Dry January

A Toast to Dry January

If you’re feeling the holiday hangover, this one’s for you.

Start the new year on a healthy note by joining the millions who say adieu to alcohol during Dry January. What began as an experiment over a decade ago has reached a rather popular, trend-setting approach to imbibing without the headache of alcohol.

The commitment, you’ll find, falls into the category of a creative experiment rather than a deprivation. The creativity of those behind the bar, coupled with the accelerating investment in alcohol-free spirits, beers, and other forms of “booze,” have introduced not simply an absence from the social enjoyment of a drink but, instead, a substitution. You can still achieve a frothy espresso martini (see the recipe on the next page) with a kick of caffeine and sweet finish; you can still buy a six-pack of hoppy brews without the technical booze; and you can still order a clever, punny drink title on the alcohol-free section of bar menus around the city without a lifted brow.

Here are some reasons to reinforce making the most of Dry January—without missing out.

Prioritize your health

Believe it or not, cutting out alcohol for just one month can make a noticeable difference in your physical and mental health. According to studies, regular drinkers who abstained from alcohol for 30 days slept better, had more energy, and even lost weight.

Quench your thirst with mocktails

Dry January is the perfect time to explore nonalcoholic beverages. This month in Memphis, sixteen spots are participating in the annual Mocktail Championsip, produced by Edible Memphis and Spirited AF. Make a date and try a few!

Instantly boost your mood

Alcohol is a depressant, so if you’re looking to improve your mood, drinking is not going to do it. Without the spike of alcohol, your moods stabilize, and your mindset is more optimistic, offering you more clarity and motivation for longer-term resolutions.

Redefine happy hour

If you’re used to having a glass of wine every night at five o’clock, replace the ritual with something new and inspiring—whether a workout or meditation or a new project or learning how to cook. If you’re longing for a pour, opt for an AF (alcohol-free) rendition.

The AF Margarita

• 1.5 ounces Seedlip Grove 42 • 1/2 ounce Cane & Herb jalapeño simple syrup • Juice of 1/2 lime, plus lime wedge to garnish • Flaky sea salt or margarita salt

Run your lime around the rim of your glass, then roll the glass in salt. Add ingredients with ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain over fresh ice in prepared glass. Garnish with lime. Serves 1.

The AF Espresso Martini

• 2 ounces Lyre’s Coffee Originale • 2 ounces cold brew or chilled brewed coffee

• 1/2 ounce vanilla bean simple syrup • Coffee beans, to garnish

To prepare vanilla simple syrup: Simmer equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan until boiling. Slice one vanilla pod lengthwise and scoop vanilla bean paste into simmering syrup. Then, add the pod to the saucepan. Turn heat down to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a glass container. Store in refrigerator for up to one week. Serves 1.

The Surprising Link Between the Flu Vaccine, Alzheimer’s, and Other Diseases

It’s an illness that can strike you or someone you love without warning. Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most feared brain diseases because it is incurable and the exact cause is unknown.

Now, a surprising recent study published by UTHealth Houston shows the flu vaccine may be associated with a potential 40% decrease in the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s in people over the age of 65, especially those who consistently receive the dose year after year. Other studies suggest the flu vaccine may lessen the severity of contracting Covid, compared to those who don’t get the vaccine.

That study’s results have come just as this year’s severe strain of flu continues to threaten seniors, children and other high-risk groups. As hospitalization rates break records this year in affected regions, including Tennessee, seniors are at a higher risk of serious complications from the flu, including pneumonia and other respiratory risks.

A further reason for seniors to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible is that within the first two weeks after contracting the flu, seniors are at a three to five times higher risk of heart attack and two to three times higher risk for strokes.1

Medical science continues to uncover additional reasons to get the flu vaccine, notes Dr. Aamina Shahid, M.D., Center Medical Director for Dedicated Senior Medical Center. Dedicated provides affordable VIP care that delivers better health for older Americans in Tennessee, as well as Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. Dr. Shahid shares how Dedicated, owned and operated by the familyrun, faith-driven ChenMed company, stays focused on upgrading senior care for the long haul.

“The flu is an ever-changing virus that gets stronger every year and the vaccine is a tried and true way to keep safe and avoid serious complications, such as pneumonia,” she explains.

According to reports from the CDC,2 influenza activity is high and continues to increase in all regions across the country, including Tennessee. In the past few weeks, as flu-induced upper respiratory infections became more widespread, there were reports of shortages of antibiotics used to treat respiratory infections, including Amoxicillin and Tamiflu. To help protect seniors against the flu, Dr. Shahid also recommends Vitamin C and zinc supplements, an antioxidant-rich diet full of blueberries and raspberries, and frequent checkups.

Having joined Dedicated in 2020, Dr. Shahid is a wife and mother of two who became inspired by her family’s own experience with transformative healthcare and primary physician-led practices. Her grandfather suffered from a massive stroke that shook the whole family.

“Our physician guided us through understanding the progression of the condition and helped us make a lot of important decisions,” said Dr. Shahid. “If we did not have that, this could have easily been a very traumatic and painful experience.”

Dr. Shahid now finds joy in helping patients maintain and improve their health to live fuller, happier lives.

Dedicated doctors provide highly personalized primary care for the neediest populations and have an impressive track record of detecting and managing high-risk diseases. Unlike many medical practices where clinicians are stretched thin trying to serve up to 3,000 patients per doctor, Dedicated limits the number of patients for each doctor to about 400. This means Dedicated doctors can see their patients more frequently, usually at least once every month. Plus, Dedicated physicians give patients their cell phone numbers and encourage patients to text or call 24/7, if they need medical assistance. Dedicated also welcomes same-day and walk-in appointments whenever patients need medical attention.

This is what doctors call, “The Dedicated Difference,” and it allows doctors to get to know their patients, building greater trust and stronger relationships between the two. These are just some factors why Dedicated patients are as much as 50% less likely3 to need hospitalizations than seniors at other medical practices.

“We see an average patient lifespan increase by five-to-seven years just with frequent checkpoints,” explained Dr. Shahid.

The offices’ use of advanced technologies to provide personalized care and improve health span has earned the concierge-style service many accolades, including Fortune’s 2020 “Change the World” honorarium status.

“At Dedicated, treating seniors is not just about medicine, but the patient as a whole—their emotional and social needs— so when they come to the center they really feel as if they are family and they look forward to it,” says Dr. Shahid.

To schedule a new patient appointment, seek immediate care, or receive your flu vaccine or anti-flu medication, call Dedicated’s front desk at 901.730.4900, or book online through DedicatedToMemphis.com.

As Dr. Shahid proudly states, “We never turn away any patient in need.”