3-month period up to 30 September 2016, to about 850,000 subscribers. HelloFresh was founded in November 2011, and is based in Berlin.
Additional offices are located in New York, London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Sydney, and Toronto. Current investors include Baillie Gifford, Insight Venture Partners, Phenomen Ventures, Rocket Internet, and Vorwerk Direct Selling Ventures.
Family Caregiver stress peaks during the holiday season
With the holiday season upon us, many Canadians are scrambling to fit a host of extra errands and activities into their already jam-packed lives. For most of us, stress levels can rise during the holidays, but new data from Elizz shows this time of year can be especially challenging for the millions of Canadians who act as family caregivers.
Elizz, Canada's go-to place for all things caregiving, has spent the last year connecting with and helping family caregivers and those who depend on them. Launched in October 2015 by Saint Elizabeth, a national health care provider, Elizz has received close to 600,000 visitors to its caregiver website, Elizz.com. Among its many online resources is a simple self-assessment presented to caregivers when they enter the site: 'How are you feeling today?'
This tool takes a daily temperature of Canadian caregivers and the results during key holidays are telling.
- 37% of caregivers were 'feeling stressed' or 'in crisis' in December 2015, a 10% bump over the monthly average reported.
- Easter and Thanksgiving also showed peak stress with 34% and 37% reporting stress or crisis in the respective periods.
- A recent poll on Elizz.com revealed that 45% of family caregivers find juggling extra holiday errands with work and caregiving duties is a key factor in their rising stress.
- The same poll found that 15% of caregivers stress about how to include aging parents with health issues in holiday celebrations.
"'How are you feeling today' is a cornerstone of the Elizz brand," said Allyson Kinsley, Senior Vice President of Brand Experience and Strategy for Elizz and Saint Elizabeth. "So often people only ask about the health of an aging parent or relative, forgetting that family caregivers can also be under tremendous pressure and dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety."
What do caregivers ask for most? In a word – help. Help managing the health needs of their family members, with 25% of caregivers asking for professional in-home assistance.
Having mom or dad visit during the holidays can mean helping them get washed, dressed and fed or tending to other personal needs and medical care. This can be time-consuming on the best of days, making quality time during busy family gatherings especially difficult. When an aging parent or relative has complex health needs, or is in hospital or long-term care, bringing them home for any length of visit may seem virtually unmanageable.
The phone lines at Elizz are already lighting up with requests from families looking for home health care assistance over the holidays, whether it's help with personal care, medications or specialty nursing services such as dementia and palliative care. Virtual services such as the Caregiver Coach are also available to help guide families through the health care system based on their own unique situation.
Five holiday tips for caregivers of seniors
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Try to spend as much time as possible with the elderly person you're caring for before, during, and after the holidays. The holiday season can be a lonely time for seniors, especially if they are living in a long-term care facility, and can bring back memories of family and friends who are no longer here. |
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| 2. |
Involve your elderly parent in your plans for holiday festivities. For example, asking someone their opinion on the menu for Christmas dinner may seem trivial to you, but it could mean the world to a senior who may be feeling a bit neglected. |
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Try creating a new holiday memory or tradition with them. Try to find senior-friendly activities in which they are easily able to participate, such as window shopping at the mall during an off-peak time, or visiting their old friends. |
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| 4. |
If possible, suggest having a small holiday gathering of your parents' friends at your home or facility where they live. Make this a family activity by enlisting the help of other family members, especially any older children or teenagers, to help in the preparations, serving, and clean-up. |
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| 5. |
Encourage the elders in your care to stay active with light exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. If 30 minutes is too much, try starting with five minutes of easy stretches or walking around the house, and gradually adding more minutes as they build up their stamina. |
New Study Confirms That
Mercury Is Linked to Autism
Researchers found strong relationship between mercury toxicity levels and autism severity.
By Robert. F. Kennedy, Jr.
Two new studies by international teams, including Egyptian scientists, have validated the link between autism and mercury.
In an article published in the journal Metabolic Brain Disease, a team of nine scientists from leading Egyptian universities and medical schools confirmed the causal role of mercury in the onset of autism.
The scientists determined the extent of mercury poisoning in children by measuring urinary excretion of organic compounds called porphyrins, which act as biomarkers for mercury toxicity. The researchers also measured blood levels of mercury and lead. The researchers found a strong relationship between mercury toxicity and the presence of autism and a direct correlation between levels of mercury toxicity and the severity of autism symptoms.
The scientists studied 100 children; 40 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 40 healthy individuals and 20 healthy siblings of ASD children. The results showed that the children with ASD had significantly higher mercury levels than healthy children and healthy siblings. Children with the highest mercury levels had the most severe autism symptoms.
At least six American studies have linked autism presence or severity to mercury exposure as determined by measuring urinary porphyrins. The first study, completed by Heyer et al. in 2012 (Autism Res 5:84) showed a correlation between the presence of autism and specific urinary porphyrins associated with mercury toxicity. This affirmed an earlier study by Kern et al. (2011, Pediatr Int 53:147) where specific porphyrins associated with mercury toxicity were significantly higher in ASD children as compared to non-autistic controls. Woods et al. (2010, Environ Health Perspect 118:1450) also saw disordered porphyrin metabolism in autistic kids which was not observed in non-autistic control children. This again suggested increased mercury toxicity associated with autism and autism spectrum disorder.
Autism severity has also been correlated to levels of specific porphyrins associated with mercury toxicity. Kern et al. in 2010 (Biometals 23:1043) showed a strong relationship between the level of autism severity as measured by the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) instrument and the amount of urinary porphyrins observed in ASD children. Geier et al. (2009, J Toxicol Environ Health A 72:1585) also correlated urinary porphyrins to autism severity in a blind study using the childhood autism rating scale (CARS). This study was further elucidated by Geier et al. (2009, J Neurol Sci 15:280) where children with severe autism showed significantly higher urinary porphyrins associated with mercury toxicity as compared to those children with mild autism and non-autistic controls. Other biomarkers measured in this study correlating mercury toxicity with autism severity include the presence of glutathione, cysteine and sulfate metabolites in plasma.
In a second study, by Mostafa et al., published in Metabolic Brain Disease in June 2016, an international team of Egyptian, Norwegian, Saudi Arabian and Chilean physicians and scientists used a different set of measurement protocols to find a direct correlation between mercury levels and autism diagnosis. The reasearchers measured levels of neurokinin A and B - pro-inflammatory neuro peptides that indicate the presence of mercury in the blood – in 84 children with ASD and 84 controls. The results showed a positive linear relationship between mercury levels and the severity of autism symptoms.
Many of the mothers of children in the first 2016 Egyptian study (Khaled et al.)had multiple dental amalgams which may have contributed to the children's body levels of mercury. The study does not examine the potential link between autism and the vaccine preservative, thimerosal, which is 50 percent ethyl mercury by weight. However, other studies indicate that the ethyl mercury in thimerosal is 50 times as toxic to human tissue as the methylmercury in amalgams and fish (Guzzi et al. 2012, Interdiscipl Toxicol 5:159) and at least twice as persistent in the brain (Burbacher et al. 2005, Environ Health Perspect 113:1015).
The 2016 Metabolic Brain Disease studies are only the latest in a series of important studies by leading Egyptian doctors and scientists linking mercury exposure to autism. A September 2015 paper published in Behavioral Neurology (Mohamed et al. 2015, PMID 26508811) by a group of researchers from the faculty of Cairo's Ain Shams University and the National Institute of Standards studied 100 autistic children and 100 healthy children. The researchers found significantly high levels of mercury, lead and aluminum in the autistic children (probably from maternal fish consumptions, living near gas stations and usage of aluminum paints) and concluded that "environmental exposure to these toxic metals at key times in development may play a causal role in autism."
A November 2014 study published in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology (38:1016) by Heba Yassa of the Assuit University Medical School's Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, looked at 45 children with autism and 45 controls. Using blood and hair samples, Dr. Yassa also found high levels of lead and mercury among the children with autism and not the controls. Using dimercaptosuccinic acid or DMSA as a chelating agent, Dr. Yassa was able to reduce blood mercury and lead levels in the autistic children. His study documents significant declines in autism symptoms with the decrease of metals in the children's blood. The study's concluded: "Lead and mercury are considered as one of the main causes of autism. Environmental exposure as well as genetic inability of certain individuals to excrete metals is responsible for the high levels of heavy metals. Detoxification by chelating agents had a great role in improving those kids."
Dr. Yassa's study duplicated the results of numerous previous peer-reviewed papers and case studies. For example, Blaucok-Busch et al. 2012 Maedica 7:214 and Adams et al. 2009 BMC Clinical Pharmacol 9:17 documents improvements in autism symptoms and even loss of the autism diagnosis following mercury chelation.
Dr. Yassa's 2014 study supported earlier findings by a team of German and Egyptian government and university medical school scientists, which reported in a 2012 study published in Maedica, a Journal of Clinical Medicine (Blaucok-Busch et al. 7:214). The scientists studied the efficacy of DMSA chelation therapy in a sample of Arab children with autism spectrum disorder. That study found that oral DMSA chelation in 44 children with autism ages 3 to 9 reduced body burden of three metals—sodium, mercury and lead—and that detoxification reduced their behavioral effects and neurological symptoms of autism.
These 2014 and 2012 Egyptian studies supported the findings of several other publications and case studies, suggesting that heavy metal chelation has a measurable therapeutic effect on autism. Other studies have reported significant improvement in the symptoms of autistic children following treatment with chelating drugs that remove metals from the body. In a 2002 study, 10 patients with autism were treated with a chelating agent. All but two of the patients showed improvement in their ATEC scores (Lonsdale et al., Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2002, 23:303). A study in 2003 by Jeff Bradstreet compared mercury excretion after three day treatment using the chelating agent, DMSA, and found that children with autism excreted three times the amount of mercury in their urine as the non-autistic control group (Bradstreet, et al., J Am Phys Surg 2003, 8:76).
These are only a sampling of the groundbreaking studies by Egyptian scientists, doctors and researchers on the etiology of autism. Impressive Egyptian studies beg a host of questions for public health officials and American citizens. Most prominently: why can a chaotic society in a war torn and relatively impoverished nation produce high quality science on the etiology and successful treatments of autism while the science on the environmental triggers of autism in the U.S. is stagnant despite the National Institutes of Health spending more than $1 billion on autism research since 2010?
MedReleaf continues to lead on scientific research: Landmark, peer-reviewed study shows medical cannabis dramatically improves lives of veterans with PTSD
MedReleaf, Canada's premium licensed producer of medical cannabis, today announced the findings from a landmark study on the effectiveness of medical cannabis on military veterans diagnosed with PTSD. The study found treatment with medical cannabis improved aggregate patient reported outcomes by 50-60% with a 77% decrease in suicidal thoughts as well as a 50% reduction in the consumption of related medications.
The study, being presented today in Vancouver at the 7th Annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum, was conducted by Dr. Paul Smith, MD, using several of MedReleaf's proprietary strains of medical cannabis including AviDekel, Luminarium and Midnight.
From baseline to follow up, the study revealed a number of key insights on patient outcomes including:
- Aggregate score of both PTSD symptoms and social impacts improved by 59%
- Drug and alcohol overuse was reduced by 82%
- Marital and relationship harmony improved 65% and
- Severity of pain experienced by patients decreased 48%
Improvements in outcomes were also associated with a 50% reduction in the consumption of PTSD-related medications, including opioids. 36% of patients on PTSD related medications at baseline discontinued all such medications, for an estimated annual savings of $2,300 to $3,800 per patient.
"The evidence is overwhelming that cannabis is dramatically improving the lives of veterans with PTSD," noted Neil Closner, CEO of MedReleaf. "We're encouraged by Dr. Smith's work; it provides valuable insight and data that will assist the broader healthcare community in their quest to help veterans better manage their healthcare needs."
"In my practice, I see the worst of the worst in terms of PTSD; when all other treatment options fail, these patients come to me," noted the study's author, Dr, Paul Smith, adding "70% of veterans are dropping out of traditional PTSD programs in favour of a medical cannabis course of treatment and as the evidence overwhelmingly shows, it is remarkably effective."
Patients in the study required 9.4 grams of medical cannabis a day to achieve these results leading Dr. Smith to note, "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to effective cannabis dosing but I believe that when veterans get VAC coverage for cannabis oils and capsules, we'll see more veterans turn to this treatment and I think that with these new, accurate dosing methods of delivery we'll see a reduction in the amount of cannabis required for a course of treatment."
Following the presentation of the abstract at Forum 2016, Dr. Smith will submit the results for peer review with the goal of publication in the Journal of Veteran, Military and Family Health.
About the study
The study is based on chart audits of 100 patients with confirmed diagnosis of PTSD and who initiated a treatment of medical cannabis after January, 2014. Self-reported Patient-Related Outcomes (PRO) were captured at baseline and at a follow up visit between 3 and 18 months after initiation of a treatment of medical cannabis. The data review was conducted at a single medical practice with extensive treatment of medical cannabis and which serves a large number of military veterans.
The full abstract, including details on study background, methodology, epidemiology and detailed results can be found at www.medreleaf.com/research-overview.
About MedReleaf
MedReleaf is the leading, research-and-development driven, medical cannabis producer in Canada and the only ISO 9001 certified cannabis producer in North America. They offer the finest range of premium cannabis products sourced from around the globe and cultivated in their Ontario facility under the strictest guidelines and care. MedReleaf focuses on quality, safety, uniformity, and reliability, and they do it all to improve the quality of life for their patients. MedReleaf is setting The Medical Grade Standard™, because quality assurance is at the core of every product they produce. Through tireless clinical research in concert with the Canadian medical community, MedReleaf is consistently striving to unlock the immense potential of medical cannabis, and is dedicated to leading the way in the discovery of its medical and therapeutic benefits.
For more information on MedReleaf, its products and processes, please visit MedReleaf.com
SOURCE MedReleaf Corp.
Organic standards will exclude next generation of GMOs
The National Organic Standards Board voted unanimously on Friday to update U.S. organic standards to exclude ingredients derived from next generation genetic engineering and gene editing.
This recommendation to the US Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program will ensure that ingredients derived from new genetic engineering techniques, including synthetic biology, will not be allowed in the production or final product of foods and beverages that are certified organic. Synthetic biology is a new set of genetic engineering techniques that include using synthetic DNA to re-engineer organisms to produce substances they would not normally produce or to edit DNA so as to silence the expression of certain traits.
“The Board’s hard-fought proactive stance on synthetic biology will both help preserve the integrity of organic standards and raise awareness about this virtually unregulated and unlabeled form of genetic engineering,” said Dana Perls, food and technology policy campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “It’s critical that organic standards treat new types of genetic engineering that are rapidly entering our food and consumer products as rigorously as the first generation of GMOs.”
Like “traditional” GMOs, synthetic biology ingredients are entering food and consumer products in absence of adequate health and environmental safety assessment, oversight and labeling. Many are being falsely marketed as “natural.” Products in development include synthetic biology stevia, saffron, coconut and cacao, meant to replace plant-based ingredients, many of which are currently produced by small farmers in the Global South. There is increasing concern that these farmers’ livelihoods may be displaced by synthetic biology ingredients. Other products include gene-silenced apples, CRISPR waxy corn and Cibus Canola oil, engineered with gene editing techniques.
“The National Organic Standards Board has made clear that all kinds of genetic engineering are to be excluded from ‘organic.’ The public expects that government to actually assess the new foods that it is permitting on the market,” said Jaydee Hanson, senior policy analyst, Center for Food Safety. “Unfortunately, the government has failed to update its regulations to adequately assess these new kinds of genetically engineering. When the USDA approves that NOSB recommendations, consumers who want to avoid GMOs will be able to use the Organic Seal to know that the product is not a GMO.”
The Board’s announcement follows a growing trend of companies stating that they will not use ingredients produced via synthetic biology. The Non-GMO Project, North America’s only third party verification program for non-GMO food and products, recently updated its standards so as to include synthetic biology and new gene editing techniques. Companies such as Ben and Jerry’s (BJICA: US), Three Twins Ice Cream, Straus Family Creamery, Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss, Nestlé (NSRGY: OTC US), and General Mills (NYSE: GIS) have committed to “...not source vanilla flavor produced through synthetic biology,” a product that is designed to replace natural vanillin flavoring from vanilla beans. Synthetic biology vanilla flavoring, introduced by Evolva (SWX: EVE) and International Flavors and Fragrances (NYSE: IFF) in 2014, is the first major synthetic biology ingredient to enter food and beverages, marketed as “natural vanillin.” Other companies that have pledged to avoid synthetic biology ingredients entirely include Nutiva and Dr. Bronner’s.
Synthetic biology employs a new set of genetic engineering techniques that involve artificially constructing or “editing” genetic material such as DNA in order to create new forms of life, or to attempt to “reprogram” existing organisms. Despite growing concerns about the possible impacts of synthetic biology organisms on human health and the environment and a lack of independent safety assessment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has allowed synthetic biology vanilla, DuPont’s CRISPR waxy corn and other similarly created food and cosmetic ingredients to enter the market without regulation. Existing regulations that identify GE crops and food ingredients as “Generally Regarded As Safe” use an outdated process with minimal testing requirements that rely on companies to self-evaluate the safety of their products.
More information about synthetic biology can be found here.
Burnbrae Farms: EGG Creations – Recipes
Ramen Egg Cups
PREP TIME: 10 min.
MAKES: 12
INGREDIENTS:
2 x 85g ramen noodles, cooked according to package directions
Egg Creations Whole Eggs Original Mushroom & Spinach
1 tbsp (15 mL) soy sauce
1 tsp (5 mL) hot sauce, plus extra to serve
¼ cup (60 mL) sliced green onions, plus extra to serve
DIRECTIONS:
1. Grease well a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Place cooked ramen noodles in a large bowl. Pour over Egg Creations Whole Eggs Original Mushroom & Spinach. Stir to combine. Equally divide noodles into prepared muffin tin, letting excess egg drip back into bowl. Leave a dip in the middle of each noodle “nest” using your hands. Place in the oven and bake 5 min., to set noodles.
3. To remaining Egg Creations Original Mushroom & Spinach add soy sauce, hot sauce and green onions. Divide egg mixture between ramen “nests”. Continue to bake in oven until egg has completely set, 10 – 12 min. Remove egg cups from muffin tin, using a butter knife to loosen edges if necessary.
4. Top with extra hot sauce and a sprinkle of extra green onions, if using before serving.
TIPS:
* Use leftover spaghetti noodles instead of ramen noodles.
* Try adding a drop of sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds to ramen cups.
* Replace green onions with chopped cilantro or chopped fresh basil.
