New Chapter Contest Rules and Regulations
“Community CNF Oceanwise Contest” (the Contest)
Brought to you by Community Natural Foods Ltd.
CONTEST SUMMARY
April 2013
To enter the Contest, visit a Community Natural Foods (CNF) store and complete an entry form and drop it into the contest box located at any participating CNF Store. List of the participating CNF Stores can be found at www.communitynaturalfoods.com/contact-us. See “Contest Rules and Regulations” below for a full set of Rules and Regulations, which are incorporated herein by reference. Only one entry per Contestant.
RULES: No purchase necessary. Contest is open only to legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years of age or older. Contest runs from 12:00 am (MST) Monday, April 22nd, 2013 to 11:59pm (MST) Monday May 6th 2013 and the prizes must be claimed by 11:59 pm (MST) on May 31, 2013.
Skill testing question must be answered correctly to claim prizes
Odds of winning depend on number of contestants registered.
CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS
April 2013
1. OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONs
The following are the Official Rules and Regulations (the “Rules”) of “Community Natural Foods Oceanwise Contest” (the Contest) brought to you by Community Natural Foods Ltd. (CNF).
This Contest is void, in whole or part, where prohibited by law and is subject to all federal, provincial, state and municipal laws and regulations. There is no purchase necessary to participate in this Contest. CNF reserves the right to make changes to the Contest, where necessary, due to changing business, operational and marketing considerations. Subject to applicable laws, these Rules govern all aspects of the Contest, including the Contest Summary, and are binding upon all Contest entrants. In the event of any inconsistency between the Rules and the conditions and explanations appearing on any other documents, including the Contest Summary, these Rules shall take precedence.
2. ELIGIBILITY
This Contest, is open only to legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years of age or older. Contestants may be required to prove their age at the time of redeeming their prize. Employees, officers and directors of ”CNF” are not eligible to win any of the Prizes.
To enter the Contest, visit a CNF store and complete an entry form and drop it into the contest box located at any participating Community CNF Store. List of the participating Community CNF Stores can be found at www.communitynaturalfoods.com/contact-us.
3. CONTEST PERIOD
The Contest starts at 12:00 am (MST) on Monday April 22nd, 2013 and ends at 11:59 pm Saturday May 18th, 2013 (the “Contest Period”).
4. HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST
To enter the Contest, visit a Community CNF store and complete an entry form and drop it into the contest box located at any participating Community CNF Store. List of the participating Community CNF Stores can be found at www.communitynaturalfoods.com/contact-us. Only one entry per Contestant.
5. PRIZES
One (1) first prize of a trip for two (2) to Vancouver to attend the Vancouver Aquarium’s “Night at the Aquarium” event on June 13, 2013 (includes round trip economy airfare from Calgary*, 2 nights hotel accommodations, round trip airport car service in Vancouver, and admission to the “Night at the Aquarium” Event). One (1) second prize** of a $500 Community CNF Gift Card.
One (1) third prize** of a $250 valued Community CNF Gift Basket.
* does not include airport taxes or surcharges, parking at airport, or baggage charges. This does not include any traveling costs to get to the Calgary airport. Does not include taxi costs while in Vancouver. Winner and guest responsible for their own food and beverage. Round trip economy airfare for 2 must be taken from Calgary to Vancouver. Approximate value of the first prize is $2400.00. Guest of First Prize winner must be over 18. A travel voucher for airfare for two will be issued to the First Prize Winner and thereafter, the First Prize Winner is responsible to book their own flight arrangements to Vancouver and return to Calgary and must arrive in Vancouver no later than 4:00 pm Pacific Time Zone, Thursday June 13th, 2013. Arrangements for pick up of travel vouchers can be made through CNF representative3s.
** Second and third prizes must be picked up at CNF Head Office, 6120-1A Street SW in Calgary no later than May 31, 2013.
Prizes must be accepted as awarded. No substitutions are available. CNF, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to substitute all or any portion of the Prizes with a prize or portion thereof of equal or greater value. Prizes are non-transferable, non-refundable and have no cash value.
6. SELECTION OF WINNERS
For each of the three (3) prizes, one winner will be selected at a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Note, only one entry per Contestant. A CNF representative will conduct the drawing within one week of the end of the contest noted above. The potential winners of the contest will be notified via email or phone by a CNF representative. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received for the contest.
The decision of the CNF representative in relation to this Contest and who the Winners are will be final and binding on all entrants.
Odds of being a Winner depends on the number of contestants registered. The selected Winners then have to properly answer the skill testing in order to claim the related prize.
Contacting Winners:
CNF, or their designated representative, will make three (3) attempts to contact the Winner by email or telephone within four (4) days of being selected. If the Winners: (i) cannot be contacted within three (3) attempts over the four (4) days, or (ii) there is a return of any notification as undeliverable; then that Winner will be disqualified and an alternate entrant will be selected by the CNF representative. The process noted above will be repeated until all Winners have been contacted and verified, or there are no eligible contestants remaining.
7. PRIZE AWARDING AND REDEMPTION
Before being declared a Winner, the Winner must first correctly answer, without assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a mathematical skill-testing question. The Winner may be required to: (i) supply proof of age consisting of a legible photocopy of either a provincial or state issued driver’s license or other government issued identification; (ii) supply proof of address consisting of a legible photocopy of either a provincial or state issued driver’s license or other government issued identification; (iii) verify the authenticity of the Winners email account. The Winner will also be required to sign and return within five (5) business days CNF Declaration and Release Form (the “Release Form”), which (among other things): (i) confirms compliance with these Rules and acceptance of the Prize as awarded without substitution; (ii) releases CNF, their respective affiliated and related companies, and each of their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, dealers, representatives, successors and assigns from any liability in connection with this Contest, the Winner’s participation therein and/or the awarding and use/misuse of the Prize or any portion thereof; and (iii) agrees to the publication, reproduction and/or other use of his/her name as CNF reasonable determines and/or photograph or other likeness, without further notice or compensation, in any publicity or advertisement carried out by CNF in any manner whatsoever, including print, broadcast or the Internet. Declining the Prize, failing to correctly answer the mathematical skill-testing question, or failing to return the properly executed Release Form within the time period indicated on the Release Form, will cause the Prize to be forfeited and a new winner determined in accordance with the process for the applicable Prize, as described above in “Selection of Winners”.
8. USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
All personal information obtained for this Contest will be used only for the purposes of conducting this Contest. Personal information obtained by virtue of entering the Contest is governed by the General Privacy Policy as posted at www.communitynaturalfoods.com/privacy-policy.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
By participating in the Contest, you release CNF, their respective affiliated and related companies, advertising and promotional agencies, and each of their respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, dealers, representatives, successors and assigns from any liability in connection with this Contest, the contestants participation therein and/or the awarding and use/misuse of any Prize or portion thereof.
CNF is not responsible or liable for: (i) incorrect or inaccurate entry of registration or entry information which may affect an entrant’s ability to participate in the Contest; (ii) human errors, technical malfunctions, lost/delayed/corrupted data transmissions, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects, line failures of any telephone network, computer equipment, software or any combination thereof; and (iii) entries which fail to fully comply with these Rules.
11. GENERAL
All entry forms, prize claim and related forms become the property of CNF.
All decisions by CNF with respect to all aspects of the Contest shall be final and binding. All contestants agree to abide by all of the instructions and decisions of CNF. In the event of any dispute regarding the interpretation of these Rules or any decision rendered by CNF, the decision or interpretation of CNF shall prevail.
Any attempt to deliberately damage or tamper with a Contest, interfere with the proper administration of a Contest or undermine the legitimate operation of a Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, CNF reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution.
Should any part of these Rules be determined to be void, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the remaining parts of the Rules, which shall remain in full force and effect. The Contest is subject to all Federal, Provincial, state and local laws, as well as the rules adopted in view of said laws. The personal information provided to enter the Contest will be used only to administer the Contest, and for no other reason.
For further Contest details or inquiries contact a Contest promotional representative at:
CNF Customer Care Department either by phone or email: 403-930-6363 or customercare@mycnf.com
Meet The Locals: Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods
By Lauren Mangion, Conscious Home
CNF staff have witnessed many adults thrown into fits of giggles and blushing cheeks at the very suggestion of consuming hemp. However, it is a health food that continues to grow in popularity due to its superior health and nutrition benefits.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods has played a major role in growing and popularizing the hemp foods industry in Canada. Before the company could even get off the ground in 1998, its co-founders had to work with farmers and academics to secure trials of industrialized hemp and eventually legalize industrial hemp in the country.
Since then, Manitoba Harvest has seen a great surge in consumer awareness and demand for hemp food products, largely through the promotion of hemp foods by mainstream media personalities, like Dr. Oz. The television personality references hemp for its nutritional and health benefits so often, Manitoba Harvest has a dedicated page on its website for his videos and recipes that profile hemp.
Hemp contains all 10 amino acids, B vitamins, and has other valuable nutrients like chlorophyll and magnesium. According to the World Health Organization the ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 is 4:1. Hemp’s ratio is 3.75:1, making it a great source for balanced Omega intake. It also has a very high digestibility score.
Manitoba Harvest is the only vertically integrated hemp food company in the world. The company takes great pride in taking part in every step of the production process, from seed to shelf, which they feel gives their customers a sense of confidence in the quality of the product. In 2012, 60% of all hemp grown in Canada was grown for Manitoba Harvest. They work closely with farmers to help with government regulation compliance, and sourcing high-quality organic, non-GMO seed.
Sustainability is woven into the fabric of the company’s operations, down to the hemp plant itself. Hemp plants grow close together and have broad leaves, which naturally suppresses weeds and eliminates the possibility of herbicides. In fact, there is no registered herbicide for use with hemp. It also has a long taproot which is great for storing nutrients, minerals and water, making it a great plant for restoring soil health. Hemp is commonly referred to as “the green buffalo” because every part of the plant has a use whether its for food, fabric, rope or building material. Canada is a leader in uncovering the versatility of the plant and finding new markets for its uses.
And, what about the elephant in the room? Most people are vaguely aware of hemp’s association with a certain plant in the cannabis family that is not legal in Canada. Manitoba Harvest’s response? They say it’s like comparing a Great Dane and a Chihuahua- they are both dogs, but yet completely different.
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods produces hemp hearts (shelled seeds), protein powders, hemp oil and hemp milk, all of which can be enjoyed via your nearest Community Natural Foods.
Green your Spring with health and happiness
Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!” ~ Robin Williams
Spring has sprung! In the season of renewal, rebirth and regeneration people can’t help but feel a surge of energy, lightness and a desire to lighten their loads, both through spring cleaning in our homes and in our bodies.
True, sustainable health comes from within, and a strong nutritional foundation supports the pillars of total health! Following the cycles of the season, spring offers us a more lively diet that can help us in clearing the body of stagnant energies and toxins and renewing our systems. Spring also brings up lots of the colour green! As we move to the season of birth and regeneration – green is in the air and bursting through the soil. In our diet, we naturally gravitate more towards fresh, leafy, lighter green foods and away from the heavy winter fare.
There are a variety of reasons why green foods are good for us: they are high in fiber, rich in nutrients -notably Vitamin A, C, K as well as a variety of minerals. But green foods are also extremely rich in the green nutritional gold; chlorophyll, which is one of the finest blood builders and blood rejuvenators. Closely resembling the molecules of human red blood cells, research has proven that chlorophyll will arrest growth and development of unfriendly bacteria and also helps to facilitate your body’s ability to remove toxic deposits from the body – purifying the liver, lungs and colon.
Some Chlorophyll rich foods include:
- wheatgrass or barley grass (powdered or freshly juiced)
- green leafy vegetables (like spinach and kale)
- sprouts (like alfalfa)
- micro-algae (like spirulina)
- seaweeds or sea vegetables (like dulse, nori, and wakame)
- wild edible greens (like dandelion greens and nettles)
One way to ensure that you are incorporating ample greens and gaining the benefits they offer your diet is by adding a green food supplement into your daily regime, like greens+ which is proven to nourish, improve long-term energy levels, boost antioxidant activity, balance pH and promote healthy bones!
Green is great – but can’t do it all. Proper nourishment is a team effort, and requires a well balanced diet of clean proteins, fibre rich whole grains and fruits & vegetable from all colours of the spectrum, as well as plenty of health fats, including Omega 3 fatty acids. Looking to the Mediterranean diet, long touted for its health benefits, we see a variety of colourful, plant-based, antioxidant rich foods as well as plenty of healthy fats. This synergy significantly nourishes the body and protects against causes of chronic disease such as inflammation and oxidative stress!
In head-to-head research, Omega-3 fatty acids combined with dietary antioxidants, like those found in greens+, have been shown to exhibit more powerful anti-inflammatory effects vs. Omega-3 alone.
Top 5 reasons to take a green food supplements and Omega 3s together:
- Full spectrum antioxidant support
- Anti-inflammatory actions
- Healthy digestion
- Mood and energy support
- Healthy, glowing skin
This perfect match of synergistic nourishment benefits all of the systems in the entire body, and there are countless benefits to the additional antioxidant protection against metabolic and environmental toxins.
Health and happiness comes from within, so take time this Spring to not only to clean your personal surroundings, but to do some internal housekeeping as well, looking to foods that offer optimum nourishment for lasting health and happiness.
Meet the Locals: Rock Ridge Dairy
By Lauren Mangion, Conscious Home
The story of Rock Ridge Dairy began with 2 things: a long-held dream of being a farmer, and goats. According to his wife Cherylynn, Patrick Bos only ever wanted to be a farmer. He had been milking cows for farms neighboring his family’s since he was 14 years old. When Cherylynn and Patrick married, she joined in his vision and they became the second generation on Patrick’s family’s farm between Lacombe and Ponoka, raising beef heifers. Realizing quickly that the economy of scale was not in their favor, that they would never have enough cows on their land base to make a living, they turned to other opportunities. An ad in the paper from a dairy processing facility looking for goat dairy products caught Patrick’s attention. He mentioned it to Cherylynn and then quickly dismissed it, until one night she woke up with the realization that it was what they needed to do.
They worked long days with 2 milkings a day, and other jobs at the same time, until the processing facility shut down, which Cherylynn describes as, “the best worst thing to happen.” They say necessity is the mother of invention, and necessity certainly spurred big things for Rock Ridge Dairy. It didn’t take long for the Boses to realize that to be sustainable in their quest to farm for a living, they needed to take the processing into their own hands. 1 year later, they had built a processing facility on the farm.
Meanwhile, one of Alberta’s two certified organic dairy processing facilities had closed its doors, leaving many small-scale farmers without a processor for their products. Cherylynn and Patrick found a number of these farmers at their door one day, offering up another opportunity for their on-farm facility. Rock Ridge Dairy now proudly processes and packages certified organic cow’s milk products brought to them by local Albertan organic dairies that strictly adhere to Canada’s organic standard. The cows are not given antibiotics or hormones and are fed certified organic feed. Another unique aspect of Rock Ridge’s organic milk products is that the milk comes from Jersey cows, whereas most milk in Alberta is from Holsteins. Jersey milk is known to be sweet and creamy.
Aside from the prompting of local dairy farmers, Rock Ridge Dairy moved into organic products because they felt that Albertans were really demanding a quality local product. “Recently there has been a huge push from the government, consumers and grocers to grow the market for all the great food that is produced here in Alberta, and I am so glad for it and to be part of it,” says Cherylynn.
Rock Ridge Dairy is starting with a fluid line of 1%, 2% and 3% organic milk which will be new to Community Natural Food’s dairy cooler this month!
Voluntary Vega Recall Notice
| Product Name | Flavour | SKU | Size | Expiry | Lot number | UPC |
| Vega One | French Vanilla | VEG10529 | 414 g | 07/2014 |
42245900
|
8-38766 10529-1
|
| VEG10524 | 827 g | 07/2014 |
42245800
|
8-38766 10524-6
|
||
| VEG10534 | 10 x 37.6 g | 07/2014 |
2308000
|
8-38766 10534-5
|
||
| VEG10539 | 37.6 g | 07/2014 |
2308000
|
8-38766 10539-0
|
Meet The Locals: Sylvan Star Cheese
You might hear a true cheese aficionado say that before Jan Schalkwyk moved to Alberta and started Sylvan Star Cheese, good cheese being made here in the province was hard to find.
Jan Schalkwyk and his family emigrated from the Netherlands in 1995 after his son, who was in Canada attending school, reported back to his family that there were larger pieces of land available for farming here than in the Netherlands. Jan has a long history as a dairy farmer, cheese maker and teacher of the art of making cheese. In fact, cheese has been his way of life for over 50 years. As a child, Jan grew up on a dairy farm and was making farmstead cheese by his teens. He then went on to study dairy technology in school, became a teacher of the trade for many years, and hosted a teaching school and practicum sessions on his own farm in the Netherlands.
When Jan came to Canada, he was not planning to make cheese anymore. However, when he couldn’t find the quality of cheese he was looking for to suit his own standards for consumption, within 4 years of being here, he found himself immersed in making cheese again. He and his son, who manages the dairy cows, soon shifted the landscape for flavorful, quality, small-batch cheese made in Alberta. Since 1999, Sylvan Star has been recognized with 11 national and international awards for various cheeses.
There is great tradition and knowledge around cheese making in Europe, and the application of this traditional process is what makes Sylvan Star unique in Alberta. According to Jan, equal attention and care must be paid to four areas of the process of making cheese- the cow’s feed, the milking process, the processing of the milk without pasteurization, and allowing for a natural ripening of the cheese.
Although Sylvan Star is not certified organic, they adhere to the requirements of the standard. Cows are fed alfalfa and grasses grown on the Schalkwyk’s land, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. This is an important aspect of the soft flavor of the cheese. Jan also believes strongly that cheese should not be pasteurized (heating milk to a relatively high temperature to kill bacteria), as it diminishes the quality, flavor, and healthy enzymes in cheese. Instead, Jan builds a strong culture to activate and protect the cheese from bad bacteria, uses a salt brine and a specially imported wax from the Netherlands to protect from molds during the ripening process, both of which retain the flavor and the living enzymes in the cheese.
Jan is pleased to see his cheeses becoming more and more popular, and the resurgence of people in Western Canada who are concerned about flavor, quality, and the transparency associated with small-scale, local farms. If you haven’t tried Sylvan Star Cheese, you can pick up an Award-winning Grizzly Gouda or gruyere at your local Community Natural Foods anytime. We are certain it will change your opinion of Alberta-made cheese!
Loving Your Heart
It’s with you wherever you go. Its subdued lub-dub sound may help you fall asleep at night. Or its pounding can be part of your most exciting experiences. It isn’t you, but you won’t last long without it. Your heart keeps the blood of life flowing through your veins and arteries every moment of every day of your life, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body.
Getting better acquainted with that fist-sized organ in your chest might help you — or someone you love — enjoy improved cardiovascular health for a long, active life.
The Bad News
The term “heart disease” includes a variety of problems affecting the heart and blood vessels including hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries) and heart attack, together the leading causes of death in North America. Heart disease affects more men, but it also kills women. In fact, more men have heart attacks, but more women have fatal heart attacks. There are an estimated 70,000 heart attacks each year in Canada causing about 19,000 deaths.
A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells caused when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain. A stroke may cause paralysis, speech impairment, memory and reasoning loss, coma, or death. Although it affects the brain, stroke is considered a type of heart and circulatory disease.
Health Canada, offers a “Healthy Heart Kit” online (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ccdpc-cpcmc/hhk-tcs/english/index-eng.php). It states:
“Two out of three Canadians have one or more of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated blood cholesterol. Well over a third of Canadian adults lead a sedentary lifestyle. And just under half of all Canadians are overweight.”
The Good News
A healthy approach can strengthen your heart and enhance overall health and longevity. Health Canada also tells us: “Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is largely preventable. Furthermore, the benefits of CVD prevention extend to other areas of chronic disease. Many of the lifestyle practices that endanger Canadians’ cardiovascular health also contribute to cancer and lung disease.”
Since most of the major risk factors for heart disease are PREVENTABLE, this means YOU are the most important factor in your present and future heart-related health.
Eating well and losing weight for a healthy heart
The first recommendation a doctor is likely to give a patient with concerns about heart disease is to lose weight.
“Eat well” can sound a bit boring, but it can be a life-saving strategy all the same. Before you or someone you love becomes a heart disease statistic, take a new look at the classic elements of a healthy diet.
1. Balance – eat foods from different food groups. Canada’s Food Guide is one reference:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php
2. Portion sizes – You may be eating more than you need simply because there’s too much on your plate. Take smaller portions and wait at least 15 minutes after you eat before deciding you’re still hungry.
3. Variety – As North Americans we are fortunate, we can choose from a wide range of fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts, meats, fish, legumes, dairy products and seafood at almost any time of year. Enjoy a variety of non-processed foods for more of what your heart needs.
4. Three important allies - Antioxidants, Fibre and Good Fats. Recent discoveries show how fibre can help prevent insulin-related illness and health problems. Antioxidant fruits, berries and vegetables help slow the aging process by neutralizing free-radicals, unstable molecules that can destroy cellular integrity. Healthy omega-3 fatty acids support cellular flexibility for heart and brain health.
5. Keep it Fresh; Keep it Raw – Fresh raw or lightly cooked foods retain more of their natural goodness and their vitamin and mineral content. Try eating raw, fresh foods for a week and see how you feel.
The Diabetes Connetion
Excess weight not only puts an extra load on the heart, being overweight also impairs blood sugar balance and this can lead to increased risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Diabetes, Pre-diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic syndrome, sometimes called Syndrome X, are all conditions related to your body’s relationship with insulin and they all increase your risk for heart disease.
PolyGlycoPlex®, PGX® for short, is a unique complex of naturally occurring, water-soluble polysaccharides (dietary fibres) that supports healthy weight loss and blood sugar balance. PGX has a positive impact on blood sugar levels and provides appetite control support even for those who are obese. In clinical studies PGX was found to be extremely effective in promoting healthy weight loss, while reducing food cravings and balancing blood sugar and cholesterol. PGX is a safe, stimulant-free supplement made by Natural Factors and available in meal replacement drink mixes, in granular form to sprinkle on moist foods, and as PGX Daily Ultra Matrix, the most advanced form, in soft gelatin capsules with medium chain triglycerides from coconut oil. Be sure to drink at least 8 ounces of water with every serving of PGX.
Know your heart-friendly fats
Without fat our skin, joints and muscles would have no lubrication and we couldn’t live! But not all fats are good for you. Dietary fat falls into three main groups; saturated, unsaturated (mono and polyunsaturated) and trans fatty acids (or trans fat).
Saturated fats from animal source are ‘hard’ fats such as butter, lard and fat in meat. They are used in many processed foods. We need LESS saturated fat in our diets.
Unsaturated fats can be monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). They include oils such as olive oil and vegetable oils such as flaxseed and sunflower oil, and fish oils.
Trans fatty acids, or trans fats, are formed when vegetable oils are hardened using hydrogen (hydrogenated). Trans fat is found in deep fried foods like french fries and fried chicken, as well as doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers, and many processed foods. Too much trans fat may contribute to plaque in the arteries and increased heart disease risk.
Omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 are healthy oils found in fish and certain plants and vegetables (flaxseed, borage, evening primrose, olives). Omega-3, -6 and -9 are all fatty acids, chemical compounds used and converted by the body to serve many important functions. Omega-3 and omega-6 oils are considered ‘essential fatty acids’, or EFAs, because our bodies do not make them—they must be supplied through the diet. EFAs can moderate or influence inflammation, mood, behavior, metabolic processes, cellular signaling and even DNA. A healthy balance of EFAs is essential for heart health.
Heart Health Supplements: Which to choose?
Many nutritional supplements and combinations of herbals, vitamins, minerals and coenzymes are heart “specialists”, providing key support for a healthy heart and circulatory system. The experts at Natural Factors have provided the following list of the most tested and trusted supplements for heart health with brief descriptions of their known actions and benefits.
- RxOmega-3 Factors – Oils from fish provide key essential fatty acids. Flaxseed Oil is the best plant source of Omega-3s.
- Coenzyme Q10 for cellular energy production and heart health; especially if statin drugs are being used. Ubiquinol is a very high-absorption form of CoQ10.
- Vitamin E, the leading fat soluble antioxidant vitamin, is shown to support heart health. Vitamin C works with Vitamin E to support a strong heart and fight free radicals.
- PGX®, PolyGlycoPlex® is a proprietary soluble fiber blend that helps control appetite and weight gain, and balances blood glucose.
- Antioxidants, including the “Rich” line of concentrated berries, (CranRich, BlueRich, AcaiRich, GojiRich and more); grape seed, green tea, mangosteen, pomegranate and Resveratrol, from red grape skins, are potent antioxidants.
- B12, B6 and Folic Acid in combination can reduce levels of homocysteine, an amino acid produced during protein metabolism. Elevated homocysteine levels are indicators of increasing risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Ginkgo Biloba can enhance circulation, especially to the brain and extremities.
- Cayenne boosts peripheral circulation, improving organ function and speeding delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. It can provide powerful cardiovascular support.
- Garlic can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and may lower blood pressure.
- Calcium & Magnesium work together to keep joints flexible and muscles strong, including heart muscles. Magnesium also stabilizes the heart’s electrical system and may reduce clotting risk.
Of course, you can’t expect supplements alone to make up for a horrible diet and couch potato lifestyle. Use these to enhance your health in combination with exercise and improved nutrition. Consult your natural health professional about any change in your diet or your supplements, especially if you are taking medications.
Taking care of your self is not a selfish pursuit. Think of all the people who rely on you. You are an important person. You influence others. You care about people and they care about you. You have a responsibility to stay healthy so you can do more, produce more, contribute more, love more and share more.
The information in this article is presented with only one goal — to help you live a long and healthy life. I hope you will “take it to heart”.
Shauna Macdonald,
Health Reporter for
Natural Factors Nutritional Products
Sources: Health Canada web site; National Geographic web site
Thrive Forward this New Year!
Article courtesy of Vega
Do you want to start the New Year feeling your best? Make 2013 your year to THRIVE by joining Thrive Forward! Thrive Forward is your free personalized online program, developed by Brendan Brazier to help transform your health for life, through plant-based nutrition. It’s an interactive, educational guide to help you feel your best.
Built on the foundations of his Thrive book series, former professional Ironman triathlete and formulator of Vega, Brendan Brazier leads you through a simple, yet comprehensive series of lessons, complemented by recipes and fun challenges. Designed to help you build a foundation of knowledge for eating healthier, Thrive Forward will help you feel better over the long term— regardless of your existing lifestyle.
Thrive Forward is not a “one-size-fits-all” education program. Sign up in the New Year and you’ll customize your journey by choosing three statements that most resonate with your current state of wellness. Your personalized plan starts with a foundational chapter on clean eating, then, based on the statements you selected, your personalized lesson plan could include lessons on stress, sleep, mood, energy, or perhaps optimal weight. Whether you want to reduce your carbon foot print, reduce your stress, or boost your immune system, there is a lesson waiting for you.
Do you learn best by listening? Or maybe you have to act to let the lesson sink in? No matter what type of learner you are, you will be engaged with the material. Brendan isn’t just presenting a textbook. Thrive Forward consists of videos, infographics, charts, and easy action steps that you can start today. These calls to action will help you to implement small changes, and improve your overall health—one step at a time.
Don’t want to be the only one doing Thrive Forward? Get your friends involved by sharing your favorite lessons, downloadable free content such as recipes, or shopping lists. Start your own Thrive Forward Challenge among your family. Be the educator at work, as you share some of the tips you are learning. You can even use your blog, twitter or Facebook as a way to stay accountable. We’ll have Tweet-ups and Facebook chats to coach you, every step of the way.
Love what you’re learning? Share It Forward! Share your favorite video lesson, recipe, shopping list or article by clicking “share” and be entered to win. Each time you share a lesson on Facebook, twitter or email, you’ll be entered into a daily drawing for prizes valued at over $30,000! (full details online)
Pre-register today at ThriveForward.com After you sign up you’ll receive a free eBook to help get you started right away with recipes, staple foods to stock up on, tips and much more. Once the New Year rolls around you’ll get customized lessons, recipes and handouts, making 2013 your year to THRIVE.
Meet the Locals- All Things Jill
By Lauren Mangion, Conscious Home
All Things Jill’s owner and co-founder Jill Hawker didn’t exactly choose her business. You could say it chose her. Years ago in Toronto, Jill would gift her friends with new babies some of her handmade lotions, baby wipes and powders. Her gifts became so popular in her circles that quickly, a side project became a full-time business that Jill moved to Calgary in 2004.
The demand for Jill’s products is due in large part to the fact that she uses plant-based, non-toxic ingredients- many of them organic. According to Jill, “When it comes to our products, we look to Mother Nature for inspiration and advice. She knows how to soothe dry skin, calm our senses, and revive our souls using only natural sources. That’s why we search the globe to find the most luxurious and desirable organic oils, salts, butters, clays and herbs to help relax, restore and rejuvenate the mind and the body. Many companies talk about natural and organic products. At All Things Jill we don’t just talk about it, we live it.”
All Things Jill has a strong mandate to create earth and people-friendly products and continually build the business with an orientation to keeping their impact low. Jill has a solid conviction that it is possible to pamper one’s body, while protecting the earth.
The All Things Jill line that Community Natural Foods carries is called Peas in a Pod, a line of skin care for the whole family that takes into account everybody’s diverse personal care needs. Popular products include, ‘Bottoms-Up! Baby Bum Spray’ which offers a great alternative to conventional diaper wipes and also alleviates diaper rash, and ‘Oh! Baby Body Lotion’, a gentle and soothing lotion for sensitive young skin. Look for these products and more in the Health and Body Care section of your nearest Community Natural Foods.
Meet the Locals: Basic Roots
Basic Roots is a Calgary-based business that creates ready-to-go, delicious, raw foods. Owner Paula Bellavance began at a local farmers market selling pre-sprouted, pre-soaked nuts and grains and other essentials for those interested in incorporating raw foods into their diet. When popular raw food proponent David Wolfe came to town several years ago, Paula decided to demonstrate some pre-made raw food treats at his talk. Little did she know there would be no going back. Her tasty and very healthy line of snacks captured many people’s attention and tastebuds, and there was a strong demand for her to continue making her prepared raw foods. Once Community Natural Foods began carrying Basic Roots, Paula decided to go strictly wholesale.
It may be surprising to learn that preparing raw foods can be more laborious and time-consuming than cooked foods. For example, one of Basic Roots’ most popular items, the Fig Bars, begin 3 days before going to the dehydrator for the final stage. The oats are soaked (which is thought to make the oats more digestible), rinsed, dehydrated and made into flour just before the cookies are prepared. Then the recipe is mixed and put into the dehydrator shortly before the cookies reach store shelves. Each individual cookie is handmade.
Behind every recipe is the Basic Roots commitment that ingredients are fresh and of the highest quality. Paula takes great care in sourcing unpasteurized, organic ingredients and it is of the utmost importance to her that Basic Roots fans can count on the integrity of the ingredients. From her perspective, raw foods demand a high level of freshness and quality because the flavors are so pronounced without cooking.
If you’ve never tried raw foods before, Basic Roots makes it very easy to overcome any skepticism through one of life’s greatest selling points; the tasty factor. Paula shares how many people adore Basic Roots’ creations without even knowing they are eating raw food. Plus, raw foodists consider eating raw to have many health benefits. Without the use of heat in the process, vital enzymes and nutrients stay in tact and remain in the food. Coconut oil, cacao butter, and nuts which feature highly in the Basic Roots line are all thought to be healthy fats and very nutritionally satisfying. Paula says that many customers buy the cookies for breakfast or as quick nourishing snacks. Finally, a breakfast cookie you can feel good about!
Paula likes having relationships with the stores that sell her products, which is why she likes working with Community Natural Foods. She feels a strong level of support and community through her interactions with CNF. “It’s not about having high volumes and making sales, but relationships and making impact with the products carried,” shares Paula. Community carries the Basic Roots full line- crackers, cookies, bars and kale chips.
