healthy Archives - Buy Vending Machines

HIGH FRUCTOSE AND OPIOIDS ADDITION POSSIBILITY?

Diets high in high fructose corn syrup may indirectly contribute to opioid dependence, according to research presented this week at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

Previous research has shown that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) impacts the brain in a way similar to addictive drugs. It triggers a “reward response” in the brain’s reward circuitry that leads to continued cravings, in much the same way as a narcotic. These similarities have led researchers to wonder whether diets high in HFCS may play a role in opioid dependence.

In the latest study, rats were fed a diet high in HFCS before being given a dose of oxycodone, one of the prescription pain killers at the center of the opioid epidemic. Researchers then examined the rats’ behavior and changes in how their brains responded to the drug.

The results showed that the brains of rats given HFCS produced lower levels of dopamine—the neurotransmitter that fuels the brain’s reward circuitry—when given their dose of oxycodone. This suggests that HFCS decreased the reward response in the rats’ brains – in other words, it tuned down the explosion of dopamine that would normally accompany taking oxy.

The rats’ behavior also changed. Taking oxy usually results in certain exaggerated changes in “locomotive behavior,” but that behavior was also reduced in rats given HFCS.

“Our experiments show that chronic pre-exposure to high-fructose corn syrup impacted both the neural and behavioral responses to oxycodone, resulting in changes likely to impact drug-taking and drug-seeking behavior,” said co-lead author Meenu Minhas, a PhD student at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

For people taking prescription opioids, the takeaway here is that your diet may influence how much of the drugs you find yourself wanting to take. A diet high in HFCS (and possibly sugar in general) could be dampening your brain’s response to the drugs, which leads to taking more to get the same effect.

“These results suggest that nutrition, and sugar intake in particular, can influence some responses to opioids, a finding that may be relevant both to clinical uses of opioids and to treating addiction,” added Minhas.

The research findings were presented at Neuroscience 2017.

ALL KINDS OF VENDING MACHINES

(CNN)
From diapers to needles to bike helmets, vending machines have been rebuilt to go beyond breath mints and cold soda.

These automated dispensers have come a long way since their invention in the early 1800s. Although snacks and drinks remain the most common items you’ll find being dispensed, some are focusing on health, safety, and medical items.

Here are a few you’ll find around the world.

Baby essentials, Long Island, New York

Even the most well-organized parents can’t plan for everything. WeGoBabies founder Vanessa Carrington found that out the hard way when her family got stuck in an airport and ran out of supplies.

Now, with a few taps on the LED screen and a credit card swipe, users of the machine she created can unlock access to items as small as a packet of baby formula or as big as a travel booster seat, all available 24/7. The first machine is scheduled to open in May at the Broadway Mall in Long Island, New York.

The creators of the high-tech machine hope to save parents some time by replacing off a frantic trip to a convenience store with a visit to a vending machine stocked with the essentials — before a baby meltdown.

Nursing supplies, Baltimore

For breastfeeding mothers, returning to work often means toting around a breast pump. The devices require tubes, valves, storage containers and a number of small pieces that can easily be forgotten.

A machine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore aims to support these breastfeeding moms. Vending machines in the employee lactation room sell nursing pump accessories, storage bottles, breast pads, nipple cream and other supplies.

Cycling helmets, Melbourne, Australia

Whether for exercise or sightseeing, locals and tourists alike populate Aussie roads, but local law requires that all cyclists keep their craniums covered.

If you find yourself wanting to take a spin near Southern Cross Station in Melbourne but forget your gear, just look for the vending machine run by the local bike share. For $5, you can select your helmet size and get a new blue helmet.

Prescription medications, various locations

If you don’t want to run to the store or you just can’t make it to the pharmacy during business hours, InstyMeds machines might have you covered.

Although the machine does not support refrigerated medications, virtually any other prescription can be distributed. As it’s accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the creators of the 1,500-pound secure automated pharmacy hope to provide a private and convenient option for patients to receive their medications.

After leaving a health care provider, consumers can use an identification number to receive their medication. The machine is linked to a secure electronic health database and monitored around the clock. The machines are in more than 200 locations in the US and abroad, including college campuses, emergency rooms, doctors offices, corporate and student wellness centers.

Condoms, tampons and more, University of California, Davis

On campus at the University of California, Davis, Activities and Recreation Center, students can find a vending machine that dispenses items such as condoms, tampons, pregnancy tests, Advil and the morning-after pill, or Plan B. It’s called the “Wellness To Go” Machine.

China’s lack of sex education is putting millions of young people at risk

The machine’s debut came after students spent two years working with staff at the university’s student health and counseling center to make sexual health products readily available. Items are accessible whenever the building is open, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. The vending machine offers an additional option for supplies such as contraception, which are also available at the student health center.

Needle exchanges, Las Vegas

Harm-reduction advocates have turned to vending machines to make clean supplies readily available for people who use injectable drugs.

Canada’s safe injection center brings drug addicts ‘out of the alleys’

Needle exchanges are not aimed at reducing the number of users, but advocates hope that providing clean needles will reduce the spread of diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis C, that can be contracted when people share needles.

At the Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada, clean needle kits including syringes, alcohol swabs, a tourniquet and a disposal container for used syringes are offered free of charge. The machine is in a drug treatment center, and those who wish to have access must first register with Trac-B Exchange to sign up. The process does not involve any notification of law enforcement or a requirement to enter treatment.

First-aid supplies, coming to theme parks

The machines are still in development, but soon, visitors to some Six Flags theme parks won’t have to look far for first-aid supplies after an accident. RecMed, a vending machine company started by middle-school student Taylor Rosenthal, will offer consumers a quick option.

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Users can buy prepackaged first-aid kits for dealing with issues such as sunburns, cuts, blisters and bee stings, ranging in price from $5.99 to $15.95. Individual supplies like bandages, rubber gloves, hydrocortisone wipes and gauze pads are also for sale from $6 to $20.

Toilet paper, Mexico

In Mexico and many other countries, individually wrapped toilet paper rolls can be purchased at over 6,000 vending machine locations. Prices at the Mexican machines range from 20 to 100 pesos, or about $1 to $5.

Around the world, these machines, such as the Teggra dispenser, are popular enough that some ad agencies have put clients’ information on roll packaging. These two-ply tellers can be found at gas stations, bus terminals and shopping malls to help on those occasions when the stalls aren’t stocked.

CNN’s Alvaro Pichardo contributed to this report.

How to display nutritional information on the vending machine

Healthy vending is not a crave that is going away. Society today is striving to make healthier eating habits and that includes what they buy from vending machines. People want to know what they are eating, and laws are being enacted requiring companies to display nutritional facts on all food being sold. The vending industry is no exception. We have been the poster child for unhealthy food and drinks, but we can change this stereotype. I have blogged about Fit Pick in past blogs, and this is still an excellent program for promoting healthy snacks in vending machines. In fact, it offers over 500 products which can be labeled as “healthy” and over 175 government agencies and 100 schools have adopted it to help promote healthy vending. (http://www.vendingtimes.com)

I’d like to show you one more tool that will be very helpful in promoting healthy vending. Last month I attended the NAMA One Show in Las Vegas where all the major vending manufacturers showcased their latest products and technologies. I was amazed by the products on the market today- especially the many products that enabled additional nutritional value information to be displayed on the vending machine. There are a number of companies that are offering this technology including VendScreen, AirVend, Vendors Exchange, and others.

Some of these devices are a small 6” screen that can be added to a vending machine to display ads, promotions, and display the nutritional information. Some products are even combined with the credit card reader and can be used to track real time product data, and provide pre-kitting information back to the office. The companies that sell the touch screens have also provided a database of the most popular foods and beverages which can be uploaded with the nutritional value information already built in. If your product isn’t in their inventory, then you can upload your own nutritional values into the system.

At Piranha Vending, we pride ourselves in keeping our prices low and that means finding products that are affordable. We won’t be discussing a topic here unless it can be sold affordably in our on-line store. We are now offering the Air Vend on our vending machines which will provide the nutritional value information and also process credit cards.

Some folks say that this is a waste of time and money and that their customers don’t care about nutritional information on their candy bars and sodas. Although most of their customers don’t care about the nutritional values, there is a growing percentage of customers who do care and they are not buying from our vending machines because they have the perception that it is all “junk food”. By providing nutritional facts on all the products sold in the vending machine, you are proving to that potential customer that the snack is indeed healthy and hopefully you will convert them as a customer. The demand is here, the technology is here, and it’s actually quite affordable too.

How do YOU start a Healthy Vending Business?

If you’re looking to get on board with the healthy vending revolution that’s taken America by storm, you’ll need the right vending machine, appropriate product, and the best locations, without breaking the bank! We’re here to tell you exactly how you can do this without being locked into a franchise such as Human Healthy Vending.

Whether you’re vending traditional snacks, drinks, healthy snacks, or a combination, you’ll need a vending machine that is appropriate for your product and eye-catching to draw in customers. Many healthy vending franchises say they’re giving you a great deal when they offer vending operators start-up packages that include the machine, product, locations, tutorials, etc. for exorbitant prices. Such franchises include Human Healthy Vending, Healthy You, Fresh Healthy Vending, Naturals 2 Go, and others. Don’t be fooled! You can buy a vending machine new or used with a warranty for less than half of the cost that the healthy vending franchises charge! When buying a machine, keep in mind that a Healthy Wrap or some other healthy design/decal will identify your vending machine as a healthy option for customers and attract more sales.

Many healthy vending operators who are just getting into the business are under the impression that they have to special-order product or purchase online to offer their customers the healthier options they’re looking for. Many of the franchises like HUMAN Healthy Vending and Fresh Healthy Vending are spreading these lies but it simply is not true! You can find most healthy vending products locally. Check out our blog post on healthy product ideas. Buying in bulk from places like Sam’s Club or Costco can save you hundreds when re-stocking your machine and you can then pass those savings on to your customers. Additionally it is more convenient to be able to buy them on demand as you are serving your route instead of waiting days for the product to arrive.

Once you have the perfect healthy vending machine with all the best products stocked in it, you need to find the most profitable locations for your machines. Check out the DVS Blog for tips on finding and securing some of the best locations; remember that you don’t have to hire a locator or offer high commissions to get your machine in the hottest spots. You can usually sell a prospective customer on your machine, product, and services alone, without the need to offer a commission. However, if you don’t have time to locate the machines yourself, there are many great companies out there who can help you find good locations for around $400- 500. Check out our resources page for more information.

Lastly you will need the proper licensing from your state, county and city where you are doing business. Don’t get overwhelmed by the bureaucracy though. With a simple google search you should be able to find out what forms need to be filed and licenses obtained in your local area. The vending business is one of the easiest small businesses to get into and the Return on Investment (ROI) is typically less than a year if you do it right by buying an affordable machine and securing good locations. Give us a call as we are here to help you do just that. If you have additional tips and feedback please share them with us.

New USDA School Regulations

And How It Affects Your Vending Machine…

In an effort to reduce the percentage of childhood obesity in the United States, the federal government has elected to alter the rules and regulations put forth by the US Department of Agriculture for snack and drink vending machines. These guidelines are being put into place in order to safeguard the health and well-being of future generations. For most people, this revolution won’t change anything. However, aside from nutrition coordinators and schoolchildren, there is a small minority who will certainly feel the impact of new procedures.

Vending machines are in the halls of schools all over the country. Behind those machines are vending machine proprietors and business owners whose livelihood depends on what products are in their machines, and the demand from consumers to purchase those products. Knowing the latest nutritional information and restrictions is essential for these entrepreneurs to succeed in their business and, with that in mind, here is a list of the newest facts and regulations issued by the USDA:

All Foods

Must be “whole grain-rich” products; or have a fruit, vegetable, dairy, or protein as their first ingredient; be a combination food that contains at least 1/4 cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or contain 10 percent of the daily value of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber.)

Limits Per Serving

Calories: Snack: 200; Entrée: 350
Sodium: Snack: Less than 230 mg.; Entrée: 480 mg.
Fat: Snack: 35% of calories; Entrée: Less than 10% of calories; Trans fat: zero grams
Sugar: 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

NOTE: Beginning July 1, 2016, foods may not qualify using the 10% daily-value criteria, and snack items must contain no more than 200 mg. sodium per item.

Beverages

Juice: 100% fruit juice or vegetable juice with no added sweeteners
Milk: Unflavored, low-fat, or flavored low-fat milk; milk alternatives are allowed.
Water: No restrictions on plain water (with or without carbonation)

So What’s In and What’s Out?
Here are a few examples…

What’s In	What’s Out
Light Popcorn	Chocolate Sandwich Cookie
Granola Bar	Chocolate Bar
Flavored Water	Soda Pop
Baked Potato Chips	Candy
Trail Mix	Snack Cakes
Dried Fruits	Cookies
Fruit Cups	Pretzels
Yogurt	Ice Cream
Diet Sodas	High Calorie Sodas
Diet Sports Drinks	High Calorie Sports Drinks

When determining what merchandise to stock in a machine, keep a few key things in mind; under the new rules, most food sold in school will now be subject to fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits. Snack foods will have to be less than 200 calories and have some nutritional value instead of being mostly empty calories. By respecting these new directives, a vendor is choosing to be a part of the cause and is helping reduce the consequences of childhood obesity, along with ensuring a secure, long-standing enterprise for future years to come.

To learn more about healthy vending options, visit Piranhavending.com we are always striving to offer the best service and satisfaction to our customers.

HIGH FRUCTOSE AND OPIOIDS ADDITION POSSIBILITY?