Canadian and American health-care professionals will work together to study the effectiveness of advanced integrative oncology (AIO) treatment for patients with late stage cancer. AIO treatment includes elements of conventional and naturopathic medicine.
The funding was announced by the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) in Ottawa – an arm of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), together with the Bastyr University Research Institute in Washington State.
The $3 million grant, provided by an anonymous Canadian foundation, will fund the Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study (CUSIOS) the largest-ever North American observational study to assess integrative oncology for people with late stage cancer.
AIO therapies used by naturopathic doctors for late stage cancer are directed at multiple mechanisms to slow tumour progression, prevent metastatic spread and improve survival. The therapies are variable but may include intravenous vitamin C, intravenous artemisinin, intravenous dichloroacetate, mistletoe, hyperthermia, nutritional protocols and the use of immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory natural health products.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to assess the effect advanced integrative oncology can have on survival rates in late stage cancer patients,” said Dugald Seely, ND, MSc, FABNO, Executive Director of OICC, Director of Research for CCNM, and Canadian lead investigator for CUSIOS. “The results of this study will provide valuable insight on the role of naturopathic medicine in cancer care and will lead to the conduct of more rigorous randomized controlled trials.”
International Naturopathic Cancer Research Project Announced
New Marketing Director at St. Francis Herb Farm
St Francis Herb Farm has just introduced Cindy Ryland, their new Director Marketing & Sales Support, as the main contact at St. Francis for all things media.
St. Francis Herb Farm® has come a long way since their early years, when they grew many of the herbs used in production right on site near the tiny rural hamlet of Cormac, Ontario. While they no longer grow their own herbs, their commitment to sourcing the finest and highest quality raw materials has remained steady. All their herbs are imported or purchased from certified organic growers, or from conscientious wildcrafters who harvest herbs naturally occurring in the unspoiled and unpolluted “wilds” of the Canadian countryside. When they source their herbs, they support and encourage both agricultural sustainability and fair trade practices.
In her new role, Ms. Ryland is sure to reflect those values, that pride in the business and the St. Francis commitment to “Rediscover the Wisdom.”
Hippie Butter Just Got Better
The CHO (Chief Hemp Officer) and founder of Hippie Butter LLC, Brad Ervin, discovered the glory of hemp seeds while touring the world as a sound engineer for acts like Paul McCartney, George Strait and Bette Midler. When he got back home, the 25 year old started his company Hippie Butter LLC and has never looked back.
Hippie Butter has just signed a joint venture agreement with American Seed & Oil, a subsidiary ofAlgae International Group, Inc. – which will supply organically certified hemp, including hemp seeds, hemp oil and CBD oil for use in the Hippie Butter line of consumer products.
American Seed & Oil is also providing marketing and investment support to expand the already recognized Hippie Butter brand. Hippie Butter is a premier, online grocer with a full-line of nutritious and delicious gourmet hemp seed food and skin/ hair care products legal in all fifty U.S. States and “great for the entire family.”
An early mover in the emerging state-legalized Hemp and Medical Marijuana cultivation markets, American Seed & Oil Company has previously announced two hemp consumer product launches complimentary to the Hippie Butter product line:
- They got together with startup, World Hemp Oil, to supply domestically grown and refined hemp CBD oil to produce and market the EpiVape(C) for seizure disorders. Their vaporizer is legal in all 50 states
- DuBe Hemp Energy Shot – a berry flavored all natural, zero calorie, sugar free, gluten free, GMO free energy shot infused with Hemp Pro 70 Protein Powder providing smooth energy for hours. Again, they boast that it is 100 per cent legal.
Crazy for Coconut
Pacific Foods’ new Organic Coconut Non-Dairy Beverage offers two layers of authentic coconut flavor with the healthy richness of coconut milk, and the refreshing taste of coconut water. The beverage comes in three flavors: Original, Unsweetened Original and Unsweetened Vanilla.
The first full line on the market without carrageenan and cane sugar, Pacific’s new offerings are made using the whole coconut – both the cream and the water – to create the most authentic flavor possible.
“All of our non-dairy beverages are crafted to showcase the true flavor and nutritional benefits of their featured ingredients,” said Kevin Tisdale, vice president of marketing for Pacific Foods. “For this line, we were determined to let the flavor of organic coconuts shine through. The key ingredient was right in front of us – coconut water. It not only gives the drink a hint of sweetness, it increases its nutritional content and enhances the coconut flavor naturally.”
As for nutrition, the new collection of coconut non-dairy beverages is an excellent source of vitamin D and vitamin B12. As a result of using coconut water, when compared to the category leader, Pacific’s Original variety contains six times as much potassium – a natural hydrator and electrolyte – (240mg vs. 40mg) and less than half the amount of sugar per serving (3g vs. 7g).
All of Pacific’s new coconut beverages are certified organic and free of GMOs, as well as vegan, dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free. Like all of Pacific’s products, they’re packaged in BPA-free, shelf-stable cartons. They’ll hit shelves at natural food stores and conventional grocers this April.
Pacific Foods’ products are sold throughout the U.S. and Canada in mainstream grocery and natural food stores.
Retail Sales Cool Off Like the Winter Weather
Canadian retail sales dropped 1.7 per cent in January, performing even below consensus expectations. Sales decreased in 7 of 11 sub-sectors, including autos/parts dealers (1.4 per cent). Other areas suffering losses include gasoline, general merchandise, sporting goods, health/personal care products, furniture and food/beverages. Modest increases in electronics, clothing, building materials, and miscellaneous items weren’t enough to compensate.
Alberta retail spending plummeted for the fourth month in a row. Nationwide, our GDP may have shrunk as much as 0.4 per cent in January. Some of this may have been due to the abnormally wintery weather – so perhaps there will be a bit of bounce back in sale over the coming months as people make the purchases they put off earlier in the year. But with the poor start, it looks like the annualized first quarter GDP growth could be under 1 per cent.
Sales were down in 14 of 21 broad industries, resulting in a 1.7 per cent drop in manufacturing shipments. The 3.1 per cent slump in wholesale sales more than negated December’s gain of 2.8 per cent.
Job vacancies rose in December to 1.7 per cent in finance/insurance and an impressive 2.7 per cent in health care. but vacancy rates plunged in other sectors bring the overall vacancy rate to just 1.5 per cent.
Fitness Market Achieves Runners High
The world market for sports and fitness nutrition products (including foods & drinks) is moving from a niche segment to a mainstream market. The global market for Sports and Fitness Nutrition Foods and Drinks is projected to reach US $60.8 billion by 2020. The customer base that began with high endurance athletes has turned into a large scale healthy lifestyle movement – gripping everyone from bored teenagers to business people stepping up their sedentary lifestyles to boomers struggling to keep their mojo working. This divergence in customer profile and its usage of nutritional food and drinks highlights the need for marketers to adopt tailor-made strategies for targeting such varied groups of consumers to gain even greater penetration in the market.
Going forward, expect the market for sports and fitness nutrition foods and drinks to exercise continued growth. As attitudes towards exercise change, the definition of sports and fitness nutrition products has started changing as well. While the newer customers, including amateur, recreational and casual athletes, gym-goers and weekend fitness enthusiasts use such products to increase stamina and enhance physical and mental performance or as a preventive measure against illness, the traditional group uses the products to gain targeted benefits such as muscle enhancement or for post-workout recovery.
All of this is laid out in a new research report titled “Sports and Fitness Nutrition Foods and Drinks: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. The report provides market estimates and projections for product segments including Sports/Energy Foods; and Sports/Energy Drinks. Geographic markets analyzed include the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World.
The sports nutrition market witnessed exponential growth over the years due to new innovations, novel packaging and marked changes in consumer preferences. Sports supplements and sports nutrition functional foods are among the leading categories exhibiting strong growth. Latin America represents the fastest growing regional market displaying a CAGR of about 8.5% over the analysis period. Despite accounting for a small portion of the world’s food and beverage market, Latin America is expected to emerge as the hotspot in the coming years. The market for sports and energy drinks in Latin America is expected to surge in the near future primarily due to rising income levels, increased focus on health and wellness and willingness of consumers to spend on the category. For more details about this comprehensive market research report, click here
Tea Entrepreneur Steven Smith Dies
The American Botanical Council (ABC) sent out the news that Steven Smith, co-founder of such well known tea brands as Tazo and Stash passed away March 23rd, in Portland, Oregon at the age of 65 from complications due to liver cancer.
Calling him “a philanthropist as well as a tea visionary,” the remembrance talked about Smith’s tireless work creating unique blends like Awake breakfast tea and Zen green tea – even while giving back to the Indian communities where ingredients were sourced. Sold to Starbucks in 1998 for a reported $9.1 million dollars, Tazo is now said to be worth in excess of one billion dollars.
After the sale, Smith kept producing high-end tea – most notably the blend known as Steven Smith Teamaker.
ABC’s MarkBlumenthal concluded his eulogy with, “Steve was truly one of the most remarkable, passionate, compassionate, and genuine people I’ve ever met in the herb community. He was a good friend and great supporter of ABC’s nonprofit educational mission. All of us in the herb community have lost a true friend and brilliant champion for tea and many other herbs.”
Metro’s new store focuses on fresh, premium foods
The Ontario grocery store market is extremely competitive – with Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, the American Whole Foods chain and a host of others all freshening up their product lines in bids for bigger and bigger bites of the very tasty and desirable Central Canadian market.
The newest Metro store to open in Toronto is featuring a cornucopia of new fresh and premium products to tempt the most spoiled and savvy of urban foodies.
With 137 stores in Ontario, Metro plans to update most of them over the next decade to bring Ontario profits to the same level as those in their Quebec home province. And the big money – and most of the growth potential for chains like Metro is on the fresh/natural/premium foods end of the spectrum.
Protein-rich Soy Food Leads to Lower Cholesterol
Earth’s Own Food Company Inc., together with Canada’s soy producers, welcomed Health Canada’s approval of a health claim linking the consumption of protein-rich soy food to lowering cholesterol levels. Earth’s Own, a pioneer of the dairy alternative category in Canada, is the maker of So Good brand of fortified soy beverages, and So Nice organic dairy alternatives including organic soy beverages. Recommended inCanada’s Food Guide, fortified soy beverages are considered the most complete dairy alternative and the only one recognized by Health Canada as a suitable alternative to dairy milk due to its nutritional benefits.
This week’s news comes after an extensive review process by Health Canada, who made the decision based on scientific evidence that shows consumption of at least 25 grams of soy protein per day helps to reduce cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Health Canada has determined that foods and ingredients eligible for the claim include soy beverages, tofu, miso, tempeh, natto, soy cheeses, soy nuts, isolated soy protein, soy protein concentrate, textured soy protein and soy flour.
“At Earth’s Own, we are dedicated to health and wellbeing, so it is particularly gratifying to see Health Canada acknowledge the health benefits that our soy beverages offer people as they pursue their goals for a healthier lifestyle,” said Diane Jang, General Manager of Dairy Alternatives, Earth’s Own Food Company. “As Canada’s leading soy brand, we are thrilled to have official confirmation of what nutrition experts and international health regulatory bodies have told us for some time. In addition to containing as much calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 as a cup of milk, and being rich in complete plant-based protein, fortified soy beverages like So Good and So Nice Organic are a great fit for Canadians’ heart-healthy diets.”
So Good soy beverages are fortified with 14 essential nutrients. A cup of So Good contains as much calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 as a cup of milk, and offers up to seven grams of complete plant-based protein. One 250mL cup of So Good fortified soy beverage supplies 30 per cent of the daily amount of soy protein shown to help lower cholesterol. So Good is also low in saturated fat and contains no lactose, gluten, trans-fat or cholesterol. So Nice is the Canadian premium organic brand that is made with the best natural and organic ingredients offering an organic choice to those seeking healthy, organic dairy beverage alternatives.
“As dietitians, we have been telling our clients for years that 25 grams of soy protein per day can help lower LDL cholesterol. Now, they can finally see it on the food label,” said registered Dietitian Diana Steele, who is part of the Earth’s Own Nutrition Advisory Panel. “As more consumers are drawn to the non-dairy beverage section, soy-based products like So Good uniquely provide the most complete nutrition for busy families seeking an active, healthy lifestyle.”
Introducing protein rich soy foods as part of a healthy diet can be particularly helpful for Canadians aged 45-64 years old for whom heart health concerns are often top of mind. According to a recent Statistics Canada’s Health Fact Sheet (February, 2013), 39 per cent of Canadians aged six to 79 years have unhealthy levels of total cholesterol. Earth’s Own encourages Canadians to add soy products like So Good to their diets for a complete source of protein, and to have a beneficial impact in terms of cholesterol reduction. Heart health soy food claims have been previously approved by respective health authorities in the U.S., Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea.
A Growing Appetite for Hemp Foods
Canada Hemp Foods is expanding its presence in grocery stores and specialty shops with its new distributorship agreement with Dovre Imports & Exports, and will be appearing at the Canadian Health Food Show in April, and the First Annual Sunshine Coast (BC) VegFest on August 8, 2015. CHF is also a major sponsor of the VegFest event.
Canada Hemp Foods announces a new distributor for their Canadian hemp hearts and oils products, Dovre Import & Exports, based in Richmond BC Canada. Dovre delivers award-winning specialty foods to restaurants, specialty grocers and grocery chains across Western Canada. The distributorship brings Canada Hemp Foods products into a growing list of locations, and is considered a values-aligned distributorship for the CHF organization. Dovre is active in supporting causes such as the Vancouver Union Gospel Mission, Food Banks and the United Way.
“We’re very happy with this new distributorship,” says Canada Hemp Foods Co-founder Robert Rae. “Not only does this agreement get our products into a wonderful group of stores and specialty shops, it also carries a social return, one of our key values as a company.”
CHF will be appearing in the Dovre Import & Export tent at the upcoming Canadian Health Food Association Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 11&12 of this year.
Canada Hemp Foods is also pleased to announce its sponsorship of the inaugural Sunshine Coast VegFest, to be held on August 8.
“When VegFest organizers reached out to us, we just knew this was a festival we wanted to be involved in,” says Robert Rae. “Hemp hearts and oils are a foundational nutritional source of Super Omega-3 and Super Omega-6, are GMO Free and 100% THC free, and offer a rich source of digestible protein, perfect for the vegan diet.”
The First Annual VegFest is a one-day event held in the funky hall that is the heart of Roberts Creek, a community affectionately known as ‘the Gumboot Nation’, located just an hour from West Vancouver by ferry. The event will showcase vendors like Canada Hemp Foods, and keynote speaker Gene Baur, Co-founder and President of Farm Sanctuary, will shine a light into the dark corners of North America’s current diet dependencies that are leading to burgeoning poor health outcomes and toxic conditions for humans and animals alike.
Canada Hemp Foods products can be purchased online via their e-commerce store, and full information on the benefits of hemp can be found in the Hemp 101 section.
