Marion Healthy Living April 2016

For 25 years, we have been committed to creating an environment where our residents feel secure, cared for and loved. We would be honored to care for your loved ones in their time of need.

Services Offered:

In-House Psychiatrist

Podiatrist

Ophthalmologist

Dermatologist

Nurse Practitioner

Organized Social Activities

Church Services

Daily Living Assistance

We are currently accepting referrals

Ocala’s Best-Kept Secret

Prestige Manor

Assisted Living Facility

6333 SE Babb Rd. | Belleview, FL | 352-307-6333

prestigemanorassistedliving.com

Carrol Dillon-Smith Administrator/Owner Megan Christine Forrest Director of Operations

BETTER BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS

PET/CT

PET/CT provides remarkably detailed real-time images of the body’s anatomical, functional and metabolic activity, allowing easier and more accurate analysis, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of issues of the head, limbs and body than PET or CT imaging alone. Our highly advanced and accurate PET/CT system represents a big leap forward in technology – and in the quality of your care.

Missing the fairway 12 times is not something you had planned for...

neither was your trip to the ER

Since everything in life can’t be planned, isn’t it good to know you can count on short ER wait times at Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Community Hospital? Emergencies are our first priority and our wait times reflect that sense of urgency whether you have breaks or strains, stomach pains, pounding headaches or chest pain. Emergency trained physicians provide fast and friendly medical care close by so you can get back in the swing of activities you enjoy most.

Ocala Regional Medical Center West Marion Community Hospital

Ocala Health has the shortest ER wait times in town. Text ER to 23000 for average ER wait times.

ocalahealthsystem.com

MARION & CITRUS

PUBLISHER

Kathy Johnson kathy@healthylivingmagazines.com

OFFICE/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Cynthia Brown art@healthylivingmagazines.com

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Karin Fabry-Cushenbery karin@healthylivingmagazines.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Melissa Peterson melissa@healthylivingmagazines.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Katie McPherson katie@ocalastyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jim Gibson

Laurel Gillum

Joann Guidry

Lesley Jones

Bonnie Kretchik

CynthiaCarltonMcFarland Reese

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Cealia Athanason cealia@ocalastyle.com

EDITORIAL INTERN

Grace Cali

ART art@healthylivingmagazines.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jason Fugate

ART DIRECTOR

Jessi Miller Castro

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Christina Geiger

PHOTOGRAPHERS

John Jernigan dreamstime.com

SALES

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Dean Johnson deanjohnson@healthylivingmagazines.com

SALES MANAGER

Sharon Morgan

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Anne Farrior anne@healthylivingmagazines.com

Lori Tani

Skip Linderman

Peggy Sue Munday

Liza Fritz

Tammy Walters

DISTRIBUTION

Dave Adams

Debra McQueen

Rick Shaw

ADVISORY BOARD

HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE has brought together a group of medical experts and community leaders to serve on our advisory board and share their expertise and insight with our readers.

Craig Ackerman Public Information Officer FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN MARION COUNTY

Ashley Barnes Patient Assessment Coordinator KINDRED HOSPITAL OCALA

Ashley Cauthen, M.D. Cosmetic And Clinical Dermatology MIDSTATE SKIN INSTITUTE

Joseph Foster Senior Solutions Director

SUPERIOR RESIDENCES OF LECANTO

Theressa Foster Owner WEST CENTRAL SOLUTIONS

Katie Myers, APR Director Of Marketing And Public Relations CITRUS MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM

Navinderdeep Nijher, M.D. Plastic Surgery OCALA PLASTIC SURGERY

Chris Okonkwo, M.D. Pediatrics CHILDREN’S HEALTH OF OCALA

Amanda Ostrom Director of Marketing and Communications RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF OCALA, P.A.

Jayanti Panchal, M.D. Internal Medicine And Medical Weight Management SUCCESS BY DESIGN

Carmen M. Hernandez Health Education Program Manager FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Michael Holloway, M.D. Physician-Directed Weight Management & Medical Aesthetics

LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS MEDSPA

Mark Jank, M.D. Ophthalmology OCALA EYE

Carolyn Reyes, MPA, M.Ed. Community Liaison, Citrus & Hernando Counties COMFORT KEEPERS

Suzanne Santangelo Director, Marketing OCALA HEALTH

Meghan Shay, CFRE Director Of Public Relations And Development THE CENTERS

Life Enrichment

Linda M. McKenna Director of Professional Relations CHAPTERS HPH HOSPICE

Daniel A. Weldon, DMD Implant And Cosmetic Dentistry WELDON GENERAL & COSMETIC DENTISTRY

The Nature Coast’s LOCAL radio stations!

More music & less talk.

We know why our audience listens to our stations…because they LOVE THE MUSIC! So we avoid DJ chatter, and deliver the greatest Top 40 and Classic hits of all time, along with important information like news, sports and weather. As a result, our listeners listen longer!

The Nature Coast’s #1 hit music station

Classic Hits

Classic Hits

The Florida Blues

Spring is the time for fresh fruit and flowers, so what better way to kick off the season than with the Florida Blueberry Festival?

Located in Brooksville, the blueberry festival offers fresh Florida blueberries, blueberry wine courtesy of Island Grove Wine Company and other blueberry treats for guests to enjoy. Art exhibits, live music and The Urban Slide, a 1,000-foot slip-n-slide, will be highlights of the event. Kids will want to spend the day in the Blueberry Patch, a special area designated for the little ones complete with inflatable rides and a free skating rink. So whether you come for the fun entertainment, fine art or just a basket of fresh blueberries, your day in Brooksville will be time well spent.

A Reason To Ride

Support community arts and cycling at the second annual Ride For The Arts.

It all started with Paula King, a founding chairman of the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) board.

After hearing her family talk frequently about cycling and watching them get into it, she realized cycling is a popular activity for many in this community. When she thought about her friend Mary Verrandeaux, an accomplished cyclist and professional artist, Paula came up with the idea for the MCA Ride For The Arts.

“We were looking for a new fundraiser,” Paula says. “I thought it would really be a fun thing.”

› By Cealia Athanason / Photos by Tammy Portrait Artist

When Paula shared the idea with Mary, she was all for it.

“I felt like this was right up my alley, being an avid cyclist and passionate about promoting the arts in Ocala,” says Mary.

To make it happen, Paula put together a budget and recruited several volunteers. In just a few short months, they pulled off the first Ride For The Arts last year. The impressive turnout put the event on the MCA board’s calendar for the next two years. This year, organizers anticipate an even bigger crowd.

“We are looking for a 150 percent increase in rider participation for this year,” says Mary, who’s responsible for all of the event’s graphic design work and for determining the ride distances and route.

And this isn’t just any ride. Cyclists of all skill levels, art enthusiasts and people from the community can all participate for reasons bigger than the ride itself.

“It benefits the community by helping MCA expand itself in its support of the arts. The board is extremely excited and supportive,” says Paula. In total, MCA has given away almost $1 million in support of community arts.

The ride will begin in front of Brick City Center for the Arts in downtown Ocala, and the two ride lengths—68 miles and 38 miles— will take cyclists through horse country on a route that’s completely different from the routes of other charity rides in this area.

“It is primarily a fundraiser for MCA’s Endowment for the Arts, which awards grants every year to different cultural organizations in Marion County. Secondarily, the ride is to promote the love of cycling, which is a needed healthy passion for so many of us in Florida,” Mary says. “It’s a healthy lifestyle we want to promote.”

Tammy Griffin, an Ocala portrait artist, along with two assistants, photographed the ride last year. She took photos of each cyclist with their finishing medal and gave them each a printed photograph to take home.

“We had a blast, and everyone loved taking something home,” she says. This year, the first 100 cyclists will receive free portraits.

Tammy’s hoping to ride the shorter of the two distances this year. She’s been an MCA board member for years and plans to transition into being a volunteer photographer for the organization. She first got into cycling when a car accident forced her to explore low-impact exercise options. Now, she rides up to 13 miles two to three times a week to train for the Ride For The Arts. Her advice to first-time riders? Do as she does and train.

“You need to ride on a regular basis,” Tammy says. “You have to want to do it, and you have to train.”

But don’t worry—once you start the ride, you won’t be left hanging. There will be service cars, a police escort and a repair

crew to help you through. A light breakfast will be provided before the ride begins at 8am, and cyclists will get to witness this year’s new feature—plein air painting. Artists will be at work on their ‘open air’ paintings all along the cycling route.

“[The artists] can go wherever they want,” says Paula. “They’ll bring wet paintings back to be sold in the gallery by bid. People will basically have the opportunity to buy originals.”

Most cyclists will be back downtown by 11am or 12pm, and food from La Cuisine French Restaurant, entertainment, beer, music, massages and a bike-related art show will be waiting for them at the event’s after-party. There will be national manufacturers related to the cycling industry downtown, paintings available for purchase and raffles to enter for door prizes. And don’t feel intimidated if your bike of choice isn’t a traditional bike meant specifically for road cycling.

“Any bike is welcome other than a motor bike,” says Mary. “Also, there is a non-riding ticket for $30 if someone wants to enjoy the food, beer, entertainment and art.”

Though last year’s attendance blew expectations out of the water, Tammy says they’re encouraging more participation and more businesses to get involved. Last year’s ride attracted cyclists of all ages and levels to come out and ride. And that’s what she loves about this event.

Blank Screen

to try to improve their health and wellness.

This month is all about putting down your cell phone. It’s time for some real communication. We are challenging you to stop scrolling, to power down and to hide the chargers—unplug!

The Issue

Professor Paul Dolan of the London School of Economics believes that the popularity of smartphones has distracted many from their nearest and dearest. He sincerely believes that the key to happiness is concentrating on your family and friends, rather than seeking enjoyment from behind a screen. One recent study shows that an average of 69,000 texts are sent every second in the United States. That’s a lot of texts.

The Challenge

Do you think you could go without using your phone but twice a day? Once to set an alarm for the next morning and once more to turn it off ? You’ll never know until you try. Who knows, you may want to make a habit out of it, so here are some tricks for keeping your mind off your phone.

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT. Ironically, this may be the first step to staying off your phone. Once you are aware of the amount of time you waste daily, you may be more likely to keep it at bay. Dr. David Greensfield, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, confides that most people are “flabbergasted when they see they have checked their phones 300 times in one day.” Download Checky in the app store to see your number.

NO NOTIFICATIONS. If you can’t see advertisements that your apps are sending you, requests on social media sites or texts lighting up your phone, you are far less likely to check on your own initiative. Turn off push notifications for apps that you can get away with ignoring.

TALK IT OUT. Try making plans, car arrangements and anything else you may have to send a text about in person. Not only will you experience reallife communication, but you also may notice fewer mix-ups and misunderstandings.

CARRY A BOOK WITH YOU. If you think you will be bored without a phone to gaze into, think again. Did you know that reading a good book can reduce your stress levels by as much as 68 percent? Phone shmone.

GET A HOBBY. Flower arranging, writing, cooking, sewing? There are so many activities that you could devote what little free time you have to. Use the hours you won’t be wasting anymore wisely. Learn an instrument. Work as a volunteer.

DELETE SOCIAL MEDIA. Here’s the true test. Once your detox is done, will you go all the way? If this is too extreme for you, sign out of each app after you’ve used it. This will require you to sign in each time you try and use them again, meaning you will not be able to mindlessly open them every spare second.

Each month we create a new challenge for our readers

An Innovative Purchase

Computed tomography (CT) has become an indispensable imaging procedure for a variety of conditions, which makes it even more important for patients to be aware of radiation dose over time. That’s why Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center recently installed two new CT scanners that offer advanced imaging capabilities and feature high-quality, low-dose diagnostic exams. CT uses special X-ray equipment to create detailed pictures, or scans, of areas inside the body.

“Installing low-dose CT scanners is part of a larger initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from medical imaging,” says Kay Burke, director of imaging services at Seven Rivers Regional.

A Fond Farewell

After nearly six years with Ocala Health, five of those as CEO and one as CFO, Randy McVay has announced his retirement effective June 3. McVay has been at the helm of Ocala Health during the organization’s most significant period of growth, overseeing capital investments by parent company HCA of nearly $120 million.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished at Ocala Health over the last several years and confident that the key initiatives currently in place will continue to contribute to our leadership position in the market,” says McVay. “I have especially enjoyed working with such a dedicated leadership team and staff, medical staff and Board of Trustees, who have supported our efforts to transform Ocala Health into a high quality, comprehensive health care system. It is because of their commitment to quality care that we’ve been able to make such a positive impact in our community.”

The Gift Of Education

The College of Central Florida Foundation received $150,000 from former Ocala postmaster Norton B. McNeal to establish the Norton B. McNeal and Norma R. McNeal Scholarship in Nursing

A longtime resident of Ocala, Norton served as postmaster for 13 years before his retirement in 1977. He passed away in June 2015; he was preceded in death by Norma, who passed in 2010.

“Norton’s gift to the college is an expression of his love for Norma and his heart for individuals and families struggling with mental illness,” says Norton’s nephew, Judge Ray McNeal.

“This is a wonderful legacy and wonderful gift that the McNeals have provided,” says Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “It will support nurses long into the future and enhance the quality of care in the region.”

Commitment To Quality

Rx To Go, the in-house specialty pharmacy of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), has received accreditation from URAC, the leading organization in the United States for promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. As a URAC accredited organization, Rx To Go is part of a select group nationwide that has worked to meet rigorous standards for quality and accountability. Located in Fort Myers at the corporate offices of Florida Cancer Specialists, Rx To Go specializes in delivering newer oral cancer medications to patients throughout Florida, where the pharmacy is licensed. This year, approximately 35 percent of all cancer drugs will be available in pill form.

“Rx To Go should be commended for meeting these strict national quality standards,” says Brad Prechtl, CEO of FCS. “We want all of our patients to know that we have a longstanding commitment to patient safety and providing the highest quality services.”

Chalk It Up To Biology

For years, women have insisted that men were playing the “man flu” card whenever they got a case of the sniffles, but a new study in the American Journal of Physiology suggests that men may actually suffer more severely from illness than women due to their lack of estrogen. Source:

Researchers have said that estrogen-based compounds can make it harder for the flu virus to infect cells and that the female hormone may actually protect women from more severe symptoms. So the next time your guy comes down with the flu, maybe cut him a little slack—he’s probably not faking it.

Did Someone Say Hernia?

That’s how many people suffer hernias annually after improper lifting or carrying (or, to be fair, as a result of weak abdominal muscles strained by constant coughing, sneezing or particularly laborious bowel movements). Read on for more than you could ever want to know about hernias. First things first…

Do I Have A Hernia?

You may not know you have a hernia, only finding out if it appears during another doctor’s visit. But some unfortunate people experience pain when bending over, lifting or coughing (stop, that’s what got you into this mess!), a visible bulge with burning at the site and a feeling of weakness and heaviness in the abdomen. Some with hiatal hernias will experience acid reflux.

Sounds painful, right? Usually it has to do with the intestines or the bladder poking out of the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal near the groin, usually occurring in men. This is aptly called the inguinal hernia.

A femoral hernia, however, usually affects the ladies, especially those who are pregnant or overweight. It occurs when the intestines go barging into the canal carrying the femoral artery into the thigh. Rude.

If the small intestine moves through the abdominal wall near the navel, you have an umbilical hernia (most common in pregnant women and newborns).

In a hiatal hernia, the upper portion of the stomach passes through the hiatus, which is an opening in the diaphragm for the esophagus.

Incisional hernia occurs when the intestine tries to escape via an old surgery incision that has created a weak place in the muscles. It happens most often in those inactive after surgery who do not rebuild the muscle’s former strength.

Treatment is generally a surgery to repair the torn muscle or tissue wall with synthetic mesh and return the organs back to their rightful places, removing any oxygen-starved, now useless portions. The use of laparoscopes is becoming more common, meaning the recovery from these procedures is quicker and easier than ever before.

Hernias have one thing in common: They’re only possible due to pressure on an opening or a weak muscle. If you, like any right-minded individual, hope to keep your organs in their proper containers, beware of risk factors. Lift with proper form, using muscles in the legs. Obesity, poor nutrition and smoking all weaken abdominal muscles, too.

“Lift with your legs!” How many times does it have to be said? Around 200,000, apparently.

Hernia, n.: the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region

We specialize in quality care and lifestyles for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Unlike other communities, we are licensed to care for them at every stage of illness. Lecanto and Cala Hills both offer separate neighborhoods for each stage of care– so this can be their home for life.

FEATURED BENEFITS

• Art, Music and Pet Therapies

• On-site Physical & Speech Therapies

• Specialized Life Enrichment Programs

• 24-Hour Nursing

• Private Studio & Companion Suites

• “Age-in-Place” ECC Licensed

• Respite & Day Stay Options

Here families have peace of mind knowing their loved ones receive expert care in our secure, compassionate community.

TWO

Superior Residences at Cala Hills

(352) 861-2887

2300 SW 21st Circle • Ocala, FL

Superior Residences of Lecanto

(352) 746-5483

4865 West Gulf to Lake Hwy. • Lecanto, FL

SuperiorALF.com

Jose Gomez, MD

George Kardashian, MD Kirill Ilalov, MD

Juan Raposo, MD Alexander Pappas, DPM

Craig R. Bennett, MD Jared P. Salinsky, DO Christopher Reyher, MD Steven P. Nadler, MD

The Windows to Wellness

Hypertension has no visible symptoms except in the eyes. High blood pressure causes the retina’s blood vessels to swell or shrink, signaling trouble in blood flow to the kidneys, brain and heart. The Journal of the American Medical Association found a direct correlation between these retinal changes and an increased risk of heart failure.

Feeling uneasy? Those who suffer from mental illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.) have different gazing patterns than others. A study in 2013 by the Journal of Abnormal Psychology determined that participants with depression took significantly longer to look away from a negative stimuli, such as sad photographs, than those who did not report having depression, perhaps because they reflect those emotions.

The next time you consider putting off your annual eye exam, consider this: The eyes can be the first indicators of oncoming health hurdles.

If your eyes seem like they bulge, it could be a sign your thyroid is causing trouble. Graves Disease, caused by hyperthyroidism, is caused when the gland produces excessive hormones, which attack tissues around the eye socket. This leads to inflammation behind the eye, pushing it outward, which occurs in over 50 percent of Graves patients.

Eye exams are preventative for more than cataracts. Inflammation in the optic nerve can signal trouble in the nervous system. This nerve inflammation—optic neuritis—is seen in approximately 75 percent of patients with multiple sclerosis. In up to one in four cases, it’s the first sign that leads to diagnosis, sometimes coupled with blurry vision and eye pain.

Bloodshot, achy eyes can happen for any number of reasons, but if you’ve been getting enough sleep and the problem persists, it could point to a more serious issue. Inflammation of the eye, uveitis, is typically a sign of inflammation in other areas of the body. It happens when the immune system begins attacking its own bodily tissues, trademarks of conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. In the latter, 25 percent of sufferers will experience these eye troubles.

Diabetes is the condition most likely to be diagnosed during an eye exam. High blood sugar thins blood vessels in the retina, causing proteins to travel into the macula (doc speak for the part of your eye that focuses). It can also lead to miniscule hemorrhages in the retina and lipid deposits visible as yellow splotches to an ophthalmologist. Remember folks: It’s important to get your annual eye exam, whether you think you need new glasses or not.

The eyes are one of the things we focus on most when interacting with others, but how often do we check our own?

Easiest Happiness Rx: Use Your Strengths

› By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

In the movie The Martian, astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, uses perseverance, ingenuity and a wicked sense of humor to survive the red planet’s killer conditions. Although you might never be stranded 140 million miles from home, using your own top strengths can help you overcome big challenges and achieve a major happiness boost.

Everyone has character strengths that just come naturally. You might have qualities such as creativity, modesty, curiosity, love, generosity, forgiveness or leadership. Experts in the field of positive psychology say that there are 24 major character strengths. But, too often, you might ignore or downplay them. When you learn to tune in, though, you’ll reap a lot of health benefits.

› One recent study from Switzerland’s University of Zurich found that people who focused on using one of their top strengths in new ways decreased blue moods and increased happiness.

› Another University of Zurich study found that deploying strengths like curiosity, a love of learning, creativity, kindness, humor and teamwork helped nurses and others in tension-filled workplaces feel less bothered by stress.

› A recent study from Israel’s University of Haifa found that spouses who recognized and used their own character strengths had more marriage satisfaction than those who didn’t.

› A University of Hong Kong study of people who survived traumatic events found those with strengths like conscientiousness and a zest for life were least likely to experience posttraumatic stress.

How to Spot—And Use—Your Strengths

Most of us have several top strengths, not just one. Chances are, you’ve already got an inkling of what yours are. You might be the type who organizes family events (you’re a leader), can’t wait to read a new nonfiction book (you love learning), volunteer at a local charity (you’re generous) or are an avid do-it-yourselfer (you’re a creative problem-solver). But just to make sure you’re fully aware of yours, interview yourself.

1. What am I good at, and what do I really like to do?

2. What comes naturally to me and energizes me when I do it?

3. What strengths do I use at home, at work, with friends, alone?

4. What strength is so important to me that I would feel suffocated if I had to forgo it for a month?

Or, take a quiz. An even easier way to get a handle on your best qualities is to take the strengths survey at the website of the VIA Institute on Character (Google “VIA Character Survey”). Developed under the direction of leaders in the field of positive psychology, the survey shows your top traits and offers advice for making them even stronger.

After you’ve identified your traits, train them. Like an NBA basketball star or a concert violinist, making the most of your inborn talents requires practice.

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of The Dr. Oz Show, and Mike Roizen, M.D., is Chief Wellness O cer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into The Dr. Oz Show or visit sharecare.com. © 2015 Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Everyone has character strengths that just come naturally.

A Crash Course On Cravings

Ice cream and pickles anyone? According to a study published in the journal Appetite, most people experience cravings.

In fact, 97 percent of women and 68 percent of men who participated in this study reported yearning for a certain snack. Now about that ice cream...

Some attribute cravings to the nutrients missing from their diet. Although, based on the fact that it’s not often we develop a hankering for liver and kale—it’s safe to say that may not be entirely true. Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN, agrees pointing out that most often we crave “high carb and fat comfort foods.” Simply said, sometimes we just want some extra salt!

Still think your cravings are a mystery waiting to be solved? Grab your chips, it’s time to decode.

I want candy.

If you crave sweets, you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations. Catering to your sweet tooth, however, causes your insulin production to spike, putting you at risk for type 2 diabetes. Instead of reaching for the rocky road container, how about rinsing off an apple? Fruits low in natural sugars are a great substitute for the artificial sweets most of us covet.

Where’s the meat?

If you crave red meat, your body may be lacking a bit of iron. Healthy meat alternatives, such as beans, legumes, figs and other dry fruit, will also do the trick. But between you and I, a big juicy burger will be just fine in moderation.

I need chocolate.

Low magnesium? Bring on the chocolate. Nutritionists estimate that over 80 percent of the population is lacking in dietary magnesium, explaining why so many of us reach for chocolate (OK, and it tastes pretty good, too…) Foods such as nuts, seeds,

fish and greens will also give us the necessary vitamins found in chocolate. If you still insist on magnesium intake through chocolate, choose dark chocolate—it’s proven healthier.

Say cheese... and bring me some, too.

Though a large part of the human population will argue that cheese is just delicious and that’s why we crave it— the other half begs to differ. Research has noted that cheese cravings often indicate a fatty acid deficiency. This is where the good news comes into play. The same omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed and salmon are also found in cheeses and are said to lower the risk of certain chronic diseases.

Pass the salt.

A craving for salt is commonly attributed to stress—and its toll on the adrenal glands. Research shows your adrenal glands release cortisol when you are under stress, resulting in your body’s craving for high-fat, simple-carb food. Next time you’re feeling stressed, try going for a walk or grabbing a banana instead of reaching for the carbs.

Faith In Action

Many people in our community live their lives based on a deeply felt faith—“the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Such faith allows people to see possibilities where others perceive only problems, to believe that blessings can be born of even the most trying times. It gives the confident assurance that all things serve a higher purpose, both here and hereafter. And it allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

For hundreds of children in Marion and Citrus Counties, their futures depend on the faith of others. These children have suffered trauma, abuse and neglect. They need safe foster and adoptive homes where they can be shown a loving way of life they have not seen but have long hoped for. The greatest need is for people to step out in faith for children ages 9 to 15, the critically formative years when we build our foundation for life.

What action does my faith require?

That is the key question that all faithful people must ask themselves, because

as the Bible tells us, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). For those with sincere religious beliefs, one of the greatest opportunities to put their faith in action is to provide a home for a child who has suffered. As one local pastor put it, “Foster parenting and adoption are acts of God’s love to those who have not been loved.”

Those of us who are a part of the faith community must understand the Biblical mandate to care for others, especially children who find themselves in distress. Our faith compels us to love and nurture those who have nothing to give in return. This mandate is not defined by age or life situation, and it includes children who may be older or may seem to be more challenging. These young people need to know that their lives have meaning and purpose. What greater reward could there be than knowing that you helped restore hope in a child who has lost all faith in the future?

Are you called to foster or adopt? How can you come alongside and provide support for those who are called to foster or adopt? Not everyone is called to do the same thing, but if our faith is strong, it will drive us to consider what role we must play in meeting this great need.

Please at least explore what role you are called to fill in the life of a child. Call Paula Mealy of Kids Central, Inc. at (352) 387-3487, or email her at Paula.Mealy@KidsCentralinc.org. For more information, you can also visit KidsCentralFosterParents.org

Kids Central is the nonprofit lead agency charged with caring for the abused, neglected and abandoned children in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties.

Kids Central workers and volunteers answer the call to care for local children.

ByJim Gibson

SICK You Memake SICK MeYou

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 7,000 listed rare diseases in the United States. Add to this list the ones yet to be discovered or reported and our world can suddenly begin to look like a very scary place.

Although our bodies are amazingly resilient, they are subjected to a constant barrage of bacteria, viruses and toxins, and many of us are born with genetic predispositions to certain illnesses.

Some diseases are quite well-known and many research dollars are spent searching for cures, but what about those rare and elusive ailments that not only defy treatment or a cure but even diagnosis? After all, how can your physician diagnose a disease he or she has never even heard of?

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty…

You know that Facebook friend who loves to post pictures of their newborn baby snuggled up with the family cat? Well, maybe those photos are great to all the cat lovers out there, but to those of us who cringe at the sight, we have good reason to be concerned.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the single-cell parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and it seems this vicious little germ reproduces only in the stomachs of cats. Unless you regularly sanitize your cat (inside and out), it is entirely possible that T. gondii is present not only in its feces but possibly on its fur or your hands.

Once infected, you are infected for life. T. gondii will take up residence all throughout your body, especially in the brain, muscles and heart. Initially, you may only feel flulike symptoms, and as long as your immune system remains healthy, you may feel just fine. But if your immune system becomes compromised, the parasite can reactivate itself and then you’re in a world of trouble.

Young children, the elderly or persons with lowered immune systems from disease or certain medications can then be infected with full-blown toxoplasmosis. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, loss of coordination, convulsions, lung problems and blurred vision. If a woman is pregnant when infected, she is prone to miscarriage and her child may suffer from birth defects. (Some of these defects may not manifest until the child is a teenager.)

T. gondii can also be found in contaminated food or water or possibly transmitted via blood transfusion.

SWAK SWAK

Kissing bugs live in your walls or roof during the day and come out at night to feed… on you. These blood suckers tend to bite humans on the face or lips and then defecate near the feeding site. This allows T. cruzi to enter the body.

Once infected, many people show very few initial symptoms. Some people may have a mild fever, headache and enlarged lymph nodes, and some may show no symptoms at all. Thirty to 40 percent of persons bitten have more serious symptoms that can appear as long as 30 years after the initial bite. In 20 to 30 percent of those cases, T. cruzi affects the heart much in the same way cardiomyopathy does, destroying the ventricular muscle. In fact, this disease is many times mistaken for cardiomyopathy. Some victims may also have an enlarged esophagus or colon. Once the disease has begun its progression, it is virtually impossible to stop its damaging effects. >>

Triatoma rubida bugs, also known as kissing bugs, have made their way to Florida via the Gulf Coast states. These not-so-cute little fellows carry a parasite known as cruzi.Trypanosoma

T. cruzi is the cause of the Chagas that has long plagued Latin American countries.

UNLESS YOU REGULARLY SANITIZE YOUR CAT (INSIDE AND OUT), IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT T. GONDII IS PRESENT NOT ONLY IN ITS FECES BUT POSSIBLY ON ITS FUR OR YOUR HANDS.

Off TheirWithHeads!

For persons suffering from Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, they could very well find the loss of their heads a distinct relief, because this malady is usually accompanied by blinding migraine headaches.

Anyone can suddenly suffer from AIWS, but the symptoms (which include seeing objects as much smaller or larger than they actually are and the sufferer feeling as if they are much smaller or larger than they actually are) usually begin as a small child. Many people outgrow them, but others suffer from these debilitating symptoms for a lifetime. For some of the more unfortunate, the symptoms simply appear from nowhere and can be quite frightening, lasting for an undetermined amount of time.

The disease derived its name from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Alice experienced many of the symptoms of this disease, and it is believed Carroll himself may have suffered

A Rose By Any Other Name

The next time you bend over to pick a rose for your Romeo or Juliet, be sure not to prick your finger on a thorn. Lurking on the stem that holds those beautiful petals could be the fungi (or not-so-fun-guy)

Sporothrix schenckii.

Once this rather unromantic fellow gets under your skin, then the real problems can begin. Sporotrichosis, or Rose Picker’s Disease, can give you a very nasty skin infection and can also affect your central nervous system, lungs, bones, joints and eyes. Although a healthy immune system may make your symptoms milder, it is no assurance that this infection can’t become a very serious problem.

Maybe a box of chocolates might be a better choice.

The Butt Of Every Joke

LISTEN, DIARRHEA IS NO LAUGHING MATTER, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S BRAINERD DIARRHEA. NAMED AFTER THE NOWINFAMOUS TOWN OF BRAINERD, MINNESOTA, THIS DIARRHEA ISN’T YOUR EVERYDAY STOMACH VIRUS. IN FACT, RESEARCHERS AREN’T SURE WHAT IT IS AT ALL. WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT IT CAN SEND YOU SCURRYING FOR A BATHROOM MORE THAN 10 TIMES A DAY FOR UP TO A YEAR OR MORE.

This malady, which was first seen in 1983 during the Brainerd outbreak that affected 122 people, has no known cause and no known cure. It has cropped up in several other states since the initial outbreak. So, next time you’re heading up to spend a week in Brainerd, you might want to take your own water… and food… and hand wipes… and antibacterial soap… and maybe an extra roll of Charmin.

Slightly Cool With A Chance Of Death

COLD URTICARIA IS LITERALLY AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO ANYTHING COLD. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE HIVES, WELTS, ITCHING—ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS A PERSON MIGHT FEEL DURING ANY ALLERGIC REACTION. IN SEVERE CASES, THE VICTIM CAN GO INTO FULL-FLEDGED ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK AND DIE.

Although this illness is usually found in younger persons, it can persist well into middle age. Relief can be found by living in an area such as Ocala where warm sunny climes are the norm, avoiding cold beverages and food, staying out of cold water and avoiding anyone who might give you the cold shoulder.

An ArmadilloArmageddon An ArmadilloArmageddon

Because many of our readers are new to Florida, we wanted to let you know about a little known disease that can be found incubating in one in five of those cute little Armadillos frolicking about on your front lawn. Yes—it’s leprosy

Whooping It Up

We know you thought that went by the wayside several hundred years ago, but… well, it didn’t. The thing that did go by the wayside is a person being slowly eaten alive by the disease, which can cause skin lesions. New antibiotics can now cure you of leprosy, but the fact you caught it probably won’t get you invited to many dinner parties.

How can you avoid the possibility of getting leprosy from a wayward armadillo? Don’t eat them, don’t wrestle with them and avoid digging in your flower garden in the same spot they do.

Two years ago, at 57 years of age, I had a terrible bout with Whooping Cough for the second time in my life. I include this disease in this article because it became very personal to me, as I almost coughed myself to death over several months. What is amazing is that 300,000 people around the world do just that every year.

And if you are a part of my generation that suffered through pertussis when we were young, sit up and take notice—we are beginning to have it again. It seems that our immunity to this horrible disease isn’t a lifelong thing; it is only a decades-long thing. The fact is, because pertussis is becoming a problem due to popular anti-vaccination movements, there are going to be more children coming down with the disease. It is still fairly rare, but it is becoming increasingly more common. As more children come down with whooping cough, so will more Baby Boomers… and Florida is Baby Boomer heaven. Remember, you can be vaccinated again, and it might be well worth it, because if you do come down with the disease, there is little to be done other than wait it out… and trust me on this one… it seems like forever.

Out Of The Blue

ADULT ONSET STILL’S DISEASE HAS NO KNOWN CAUSE, AND TREATMENT IS ONLY SPECIFIC TO EACH SYMPTOM. THE DISEASE, WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY JOINT PAIN, HIGH, SPIKING FEVERS, RASH, MUSCLE PAIN AND SORE THROAT, STRIKES FROM NOWHERE AND IS BELIEVED TO BE WHAT IS CALLED AN AUTOIMMUNE SYNDROME. RESEARCHERS BELIEVE IT MAY BE THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO AN INFECTION OR TOXIN THAT HAS GONE AWRY, BUT, WHATEVER THE CAUSE, THE DISEASE CAN WORSEN PROGRESSIVELY AND CAUSE LONG-TERM DISABILITY.

Fevers occur almost daily and are usually accompanied by a rash on the chest or thighs. Joint pain can intensify, and, eventually, the affected joints can be destroyed. Adults between 16 and 35 years of age are usually affected, and slightly more women than men contract the disease.

NEW ERA

Recent advances in cancer research and treatment mean more favorable outcomes for patients.

BY JOANN GUIDRY

COMBINATION THERAPY

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, United States cancer death rates have declined 20 percent from their peak in 1991 (215.1 per 100,000 population) to 2010 (171.8 per 100,000 population). Today, there are a record 14.5 million cancer survivors in the United States. The ASCO attributes these statistics to ongoing clinical cancer research, resulting in prevention, earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments. Over the past decade, more than 60 anticancer drugs have been approved by the FDA. Combination therapy has shown itself to be more effective than a singular approach. Tumor biology research has led to the development of molecularly targeted drugs aimed at especially difficult-to-treat cancers. Immunotherapies have emerged to tackle cancers, such as advanced melonoma, lung cancers, certain blood cancers and solid tumors.

The ASCO recently named the treatment transformation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as the Cancer Advance of the Year. Nearly 120,000 Americans are living with CLL, the most common form of adult leukemia, and there had previously been few effective treatment options, but now there are four newly approved therapies for CLL. Obinutuzumab and ofatumumab, used in combination with standard chemotherapy, are two new immunotherapy drugs for previously untreated CLL. Ibrutinib and idelalisib are two molecularly targeted drugs for treatment-resistant or relapsed CLL. These new treatments are expected to dramatically improve the outlook for CCL patients.

BRAIN CANCER: For slow-growing glioma brain tumors, radiotherapy has been the standard first-line treatment for more than three decades. A study of 250 patients with glioma showed that adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy extended patient survival by 5.5 years compared to using only radiotherapy. Patients treated with radiotherapy alone survived on average 7.8 years; those treated with radiotherapy and a chemotherapy drug regime (procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine) lived 13.3 years. Combination treatment also resulted in a 10-year delay in disease progression,

TARGETED THERAPY

compared to a four-year delay with radiotherapy alone.

PROSTATE CANCER:

1950s, treatment for advanced prostate cancer has been androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). While initially effective, prostate cancer often becomes resistant to ADT; chemotherapy then would be used only after this occurred and the disease worsened. But in a study of 790 men who were treated with both ADT plus chemotherapy at the same time, the men lived on average 10 months longer than with ADT treatment solely.

Targeted therapy blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. This is accomplished because the treatment targets specific molecules in or on cancer cells or in the tumor’s immediate surroundings.

LUNG CANCER: More than 150,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer, accounting for nearly a third of all cancer deaths. Targeted therapies using the drugs erlotinib, afatinib and sometimes crizotinib have become the standard first-line treatment for those with nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All three drugs are initially effective with tumor shrinkage in close to two-thirds of patients. But all patients eventually develop resistance, and the cancer starts growing again usually within a year in about half of the patients. Researchers have been developing next-generation

drugs to specifically target the genetic mutations that cause drug resistance. Two recent phase 1 clinical trials tested a pair of experimental drugs, AZD9291 and CO-1686, to combat the resistance mutation. Encouragingly, tumor shrinkage was seen in 50 to 60 percent of the studies’ participants. Longer-term followups will show if the drugs lead to overall survival improvement.

Here’s a look at some other recent cancer treatment advances.

Combination therapy is considered treatment strategies that combine multiple or di erent types of therapies. Two large federally funded studies have shown impressive results utilizing combination therapy in extending survival rates in those with brain and prostate cancers.

IMMUNOTHERAPY

Immunotherapy treatment is designed to boost the body’s natural immune defenses against cancer. Types of immunotherapy include antibodies, cell-based and cancer vaccines. Materials made by the body or in a laboratory are utilized to improve, target or restore immune system function. Immunotherapies can stop or slow the growth of cancer cells, prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body or aid the immune system’s e ectiveness at eliminating cancer cells.

MED14736; strong responses were reported in two-thirds of the patients treated. None of the drugs have yet gained FDA approval for lung cancer treatment. Although MK-3475 (pembrolizumab) has been FDA approved for advanced melanoma treatment.

MELANOMA: The annual incidence of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, has increased by more than 60 percent in the United States during the past 30 years. FDA-approved immunotherapy drug ipilimumab has been successfully used since 2011 for melanoma that has spread to other body sites or that can’t be surgically removed. A recent clinical trial showed that ipilimumab might also be effective for patients with an earlier stage of melanoma to prevent recurrence after surgery. In the study of 950 patients with stage III melanoma and high recurrence risk, ipilimumab decreased the relative recurrence risk by 25 percent compared with a placebo. Unfortunately, considerable adverse effects, such as skin rash and inflammation of the pituitary gland, thyroid and colon made it necessary to stop the treatment in about half of the study participants. Researchers will continue to monitor those patients who were able to continue to assess any longterm benefits.

LUNG CANCER: New immunotherapy targeted drugs are also being tested for treating lung cancer. The drugs act on the proteins that control the immune system’s ability to attack and kill cancer cells. The antibody drugs used in the study included MK-3475, nivolumab and

B-CELL ALL: Patients with B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most common type of ALL, have limited treatment options once their cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapy. Long-term survival rates are low even with intensive treatments such as hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. But chimeric antigen receptor-modified (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy is showing promise in treating ALL. A one-time treatment, CAR T-cell therapy doesn’t require surgery. First, blood is pumped out of a patient’s body and sent through a machine that separates out T cells. Next, the blood is intravenously returned to the body. The patient then undergoes chemotherapy while the T cells are reprogrammed in the laboratory. These reprogrammed T cells start making proteins that allow them to find and attach to antigen molecules on cancer cells. When infused back into the patient, the reprogrammed T cells multiply thousands of times and eliminate cancer cells.

In a small study, 16 adults with relapsed or chemotherapy-resistant B-cell ALL were treated with a new 19-28z CAR T-cell therapy. Patients started responding to therapy as early as seven to 10 days after infusion, and complete cancer remission occurred in 88 percent of the participants. In another study, 20 children and adults with relapsed or treatment-resistant ALL were treated with CTL019 CART T-cell therapy. Of the 20 patients, 14 experienced complete remission. CTL019 received FDA breakthrough therapy designation in July 2014, allowing for additional clinical trials.

Sources: asco.org, cancer.org, cancerprogress.net, cancer.net

Behind ThePeople

the Plates

We think about it three times daily, often in a rush. Food, however, is a way to travel without ever leaving the table, a way to learn about other cultures. It brings people together to share stories, innovates and draws inspiration from its community. Healthy Living learned from four local restaurateurs what it takes to serve different, delicious dishes just like this.

ByKatie McPherson

Chef Patrice Perron, La Cuisine

The magic of food is why La Cuisine in downtown Ocala exists today—because Chef Patrice Perron appreciated it, even as a boy. He loved watching ingredients transform in the oven.

“I was fascinated by the magic of this step. What’s it going to be? What’s it going to look like after we make the batter? It was fun for me, really.”

Being born and raised in Lyon, France, the gastronomy capital of the world, was all too perfect. But Perron began his career in banking, until the feeling of being just a number grew tiresome. He stopped everything to attend culinary school at Institut Paul Bocuse. During a master class he met Chef Joseph Viola.

Chef-in-training Perron began working at Viola’s restaurant, Daniel & Denise, under Viola’s mentorship. While most chefs enforce a kitchen hierarchy, this was not their relationship.

“He was like a second father,” he says. Perron’s dream was to open a French restaurant in the United States. During a vacation with his family in 2005, they stopped in Ocala to visit a friend.

“Very quiet, very peaceful, nice people. When I came into a couple of restaurants, they were packed. In my mind I came to the United States to make a market study on where I should go. I said ‘yeah, let’s go here.’” Perron, his wife, Elodie, and their two children sold everything in France and bought their downtown location in 2008,

It’s easy to forget the power of food.

remodeling and opening in 2009.

“In American people’s minds, French cuisine is something fancy or trendy, almost posh. I used to go in restaurants in France and it was comfort food with friends, you drink a lot of wine, talk about the world. It was friendship cuisine,” he says. “There is always a stew or gratin, or pasta with cheese and bacon, but something very classical, simple.”

La Cuisine has a crowd of loyal dining guests after seven years of business and five consecutive Florida Trend Golden Spoon Awards. Thanks to them, Perron’s personality can shine through his food, a cuisine ruled by traditions and mathematical mother sauces.

“There is the culture, and after, there is your personality. This is more to share my culture, to share the base. But day after day, when you start to know people and they come back, they know the classics and want more, so you can add a little bit of your personality. This is what I like.”

La Cuisine French Restaurant 48 SW 1st Ave, Ocala

“There is the culture, and after, there is your personality.”

Chef Greg Mullen, The Blue Wagyu

“If we can do it from scratch, we do. If it’s not in season, I don’t want it. We take more of a rustic approach. We’re a little more country than rock ‘n’ roll in that sense,” Chef Greg Mullen laughs. Mullen spent his early years in his mother’s restaurant and moved to Southeast Asia his junior year of high school, where he first encountered wagyu beef. He came to Ocala about 10 years ago

and opened a downtown cooking school, where he met Mary Maverick Gary, now his business partner. Blue Wagyu began when the two attended a wagyu convention, which led to procuring land to raise their own cattle, responsibly.

“It started off with 20 cows. Now we’re at 400-plus animals,” says Mullen of the farm they use to supply the Blue Wagyu restaurant and store. “For us, the main thing is the care of our animals and to do it a better way. We are opposed to feed lots, so that meant we had to fall into a pasturebased program.”

For them, wagyu is also a way to redirect the future of cattle farming.

“These animals bring high concentrations of monounsaturated fats and omega 3s and 6s. If you were to take those genetics and put them over into commercial cattle, you’re going to up the quality level and the health benefits,” Mullen explains.

Commercial beef are harvested at 18 months, but Mullen’s livestock isn’t harvested until over three years. They breed both 100 percent wagyu (of which there are only 5,000 in the United States) and American wagyu, which are 75 to 87 percent wagyu and part angus.

“All of our burgers, 90 percent of our steaks, all of our chuck roast, our chilis, it’s all made from beef we produce here in Ocala,” says Mullen.

To taste a variety of wagyu beef, raised locally and imported from Japan, try a wagyu flight. The rest of the menu is laden with burgers, each named for a famous wagyu sire. (A study by Oxford University found there is such a thing as the perfect burger. Turns out, it requires wagyu.)

“You’ve got four receptors on your palate when you eat a burger and the brain registers ‘OK, that’s beef.’ Then you eat wagyu, and it hits six receptors because it’s got those higher fats and amino acids,” he explains. “I believe that’s what people want. They want food that’s wholesome, clean, simple and fires off those things their bodies say they need.”

The Blue Wagyu

6998 N. US Hwy 27, Unit #111, Ocala (352) 622-9977 bluewagyu.com

“For us, the main thing is the care of our animals.”

Chef Albert Barrett, Stella’s Modern Pantry

Peeling 200 pounds of onions would drive anyone out of the kitchen, and Chef Albert Barrett did flee after his first day of work, but only as far as the pastry department. Now he creates flavorfusing confections and international dishes at Stella’s Modern Pantry, a café and gourmet store, alongside Stacey Atsides and Stephanie Harrison. The three opened Stella’s in 2009 as a way to bring the world, in bites, to Ocala.

“We wanted a Ritz Carlton atmosphere at affordable prices,” says Barrett, noting the menu items are almost always $10 and below. Their menu is lunchtime perfection—market salads, flatbreads and sandwiches. Stella’s also deals in cured meats, special cheeses, spices and more from all over the world.

“If we have something in our store and you can go to Publix or Walmart and get it, we don’t want it anymore,” Barrett says.

Stella’s stocks wines from around the world, lately growing their selection from Greece, which Barrett says is becoming a force in the global wine industry. These are the bits of knowledge customers can pick up here during a wine tasting, tapas walk or culinary class.

“Educating people is what we’re all about,” he explains. “We did a class on salts from all over the world, different types of salts. Most people think iodized salt is salt.”

Barrett says it’s also important to source locally and drive growth in the community.

“We try to use local farmers as much as we can. We utilize Crone’s Cradle a lot. We utilize goat’s milk from a farm in Ocklawaha. It’s amazing working with local people creating food,” says Barrett.

“We do not use any form of preservative or anything artificial here. We try to produce everything from scratch.”

About Chef Barrett’s desserts: They won’t bore.

“I love the creative aspects of desserts. I love the science of food. That’s my passion. I like to break things down to the cellular structure and just have fun. I like to do wedding cakes, I like to do showpieces working with chocolate or sugar and just make things,” says Barrett.

This creative chef’s favorite dessert, however, is far more straightforward.

“One measly scoop of vanilla ice cream. But it has to be good ice cream! I like Häagen-Dazs,” he laughs.

Stella’s Modern Pantry 20 SW Broadway St, Ocala • (352) 622-3663

“I love the science of food. That’s my passion.”

“I’m old school enough now where I still like making my own stocks, my own reductions.”

Chef Loring Felix, Mesa de Notte

If there’s a chef who has shaped Ocala’s food scene, it’s Loring Felix.

“I’ve been feeding her since Bella Luna,” he laughs as one of his loyal customers exits after her meal, patting his shoulder. Bella Luna Café is one of numerous restaurants he’s opened in his time, three of which are in Ocala.

“I started out frying fish at Long John Silver’s when I was 15 years old,” says Felix. “I’ve cooked French, American, Italian, a little Asian rim, but I always went back to Italian. My stepfather was Sicilian, so growing up my mother cooked a lot of Italian food, and she’s an excellent cook.”

His mother was a nurse working the 3-to-11 shift, so she’d leave notes for Felix to make dinner for his younger brother and sister. Then came Long John Silver’s, which led to baking in the Marine Corps, then opening upscale restaurants in South Florida with colleague Dick Cingolani, who reintroduced Felix to Italian cuisine.

“He had over 37 sauces on the menu. He had documentation of all the places in Italy he traveled for research,” he says. “I learned a lot of the history and culture of Italy from him as I learned to cook the food. That’s where my love of that food started.”

Felix is now chef at Mesa de Notte, where he brings his years of experience to life and still makes almost everything, down to the dressings, from scratch.

“I’m old school enough now where I still like making my own stocks, my own reductions. The only dressing I buy is ranch because I can’t make a better one than Hidden Valley,” he adds with a laugh.

Felix’s food is, above all, flavorfully simple.

“A lot of the food I do is very simplistic. Let the flavors stand on their own. I think that’s what makes my food stand out: The food itself stands out regardless of what I do for presentation on it. I like things stacked and layered for height and eye appeal, but the right combination of flavors is what it’s all about, bringing them together to complement each other.”

Mesa de Notte

2436 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470

(352) 732-4737

mesaocala.com

Top Chef Q&A: Gail Simmons

If you’ve so much as channel-surfed past Bravo, you’ve caught a glimpse of Top Chef judge Gail Simmons. She’s worked in innumerable groundbreaking restaurants, penned a memoir and filled Food & Wine Magazine with delicious recipes for more than 11 years. Who could tell us better what to look forward to in 2016?

What’s new on this season of Top Chef?

We shot this season in California. Usually, we go to one city and explore that city for the whole season, but this season we explored the whole state of California. It kind of felt like a family road trip. It really let us keep the challenges fresh, and we’re doing our finale in Las Vegas.

What do you think will be trending in food in 2016?

There’s a lot of great things happening in the food space right now. I like to think some of them are ultimately here to stay. One I love seeing is chefs and restaurants getting creative about not wasting food. We as a country waste something like 30 percent of our food not meaning to, even in our own refrigerators. I love how chefs all over the world are composting or finding ways to incorporate food that might otherwise be wasted.

One cuisine making an impact right now in terms of restaurant openings is Filipino food. I think it’s one of the last great cuisines of Asia that hasn’t been explored in the main restaurant zeitgeist. The same goes for Korean food. Middle Eastern food, Lebanese food, Moroccan food, Syrian food, the food of that part of the world is so much more than falafel and hummus. I think there’s

a lot of chefs opening restaurants that honor that beauty.

How can home cooks broaden their horizons and learn to cook more and better?

I always try to come home with one new thing from the periphery of the supermarket, because that’s where all the whole foods are as opposed to packaged and processed foods. Buy one thing in the store you’ve never heard of, whether it’s an apple you’ve never tasted or instead of potatoes buying yucca. You’ll always be able to try something new. Look up a recipe from a chef you trust, and give it a shot.

You have another season of Top Chef on the horizon. Do you have any other upcoming projects?

I’m in the middle of working on a cookbook, and I’m really excited to do my own with my personal recipes from the last 20 years of working on Top Chef and food and travel writing. I have a production company I’m producing a bunch of shows with that I’m excited about. I still work with Food & Wine Magazine. I’ve been with them for 11 and a half years, and we have a new editor-in-chief coming on board soon.

Keep up with Gail! gailsimmons.com

Twitter: @gailsimmons

Instagram: @gailsimmonseats

Sources: forbes.com

esh

By CYNTHIA M c FARLAND

OK, SO IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU SET THOSE GOALS TO EXERCISE AND EAT HEALTHIER.

If you’ve hit the fast food drive-thru lately or fed the family frozen pizza for dinner again this week, take heart. The year is young. There’s still plenty of time to make good on those intentions of eating better.

AAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 75 percent of what is spent each year on health care goes to treating preventable chronic diseases, most of which are diet-related. The CDC also notes that over 72 million people—that’s more than one-third of adults in the United States—are obese, along with 16 percent of American children. Even more disturbing is the research showing that if current trends continue, half the people in this country will be obese by 2030. Americans spend over $190 billion on fast food each year. Not bad considering fast food chains only spend about $4.2 billion on advertising annually. And those burgers, fries and sodas they’re selling? Their average size has more than tripled since the 1970s.

“In this country we don’t tend to value food. We’ve come to think we’re entitled to things cheap and easy, but you see the health of people who eat cheap processed food,” observes Jeri Baldwin, founder of Crone’s Cradle Conserve, a 756-acre ecological preserve and education center located in northern Marion County. “We preach healthy eating, so we believe in eating fresh produce year-round, but it’s hard to grow here in the heat of summer, so we researched plants that would tolerate it. This led us to the east, as in Asia, and introduced us to a host of heat-tolerant produce,

which we now offer—items like bok choy, Malabar spinach, red noodle beans, shishito peppers and greens like mizuna and tat soi.”

It’s time to dust off those resolutions to eat healthy, starting this week. It’s not as hard as you think. Eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 30 percent. It can also help you lose pounds and power up your immune system.

For optimum nutritional value, choose locally grown fruits and veggies that are freshly harvested at their peak.

Local & esh!

Depending on where you go, you may be able to pick your own produce or choose from crops that farm hands have just harvested. Either way, it’s going to be incredibly fresh. Kids love the chance to pick their own, and it’s an excellent way to encourage them to eat something besides chicken nuggets and PB&J sandwiches.

Make it a “family field trip” and be prepared. Call before you go to confirm hours of operation and to be sure what’s available. Bring your own

others don’t). Dress comfortably, but no sandals. Wear a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Most farms will have basic rules posted. Remember, you are on someone’s private property, so a little courtesy goes a long way.

There are many farm stands, U-pick operations and organic farms in our area. Here are just a few to get you started. You can find more at pickyourown.org/FL and freshfromflorida.com (type “U-pick farms” into the search bar).

Perfectly Picked

Follow these picking and storage tips to make your goodies last:

BLACKBERRIES

Blackberries are best picked early in the day. Pick only berries that are soft and easy to remove.

Store in refrigerator for two to three days.

If freezing, wash and pat dry. First, freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and then transfer to freezer bag once frozen.

BLUEBERRIES

Choose berries that are uniform in color. A reddish ring where fruit attaches to stem means it’s not ripe yet. Pick only berries that easily come loose from the stem. Roll with your thumb into your palm. Don’t wash until ready to eat or use, but refrigerate berries as soon as possible after picking.

Store in refrigerator for one to two weeks.

If freezing, wash first and pat dry. Freeze in a single layer on cookie sheet, and then transfer to freezer bag once frozen.

PEACHES

Flavor is best when allowed to ripen on the tree. Pick peaches when color changes from green to yellow. Ripe fruit should be easy to remove from branch.

Store in a refrigerator (32°F).

PEARS

Can be picked early and allowed to ripen indoors at temps of 60°F to 70°F.

Pick pears when color changes from green to yellow. Ripe fruit should be easy to remove from branch.

Store pears in refrigerator to keep them fresh.

STRAWBERRIES

Best picked in early morning. Keep stem attached when picking by pinching it off with your fingers. Avoid berries that are only half-red, as their flavor hasn’t fully developed yet. Don’t wash until ready to eat or use.

Store in refrigerator for one to three days.

If you freeze them, wash and remove caps first.

GOING THE CSA ROUTE

So, you want to eat healthy, but you really don’t have time to hit the farmers market or visit a farm where you can pick your own produce. Sounds like you’re the perfect candidate for joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) alliance.

A CSA is a group of members coming together to support a local farmer, who in turn, produces food for them. The CSA movement has taken off across the country since the mid-1980s. Members (also known as subscribers) pay a fee, typically by the season, and then a weekly amount for their box or basket of produce, which they pick up, or, if offered, have delivered.

“I like to cook, and I’m always looking for good fresh veggies in season,” says Janet Pepin, a member of the Farm to Fare CSA at Crones’

Cradle Conserve. “I get to be very inventive because you never know what’s going to be in the basket. I’ll often make a frittata or egg salad from the fresh eggs. Anyone who’s interested in good, healthy eating needs to be a CSA member.”

“We’ve been doing our CSA for nearly 20 years and can handle up to 50 shares/families. We also provide for a number of restaurants and caterers,” says Baldwin.

Their Farm to Fare membership is $50 for a 13-week season, and each week’s basket is $25. There are typically five to six vegetables, fresh herbs and six to 12 eggs, along with two recipes that include items in the basket. A weekly newsletter is included and offers additional information about the produce. Baskets can be picked up at the farm, and there are specific days when they can be picked up in Ocala and Gainesville.

If you go to Crones’ Cradle Conserve, be sure to stop in at their Country Store (open daily 9am-3pm) where you’ll find honey, jams, jellies, chutneys, farmbaked breads and more produce and herbs. They also offer locally raised, grass-fed beef and locally made goat cheese and even goat cheese cheesecake (sweet, creamy, delicious, and no, it doesn’t taste like goat cheese!).

To find more CSAs in North Central Florida, visit freshfromflorida.com and type “CSA” into the search bar.

Get Cooking!

Now that you’ve rounded up the freshest produce you can find, turn it into something delicious!

SPICY THAI SALAD WITH BLOOD ORANGES › SERVES 4-6

Dressing:

¼ cup grapeseed oil (or any flavorless oil)

¼ cup lime juice

Zest of one lime

4 tbsp Colman’s Prepared Mustard

4 tbsp rice vinegar

3 tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp fish sauce

1 tbsp water

1 fresh Thai chili, finely sliced (or to taste)

Salad:

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped into bitesize pieces

1 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

½ cup chopped mint

½ cup chopped Thai basil

3 scallions finely chopped

3 carrots, cut into thin matchsticks

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin matchsticks

2 Persian or English cucumbers, cut into thin matchsticks

2 blood oranges

Whisk all dressing ingredients together in a small bowl. When adding the Thai chili, start with a small amount if you are not familiar and add more depending on how spicy you want the dressing. They are extremely spicy, especially the rib and the seeds. The dressing will get spicier with time, so make the dressing in advance. You can modify the taste if needed. (Note: Be careful not to touch your eyes after handling the chopped chili.) › Using a sharp knife, peel citrus peel and all the white pith so you can only see the flesh. Working over a small bowl, cut in between each membrane to cut out each citrus section. Squeeze remaining membrane. Pour orange juice into the dressing, and reserve the blood orange segments. (If blood oranges are out of season, you can try any other orange or even sliced strawberries.) › Toss all salad ingredients in a serving platter, and drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Sprinkle with additional herbs and a fresh squeeze of lime juice. Dressing will keep in refrigerator for up to a week.

Recipe & photo courtesy Colman’s Mustard.

Amenities

• 800-sq-ft kitchen

• 10-burner gas range

• 2 gas ovens (one oven designated gluten free only)

• 3-door-reach-in refrigerator

• 3-compartment sink

• 5- and 20-quart mixer

• 20- and 60-quart stock pot

• Cooling rack

• Spacious Countertops

• Storage and rental space

• Grease/waste disposal

OVEN-MADE FRENCH FRIES

4 1⁄2 cups organic potatoes

½ cup GAEA Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Coarse salt

Fresh pepper

1 tsp smoked paprika

Preheat the oven to 450°F. › Scrub potatoes clean, and cut them into slices approximately 1/2-inch thick. Place slices in a bowl filled with water, and leave them for approximately 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes, season with salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet. Top them o with GAEA Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil. › Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Season with paprika. Reduce the temperature to 400°F, and bake for 10 more minutes or until they get a nice golden color. Serve immediately.

GREEN TOMATO STEW

2 very large green tomatoes, chopped

1 1⁄2 cups coconut milk

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp mustard seeds

15 curry leaves

2 green chilies (such as Serrano), slit down middle

1 heaping tsp coriander powder

1⁄2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp olive oil (such as Gaea)

Heat oil in saucepan. Add cumin and mustard seeds; when they sputter, add curry leaves and green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds, and then add green tomatoes. › Add coriander powder, turmeric, sugar and stir together. ›  Add a few tablespoons of water, and when mixture boils, put a lid on saucepan and cook over medium-high heat about five minutes or until tomatoes are soft and pulpy. › Add half the coconut milk, and bring to a boil. › Add salt to taste, and let the tomatoes cook another minute or two. › Add remaining coconut milk, stir and heat until warmed through, but not boiling. › Remove from heat, and serve.

NATURAL FOODS GALA AT CRONE’S CRADLE CONSERVE (APRIL 16)

Crone’s Cradle Conserve hosts a Natural Foods Gala and Sustainability Festival in spring and fall. You’re just in time for the spring event, which takes place Saturday, April 16, from 10am to 3pm. Guest chefs and farmer chefs create a tempting variety of dishes featuring all fresh, organic ingredients. Admission is just $1 per person, and sample tickets are $2 each, which allows you to enjoy a sample size serving (about 3 ounces) of the various dishes.

OVEN-BAKED SWEET PLANTAINS

ripe plantains (when skin is yellow with black spots, they’re perfect!)

Preheat oven to 450°F. › Coat a nonstick cookie sheet with cooking spray. › Cut ends off plantains, and peel. Cut each plantain on the diagonal into half-inch slices. Arrange in single layer on cookie sheet, and coat tops with cooking Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until plantains are golden brown and very tender.

Recipe courtesy Crones’ Cradle Conserve.

CRONE’S

CRADLE CONSERVE

6411 NE 217 Place, Citra (352) 595-3377

cronescradleconserve.org

Recipe courtesy GAEA Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Find more recipes at gaeaus.com.

When I was 9 years old, my mother decided it was time to haul out the etiquette book in an effort to teach my brother and me what we didn’t know about manners and proper behavior. I found it fascinating. My brother, not so much. But what can one expect from a 6-year-old boy who’d rather be out playing in the dirt than learning how to write thank you notes and where to place the dessert fork?

We spent many summer lunch hours at our Formica-topped kitchen table as Mom perused the book and coached us on how to handle various situations we hadn’t yet encountered in our tender elementary school years. Some of those early lessons stuck. My brother is one of the only men I know who actually sends handwritten thank you notes, and I don’t own a single dessert fork, but I know where they should go in a formal table setting.

ETIQUETTE FOR TODAY

When it comes to etiquette, some things remain timeless (a gracious “thank you” never goes out of style), while other advice is now considered out of date (only the guy can initiate a date and pays for everything). The writers of etiquette books in the 1950s could never have imagined a world where people would

CELL PHONES: BLESSING OR CURSE?

› Create and respect phone-free zones (the dinner table, the bedroom, etc.).

› Spare us the obnoxious super loud ring tone. Those questionable lyrics may make your buddies laugh, but it’s certain to make your boss look at you in a whole new light.

› When talking on your phone in public,

use personal phones in a movie theater or stop a face-to-face conversation to respond to a text.

Alas, such egregious actions are commonplace today. We rounded up etiquette tips from the experts to cover a host of situations. Read on to brush up on modern manners. And I promise, no mention of dessert forks!

You’d like to think cell phone etiquette should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, that’s hardly the case. Sticking to these basic guidelines is good manners any way you look at it.

maintain a minimum distance of 10 feet from others. Chatting when you’re urinating in a public restroom or waiting in a crowded line is a no-go.

› Lower your voice to a discreet level.

› Avoid overly personal topics (or arguments) when others may overhear.

PLACES WHERE TAKING A CALL ON YOUR CELL PHONE IS OFF-LIMITS:

› If you’re having a face-to-face conversation with someone, don’t text or take a call.

› Put your phone on silent before entering a movie theater, church, restaurant or other public place.

› Don’t text and drive. As proven over and over, this simple action can be deadly.

If the call is so crucial it can’t wait, exit as quietly and quickly as possible and take the call once you are outside and away from others. But do consider how it looks to walk out of your daughter’s ballet recital to answer your phone.

› Funerals/funeral home visitations

› Church

› Live performance events

› Movie theater

› Library

› Dinner party (your own or when you’re a guest)

› Public restroom stall

› Fast food restaurant line

› Doctor/dentist office

› Checkout line at any store (This is the ultimate rudeness: not even acknowledging the store employee who’s waiting on you because you’re blabbing away on your phone.)

EMAIL DOS & DON’TS

Electronic communication has changed the way we communicate but not always for the better. Here’s how you can improve your emails, both business and personal:

DO:

› Fill in the subject line.

› Keep it short and concise.

› When sending to multiple people, either send individually or use blind-copy instead of putting all addresses in the To and CC spaces.

› Program an “out of office” response if you’re on vacation from work, letting senders know how long you’ll be away and who to contact if their message is urgent.

DON’T:

› Use all caps; it’s the equivalent of shouting.

› Forward off-color or questionable jokes or stories.

› Flag a message as urgent unless it truly is.

› Gossip or complain about colleagues or, even worse, your boss.

› Argue or break up via email. Even in this digital age, there are some things that still require face-toface communication.

› Discuss private or sensitive topics in a business email.

WORKPLACE MANNERS

Unless you’re hoping to get fired, you’ll want to follow basic office etiquette. Although these may seem obvious, apparently they’re not, as numerous surveys have found the following to be concerns in offices across the country.

› Be on time. (Duh, right?)

› Dress appropriately. Some attire is never acceptable in the office—even on “Casual Fridays.”

› Respect office policy for cell phone use, and don’t check your phone while in a meeting.

› Think before you speak, and address any issues with a coworker in private.

› Always tell the truth, even if you must do so delicately.

› Keep personal information private. Anticipate that

anything you share with another employee can make its way back to your boss.

› Watch your language even when on break or at lunch.

› Keep your cool, and don’t sink to anyone else’s level to make a point.

› Avoid silly pranks and jokes at someone else’s expense.

› Watch those comments. What you meant as a flirtatious compliment may actually fall into the category of sexual harassment.

PARTY POLITELY

Being invited to celebrate an event or to share a meal is supposed to be enjoyable. Here’s how to negotiate the social environment whether it involves extended family, your

› If you bring lunch to work, skip the overly smelly meals. Your reheated shrimp scampi can stink up the whole office.

› Clean up after yourself when using shared spaces.

› Never help yourself to items from co-workers’ desks or any company property. That includes sending a personal package by using the company’s Fed Ex or UPS account.

› Never drink too much at a company event.

› Acknowledge the invitation promptly, even if no RSVP is requested. If you don’t, it appears you may be waiting for a better offer.

› Don’t bring an unexpected guest with you.

the stated time is typically considered “on time.”

› If you’re running especially late, call the host and let them know.

› Always bring a gift if the party or event is honoring a specific person (birthday, graduation, shower, bar/bat

Be a team player. Go along with the host’s timeline even if it means postponing that laugh-out-loud story you were just about to tell.

›

FACEBOOK COURTESIES

Ahh, social media... the delight of sharing photos and information that can make your day... or ruin someone else’s. Not much is left private any more, but you can and should avoid stepping on the toes of others. It will spare feelings and might even save your job.

› Consider those updates before posting. Do your friends really want to hear what you had for lunch? Do they care that you went to the gym… again?

› Feel free to ignore friend requests from strangers or people you know but don’t want to “friend.”

› Never post a photo of someone else’s children without permission.

› Untag yourself from a photo if you feel uncomfortable. Just remember that you can’t be “retagged” once a tag is removed.

› Respect Facebook Chat. Friends may not be able to respond when

WEDDING FAUX PAS

Some people take having a good time too far. According to one California-based event planning company, a common problem is guests engaging in sexual relations at the wedding/reception. While we’re all for having fun, does anyone really need to be informed that such activities are way out of line at someone else’s nuptials? Now that we have that covered, what else should a good guest watch out for?

› Don’t bring a guest unless your invitation allows.

› Respect the “no children at ceremony” request.

› Put away your cell phone and electronic devices. Watching a sporting event or calling a friend because you’re bored is simply bad manners, and trying to take photos on your phone during the ceremony might ruin the professional photos the couple has already planned for if you get in the way of a good shot.

› Don’t drink to the point of inebriation.

› Don’t “friend request” your employer.

› Don’t tag co-workers’ personal photos without their permission, even if you’re friends outside the office.

› If asked to give a toast, keep it short (two to three Sources:

Offer to lend a hand. Your host may or may not take you up on it, but it’s always polite to offer to help in some way.

› Don’t go to extremes—when eating, talking and especially when indulging in alcoholic beverages. You don’t want to be the one they all talk about later.

› Thank your host or hostess when leaving and follow up with a phone call the day after. A written thank you note is the way to go for formal events or any party in which you were the guest of honor.

OFMC Dermatology & Aesthetic Center

Deb Scott, LPN, LE

Dermatological

Nurse

- Esthetician

Over 25 years of experience

MENU OF SERVICES:

Clinical Acne Treatments

HydraFacials (for ALL skin types)

Oxygen Infusion Facial

European Facials/Microdermabrasion

Botox® (Allergan Cosmetic Grade)

Facial Fillers: Restylane® and Perlane®

IPL Photorejuvenation Packages

Hand Rejuvenation

Laser Skin & Wrinkle Reduction Treatments

Skin Tag Removal

Pharmaceutical Grade Skin Care Line

Free Open House

Date: ursday, April 9th

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Come meet our skin care experts and tour our o ce while enjoying refreshments!

If problem water is leaving a bad smell around your house, don’t let it linger. Culligan’s complete lineup of problem water solutions will filter it away. Remember, Culligan has a water treatment application for most types of problem water. So don’t mask problem water. Culligan will recommend the equipment that’s right for you, your water and

You will also enjoy 20% OFF all skin care packages and products purchased the night of the event!

Enter to WIN 1 of 4 FREE door prizes!

2 skin care gift bags valued over $100 each

better water. pure and simple.®

1 $150 Aesthetics & Laser Gift Certificate

1 HydraFacial treatment

Please RSVP by Monday, April 6th.

Calendar of Events

Event Speakers begin at 3p-4p with a delicious complimentary dinner to follow! Space is limited, so please RSVP by calling Desiree at (352) 615-3343.

Tuesday, Apr. 12 Speaker

Dr. Derek Farr –Board Certified

Orthopedic Surgeon

Specialties: Shoulder-Knee-Hip Replacement/Reverse Shoulder & Mobile Bearing Hip Replacement

Tuesday, May 3 Speaker

Dr. Nirav Gupta (Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon) Hand, Wrist, Elbow and Forearm Specialties

The Wonders Of Rice Water

As a skin toner, simply apply a small amount to your face and massage it into your skin for about a minute. For soft, smooth hair, just pour it on your scalp, let it soak for 20 minutes and shampoo afterward. To make the cleanser, first, rinse 1/2 to 1 cup of rice in water to remove any dirt. Then, place the rice in a bowl, cover with water and let sit for 15 minutes. Finally, drain the rice, saving the leftover water in a bowl, and then transfer water to airtight container, such as a mason jar. Your rice water should be kept in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for up to five days.

Popular in Asian cultures, rice water is used as an inexpensive way to improve skin and hair health—and it’s simple to make and easy to incorporate into your beauty routine.

Going Green

A combination of leafy greens like spinach or kale, fruit and a liquid base, green smoothies are all the rage for their abundance of vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and minerals.

The popular drinks also contain phytonutrients, which support our immune system and improve health and longevity. They may even help guard against certain diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

So to get you started down the path to green goodness, we’ve come up with a few must-knows and a recipe to help you on your way.

Juicing Vs. Blending

So why not just eat the fruit and veggies to reap the benefits?

Turns out that simply chewing greens can’t release all the nutrition that they offer. In order to milk the veggies, as well as the fruit, of their worth, they should be blended well. By doing this, the majority of the cells in the greens and fruits burst, enabling our bodies to absorb those healthful nutrients.

If you’re wondering about the differences in juicing and blending, here’s a little info: Juicing extracts water and nutrients from veggies leaving the indigestible fiber, while smoothies use the entire fruit or vegetable, and blending breaks the fiber apart, which can make it easier to digest. Juicing is great if you have a sensitive digestive system or have trouble processing fiber. With juicing, the nutrients are absorbed into your blood stream quickly due to the lack of fiber, so if you’re juicing only fruit, this can lead to a rapid spike in blood sugar—so beware! Smoothies tend to be more filling because the fiber stays intact and are usually easier to make.

Get Started

Let’s just assume we’re making smoothies for the sake of this article. (If you’re juicing, you’d need a juicer rather than a blender.) The only equipment required to make a smoothie is a blender (and maybe an unbiased mind if eating vegetables isn’t your favorite thing). Our advice is to do some research online to find the blender that best meets your needs and budget.

Although many people are hesitant to try a green smoothie due to the commonly disliked leafy greens that give them their color, keep in mind that the ratio of fruits to veggies is 60:40. And guess what? The fruit wins. The fruit dominates the flavor, so the vegetables will not have their usual strong taste. At the same time, the greens balance the sweetness of the fruit, and add a slight tang to the flavor.

So here’s a green smoothie to get you started, courtesy of Chef Michael Callahan of chefcallahan.com.

Nutri-Bomb Green Smoothie

› Makes 4 servings

3 ounces kale

2 ounces spinach

1 apple, cored

2 bananas

1⁄2 ounce fresh gingerroot, grated

2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

2 garlic cloves

1⁄2 ounce fresh turmeric, grated

2 tbsp flax seeds, ground

1 tbsp hemp seeds

1 tbsp chia seeds

2 tbsp tomato paste

32 ounces water (or enough to fill blender to 64oz)

Combine all ingredients in a large blender, and process until smooth. › Serve immediately. ›

Note: Bananas and apples may be frozen in advance. Ice may be substituted for a portion of the water.

Sources: simplegreensmoothies.com, rawblend.com, fi tlife.tv, dailyburn.com, foodmatters.tv, food.com

Take Your Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice known for its earthy flavor and bright yellow color. The compound curcumin is responsible for that sunny hue, but it’s known for having numerous medicinal properties, too.

A Spoonful Here And There

If you’ve never cooked with this spice before, here are some quick tips on where it tastes best:

› Add it to scrambled eggs or frittatas. The flavor (and color) won’t be overwhelming.

› Spice up your rice. Turmeric adds color and flavor to boring white rice, pilafs or quinoa.

› Toss it with greens, sprinkle onto kale chips or use it to season roasted vegetables.

› Spoon some into chicken or vegetable soup.

› If you don’t like the flavor of turmeric, blend it into a smoothie. If you love it, make a tea by simmering milk, honey and turmeric together on the stovetop.

Dealing with arthritis or joint pain from inflammation? Turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory aid in China and India for centuries. One study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine even found turmeric extract to be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Although there’s no evidence eating turmeric is effective against cancer, in a lab setting, curcumin has been proven to interfere with cancer cell growth, shrink tumors and even boost the effects of chemotherapy in animals.

A 2012 study found curcumin supplements delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes in patients who were considered prediabetic. Researchers chalked it up to the compound’s antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.

Those same properties could explain why, in another study, curcumin was found to reduce the chance of heart attack among bypass patients by up to 65 percent.

Aromatic turmerone is another powerful little compound in turmeric and has been shown to promote repair in stem cells in the brain. The study was performed on rats, but the stem cells in question are a type found in adult human brains and are the same type affected by stroke and Alzheimer’s.

REMEMBER, if you’ll only be eating turmeric in small amounts, stir in some black pepper. Curcumin does not easily absorb into the blood system, but the pepper’s piperine compound will increase its absorption significantly. Mix 1/4 cup turmeric with 1/2 teaspoon pepper in advance, and store in a jar to make it easy. You can also purchase curcumin supplements online, but consult your doctor before adding them to your regimen.

Experts always say your plate should be covered in colorful foods to ensure a balanced meal. Turns out, adding some extra yellow can help your body immensely.

Brush Musts

Brush Up Dry brush your way to softer skin and a healthier you.

Although dry brushing is typically offered as a detoxing spa treatment, you can do it yourself and enjoy the same results. Here’s how it works and

Body Benefits

Your skin’s cells start to stick together in your 30s, giving off a lackluster appearance according to Dr. Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery. Dry brushing can brighten your skin’s appearance by removing dead skin cells. But that’s not all. Dry brushing also encourages healthy circulation and boosts the lymphatic system’s function to rid the body of toxins. All the extra blood flow gives you a shot of energy, too.

“The light pressure against your skin and the direction in which you brush helps move lymph fluid into the lymph nodes so this waste can then be eliminated,” says Robin Jones, spa director at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas.

Dry brushing may also help those with keratosis pilaris—a skin condition that causes small bumps to appear on the backs of arms and legs. Brushing away dead skin cells helps smooth the skin’s feel and appearance. But, as with any new skincare practice, talk to your dermatologist first.

Brushing Basics

The trick is to brush lightly. It should feel soft and relaxing, and you should never see any marks on your skin. Brush in the morning to take advantage of its energy boost. Here’s how it’s done:

dry brush to wash away the dead skin

lotion afterward.

1. Work from your feet up, brushing in long strokes toward your chest—that’s where your lymphatic system drains.

2. Brush in a counter-clockwise motion on your stomach, and don’t forget your back.

3. For your arms, start at your hands and brush upward.

4. If you choose to dry brush your face, do it only once a week in lieu of other exfoliators.

Purchase a dry brush with medium-soft bristles, and consider buying a separate brush made specifically for your face. From long-handled brushes to bath mitt ones, there’s a brush for everyone. You can find them on amazon.com and at most health stores.

Dr. Ashley Cauthen and Melissa Singleton,

Get Pumped

The secret to fat-burning success

Trying to burn fat and tone up? Cardiovascular exercise is often thought to be the fat-burning king, but strength training actually beats cardio in its ability to tone problem areas, burn fat and build muscle. Cardio still wins in the heart health category, so make sure you do both types of exercise. But if you only have time for one, pick up the weights. Here's why:

BUILD MUSCLE. Although the repetitive and highimpact movements of cardio can wear away at your joints and muscles, strength training specifically builds up your muscles, with little impact on your joints.

INCREASE BONE DENSITY. Building muscle increases the load on your bones, and your body responds by producing a new layer of bone tissue for reinforcement. As you continue your strength training, your bones will continue to get stronger.

BURN CALORIES ON THE COUCH.

According to bornfitness.com, 1 pound of muscle burns 37.5 calories per day at rest while 1 pound of fat burns—wait for it—two calories. Lift weights regularly and you’ll burn more calories at rest. Netflix, anyone? You’ll still be torching those calories.

MAINTAIN MOBILITY. You’ll strengthen not only your muscles and

bones but the tendons that connect your muscles to your bones. All these parts work together to help you move, and the stronger they are, the more mobile you’ll be over the long haul.

GET FASTER, LASTING RESULTS . If you’re a cardio junkie, you know that it takes a long time to see results, and that’s because cardio doesn’t build muscle like strength training does. Because strength training burns calories more efficiently, you’ll not only see improvement faster, but it’ll be more permanent, too.

INCLUDE CARDIO. Yes, you can strength train and do cardio at the same time. Lift

moderate to heavy weights with short rest periods in between. The heavier weight and faster pace will get your heart pumping and give you those hearthealthy benefits.

RESHAPE YOUR BODY. Cardio can help you lose weight, but it will burn muscle along with fat to get you there. With strength training and the help of a healthy diet, you can reshape your body by building up your muscles and burning

When you do cardio… Adam Bornstein of bornfitness.com suggests ending a strength training workout with a long, slow cardio session to help your muscles recover.

The Cuteness Factor

Many of us have a soft spot for cute animals— time spent on viral YouTube videos is proof. But did you know that attraction is actually instinctual?

A recent study shows that humans are attracted to anything with features similar to those of a baby. Ever seen a baby gorilla? Oh my goodness. And many scientists believe we’ve developed this attraction in order to insure the survival of our young. Additional studies have found that seeing something cute actually goes right to the pleasure centers of our brain, similar to eating sugar or having sex, and a study out of Japan also found that participants performed better on high-concentration activities when they viewed images of cute animals. So, if you find yourself binging on cute kitten videos, just know it’s a part of human nature—and it’s good for you, too.

Health Starts at Home

Did you wake up with the sniffles again this morning?

If it’s not a cold or seasonal allergies, maybe it’s time to look around. Learn more about how your home could be making you sick—and some simple solutions to health-ify your habitat.

VACUUM FILTERS: Some of the following advice won’t work unless your vacuum has a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. Other machines will spew allergen-inducing particles back into the air, defeating the purpose of cleaning in the first place. This is especially important if you use a cleaning service—if they’re not using a HEPA filter vac, you’re getting the particles of every other house they clean brought into yours.

FREQUENTLY USED FURNITURE: Dust mites are the worst kind of roommates, thriving on the warmth of human bodies and invading favorite recliners and bedrooms in every home. If you’re prone to allergies, vacuum furniture and wash bedding weekly. Purchase special covers for mattresses and pillows to keep dust mites out for good. (Two reputable sites are Mission Allergy and National Allergy Supply.)

HVAC HAVOC: HVAC is the ideal environment for mold and bacteria because the ducts often condensate during air conditioning. Although there’s no scientific evidence it works, most people who have their air ducts professionally cleaned about every two years report feeling in better health afterward.

THE REFRIGERATOR: Frost-free refrigerators sport a coil to melt frost about every four hours, and a tray underneath the fridge catches the water, where it should evaporate. But it also catches spills from the fridge and can get dusty, creating a mold haven. Check the manufacturer’s guide to see if there is a tray and learn the best way to clean your machine.

LEAKS: People with asthma or allergy-induced breathing problems may be sensitive to any mold in the house. Besides the HVAC, check under sinks and around plumbing, windows and door frames for any leaks that could lead to mold growth. Missing caulk or grout in the bathroom will allow water to seep behind tile, which is unhealthy and expensive to repair. Contact a plumber, roofer or contractor to fix it promptly if

RADON: This invisible, odorless, radioactive gas comes from decaying rocks, soil and water, and sneaks into homes through the soil beneath the house (and some say granite countertops emit it, too). It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and one in 15 homes has radon levels that should be lower. Purchase a radon test kit at the hardware store, or hire a contractor certified in radon mitigation to test for you.

Clean Sweep

MATTRESS MEET BAKING SODA. Dead skin, sweat, stains, oh my! Unfortunately, tossing a mattress into a washer anytime we feel it deserves a washing is impossible. However, buying a new mattress just because of a few little stains also seems a bit excessive. A mixture of lemon juice and salt has been known to remove stains completely in less than 60 minutes, and you can also sprinkle baking soda over the surface to absorb oils and keep the bed smelling fresh. Let it sit for an hour or so; then vacuum it up.

WINDOWS MEET NEWSPAPER. For smudge-free, streakfree mirrors and windows, grab the newspaper. Simply spray your windows down with your favorite glass cleaner or vinegar (make and store your own vinegar cleaner with 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 cups water). Spray the cleaner, and then use wadded up paper to clean in a circular motion first, then vertical, then horizontal until the liquid has disappeared to leave windows free of streaks.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES MEET FURNITURE POLISH. Spray furniture polish on any stainless steel appliance to make it have that shiny, new look again. Just be sure to

keep it off the floor—it’s super slippery!

SCUFF MARKS MEET WD-40. You could pay for new hardwood floors, or you could just put down some WD-40. The cleaning agents in this chemical can loosen up the particles of scuff marks and leave your floor much cleaner.

MICROWAVE MEET WATER. If your microwave is in use, there are probably food particles splattered everywhere. Instead of scrubbing for an hour, place a bowl of water inside and set the microwave for three minutes. Let the steam loosen up the grime. Afterward, a good wiping is all you will need.

OVEN MEET VANILLA EXTRACT. Cover up the smell of the awful dinner you attempted to make with two cap-fulls of vanilla extract in a coffee cup, and then place it in the oven at 300°F for one hour. In 20 minutes, your house will smell like you spent all day baking.

Because hiring a maid is just not possible for most of us, here are a few cleaning hacks guaranteed to make your life a bit easier and your home a bit cleaner.

The Power Of Pollen

A pollinator garden is designed to lure natural pollinators such as bees and butterflies to your garden for the purpose of moving pollen from flower to flower.

Eighty percent of pollinators rely on such gardens for survival, and worldwide approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices and medicines must be pollinated by animals, according to pollinator.org. In fact, one of every three bites of food we eat is made possible by a pollinator. And, unfortunately, recent evidence has shown that pollinating animals have suffered from loss of habitat, with the United States losing over 50 percent of its honeybee colonies in the past 10 years.

So when you think about gardening, remember that it can be more than a fun hobby to keep stress away. Even one garden is beneficial in the fight to protect pollinators. Here’s how you can help.

Getting Started

When creating your pollinator garden, choose plants that have a long blooming period from early spring to late fall. It’s also important to use plants that are native to our region. These plants have adapted to the local climate, soil and pollinators and tend to fare well. Planting in large clumps helps the garden’s probability of blossoming, so avoid placing plants in singular lines. Don’t forget to include a few night-blooming flowers to support nocturnal pollinators, such as moths and bats. Installing bat houses gives bats somewhere to hide out during the day. Creating a damp salt lick area provides a broad range of micronutrients for butterflies and bees to consume. And get creative! A bird bath, sprinkled with a bit of sea salt, works just as well as an irrigation line. Butterflies are attracted to overripe fruits, and by placing those types of items in a container, the butterflies will have a resource other than nectar and saltwater. You could also choose plants that hummingbirds favor, including bottlebrush, firebush, yellow trumpetbush, honeysuckle and bergamot.

In addition to a food source, bees also require nesting sites to breed and pollinate. To create a natural place for native bees to reside in, leave a dead tree in the garden or at least spare a few dead limbs.

DON’T MAKE THESE MISTAKES…

Avoid hybrid plants when planning your pollinator garden. They aren’t beneficial and often lack the necessary pollen and nectar the critters are searching for.

Pesticides should be eliminated as often as possible, as they’re dangerous for the pollinating insects. If pests become an unmanageable problem, though, choose the least toxic pesticide available.

Don’t forget to include a few night-blooming flowers to support nocturnal pollinators such as moths and bats. Installing bat houses gives bats somewhere to hide out during the day.

NewRoof! PRICE REDUCTION Motivated Seller

★GREAT FAMILY HOME★

• 1,771 sq ft.

• 3 bedrooms

2 full baths (baths recently remodeled)

• Sunroom

• Detached garage w/ 6 parking spaces

• 6-ft-high wooden privacy fence

• ¾ acre in town

• Original wood burning fireplace

• Nice

landscaping

• New roof

• Real wood floors

$pring ¢leaning

Is

Amazon, eBay and Craigslist make selling a hassle with individual auctions and meetups, but there are other sites that will streamline selling your used items. So, what’s in your junk pile?

Women’s Clothing

Plato’s Closet is a great standby for selling gently used clothes, but what if yours are worth more than $6 or $8 an item?

Try thredUP, an online consignment store for higher-end brands

(think Banana Republic and Lucky Jeans). Go to thredup.com and order a cleanout bag, stuff it with your clutter clothes, ship with the included label and watch them sell.

If you can’t get cash for some of your more worn clothes, drop them off at your local H&M. They accept used clothes to recycle into new textiles as part of their sustainability initiative. Donators get a 15 percent off coupon to the store (which is sort of like money, no?).

Electronics

The old phone collecting dust in your desk drawer is a wad of money in disguise. Sell it to gazelle.com, nextworth.com or yourenew.com. (We were quoted $95, $110 and $120 respectively for a 16GB iPhone 5S.) They buy laptops, tablets, game systems and more, too. Whatever you do, don’t throw old electronics away. The environment and your wallet will thank you.

Books, CDs and DVDs

Gently used books are welcomed at powells.com, where sellers enter the ISBN numbers of the books they wish to sell for an instant quote. If you like the number you see, Powell’s will cover the shipping cost to send them in. You can get cash or store credit. secondspin.com will buy your CDs and DVDs for anywhere from 10 cents to $7 or $8 dollars, and they reimburse if you ship through USPS.

Kids’ Clothing

Totspot is a new app for parents to sell used children’s and infants’ clothing to other families. Just snap a photo and post. If you’d rather someone else do the work, use the Totspot Concierge service. Order a cleanout bag and send your items to another mom and split the profits. It’s more cash than you’d get stuffing them in a bottom drawer, minimal effort required.

Vintage Items

Redecorating this year? Etsy can help. This isn’t eBay—if it’s not handmade, the items you’re selling have to be considered vintage, which is 20 years or older. But if they meet that criterion, etsy.com is going to give you the best chance at selling older items. Their market is crafty folks who are very into rustic, refurbished looks.

one of your upcoming weekends dedicated to a good spring cleaning? At the end of the spree, you may find yourself with piles of household items that need to go.