Good morning! Today is World Heart Day. It's been celebrated on September 29th since 2012. And because the website worldheartfederation.org explains what this day is all about better than I ever could, here's some information taken from their website:
In May 2012, world leaders committed to reducing global mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is accountable for nearly half of all NCD deaths making it the world’s number one killer. World Heart Day is, therefore, the perfect platform for the CVD community to unite in the fight against CVD and reduce the global disease burden.
Created by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day informs people around the globe that CVD, including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 17.9 million lives each year, and highlights the actions that individuals can take to prevent and control CVD. It aims to drive action to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided.
World Heart Day is a global campaign during which individuals, families, communities, and governments around the world participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others. Through this campaign, the World Heart Federation unites people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against the CVD burden and inspires and drives international action to encourage heart-healthy living across the world. We and our members believe in a world where heart health for everyone is a fundamental human right and a crucial element of global health justice.
Did you know?
- your heart is the size of your fist and the strongest muscle in your body
- If you live to be 70, it will have beaten two and a half billion times
- High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for CVD. It’s called the ‘silent killer’ because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people don’t realize they have it
- your gender is significant: as a man you are at greater risk of heart disease than a pre-menopausal woman. But once past the menopause, a woman’s risk is similar to a man’s. Risk of stroke is similar for men and women
So there you have it. It's important to take care of your ticker! You should also familiarize yourself with the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. For more information about cardiovascular health, visit heartandstroke.ca.
Today's first new item is one that likely isn't the greatest choice for heart health, but hey, everything in moderation, right? Maple Leaf Lazy Maple Natural Bacon is made with all-natural ingredients and is infused with just a hint of natural maple flavour. What makes it lazy? Unknown, but eating large quantities could produce feelings of lethargy.
Bacon makes an excellent topping for pizza and if you've ever tried Stonefire Naan you know just how tasty these flatbreads are! They are an excellent crust for making home-made pizza! Well, they must have figured this out and decided to create Stonefire Artisan Thin Pizza Crust! They're hand-stretched and baked in a stone oven (hence the name) and they are the best for making a full-sized, thin crust pizza at home. And they can be frozen to maintain freshness so toss a pack or two in the freezer so you'll always have some ready when you get a hankering for some 'za!
In addition to this, there's Stonefire Artisan Flatbread, a rectangular flatbread that's great for dipping, topping, drizzling and sharing! And to round out the trio of terrific, you can now purchase Stonefire Naan Dippers, the miniature tandoor oven-baked naan which are super-duper for dipping, scooping and topping however you see fit!
Something that we haven't had on our shelves for awhile is SaltSpring Harvest Végé Paté. But now it's back in the Deli Department and there are four types to choose from: Herb, Tomato & Olive, Chili Garlic and Sweet Curry! These spreadable dips are handmade on Saltspring Island, made with mostly organic ingredients and are vegan, wheat, egg, soy, dairy and nut free! People love not only the flavours but the textures, too!
And if you're looking for even more incredible accompaniments for your flatbread, try Mastro Charcuterie Trio, a selection of fine Genoa Salami, Salami with Prosciutto and Prosciutto available from our Deli Department. Or there's a variation of that called Mastro Charcuterie Trio Mediterranean Flavours which consists of Speck (smoked Prosciutto), Salami with Prosciutto and Chorizo Salami. Both types are gluten-free and lactose-free and both types are extremely tasty!
The Little Stand is the little Victoria merchant that could! This local business is always creating new and wonderful jams, jellies, antipastos and salsas and providing them to Pepper's so that we can spread the joy that consuming them creates! And available right now, exclusive to Pepper's Foods, is The Little Stand Crabapple Jelly! Sweet and tart and ready to spread on your favourite bread (or cracker, flatbread, bagel...) get it while you can because it's only available for a limited time!
Speaking of spreadable toppings, how about giving new Arla Natural Cream Cheese Spread available in Original and Light (30% less fat than regular) a try? These spreads are made with only four ingredients and will make your cheesecakes, dips, frostings, eggs, mac & cheese and a whole whack of other stuff that you've prepared for Thanksgiving the highlight of the holiday!
Another scrumptious addition to our Dairy Department is the beautiful and bite-sized Bella Casara Bocconcini! Made by Quality Cheese, a Canadian company, this fresh, soft mozzarella cheese is available in Mini and Regular sizes and it has a sweet, clean, milky flavour. By the way, bocconcini means "little mouthfulls" in Italian. Make a caprese salad with this stuff and you will have a big mouthful of superior taste!
If you always want to have fresh seasonings on hand without having to worry about buying an entire bunch of parsley and throwing 90% of it away, check out Evergreen Herbs Ltd. Roots Organics Seasoning Pastes, available in our Produce Department! These delicious certied organic herb pastes are created with Canadian produce and capture all the flavour, colour and aroma of fresh herbs and spices! Choose from Basil, Ginger, Dill, Italian, Garlic and Cilantro!
And finally, something new for breakfast (yay!). New Dan-D Pak Granola in Fruity Berry and Cashew Cranberry is crunchy, wholesome, delicious and satisfying. It comes in a snazzy and colourful resealable bag. You may not be aware that this company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Vancouver and their slogan is Fine Foods of the Earth. They're not wrong!
As always, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy lives to read our newsletter and to see what's new at the store. Don't forget to order your fresh turkey for Thanksgiving! Just call us at 250-477-6513 and ask for the Meat Department. We'll take it from there!
Until next week, take good care!
Pepper's Foods