Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Perfect for snack time, roasting your own pumpkin seeds is simple, tasty and fun. We give you a few options for spicing up these crunchy goodies, or feel free to make your own spice combinations.


Ingredients: 1 medium pumpkin4 cups water1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oilMethod: Preheat oven to 250°F. Cut off top 3 to 4 inches of pumpkin then scoop out seeds onto a clean work surface. Discard stringy fiber from seeds along with any seeds that are split or cracked then transfer to a strainer and rinse well. (You should have about 2 cups of seeds.)



In a medium pot, bring water to a boil. Add seeds, reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes. Drain well then transfer to a paper towel-lined sheet tray and pat dry.


Transfer seeds to a medium bowl, toss with oil and spread out in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Roast seeds, stirring every 10 minutes or so, until just crisp and golden brown, about 1 hour total. (They will become crispier as they cool.) Set aside to let cool completely then shell or eat whole. 




For spicy pumpkin seeds, mix 1/2 teaspoon each garlic salt, cumin, coriander and cardamom with seeds and oil before roasting. 
For sweet pumpkin seeds, mix 1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, cloves and ginger and 1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar with seeds and oil before roasting.

Nutritional Info:

Per Serving:Serving size: 2 Tablespoons, 130 calories (100 from fat), 12g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 0g sugar), 5g protein

Pumpkin Spice Recipes

Ready for some more amazing Pumpkin Spice Recipes? I can't get enough!!

http://www.theidearoom.net/2015/09/pumpkin-spice-recipes.html

Artificial Intelligence - the solution to food waste at home.

Artificial Intelligence - the solution to food waste at home.

Developers of the EatBy App have incorporated artificial intelligence into their kitchen
 management and grocery list app to reduce domestic food waste.

The latest release of the EatBy App includes a new feature - it automatically suggests
how long fruit, veg and frozen items will stay fresh for and then reminds you to use
 them up before they go off. But the clever bit, according to the developers, is
 that the app learns the storage habits of individual users.
"Not everyone's kitchen is the same, and different food storage environments
 effect shelf life. EatBy App addresses this problem by learning as it's used over time."

Domestic food waste is now the biggest contributor to the global food waste problem.
 Supermarkets have suffered the brunt of bad publicity, being blamed for massive
 quantities of unsold food being wasted. Many supermarkets and grocery stores
 have since made big changes that reduce food waste in the supply chain.
 However, the problem of food wasted at home is still massive. The Eatby
 developers believe change has to happen in our homes and  stress that we
 all need to review our grocery shopping and food consumption habits.
 In some cases households unnecessarily waste up to 30% of their food
simply from poor kitchen management. This not only has a detrimental
environmental impact, it also has a big impact on householders' wallets.
With the escalation of food prices, especially in the UK, where the
 British Pound has slumped as a reaction of Brexit, careful food
management is becoming more important. EatBy App is the leading
smart kitchen technology and its development team are one of only
a few to come up with a successful domestic food waste reduction
solution. There are a number of apps designed to share unwanted
 food but EatBy App prevents the accumulation of unwanted food
in the first place.

Initial versions of the app were praised by users and the press
 despite the user interface being described as "clumpy"
. But subsequent versions of the app have addressed this
by incorporating a much more intuitive and attractive interface.
The development team have certainly listened to their feedback to refine the app.

Designers at EatBy say they are now developing the app to make the
 best use of the freezer in an effort to make users more aware of th
e benefits of freezing food to further reduce food waste. But the latest
big news is that EatBy are developing Smart Kitchen hardware.
 "The products we're working on will make kitchen management
simple - with a big focus on beautiful design and developing
 A.I. driven 'invisible technology' that works in the background
with minimal user effort required." Steffan Lewis, co-founder of
EatBy App went on to say, "Artificial Intelligence does not need
to be scary - in EatBy's case it'll simply help make life better.
Our technology is aimed at families, foodies and people who
 love to cook. We're not interested in creating futuristic, sterile
 kitchens. We are interested in encouraging everyone to eat
delicious fresh food, reduce food waste and save money."

EatBy App is available on the App Store and Google play. Information can be found at www.eatbyapp.com
END

About EatBy App

EatBy App is a free mobile application that has been developed to help reduce domestic food waste. It is currently available on the App Store and Google play in many countries around the world.

EatBy App can found at www.eatbyapp.com and be followed on Twitter and Facebook

Patient Research Summit

Tal Golesworthy is a boiler engineer from the UK. He's an expert in solving plumbing problems. He was born with a heart defect called Marfan's syndrome that was slowly weakening his aorta -- the body's main artery. If left untreated, his aorta would eventually burst and kill him. 

Faced with a gruelling surgery and a life on drugs, Tal decided he would fix this plumbing problem himself. As part of a multidisciplinary team that included engineers and medical specialists, Tal developed an innovative device that reinforced his aorta without intrusive surgery or a forced medication regime. Tal went on to start a company that makes the device for people with the same heart condition. 

Tal will share his story at a patient research summit at the Marriot Hotel hosted by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Ottawa from October 25 to 27. The summit brings together more than 200 patients, researchers and health professionals from across the country to discuss how to make health care better for patients as part of Canada's Strategy for Patient Oriented Research. 

To learn more about the event, please click here: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/50008.html

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Kids aren’t just “little adults.” Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of chemicals, and preventing early-life exposures to harmful chemicals can help prevent health problems throughout their lives. 
Despite these concerns, children’s cosmetic products — like the ones we tested — contain carcinogens and hormone disrupting chemicals. Tell Congress: Cancer-Chemicals & Heavy Metals Don’t Belong in Kid’s Face Paint or Makeup! 

Mont SUTTON, one of Quebec’s major ski resorts located in the Eastern Townships, is already gearing up for the 2016-2017 ski season.

Master plan and snowmaking are in the pipeline

 This season is the resort’s first under the ownership of Jean-Michel Ryan, Pierre Chesnay and Sylvain Gervais and visitors can expect many exciting changes in a near future. This year will be one of transition, allowing for an in-depth analysis of potential diversification opportunities, of a real-estate development plan and of the resort’s future endeavours. For this winter, the new owners are investing half a million dollars in the improvement of the existing snowmaking infrastructure.

A year of transition that bodes well for the future

This new season about to begin will mainly be one for reflection. A quarter of a million dollars will be invested in the creation of a master plan intended to turn the resort into a major four-season tourist destination, while staying true to the resort’s authentic DNA. « We want to mobilize the active forces in Sutton in order to turn this destination into a high-quality living environment, and one of the most sought-after destinations in Quebec,» explains Jean-Michel Ryan, president and general manager. «We want to ensure the resort’s future continuity, while respecting the community, the customers, the employees and the surrounding nature.» This master plan will allow us to verify both the potential and the best opportunities that could come from a comprehensive diversification, to determine and prioritize each of the development phases to come, as well as identify the key actors in their achievement. Lodging, mountain biking and even more... everything is up for discussion at Mont SUTTON!
The new owners’ position is clear: Mont SUTTON will continue to grow according to a vision of sustainable development and in respect of the well-established DNA of a mountain that wishes to retain its distinctive natural attributes.  In an agreement with the new owners, Nature Conservancy Canada has in fact purchased a piece of land, effectively increasing the size of the Réserve Naturelle des Montagnes-Vertes. This land, known as Dos d’Orignal, is the natural habitat of many protected species. Several 15-foot mature trees will be planted in the Sous-Bois II sector to reforest the area and conserve Mont SUTTON’s DNA. These actions illustrate the new owners’ desire to maintain the balance between development and conservancy, and to confirm Mont SUTTON’s status as an exceptional destination in harmony with nature.

Important investments in snowmaking

Just this year, the new buyers have invested half a million dollars to develop a better snowmaking system. In total, 50 new energy-efficient snow guns will contribute to the improvement in production and in the quality of the snow being made. Improvements will also be made to the overall snowmaking system: updates to the computers in the machinery room, new piping, new valves, new communication wiring. These investments are in line with a will to pump serious funds into the improvement of the snowmaking system in order to increase capacity, flexibility and speed in order to offer an even higher quality product!

Other news

Many new things are also in store at the Boutique Experience SUTTON. New noteworthy brands are now available: Völkl, Atomic, Briko, Alpina, Scarpa, Dale of Norway, Maloja and Reusch. The ski goggle and racing departments have also been completely revamped to offer the best brands and even better service. Furthermore, the Bar Le Tucker will now host an Open Mic après-ski on Thursdays, along with the well-loved live music Fridays.
While we wait for the first snowflakes, Mont SUTTON’s Fall Festival is still on with lots of activities for one last weekend on October 15 & 16; the Boutique Experience SUTTON sales staff is on hand to advise customers according to their needs and the Ski School is taking registrations. The events calendar and the season’s special offers are online and pictures for season’s passes can be taken. In short, from clients to employees, the excitement for the upcoming ski season can already be felt at Mont SUTTON!

Installation of the new snow guns for the 2016-2017 season

Installation of the new snow guns for the 2016-2017 season

Mont SUTTON is a major ski resort located in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, known across North America for its unique glade concept for every type of skier and its many junctions creating endless possibilities for every run. Mont SUTTON also sets itself apart with its authentic ambiance, awe-inspiring nature and its exceptional snow conditions.

NuVal® Recognizes Eggland's Best Eggs with Highest Nutrition Score in Egg Category

Judged on Nutritional Value – Eggland's Best is Significantly Superior to Ordinary Eggs

-- The NuVal® Nutritional Scoring System, a comprehensive food
scoring system that measures the nutritional quality of foods, has identified
Eggland's Best eggs as the highest scoring egg on grocery store shelves. 

Every year national food brands are tested on the NuVal® Nutritional Scoring
 System, which looks into more than 30 nutrients and nutrition factors such as
 Vitamin D, Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, saturated fat, calories and protein.
 The system was created to provide an easy-to-use guide to maintaining a healthy
 diet in an environment where obesity is a growing concern.
Grocery shoppers across the country look to the NuVal® Nutritional Scoring
 System as a guide for making quick, smart decisions when selecting nutritionally
 superior food brands for themselves and their families. Developed by a panel of
 nutrition and medical experts, NuVal® uses fact panels, package labels and
 nutrition reports to score foods on a scale of 1 – 100. The higher the NuVal®
 score, the more nutrient-rich the food item is.
"After testing 48 different brands of eggs, Eggland's Best eggs came out on
 top in terms of nutritional value," said Anne Bernier, Sr. Operations Director
 for NuVal LLC.  "Eggland's Best's dedication to providing Americans with
a nutritionally superior egg was proven during an evaluation of more than
30 different nutrients and nutrition factors, which resulted in an impressive
 NuVal score of 85." 
Compared to regular eggs, Eggland's Best eggs contain 25 percent less
 saturated fat, five times more vitamin D, more than double the omega-3s,
 ten times more vitamin E and three times more vitamin B12.  Eggland's Best's 
superior nutritional profile is due to its proprietary all-vegetarian hen feed
 that contains healthy grains, canola oil and a wholesome supplement of
rice bran, alfalfa, sea kelp and Vitamin E.  In addition, a recent independent
 study showed that Eggland's Best eggs stay fresher longer than ordinary eggs.
"Receiving the highest NuVal score, combined with our continued growth,
 reinforces the fact that we are achieving our goal of providing consumers the
 best tasting, freshest, and most nutritious egg possible," said Charlie Lanktree,
 President and CEO of Eggland's Best. "Eggland's Best's significantly higher
 score than ordinary eggs helps consumers make healthier decisions for their families."
Eggland's Best eggs are available in classic large, extra-large, jumbo, organic
and cage-free, as well as hard-cooked peeled egg and liquid egg whites varieties.
For more information on NuVal®, visit http://www.nuval.com/
For more information on Eggland's Best and delicious and nutritious recipes,
 visit http://www.egglandsbest.com/
About Eggland's Best EggsEggland's Best (EB) is the No. 1 branded egg in
 the U.S. and is an excellent source of Vitamins D, B12, and E, and a good source
of Vitamin B5 and Riboflavin. EB eggs have five times more Vitamin D, more than
 double the Omega-3, 10 times more Vitamin E and 25 percent less saturated
fat than ordinary eggs.
The distinctive "EB" stamp on the shell assures consumers and food service
 customers that the eggs meet the highest production and safety standards.
 Eggland's Best was voted "America's Most Trusted Egg Brand" by American
shoppers in the 2016 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards, "America's Most
Recommended™ Eggs" by women in the 2016 Women's Choice Awards,
and has received numerous awards from Prevention Magazine, Men's Health,
Men's Fitness, Women's Health, and many others. 
In 2014, Eggland's Best was also awarded "Product of the Year" in the egg
 category by Product of the Year USA. Eggland's Best's hens are fed a strictly
 controlled, proprietary, high-quality all-vegetarian diet, which results in a
 better tasting, more nutritious egg that stays fresher longer. EB eggs are
 available in large, extra-large, jumbo, cage free, organic, hard-cooked,
cage free hard-cooked, liquid egg whites, and are certified Kosher.
For more information, visit www.egglandsbest.com.

The Most Significant Advance in Carbon Based Water Filtration Products in Decades

New high performance “Compound-Catalytic™“ Carbon performs all filtration capabilities  we’ve come to expect from catalytic and granular activated carbon products but also  presents the ability to remove; Fluoride, Hexavalent Chromium, Arsenic, Lead, Mercury,  Selenium, and more.  H2O Easy Filtration Products introduces Compound-Catalytic™ Carbon with  the launch of the WaterGenie ”Advanced” series Whole House and Point-of-Use water filtration systems. The new high performance “Compound-Catalytic™“ Carbon performs all  filtration capabilities we’ve come to expect from catalytic and granular activated carbon products but also presents the ability to remove; Fluoride,  Hexavalent Chromium, Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, and more. “It’s a game changer for the industry and a money saver for consumers. This new product improves the cost effectiveness and sustainability of water filtration systems for everyday use. What typically requires multiple  components in multiple tanks can now be done with one tank containing one media,” says Chris Hanson, Founder of H2O Easy Filtration Products.  With the introduction of this product consumers will see a 65% reduction  in cost from $1.45 per day to less than 0.95 cents per day. ”Just think about that for a minute; clean, healthy water from every tap in your home costs less than a cup coffee per day! I am very excited for my  customers,” says Hanson. Whole house and Point-of-Use carbon based filtration systems are a common  and effective way of removing contaminants such as Chlorine, Chloramines, TCE, Trihalomethanes, and improving taste and odor while leaving essential minerals intact. Carbons oxidation and adsorption capabilities are well known and have been utilized in water filtration for over 100 years. About H2O Easy Filtration Products & Services: Established in 2006, we are a locally owned; owner operated small business, located in Asheville,  NC. Offering custom design water filtration products built in Asheville.  Founders/owners Chris and Kelly Hanson reside in West Asheville, where they have lived since 1987.

Contact Information

H2O Easy Filtration Products Chris Hanson 828-236-9555 Contact www.h2oeasy.com

Natural Calm Earns HealthyLivinG "Tested & Approved" Seal

HealthyLivinG Magazine’s “Tested & Approved Seal” was awarded to Natural Calm,  a magnesium supplement from Natural Vitality. Beverly Hills, CA, October 12, 2016 --(PR.com)-- HealthyLivinG Magazine’s “Tested & Approved Seal” was awarded to Natural Calm, a magnesium supplement from Natural Vitality. Natural Calm is rated the number one selling magnesium supplement in the natural products industry ten years in a row, according to health-food supermarket scanner reports from the SPINS survey group. HealthyLivinG Magazine’s “Tested & Approved Seal” is a standard of safety based on California’s Proposition 65, also called the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Considered the toughest consumer product safety law in the US, Prop. 65 is intended to help Californians make informed decisions about protecting themselves from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Prop. 65 safety measures in many instances are stricter than federal, industry and European Union standards. Independent from and unknown by the company, HealthyLivinG Foundation independently purchased and tested Natural Calm for  chemical toxins including inorganic arsenic, cadmium and lead and  notified the company of its product’s tests and passage only after  test results were analyzed using standards of the California law. “There are two purposes to our program,” says a spokeswoman for HealthyLivinG Foundation. “The seal assures retailers and shoppers the product is free from harmful amounts of chemical toxins  known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive effects. About one-third of products tested among supplements are in violation. This is often due to sourcing of raw materials and putting costs cutting above consumer health. Any company or consumer can  submit products for testing to HLF.” “We believe this testing program meets both the needs of our customers and retailers for independent verification of the safety  and purity of our ingredients,” says Natural Vitality CEO Justin Farmar. “It’s a fair program because the foundation acts just l ike a consumer but actually tests the products independently of the company.” About the HealthyLivinG Foundation The HealthyLivinG Foundation is the 501C(3) nonprofit charity that publishes HealthyLivinG magazine, the national publication on consumer health. Chemical Toxin Working Group (dba HealthyLivinG  Foundation) is the testing arm of the nonprofit. CTWG independently  purchases and tests food and consumer products for chemical toxins, notifying manufacturers and the public of the products’ passage. In 2015 alone HLF/CTWG reached the biggest legal settlements in the industry with such violators as Kroger, Walmart, Bumble Bee, Chicken  of the Sea, Crown Prince and others. As a result, violators removed  toxic products from sale, reformulated them or put warnings of their  labels they contain a contaminant that causes cancer or reproductive harm on the product packaging. Test results are analyzed using  standards of the California's Proposition 65 and accredited independent  laboratories. For more up-to-the-minute information visit www.HealthyLivingMagazine.US and get instant updates via Twitter (@USHealthyLivinG) and Facebook (Facebook.com/HealthyLivinG Mag). About Natural Vitality Natural Vitality is an international dietary supplement company known  for the No.1 selling product Natural Calm®, The Anti-Stress Drink. The company also publishes Organic Connections, an online journal and has begun the Calm Earth Project, an environmental action initiative. For more info, visit www.naturalvitality.com. For additional information, please contact: info@HealthyLivinGMagazine.us Natural Vitality Andreas Koch 512 806-7650 andreask@wellnexthealth.com

Contact Information

HealthyLivinG Magazine Yana Mandeville 310-455-8952 Contact healthylivingmagazine.us

iS Clarifying Mud Masque™ Review from Quebec, Canada

OctoberNational Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Sponsor: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Collaborating Organizations 

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Make a difference! Spread the word about mammograms and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

How can National Breast Cancer Awareness Month make a difference?

We can use this opportunity to spread the word about steps women can take to detect breast cancer early.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Ask doctors and nurses to speak to women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer.
• Encourage women ages 40 to 49 to talk with their doctors about when to start getting mammograms.
• Organize an event to talk with women ages 50 to 74 in your community about getting mammograms every 2 years.

How can I help spread the word?

We’ve made it easier for you to raise awareness about breast cancer. This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:

• Add information about breast cancer screening to your newsletter.
• Tweet about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
• Add this Web badge to your website

https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/octoberToolkit.aspx

The murky waters of Canada's surrogacy baby boom

We need greater regulation of surrogacy in Canada to better protect women who act as surrogates, intended parents and the children who result

By Vanessa Gruben
and Pamela White
Contributors
Troy Media

OTTAWA, Ont. / Troy Media/ - If surrogacy is on the upswing in Canada, why do we know so little about the practice and its implications?

Recent media reports indicate that surrogacy services are booming in Canada. Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman agrees to become pregnant and give birth for other individuals. For many childless couples and individuals, including gay men, surrogacy is one of the few ways to have a genetically-related child.

And it's not just Canadians who are seeking surrogacy services. Much of the demand appears to come from people from other countries who wish to be parents.

Why would foreign surrogacy be on the rise in Canada?

Other countries have begun restricting surrogacy services. Examples include India, which recently banned foreign couples from accessing surrogacy services, and Mexico, which prohibits same-sex couples from accessing surrogacy services.

So intended parents are turning to jurisdictions like Canada, where access to non-residents and same-sex couples is unrestricted. And that raises a host of questions.

But is surrogacy really on the rise here?

How many children are born through surrogacy in Canada each year?

How many of these children are born to foreigners?

To what extent are woman being paid to act as surrogates?

What proportion of surrogacy arrangements are traditional surrogacies (where the woman acting as the surrogate provides the egg) as opposed to gestational surrogacies (where there is no genetic relationship between the surrogate and the resulting child)?

How often do women act as surrogates?

The truth is, we don't actually know the answers, even though these are important questions.

Because Canada doesn't track all surrogacy arrangements, even though we should.

We need greater regulation of surrogacy in Canada to better protect and promote the interests of women who act as surrogates, intended parents and the children who result from these arrangements.

There are three steps that federal and provincial governments can take.

First, it's imperative that the federal government define the expenses that a woman acting as a surrogate can seek reimbursement for. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act, in effect, prohibits commercial surrogacy arrangements by outlawing payment to a woman to act as a surrogate.

The act does, however, allow the intended parent(s) to reimburse a woman for certain expenses related to the surrogacy. The act says these expenses are to be set out in detail in regulations. Unfortunately, these regulations have not been drafted and this provision is not in force (despite being enacted in 2004). As a result, intended parents and surrogates are operating in a grey zone with respect to expenses.

Second, updated family laws are needed to reflect the use of surrogates in family building. In some provinces, family legislation doesn't set out rules governing parentage where a woman acts as a surrogate.

Parental status is important for several reasons. It determines lineage and citizenship, and it's important for making health care and other decisions in respect to the child.

Where the law is outdated, there is uncertainty about who the legal parent is. That means the intended parent(s) and surrogate must take additional legal steps to have their parental status recognized.

Finally, accurate data is essential for understanding current surrogacy practices. We have no data on the number of children born from traditional surrogacy arrangements, the number of times a woman acts as a surrogate, the number of babies born to foreign surrogates commissioned by Canadians, or the number of foreign intended parents who commission Canadian surrogates.

Limited data on gestational surrogacy performed in Canada does exist - but access to it is difficult since all requests are approved on a case-by-case basis.

Who acts as surrogates and what health risks do they take? We can't be sure because of a lack of independent data verification, reliance on voluntary reporting by individual fertility clinics that in turn rely on patients to provide information on birth outcomes, and data omissions (e.g., age of the surrogate).

Health Canada should work with provincial governments, fertility clinics and other stakeholders to gather relevant data regarding surrogacy practices and outcomes and to make this data (with names and identities protected) accessible and disseminated in a format understandable to the Canadian public.

Otherwise, surrogacy in Canada will remain shrouded in mystery - to the detriment of everyone involved.

Vanessa Gruben is an associate professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa and a member of the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics. Pamela White is a specialist associate lecturer, Kent Law School, University of Kent, U.K.

© 2016 Distributed by Troy Media

Set Sail for Fall Colours

Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre offers daily excursions, capped off by Thanksgiving Cruise October 10

GRAVENHURST, Ontario – add blue to this fall’s colours – as in blue water, a prime location to view the splendour of the changing leaves.  Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre is running daily cruises on the Muskoka Lakes, offering a unique vantage point for the beauty of autumn in Ontario.

“The scenery is truly spectacular at this time of year,” says John Miller, President of Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre.  “Our captains will sometimes adjust the route to get the best viewing, but really, anywhere you look is a dazzling array of colour – often doubly so because it is reflected off the water.” 

Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre’s daily schedule includes lunch cruises as well as 2-hour and 1-hour sightseeing excursions, every day from September 15 until October 11.   Your cruise ticket gives you free admission to the Muskoka Discovery Centre that has many interactive exhibits that explore the region’s history, culture, aboriginal stories and the importance of water as Canada’s greatest natural resource.

This year marked the 150^th anniversary of steamship service on the Muskoka Lakes.  The R.M.S. Segwun and Wenonah II have been packed all summer, offering passengers a unique way to experience the fun, romance and history of the Muskoka Lakes.

“It’s been a terrific summer, and we know Mother Nature has an even more glorious show in store for the fall,” adds Miller. “We often add extra tours each day, as steamships have become a very popular way to see the changing leaves.”

Back on land, the newly re-named Muskoka Discovery Centre (MDC), which is celebrating its own 10th anniversary this year, has a variety of exciting new exhibits.  Among the first-time exhibits in the MDC is the “Canadian Waterscapes” travelling exhibit from the Museum of Nature in Ottawa.

To close the season, on Monday, October 10, the R.M.S. Segwun – North America’s oldest operating steamship – will host a special Thanksgiving Cruise, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

For more information about Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre cruises, daily schedules, and interactive and educational exhibits, please visit http://realmuskoka.com. Follow them @RMSSegwun or ‘like’ them on Facebook. 

About Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society

Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society is a membership based not-for-profit registered charitable organization which owns the R.M.S. Segwun, Wenonah II, Wanda III Steam Yacht, and manages the Muskoka Discovery Centre. The Society’s vision is that the "Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society will be a leader in demonstrating the culture and heritage of the Muskoka region and its contribution to Canada by presenting compelling, entertaining and educational experiences, attractions, and events."

For more information, please contact: 

Erika Navarro
Communications Coordinator

63 Church Street, Suite 203 | St. Catharines, ON, Canada | L2R 3C4 Direct: 905.346.1230  Cell: 905.650.4027  F: 905.682.7481E: enavarro@enterprisecanada.com

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Easy-to-make turkey cupcakes

http://www.lifemadedelicious.ca/recipes/turkey-cupcakes/d6b02ac0-9811-4d11-95b8-94f9425f3df6/

Steviva Ingredients Earns Rigorous Safe Quality Food (SQF) Certification at New Manufacturing Facility in Portland

- To say Steviva Ingredients has grown since its inception in

 Thom King's garage in 1999 is

 an understatement. With annual sales in excess of $10

 million and a staff of 14

 employees, the local clean-label sweetening solutions 

supplier shows no sign 

of slowing down. Just this month, the 

Portland-based company recently 

earned its Safe Quality Food (SQF) Level 2 certification at its new

 headquarters to the historic Guilds Lakes area in Portland.

SQF Level 2 Certification:
Administered by the Food Marketing Institute and recognized by the Global Food
Safety Initiative, SQF is a rigorous food-safety management system that focuses
on the verification and validation of stringent food-safety and quality systems
 throughout the food supply chain.
"Ensuring the highest possible standards for quality control and food safety drives
everything we do," said Yishu Hou, quality and document control specialist at
Steviva Ingredients. "This certification reinforces that commitment to our
customers as a reliable, quality supply-chain partner."

New Headquarters:

At 26,500 square feet, Steviva's new headquarters building is four times as
 large as its previous location, which the company occupied for just three
 years before outgrowing. In addition to an expansive production facility and
 warehouse, the company has installed employee-centric amenities, including a
 yoga studio, archery range, rock-climbing wall and organic garden. Employees
 are encouraged to participate in the complimentary classes offered weekly by
a local certified yoga instructor in its studio, build their archery skills or strength
 at the rock-climbing wall before and after work, during breaks, at lunchtime
and during team-building sessions. 
Portland native Ian Wilson, founder of Portland Edible Gardens has installed a
 six-bay, raised-bed garden on the company property and is guiding employees
in the planting, caring and harvesting of plants, which include tomatoes, carrots,
beets, peppers, lettuces of all kinds, green beans, squash, basil, cucumber and stevia.
"Working with Steviva's employees in the garden has been a total joy for me,"
 said Wilson. "It is clear that they are truly invested in the success of this garden
and I can't help but believe that they feel the same way about the work they do
 every day for Steviva. What started as a place for learning and fun has grown
 into a powerful and important piece of a thriving business."
"Our goal is to create the type of environment where people can say, 'I GET to
go to work' instead of, 'I have to go to work,' " said Thom King, founder,
 president and CEO of Steviva Ingredients. "These kinds of community-building
 wellness activities allow our employees to recharge and help grow skill sets that
 build a sense of well-being and overarching success."

Future plans include the build out of a test kitchen at its headquarters facility.
 Steviva is in the process of procuring equipment to enable packing and
 co-packing in single-serve liquid sachets and powder packets, as well as
 a bottle-filling line and bag fillers for co-packing. The company is also in the
 process of building regional distribution centers in the Midwest and East coast.
About  Safe Quality Food (SQF) program :
The Safe Quality Food (SQF) program, a division of the Food Marketing Institute
 (FMI), is recognized by retailers and food service providers around the world
as a rigorous, credible food safety management system. It is the only major system
recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) that offers third-party
accredited certification for primary production, food manufacturing, distribution and
agent/broker management. http://www.sqfi.com/about-sqf/

About Steviva Ingredients:
Steviva Ingredients Inc. is a global ingredient supplier with a focus on all-natural,
 high-intensity sweeteners and custom sweetening solutions for manufacturers.
 Steviva Ingredients sweeteners and bulk ingredients are GMO-free, soy-free,
 corn-free and allergen-free. More information is available at: www.stevivaingredients.com.

Contact:	Cheryl Tessier, APR, 608-695-6510, Email
	Thom King, 310-455-9876, Email

UK Advises Vitamin D Supplements for Everyone – Should Canada Follow?

TORONTO – A recently released report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) in the United Kingdom is urging all Brits to take vitamin D supplements, which according to the Vitamin D Society of Canada, should give Canadians a reason to start looking at their own vitamin D intake levels.

Much like the UK, Canada shares the same sunshine limitations, which means because of the northern latitude of both countries, vitamin D producing sunlight can only be captured by our skin between the months of May and October. This leaves Canadians and Brits in the cold and with declining vitamin D levels in the fall and winter.

The downside of low vitamin D levels means that bones can become thin and brittle because vitamin D plays an important role in regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body - making it essential for bone health and more.

“Without having a recommended intake in the UK it was not possible to evaluate vitamin D status or vitamin D intakes there, but now with the decision of SACN to finally put these forward, we can see in the UK, intakes are low and status is one of the poorest,” says Dr. Susan Whiting, Scientific Advisor for the Vitamin D Society and professor at the University of Saskatchewan. “Both countries share similar latitudes, similar dietary habits and distribution of people of European and non-European ancestry. Modest fortification with vitamin D in Canada has prevented us from having so much severe vitamin D deficiency as is the situation in the UK right now. But diet alone in neither country can allow us to achieve optimal vitamin D status especially in winter months.”

Statistics Canada reports that up to 12 million Canadians — 35% of us — do not meet vitamin D blood level requirements. That number rises to more than 40% in the winter.

The summer sun allows most Canadians and Brits to naturally generate adequate levels of vitamin D, but according to the Vitamin D Society, come winter, that won’t be possible. The northern latitude of our countries physically prevents vitamin D generating sunlight to reach us. The solution to keeping levels normal in the winter, however, is from vitamin D supplements or artificial UVB exposure.

“While vitamin D supplements will help provide benefits in the winter months, fortified foods, which are sometimes relied upon to provide vitamin D, do not actually provide enough vitamin D in the winter.” says Dr. Whiting “For now, the best way to get ready for winter is to enjoy the sun safely and get the summer sunlight while it’s here. But for those who remain indoors or are otherwise prevented from sun exposure in summer, a supplement all year long might be the answer.”

The Vitamin D Society encourages Canadians to use their time in the midday summer sun wisely to stock up on the sunshine vitamin but to remember to use common sense and not let skin burn.

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org.

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).