LRC Health and Wellness Fair

The Leduc Recreation Centre hosts its annual Health and Wellness Fair April 12 & 13, from 3:00 - 9:00 each day in the curling lobby.

Visit our booth to learn about healthcare programs and services offered at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.

Our LBD PCN healthcare team will also be hosting FREE workshops at the LRC Health and Wellness Fair in the Venger Room.

Thursday, April 12th at 5:30 pm, LBD PCN Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator, Nandini Desai, host "Smoking Cessation, It's Time to Quit!"

Friday, April 13th at 3:00 pm, LBD PCN Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, Andrea Lewis and LBD PCN Exercise Specialist, Corinne Cutler, host Heart Healthy. Learn how to reduce your risk for heart disease.

March is Nutrition Month - Myth #6

MYTH #6: Drinking energy drinks is the best way to get energized.

The Truth: No one needs an energy drink. Energy drinks might give you a burst of energy, but it doesn’t last. Energy drinks contain caffeine and a lot of sugar. Caffeine causes a rush of a hormone called adrenaline, like when your body is under stress. This results in a false sense of energy. Caffeine can cause unwanted side effects like rapid heartbeat and trouble sleeping. These drinks are not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Better ways to boost your energy include choosing healthy foods and drinks from Canada’s Food Guide. Getting physical activity and enough sleep each night can also help give you the alertness your brain and body need to work at their best.



Please see the Dietitians of Canada website has additional food and nutrition myths, information and videos.

March is Nutrition Month - Myth #5

MYTH # 5: You’ll gain weight if you follow Canada’s Food Guide – it recommends too much food.


The Truth: Canada’s Food Guide describes the amount and type of food most people need each day. Some people may need more or less. This can vary depending on age, gender, and activity level.

How much you eat is as important as what you eat. A food portion is the amount of food eaten. A serving size is the amount of food recommended by Canada’s Food Guide.



Often our portions are much more than one serving size. For example, 1 large store-bought bagel can be equal to 4 servings of Grain Products. This is over half the number of daily servings for adults. Know the amount and types of food suggested in Canada’s Food Guide that’s right for you.

National Dietitians Day - March 21, 2012

Once a year, a special day is dedicated to all dietitians across Canada. It celebrates dietitians as health care professionals, committed to using their specialized knowledge and skills in food and nutrition to improve the health of Canadians.

March 21, 2012 marks the third anniversary of Dietitians Day. It spotlights the profession and reminds us that dietitians are the smart choice for advice on proper eating, good nutrition and healthy living.

Dietitians Day also raises the profile of dietitians and helps encourage and attract others to this worthy, satisfying and respected profession.

Andrea Lewis, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network, is here to help you reach your health care goals. She offers support to S.M.I.L.E. (Self-Manage to Improve your Life Everyday) Healthcare team patients via referral from a LBD PCN family physician. Please visit our website for more information on this and other programs and services offered at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.

March is Nutrition Month!

The theme for Nutrition Month in 2012 is Get the Real Deal on Your Meal. During this campaign, Dietitians will be busting common food and nutrition myths. We continue to update our blog every few days with a new myth and provide you with the real deal.

Knowing the truth about these myths can help you take steps towards a healthier you.

MYTH 4: “Multi-grain” is the same as “whole grain”.




The Truth: Multi-grain isn’t always whole grain. Whole grains include all 3 layers of the grain kernel - the bran, endosperm and germ. Each layer provides different nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. By removing the bran and germ layers (such as in refined white flour) many nutrients are lost. When you choose whole grains, you are getting nutrients from all layers. A diet rich in whole grains has been shown to have many health benefits.


Multi-grain means more than one type of grain is found in the food product. However, the grains might not be whole. To make sure a food is made with whole grains, for wheat products look for “whole grain whole wheat” on the ingredient list. For all other grains, look for “whole” or “whole grain” in front of each grain name on the ingredient list. Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day.



For more information, please visit the Dietitians of Canada website.

March is Nutrition Month!

MYTH #3: It’s too hard to eat all the vegetables and fruit recommended in Canada’s Food Guide.

The Truth: Canada’s Food Guide suggests that adults enjoy 7-10 servings of vegetables and fruit each day. This may seem like a lot but the serving size is not very big.

One Food Guide serving is equal to:

• ½ cup (125 mL) fresh, frozen or canned vegetables or fruit.
• 1 cup (250 mL) uncooked leafy vegetables.
• 1 medium- sized piece of fruit.
• ½ cup (125 mL) of 100% juice.



To help boost your vegetable and fruit intake try these tips:

• Have 2 or more servings at each meal and snack.
• Pack vegetables and fruit for lunch.
• Fill half your plate with vegetables.
• Keep a bowl of colourful fruit on the table.

March is Nutrition Month!

The theme for Nutrition Month in 2012 is Get the Real Deal on Your Meal. During this campaign, Dietitians will be busting common food and nutrition myths. We will update our blog every few days with a new myth and provide you with the real deal.



Knowing the truth about these myths can help you take steps towards a healthier you.

Myth #2: The % Daily Value on the Nutrition Facts table is not useful.

The truth: The % Daily Value (% DV) can help you make healthier food choices. It provides an overview of the nutrients in a food. Look for it on the Nutrition Facts table on packages. Use the % DV to help you see if a food has a little or a lot of a nutrient.

5% DV or less is a little.
15% DV or more is a lot.




You can use the % DV to compare products and make a better choice. You many want a product with more fibre, calcium and vitamin A and less fat and sodium.

Check the serving size listed in the Nutrition Facts table. The % DV is based on this amount. If you eat more or less, remember the % DV will also change.

For more information on using the Nutrition Facts table, please visit the Health Canada website.

Pharmacist Awareness Week

Pharmicisit Awareness Week is March 4-10, 2012.
Nandini Desai, Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network, is here to help you reach your health care goals. She offers support to S.M.I.L.E. (Self-Manage to Improve your Life Everyday) Healthcare team patients via referral from a LBD PCN family physician. She also offers a Smoking Cessation program, free to LBD PCN patients. For more information, please visit the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network website.

(click to view poster in larger print)

March is Nutrition Month!

The theme for Nutrition Month in 2012 is Get the Real Deal on Your Meal. Dietitians will be busting common food and nutrition myths. Each week we will bust another common myth.

Knowing the truth about these myths can help you take steps towards a healthier you.

Myth #1: Avoid carbs if you want to lose weight.

The Truth: Want to lose weight? There's no need to take carbohydrates off the menu.

It's true that cutting carbs can help you lose weight in the short-term, but it's often because you then eat more fat and protein. Both of these nutrients can make you feel fuller. This leads you to eat less than you normally would. The problem with cutting carbs is that you could miss out on nutrients. These nutrients are found in healthy choices from all four food groups in Canada's Food Guide.

Carbs are found in many vegetables and fruit like pears, carrots and squash. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals. Carbs are also found in grain products such as whole grain breads and pastas. These foods have B vitamins, iron, Zinc and fibre. Calcium and vitamin D rich milk and yogurt also contain carbs. Legumes, beans and lentils also contain carbs, fibre, protein and iron.



Diets that limit carbs can be hard to stick to for very long because so many foods are off limits. To help lose weight and keep it off, have an eating plan that is realistic for you to follow that also includes healthy foods. This will include foods that contain carbohydrates. Limit sugary foods like candy, cookies and pop. These foods provide a lot of sugar and contain little to no nutrients that support your best health.

Weight loss plans help only when you stay on the plan. If you make a plan, ask yourself if it will be easy to fit into your life. Try to make small changes first. Look to Canada's Food Guide to help plan a healthy diet. Include a variety of foods from each of the four food groups, in the amount of food that is right for you.

For more information, please visit the Dietitians of Canada website.