The Right Snacks When Calorie Counting

Snacking itself is not bad — it can actually help with calorie counting as long as you make smart choices. Pick a tasty blend of protein, fat, and carbs for the best snacks.

from Everdayhealth.com
By Madeline Vann, MPH

Believe it or not, snacks can actually strengthen your calorie-counting efforts. Simply making a healthy snack choice could keep you happier and more successful with your diet.

“If you go too long without eating, you are hungrier than you would be without a snack,” says Catherine Bethea Dempsey, RD, LD, dietitian and research coordinator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Starve yourself and you are likely to overcompensate at your next meal, warns Dempsey, adding, “A 150-calorie snack will save you more than that at dinner.”

Calorie Counting and Snacks

There are a few rules to follow if you want this snack strategy to work:

Count the calories in those snacks. You have to include the calorie count of each snack in your total calorie count. Seems like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget about a handful of pretzels or nuts here and there.

Be picky. You shouldn’t snack on just anything — you still want to find healthy, diet-friendly options.

Plan ahead. "Know thyself" is a motto to follow. Expecting that you’ll be hungry and figuring out what to eat ahead of time will make you more successful when hunger strikes. If you tend to get ravenously hungry in the mid-afternoon, be ready for a snack attack.

...read more at Everydayhealth.com

Older Canadians Honour Generic Pharmaceutical Industry

Lower Cost Prescription Drugs Contribute to Medicare Sustainability


TORONTO, December 18, 2009 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Older Canadians Network/Alliance of Seniors (Network/Alliance) announced today that the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) is the recipient of the 2009 Alexander Gorlick Memorial Award in recognition of the vital contribution made by Canada's generic pharmaceutical industry to the economic sustainability of Medicare, Canada's universal, publicly administered healthcare system, through the provision of safe, effective and proven alternatives to more expensive brand-name medicines.

"Prescription drugs constitute the fastest growing component of health care costs in Canada", said Jack Pinkus, retired pharmacist and President of the Network/Alliance. "In 2008, generic drugs were dispensed to fill 52% of all prescriptions in Canada, yet accounted for only 23% of the nearly $21 billion spent on prescription medicines. More timely access to and greater use of generics would realize enormous cost savings for both government and employer sponsored drug benefit plans."

"We are honoured to receive the 2009 Alexander Gorlick Memorial Award. Mr. Gorlick was a tireless advocate for Canada's publicly funded health-care system and, in particular, ensuring that Canadians have access to affordable prescription medicines," said Jim Keon, President of CGPA. "This Award recognizes the mutual goals of our organizations and the work that we must continue to undertake together to ensure that Mr. Gorlick's legacy endures."


The Network/Alliance is a non-partisan, non-profit coalition of individuals and organizations which began in 1993, as the Alliance of Seniors To Protect Canada's Social Programs. It was founded by Alexander Gorlick and that generation of seniors whose ideals and values were shaped by the hardship and sacrifice experienced during the Great Depression and World Wars, and in response to wavering government support for Canada's cherished social safety net. Today its membership continues to advocate for policies of benefit to present and future generations of Canadians and its concerns encompass the well-being of society as a whole.

Study identifies care gap in diabetes management

Majority of Canadians living with diabetes do not receive all recommended clinical tests


OTTAWA, December 3, 2009 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - While most Canadian adults living with diabetes get regular care, they are not always getting all of the clinically recommended tests they require to prevent health complications. A new study released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) looked at the extent to which Canadians age 18 and older living with diabetes received four specific tests. Although many receive individual tests, such as blood glucose (HbA1c) tests, urine protein tests and dilated eye exams, and are having their feet checked for sores or irritations, the results found that fewer than one-third (32%) reported receiving all four of these clinically recommended tests from their health providers.

"This indicates there is room for improvement in the care Canadians living with diabetes are receiving," says Greg Webster, Director of Primary Health Care Information at CIHI. "Better management and control of diabetes can help prevent serious health complications and prolong life for people with diabetes."

More than 2 million Canadians have diabetes. It is the single largest cause of blindness in Canada and a leading cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations and cardiovascular complications such as heart disease, according to a previous study by Statistics Canada. CIHI's analysis, Diabetes Care Gaps and Disparities in Canada, found that within the past 12 months

- 81% of all Canadians with diabetes received an HbA1c test, which
measures blood glucose levels over a period of time,
- 74% received a urine protein test to measure kidney function and
- 51% had their feet checked for sores or irritations.


In the past two years

- 66% received a dilated eye exam.


When asked if they had received the HbA1c exam, urine protein test and foot check in the past year, as well as the dilated eye exam in the past two years, only 32% said yes to receiving all four tests. Adults with diabetes who used insulin-a group with greater disease severity-were more likely to receive all four care components than those who did not use insulin (50% versus 28%, respectively).

While it is clinically recommended to have these tests performed by a health care provider, Canadians living with diabetes can also practise some self-care preventive measures between visits to their doctors. The analysis found that half (50%) of adults with diabetes self-monitored their blood glucose levels on a daily basis and that just over half (58%) checked their feet for sores, or had a family member or friend check them, at least once a week.


Care varies by region, household income


CIHI's study found significant variations by province in the proportion of people with diabetes who reported they had received all four recommended tests within the study period. Results ranged from lows of 21% of adults with diabetes in Newfoundland and Labrador and 22% in Manitoba to highs of 39% of people with diabetes in British Columbia and 37% in Saskatchewan.

Large gaps were also found between people of different household income levels. The percent of adults with diabetes who received all four recommended care tests in the past two years was highest in the highest household income group (42%) and lowest in the lowest income group (21%).

"Diabetes control involves a complex combination of actions from both the patient and the health care provider," says Dr. Alan Katz, Research Director, Department of Family Medicine, and associate professor, departments of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. "In addition to taking the necessary medications and insulin, people living with this condition need to modify their lifestyles in order to avoid complications, such as blindness or limb amputations. It is imperative that all people living with diabetes receive self-management guidance from their health care providers and put together a personal plan that will help fend off associated health effects."

The report is available from CIHI's website at www.cihi.ca.

GetInvolved.ca Marks International Volunteer Day with Goal of 2,000,000 Volunteer Hours

A National Campaign that asks for Canadians' time, not money, to make a difference in 2010


TORONTO, December 1, 2009 /Canada NewsWire/ - GetInvolved.ca, Canada's online social network for the socially conscious, today announced a new national campaign, Power of the Hour, in honour of International Volunteer Day (December 5th, 2009). Power of the Hour encourages individuals, groups and businesses large and small to help reach a goal of 2,000,000 volunteer hours in 2010.

"We want people to think about the value of giving their time-at their local school, on the soccer field or helping a cause or charity that makes a difference in their community," said Dorothy Engelman, Senior Partner at q media solutions and founder of Get Involved. "There has never been a more important time to get involved by donating to charities and organizations in need of time, skills and expertise."

Canadian individuals, families and businesses can pledge their volunteer hours at www.getinvolved.ca. The Get Involved website connects individuals who want to make a difference to charities and not-for-profit organizations who need their help. The site also showcases 50 video profiles on everyday individuals who make a difference and hosts a blog promoting social activism and the power of social media.

Getinvolved.ca is a two-year partnership between q media solutions (http://www.qmediasolutions.com), and TVO ( http://www.tvo.org). Get Involved was made possible thanks to the financial participation of the Bell Broadcast & New Media Fund ( http://www.ipf.ca/Bell/English/BellFund.html), a fully audited grant. Power of the Hour is a National campaign in partnership with Volunteer Canada ( http://volunteer.ca).

NHL Is Canada's Most Searched Online Term in 2009; Michael Jackson Is Most Searched Person

Canada's Biggest Clicks: Yahoo! Canada 2009 Buzz Index Ranks Canada's Favourite Online Topics - From Rising Stars and Celebrity Farewells to the Economy, H1N1, Balloon Boy and Twilight


This Year's List Also Includes the Most Notable Searches of the Decade


TORONTO, December 1 /Canada NewsWire/ - Even the King of Pop is no match for Canada's hockey obsession as NHL takes the top spot on the Yahoo! Canada 2009 Buzz Index as the most searched term in 2009. Michael Jackson's death rocketed him back into the global spotlight and the number five spot overall.

RuneScape, a free MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) and last year's number one, took the number two spot ahead of UFC and WWE.

Now in its fifth year, Yahoo! Canada's annual compilation of results explores the search habits of millions of Yahoo! Canada users, and provides unique insights into consumers' interests and emerging trends. In a year that saw persistent fears about the economy, and the rollout of H1N1 vaccination clinics across the country, Canadians still managed to have a little fun as sports and entertainment topics dominated the top 10 most searched terms of 2009.

"Although sports and pop culture-related search terms always do well on the list, you could argue that interest in these topics is even higher during tougher economic times," says Derek Chezzi, Managing Editor, Yahoo! Canada. "Michael Jackson's memorial, although sad, also reminded us of a lot of positive and hopeful times, and united us in a shared experience, while the current frenzy around the Twilight series (this year's most searched movie) is a great example of how we love to escape into other worlds where almost anything seems possible."

Bye Bye Britney - After years of placing in the top 10, Britney Spears seems to have sorted out her life, but doesn't make this year's list. Instead, two female stars who couldn't be more opposite, Megan Fox and Susan Boyle, replace Britney and Miley Cyrus on this year's top 10. The raw singing talent and rumours swirling around about American Idol's runner-up, Adam Lambert, no doubt kept the show in the search spotlight as it grabbed seventh spot this year, up from tenth in 2008.

Sports Rule - We'll take our sports any way - on ice, in a ring, on the court or on the track. No longer on the fringes, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) moves from ninth spot in 2008 to third on the list of most searched terms in 2009. Keeping it in the ring, WWE takes fourth spot, a move up from sixth last year. NASCAR repeats its 2008 performance by again taking eighth spot, while the NBA bounces onto the list in ninth spot overall.

Top 10 Canadian Searches in 2009:


1. NHL
2. RuneScape
3. UFC
4. WWE
5. Michael Jackson
6. Megan Fox
7. American Idol
8. NSACAR
9. NBA
10. Susan Boyle

For More Buzz!


To see all of this year's top search lists, please visit: ca.news.yahoo.com/indepth/


About Yahoo! Canada


Yahoo! Canada Co. is a leading Internet destination that provides online products and services to meet the needs of Canadians and offers a range of tools and marketing solutions for businesses to connect with Internet users. Yahoo! Canada services Canadians in both English and in French through its sites, www.yahoo.ca and qc.yahoo.ca. In Canada, Yahoo! sites were visited by more than 17 million Canadians in October, 2009 (comScore Media Metrix). Yahoo! Canada is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.