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Point 68 by Sibu

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One US company believes sustainable insect oil is the future of cosmetics and has launched a new youth regenerating face oil under the brand Point68, a reference to insects and other arthropods.

Developed as a joint venture between SIBU® and insect industry professional Josh Galt, Point68 is a luxury face oil formulated to improve skin hydration with cellular healing and rejuvenation.

Point68 is concocted from 10 certified organic plant botanicals harvested in a socially conscious manner and carefully integrated with the world’s first use of pure Soldier Grub extract in a skincare oil.

 

SOLDIER GRUBS

Soldier grubs are the larvae of the harmless black soldier fly, the superstar insect in the rapidly growing organic waste upcycling and animal feed sectors. Grubs are fed a diet of clean agro-waste, which includes pre-consumer organic matter byproducts from the soy, coconut, and brewery sectors, among others.

Following a chemical-free cold-press process of lipid extraction, the insect oil is filtered and tested extensively to ensure maximum purity and content of essential fatty acids 3 and 6.

According to Galt, soldier grubs are one of the world’s most sustainable and nutrient-rich insects.

“These incredible little grubs turn organic plant waste into healthy protein along with a lipid profile having one of the highest concentrations of lauric acid outside of coconut oil. Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid which benefits skin health and healing through powerful antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.”

The combination of the soldier grub oil with active botanicals improves cellular health and has a noticeable anti-ageing impact, helping to reverse fine lines and wrinkles giving the appearance of more youthful, hydrated, and beautiful skin.

 

PLANT BOTANICALS

Notable certified organic plant oils include argan oil, rosehip oil, and the recently re-discovered bakuchiol, alongside patchouli, frankincense, lavender, and sunflower oils.

Point68 is produced by SIBU, so of course, Himalayan sea buckthorn fruit and seed oils are featured ingredients. Sea buckthorn is a rich source of the rare omega-7, a fatty acid vital to collagen production and skin hydration.

“As the body ages it produces less collagen on its own, which leads to sagging skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Galt explained.

“Collagen adds volume at the cellular level to hydrate, thicken, and smooth the skin, giving a more radiant, youthful appearance.”

He said, “We are confident that sustainability-minded consumers will be eager to try this new and exciting clean beauty product. Plant and insect ingredients like these found in the Point68 face oil are extremely eco-friendly.

“Typically, LOHAS (Lifestyle Of Health And Sustainability) consumers gravitate toward brands like SIBU, and we feel the brand-equity we have fostered over the past decade will help add credibility to this new innovative product.”

SIBU has a presence across Asia including Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore, with plans to expand in the region along with adding to its distribution network in Europe and Latin America, where it is currently found in Mexico and Brazil.

McMullin says that along with the North American market, his company intends to introduce Point68 across Asia to capitalize on the growing trend: “Insect ingredients and by-products are common in many parts of Asia already and have been increasing in popularity, so we believe that Point68 should be quite successful in the region.

“In fact, we are optimistic that this product may open up new opportunities in other countries where SIBU is not yet available, and we are looking forward to introducing our other sea buckthorn products in these areas.”

The benefits of Canadian sea cucumber in a modern supplement format

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For more than 1,000 years, sea cucumber has been a delicacy in China, believed to aid vitality and reduce joint pain among other things.

In China, sea cucumber is mostly farmed, whereas in Canada it is harvested wild from the ocean floor off Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton. Canadian sea cucumber has a smooth body, compared to its Chinese counterpart that has a covering of spikes. Exports of sea cucumber from Canada to China have dramatically increased in the past decade.

Sea cucumber is a marine animal in the family of the phylum Echinodermata, of which there are more than 1,250 species. The Canadian North Atlantic species is called Cucumaria Frondosa (C-Frondosa) and is packed with very potent nutrients that are preserved by the frigid temperatures of these northern waters.

Research is ongoing at many universities globally to investigate sea cucumber’s efficacy across a spectrum of various conditions including heart disease, hypertension, inflammation, and cancer. There is a more than decade long survey by the National Cancer Institute that reveals marine animals such as C-Frondosa have anti-tumour properties.

C. Frondosa has also been recognized for its high antioxidant capacity. A good source of minerals and protein for immune building and function, it is also a good source of omegas, polysaccharides and saponins, which attracted the attention of AKSO Biotech, Inc. of Halifax, NS.

“Sea Cucumber is very laborious to prepare, it can take days,” says Lincoln Ellsworth, General Manager of Atlantic Sea Cucumber, of Hackett’s Cove, NS. “Although sea cucumber is consumed around the world for its traditional health benefits, a capsule form is the only practical way of getting the benefits of sea cucumber on a daily basis. Our proprietary cook process locks in maximum nutrition, which makes us the supplier of choice for AKSO.”

Atlantic Sea Cucumber cooks, dry, then ships product to Toronto to be encapsulated by AKSO. AKSO’s brand of sea cucumber capsules, Nova Sea Atlantic™ is a registered Natural Health Product with Health Canada with the approved claim of providing antioxidants to help fight/protect cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. The company’s sea cucumber capsules recently won a Best New Product Grand Prix New Product Award from the Retail Council of Canada.

Couche-Tard in talks with French grocer Carrefour about potential deal

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Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (“Couche-Tard”) confirms that it has recently submitted a non-binding offer letter to Carrefour SA for a friendly combination at a price of €20.00 per Carrefour share (coupon attached). The terms of the transaction are under discussion and remain subject to diligence, but the consideration is currently expected to be in cash in a large majority.

There can be no certainty at this stage that these discussions will result in any agreement or transaction. In considering strategic transactions, Couche-Tard will remain focused on creating stakeholder value. Couche-Tard will keep the public informed of any material developments in this respect if and when it is legally required or otherwise appropriate for the Company to do so.

How Vitamin D Could Relieve Vaccine Pressure

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Optimism continues to grow with the announcement of several vaccines offering over 90 percent protection against COVID-19. However, reports suggest that for a majority of people, the vaccine will not be available until the second quarter of 2021.

Until then, trials continue on the potential support of supplements. Queen Mary University of London recently launched a study into vitamin D, assessing the effectiveness of the supplement in reducing the risk or severity of the virus.

The effectiveness of vitamin D is now being recognized by both national and devolved governments in the UK. Some scientific advisers are now suggesting that a national provider of vitamin D could be used to help reduce infections or hospitalizations until the vaccine is ready for widespread administration. However, will vitamin D be used to help ease the burden of viral infections while vaccines are rolled out across the country?

 

A national deficiency

While the NHS recommends that additional vitamin D supplements should be used between October and early March due to limited sunlight hours, in 2020 the public health body has suggested that the vitamins should be used year-round as a consequence of lockdowns and limited outdoor time.

A deficiency in vitamin D is an attributing cause of rickets, especially among children. A study also found that COVID-19 patients are almost twice as likely to be deficient in vitamin D.

There is not yet enough evidence that vitamin D can prevent coronavirus. But, with little to no side effects involved in taking the supplement, could its use be a tentative win for public health?

 

Concurrent trials

The quick development of vaccines for COVID-19 has been hailed by medical professionals, the latest Oxford vaccines demonstrate up to 90 percent efficacy. However, studies continue to explore how vitamin D can help to alleviate symptoms and reduce recovery time.

Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties. This means it may provide assistance to the body’s immune response to respiratory illnesses. Lung damage as a result of the coronavirus can an inflammatory cytokine storm. Essentially, an overwhelming inflammation caused by your body’s immune system releasing proteins. The inflammation can cause serious illness or be fatal.

There are suggestions that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory effects will alleviate this condition.

Meanwhile, Queen Mary University continues its randomized clinical trial. They are testing whether the implementation of a test-and-treat approach which will correct insufficient levels of vitamin D will result in reduced risk or severity of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections.

The trial is supported by the pharmaceutical companies, Pharma Nord, and NHS trust charity, Barts Charity. Their support highlights the potential effectiveness of vitamin D against respiratory illnesses, particularly among older generations.

 

Government support

News of vitamin D’s potential effectiveness against the coronavirus has reached UK Parliament. Before implementing the second national lockdown in England, on 2nd November, the Prime Minister was questioned on the specific benefits of the supplement. MP David Davis suggested: “[Vitamin D] could reduce infection rates by half and case death rates by half again.

“The Scottish Government are sending four months’ supply of vitamin D to everybody who shielded in Scotland. Given that it is low cost and there is no medical downside, will our Government consider the same approach in England?”

Boris Johnson responded that the results were promising: “We are indeed looking at the possible beneficial effects of vitamin D, and I know that we will be updating the House shortly.”

Following this, it was announced that vitamin D supplements will be delivered to more than two million clinically vulnerable people. This includes all care home residents across England. Beginning in December, the supplies are intended to last throughout the winter.

Speculation continues whether this roll-out could be extended to more individuals or for a longer period as the government supports more trials into the effectiveness of vitamin supplementation. Health Secretary Matthew Hancock reiterated optimism surrounding the idea: “I have asked the scientists to look once again at the impact of vitamin D on resistance and immunity.”

Using vitamin D to support the vaccine administration is being made a clear and achievable objective for governments across the UK.

Approved vaccines are expected to be used from December 2020, targeting the most vulnerable first. This includes older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions, before targeting NHS and key workers. However, until this can be implemented for the general public, vitamin D may be of use to help the recovering population.

 

 

Sources

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/people-hit-hardest-by-virus-more-likely-to-lack-vitamin-d-qht9qt82n?wgu=270525_54264_16063914869073_66c69796f2&wgexpiry=1614167486&utm_source=planit&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=22278

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55040635

https://knowablemagazine.org/article/health-disease/2020/what-cytokine-storm

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2020/smd/clinical-trial-to-investigate-whether-vitamin-d-protects-against-covid-19.html

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-02/debates/6AF57346-80F3-491D-AA67-9EF31B9B3B26/Covid-19Update

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/uk-plans-vitamin-d-rollout-to-vulnerable-as-covid-19-protection-report/articleshow/79111797.cms?from=mdr

COVID-related Gastrointestinal symptoms

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Dr.Sapna Makhija, MD, FRCPC, ABOM Diplomat Gastroenterologist with an interest in Clinical Nutrition and co-owner of  GI Health Centre in Burlington outlines gut health tips and Gastrointestinal symptoms that should not be overlooked that points to COVID-19  
In the early stages of COVID-19 Chinese researchers pinpointed Gastrointestinal Manifestations and Potential Fecal–Oral Transmission as a source of spreading the virus, noting that the oral is a route into the body but the “digestive tract is a primary organ system for the virus to multiply, replicate, and potentially spread,” cited Brennan Spiegel, MD, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, told MedPage Today.

A study shows that 5 percent to 15 percent of patients who have contracted COVID-19, often have gut issues that have persisted after the first phase of the infection and sometimes signalled worse patient outcomes, as it might indicate the virus has involved more into the body.

Recently New York clinicians published figures that noted 22 percent of COVID-19 hospital patients had diarrhea, 7 percent had abdominal pain, 16 percent had nausea, and 9 percent had vomiting. Overall, 33 percent of patients had gastrointestinal issues and 62 percent of patients evidence of liver injury.

Dr. Sapna Makhija shares what complications could arise with your gut health in the future after having COVID-19 but also tips on how to strengthen your gut health.

Future complications after having Gastrointestinal issues after having COVID-19

  • Gastrointestinal issues for up to two months after recovering
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Decreased appetite
  • Mood fluctuations

Gastrointestinal health tips

  • Having adequate fibre & water (helps with stool transit. Fibre also helps with Cholesterol control, satiety and improves the microbiome. Soluble fibre lowers cholesterol by binding to it in the small intestine. Once inside the small intestine, the fibre attaches to the cholesterol particles, preventing them from entering your bloodstream and travelling to other parts of the body.)
  • Avoiding processed foods (the environment created in the gut by processed foods (once broken down) is a great environment for microbes that promote diverse forms of inflammatory disease. Also, studies show that the availability of processed foods is positively associated with the prevalence of obesity)
  • A variety of vegetables (if cellular plant foods (vegetables) are ingested—a substantial amount of feels from whole plant food will enter the colon in an intact state, and favours the growth of bacteria that degrade the fibre and produce beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that are beneficial for the host)
  • Exercise & Stress level management (there are a small number of studies that suggest exercise affects the gut in a positive way, and stress).

“The gut microbiome consists of trillions of species, which makes it so unpredictable and a challenge to adequately study. One of the main roles of the gut is to keep the body’s immune response on point. One of the best ways to optimize your gut immune system is to diversify the gut bacteria. This may assist in making the body more resilient at fighting disease and infection. There is also a connection between the gut and the brain, called the gut/brain axis. The gut bacteria produce mood chemicals that are critical for mood, anxiety and concentration,” says Dr. Sapna Makhija, MD, FRCPC, ABOM Diplomat Gastroenterologist and co-owner of GI Health Centre.

Avocado prices on the rise

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Following a significant drop in prices, avocado pricing has picked up and may continue to do so.

Currently, Mexico is the only player in the market shipping avocados with the lack of Peru, Chile and California shipping fruit. (Though California will be set to begin again in April.)

“In Mexico, they’re harvesting on the higher elevations. Production is now lower compared to two weeks ago. In some areas, harvest authorizations have been restricted from 180 per day to 120 harvest authorizations per day, per municipality,” says Jorge Mardones of OTC Produce LLC. based in Charlotte, NC. “The idea is to improve the prices with less supply.” He notes this stems from production two weeks ago which was ample and pushed the price of avocados down significantly. “48s were $19/box and the growers had never seen those prices before,” adds Mardones.

Clearly it worked because today, pricing is $26/box. “The market in avocados is related more to supply than demand. And now the harvest in Mexico is getting less and less every day so I think throughout January and February, the prices may increase,” he says, adding that the market has no space for #2 fruit currently and is only asking for #1.

Frost concerns
Factoring into that pricing are a few variables including a frost that happened two weeks ago in Mexico. “There may be thousands of acres affected by that frost and it affects not only this year’s crop but next year’s as well. The prices may increase because of it,” says Mardones. Looking ahead, growers are also concerned because those frost temperatures could continue throughout January.

At the same time, the growers are motivated to pick. “They want to harvest because the bloom is right now. And if you have avocados in the tree at the same time and the flower blooming, there will be less fruit next year,” says Mardones. Mexico has a more sizeable crop this year compared to last year. “Today, compared to last year, there are 71,000 more tonnes,” adds Mardones.

And while demand is at its strongest leading up to the first Sunday in February, the Superbowl, Mardones notes that there are other smaller events that happen throughout the month that influence demand. “They don’t have the same demand, but the consumer will continue using avocado throughout February,” he says.

Source: Fresh Plaza

Metro launches Canada’s only My Health My Choices program guide

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A new guide for customers who want to simplify making the best product choices based on their own lifestyles, values or health needs when they shop. As of today, nearly 9,000 products – found in-store, online and the My Metro app – will display one or more of the program attributes – close to 50 – allowing Metro customers to make their shopping experience easier and faster.

Metro worked with experts and specialists to design and implement this program with a unique methodology. The development of the program’s classification criteria was based on research data, analyzing Canadian consumer trends, Canada’s food guide, information published by regulatory bodies like Health Canada, and the standards for different dietary lifestyles. A product may include several attributes classified according to their level of importance. Therefore, food could be classified as vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO.

“Every month in Ontario, more than 1.3 million searches1 are made on the Web in relation to the various attributes of My Health My Choices,” says Mike Thomson, Vice President Grocery Merchandising, Metro. “With this program, we’re giving our customers the opportunity to choose foods that meet their own definition of wellness. The guide is designed to make their in-store or online shopping experience with us easier and more time-efficient,” he says.

Metro is the only grocery store in Canada to offer a food selection guide based on lifestyle and personal preferences through its My Health My Choices program. AIR MILES members will have access to more personalized offers and content based on their favourite attributes on the My Metro application. In fact, the application will contain a new feature allowing customers to scan product barcodes, at home or in the stores, to learn their particularities and which attributes they have.

“When you consider that 51%2 of Canadian adults regularly seek information on the quality, suitability and healthiness of the products they consume, a program such as this one is particularly important,” says Linda Montpetit, a nutritionist and long-time collaborator of Metro. “Information on product packaging is not always easy for consumers to interpret. This program combines the information on the labels with the hidden qualities of the products. This will greatly simplify people’s shopping experience and help them make informed decisions more easily.”

Nadia Eccles & Jamieson Wellness Inc.

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Nadia Eccles has joined Jamieson Wellness Inc. as senior business development manager.

She has over 20 years of experience in the CPG industry including Crossmark, Acosta, Longo’s and Wm. Dunne & Associates Ltd.  Most recently, she was sales planning manager at The Clorox Company.

Patented psychobiotic Lactobacillus Plantarum PS128™ is now self-affirmed GRAS

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“Our commitment and employing a clinical development strategy for novel ingredients such as PS128™ is really leading the way to create evidence-based functional food and supplement products in the marketplace overall,” said Frankie Cheng, CEO of Bened Biomedical Co. Ltd. “We want our customers in the United States to know that we are fully dedicated to investing into our products and processes from beginning to end, and ensuring we are a reliable supplier in terms of safety and efficacy as well as all of the compliance requirements from the FDA.”

The patented strain of Lactobacillus Plantarum PS128™ was developed from extensive research for the improvement of mental, neurological, and gastrointestinal health. The Self-affirmed GRAS consensus was attained after a formal and stringent review by an independent expert panel.

“REJIMUS was honoured to earn this opportunity to work with Bened Biomedical in bringing such a novel patented ingredient to the U.S.,” said Brandon Griffin, CEO of REJIMUS, INC. “In addition to the PS128™ introduction to the U.S. market, the development and implementation of Bened’s supply chain and quality systems to better align with that of their U.S. customers’ anticipated needs was a tremendous undertaking in these unprecedented times. Many of our clients here in the U.S. have been negatively impacted by their international suppliers due to the pandemic, so guiding Bened Biomedical in the preparation from an operational and compliance standpoint to rapidly attract more customers was paramount.”

Good Nutrition is a Basic to Treating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases

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Dr. Kalyan Gaddam, ND, Director of Integrative Oncology & Rehabilitation Center at the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Centers (CBCC) in Bakersfield, CA has established a good nutrition program as part of the treatment available to patients at CBCC. Gaddam has been instrumental in spearheading the nutritional program that is offered through the CBCC Health and Wellness Café to provide customized nutrition based on a patient’s diagnosis.

“Lifestyle choices, such as poor eating habits, smoking, overindulging in alcohol and sugar and lack of exercise certainly increase a person’s risk for developing a chronic disease,” said Gaddam. “Treating chronic diseases lead to the nation’s health care costs.”

The Center for Disease Control reports (CDC) that “90% of the nation’s $3.5 trillion in annual health care expenditures are for people with chronic and mental health conditions.”

  • More than 868,000 Americans die of heart disease or stroke every year 7 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer and almost 600,000 die
  • More than 34.2 million Americans have diabetes and another 88 million adults have prediabetes, putting them at risk for type 2 diabetes.
  • Obesity affects 19% of children and 42% of adults, adding risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.
  • Other diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease, epilepsy and tooth decay also top the list of serious diseases afflicting millions of Americans.

“Eating healthy is a substantial part of lowering the risk for developing chronic disease,” said Gaddam. “A balanced diet of fruit and veggies, whole grains, lean meat and low-fat dairy products is important and can even help peel off extra pounds. “But,” said Gaddam, “Once a disease is present, nutritional needs often change and the challenge becomes how to provide specialized nutrition solutions that meet the special needs of patients and improve their quality of life.”

Gaddam said that conditions like cachexia, also known as “wasting syndrome,” which is common to cancer, HIV, chronic renal failure and multiple sclerosis, causes weight loss, weakness, low energy, muscle loss, anemia and anorexia, are difficult to address with a regular healthy diet. ” Traditional nutritional support has not been successful in cancer cachexia. Most of the commercially available products have shown little to no effect,” said Gaddam.

“Focusing on nutrition and natural ways to overcome pain and illness have always been at the center of my medical career. I’m fortunate to have a comprehensive breadth of practice to call upon and putting my research and experience to work on the nutritional project with our Health Wellness Café, here at CBCC, is making a difference in the qualify of life for our patients,” said Gaddam.

Gaddam is the first Naturopathic Doctor to work with CBCC and is responsible for helping establish CBCC’s integrative cancer center for Naturopathic and integrative health services. He led the research teams that developed natural nutritional products for Ayush Herbs and YouVeda, LLC, presented the results of a clinical study at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and most recently released Aaku Everyday Greens, a balanced and versatile nutritional product developed specifically to decrease the risk many diseases including cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and other serious diseases and is suitable for those with allergies and sensitive stomachs.

Dr. Kalyan Gaddam, ND received his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from internationally recognized Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. After completing his graduate work with a degree in Naturopathic Medicine, homeopathic medicine and surgery in India, Dr. Gaddam has worked with leaders in the field of integrative naturopathic oncology. He is on the Board of Directors for Youveda LLC, personalized nutrition, and is an active member of the California Association of Naturopathic Medicine (CNDA), Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and American Association of Naturopathic Medicine (AANP).

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