Food Recalls: Various

Recalls have been added to the CFIA's Food Recall Report.
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Zing brand Dark Chocolate Hazelnut bars
Recalling Firm: Karma Nutritionals
Distribution: National

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-11-r8800/eng/1397486577852/1397486610104
Class 2
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): El Peto Products brand bread products
Recalling Firm: El Peto Products Ltd.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-09-r8794/eng/1397489366333/1397489371887
Class 2
Reason for Recall: Health Hazard - Salmonella
Product(s): Pusateris Fine Foods brand Organic Whole Black Peppercorns
Recalling Firm: Organic Connections Ltd.
Distribution: Ontario

Product details are available at: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-12/eng/1397347692869/1397347733785
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - Milk
Product(s): Your Market Fresh brand Beef Tortellini
Recalling Firm: Walmart Canada Corp.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-10-r8792/eng/1397240491136/1397240501387
Class 2
Reason for Recall: Allergen - Egg, Milk, Soy
Product(s): The Marketplace Bakery and Pioneer Coop Bakery brand bread products
Recalling Firm: Pioneer Co-operative Association Ltd.
Distribution: Saskatchewan

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-05-r8769/eng/1397161981473/1397161986963
Class: 1
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Organic Traditions brand Dark Chocolate Sacha Inchi Seeds
Recalling Firm: Advantage Health Matters Inc.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-10/eng/1397171433718/1397171455602

Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - tree nut
Product(s): Liberté brand Organic Vanilla Yogourt Cranberry Muesli
Recalling Firm: Liberté Brands Inc.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-10-r8782/eng/1397156583499/1397156593616
Class 2
Reason for Recall: Allergen - Milk
Product(s): Nutty Club brand Karamel Korn
Recalling Firm: Scott Bathgate Ltd.
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-04-r8767/eng/1397142089864/1397142113332
Class 1
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Orthodox Coconut Palm brand Coconut Juice (Coconut Milk)
Recalling Firm: Hung Gay Enterprises Ltd.
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-09/eng/1397106569354/1397106593786
Class 1
Reason for Recall: Allergen - mustard
Product(s): Prolimer and Waterfront Bistro brand fish and seafood products
Recalling Firm: Aliments Prolimer Inc.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-08b/eng/1397004974227/1397004980154
Class 1
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Elite brand Bittersweet Chocolate
Recalling Firm: Foodfest International 2000 Inc.
Distribution: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-08/eng/1396998235778/1396998258486
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - soy
Product(s): I Heart Keenwah brand products
Recalling Firm: Les Aliments Colinex
Distribution: Ontario, Quebec

Product details are available at: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/20140402-r8773/eng/1396896541672/1396896547344
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - soy
Product(s): I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Clusters
Recalling Firm: Winners Merchants International L.P.
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan

Product details are available at: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/20140404-r8772/eng/1396901352477/1396901370313
Class 2
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk, sulphites
Product(s): El Peto Products Ltd. Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns
Recalling Firm: El Peto Products Ltd.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-03-r8754/eng/1396891634885/1396891658969
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Organic Traditions brand Dark Chocolate Golden Berries
Recalling Firm: Advantage Health Matters Inc.
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-03-r8751/eng/1396645814594/1396645837746
Class2
Reason for Recall: Microbiological - Salmonella
Product(s): Various Organic Black Peppercorns
Recalling Firm: Various
Distribution: National

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-05/eng/1396736705517/1396736719852
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Health Hazard - Non harmful (Quality/Spoilage)
Product(s): Thai Kitchen Brand Thai Peanut Microwave Rice Noodles and Sauce
Recalling Firm: La Cie McCormick Canada
Distribution: National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-04/eng/1396661465611/1396661471183
Class 1
Reason for Recall: Health Hazard - Clostridium botulinum
Product(s): Rice porridge with abalone
Recalling Firm: Korea Food Trading Ltd.
Distribution: Ontario, New Brunswick and Possibly National

Product details are available at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-03/eng/1396592275929/1396592297638
Class 3
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Shufra Chocolate brand Mocha Fudge
Recalling Firm: Altra Foods Inc.
Distribution: Ontario, Quebec

Product details are available at: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-27-r8734/eng/1396452651349/1396452657369
Class 1
Reason for Recall: Allergen - soy
Product(s): Grandma's Perogies brand Potato & Bacon Perogies
Recalling Firm: S & A Grandma's Food Inc. 
Distribution: National

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-02b/eng/1396502845795/1396502851634
Class 1
Reason for Recall: Allergen - milk
Product(s): Scoop & Eat Dessert Cup Carrot
Recalling Firm: The French Oven 
Distribution: Ontario

Product details are available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-04-02/eng/1396497352135/1396497360989
*The above food recalls are from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and brought to you by Arin Taub, RD at Form & Function

For the Love of Chocolate

The month of February is often associated with Valentine’s Day, an occasion often celebrated with chocolate. With its historic use as an aphrodisiac, ability to improve mood, and potential heart health benefits, it’s no wonder this dark delight has been strongly linked with the celebration of love.

Eating chocolate releases neurotransmitters in the brain that can help improve mode and libido. As well, its caffeine and threobromine content gives chocolate stimulant properties similar to coffee, which may help to improve alertness. This, in combination with the carbohydrate energy it supplies, makes chocolate a great snack for long romantic evenings.

Other health benefits of chocolate come from its flavonoid content. These antioxidants help repair damaged cells in the body and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease. However, since antioxidant content is not listed in the nutrition facts table, consumers have no way of knowing the flavonoid content of their chocolate and therefore its potential benefit. In general, less processed products—i.e. cocoa powder and dark chocolate—are higher in flavonoid content and potential health benefits. For the greatest benefit, choose dark or unsweetened chocolate that lists 60% or more cocoa solids on the label.

Despite some health benefits of chocolate, it also contains compounds that are detrimental to health. Cocoa butter—a saturated fat that can raise cholesterol—is a popular chocolate additive. As well, all chocolate is high in sugar, fat, and calories, which could all lead to increased weight and associated co-morbidities. Unfortunately, milk chocolate, white chocolate, or chocolates with any sort of additives (nuts, nougat, caramel, etc.) are low in flavonoid content and thereby lower in health benefit.

When weighing out the pros and cons, it is still best to enjoy chocolate in small quantities, particularly since research is insufficient to recommend chocolate for its health benefits. If you do choose to indulge, choose dark chocolate containing >60% of cocoa solids; use cocoa powder in beverages and baking to reduce the fat and calories content. The health benefit of flavonoids can also be reaped from consuming citrus fruits, apples, berries, nuts, grapes, green tea and onions. These foods provide also other nutrients beneficial to overall health and can easily be incorporated into the daily diet without the drawbacks of chocolate.

If you have any questions about healthy eating, weight loss, chocolate or any other foods, Registered Dietitian Anna Gofeld at Form and Function Health and Wellness Clinic will be more than happy to answer them for you.

Live, love, laugh, and eat chocolate in moderation

Un cuore nel cioccolato

Are You CRAVING CHANGE?

Are you Craving to Change your life?

Looking to curb you Cravings or change your relationship with food?

Then CRAVING CHANGE is the program for you!

The Craving Change Approach will help you to:

  1. Understand why it’s hard to change eating habits
  2. Identify personal triggers for problematic eating
  3. Learn to respond to triggers differently
  4. Lose weight
  5. Maintain these changes for life

Sessions start Saturday January 25, 2014 at 12pm

JANUARY SPECIAL: Intro series rate of $230 (regular $250)

  • Includes: 3 x 2hr group session led by Registered Dietitian and Certified Craving Change Instructor Anna Gofeld
  • Workbook with all the lessons and tools discussed in class for your to take home and review

SPACES ARE LIMITED–contact Form and Function reception today to reserve your spot at 905-604-9355 or reception@formfunctionclinic.com

 ~~Don’t wait another day, sign-up to get the Change you’re Craving today!~~

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HDL : How to Get It Up

A cholesterol test has several components, one of which is HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is often referred to as “good” cholesterol. HDL is thought of as the healthy cholesterol because it removes excess bad cholesterol (LDL) from your body. Men should aim for an HDL of  > 1.1 and women > 1.3, or the value recommended by your doctor.

Higher HDL = Lower heart disease risk

Here are 5 tips to help raise your HDL cholesterol:

1. Eat more foods high in monounsaturated and omega-3 fats

•ex: soy foods, seeds, nuts, ground flax, fish, seafood, canola and olive oils

2. Eat more plant protein

•ex: chickpeas, lentils, split peas, beans, soy milk, tofu

3. Eat more vegetables and fruits

•Aim for 4 vegetables and 3 fruits per day

•1 serving= ½ cup cut up raw or cook fruits/vegetables OR 1 cup of salad greens OR 1 tennis-ball size fruit/vegetable

4. Avoid foods containing trans fats

• ex: commercial baked goods, hydrogenated margarines, deep-fried foods

• Look for 0% trans fat of the Nutrient Facts Table

5. Be more active

•Aim for 60 minutes of exercise per day including aerobic activities (i.e. swimming, walking) and resistance training (i.e. weight lifting)

HEALTH TALK REMINDER: NEW YEAR, NEW YOU–Nutrition and Exercise Tips for Weight Loss is coming up tomorrow, Saturday January 18th at 12:30pm in the aerobics studio at Club Markham with Registered Dietitian Anna Gofeld & Personal Trainer Akhil Dawda. Don’t forget to reserve your spot at Form and Function front desk by phone 905-604-9355 or e-mail reception@formfunctionclinic.com.

SEE YOU TOMORROW

Creative Ways to Control Eating

One of the most important tools in the weight loss tool box is PORTION CONTROL. Being able to control the amount we eat can allow us to enjoy a greater variety of foods–even the not-so-healthy kind–and still stick to weight loss or weight maintenance goals. Try some of the creative tips from the video below to curb your food portions:

1. Use smaller plates: Our eyes are often hungier than our stomaches. Using smaller plates will make your eyes feel like you’re eating more when you’re cutting down your portions

2. Eat with your non-dominant hand: Putting in the extra brain effort will help you eat 20% less

3. Drink from tall thin glasses: Humans are terrible at judging volume. Using tall thin glasses, instead of short wide ones, will help you consume less volume without even realizing it.

4. Place a mirror in your kitchen: Literally reflecting on what you’re eating will help you become more conscious of what you consume

5. Chew fruit-flavoured gum when feeling hungry: As we discuss in Craving Change, sometimes we just feel ‘mouth hunger’–the desire to fill our mouth without the organic need to fill our stomach. Gum can be a calorie free way to curb this craving

6. Eat slower: It takes your brain 20min to get the signal from your stomach that you’ve eaten. Slow down your eating to give your body time to process the satiety signal and avoid overeating.

7. Use red plate: Research shows red dishes make people eat less, maybe because the colour is associated with ‘STOP’. So if you have a choice, like when buying disposable dishes for your next party, go for red.

8. Turn off your TV: Watching TV at mealtime often leads to mindless eating because you can’t concentrate on both the screen and your food at the same time. Simply turning off the TV and tuning into your meal can help reduce intake.

9. Photograph your unhealthy foods: Just recording food intake has been shown to help people reduce the amount of unhealthy foods they eat. Keeping a photo-journal of your unhealthy food choices can help you become more conscious of them and reduce their intake.

10. Decrease food variety: Increased food variety leads to increased desire to try a little of everything, which can add up to a lot of food on your plate. Serving the same amount of food, but with less variety, can help cut down your eating.

httpv://youtu.be/0Whvs_gSAPw

10 Amazing Way to Stop Eating Too Much

For more help with your weight loss or nutrition goals, visit https://www.formfunctionclinic.com/#locations or call 905.604.9355 to make an appointment with a registered dietitian.

Don’t wait another day, start your journey to good health today!

Does this baby make me look fat?

That was the link title of an eye-opening  Huffington Post article I recently read. It discussed a topic that people seem to overlook: pregnancy and body image issues. A healthy amount of weight gain during pregnancy is important for both the health of the baby and the mother. While there is a concern when too much weight is gained, more and more women are becoming over-focused on gaining too much weight. This can lead to dieting during pregnancy which is dangerous and may even lead to disordered eating that endangers both the mother and baby.

So before you decide to cut calories during your pregnancy, make sure you speak to a trained health professional who can help you make the best nutrition, self-care and lifestyle choices for you and your growing baby. If you are afraid or worried of how your body (and life) will change during pregnancy (and after), be sure to talk to your partner, loved ones, other moms, and a health professional trained in lifestyle counselling. This way you can get the physical and mental-emotional support you need to ensure a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum period, all of which will help you best take care of your baby into childhood and beyond.

 

 

March Health Talk

Snack Your Way to a Slimmer You
How Snacking can Help with Your Diet Goals

While some dieters happily accept when someone suggests a snack, others feel pangs of guilt when a nibble is merely suggested. However, there is nothing inherently wrong with a bite between meals. In fact,
snacking might be the missing ingredient that will help you reach your weight loss goals.

Mar_Healthtalk

Detox Your Body with Lemons

A good rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses of water a day but sometimes water can get boring so add a slice of lemon to make it taste better. Lemons also provide some great health benefits!

Better Prevention Required With Cell Phone Use

 

by Jennie Cheung, ND

 

When we mention environmental toxins, talk hovers mostly around detrimental chemicals such as metals, herbicides, fungicides, and more.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a 2010 Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals asssessing the burden of chemicals on the health of the US population.  Among the list of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and parabens which are found among household cleaners, home renovation products, and building materials to name just a few, the virtually daily exposure to cell phone frequencies, categorized as electromagnetic or EMFs, received much critical attention.

In today’s modern reliance on the media, the internet, and other electronic super-gadgets, it is important to become aware of exposure to all types of environmental toxins.  In 2008, environmental researchers reported on the probable link between cell phone use with leukemia and neurological conditions.  In 2010, a public health precaution was issued in the US for using cell phones.  This trend has been carried out in many European countries such as the UK, France, Russia and India from as early as 11 years ago.

One method to fight back against this “dirty electricity” is via detoxification.   Among the many organs of detox in the body, one that is rarely overlooked is the liver.  Because symptoms of toxicity such as headache, abdominal pain, and constipation, are often vague, it is essential to have an assessment and thorough history performed via your ND or integrative healer.  ND’s understand that the liver holds a paramount role in detoxifying the body of harmful substances.  Furthermore, the liver supports all red blood cell synthesis, converts ammonia to urea for excretion, and breaks down hormones.  From a nutritional standpoint, the liver is involved in amino acid synthesis of proteins, formation of bile, metabolism of carbs, proteins, and lipids, and the storage of glucose, vitamins A, D and B12, and minerals iron and copper.

The affect of toxicity on our health from EMFs has become an increasingly prevalent issue in today’s fast-paced society.  NDs can offer tools of support in improving one’s toxin load such as increasing water and exercise, establishing improved dietary measures, or adding nutritional supplements.  While our public health departments and government bodies continue compiling data on acceptable safety standards with EMFs, isn’t it prudent to find out what more can be done to improve our quality of life?