No annual physical check-ups for young and healthy individuals

If you are young and healthy, you might not have been to your doctor's office for a while. You might not realize that the traditional annual physical health examination is no longer being offered in Ontario.

In fact, the annual physical check-up for healthy people between the age of 18-64 has been replaced by "periodic health visit". This means you will no longer be getting the standard set of blood tests and the traditional "head-to-toe" examination once a year. Instead, the doctor will discuss and review health issues that are specific to the needs of the individual patients, taking into account your age and medical history.

People with chronic health problems, such as diabetes, asthma or a cancer history, will continue to have access to a full head-to-toe yearly physical examination.

This change has been in place for a few years in Ontario. Other provinces, such as New Brunswick Nova Scotia, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador have also implemented this change in their health care system.

The reason for replacing the traditional annual physical check up was because numerous studies have found that people who have a yearly check-up do not tend to be healthier or live any longer than those who forgo the visits. Furthermore, it helps reduce our government health care expenditure.

To stay healthy, we should not be relying on annual physical check-ups to catch potential diseases. We could discuss with our health care professionals on how to live a healthier lifestyle and to consult our doctors if abnormal health symptoms arise.

We could keep an eye on our own weight gain and modify our diet and exercise accordingly to prevent obesity related health problems. Custom Care Pharmacy offers the Ideal Protein weight loss method. Ask our pharmacists about this weight loss method to see if it is the right program for you. Call us at 905-305-0111 or email us at customcaretips@gmail.com

We can also consider doing a genetic fitness test to help us identify our predispositions to high blood sugar, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiencies, etc. The genetic test can also help you find the right type of diet and exercise that is specifically beneficial for you based on your DNA.

To find out more about genetic fitness test, you can go to the following website www.genedecode.ca or email info@genedecode.ca

2型糖尿病的新藥簡單介紹

大多數人都熟悉的糖尿病藥物，如二甲雙胍，拜糖平或格列本脲。這些藥物幫助你的身體製造胰島素或更有效地使用胰島素來降低你體內的血糖水平。

現在有一些新的2型糖尿病藥物名為[鈉 - 葡萄糖共同轉運器2型]抑製劑（SGLT2抑製劑）。有別於傳統的糖尿藥物, 這些藥物的治療機制是藉由阻斷腎臟的葡萄糖再吸收而發揮作用，增加葡萄糖於尿液中排泄，而降低糖尿病患者的血糖濃度。這些藥物的額外好處是可以幫助減肥。目前該類藥物包括：

• Canagliflozin卡格列淨（Invokana）
• Dapagliflozin 福適佳膜衣錠（Forxiga）
• Empagliflozin 恩排糖膜衣錠（Jardiance）

在常見的副作用方面，由於這些藥會阻斷糖分與鹽類的再吸收，因此也具有利尿作用。如果你患有腎臟疾病或正在服用利尿藥的話，排尿過多可能會導致脫水。因此在服食這些藥物前請先諮詢您的醫生。此外, 這些藥物可能會使血管內容積減少而導致姿勢性低血壓，產生暈眩或昏厥等不良反應, 長者要特別留意。

其他常見的不良反應為陰道念珠菌感染(vulvovaginal candidiasis)及尿道感染。原因在於服藥後,更多糖分於尿液的排出可能會導致酵母菌增加繁殖而引致生殖器部位受真菌感染。男性和女性都會有這風險。另外要注意的是有否尿道炎的病徵，如小便頻密及於小便時劇痛或出血。

此外, 要是於接受治療時出現以下的情況，請立即請教您的醫生:  酮症酸中毒，腎臟出現問題和骨折。請於服用這些藥物前向您的醫生與藥濟師，了解此一新機制糖尿病藥的風險和益處。

目前，Canagliflozin（Invokana）和 Empagliflozin（Jardiance）已納入安大略省藥品福利計劃。對於不具資格領取安大略省藥品福利的人，可向您的藥劑師查詢 InnoviCares 藥物計劃。InnoviCares 藥物計劃申請是免費的, 計劃幫助支付100% Dapagliflozin（Forxiga）藥的費用。

如果您對這些藥物有任何問題，請與我們的藥劑師聯繫絡。

美健藥房 905-305-0111

The new medicines for type 2 diabetes

Most people are familiar with diabetes medications, such as metformin, glucobay or glyburide. These are drugs that work by helping your body make insulin or use the insulin better to reduce the level of blood sugar in your body. There are newer medicines for type 2 diabetes that are different because they do not work on insulin. This new class of medicine is called sodium-glucose transporters 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors). The available drugs in this class of medicines include: 

• Canagliflozin (Invokana)
• Dapagliflozin (Forxiga)
• Empagliflozin (Jardiance)

These drugs work by helping your body excrete glucose (the sugar in your blood) through your urine. Your blood sugar level will go down once the glucose leaves your body through your urine. An extra benefit of these medications is that they have shown to help with weight loss as well. 

In terms of common side effects, elderly people with kidney disease and people who are taking diuretics can become at risk of dehydration. Therefore, it is important to let your doctor know if you are taking diuretics or if you have kidney disease. Furthermore, because these medications cause glucose to pass through the urinary tract to be excreted in urine, there is a higher risk for yeast infection in the genital area for both male and female patients. Some patients may also feel the urge to urinate more often. 

There are some less common but serious side effects, such as the risk of developing ketoacidosis, risk of kidney problems and bone fractures. Make sure you talk to your doctor and pharmacist to better understand the risks and benefits of taking these medications for type 2 diabetes. 

Currently, Canagliflozin (Invokana) and Empagliflozin (Jardiance) are covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit. For patients that are not covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit, Dapagliflozin (Forxiga) is 100% covered by innoviCares in all provinces and territories in Canada. If you have questions about the cost and insurance coverage of these medications, feel free to contact us at Custom Care Pharmacy 905-305-0111 and speak to our pharmacists!

低碳水化合物饮食是如何达到减肥效果的？

在美健药房，我们為想减肥的人提供Ideal Protein减肥法。Ideal Protein减肥法是分4個階段，鼓励你的身体燃烧脂肪，同时保持肌肉组织。在这篇博客中，我们将解释这種减肥方法背后的科学。

人們體重超標的原因是什麼呢？

碳水化合物是會阻止减肥的。身体通常會储存足夠大约三天消耗的碳水化合物，只要還有糖分可以消耗，身体就不會燃烧脂肪，就这么简单。

这是因为身体是從3種来源获取能量的，第一種來源是从简单和复杂的碳水化合物储备中獲取，當它被耗尽时，身体就會利用它的蛋白质和脂肪储备來產生能量。

不需要减重的人通常他们的身体储备中只有1-2％是從碳水化合物里來，约19％是从他们的肌肉，和79％来自脂肪。根据这一理论，一个人必须要完全消耗完碳水化合物的储备，才迫使身体转向其脂肪储备，以消耗热量。

一份以饱和脂肪和碳水化合物為主的饮食，如面包的，谷物，松饼，蛋糕，糕点，面食，薄饼，大米，玉米 - 非常像北美的饮食 –容易 造成胰腺产生過多的胰岛素。

胰岛素的过量也可能导致低血糖，从而，导致你不断想吃碳水化合物，從而引起体重增加。

胰岛素的主要功能是调节血糖水平，但是它也促进脂肪（甘油三酯）运输进入脂肪细胞。这意味着將脂肪锁定在脂肪细胞内，以防止它被用作能量的来源。所以胰岛素的存在會导致血糖下降，但我们的身体并没有將脂肪作为能量的来源。相反，它会令你更想吃多些含糖的食品。这就是當我們體內的胰岛素分泌过多，导致过度食入碳水化合物，会令体重增加。

Ideal Protein 减肥法如何燃烧脂肪但保持肌肉的？

Ideal Protein减肥方法是通過限制碳水化合物的食入，直到实现100％的减肥目标。然而，如前面提到的，当碳水化合物储备耗尽后，身体就會利用到其蛋白质和脂肪的储备來產生能量。這時，你如何令身体只燃烧脂肪的储备而和保留肌肉？

首先，為身體提供含8种必需氨基酸，97％吸收率的生物蛋白质食物。在Ideal Protein食品产品中使用的蛋白质包括：乳清分离物，大豆分离物，全脂牛奶蛋白，豌豆蛋白，白蛋白，和水解胶原蛋白。

其次，在Ideal Protein减肥飲食的限制期間，服用营养丰富的补充劑如Natura的多種維他命，Natura钙和镁，Omega-3 Plus和钾以取代那些通常存在于食物用於維持肌肉的营养素。

减肥者可以在产品里加入蔬菜和沙拉来构建完整的膳食。每一包产品含蛋白质20克（1.1盎司），含少量或没含脂肪或糖。这些都是很容易准备，可以很好地纳入你繁忙的生活方式。

使用Ideal Protein減肥后，還需保持健康的生活方式

使用Ideal Protein减肥法最重要的收穫，除了减肥效果外，還可以学习如何多吃新鲜蔬菜和肉类， 少吃碳水化合物。雖然饮食习惯是很难改变的，然而，当人们可以达到满意的减肥效果時，往往更容易激励他们通过修改他们的饮食习惯，以保持减肥成果。

美健药房將於2016年7月17日（周日）

2-4 pm舉行免费的Ideal Protein减肥講座

還有Dr. Catherine Wan，geneDecode Canada 的执行董事，

将會是我们的信息会主讲嘉宾。她将与我们分享可以揭示遗传天赋，性格和身体的健康基因检测背后的科学。

有關基因测试的更多信息可以www.genedecode.ca 或者

https://www.facebook.com/genedecodecanada 找到              

如果您有兴趣了解更多关于Ideal Protein质减肥法或有關基因测试揭示遗传天赋，性格和身体的健康，发电子邮件在customcaretips@gmail.com给我们或致电905-305-0111预订座位。

How does low-carb diet work?

How does low-carb diet work to achieve weight loss?

At Custom Care Pharmacy, we offer the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method for people who are looking to lose some weight. The Ideal Protein weight loss method is a 4-phase method to encourage your body to burn fat while maintaining muscle tissue.  In this blog, we will explain the science behind this weight loss method.

What is the Source of Most Weight Issues?

Carbohydrates can prevent weight loss. The body stores approximately three days worth of carbohydrates. As long as sugar is being consumed, the body is not burning fat. It's as simple as that. This is because the body derives energy from 3 sources in the body and the the first source is from simple and complex carbohydrate reserves and when that is depleted, the body turns simultaneously to its protein and fat reserves for energy.

A person not in need of weight loss typically has approximately 1-2% of their body's reserves from carbohydrates, approximately 19% from their muscle mass and 79% of their body reserves from fat. Following this theory, one would have to deplete the carbohydrate reserves completely in order to compel the body to turn to its fat reserve to burn calories.

A diet full of saturated fats and sugars, such as in breads, cereals, muffins,cakes, pastries, pasta, pizza, rice, corn - very much like the North American diet - causes the pancreas to produce an overabundance of insulin.

An overproduction of insulin may also lead to hypoglycemia or low glycemia, which in turn, induces constant sugar cravings and weight gain.

Insulin’s primary function is to regulate blood sugar levels, however it is also facilitates the transport of fat (triglycerides) into the fat cells. This means it locks the fat inside the fat cell, preventing it to be used as a source of energy. So the presence of insulin causes the blood sugar to drop, but our body does not access the fat as an energy source. Instead, it creates a sugar cravings and we end up eating more sugary foods.  This is how an overabundance of insulin, due to overconsumption of carbohydrates, causes weight gain.

How does Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method work to burn fat but maintain muscle mass?

The Ideal Protein weight loss method uses a carbohydrate restriction diet until 100% of the weight loss goal is achieved. However, as mentioned earlier, when the carbohydrate reserve is depleted, the body turns simultaneously to its protein and fat reserves for energy. How do you encourage the body to burn its fat reserves and encourage its muscle mass maintenance, if both are being depleted simultaneously?

First, by providing the body with foods that have a high protein value, complete with 8 essential amino acids, 97% absorbable, which make them biologically complete proteins. The proteins that are used in Ideal Protein food products include: whey isolates, soy isolates, whole milk protein, pea protein, albumin, and hydrolyzed collagen.

Second, by supplementing with nutrient-rich supplements such as Natura Multi-Vita, Natura Calcium and Magnesium, Omega-3 Plus and Potassium, key ingredients in muscle building and electrolytes to replace those normally found in foods while restricted on the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method.

The dieter will use the food products to build complete meals, adding vegetables and salads. Each sealed envelope contains up to 20 grams (0.7 oz.) of protein with very little to no fat or sugar. These are easy to prepare and can be incorporated into a busy lifestyle very nicely.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle after finishing the Ideal Protein diet

The most important achievement from using the Ideal Protein Weight Loss method, besides the weight loss result, is learning how to eat more fresh vegetables and meat, and eating less carbohydrates. Eating habits are difficult to change. However, when people can achieve a satisfying weight loss result, it is often easier to motivate them to maintain their results by modifying their eating habits.

Custom Care Pharmacy

is hosting a free information session on

Ideal Protein Weight Loss on

Sunday, July 17th, 2016 from 2-4pm

If you are interested to find out more about the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method, email us at customcaretips@gmail.com or call us at 905-305-0111 to reserve your seat.

Dr. Catherine Wan, the executive director of geneDecode Canada, will be a guest speaker at our information session. She will share with us the science behind the genetic tests that can reveal inherited talents, personalities and body fitness.

More information on the genetic tests can be found on www.genedecode.ca or https://www.facebook.com/genedecodecanada   

    

如何選擇適合你的維生素和礦物質？

很多人喜歡來藥房購買維生素和礦物質補充劑因為我們聽說某些維生素和礦物質都對我們有益處，我們覺得他們的副作用通常比藥品小。對於維生素和礦物質的每日攝入量的一般準則取決於你的年齡和性別。但是，除此之外仍需考慮您的健康和藥物方面的個體因素。

例如，有患腎結石風險的人是否應該服用與其他人相同數量的鈣呢？患有慢性肝病的人們是否知道他們必須留意維生素A在其所有補充劑裡的總量？維生素和礦物質與藥物還有相互作用。一個常見的​​例子是甲狀腺藥物和鈣之間的相互作用。

最好的辦法是在購買維生素和補充劑之前質詢您的藥劑師！

美健藥房現有$ 5 優惠券可用於購買復合維生素，

孕婦維生素，鈣片和 EMERGEN C，先到先得！

目前在加拿大已有基​​因檢測技術可識別您的天生營養需求傾向，這可以幫助您了解你是否更容易缺乏某些維生素和礦物質，而不是隨機地購買的補充劑。這是為了滿足您獨特身體需要的更個性化方法。基因測試也可以用於幫助你確定最有效的減肥飲食和運動的類型。科學研究已經表明根據您的基因組合來決定你的飲食比不適當的節食在減肥方面更有效 2-3 倍。

如果你不知道你的飲食是否適合你，也許最好在花費時間和金錢在飲食方面前先找出來。更多信息，請瀏覽網站 http://www.genedecode.ca

How to choose the right kind of vitamins & minerals for me?

Many people like to buy vitamins and mineral supplements from the pharmacy. It is usually because we hear that certain vitamins and minerals are good for us and we feel that they are typically less harmful than drugs. There are general guidelines on daily intakes of vitamins and minerals depending on your age and your gender. However, there are still individual factors in terms of your health and medications that one should consider along with the general guidelines recommendations.

For example, should people with high risk of kidney stones be taking the same amount of calcium as everyone else? Do people with chronic liver disease know that they have to be cautious of the total amount of vitamin A in all their supplements? There are also drug interactions with vitamins and minerals. A common example would be the interaction between thyroid medication and calcium.

The best thing to do is to ask your pharmacist before purchasing vitamins and supplements! 

$5 Discount Coupons on Centrum multivitamins,  Centrum prenatal products, Caltrate products and  Emergen - C products

Now available at Custom Care Pharmacy! 

Get them before they are all gone!

A genetic testing technology is now available in Canada to identify your inborn predispositions to nutritional needs. This can help you understand if you are more prone to be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Rather than randomly buying supplements, this is a more personalized method to address your unique body needs.  The genetic test can also help you identify the type of diet and exercise that are most effective in weight loss based on your unique genetic composition. Scientific research have shown a diet that is appropriate based on your genetic composition is 2-3 times more effective in weight loss, compared to a diet that is inappropriate to your genetic composition.1 

If you are not sure if a diet is right for you, perhaps it is best to find out first before spending time and money on something that may not be right for you. More information is available at http://www.genedecode.ca/

Reference: 1. Nelson MD, Prabhakar P, Kondragunta V, et al. Genotype patterns predict weight loss success: The right diet does matter. EPI|NPAM 2010; March 2-5, 2010, San Francisco, CA.