LiveSmart

fall

2012

| issue no.

3

SIXTH ANNUAL WIENER FEST Boot Camp for pooches kicks off activities

HIT THE TRAILS

Bryan-College Station and surrounding areas provide places for outdoor exercise and fun activities

SAVVY SHOPPER’S GUIDE TO ECO LIVING

as store shelves fill up with natural and eco-friendly products, look at the label to make sure you’re getting what you pay for

+ MOntEl

SMART HAIR COLOR CHOICES

WilliaMs

Talk show icon Montel Williams reveals why multiple sclerosis won’t slow him down and why eating a restricted diet is crucial to his health

ECO CAFÉ EAT EARLY AND EAT OFTEN WHAT MAKES A WOMAN WELL DRESSED?

6 12 16 24 14 28

Tips for training & running a race

Several races are coming up locally and statewide

Going All Natural

More people consuming locally-grown produce

Children not getting their zzzz's

Are often undiagnosed with sleep disorders

WILLIAMS

Talk show icon Montel Williams reveals why multiple sclerosis won’t slow him down and why eating a restricted diet is crucial to his health

F E AT UR E

Montel

growing up green

Parents can help reduce evironmental impact

Dr. sanjay gupta

CNN’s medical expert talks about the importance of avoiding sugar and why eating healthier, toxin-free food is vital to good health

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CELEBRITY style

COlOr ChOiCEs

Mindy slEdGE REDKEN MASTER SPECIALIST

ECO CafÉ

smart hair

You are probably familiar with the saying, “girls just want to have fun”.

If you’re like most of us, you know that before the fun begins, numerous outfits will be put to the “mirror test”, runway-ready makeup applied, and then of course there is the hair... a must-have to any great night out is great hair! Whether you are a blonde, brunette or redhead, your hair is really your best accessory. It’s uniquely yours to help you make a statement subtle, bold or whatever you choose.

You choose your clothes to match your personality, so why not do the same with your hair? Let the color and style you choose talk about you— without having to say a word!

Choose a color that enhances your haircut. Get the best total look by having a consultation with your colorist and stylist at the same time.

Pick a color that best complements your skin tone to help you look and feel healthier and happier. Create texture with the right haircolor. Smart color placement can help hair look thicker and more voluminous—ideal for fine hair.

Follow seasonal haircolor trends to look trendy and fashionable. a Master stylist can offer you the latest color combinations inspired by runway looks.

Use haircolor to help you look younger—not only by covering gray, but also through modern color techniques that your Master stylist offers.

Even if you don’t want to change your color, ask your Redken stylist for a clear glaze for incredibly shiny results. It allows you to keep your color yet get more shine and excellent conditioning.

Make sure you get a haircolor regimen that is convenient for you. Talk to your Master stylist about how often you are comfortable with coming back to the salon and she can choose the best option for your needs.

Haircolor can bring on a big or small change, so choose the option that is right for you. From demi-permanent to permanent, the range of options helps you get exactly what you want.

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• Hair is infused with long-lasting color that’s radiant and multi-dimensional—never dull or flat.

You don’t need to make a drastic change—even a subtle color enhancement can make a big difference in your look.

Your Master stylist is focused on the latest trends and has the skill and creativity to customize the best look for you.

Using professional products in a salon setting gives you access to the newest techniques and advances in color science. are you ready to get started with haircolor?

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livesmart

the eagle • theeagle.com

Coffee is essential to most people's daily routines, but for an eco-friendly caffeine boost, think twice about what you drink.

sinGlE-sErVE and sUstainaBility

Single-serve coffee systems are gaining popularity, but each carries a different environmental impact. Of the three R’s, reuse is not an option, but recycling can be if you know how to do it. Here's LID a look at the recyclability of single-use coffee pods, cups or CUP bags from these popular coffee OTHER systems.

kEUriG

Aluminum, recyclable Plastic, not recyclable Keurig offers the My K-Cup assembly, a reusable, washable device that can hold any ground coffee

nEsprEssO

Both aluminum, recyclable through company (not municipal pick-up)

tassiMO

Both plastic, recyclable in some areas (after cutting open and flushing out waste)

sEnsEO

Filter bag compostable

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made

of

paper,

The pods are not recyclable through traditional means, but the company partners with TerraCycle to collect used Flavia Fresh Packs and upcycle them into consumer goods.

Eat Early & Eat Often H

By Bev Bennett CTW FEATURES

Lose weight by eating more frequently? Yes, here’s how... ow often do you snack?

Once a day? Twice?

At least twice a day is the magic number for nearly half the population. That’s according to a recent article in Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Chicago.

The figure is double the 2010 rates, according to the data.

Although snacking has a bad reputation, it can add valuable nutrients to your day, improving your health and wellbeing.

In fact, to prevent a mid-afternoon crash, having smaller, more frequent food breaks is preferable to eating three large meals a day, according to Virginia Turner, registered dietitian, clinical nutrition manager, The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville.

Of course, your non-meal eating habits

could pile on calories, fat and sodium, if your snacks consist of chips, candy and cookies.

The foods you choose and how much you eat make all the difference, say health professionals.

To get the most nutritional benefits from snacks, take a look at your eating habits and see if there are any shortfalls.

You can make up for these in snacks, says Mary Ellen Camire, IFT spokesperson, professor of food science and nutrition, University of Maine, Orono.

She asks, “What do I have trouble getting into my diet normally? Is it whole grains, more fruit, more fiber?”

For example, dairy intake is a concern, so Camire brings yogurt for a morning snack and string cheese for the afternoon at work.

Nutritious snacks can also help you overcome mid-day slumps. Include

protein foods, which have a stabilizing effect on blood sugar.

Options include yogurt, string cheese or small amounts of nuts, according to Turner, who advises keeping snacks to 200 calories or less.

If you prefer the convenience of store-bought snacks, the health experts recommend granola bars that aren’t chocolate-coated, dried fruits that aren’t heavily sweetened or hummus with precut vegetables.

If you prefer to make your own, the Healthy Living Kitchen at The University of Tennessee Medical Center offers a great recipe for trail mix: http:// www.utmedicalcenter.org/recipes/162/ trail-mix/ Measure the mix into individual portions in small sandwich bags for work, Turner says.

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fall

2012

issue no.

3

|5

tips

for training and running a race S

everal races are coming up locally and statewide, and for those who are considering whether to enter one, it’s not too late to start training.

Cliff Latham, founder and director of the College Station Running Club, said it takes three months to train for a 5K (3.1 miles), and although it might seem intimidating at first, just about anyone – from kids to seniors -- can train to run a 5K race.

“A 5K is a great starting race for anyone,” Latham said. “If you can walk three miles, you can do it.”

After reaching a 5K milestone, a person ideally should train for six months for a half marathon (13.1 miles) or a marathon (26.2 miles).

Dr. J. Boone Barrow recently spoke at a free seminar at Scott and White Hospital, “So You Want to Run A Marathon,” and said marathon participation is growing rapidly in the Bryan-

College Station area, and half marathon participating is growing even faster.

Barrow, who specializes in family and sports medicine, encouraged people to remember why they signed up for a race so they don’t quit, whether it’s because running lowers cholesterol and improves heart health, because it helps with weight loss or just because they’ll get bragging rights. getting Started and getting Better There are several training programs for races available online, and all of them will work for beginners, he said. But after running a few months, Latham suggested joining a running club or seeking the advice of a coach to individualize their training program.

Latham graduated in 1990 from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in exercise physiology, and in 1994 he earned a master’s in exercise physiology and sports nutrition

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livesmart

the eagle • theeagle.com

By SHAUnA LeWIS The eagle

from Indiana University. Latham is also certified with the American College of Sports Medicine as an exercise specialist.

The key to becoming a faster runner is interval training, he said. A person who always practices running long distances at a slow pace will be good at running long distances slowly, but a runner who wants to get faster needs to practice shorter, fast runs, he said.

“You’re only good at what you do in practice,” Latham said.

Latham said some people are content with running slow and ask him why they would want to run faster, but running faster is good because people feel better when they’re more fit.

Barrow, a marathon runner, also said that adding distance each time a person practices running can wear out feet and legs, which is another reason to run shorter distances during the week and do a longer run toward the end of the week, when people tend to have more time.

Running is a great exercise, Barrow said, but uses the same muscles. Runners should cross train -- with sports such as basketball, yoga, bicycling, tennis or aerobics – to use different muscles and prevent overuse of muscles used for running.

Runners usually don’t run longer than 20 to 22 miles before a marathon, Barrow said, adding that adrenaline usually pushes them the extra few miles on a marathon race day.

Staying healthy and how to run If a runner becomes injured, that person needs to take a day off or ride a bicycle instead

of running, Latham said. He said a key to recovering is R.I.C.E.: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

“Sixty percent of runners will get injured because we do too much, too fast, too hard,” Latham said. “That’s a frustrating number.”

He said runners don’t often need to change their running form; their body automatically changes to run the way it naturally should whether on grass, concrete or another type of surface.

Runners can’t run too many races a year if they don’t become injured and if they eat enough and get enough sleep, he said, adding that professionals typically run three or four marathons a year.

During hot Texas weather, Latham said people running outside should do so early in the morning or at night. He discouraged running during the day in high temperatures, and said runners get no additional benefit from doing so. Runners actually burn more calories when it’s cold than when it’s hot, he said.

Staying motivated To stay motivated and prevent boredom, Latham suggested running with a group that will hold each other accountable.

Those training for longer races should run several 5K races during the year, he said.

That way, they’ll say, “Gosh, I can do better,” and that will motivate them to continue to improve and meet goals, he said.

Runners should also change up their route often to keep from getting bored. Lick Creek Park in College Station and Lake Bryan have several trails.

Nutrition To keep hydrated, Latham said runners should loop by a water fountain or other water source two or three times during a run.

Latham said he prefers not to have to carry water because it’s easier to run with a lighter load. But those who don’t mind can also choose to carry a small water bottle in their hand, wear a belt that holds water bottles or use a hydration backpack.

Barrow said the average person sweats 27 to 47 ounces per hour of hard running. He said drinking water is fine for 30 minutes or less of running, but after that electrolytes need to be added. Most sports drinks are fine, he said.

The mantra for runners used to be drink lots of water, he said, but a recent problem, hyponatremia, has cropped up from over hydrating and diluting the body’s electrolytes.

Hyponatremia is a metabolic condition in which there is not enough sodium (salt) in the body fluids outside the cells. Sodium is found mostly in the body fluids outside the cells, and is needed for maintaining blood pressure and for nerves and muscles to work properly.

When the amount of sodium in fluids outside cells drops, water moves into the cells to balance the levels, according to PubMed Health. This causes the cells to swell with too much water. Although most cells can handle this swelling, brain cells cannot, according to PubMed Health, because the skull bones confine them. Brain swelling causes most of the symptoms of hyponatremia.

After running more than 60 minutes, a runner should eat something, Barrow said. He suggested trying different things that are easy to eat on a run, such as sports beans, gels or bars made with endurance sports in mind.

Barrow also suggested eating a fairly normal diet two days leading up to the race, and during the 24 hours leading up to the race, runners should eat easy-to-digest foods, avoid rich, fatty foods and limit alcohol to one drink.

On race day runners shouldn’t try eating or drinking anything new because they don’t know how their body will react, he added. It’s better to try something ahead of time, and for any bad reactions to happen during practice.

Barrow also said it’s a common mistake for people to think they should eat more when they run, but if they’re trying to lose weight, they might need to decrease calories in addition to running.

Men burn an average of 125 calories per mile of running, and women burn an average of 105 calories, he said. One serving of ice cream is about 280 calories

RUNNING Gear Running experts said runners should get fitted for shoes to ensure proper fit and arch support.

When runners experience chin splints, it’s usually because of a lack of arch support, Barrow said.

Another suggestion is to wear moisturewicking shirts and to avoid cotton T-shirts.

Men especially can experience nipple chafing and even bleeding on long-distance runs if they wear cotton. Barrow said some men also use anti-chafing gels such as BodyGlide to prevent nipple chafing, but it doesn’t work for him. He suggested wearing waterproof BandAids.

Both genders can try an anti-chafing gel for inner thighs and under arms, too. Experts also suggest that women wear moisture-wicking sports bras for long runs.

To prevent blisters and minimize the loss of toenails, running experts said long-distance runners should also wear moisture-wicking socks and good shorts with a liner, as well.

Inexpensive brands of running clothes and socks are available, so runners don’t have to spend a lot on popular, top-of-the-line brands, experts said. And once they invest in running clothes, they last awhile.

They can use a foam roller to roll over sore or tight muscles, and if that’s not hard enough, they can use a PVC pipe.

To find upcoming races and for more information on running, visit: www.active.com www.collegestationrunning.com http://www.7hills.us/schedule.htm www.livestrong.com www.runningintheusa.com www.runnersworld.com

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fall 2012 issue no. 3

|7

6th annUal

By SHAUnA LeWIS

wiener fest The eagle

satUrday, OCtOBEr 27th Boot Camp for pooches kicks off activities on Friday, oct. 26th

photos contributed by aggieland humane Society. dachshunds race during the wiener races last year at wolf pen Creek in College Station. this year’s event will be held on oct. 27. the aggieland humane Society, recently renamed from Brazos animal Shelter, organizes the event, and will receive the proceeds. the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting on nov. 29 for the renaming.

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the eagle • theeagle.com

T

he Aggieland Humane Society’s sixth annual Wiener Fest on Oct. 27 in College Station will include dog races, a 5K run and run/walk, vendors and a costume contest.

Wiener Fest will be held from 7:30 a.m. to about 5 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek, 1015 Colgate Drive. Admission will be free. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Aggieland Humane Society, 5359 Leonard Road in Bryan; it was recently renamed from Brazos Animal Shelter. Parking will be available at the Post Oak Mall across the street.

A Boot Camp will be held at Wolf Pen Creek from 5 to 7 p.m. the day before Wiener Fest. The camp is for dogs entered in the Wiener Races and Wanna be a Wiener Races, and is a chance for them to check out the track and get some practice, said Molly Georgiades, co-chair and board member of Aggieland Humane Society.

Last year, about 6,500 people attended the event, more than 300 dogs participated and 65 vendors set up booths, Georgiades said. The most popular part of Wiener Fest is the Wiener Races, she said.

“It is unique because it is the only event of this type in this area, and they are a blast to watch,” Georgiades said.

“We get racers from Houston, Austin and San Antonio.”

Wiener Fest will start with a 5K run for people only at 7:30 a.m., followed at 7:45 a.m. by a 5K run/ walk that people can participate in with or without their dogs. All other festivities begin at 8 a.m.

The cost for either 5K is $10 for children under 12 and $25 for ages 12 and older. Registration forms are available at http://aggielandhumane.org/events/ wienerfest2012/. Late registration will be also be held from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. at the event.

A Kids Zone will be open from 8 a.m.

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bushlibrary.tamu.edu/genome sponsored by

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media partner

fall 2012 issue no. 3

|9

to 5 p.m., and will include moonwalks, games and face painting. Vendors open throughout the day will include food vendors, retail businesses, veterinarians and rescue groups. Bands will also provide live music throughout the event.

At 9 a.m., a costume contest will start.

The contest will be held in four categories: the Look-A-Like contest for an owner and pet; the Couples contest for dog pairs; Most Creative; and Best Dressed Formal.

The cost is $10 for each category.

Dachshunds only can also participate in the Wiener Races at 11 a.m. Dogs of other breeds can participate in the Wanna be a Wiener Races, which start at 1 p.m.

The Wanna be a Wiener Races are divided into separate races for dogs less than 40 pounds and dogs more than 40 pounds.

Food is not allowed in the dog racetrack.

Georgiades said the best racing tip she got from people who have entered their dogs in races is to teach a dog to run straight, rather than get distracted and run into other dogs’ lanes. The owner can typically accomplish that by standing at the end of

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the dog’s lane with a favorite toy, so the dog will be focused on getting to the toy and won’t care about what’s going on in its surroundings.

The registration cost for each dog race is $25 before Oct. 10 and $30 from Oct. 10 to the day of the event. Late registration for dogs will be held from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the event. A T-shirt is included with the cost of registration for the 5K events and the dog races.

New to the event this year will the Humanitarian and Junior Humanitarian awards, presented at 10 a.m. to individuals who have a passion for homeless animals and put that passion into action, Georgiades said.

The Bark Leader Award was also added this year, and will be presented at 12:30 p.m. The winner will be determined by an online contest in which an individual nominates a dog to be a Bark Leader and then campaigns to friends and family to vote for the dog through donations to the Aggieland Humane Society.

“The three dogs with the most donations

the eagle • theeagle.com

will be our 2012 Bark Leaders and will represent the Aggieland Humane Society for the next year at all official functions,” she said. “We are extremely excited about the additions to this year’s event.”

A rabies certificate is required for each dog participating in any event and must be mailed in with the registration form, or brought to late registration for those who are registering at the event. All dogs must be kept on a leash.

The cost to be a vendor, if paid by Oct. 10, is $40 for non-profits with a 501c3 status or $90 for others. The cost for either increases by $5 after Oct. 10. Set up will be held from 6 to 8 a.m., and take down will be any time after 6 p.m.

It takes about 400 volunteers to run the event, Georgiades said. People can volunteer as individuals, as a group of friends or as an organization. To volunteer, call 979-446-2582.

For more information, visit http:// aggielandhumane.org/events/ wienerfest2012/ or http://www.facebook. com/brazosanimalshelter.

(ABOVE) Breeds other than Dachshunds participate in the Wanna be a Wiener Races at the fifth annual Wiener Fest in College Station last year. (OPPOSITE PAGE) Dachshunds race during the Wiener Races last year. (TOP LEFT) A wiener dog dressed in cheerleader attire participates in the costume contest at last year’s Wiener Fest event. (LEFT) A girl holds her dog at last year’s Wiener Fest in College Station.

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Over 30 Years Experience Caring for the Hearing Needs of the Brazos Valley fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 11

Going all natural

By HOLLI L. ESTRIDGE Special to The Eagle

More people consuming locally-grown produce

F

ive years ago Karen and Joe Jozwiak had far more food on their hands than they knew what to do with.

“My husband can’t plant just a half row of anything!” Karen said. “We were giving away everything we couldn’t use.”

One day after a friend suggested they sell their excess at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market, the Bremond couple found themselves manning a stand in early spring, with 500 to 600 ears of sweet corn in tow.

“We were the only vendors with sweet corn, and we sold out before the market was over,” said Karen, who now regularly offers a wide variety of baked goods, breads, pies and cakes, as well as produce at the market every week. What she doesn’t sell, she cans.

Karen said she likes the idea of going back to basics, an idea she said she finds is resonating with many people these days.

Farmers markets Marco Palma, associate professor and extension economist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, said consumers’ interest in knowing where their food is coming from has fueled an

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uptick in the number of farmers markets sprouting up across Texas.

That growth is also following a national trend. In early August the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the number of direct-sales markets has increased 9.6 percent in the past year.

Palma points out, however, that sales, even at an all-time high of $1 billion, still represent only a small slice of the total $33 billion commercial agriculture industry.

Meanwhile, demand for global food also has been on the rise, Palma said.

While sales have climbed in Texas, so have the number of urban markets, Palma said. In two years’ time, the number of markets has increased from 20 to more than 140.

Roger Burton, manager of the Brazos Valley Farmers Market as well as a vendor, said the local market has grown at a healthy speed.

“We are probably between 50 and 60 vendors right now. It changes throughout the year,” Burton said. “More vendors are added as the year goes along.”

The Brazos Valley Farmers Market, launched by local farmers who wanted to sell their produce directly to consumers,

the eagle • theeagle.com

has been in existence for 35 years. The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the parking lot of the Brazos County Health Department, at the intersection of Texas Avenue and William J. Bryan Parkway in Bryan.

The market also is also open from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the parking lot of Village Foods Shopping Center, at the intersection of 29th Street and Briarcrest Drive in Bryan.

Locals can find an abundance of produce and other goods at the market, including jams, jellies, salsas, spreads, soaps, breads, eggs, grass-fed meat and an array of seasonal produce.

In the summer months, tomatoes, peaches, corn, figs, watermelons, cantaloupe, zucchini squash and green beans are in abundance. In the winter months, root vegetables and greens become plentiful.

Burton said many shoppers come for locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as to support a number of vendors that try to stay away from commercial herbicides and insecticides.

The market also has encouraged vendors in recent years to incorporate locally sourced products into their non-produce

Photos by Shauna Lewis. Customers check out vendor tables at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market on Aug. 18.

For more information on the Brazos Valley Farmers Market, visit www.brazosvalleyfarmersmarket.com.

fare. For example, the Burtons often use local eggs in their breads.

For more information, visit www.brazosvalleyfarmersmarket.com.

Consumer-supported agriculture Palma said interest in communitysupported agriculture also has grown in the state of Texas.

In a CSA, consumers assume part of the risk of a farming operation by purchasing a share. For that share, consumers get a portion of the fruits, vegetables or other food produced by the farm. If the farm doesn’t perform well due to weather, the share is affected, too.

Howdy Farm, established in the fall of 2009 as a student-led initiative to promote local food, will offer an array of seasonal veggies this fall from October through January.

Nathanael Proctor, a doctoral student in urban planning (with a focus on sustainable food systems) at Texas A&M who is involved with Howdy Farm, said the CSA has grown considerably in the last few years, from 18 to almost 40 customers.

For more information on the CSA, visit studentfarmblog.wordpress.com.

Another local CSA is Twin Persimmons Farm in Plantersville, which focuses on gourmet vegetable selections (www. twinpersimmonsfarm.com).

Community gardens Among the other local food options available in Bryan-College Station are

community gardens.

A new community garden located next to the student garden on the Texas A&M campus is now giving residents who do not have their own land or space a rental plot for growing their own veggies.

The garden has regular membership meetings at 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month and has workdays from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sundays at the garden site.

Individuals or groups of people can take stewardship of garden plots by the semester. Plot sizes are based on the standard 20-foot x 4-foot raised bed rows, and members have the option to grow for personal consumption or to donate their produce.

Membership dues are $15 for the semester or $30 per year, and members have access to information about organic gardening, compost, pest control, local seasonal planting and holistic and ecological systems.

For more information, visit aggiecg.tamu.edu.

Discover farms Through involvement in Brazos Locavores, a loosely organized group of local food enthusiasts who make regular trips to local farms, locals can learn more about the merits of local food and get to know farmers personally. And Village Cafe, a restaurant in downtown Bryan, hosts a locavore luncheon every other month, during which it makes a meal from produce purchased at the farmers market.

The organization provides updates at www.brazosgrows.org, a site that is an outgrowth of interest in local food options. The site has a listing of locally made products, farms, Locavore events and links to farms throughout the Brazos Valley.

4

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fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 13

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the eagle • theeagle.com

MOntEl WilliaMs

Talk show icon Montel Williams reveals why multiple sclerosis won’t slow him down and why eating a

By LISA IAnnUccI restricted diet is crucial to his health CTW FEATURES

I

t’s the middle of summer, but talk show host Montel Williams has snow on his mind. He’s been snowboarding for the last few years – always a little more than the last -- and can’t wait to hit the slopes again.

He’s snowboarded with professional Sean White, and in places like Alaska and Chile. He even heliboards, where he’s dropped on the side of a mountain from a helicopter on untouched snow.

“I don’t do anything halfway,” says the 56-year-old who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Although MS can become potentially debilitating, and he’s even taken a few mountainside falls along the way, Williams has never taken his diagnosis sitting down. “Every day I have a message to address in one way, shape or form. The illness can be unpredictable and some days are not my best, but every day I wake up and have no choice but to try to do this.”

And that means finding a combination of therapies that work for him. “I was in the military for 22 years, was a power lifter, boxer and martial artist and played a myriad of sports before my diagnosis,” he says. “I continue to train in boxer mode.”

He stays on top of his medication and has even become a subject for a brain

stimulation project for MS patients.

“Western medicine says to take a pill or cut us open, but there are so many other things we can do,” he says. “Western medicine also says that a person with MS shouldn’t exercise because they’ll strain muscles, but I’m training harder and feeling better than I have in the last 10 years.”

He also says that reducing his caloric intake, dropping an extra 10 pounds off his body frame and relying on such nutrition as coconut water and green fruit smoothies, has helped him combat the pain and other symptoms of his condition. “I choose to limit some of the bad calories, stay away from sugar and flour and only eat red meat about every 10 days,” he says.

One look at the handsome, in-shape Williams and it’s really hard to tell that he’s even sick. “No one sees what’s going on inside,” he says. “I’m not hired to limp.”

He is also working on a variety of philanthropic projects, including clinical studies on supplementation for those with MS. “I want to make sure I share everything I have learned to people with MS,” he says.

And don’t expect him to stop anytime soon. To raise awareness and funds for MS research, he’s been busy with the Montel Williams MS Foundation, is

working on a study on traumatic brain injury for soldiers and is a board member on the Fisher House Foundation (http:// fisherhouse.org). He’s also a husband and father of four children.

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fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 15

Children not getting their

Zzzz’s

often undiagnosed with

sleep disorders

By SHAUNA LEWIS The Eagle

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the eagle • theeagle.com

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ryan dentist Craig Scasta said he and his wife were doing everything they knew to do to get their then 8-year-old daughter to sleep well, but like other children with undiagnosed sleep disorders, she was still always tired.

They were making their daughter, Becca, now 9, go to sleep about 7:30 p.m. every night, turning off the television and all electronics and reading her bedtime stories.

“She was not wanting to get up for school in the morning,” Scasta said.

“She was just really dragging.”

He said he looked at her tonsils and found they were moderately enlarged, and she also had a stuffy nose several months out of the year – both indications of sleep apnea. So he contacted Dr. Rajesh Harrykissoon, a sleep medicine physician at College Station Medical Center, who recommended that Becca undergo a sleep study. College Station Medical Center, the first hospital in the Bryan-College Station area to be accredited as a sleep center by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, in March also became accredited as a pediatric sleep center. The sleep center studied children before March, but becoming accredited means it meets the highest standards of sleep medicine diagnosis and treatment for children, hospital spokesman Joe Brown said.

The sleep study showed that Becca had a moderate case of obstructive sleep apnea, an involuntary cessation of breathing during sleep.

In August 2011, Becca went to an ear, nose and throat specialist clinic, where doctors removed swollen tissue from her nasal passage and removed her tonsils and adenoids.

Tonsils are tissue in the back of the throat; adenoids are tissue located in the back of the nasal cavity and above the roof of the mouth.

Becca didn’t want to have the operation, Scasta said, but her parents reminded her of her frequent stuffy nose problem. Two days after the surgery, he said she told her mother, ‘Mommy, I can breathe through my nose now.’

Her sleep has improved since the surgery.

“She sleeps significantly better, and she wakes up much better in the morning,” Scasta said.

Because of a lack of knowledge on sleep disorders, even among medical professionals, many cases of sleeping disorders in children go undiagnosed, Harrykissoon said.

Nearly 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, according to the National Sleep Foundation, and the most common type is insomnia.

Also among the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorders, according to College Station Medical Center, are obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, primary snoring, periodic limb movement disorder

and narcolepsy.

Becca is like many children who have sleeping disorders.

Harrykissoon said he sees about five children a week with possible sleeping problems, and of those, about 10 a month are studied at the hospital’s sleep lab. He sees children with a range of sleep disorders, including ones with medical issues such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy, ones who only need to change their habits and some who have been improperly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Research has shown that too little sleep results in daytime sleepiness, increased accidents, problems concentrating, poor performance on the job and in school, and possibly increased sickness and weight gain, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Harrykissoon said sleep negatively affects cognitive development in children. indiCationS oF Sleeping diSorderS Being an “active sleeper” is one indication of a sleeping disorder, Harrykissoon said.

“They toss and turn.

Their head is where their feet should be, or the sheets are on the floor,” he said. Other indications are behavioral problems, being moody or being hyperactive, he said. Harrykissoon asks children who come to his office about their sleeping habits, what seems to make

Dr. Rajesh Harrykissoon

fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 17

Photos contributed by J. Craig Scasta. Becca Scasta gets wires that go to monitors placed on her, in preparation for a sleep study in August 2011 at the College Station Medical Center Sleep Center.

sleep better or worse, how long their sleeping problem has been happening and what their habits are before they go to sleep.

When children are observed in the sleep center, their carbon dioxide level is measured because a high level might be the only sign they’re not sleeping well, he said.

People need to enter a rapid eye movement (REM) or deep stage of sleep, and if they don’t because of sleeping disorders, they “never quite recharge that emotional battery,” he said.

Because symptoms of poor sleep, such as irritability and hyperactive behavior, often overlap with symptoms of ADD and ADHD, school nurses often incorrectly diagnose the problem, he said. Harrykissoon said he’s had several children as patients who have taken medicine for ADD or ADHD for years, but their problems actually stemmed from sleeping disorders. Parents often experience relief that they found the real problem, but frustration that they didn’t know sooner, he said.

Behavioral problems Harrykissoon said he sees some pediatric patients with sleep resistance syndrome; they throw tantrums when it’s time to go to bed. Other children are OK with going to bed, but with a lot of conditions, such as getting a cookie or a glass of water and and having parents read bedtime stories.

Often, what children do before and during bedtime affects their sleep.

Harrykissoon has had many patients affected by blue light on LCD screens, such as on televisions and computer screens, because they trigger alertness and keep adrenaline high.

An issue that typically affects sleep in pre-teens or teens is not turning off their cell phones at bedtime, and unbeknownst by their parents, waking up late at night to respond to texts, he said. They’re attuned to the sound for texts, and are in a hyperarousal state, similar to soldiers in

a battlefield who have naturally trained themselves to sleep lightly.

“Behaviorally, they’re sleeping in a lighter state to respond (to their phone),” he said. “It’s a natural human thing. We can condition ourselves to live like that … But over time, it can lead to harm.”

Another common problem with children is that they play first-person shooter games before bedtime, which gives the player an adrenaline surge -- similar to that experienced from exercise -- for up to about two hours, Harrykissoon said. Exercise is good for sleep for any age, he said, but it should also be avoided for about two hours before bedtime.

Harrykissoon said parents should enforce a lights-off time and a technologyoff time. Also, he recommends that children don’t drink caffeine, but if they do, they shouldn’t have any after noon. A light snack before bedtime can help if it’s part of a routine, but people shouldn’t have a large meal at that time, he said.

Having a bedtime routine, such as having a snack and hygiene habits like brushing teeth, helps because the brain knows that’s what the person normally does before going to sleep and helps the person to unwind, he said.

Other sleeping problems in children are typically outgrown by their preteen years, such as night terrors and nightmares, Harrykissoon said. Children have night terrors in non-REM sleep, and when they do, they typically scream, look terrified, have racing hearts and are sweaty – but don’t remember what happened. Nightmares occur in REM sleep, and children often remember them.

Medical-related problems and how dentists can help Sleep apnea is as common as Type 2 Diabetes, and affects more than 18 million Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Risk factors include being male, being overweight and being over the age of 40, but sleep

apnea can affect anyone, even children.

The three types of sleep apnea are obstructive, central and mixed, and obstructive sleep apnea -- caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep – is the most common, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. Central sleep apnea occurs when the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe, and mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the other two types of sleep apnea.

In all cases of sleep apnea, the brain rouses the sleeper, usually only partially, to signal breathing to resume, so the person’s sleep is fragmented and of poor quality.

Although many cases of sleep apnea are related to being overweight because obesity is common, some cases are related to having allergies or being active sleepers, Harrykissoon said. The most common treatment for children with sleep apnea is to have their tonsils or adenoids removed. Treatment for adults often includes a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, in which pressurized air is delivered through a mask on the face.

Harrykissoon said dentists are good detectors for sleep disorders in children because they’re looking in children’s mouths twice a year and can see breathing obstructions. He said Scasta is one of a few dentists in the area who refer pediatric patients to him.

Scasta said when he does dental exams and notices that children have been wearing their teeth flat, he asks parents about it, and they usually have heard their children grinding their teeth while sleeping. After further questioning, parents also report that their children snore and are difficult to wake up, and when he looks at these children’s throats, he typically finds enlarged tonsils at the back of their throats.

When the airway collapses and the

brain is aroused, part of the body’s stress response is to grind teeth, Scasta said.

However, Scasta said he didn’t learn anything about how to detect sleeping disorders in dental school. He learned about it when he took a miniresidency in dental sleep medicine at the University of Los Angeles, California (UCLA), which he completed in 2009.

He also completed a mini-residency in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) and Orofacial Pain at UCLA in 2011.

TMJ (jaw pain) can be caused by teeth grinding, and Scasta said about half of his patients with TMJ pain have sleep apnea. He estimated 10 percent of his patients have enlarged tonsils or show signs of teeth grinding.

Harrykissoon said one former patient with severe sleep apnea was a freshman Texas A&M football player, whose coach sent him because he was falling asleep during the day and wasn’t conditioning the way he should. The patient also had a learning impairment, and had been put in special education classes in high school.

He was put on CPAP machine, in which pressurized air is delivered through a mask on the face. The patient had an improvement in sleep right away, Harrykissoon said.

Patients with sleep apnea notice an improvement soon after using a CPAP machine, while those with milder cases take longer to notice an improvement, he said.

Harrykissoon recommended parents of children who show possible signs of sleeping disorders to take them to a sleep medicine physician, who can ask the right questions and determine whether a child needs to be observed in a sleep lab.

For more information, visit: www.csmedcenter.com/Our%20 Services/Pages/Sleep%20Lab.aspx www.sleepapnea.org www.sleepfoundation.org http://kidshealth.org

fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 19

hit thE trails

Bryan-College Station and surrounding areas provide places for outdoor exercise and fun activities.

By SHAUnA LeWIS The eagle

H

iking, biking and jogging are healthy ways to exercise, release stress and enjoy the outdoors, and there are plenty of places with trail systems in Bryan and College Station or within a day’s drive.

Besides a trail system, these locations are also ideal for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, skiing, camping, walking dogs and observing nature. Advantages of regular physical exercise include that it helps with weight control; combats health conditions and diseases; improves mood; boosts energy; and promotes better sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic. Outdoor exercise such as hiking also allows a person to explore nature and get away from everyday stresses and demands and stimulates feel-good chemical hormones of adrenaline and endorphins to boost mood and energy levels, according to livestrong.com. Experts advise hikers to go with a group and to tell someone they’re not going with of their whereabouts and estimated return time. They should also pack plenty of food and water, a first-aid kit, sunscreen, rain gear, a map, a compass and a GPS or cell phone.

BaStrop Bastrop State Park, 3005 Texas 21 East

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in Bastrop, provides trails for activities including hiking, biking and backpacking.

Park Road 1C provides a hilly, 12-mile scenic bike ride between Bastrop and Buescher state parks. Lake Bastrop provides 900 surface acres of water for boating, fishing and water skiing. The park rents canoes and barbecue pits. It participates in the Tackle Loaner Program, in which people can borrow rods, reels and tackle boxes with hooks, sinkers and bobbers, as well. It also has an 18-hole golf course that is playable year-round. For more information, visit http://www.tpwd.state. tx.us/state-parks/bastrop.

Bryan Lake Bryan, 8200 Sandy Point Road in Bryan, has several trails available for hiking, biking or jogging. The Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association, a nonprofit organization, builds and maintains the trail system at Lake Bryan. The lake also provides a place for swimming, boating, skiing and other water activities.

The lake has seven water and electric RV sites, 125 acres available for tent and electric RV camping, a boat and jet ski launch, public restrooms, a pavilion, picnic tables and fire pits. For more information, visit www.lakebryan.com

the eagle • theeagle.com

and http://bvmba.net.

College Station Lick Creek Park, 13600 East Rock Prairie Road in College Station, is a 515-acre park with 3.5 miles of marked trails for hiking, bicycling, bird watching and horseback riding. Horses and bikes are restricted to the trails, and equestrian users must obtain a permit and key from the College Station Parks and Recreation Department in advance. The park has a variety of plant and animal life indigenous to the area.

Visitors can bring their dogs, and they are allowed to be leash-free, but must be under voice control. Camping is not allowed. For more information, call 979764-3486 or visit www.cstx.gov/index. aspx?page=538 and www.mountainbiketx. com/texas/trails/region_2/lickcreek.php. huntSville Huntsville State Park has 18 miles of trails good for hiking and biking. The heavily wooded park adjoins the Sam Houston National Forest and encloses the 210-acre Lake Raven. There are also guided, onehour horseback trail rides provided by 2E Stables, but the public is not allowed to bring their own horses. The lake provides an unsupervised swimming area and a place for fishing and boating. The park also

rents canoes and paddle boats. The park also has picnic sites, tent campsites with water and sites with water and electricity, screened shelters, a pavilion, a recreation hall, a trailer dump station, restrooms with and without showers, a bath house, fishing piers and fish-cleaning tables, a boat launching ramp and dock and a playground.

For more information, call 936-295-5644 or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/ huntsville and www.facebook.com/pages/ Texas-Parks-and-Wildlife-HuntsvilleS t a t e - Pa r k / 3 2 1 5 5 2 6 4 0 8 4 8 ? r e f = t s .

The Lone Star Hiking Trail is also near Huntsville, in Sam Houston National Forest. It is a 96.1-mile point-to-point continuously marked foot trail, or 128 miles including loop trails. The trail is primarily used for bird observation, camping, hiking, trail running and walking. For more information, visit http://lonestartrail.org.

Smithville Buescher State Park, near Smithville consists of 1,016 wooded acres and features a 7.7-mile hiking trail. Experienced bicyclists can try out Park Road 1C, the hilly, 12-mile paved scenic road that links Buescher with neighboring Bastrop State Park. A small lake also provides a place for fishing and non-motorized boating; there is no boat ramp. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. The park also has RV and tent campsites, screened shelters, a recreation hall and a playground. For more information, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ state-parks/buescher.

Somerville The Lake Somerville Trailway in Lake Somerville State Park connects Birch Creek State Park with Nails Creek State Park with 13 miles of trails for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding and nature study. Flag Pond, about 4 miles from Nails Creek State Park and 9 miles from Birch Creek State Park along the trailway, provides a place for waterfowl hunting and nature viewing. Campgrounds for backpackers and horseback riders are available along the trailway. Lake Somerville also provides a place for swimming, boating, fishing and other water activities. It has RV and

primitive camping, cabin rentals, fire rings, playgrounds, fishing and a pavilion. For more information, visit www.tpwd.state. tx.us/state-parks/lake-somerville, www. facebook.com/pages/Texas-Parks-andWildlife-Lake-Somerville-Nails-CreekState-Park/208183102533811 and www. facebook.com/BirchCreekStatePark.

For more hiking information, visit: www.texashiking.com www.biketexas.org www.texasoutside.com www.tpwd.state.tx.us www.trails.com www.tmbra.org

fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 21

Savvy Shopper’s Guide to

Eco Living As store shelves fill up with natural and eco-friendly products, look at the label to make sure you’re getting what you pay for

by Dawn Klingensmith CTW FEATURES

a

longtime vegetarian, regular exerciser and nonsmoker, Rebecca Schmuck was shocked nearly three years ago when she was told she had cancer. “I didn’t do any of the things they say give you cancer,” she says, “so I turned my focus to the environment.”

Schmuck believes environmental factors such as air pollutants and household chemicals can be harmful, and that, generally speaking, what’s good for the planet is good for people. Raising a 5-year-old son in suburban Chicago, where she co-owns an eco-friendly livery service with hybrid cars, Schmuck was

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determined after her diagnosis to buy green products for her house and family.

There was no shortage of products claiming to fit the bill. Between 2005 and 2007, the number of green products sold in stores doubled, BrandWeek reported in 2008. However, many companies then and now are guilty of greenwashing, or deceptively marketing their products and policies as environmentally friendly.

“The greenwashing thing is horrible and prevalent, so becoming an expert on what things mean is the only way to really be sure you are getting natural or green products,” says Schmuck, adding that she cross-references chemical names

the eagle • theeagle.com

against the American Cancer Society’s list of known and probable human carcinogens.

“Also, a lot of companies produce green products, but they produce them in a non-green environment,” she says.

As store shelves continue to fill up with products claiming to be natural or environmentally friendly, there are things to look for on labels to make sure a product has eco-cred and not just a green sheen.

On first glance, a product can look green simply because of its packaging.

Consumers associate brown kraft-paper packaging with recycled materials, nature scenes with wholesomeness and white or pastels with purity. “Just because it’s in lovely, earthy packaging doesn’t mean anything,” says green living consultant Amy Todisco, Green Living Now, Waitsfield, Vt. Certain claims and descriptors like “natural,” “fresh,” “free-range” BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD PROVIDER FOR A&M EMPLOYEES

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and “hormone-free” are essentially meaningless, Todisco adds, because there are no consistent definitions or standards. On the other hand, “100% Certified Organic” and “Fair Trade Certified” are verifiable claims with publicly available label standards.

For help decoding label claims, visit Consumer Reports’ Eco-labels Center at Greenerchoices.org. There, you can generate a “label report card” to see whether claims are meaningful and verifiable.

If a company doesn’t have the space on its product to back up its green claims, it should point buyers to its website or provide a telephone number for a fuller explanation. “Go to the website and read the company’s mission. That will give a sense of who they are and what they’re trying to achieve,” Todisco advises. See if eco-friendliness is actually a core value.

Foods and household products like cosmetics and cleaners list their ingredients. “Typically, if you cannot pronounce it, it’s a synthetic chemical that may or may not be toxic,” Todisco says.

The American Cancer Society lists known and probable carcinogens on its website at www.cancer.org.

Health writer Ruth Winter’s “A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients” and “A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives” (Three River Press, 2009), both in their seventh edition, tell consumers the purpose of an ingredient and any risks, warnings or dubious claims associated with it.

If there’s a seal on a product, make sure it designates a reliable thirdparty certification.

Trustworthy certifications include the USDA organic seal on food and cosmetics, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star designation on appliances and electronics, the Green Seal logo on household cleaning products and the Forest Stewardship Council logo on wood and paper products.

While there’s no single comprehensive

online green buyers’ guide, the Environmental Working Group (www. ewg.org) and GoodGuide (www. goodguide.com) each rate thousands of products and are searchable by brand name.

Finally, look for evidence that a product is only green by degrees. “A company may use recycled materials and soy-based inks, which is great, but they ship it all the way from China,” burning nonrenewable fossil fuels, says Todd Wyckoff, vice president of Eco Evaluator, which performs household energy audits in Southern California and maintains a green resources website. “If you look at every piece of the process, it is amazingly complex to determine the environmental impact of one product.”

When it comes to the manufacture and transport of a product, he adds, “Cleaner and closer are really the things to look for.”

Let Us Help You

Look Your Best!

MODELS WEARING

3800 S. Texas Ave., Bryan • (979) 268-0608 1 MILE NORTH OF UNIVERSITY DR MON-SAT • 10AM-6PM

What Makes A Woman Well Dressed?

B

rowse the “Who Wore it Best” sections of style magazines, and you’ll find it isn’t what is bought but rather how it’s worn that determines whether someone is well dressed Simply Stylish or not. The well-dressed woman Nancy Pride appears as one entity. No one element calls attention to itself. It’s as if her clothing, accessories, hair, and makeup fit together like puzzle pieces, creating a total picture.

A well-dressed woman knows what complements her body type and enhances her best features. The garment falls over the body without pulling or wrinkling. Pockets don’t gap open; skirts don’t hike up.

It is best to have a garment slightly too loose than one too tight. Skirt length reveals the best of the leg. If her knees are unattractive but her calves attractive, the hem falls just below the knee. Unattractive calves deserve a pant or an ankle length skirt. Proportion balances the body. Short-waisted individuals need narrow belts and tops to extend the waist downward.

Long-waisted ladies need wider belts and shorter jackets. It is worth a little extra money to have the perfect garment fit perfectly.

A well-dressed woman chooses quality over quantity.

Quality garments hang better, wear better, and look richer. Pieces that are worn the most (pants, skirts) require the best quality. For example, a cut-and-sew knit pant (one where the parts are cut out of fabric) will tend to stretch whereas a full-fashion knit pant won’t since each panel is knitted in its final shape.

Trendy accents can be of lesser quality because they will not receive as much wear and will be discarded sooner.

A well-dressed woman wears clothing that is current and appropriate for the occasion. She selects current colors that flatter her skin tone. If prints are “in,” she wears prints appropriate for her size and body shape.

When she attends a business function she shows no cleavage and insures clothing is neither too tight nor too short. Her attire does not call attention at weddings and funerals. She knows the degree of formality of an occasion and dresses appropriately.

And finally, the well-dressed woman is well-groomed from head to toe. She walks out the door, a complete picture of style and confidence.

Nancy Pride owns Morgan Fitzgerald’s and Merle Norman Cosmetics.

fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 23

By DAnA cARmAn CTW FeaTUReS

Growing Up

GrEEn Parents can help reduce environmental impact one small step at a time, and teach their kids big lessons

H

aving children changes everything, including, as it turns out, the fate of the planet. According to a 2009 University of Oregon study, researchers concluded that a child’s long-term carbon impact (which includes descendants of that child) was 9,441 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is 5.7 times the lifetime emission of the child’s mother.

While it may be near impossible to completely overcome the impact we all have on the environment, parents can make easy-to-implement eco-friendly changes that yield big results – both for

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Mother Earth and our children. After all, kids learn best from their parents.

Change: think green The first step to making any significant change is to simply raise one’s own consciousness. Being eco-friendly does not mean living life on a commune with no access to a Starbucks; just bring your own cup. “Our motto is ‘progress, not perfection,’” says Joy Hatch, co-author of “The Eco-nomical Baby Guide” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2010) and co-editor of greenbabyguide.com. “In the end, sustainability has to actually be sustainable. Dramatic lifestyle changes

the eagle • theeagle.com

are harder to handle than small shifts.”

Start first by looking around your own environment with an eco-eye. How many lights get left on every day when no one is in the room? How much plastic is in the house – toys, food packaging, soap dispensers, bottled water and the like?

How many reusable items end up in the trash can? How many recyclable items end up in the trash can?

Once a family’s awareness is raised, the times they can begin a-changin’.

Change: Cook moSt oF the time Cooking delicious meals all the time

is a great idea in theory, but in reality, families are busy and often meals are premade and packaged. However, cooking meals at home and making your baby’s food accomplishes many things: it saves waste, saves money and allows parents to control what goes into their kids’ bodies.

It’s a win-win-win, says Kris Bordessa, writer, mom of two boys and author of the website, Attainable Sustainable.

“Funny things happen when you become a mom,” she says. “You start thinking, ‘Gee, maybe this is not good food for my family.’” Bordessa and her family try to eat “as close to the dirt as it could be,” aiming for food that can be traced back to the earth in three steps. For example, milk is from a cow, a cow eats grass, and grass is a product of the earth. The eating

plan is a goal, not a rule, she concedes.

Sustainability “is about trying to figure out a little at a time,” Bordessa says.

Shift gradually from packaged to fresh, jarred food to homemade, and from eating out to eating in. One of the best things about a sustainable lifestyle, says Bordessa, is learning how to be selfsufficient.

Change: reduCe, reuSe, reCyCle — really!

New is not necessarily better... for the planet. It’s easy to be swayed by the latest in baby and kid gear, but “the good-old ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra is especially good for babies,” says Hatch, also a mom of two. Babies don’t need nearly as much stuff as gift registries would have soon-tobe parents believe.

Get in the habit of shopping for gently used baby products and clothing to save resources and money. Same goes for the older kids. As parents can attest, there is no end to the waste when it comes to toys, a Bordessa pet peeve.

“For people to go out and buy brand new stuff when there’s so much out there is really kind of silly,” she says. “Buying secondhand and borrowing – that’s going to save a lot of waste right there.” Hatch agrees. “My children refer to our local thrift shop as the toy store,” Hatch says.

“Once kids see that they can save pennies and packaging by shopping secondhand, they quickly assume that buying used is the norm. They will be green adults who have tremendous thrifty skills if they continue those habits into adulthood.”

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fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 25

By Dawn Klingensmith

We’re All In CTW FEATURES

This Together!

I

s your family overweight or otherwise unhealthy? One look at the latest statistics will prove you’re not alone: More than 30 percent of U.S. adults and 17 percent of children are obese, according to federal statistics.

But why not look to one another instead of faceless data? Research shows that parental role modeling and family support help create an environment where healthier habits lead to sustainable weight loss.

Slow changes are the key to success, some experts insist. “It’s not about sweeping reforms.

We all have New Year’s Resolution syndrome where we want to make drastic changes all at once,” says Dr. Joseph Skelton, a pediatric gastroenterologist who directs the Brenner FIT (Families in Training) program at Brenner Children’s Hospital, Winston-Salem, N.C. But drastic changes are in opposition to the “family systems theory,” which holds that families function as a unit that works hard to maintain stability even at a cost. “To try to change too many things at once is disruptive,” Skelton says, “and family members will resist it. Small, steady changes work best.”

Gather the family and brainstorm a list of goals pertaining to food, movement and behavior, suggests registered dietician Jessica Crandall, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, based in Chicago.

Goals might include eating more fruits and vegetables, walking or riding bikes together

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after dinner, eating out less often and limiting “screen time” including TV, Internet, texting and videogames to two hours a day as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Compare lists and identify one goal, for starters, that the family can work toward as a team. “Families, almost all the time, will choose something they can accomplish rather than set themselves up for failure,” Skelton says.

Some basic things to start with are reducing or eliminating soda and sugary drinks, eliminating fried foods, practicing portion control and incorporating more movement by taking stairs and parking far from stores, says Tony Sparber, founder of New Image Weight Loss Camp for kids, located in Pennsylvania and Florida.

WebMD.com has downloadable wallet- and fridge-size portion size guides using kidfriendly comparisons. For example, a half cup of ice cream is about the size of a light bulb – a standard one, not the globes used in streetlamps.

Buy-in is important but not always easy.

“In families, healthy habits are always easier to develop and stick with when you have a supportive system and everyone’s on board,” Crandall says.

Yet especially when teenagers are involved, “oftentimes anything a parent suggests is met with resistance,” says registered dietician

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Can you encourage someone else in your life to eat and live healthier without causing a rift?

Cari Coulter, program director at Wellspring Wisconsin, a weight loss camp for kids and young adults. “You need to engage children in the decision-making process and evaluating the pros and cons of making changes.”

Parents can help fill in some blanks, pointing out that certain foods enhance performance in sports and that physical activity triggers brain activity that improves concentration and mood.

“While weight loss shouldn’t be the focus, it’s important to point out that the three leading causes of death in the U.S. – cancer, heart disease and stroke – are all linked to obesity.

Obesity is not a cosmetic issue. It’s a health issue,” says pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Stephanie Abrams, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston.

Dietary and fitness goals set as a family should be SMART – that is, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely, meaning there’s a target date for completion, Skelton says.

Vowing to run seven days a week is specific and measurable but perhaps not realistic or attainable for a family who seldom moves except when the TV remote has gone missing.

There are changes parents can make to create a healthier home environment without consulting the children. “Kids being involved in every decision – I don’t think that’s right.

There’s too much decision making put in the hands of people who are too young and

shortsighted,” Sparber says.

“It’s not easy to stay fit and trim in this society.

That’s why kids can’t do it alone. They need our guidance, support and positive example to help them establish lifestyle habits that will lead to a healthy, long life,” he explains.

Purge the pantry and fridge of most highcalorie junk foods, and replenish them with fresh fruits, raw veggies, nuts, low-fat cheese, whole-grain English muffins with low-fat peanut butter and low-fat yogurt, Sparber suggests.

Say no to second helpings and lazy behavior, including rides to places within walking distance, he adds.

“You are the parent. You have the right and the responsibility to be in charge of your child’s health,” Sparber insists.

“One thing that doesn’t work is when parents say do as I say, not as I do,” he adds. “The parents need to set the tone and lead the way.”

One small but effective change is to use the term “activity” rather than exercise. This can include hula hooping, jump roping, dancing or more structured activities like martial arts or team sports, Abrams says.

LetsMove.gov offers ideas on increasing physical activity as a family, from walking around the block after each meal to standing

during TV commercials.

Eat meals together three or four times a week, with no TVs or gadgets, as studies show that families tend to eat smaller portions and healthier foods when they dine at home.

MyPlate.gov shows how to fix your plate to make a balanced meal; fruits and veggies should take up half the plate.

It’s OK to play with your food, Abrams says, if it means adding more vegetables and healthy sources of calcium. She recommends decorating or “painting” pancakes with fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt.

As both a starting point and something to work toward, the Brenner FIT Program teaches families its “5-4-3-2-1-0” guidelines: five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day; four sit-down family meals a week; three scheduled meals a day to decrease snacking; no more than two hours of screen time a day; a total of one hour of physical activity per day, divided into shorter spurts if desired; and zero sugar-sweetened beverages a day.

Not all experts think small changes are the best way to attain motivating milestones and long-term results. “It’s interesting, the idea of baby steps versus big steps. Small changes don’t always lead to the results people want, and results are what motivate people,” Coulter says.

Wellspring Wisconsin’s program encourages participants to “dive in and make a commitment,” she explains, but that doesn’t mean the approach is complicated.

“Changes are simple and sustainable, but significant,” Coulter says. “There’s no need to calculate ratios of carbs to proteins or learn complicated exercise routines.”

Instead, they outfit everyone with pedometers and ask them to log 10,000 steps per day, which helps control weight and may reduce diabetes risk.

They also ask participants to restrict their fat intake to no more than 20 grams per day. The focus is on fat, Coulter explains, because it has nine calories per gram versus four calories for protein and most carbohydrates. Therefore, fat requires more energy to burn off.

“It helps to have a simple, black-and-white goal – you’re either over or under 20 grams,” Coulter says.

Whether you take baby steps or leaps and bounds, it’s common to stumble or take a wrong turn on your journey to fitness. If that happens, reconvene as a family and modify or recommit to your goals if necessary. “It’s OK to have individual goals on top of your shared ones,” Crandall says, “but in either case, strive for progress instead of perfection.”

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| 27

Dr. Sanjay Gupta CNN’s medical expert talks about the importance of avoiding sugar and why eating healthier, toxin-free food is vital to good health

By Lisa Iannucci CTW FEATURES

W

hen you’re a doctor, people come to you for advice.

If you’re CNN’s recognizable and award winning Dr. Sanjay Gupta and you’re giving advice to millions of viewers around the globe on healthy eating, people also come to watch what you eat while you’re out.

“On television, I tell people how to eat healthy, so if I’m eyeing a pizza at an airport, I’ll have to be careful because viewers will point it out,” he laughs. However, Gupta admits that he practices what he preaches when it comes to staying healthy.

As busy as he is – he completed this interview in between two live television interviews and his CNN hosting duties – he still schedules time for exercise, but sometimes battles with controlling his diet and choosing healthy foods, especially when on the road. When pressed about what he ate for breakfast before our early morning telephone interview, Gupta said he cooked frittatas. “I’m the morning cook, especially now that it’s summer and I have my girls around a lot more,” says the Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent who whips up healthy omelets, waffles and oatmeal for his wife and three daughters before heading off to his extremely busy day.

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Gupta is a practicing neurosurgeon and contributes to CNN.com and CNNHealth.com. He’s reported on a range of topics including brain injury, disaster recovery, health care reform, fitness, military medicine, HIV/AIDS and other areas. As a physician and as a journalist, Gupta says that to get the eating healthy message across, he finds it better to explain the “whys,” and then the “hows” carry through a lot easier.

“People are told ‘do this’ and ‘don’t do this,’ but unless we understand why and buy into it we don’t always do it,” he says.

For example, Gupta says that it’s important to understand the negative effect that sugar has on our bodies. “If I simply say ‘don’t eat as much sugar, you’ll put on weight,’ it doesn’t have the same effect as explaining that humans used to eat sugar only once a year from fruit in the trees and it came with fiber and micronutrients and wasn’t raw,” he says. “Now we eat 141 pounds a year of pure sugar per person and our bodies can’t handle it. It turns to fat in our livers and it’s the worst possible particle for us. Once I say it like that, even my kids understand it.”

Gupta explains that sugar is everywhere – in sauces, breads and pretty much any nice, soft chewy food, even if it’s not sweet. “Reduce your sugar intake and get rid of the

hidden sources,” he says.

But what about everything in moderation? “We even let our kids have treats, but we’re careful about it,” he says. “It’s not just about the amount of sugar; it’s also the rate of which it’s absorbed. We absorb it slowly in fruit, but when we take it from a sugary drink or dessert, there’s nothing moderating it and it hits your liver like a tsunami.”

To help cut down on their sugar intake, many Americans are substituting sugar with artificial sweeteners, a move Gupta says may be more harmful than beneficial. “The FDA has five approved sugar substitutes and I don’t think there’s any compelling evidence to show a link to cancer,” he says.

“However, you’re trying to trick your body and it still impacts your insulin level, which rises in response. You end up craving sugar to combat that insulin and you’ll end up eating those calories at a later time.”

With tons of information about eating healthier, Gupta says that eating and drinking ‘organic’ foods is something he strives to do. “We do buy organic milk because of the bovine growth hormone being problematic for a developing child,” he says. “The basic rule of thumb is if it has a peel that we’re not going to eat – pineapple for example, conventional is OK. If we

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eat the skin – raspberries or peaches – try and buy organic. It’s hard to wash those pesticides off the skin.”

So with all the information out there about eating – diet plans, sugar, organic and more – where do we start if we’re trying to eat better? “The easiest way to learn is to educate yourself,” Gupta says. “Learn about what’s good and bad for your body and why. Once you learn the why, it will lead to very intense and long-lasting behavioral changes because it will all make sense.”

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fall 2012 issue no. 3

| 29

a natural Beauty

Healthy beauty products are less costly and easier to find than ever before

By ePHRAIm tUcHO

W

hile people are taking more caution with foods and medicines that they put in their bodies, it’s not always the same for products they put on. Product labels for beauty and wellness products might seem difficult to discern, but it’s important to take just as much caution when deciding what to buy from the beauty aisle.

“There are a lot of ingredients in conventional products that can be harmful and irritating to your skin,” says Lina Hanson, author of “Eco-Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Natural Beauty and Wellness” (Rodale Books, 2009).

Going green with your beauty routine can improve overall health. The chemicals that you put on your skin are absorbed and can enter the blood stream, causing various health issues. People with sensitive skin, problems with dryness or discoloration of skin may see an improvement after opting for natural products.

Changing your beauty habits might take some time, but fortunately it won’t take too much money. Unlike in the past, healthy and natural alternatives to

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conventional beauty products do not cost much more than their counterparts, Hanson notes.

Some higher-end brands may be more expensive due to the quality of the ingredients used, but a shift to green beauty will not necessarily leave you with less green in your pocket.

Eco-friendly products might take some getting used to, so Hanson says it is best to start slow.

“I would suggest starting with green skin care and gradually start switching out your conventional cosmetic products to green,” Hanson says. “No need to completely switch out your makeup bag right away. Do what you can. A little step is better than none.”

Just as people scrutinize food labels, Hanson suggests that those who want to go natural with beauty care products should be aware of ingredients. Here are a few to stay away from: PARABENS A chemical preservative that may be found in some shampoos and moisturizers.

TALC Found in eye shadows and other powdered makeup, talc has be linked to breakouts and allergic reactions related to makeup.

ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCE Can be found in a wide variety of beauty products and may contain chemicals that are unhealthy for the skin.

MINERAL OIL Is used in skincare products, which may clog pores and cause dryness or chapping.

Here are a few products Hanson recommends as safe and natural alternatives: ILIA BEAUTY LIPSTICK Made of 85 percent certified organic ingredients that nourish the skin and help aid in its repair. iliabeauty.com TARTE COSMETICS BLUSH Uses beeswax, vitamin C and vitamin E among other ingredients, making the skin appear fresh and protecting it from radical damage. tartecosmetics.com JANE IREDALE LIPGLOSS Made with an organic vegetable oil base and excludes petroleum-based ingredients that may dry out lips. janeiredale.com KOH-GEN-DO COSMETICS A variety of skincare and makeup products that do not use artificial fragrances and mineral oils.

Instead, their makeup uses jojoba oil and aloe extract to enhance the skin. kohgendocosmetics.com LINA HANSON GLOBAL FACE SERUM Made of 100 percent natural ingredients that work to give skin a refreshing glow. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles and reduces skin irritation and inflammation. linahanson.com

1729 Briarcrest, Bryan, Texas 77802 Publisher, Crystal Dupré Display Advertising Manager, Joanne R. Patranella 979.731.4719  joanne.patranella@theeagle.com Creative Services Manager, Jim Bob McKown 979.731.4706  jimbob@theeagle.com

Next publication: Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 Advertising Deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 To get your advertisement in Bryan-College Station’s newest Health and Lifestyles magazine, e-mail livesmart@theeagle.com or call 979.731.4738

Special Projects Editor, Shauna Lewis 979.731.4704  shauna.lewis@theeagle.com Special Section Coordinator, Dawn Goodall 979.731.4738  dawn.goodall@theeagle.com Publication Designer, Courtney Lewellen For questions or comments, please call: 979.731.4738

fall 2012 issue no. 3

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