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Why are Canadians going vegan?

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You may have noticed that veganism has been in the news a lot lately. Whether it is due to new vegan companies going public, new vegan meat substitutes being invented, or scientists discussing the impact of meat consumption on the climate, veganism has been popping up in the headlines on a fairly regular basis.

It should not surprise you to learn that veganism is on the rise in Canada as more and more people transition away from omnivorous or vegetarian diets to entirely plant-based diets and meals. According to a report from 2020, roughly 850,000 vegans were residing in Canada, along with 2.3 million Canadians who self-identified as vegetarian. Another report from 2021, which the Angus Reid Institute conducted, found that 22% of Canadians who regularly consume meat and meat-based products would like to reduce their meat consumption.

Veganism is on the rise in Canada – and around the world. However, if you do not know any vegans or have not researched the diet, you may not fully understand why hundreds of thousands of Canadians choose to go plant based. Keep reading to learn about this diet and why so many Canadians are reaching for the tofu.

 

Why go vegan?

Every vegan has their reasons for choosing a vegan diet, but it is a combination of health, ethics, and climate change for most people. A diet heavy in plants and plant-based products (such as tofu and olive oil) is one of the healthiest diets around. Some nutritionists suggest that vegan diets are healthier than the Mediterranean diet.

For ethical vegans, the choice to go vegan is motivated primarily by concerns for animal welfare. Many people transition to vegetarianism, and after a few years, they learn about the cruelty of the egg and dairy industry. Even if you choose free-range eggs and organic milk, at the end of the day, an animal is being exploited just so that you can enjoy your coffee and croissant. This concern motivates vegetarians and non-vegans to make the plant-based transition.

Finally, meat consumption and the consumption of eggs and dairy has an incredibly detrimental impact on the climate. Meat consumption is higher than ever. The process of raising, breeding, slaughtering, and processing billions of animals is incredibly resource intensive. These large land animals eat much more of the grain and soy than a person could eat, and they do not produce an equivalent amount of meat or dairy.

 

Incorporating self-care into your daily life

Many people have turned to veganism to feel physically better, meet specific weight goals, or reduce their carbon footprint. Veganism is often tied to wellness and self-care because it is viewed as a product of Los Angeles white women such as Amanda Chantal Bacon. However, this is a reductive and unfortunate stereotype as it pushes away many would-be vegans and dissuades them from giving it a try.

Taking care of your body and providing it with a nutritious, well-rounded diet is important, no matter who you are. Eating a healthy, well-rounded diet is heavy in fruits, vegetables, simple proteins, and healthy fats is one way to practice self-care and take care of your body.

Another way to incorporate self-care into your daily schedule is to set aside time for yourself. Whether that means working out, reading a book, listening to music, or playing a few games at online casinos, it is important to have time set aside to do what you enjoy and find interesting.

It might surprise readers to learn that online casinos have steadily grown in popularity and are now set to eclipse their physical counterparts – brick-and-mortar casinos and betting shops. As the industry grows and develops, it is likely that those physical buildings and shopfronts could be converted into other community spaces.

  

How to make the transition

Many vegans will transition without first understanding how to cook balanced vegan meals and care for their nutritional needs. Suppose that you are considering moving to veganism. In that case, it is important first to do your research and take the time to understand the supplements that you may need to stay healthy after cutting out or reducing animal products.

On top of supplements and vitamins, you will also need to understand the types of macronutrients that are important to consumers daily. Many new vegetarians and vegans are actually ‘carbatarians’ when they start.  They are left eating veggie burgers and chips because they do not understand how to create balanced and healthy meals.

The good news is that there are now hundreds, if not thousands, of vegan bloggers out there who are creating delicious, nutritionally dense meals that are easy to make. If you are seriously considering making the change, you should first research and practice your cooking skills. It may take a little time to get used to seasoning tofu, making seitan, or finding handy swaps for eggs, but many online resources and books are available to inspire your new diet.

 

The future of veganism in Canada

It is no longer the case that being vegan means that you will be eating tasteless black bean burger patties and potatoes for the rest of your life. More than ever, there are now thousands of vegan meat, dairy, and egg alternatives that can be easily used and incorporated into meals.

As more and more vegan and plant-based companies go public and become incredibly successful and popular, more people will likely give the diet a try and also just become more familiar with plant-based products. It is almost as if an entirely new segment of the market has opened up for business, and many companies are jumping at the chance to fill this gap. It is now very easy to make that change, learn a new skill, and embrace new eating habits as a vegan in Canada.

Health

What’s the greatest holiday gift: lips, hair, skin? Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

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Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting

Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.

In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.

“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.

There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.

Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.

Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.

In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.

 

Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

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Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

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LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

X

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Pediatric group says doctors should regularly screen kids for reading difficulties

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The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.

New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.

The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.

Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.

Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.

“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”

McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.

But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.

The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.

He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.

“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.

“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.

McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”

McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.

He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.

“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

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