Nurturing Health
nutrition that works
Get out and play
Take time for extra sleep
It may not be easy to find the motivation to get up and move around when it is cold, dark, and gloomy outside during winter. However, regular physical activity and moderate exercise boost energy levels and help support a healthy mood, which are essential for maintaining good health and a healthy body weight. Whether it be stretching breaks or walking around the block, moving your body during the day can make a difference. Organized group activities make exercise fun and help keep everyone accountable for staying active. Take Peak Endurance to help increase energy levels and reduce fatigue after exercising.
Tips for Winter Wellness Tips for Winter Wellness
Help reduce sugar cravings
With less daylight and cooler days, our bodies naturally need more sleep. Not getting enough sleep has an enormous effect on a person’s health, memory and mood. Develop a bedtime routine with calming activities, limit screen time, and create a restful sleep environment to help your body fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Try Composure to help relax and quiet overactive minds at bedtime.
Sunlight is one of the factors that trigger the release of the happy hormone, serotonin. Less daylight may influence the balance of hormones that control appetite and even impact your mood. Ironically, your body will crave more carbohydrates in order to stimulate the release of serotonin while digesting and metabolizing sugars. This is why people tend to eat more sugars to improve mood during winter. However, sugars can compromise your immune system. Eating more protein-rich foods can help maintain stable blood sugar levels and reduce sugar cravings. If you are worried about putting on weight from eating too much animal protein, drink a smoothie containing ProPeas pea protein daily.
Fill nutritional gaps in your diet with supplements
Holiday goodies and feasts are loaded in sugars, sodium, fats and empty/ unwanted calories. In fact, eating too many highly processed foods or having a diet low in nutrients may impair your immune function. Nourish your body with BarleyLife, CoCoa LeafGreens (now gluten-free!), Just Carrots, and RediBeets
These plant-based foods are loaded with antioxidants and enzymes, which can help strengthen your immune health.
Understanding UTIs and the Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries are a festive favourite during the holiday season, adding a burst of colour and flavour to various dishes and beverages. However, their health benefits extend beyond holiday meals; they are particularly effective in supporting urinary tract health, especially in the form of supplements designed to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).1
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common bacterial infections that primarily affect the bladder and urethra. They occur when bacteria enter the urinary system, leading to symptoms like painful urination, frequent urges to urinate, and pelvic discomfort. Women are more susceptible due to anatomical factors. If left untreated, UTIs can result in more serious health issues, including permanent kidney damage. Preventive measures include staying hydrated, practicing good hygiene, and consuming cranberry products or supplements such as CranVerry+, which can help inhibit bacterial adhesion.
CranVerry+ provides 500 mg of cranberry extract per two-capsule serving, which supports a healthy urinary tract and helps prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, beneficial for both women and men. Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins2, which help prevent bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli (E. coli), from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. By inhibiting this adhesion, cranberries may reduce the likelihood of infection. While fresh cranberries and juice can be beneficial, cranberry supplements offer a concentrated dose of these active compounds, making them a convenient option for those looking to support their urinary health.
In addition to their UTI-fighting properties, cranberries are rich in antioxidants, which can help bolster the immune system. They also provide fibre and essential nutrients, contributing to overall health. This combination of benefits makes cranberries a versatile addition to both your holiday menu and your health regimen3
During the holiday season, when indulgence in rich foods and festive drinks is common, maintaining urinary health is especially important. Incorporating cranberry supplements into your daily routine can be an effective preventive measure.
References:
1 https://www.healthline.com/health/urinary-tract-infection-adults
2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332219305359
3 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269142 CranVerry+
Uniquely Canadian — Canadian— Product and Business Forum
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The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) are a set of regulations that came into effect on January 15, 2019, with a purpose to improve food safety and protect consumers. The SFCR apply to Canadian food businesses involved in importing, exporting, or inter-provincially trading food products. Some provisions also apply intra-provincially.
What is Safe Food for Canadians Regulations?
The SFCR focus on three key elements:
• Preventive Controls – food businesses must meet key food safety control principles. It also outlines the requirements for developing, implementing, and maintaining a written preventive control plan that documents how food businesses meet food safety, humane treatment and consumer protection requirements, such as labelling, packaging, standards of identity, grades, and net quantity.
• Traceability – there must be systems in place that sold food can be traced forward to the immediate customer and backward to the immediate supplier.
• Licensing – enable authorized agents of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to conduct certain activities through licensing; identifying food businesses; collecting information about the activities of food businesses; and taking responsive action when non-compliant activities are found.
What does SFCR mean for consumers?
The SFCR provides clear and consistent rules for food commodities so that consumers can be confident that food sold in Canada is safe to eat, whether it is produced domestically or abroad. Consumers can benefits from:
• safer food
• regulations that focus on prevention
• tougher penalties for activities that put health and safety at risk
• greater control over imports
• faster recalls and removal of unsafe foods from markets
Does AIM Canada carry an SFCR licence?
YES. AIM Canada is the sole importer of BarleyLife, BarleyLife Xtra, BarleyLife single packets, Just Carrots, RediBeets, and CoCoa LeafGreens. According to the CFIA Food Commodity Categories, these AIM whole-food juice powder concentrates are categorized as “processed fruits and vegetables”. The AIM Canada Calgary warehouse has the necessary preventive control plans in place to support the SFCR licence and has met the food safety control principles as required by CFIA.
If you have any AIM Canada product or business-related questions, email AIM Canada (aimcanada@aimintl.com) or call 1-888-343-9977.
References:
• https://inspection.canada.ca/en/inspect-and-protect/food-safety/consumers
• https://inspection.canada.ca/en/food-safety-industry/toolkit-food-businesses/sfcr-handbook-food-businesses
Managing Healthy Blood Sugar Managing Blood Sugar during the Holiday Season the Holiday Season
Holiday seasons are associated with an abundance of carb-heavy dishes and sugary treats, which can lead to blood sugar spikes, especially for diabetics and pre-diabetics. When blood sugar levels spike due to overeating of sugary or high-carb foods, it can lead to energy crashes and mood swings. Keeping your blood sugar stable is important for maintaining overall health during this joyful season.
A few simple ways to help keep your blood sugar stable:
• Eat balanced meals – Aim to fill your plate with a mix of vegetables, lean meats (or meat alternatives), and grains, as increased fibre and protein intake can help slow down sugar absorption and stabilize blood sugar levels.
• Eat mindfully and consistently – Avoid overeating or skipping meals, as this can cause blood sugar levels to rise. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can help keep your energy levels remain steady.
• Keep moving – After meals, going for a walk, even for just a few minutes, can help prevent blood sugar spikes and keep insulin levels stable.
• Use supplements – They may be helpful for maintaining stable blood sugar levels when it is easy to overindulge.
References:
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212619817300128
• https://health.clevelandclinic.org/walking-after-eating
Healthy Blood Sugar Booster
GlucoChrom is a unique combination of trace minerals and herbs, including chromium, vanadium, Gymnema sylvestre, and bitter melon. This vegan formula can help:
• Maintain healthy blood sugar levels by increasing the effective action of insulin and helping the body to metabolize carbohydrates.
• Promote the reduction of body fat and the increase of lean muscle mass (when combined with a healthy diet and exercise).
CAN 5738E, $24.25 M, $26.00 C
Thank You & Happy Holidays
As the New Year approaches us with hopes and new beginnings, let us resolve to make it our best year ever.
We are so excited for what AIM has in store for 2025 and beyond!
Our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you as we journey confidently into the future.
May the closeness of family and friends fill your heart with joy this holiday season. Wishing you good health, happiness and many blessings.
In Partnership for Life, The AIM Companies™
Notice – Product Pricing Adjustments for 2025
As of January 1, 2025, the majority of AIM products will increase in price by 50 cents (USD) or 75 cents (CAD) per container for Members, and $1.00 (USD) or $1.50 (CAD) per container for Customers. AIM REPLY skincare products, which were launched in 2024, will not increase in price. Although shipping rate increases are routinely passed on to the company from our carriers, AIM remains committed to helping our loyal Members and Customers with this expense. Beginning January 1, Customers are eligible for free standard shipping on product orders of $75 or more. Members will continue to receive a 50% savings on the standard shipping method.
Holiday Closure
AIM Canada administrative office and warehouse will be closed on the following holidays:
• Wednesday & Thursday, December 25-26 for Christmas Day and Boxing Day
• Wednesday, January 1, 2025 for New Year’s Day.
For nutrition that works contact:
GlucoChrom