NOW® Partners with Celebrity Health Coach Kelly LeVeque to Debut First-Of-Its-Kind Digital Smoothie Builder Based on LeVeque's Fab Four Diet Formula

Dedicated Wellness Campaign Empowers People to Create Body-Loving Habits They Can Stick With

, April, 2018 /-- Elimination or fad diets may be all the rage with summer just a few weeks away. But according to Kelly LeVeque, Hollywood's go-to health coach and author of "Body Love" (2017), it's time to ditch the food drama for real results, and that means getting in tune with our bodies to understand the fuel it needs to thrive, and to make body-loving choices to feel satisfied every day. So today, NOW® - a family-owned natural products manufacturer celebrating its 50^th anniversary – and LeVeque are launching the #BodyLoveNOW50 campaign at nowfoods.com/bodylove, featuring a first-of-its kind interactive smoothie builder based on LeVeque's signature Fab Four nutrition formula, to help people start their day with a sustainable, healthy habit.

The Fab Four formula, which LeVeque has used to transform the diets of A-listers like Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba and Emmy Rossum, ensures the body gets the right amount of macronutrients from proteins, fats, fiber and greens to help balance blood sugar and shut down hunger hormones. LeVeque prefers a smoothie in the morning because the liquid meal helps the body continue to cleanse from the night before, while keeping her satisfied and more alert throughout the day.  Now anyone can easily follow her formula with the exclusive #BodyLoveNOW50 smoothie tool, which features Kelly's favorite 50 NOW ingredients, to build a natural, nutrient-rich smoothie.
"What's so empowering about wellness is knowing and trusting the ingredients that are nourishing your body, and that's why NOW is my preferred brand," said LeVeque. "Not only do they go above and beyond to ensure their products are clean and pure, but I love that they're a family-owned company celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year. It's comforting to know they have my back when it comes to making high quality and affordable natural products I can trust."
According to LeVeque, the partnership with NOW brings an important wellness philosophy to light. "Wellness isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one person might not work for someone else. So what the Fab Four formula and #BodyLoveNOW50 smoothie builder does is give you a guideline of the types of nutrients to add into your routine, which can be personalized to anyone," said LeVeque. "It's up to YOU to make smarter choices, and NOW can help fill in the blanks with the variety of trusted products and ingredients to choose from."
NOW is the largest independent and family-owned manufacturer of natural products in the U.S. health food store channel, offering more than 1,400 products, from functional foods and supplements to sports nutrition and health and beauty products, as well as essential oils.
In addition to making a nutrient-rich smoothie an important body-loving, morning habit, LeVeque shares her top five tips for smarter routines overall, from what you eat to how you treat the body. For more, including a series of videos featuring Kelly's tips and a look at her daily routines, visit nowfoods.com/bodylove. 

1. Hack Homemade Recipes with Super Swaps or Adds. Remember, eating MORE of the right foods and nutrients during the day is key, so kick up your daily menu with boosts of super nutrients and/or super foods. For example, add a dash of curcumin powder to a simple greens salad and grill your Brussels sprouts (or any vegetable) with Ellyndale® Naturals Premium Avocado Oil. You'll get that perfect sear from the oil's high smoke point, plus the added benefit of monounsaturated fats and vitamin E.
2. A Dirty Gut = A Healthy Glow. Inside the colon, or the gut, is a bacterial system called the microbiome that accounts for the majority of cells in the body and is directly connected to our health and wellness. Not only is 80 percent of the immune system located in the gut, but the health of the gut significantly influences the health of our skin, the largest organ in the body. The "dirtier" we can make the gut by filling it with good or healthy bacteria, the healthier our skin can be. Supplementing with a probiotic you can trust can be an easy way to achieve a dirty gut.* Start with this probiotic and digestive health product finder to find a probiotic that meets your needs.
3. Add Oiling to Your Nighttime Routine. Oiling is probably my best kept secret and keeps my skin dewy and hydrated. This is not the thick night crème you are used to, but a thin veil of simple oils to calm, hydrate and help skin look healthy. Contrary to popular belief, bacteria don't grow in these oils. I make my own oil blend of NOW® Solutions Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil and Organic Tamanu Oil. Rose Hip is rich in Omega-6 essential fatty acids and can be used to aid in skin renewal to replenish a healthy glow and for antioxidant protection.* Tamanu Oil has naturally occurring essential fatty acids that promote soft, radiant, hydrated skin. What I love about blending oils myself is that I know the quality of ingredients I'm choosing, plus it's so much more affordable!
4. Pack It To Go. Most of us have action-packed days of work, fitness, etc. and can easily be gone for 12-14 hours each day. Being away from home, whether you're staying local or traveling, can pose a challenge to our daily routines. Packing portable light meals or filling snacks is important to keep you sated and energized through the day. My favorite trick is my "take out" smoothie kit. Fill a zip-top pouch or shaker cup with a serving of protein powder, chia seeds or NOW® Organic Acacia Fiber Powder, and powdered greens. When you're out, order an iced coffee or tea, add the smoothie kit, and you've got a Fab Four Smoothie to sip.
5. Take Time to Slow Down. Slowing down isn't just for Sunday nights (although quiet, lazy Sundays are always welcome). It's important to take time to relax and unwind from the daily hustle, too. To do this, I dim the lights, slip into cozies and brew a cup of tea. When my stress levels are high I lean on adaptogenic herbs like Tulsi.* Tulsi, also referred to as Holy Basil, helps the body adapt to everyday stress, supports a healthy immune system and promotes positive mood.* Holy Basil is a great way to get acquainted with adaptogens.*

To coordinate an interview with LeVeque, email Alana.Horinko@nowfoods.com.  Follow NOW Instagram (@nowfoodsofficial), as well as Facebook (@nowfoodsofficial) and Twitter (@nowfoods).
ABOUT NOW®: Founded by Elwood Richard in 1968 on the belief that natural is better, NOW has grown from a small family operation into one of the most highly respected manufacturers in the natural products industry. Still a family-owned company today, NOW provides customers with a comprehensive approach to wellness by offering more than 1,400 dietary supplements, functional foods, sports nutrition and health and beauty products. NOW is committed to offering safe, affordable products of the highest quality, and is a highly regarded advocate in the natural products industry. After 50 years in the natural products industry, NOW remains committed to its original mission – to provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives. 
ABOUT KELLY LEVEQUE:Kelly LeVeque (@bewellbykelly) is a holistic nutritionist, wellness expert, and celebrity health coach based in Los Angeles, California. Guided by a practical and always optimistic approach, Kelly helps clients improve their health, achieve their goals and develop sustainable habits to live a healthy and balanced life.  Kelly is a regular contributor for numerous health, wellness and lifestyle publications. She rounded out her education with a number of other certifications including being certified as a Health Coach through The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, certified as a 200 Hr Yoga Instructor though American Yoga School and NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT)® through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Media Contact:
Alana Horinko, 630-545-9098 Alana.Horinko@nowfoods.com

SOURCE NOW®

MedicAlert a voice for autistics in crisis situations

The MedicAlert Autism Program allows emergency responders to make better decisions to help people in times of need By Laurie Mawlam Executive director Autism Canada Click image to download The silver identification bracelet that indicates an existing condition to first responders has been a valuable tool for decades. In 1953, a teenage girl named Linda Collins cut her finger badly. At the hospital, she received a tetanus shot, had a severe allergic reaction and almost died. After that incident, her parents began attaching a note about her allergy to her coat whenever she left the house. Eventually they had a custom bracelet made for her with her medical needs engraved into the plate. It became clear that rapid access to medical information could save lives - and MedicAlert developed into a worldwide network. In April, following World Autism Awareness Day, MedicAlert and Autism Canada put their respective efforts and years of experience together to develop the MedicAlert Autism Program. It's a system that serves people on the spectrum when emergencies occur by contextualizing care and providing a voice for autistics in crisis situations. Autism isn't always recognizable to those who don't know the signs and this can make those on the spectrum particularly vulnerable in an emergency situation, especially when communication is hindered or not possible. The MedicAlert ID supports Canadians with 24/7 notification to loved ones, and a special hotline for paramedics, police and emergency responders to access detailed health records in an average of five seconds. The subscriber profile for individuals on the spectrum includes information about the person's routines, anxiety triggers and de-escalation techniques so emergency responders can make better decisions to help the person at the time of need. "This is a simple mechanism that can be made widely available and alerts others in an emergency situation to the needs of the individual under stress who has difficulties communicating their needs," says Dr. Yona Lunsky, senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Her research has focused on crises and emergencies in the autism community. Lunsky and co-authors found in a recent study that nearly one in four adolescents and adults with autism visited the hospital for an emergency situation, both medical and psychiatric, in a 12-to-18-month period. The study found that one in six had a police interaction over that same period. "The study is a good reminder that supports are often inadequate for people on the spectrum across the country and are not meeting the needs of families," says Lucie Stephens, program director at Autism Canada. To try to bridge those gaps, Autism Canada works to inform public policy and research by sharing best practices from across the country. It's an advocacy organization with a national perspective and a guiding principle to see the potential in people living with autism. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder causing most individuals to experience communication problems, difficulty with social interactions, and a tendency to repeat specific patterns of behaviour. An estimated one in 66 children are diagnosed with the disorder, making it the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental condition. The MedicAlert and Autism Canada program provides a recognizable identifier for those in crisis situations. Emergency responders and police will be trained to recognize a situation involving an autistic individual because of the unique blue and red emblem created for the MedicAlert Autism Program. "The uniquely coloured emblem helps to give a voice to those with autism when they need it most," said Dermot Cleary, board chair of Autism Canada. "Regardless of the subscriber's age or where they fall on the spectrum, this program is vital in supporting autistics in an emergency situation." Laurie Mawlam has been the executive director of Autism Canada since 2006. She has led the charge for a national autism strategy since 2007.

© Troy Media

New study shows cognitive behavioural therapy can improve emotion regulation in children with autism

TORONTO,  2018– New research from York University’s Faculty of Health shows cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help children with autism manage not only anxiety but other emotional challenges, such as sadness and anger.

Led by Jonathan Weiss, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and CIHR Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research, the study shows CBT can lead to significant improvements in children’s emotional regulation.  It also shows – for the first time – that CBT can improve more than just anxiety.

This is the first transdiagnostic CBT trial for children with autism, employing a randomized controlled trial.

Approximately 70 per cent of children with autism will struggle with some form of emotional challenge. About half of these children will struggle with anxiety and another 25 to 40 per cent will struggle with other emotional challenges such as anger or depression. In fact, there is a high co-occurrence among these conditions.

 “We can use this same intervention to improve children’s skills more broadly regardless of what emotional challenge they have,” says Weiss. “We can make them more resilient to many emotional and mental health issues.”

Sixty-eight children from 8 to 12 years of age and their parents, mostly mothers, participated in the study and were randomly assigned to two groups: one group receiving 10 sessions beginning right away and another group waiting to receive treatment later. Researchers tracked how their emotions and behaviour changed prior to and after treatment.

“We showed that children who received this treatment right away improved in their ability to manage their emotions, and in overall mental health problems, versus kids who were waiting for treatment,” says Weiss.  

A clinician who was not involved in the direct provision of the treatment and did not know if children were in the treatment or waitlist group rated 74% of children receiving treatment as improved, compared to only 31% of those in the waitlist group.

The treatment consisted of time-limited spy-themed cognitive behavioural therapy involving a computer program, games and tools to help build the child’s emotional toolkit. The tools help children face situations that may have previously been challenging, head-on and in a more supportive way. During the intervention, parents also practice what they are learning with their children and serve as co-therapists in the therapy sessions.

“We believe that children grow and develop and improve within the context of healthy families and this intervention aids to help the family unit more broadly to be the agent of change.”

Researchers are now looking at how this intervention can be used for other neurodevelopmental conditions that often overlap with autism, such as ADHD.

This study was funded by the CIHR Chair in ASD Treatment and Care Research, in partnership with Health Canada, Kids Brain Health Network, Autism Speaks Canada, the Sinneave Family Foundation, and the Canadian ASD Alliance with additional funding from York University.

  

The study is published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

-30-

Media contact: Anjum Nayyar, York University Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543 anayyar@yorku.ca

York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

York U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

  

World's Best Cookie Dough is Where Gourmet Taste Meets Pure Edible Dough in an Unbeatable Range of Flavors

NEW YORK, April  2018 /PRNewswire/ -- There is no exaggerating the goodness that the newly launched World's Best Cookie Dough is spreading around. Located at Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, New York City, the store offers over 50 varieties of sweet treats, making it a class apart from other cookie dough services. It is also the largest cookie dough store to come up in NYC. Besides providing Raw edible cookie dough, they also offer giant 6 oz cookies, Banana pudding, Cheesecake, Crazy Freakshakes, Cupcakes, Brownies, fried cookie dough, and even an extensive breakfast menu featuring cookie dough pancakes, cookie dough waffles etc.

The raw and sensuous appeal of cookie dough comes out when it's prepared with passion and authenticity. This wasn't the case until now, with most cookie dough sold around falling short of expectations. World's Best Cookie Dough thought this was unfair to our gourmet culture, and went ahead to create the finest cookie dough offerings possible based on a secret formula that replicates the exact flavors found in pure cookie dough.
Cookie dough is not mere cookie dough here! It's gourmet edible, bakeable and customizable. This dough is also vegetarian, and made in the same hygienic facility with pasteurized eggs and heat treated flour, the quality far exceeds that of other brands. And then there is the dazzling range of flavors.
Those yearning to try new flavors will be spoilt for choice. There is one for everyone, in all popular and conceivable flavors: Chocolate Chip, Brownie Cookie, Pumpkin Spice, Oatmeal Raisin, Salted Caramel… Not to forget, there are Crazy Freakshakes too, and baked cookies, ice cream, and cheesecakes stuffed with finger licking dough.
The best way to enjoy these delicatessens is to visit them at their flagship store at 164 Bleecker street in NYC. or for those away from NY can have them enjoyed in combo packs. World's Best Cookie Dough makes it easy to pick up one's favorite flavors in packs of four, six or twelve combo packs, with each flavor available in 8 oz size. Party orders are welcome and delicious treats are carefully packaged and shipped nationwide. The store can be followed on social media, and visitors can sign up for a newsletter to know what's cooking at World's Best Cookie Dough.

For more information, please visit: www.worldsbestcookiedough.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Worlds-Best-Cookie-Dough-1545901065484668/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldsbestcookiedough/

SOURCE World's Best Cookie Dough

CollapseAndGo Launches the First Ever Collapsible Baby Bottle and Sippy Cup on Kickstarter

CollapseAndGo's easy-to-stow, on-the-go design makes parenting less chaotic

Today, the CollapseAndGo team launched their Kickstarter campaign for the first ever fully collapsible baby bottle and sippy cup, the Collapsabottle and Collapsacup, with a funding goal of $15,000. CollapseAndGo makes it simple for busy, on the go parents to take and pack their baby bottles and sippy cups and offers the added benefit of having more storage space in the kitchen and diaper bags.

The Collapsabottle and Collapsacup collapse down to the size of a hockey puck, which is 1 and ¾ inches, allowing for easy storage. Its organic shape resembles the natural shape and feel of a mother, and parents can collapse the bottle as a baby drinks, reducing their air intake to minimize gas and discomfort. From a bottle nipple to a sippy cup top, CollapseAndGo bottles have interchangeable lids, so parents do not have to buy new cups as their children grow, and the handle attachment makes it easy for older babies to hold.

CollapseAndGo products are also 100% safe for children. Silicone is odorless, tasteless and mold- and bacteria-resistant. CollapseAndGo bottles will not stain, cloud, or seep harmful chemicals.
"The Collapsabottle and Collapsacup are both made from the best quality silicone available and pass the most rigid food safety testing standards. They are BPA-, PVC-, lead- and Phthalate-free, so in other words, they are EXTREMELY safe," said CollapseAndGo Co-founder Lauren Shapiro. "You can even put the bottles in boiling water to heat them up for your baby. Additionally, the Collapsabottle and Collapsacup are dishwasher safe, so no longer will you have to hand wash and dry all of those bottles on top of your counter to free up extra counter space and keep them clean."
To make on-the-go parenting easier, pre-order a Collapsabottle and Collapsacup for $12 on Kickstarter. For more information about the products, visit pr.go2.fund/collapseandgo.

About CollapseAndGo
When newborn parents Matthew Mittleman and Lauren Shapiro were shopping for collapsible baby bottles and sippy cups (because their diaper bag was overflowing and their cabinets were cluttered), they realized these bottles and cups did not exist. From there, the new collapsible, top-of-the-line baby bottles and sippy cups were created, bringing CollapseAndGo to life. For more information about CollapseAndGo, visit pr.go2.fund/collapseandgo.


SOURCE CollapseAndGo

Companion Planting

Recipe CRANBERRY SPRITZER

Ingredients

• 2 cups (500 mL) apple cider vinegar
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• ½ cup (125 mL) fresh or frozen cranberries
• 4tsp (20 mL) Botanica Daily Detox Shot
• 10 oz (280 mL) plain sparkling soda
• 
  

Directions

Combine cider vinegar, rosemary and cranberries in a small saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes for flavours to blend. Remove from heat and refrigerate until chilled.  Fill 3 glasses with ice. Divide apple cider mixture among glasses. Add Botanica Daily Detox Shot to each glass. milk Top up with sparkling soda and serve.

https://botanicahealth.com/our-recipes/cranberry-spritzer/

DAILY DETOX SHOT

Certified Organic

Botanica Daily Detox Shot is loaded with enzymes, B vitamins, micronutrients and organic acids – and a dose of milk thistle. All to help support a healthy liver which can be put under stress as it tries to detoxify life for us.

• Previous name: Botanica Fermented Milk Thistle

Antique Pram over 100 years old for Sale - perfect condition

Cristinas Antiques 416-242-3334

Main Office: 84 Colville Rd, North York, ON M6M 2Y4
Second Office: 2449 ON-11, Oro Station, ON L0L 2E0
info@cristinasantiques.com

https://www.cristinasantiques.com/