Dr. Foster’s abstract 'The Role of Micronutrients in the Progression of HIV/AIDS: Clinical Evidence' was accepted to be presented at the US AIDS Conference in San Francisco at the end of October 2009.This is the largest AIDS-related conference in the United States, where over 3,000 workers from all areas of the HIV/AIDS sector come together to build national support networks, exchange the latest information and learn cutting-edge strategies to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS. 

Here we go again, on to the next single-vitamin bandwagon. This time, the flavour of the month is Vitamin D. Everyday new research touts the benefits of Vitamin D: for MS, Cancer, Osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Personally, I have no doubts that Vitamin D can help with these conditions. However, by applying the ‘single-vitamin’ law we are simply mimicking the problematic one-magic-pill paradigm embedded deeply in Western society’s psyche.

Last week, the Globe and Mail ran an article called "Cheese puffs, with added vitamin D', which discussed the potential Health Canada policy that would allow manufacturers to fortify certain foods as a method of increasing 'access to certain vitamins and minerals'. They went on to say that health experts believe that the 'move could exacerbate unhealthy eating habits'.

Two of Canada's largest food banks, MoissonMontreal (Mtl) and FoodShare (TO) are now focussing on recession-hit families to provide them with access to fresh fruits and veggies. Bravo! When I volunteered at a foodbank, I was horrified at first by the 'junk' people donate. As if the homeless/poor really needed another Mac&Cheese Dinner! On the flip side ~ it was great to see how many tins of Mackerel and Sardines (yes, the cheap tins) were also donated.

So I figured by now that many, if not most, have already thrown in the towel on at least one of their New Year's resolutions, particularly when it comes to “eat healthier, lose weight, get in shape”. The reason many of these resolutions fall through is that most people try to change the entire scope of their eating and exercise habits overnight – and without doing the proper research.