Reading Time: 5 minutes You take good care of your land, your equipment, and your animals. But do you take the same care with your own health? Farmers tend not to think of themselves as a ‘tool’ that needs regular maintenance, says the program manager of Sustainable Farm Families Alberta. Combines, for instance, go into the shop before every […] Read more
Believe it or not — urban men are in better health than farmers
Stress and constantly working take their toll, but there’s a free and proven program that helps farmers enjoy healthier, better lives
Canola oil can help trim inches off the waist
Researchers found a significant decrease of belly fat in a clinical trial of obese subjects who included canola oil in their diets
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canola oil can help reduce belly fat, a new study has found. About 20 per cent of adults in Canada have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions — including belly fat — that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Researchers at the University of Manitoba, Laval University, and Penn State University tested […] Read more
Just what are functional foods, anyway?
Here’s a brief primer on the health benefits that functional foods are supposed to deliver
Reading Time: 2 minutes The term ‘functional foods’ has been around for decades, but what does it mean? “While there is no legal definition for functional foods, a common definition is that a functional food provides health benefits beyond basic nutrition,” said Ava Duering, an analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. This is because they contain bioactive food compounds […] Read more
Alberta communities recognized as wellness champions
Initiatives range from healthier school snacks and walking trails to walkability workshops and exercise breaks at city meetings
Reading Time: 2 minutes Twenty Alberta communities and individuals have been recognized as wellness champions by making the province a healthier place to live, through active living, healthy eating and overall community wellness. Among the honourees recognized by the Communities ChooseWell program are: Longview for a policy passed by town council that stipulates that council will support non-profit programming, […] Read more
#FreeBacon sizzles on social media
WHO review: Negative tweets outnumber positive ones by more than 6.5 to one
Bacon lovers took to social media on Tuesday to express disdain over a World Health Organization report that said processed meat is likely to cause cancer. The hashtags #FreeBacon, #Bacongeddon and #JeSuisBacon were among the top-trending topics worldwide on Twitter for a second straight day. Celebrities, politicians and ordinary consumers were reacting to Monday’s announcement […] Read more
Is your well water safe to drink?
Water testing available free of charge through Alberta Health Services
Reading Time: 2 minutes AARD Release / Urbanites seldom worry about whether or not their water is safe to drink because regulations require municipalities to treat and test water quality on a regular basis. But it’s not so simple for rural residents who rely on wells, as they are responsible for managing and maintaining their wells, and ensuring their […] Read more
New program takes aim at high early mortality rate of farmers
Stress, poor eating habits and other factors mean farmers have higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory issues
Reading Time: 2 minutes You can’t enjoy your farm if you’re dead — but many farmers take better care of their land, equipment, or animals than themselves. “It’s true for my family and a lot of farmers I know,” said Jordan Jensen, who grew up near Raymond and is now project manager of Sustainable Farm Families Canada. “Farmers tend […] Read more
Science-based organization fights anti-wheat hysteria
‘Wheat belly’ and gluten-free diets are all the rage, and a new bestseller recommends cutting carbs to ward off dementia, Alzheimer’s and depression
Reading Time: 2 minutes What do you say to someone who has read the bestseller Wheat Belly and believes wheat is the new evil? Stick to the facts, says Christine Lowry, a dietitian and policy analyst with the Healthy Grains Institute — a year-old organization set up “to dispel myths around whole grains.” “We’re really making sure that we’re […] Read more
Ionophores, not antibiotics, mainly used in beef cattle
Danish ban has led to increased use of antibiotics, says BDRC
Reading Time: 3 minutes Antimicrobial resistance has become a highly charged issue. Headlines appear in the news on a regular basis suggesting that antibiotics are becoming less effective in humans and farmers are to blame. Some concerns have been raised that antimicrobial use in livestock leads to antimicrobial resistance and that some of the products used in food animals […] Read more
Calgary woman contracts hantavirus, lives to tell tale
DEADLY DUST Cathy was infected after sweeping the floor near some firewood contaminated with mouse feces and urine
Reading Time: 3 minutes One week, Cathy was a vibrant and healthy wife, mother and music teacher. The next, she was fighting for her life in a Calgary hospital, wondering whether she’d see her son’s next birthday. Cathy K. (her last name withheld by request) was exposed to hantavirus around Halloween of 2002, when she was 44 years old. […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
