d-mars.com Health & Wellness 49

Health & Wellness Journal HEALTH

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WELLNESS

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MEDICAL

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RESEARCH

August-September 2015

INSIDE

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SPORTS

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FITNESS

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LIFESTYLE

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BEAUTY

Inspire, Inform & Educate

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49th Edition

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The Power of Effective Communication

Norman Mitchell and Darcy Padgett Dental Health

By Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade What Parents Can Do for Babies and Toddlers PAGE 12

PAGES 4-5

Bee Busy, Inc. and the Bee Busy Wellness Center: Building a Stronger and Healthier Community

Help! I Can’t Swim

By Rhonda Dallas “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” has become a new phrase that the Texas Department of Safety has started flashing on billboards around the Houston area, in light of recent flooding.

PAGE 14

PAGE 6

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Hands-Only The Life You Save Could Be Someone You Love

By Tiffany Davis

5 Health Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

By d-mars.com News Provider Separating fact from fiction can be difficult, especially when it comes to information about your health.

PAGE 16

PAGE 9

Dr. Anjanette Wyatt Receives Honor from the Texas Pharmacy Association

“Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman.

- Marian Anderson

August-September 2015 3

Journal Behind The

Publisher’s Message

MR. D-MARS

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis

VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

Office Manager Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black

The theme for this issue of the Health and Wellness Journal is The Power of Effective Communication. We communicate our goals and ambitions, but do we communicate when it comes to health? There are diseases that impact our community more than other communities. Being healthy is one of the keys to success. At d-mars.com, we find it imperative to provide knowledge to our community in the area of health. This edition of the Health and Wellness Journal will inspire you to make your health a priority.

This month’s cover story is on Norman Mitchell, Darcy Padgett and Bee Busy, Inc. and the Bee Busy Wellness Center. Bee Busy, Inc. and the wellness center are addressing different social and healthcare needs of the community, meeting the health demands of the vulnerable individuals and families in at-risk communities. The efforts of Bee Busy, Inc. and the wellness center are making for a healthier Houston.

As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dawn Paul

PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines

Contents

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Bee Busy, Inc. and the Bee Busy Wellness Center........................................................................................................................................4-5

Andrea Hennekes

Hands-Only..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Children and Health..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Angel Rosa

Local Pharmacist Receives Prestigious Award................................................................................................................................................. 9

DISTRIBUTION

Lose Weight the Right Way.....................................................................................................................................................................................10

Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden

Dental Health................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tiffany Davis Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade Rhonda Dallas d-mars.com News Provider

MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence and tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up.”

- Ralph Bunche

Help! I Can’t Swim....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 5 Health Myths You Shouldn’t Believe.................................................................................................................................................................16

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4 August-September 2015

Dynamic Duo

Makes Houston Healthier

Bee Busy, Inc. and the Bee Busy Wellness Center: Building a Stronger and Healthier Community

By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

W

hen you talk about addressing the healthcare needs of the community, Bee Busy Learning Academy, Inc. (Bee Busy) and the Bee Busy Wellness Center are at the top of the list. Norman Mitchell and Darcy Padgett are very familiar and well-respected names in Houston, and this dynamic duo has been pounding the pavement and working diligently in the community to help fight the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, while addressing several other issues impacting our underserved and at-risk areas. The Bee Busy well-known black and gold logo has been a long-standing symbol in Houston that represents hope and health.

You may know Bee Busy as addressing HIV/AIDS, but this non-profit gem has countless other programs that have opened doors for Mitchell and Padgett to do so much more for the Houston area. Bee Busy and the Bee Busy Wellness Center, a full-service, feder-

ally qualified health center, are actually separate entities, which allows them to cover a wider range of issues and provide more assistance to the Houston area. Because there are a number of issues impacting the underserved areas, Mitchell and Padgett serving the community through Bee Busy and the Bee Busy Wellness Center make a bigger impact, serving a greater number of our Houstonians in need. After performing this selfless work for almost fifteen years, they show no signs of slowing down.

Mitchell and Padgett are more than just co-founders of these two health havens, but an interesting facet is that they are husband and wife, married for more than 20 years. Mitchell leads the Bee Busy Wellness Center, while Padgett runs Bee Busy. Because they are run separately, Mitchell and Padgett actually have a memorandum of understanding between them regarding the two organizations. Though each address different social and healthcare needs of the community, the commonality is to meet the health demands of the vulnerable individuals and families in at-risk communities. This selfless pair’s

continuous efforts and great strides in at-risk communities through Bee Busy and the Bee Busy Wellness Center are making for a healthier Houston.

There is always a story as to why people have been led to do what they do, and Mitchell and Padgett are no different. This dynamic duo is always eager to share the amazing story about the founding and history of Bee Busy and the Bee Busy Wellness Center. Mitchell and Padgett were actually very successful in the entertainment business in Los Angeles, California. Mitchell was a successful comedian, actor, writer and game-show host. Padgett was successful as a writer, producer and artist manager.

How they went from entertainment to non-profit is not how you might think.

Though the journey started from loss, in the end, there was fulfillment and the birth of Bee Busy and the Bee Busy Wellness Center. Though successful in LA, after a disagreement with an entertainment manager, Mitchell felt working on television in Houston was the move to make. Life was good for them, until Mitchell’s parents were unfortunately struck by a dump truck and lost their lives. This loss made the move to Houston permanent. Mitchell seeing the condition of Houston, his birthplace, didn’t sit well with him or Padgett. Mitchell says, “When we saw the condition of the

“Our promise is to remain connected to the community through grassroots efforts, and to continue to be known as the premiere organization that advocates for those whose voices are silent.”

– Bee Busy Wellness Center Co-Founder, Norman Mitchell

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

August-September 2015 5

city, heard Mayor Lee P. Brown (19982004) declare the city a medical state of emergency due to HIV/AIDS, and remembering all our friends and classmates who had been infected or affected by the disease, we decided to put our hat in the ring.” At that time, Padgett had recently lost an uncle to HIV, and Mitchell had lost a dear friend and mentor to the disease, and they felt they had as much right as anyone to join the fight.

Bee Busy got its start with their flagship program, The Results, a 2-person play filled with comedy, drama and thought provoking dialogue designed to encourage the viewing audience to think about HIV, to ask questions of the cast and then to seek testing.

Mitchell and Padgett put their entertainment background to good use, and The Results created quite a buzz and gained the attention of the City of Houston’s Department of Health and Human Services. Bee Busy was born due to hard work and the selfless spirits of Mitchell and Padgett. To them, Bee Busy represents the life of the bee in their own habitat, their colony. They see the community as the queen bee and they are the worker bees, working tirelessly to protect the queen. Mitchell expresses, “Our promise is to remain connected to the community through grassroots efforts, and to continue to be known as the premiere organization that advocates for those whose voices are silent.”

Bee Busy, Inc. Bee Busy, Inc.

What began as a thought and was developed into an idea, is now Bee Busy, a 501(c)(3) community-based, non-profit organization, whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families in vulnerable, at-risk communities. Under the leadership of Padgett, Bee Busy’s vision to empower disenfranchised communities has come to fruition, through solutions for personal growth, development and improving self-esteem and knowledge. Its purpose is to decrease statistics among youth and young adults, including, but not limited to HIV/STD infection, suicide, runaways and incarceration. Bee Busy has made great strides because of its spirit of inclusion and competent, life-changing, non-discriminatory and culturally diverse programs and events.

Because issues, such as HIV/STDs, incarceration and illiteracy don’t discriminate, crossing all racial barriers, Bee Busy believes in inclusion. Humans are what is important to Bee Busy, and if you need help, no matter your race or background, they are there, ready to give that much needed helping hand.

Instead of being reactive, Bee Busy is into prevention. This communitybased, non-profit organization has been providing necessary and countless programs and resources that allow them to intercept at first encounters of violence, sexual activity and drugs, among other actions. Bee Busy reduces or eliminates second encounters, which in turn promotes advocacy and peer leadership.

Their unique approach to prevention has helped and continues to help them reach their goals to increase the awareness of HIV/STIs, increase the number of persons who know their HIV status through rapid HIV/STI screenings, reduce the transmission of HIV and provide timely linkage to care and treatment for HIV positive people. Bee Busy is successfully using methods that are helping address the following: • HIV status and early diagnosis • HIV prevention information • Increase the knowledge of social, mental and health consequences from sexual activity • Provide education on financial literacy • Teach basic life skills relating to personal choice • Reduce teen pregnancy in communities of color • HIV/AIDS Testing & Counseling • HIV/AIDS Education & Outreach

Bee Busy Busy Wellness Bee Wellness Center Center

There is no denying that there is a definite need to address HIV/AIDS in the Houston area, but there are also additional healthcare needs that are plaguing the underserved at-risk communities. To meet increased demand and to improve patient experience and convenience, they have recently ex-

panded the Bee Busy Wellness Center.

This wellness center is a full-service, federally qualified health center run by Mitchell. This custom-designed medical facility (Brays Oaks – Houston) is over 8,700 square feet, bringing affordable and quality healthcare to the Southwest area. “We’re very pleased to offer this state-of-the-art facility to our patients,” says Mitchell. The Bee Busy Wellness Center is an integral healthcare safety net provider, complete with 9 medical exam rooms, an onsite pharmacy and mental health services. The wellness center will soon be providing dental services. Mitchell expresses, “Our vision is that every person in Houston deserves the best in healthcare, so come on by and give the Bee Busy Wellness Center a chance to show you how we put the ‘care’ back in healthcare.”

The Bee Busy Wellness Center will have a space designated for digital mammography, and the first mammograms are scheduled for Saturday, September 26th from 9:00am-3:00pm.

The Bee Busy Wellness Center wants the community to take advantage of the “Mammo-Glam.” Because they want to encourage women to get their mammograms, their approach to the exam is making patients feel more like they are receiving a spa experience, as opposed to a doctor’s visit. This is just one of several mammogram events that will take place, where patients will enjoy light refreshments, giveaways and

lessons on breast self-exams before or after their mammogram.

The Bee Busy Wellness Center accepts Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP, in addition to private insurance. The wellness center is open six days a week and offers early morning, late afternoon and same-day appointments for patients’ (from newborns to seniors) convenience. “Growth and development in Brays Oaks made this expansion a natural next step for us – a bigger space, additional specialties, added services – it’s what our patients in Southwest Houston need,” says Padgett. When you visit the Bee Busy Wellness Center, your health is their top priority. The Bee Busy Wellness Center team is dedicated to providing the community with personalized care. The Bee Busy Wellness Center offers the following services: • Family Medicine • Pediatric Care • Women’s Health • OB/GYN • Weight Management • Men’s Health • Dental (Coming Soon) • Pharmacy Services • Athletic & DOT Physicals • Immunizations/Vaccinations • Health Screenings • Mental Health Care • PrEP Counseling • STI Screening and Treatment • Health Education • Enrollment in Qualified Health Plans Respected staples in Houston and Houston’s health community, Bee Busy and the Bee Busy Wellness Center have qualified and compassionate health professionals that are dedicated to the mission and vision that has been carefully set out by Padgett and Mitchell.

The health outreach and prevention efforts and services to men, women, families and youth have helped those vulnerable, at-risk areas that have been underserved for far too long. Building strong, healthy communities is their mission, and for almost fifteen years, they have been enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families.

To find out more about the Bee Busy Learning Academy, Inc. (Bee Busy), please visit www.beebusy.org. Please visit www.mybbwc.org to find out more about the Bee Busy Wellness Center.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

6 August-September 2015

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR):

Hands-Only The Life You Save Could Be Someone You Love training in CPR in Seattle, Washington called Medic 2. He helped train more than 100,000 people the first two years of the program. And as we say, “The Rest is History.”

H

By Tiffany Davis Contributing Writer

ands-only CPR (CPR without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) is a great place to start in learning how to save or preserve the life of someone you care about.

Dr. Aaron Orkin (who has done a wide range of reviews and research) states, “If someone is unresponsive, doing any kind of CPR is clearly better than doing nothing.”

The use of CPR dates all the way back to the mid and late 1700s. However, research shows and demonstrates anyone can learn CPR – and everyone should. In 1740, The Paris Academy of Sciences officially recommended mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for drowning victims.

Skipping to the 1900s, this was a time for greatness to occur. In 1903, Dr. George Crile reported the first successful use of external chest compressions in human resuscitation. Progressing to 1956, Peter Safar and James Elam invented mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Amazingly enough, in 1957, The United States military adopted the mouth-tomouth resuscitation method to revive unresponsive victims. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was developed in 1960. The American Heart Association started a program to acquaint physicians with close-chest cardiac resuscitation and became the forerunner of CPR training for the general public. In 1963, Cardiologist Leonard Scherlis started the American Heart Association’s CPR Committee, and the same year, the American Heart Association formally endorsed CPR. In 1966, National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences convened a conference on cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The conference was the direct result of requests from the American National Red Cross and other agencies to establish standardized training and performance standards for CPR. Finally, in 1972, Leonard Cobb held the world’s first mass citizen

Here are some questions to ask yourself regarding CPR: Why Should I Learn CPR?

Cardiac arrests are more common than you think, and they can happen to anyone at any time.

• Nearly 383,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually.

• Many victims appear healthy with no known heart disease or other risk factors.

• Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. o Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when electrical impulses in the heart become rapid or chaotic, which cause the heart to suddenly stop beating. o A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked. A heart attack may cause cardiac arrest.

Who Can You Save With CPR?

The life you save with CPR is mostly likely to be a loved one.

• Four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home.

• Statistically speaking, if called on to administer CPR in an emergency, the life you save is likely to be someone at home: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend.

• African-Americans are almost twice as likely to experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in another public location than Caucasians, and their survival rates are twice as poor as Caucasians.

Why Should I Take Action?

• Failure to act in a cardiac emergency can lead to unnecessary deaths.

• Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival, however; only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander.

• Sadly, less than eight percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive.

• The American Heart Association trains more than 12 million people in CPR annually, to equip Americans

with the skills they need to perform bystander CPR.

You Can Save A Life!

You can prepare yourself to act in an emergency by simply viewing a HandsOnly® CPR instructional video: • A study published in the March 8 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes showed that people who view a CPR instructional video are significantly more likely to attempt life-saving resuscitation.

• Hands-Only CPR (CPR with just chest compressions) has been proven to be as effective as CPR with breaths in treating adult cardiac arrest victims.

• The American Heart Association has recommended Hands-Only CPR. Visit www.heart.org Details for more conventional CPR (Certified and Trained), please contact:

• E-PIC Training Center, Inc. • American Heart Association (AHA) Certified and Trained Instructors • Direct Line: (832) 707-7666 Don’t be afraid; your actions can only help. If you see an unresponsive adult who is not breathing or not breathing normally, call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest.

This alarming statistic could hit close to home, because home is exactly where 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur. Remember: The life you save with CPR could be someone you love!

Aaron Orkin. Push hard, push fast, if you’re downtown: A citation review of urban-centrism in American and European basic life support guidelines. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 2013; 21 (1): 32 DOI: 10.1186/17577241-21-32

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August-September 2015  7

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

8 August-September 2015

Children and Health

By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

O

verweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors.

Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The percentage of children (ages 6–11) in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. The percentage of adolescents (ages 12–19) who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. With statistics like this, there is great cause for concern. There are more children now that are overweight and at risk for diseases due to being overweight. Childhood obesity has effects on the health and well-being of a young person. Some say educate the children, but the parents must be educated, as they are the decision makers.

The long-term health effects of childhood obesity can be detrimental. Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health

problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer and osteoarthritis. One study showed that children who became obese as early as age 2 were more likely to be obese as adults (CDC). Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The important thing is now that the facts of childhood obesity are known, there are things that can be done. Prevention is the key to helping raise children that will grow into healthy adults.

If you teach a child healthy eating habits when they’re young, that lowers the child’s risk of being overweight and developing diseases related to being overweight. There are so many factors that can contribute to a child being obese or overweight. Family and other factors determine a child’s eating habits.

Many adults have trouble themselves when it comes to healthy eating, so it’s just natural that those unhealthy habits trickle down to the children. It’s hard to eat healthy, but if you eat healthy, then that increases the chances of your children leading a healthy life when they become an adult. There is so much information out there about health that it may confuse you, but below see myths

and truths when it comes to obesity in children: Myths and Truths about Weight Problems and Obesity in Children (www.helpguide.org) MYTH: Childhood obesity is genetic, so there’s nothing you can do about it.

TRUTH: While a person’s genes

do influence weight, they are only one small part of the equation. Although some children are more prone to gaining weight than others, that doesn’t mean they’re destined for weight problems.

Most kids can maintain a healthy weight if they eat right and exercise.

MYTH: Children who are obese or overweight should be put on a diet.

TRUTH: Unless directed by your child’s doctor otherwise, the treatment for childhood obesity is not weight loss. The goal should be to slow or stop weight gain, allowing your child to grow into his or her ideal weight.

MYTH: It’s just baby fat. Children will outgrow the weight.

TRUTH: Childhood obesity doesn’t always lead to obesity in adulthood, but it does raise the risks dramatically. The majority of children who are overweight at any time during the preschool or elementary school are still overweight as they enter their teens. Most kids do not outgrow the problem.

With family responsibilities and career responsibilities, life can be hectic, and it’s easy to grab something on the go for you and your child or family. It’s easy to let your child watch video games and not participate in a physical activity. However, it’s important to remember that not making healthier choices for your child can have long-term health effects on your child that can follow them into adulthood. It’s important for you to get educated regarding your child’s health. Though it may not be easy at first, in the long run, your children will be healthier for it.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

August-September 2015 9

Dr. Anjanette Wyatt

Receives Honor from the Texas Pharmacy Association

By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

D

r. Anjanette Wyatt is the Pharmacy Manager, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Care Pharmacy, LLC. She also serves as the Consultant Pharmacist for the Mother of Many Children’s Home and the Heavenly Care Residential Facility in Houston. Dr. Wyatt has a stellar reputation in the health care profession, as this is not just a job for her. It is her passion to serve others, and her work has not gone unnoticed. She has recently been chosen by the Texas Pharmacy Association as the recipient of their 2015 Distinguished Service Award.

The Texas Pharmacy Association has been the leading advocate for all pharmacists and the pharmacy profession. In May 1879, 18 pharmacists met in the backroom of a Dallas drug store and formed the Texas State Pharmaceutical Association. Their goal was to not only improve the quality of drugs, but pharmaceutical services in Texas. The Texas Pharmacy Association proudly serves members practicing in all areas of pharmacy. They are that effective and strong voice that unifies, protects and advances the pharmacy profession in Texas.

Dr. Wyatt graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1987 with a Biology degree. She obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy

and Health Sciences. Dr. Wyatt is a leader and she is well-respected in her field. Her leadership experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the National Pharmacists Association.

Dr. Wyatt has also served as President, Director and Executive Director of the Texas Southern University Pharmacy and the Health Sciences Alumni Associations.

Dr. Wyatt’s leadership doesn’t stop there.

In addition, she is the Founder of the Texas Association of Independent Pharmacy Owners and Founder of the Clinical Intervention and Kids Elite Retreat, an entrepreneurial camp for kids. Dr. Wyatt was installed as the National President of the Association of Black Health System and she is the first female and AfricanAmerican President of the Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas.

In addition to Dr. Wyatt’s extensive leadership resume, she is also an active member of the Association of Black Health System Pharmacists, the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, the National

Pharmaceutical Association, the American Pharmacy Association, the National Association of Professional Women, the Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Houston Area Pharmacy Association, the Houston Speakers Bureau, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and the Texas Pharmacy Association. She is also a proud member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Wyatt has received numerous awards, including the Lemon Award, the Outstanding Young American Award, the Texas Southern University Dean Service Award and the Texas Southern University National Alumni Membership Development Award. She formed Clinical Intervention Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on health care issues that impact the elderly and children. She was recognized by the National Association of Professional Women in Business and received the 2011 Woman of the Year Award in Houston.

Dr. Wyatt was also honored by the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation for

her business and community leadership in Houston.

Some of Dr. Wyatt’s additional accomplishments include: • d-mars.com’s 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 Top Black Health, Medical & Wellness Professional • Texas Exes Alumni’s 2012 Unsung Hero Award • 2012 Appointed to the Texas Pharmacy Foundation Board of Trustees • d-mars.com’s 2013 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Award • Houston Sun Magazine’s 2013 Top 30 Women of Power and Purpose Award • 2013 Introduction of Mayor Annise Parker at State of the City Address • Houston Woman Magazine’s 2013 50 Most Influential Women Award As a health care provider, Dr. Wyatt has great concern about the number of African-American women who are faced with hormonal-related cancers at an early age. When she discovered that more than five of her close friends were battling this type of cancer, she realized that this issue should be a priority for organizations. She is working diligently with organizations to address this concern and educate our community. Dr. Wyatt is extremely proud of being recognized by the Texas Pharmacy Association. She says, “I thank God for being one of the only African-American pharmacists to receive the Distinguished Service Award in the 135+ year history of the organization.” Dr. Wyatt is a shining example of how using the power of effective communication can better the community.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

10 August-September 2015

Lose Weight the Right Way

By Dawn Paul

Associate Editor

N

ow with health issues at an all-time high, more and more people are taking their health very seriously. It’s a known fact that African-Americans are at a higher risk for certain diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Doctors and health professionals are encouraging people to get healthy by changing their eating habits and doing regular physical activity. It’s important to remember that you didn’t gain the weight overnight, so you won’t lose it overnight. However, there are some that want quick weight loss and quick results, but it’s best to lose weight the right way.

With all these quick weight loss products, plans and gimmicks, it’s no wonder some people who battle weight problems don’t know where to turn. If you don’t know where to turn or what to do, you are not alone. The best way is to talk to your physician, a reputable weight loss specialist or nutritionist for the best approach to your weight loss goals for you to achieve success on your journey to a healthy lifestyle. There are many tips out there that tell you how to lose weight quickly, but you have to be careful and remember that quicker is not always better. Many times people will lose large amounts of weight quickly, but because they lost it quickly, they didn’t learn to make healthy lifestyle changes, and the pounds came back on.

Helpguide.org is a trusted nonprofit guide to mental health and well-being. This guide is a great source when addressing how to successfully manage your weight.

It is hard to lose weight, and the struggle is real. If it wasn’t a struggle, more Americans wouldn’t be battling their weight and they would be winning the battle of the bulge.

Below read some of Helpguide.org’s tips to help you be successful on your journey to being a healthier you: • Think lifestyle change, not short-term diet. Permanent weight loss is not something that a “quick-fix” diet can achieve. Instead, think about weight loss as a permanent lifestyle change—a commitment to replace high-calorie foods with healthier, lower calorie alternatives, reduce your portion sizes, and become more active.

Various popular diets can help jumpstart your weight loss, but permanent changes in your lifestyle and food choices are what will work in the long run.

• Find a cheering section. Social support means a lot. Programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers use group support to impact weight loss and lifelong healthy eating. Seek out support—whether in the form of family, friends, or a support group—to get the encouragement you need.

• Slow and steady wins the race. Aim to lose one to two pounds a week to ensure healthy weight loss. Losing weight too fast can take a toll on your mind and body, making you feel sluggish, drained, and sick. When you drop a lot of weight quickly, you’re actually losing mostly water and muscle, rather than fat.

• Set goals to keep you motivated. Short-term goals, like wanting to fit into a bikini for the summer, usually don’t work as well as wanting to feel more confident, boost your mood, or become healthier for your children’s sakes. When frustration and temptation strike, concentrate on the many benefits you will reap from being healthier and leaner.

• Use tools that help you track your progress. Keep a food journal and weigh yourself regularly, keeping track of each pound and inch you lose. By keeping track of your weight loss efforts, you’ll see the results in black and white, which will help you stay motivated.

• Pay attention while you’re eating. Instead of chowing down mindlessly, savor the experience. Eat slowly, savoring the smells and textures of your food.

If your mind wanders, gently return your attention to your food and how it tastes and feels in your mouth.

• Stop eating before you are full. It takes time for the signal to reach your brain that you’ve had enough.

Avoid the temptation to clean your plate.

• Make your indulgence less indulgent. Find ways to reduce fat, sugar, or calories in your favorite treats and snacks. If you do your own baking, cut back on sugar, making up for it with extra cinnamon or vanilla extract. You can also eliminate or reduce high-calorie sides, like whipped cream, cheese, dip and frosting.

• Eat early, weigh less. Early studies suggest that consuming more of your daily calories at breakfast and fewer at dinner can help you drop more pounds. Eating a larger, healthy breakfast can jump start your metabolism, stop you feeling hungry during the day and give you more time to burn off the calories.

• Serve yourself smaller portions. One easy way to control portion size is by using small plates, bowls and cups. This will make your portions appear larger. Don’t eat out of large bowls or directly from the food container or package, which makes it difficult to assess how much you’ve eaten. Using smaller utensils, like a teaspoon instead of tablespoon, can slow eating and help you feel full sooner.

• Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. You will be more inclined to eat in moderation if you have thought out healthy meals and snacks in advance. You can buy or create your own small portion snacks in plastic bags or containers. Eating on a schedule will also help you avoid eating when you aren’t truly hungry.

• Cook your own meals. Cooking meals at home allows you to control both portion size and what goes in to the food. Restaurant and packaged foods generally contain a lot more sodium, fat, and calories than

food cooked at home—plus the portion sizes tend to be larger.

• Don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry.

Create a shopping list and stick to it. Be especially careful to avoid high-calorie snack and convenience foods.

• Out of sight, out of mind. Limit the amount of tempting foods you have at home. If you share a kitchen with non-dieters, store snack foods and other high-calorie indulgences in cabinets or drawers out of your sight.

Getting healthy is of great importance. People lead busy lives, and it’s hard to manage eating habits with fast food and other temptations, but it can be done. It’s important to keep in mind that though you may want weight loss results fast, that is not the best way. Remember, quicker is not always better. Start today on the path to getting healthy.

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Dental Health

By Dr. Ka-Ron Y. Wade Contributing Writer

What Parents Can Do for Babies and Toddlers 1. Find out if your tap water has fluoride in it (check with your local water utility).

• If your tap water does not have fluoride, your dentist or physician might suggest fluoride in other forms to keep your child’s teeth healthy.

• If your tap water does have fluoride—and your baby drinks only formula that has to be mixed with water—you may want to use bottled water (without added fluoride) some of the time. Here’s why: mixing powdered or liquid infant formula concentrate with fluoridated water on a regular basis may increase the chance of a child developing dental fluorosis on his or her permanent teeth.*

Fluorosis appears as white lines or flecks on the teeth. It is usually mild; in many cases, only a dental professional would notice it.

• Give your child fruits and vegetables for snacks.

• Save cookies and other treats for special occasions.

*If children regularly consume higherthan-recommended amounts of fluoride during the teeth-forming years (age 8 and younger), their permanent teeth may develop dental fluorosis.

5. Take your child to the dentist by age 1.

At this visit, the dentist will check your child’s teeth and show you the best way to clean them.

2. Check and clean your baby’s teeth.

Clean the teeth as soon as they come in with water and a clean, soft cloth or a baby’s toothbrush. Healthy teeth should be all one color. If you see spots or stains on the teeth, take your baby to a dentist. At about age 2 (or sooner if a dentist or physician suggests it) you should start putting fluoride toothpaste on your child’s toothbrush. Use only a pea-sized drop of toothpaste.

What Parents Can Do for School Age Children

3. Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle.

Milk, formula, juice and other drinks, such as soda all have sugar in them. Bacteria in the mouth use sugar to make acid. Over time, this acid can make a cavity in the tooth. The longer sugar stays on your baby’s teeth, the more chances the bacteria have to make acid.

And more acid means more decay. So if you do put your baby to bed with a bottle, fill it only with water.

4. Feed your baby or toddler healthy foods.

• Choose foods without a lot of sugar in them.

As kids get older, they still need a parent’s help to keep their teeth sparkling clean and healthy. Here are five tips: 1. Find out if your water has fluoride in it (check with your local water utility).

If it does, drink tap water instead of bottled water. Most bottled water does not contain enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay. If your water is not fluoridated, talk to a dentist or physician

about whether your child needs fluoride in other forms.

2. Help your children brush their teeth (with a fluoride toothpaste) twice a day.

Young children cannot get their teeth clean by themselves. Until they are 7 or 8 years old, you will need to make sure they do a thorough job. Use no more than a pea-size amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush, and encourage your child to spit out toothpaste rather than swallow it.

3. Serve healthy meals and snacks.

• Limit between-meal snacks.

• Save candy, cookies, soda and other sugary drinks for special occasions.

• Limit fruit juice. Follow the Daily Juice Recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (visit www. aap.org).

4. Take your children to the dentist For regular cleanings and check-ups.

5. Ask your dentist about dental sealants.

Sealants are put on in dentists’ offices, clinics and sometimes in schools.

Healthy teeth are important—even baby teeth. Children need healthy teeth to chew and to speak clearly. And baby teeth hold space for adult teeth.

For breakthrough dental technology, call us today at 832-304-2449, or visit us on the web at www.cosmeticdt.com.

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Help! I Can’t Swim

By Rhonda Dallas Contributing Writer

“Turn Around, Don’t Drown” has become a new phrase that the Texas Department of Safety has started flashing on billboards around the Houston area, in light of recent flooding. As we witnessed, people were stranded, and lives were lost in the flooding across Houston and the surrounding areas.

Do you know how to swim or tread water in the event of a storm? Every year hundreds of people drown because they don’t know how to swim. When it comes to drowning, the children’s ratio is higher than the adults. As a former lifeguard, I am one who takes water and safety very seriously. I encourage you no matter what age you are, to make it a priority to learn how to swim. We have so many places throughout the city where you can learn how to swim.

With the growing number of waterparks, it is imperative as parents that we teach our children not only how to swim, but safety

tips when in and out of the water. Some of those tips are: • Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

• Always swim with a buddy, and do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or at a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!

• Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learnto-Swim courses.

• Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child. Teach children to always ask permission to go near water.

• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.

• Establish rules for your family, and enforce them without fail. For example, set limits based on each person’s ability. Do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings. Do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under water, and don’t allow swimmers to have breathholding contests.

Let’s keep our families safe. One of my dearest friends lost her daughter to a pool drowning, and because of that tragedy, she has created Bria’s House. Bria’s House is an initiative to make sure children know how to swim.

To find out more about programs and health and wellness coaching, please contact Rhonda Dallas at info@rhondajdallas. com, and visit her on the web at www.rhon dadallascoaching.com.

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5 Health Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

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By d-mars.com News Provider

eparating fact from fiction can be difficult, especially when it comes to information about your health. Cutting through the Internet clutter and opinions from friends to uncover the truth is key to keeping the mind and body well.

Dr. Jennifer Johnson, naturopathic doctor at Bastyr University School of Naturopathic Medicine, offers her expert insight into five of the most common health myths.

Myth 1: Omega-3 fatty acids increase the risk of prostate cancer.

A new study does not support the reported association between omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of prostate cancer put forth by a widely publicized 2013 study. By disputing these findings, the new study reaffirms that men can safely consume omega-3 fatty acids from dietary sources, or from supplements, and continue to reap the substantial health benefits of omega-3s.

“Omega-3 fatty acids are vital to our health. They work to help lower inflammation, reduce risk of developing cardiovascular disease, lower triglycerides and blood pressure, and have overall positive effects on immune and brain function,” says Johnson. “The recent meta-analysis with respect to prostate health and fish

oil does in fact show that men who take fish oil, either from dietary sources or supplements, are at no increased risk for prostate cancer.”

Johnson stresses that there is no known mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids would increase the risk of prostate cancer. To the contrary, there is research suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids might inhibit prostate cancer cell growth.

Myth 2: Vitamin C prevents the common cold.

If you’re like many people, you reach for a bottle of vitamin C at the first sign of a cold. This is a good choice, as vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that boosts the immune system to fight off infection when you are sick. However, while vitamin C is a good option for treating a cold, it does not work to prevent colds before onset.

“Vitamin C has been shown to reduce the length of colds and can help treat symptoms,” says Johnson. “Though beneficial and quite safe, vitamin C has not been found to consistently prevent colds.

If you do start to feel the sniffles, supplement with 500–1000 mg/day.”

Myth 3: Everyone should take a multivitamin each day.

Vitamins and minerals play a vital role in the normal functioning of our bodies, from skin and bone development,

to brain and heart function. However, research is inconsistent when it comes to multivitamins so an individualized approach is best.

“One size does not fit all,” says Johnson. “Adding in all those nutrients in often a fairly low dose may not provide enough therapeutic benefit to help any one problem. To really target your health concerns using vitamins, see your health care provider to determine if there is a vitamin/mineral recommendation that is just right for you. Better yet, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables will provide your body with compounds and nutrients that truly do benefit the body.”

Myth 4: Most people get adequate vitamin D through diet.

“Vitamin D is essential for bone health, and the actions of vitamin D are considered hormonal. This means that this compound truly has farreaching effects on the body and has been shown to support immune function and improve mood,” says Johnson.

“Studies show that this ‘sunny vitamin’ may also help to prevent cancer.”

When the skin is directly exposed to sunlight, vitamin D synthesis begins, explains Johnson. In order for enough vitamin D

to be produced, the skin would have to be in direct sunlight most days for 20 minutes, which most people do not experience consistently. “Supplements are a good option for getting adequate vitamin D, but make sure to check with your doctor for proper dosage. I suggest the natural vitamin D3 form,” says Johnson.

Myth 5: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Apples are a good source of antioxidants and beta-carotene, which are very beneficial for overall health. They are also fiber rich, which promotes gut health. But apples are just one of many effective ways to fend off a visit to the doctor.

“First, sleeping enough sets the stage for good health, as sleep is the time for repair,” says Johnson. “Additionally, managing stress helps the immune system function best. When the body perceives stress, immune function goes down.

Stress is normal, but having a balanced life will always promote health. Rest, exercise, keeping hydrated, maintaining a positive attitude and eating a balanced diet of whole foods is the true Rx for health.” – BPT

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