August 2010

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MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT WOMEN AND WEIGHT TRAINING PG. 16

Indianapolis

Guide

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

CLASSICALLY INSPIRED Vitruvian Man and Seventies Pop

Joe Boggs

LEARNING THE BASICS OF GUM DISEASE What Exactly Is Age Management?

THE BEST BACK-TO-SCHOOL LUNCHES

August 2010

ACUPUNCTURE IS IT RIGHT FOR

YOU?

GOT PAIN? LET’S TALK

Breakfast Revisited

Grilled Shrimp Tacos

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AUGUST

An activelife Personified

Joe Boggs

11

Classically Inspired Vitruvian Man and Seventies Pop

20 THE BEST

BACK-TO-SCHOOL LUNCHES

14 Grilled

7 GOT PAIN?

Shrimp Tacos

LET’S TALK

16 Myths and Facts About Women and Weight Training

10 Breakfast Revisited

Joe Boggs

6

Learning the Basics of Gum Disease

15

What Exactly is Age Management?

PG. 11

18 Acupuncture IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

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Health

Guide

By Dr. Samuel J. Bacon, DDS

Learning the Basics of Gum Disease G

um disease is the most common chronic infection in our country, with approximately 80% of U.S. adults currently having some form of the disease. With so many people being affected by this condition, it’s important to help educate readers about the stages, effects, and ultimately the treatment of this potentially harmful disease.

Overall, gum disease ranges from simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis, to the most severe stage, which results in damage to the bone supporting your teeth. The initial stage of gingivitis starts with gums that are red and swollen.

Without treatment, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which is an infection in the tissues and bone structure. This stage can lead to persistent bad breath, bleeding gums, and eventually tooth loss.

Recently gum disease has been linked to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, premature, low-birth-weight babies, diabetes, and respiratory conditions. Now I say these things not to scare you, but to illustrate just how important oral health is to your overall health. Many people believe oral health is all about cavities and white teeth. Obviously, those things are important visually to one’s smile; however, healthy gums play a vital role in oral and overall health. This is why it’s so important to visit your dentist so he or she can www.activelifeguide.com

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detect any signs of gum disease before they progress into more serious health issues.

When I talk with patients about gum disease, specifically periodontal disease, I suggest they compare treatment to the way people live with diabetes. Diabetes is a very serious condition that must be monitored often; however, many people live healthy productive lives with this condition. You should take the same approach with gum disease.

After your dentist identifies gum disease, he or she will start you on an aggressive plan to clear the bacteria and inflammation from your gums. This involves a series of specialized cleanings and treatments of antibiotics performed by a hygienist once every three months. Upon completion, a follow-up is scheduled to determine the success of the cleanings, and products (electric toothbrush, prescription antibacterial rinses, and prescription toothpastes) are recommended to continue your at-home daily care.

These steps, coupled with proper oral care, will allow patients to control and manage any recurrence or future damage to the gums. However, much like diabetes, you must always monitor the disease and make sure you establish regular visits to your dentist.

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Your guide to a healthy lifestyle

EDUARDO PEÑA EDITOR - IN - CHIEF ISMAEL PEÑA ASSISTANT EDITOR MATTHEW HUME SENIOR WRITER RAMÓN GARCIA PHOTOGRAPHER JUSTYNA DORUCH MARKETING COORDINATOR STACEY DAVIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER CIRCULATION ACTIVE LIFE GUIDE CORP. activelife Guide is published monthly by activelife Guide Corp.

6037 Saw Mill Dr., Noblesville, IN 46062; Copyright by activelife Guide Corp. activelife Guide is a registered trademark of activelife Guide Corp. activelife Guide strongly recommends that you consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program. If you follow these fitness tips, you agree to do so at your own risk and assume all risk of injury to yourself, and agree to release and discharge activelife Guide from any claims.

CONTACT INFORMATION http://www.activelifeguide.com Info@activelifeguide.com ADVERTISING advertising@activelifeguide.com Phone: 317.776.1689 COMMENTS & FEEDBACK editorial@activelifeguide.com Phone: 317.776.1689 SUBSCRIPTIONS admin@activelifeguide.com _________________________ Your guide to a healthy lifestyle _________________________

activelife Guide Corp.© 6037 Saw Mill Dr Noblesville, IN 46062 (317) 776 - 1689 activelifeguide.com

Indianapolis

GOT PAIN? LET’S TALK Every athlete knows some kind of pain, such as knee pain, hip pain, or even ankle pain. Well, drugs and a trip to your nearest surgeon may seem to be a great idea if you have extra money to burn and a lack of desire for a successful outcome. Or you can keep reading and discover that there is a real reason for your pain and a simple solution. The following is a series of symptoms that you may find in the lower extremities, from the foot to the hip and lower back.

The Ankle: Pain of the lateral ankle just to the front of the lateral malleolus may be nothing more than a malalignment of the talus, but more likely lateral position of the cuboid of the ankle. Correction may immediately reduce the pain and or pinch. A follow-up with a pair of stabilizing orthotics should reduce the risk of further injury and promote healing.

The Knee: Continuing upward to the knee may be the very next area felt with a dysfunctional ankle. Pain in the back of the lateral knee may be a sign of a fibular head malposition.

When the cuboid of the ankle is not moving correctly due to flat feet or an injury, then the fibular head often falls victim to dysfunction. Simultaneous correction of both ends of the fibula result in reduction of the lateral knee pain and iliotibial band tension often immediately. With many athletes, there are sprains to the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), MCL (medial collateral ligament), or PCL (posterior cruciate ligament). But pain may also stem from nothing more than a counter-rotation of the upper and lower portions of the knee joint. A quick correction of this can aid in the healing of the injured knee, followed again by ice application for about twenty minutes.

Tight Hamstrings: A deviation of the foot such as that of flat feet can cause a medial drop of the knee followed by an anterior position of the pelvis. An anterior or forward roll of the pelvic bones automatically creates additional tension of the hamstrings. This can in turn create pain in the sacroiliac joint either bilaterally or unilaterally. Pain in the posterior knee may also occur with tension or pain in the iliotibial band which could be mistaken for a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve problem often thought to be a fourth lumbar nerve irritation.

Rubbing the IT band may be a waste of time and more of an aggravation than a successful stretching activity, especially when it may all start with a flat foot.

I hope that this article was helpful in coming up with some solutions for the cause of your pain. Feel free to contact my office or call if you have a complicated issue that needs to be corrected or a referral.

About the Author: Dr. Todd McDougle has been caring for elite-level athletes for over a decade. He has postgraduate education via the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician program and has developed his own technique that has launched many career athletes into the next level. He is on the Board of Directors of the International Chiropractors Association of Indiana and is the Insurance Compliance Council Chairman for that organization. He has his practice in Fishers where he serves as a chiropractic physician and continues to be the only physician in Indiana to perform scoliosis bracing for people suffering from that affliction. www.DrMcDougle.com www.activelifeguide.com

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FROM THE EDITOR

BY EDUARDO PEÑA

Back to School…

Feed ‘Em Right!

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new school year is right around the corner, and we want to make sure your special little one—or not-so-little one—is properly nourished to achieve his or her best! In this issue, we give you tips on how to make boxed lunches for your children, from the tiniest eater to the pickiest one.

We also meet Joe Boggs, a passionate individual who enjoys helping others lead healthier lives. Joe tells us everything about his workout routine and nutrition plan, and he introduces us to sophisticated fitness equipment called Power Plate. He explains how this incredible machine is revolutionizing the way we work out, requiring only a few minutes a day—without traditional, boring weights!

Our goal at activelife Guide is to encourage people to become more active. It’s not just about the way you look—it’s about the way you feel. Active People = Healthy and Happy People.

Be active! Live well!

Eduardo

Cover Story

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Sen e-ma d us an il an dw co Do you lead an active life? the nsider you e’ll fo cove r of a r lG you know someone who does?

We are looking for individuals for our cover story! www.activelifeguide.com AUGUST 2010

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Nutrition

By Dr. Roger Spahr, MD

Breakfast

Rev isited

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ou awaken to a bright shiny day! Today is the day you will start that weight reduction plan and start to eat right. You may be 30 or more pounds overweight, but you have the right concept of what to eat to get back on track and the way to exercise to get there, right? Cereal with skim milk and banana slices on top, four ounces of orange juice, and a slice of whole wheat toast. You go to work and then after work before going home you head to the gym. There you climb on a treadmill, elliptical, bike or run outside.

Perhaps you remind yourself, “Gotta keep that heart rate to that cardio limit for 20 minutes.” After 30 days you may find that you have not lost any weight, are more fatigued, and in fact could have gained some weight. How does THAT happen!

Welcome to the world of physiology.

That’s the part of science that studies how the body responds chemically to different stressors and not just how we would like it to respond. The truth is, that the body has different needs based on your starting point with nutrition, weight, and conditioning.

The things that work well for a teen or someone in their twenties or thirties does not work as well for older persons, or those with hormonal or other nutritional imbalances. Put in high blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.

OK, let’s discuss the breakfast.

Within 20 minutes or so, the “healthy” breakfast you just ate converts the www.activelifeguide.com

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grams of carbohydrate in the cereal, skim milk, banana, and toast to sugar in your body. All total, that breakfast has the effect of 14-20 teaspoons of sugar. That is if you even use a socalled low carbohydrate or fiber cereal.

Check the cereal box label the next time you shop.

Starting your day off with a high glucose level will inevitably mean you will experience higher insulin levels and even possibly low blood sugars that then drive cortisol levels high, once again fatiguing your body.

Having your blood sugar level drop can send even the most disciplined of eaters to the vending machine for that chocolate and nuts. A great alternative would be the leftovers you have from your dinner last night.

You’ve heard of bagels and lox. Why not try a vegetable omelet, salmon and veggies, a protein smoothie, or even an apple and peanut butter? The thing all of these meals have in common is protein and fiber, setting you up for more consistent blood sugar levels throughout the day, which will give your body more energy and fewer ups and downs.

Following a glycemic diet, by reducing rapid releasing sugar foods, you avoid chasing blood sugar all day long. This increases inflammation and insulin levels which age your body and mind.

Additionally for women, it induces increased estrogen levels.That can lead to heavier menstruation, PMS, weight gain, and other hormone related problems.

Higher carbohydrate meals also deplete B complex vitamins. While it

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is true that whole grains have been fortified with B vitamins, it frequently does not offset depletion. This is not to say that you should exclude all grains from your diet. However, you need to be very careful especially in the morning to add protein sources and good fats into your meals that support stable blood sugar levels.

What about that exercise? When starting out you should keep your heart rate in the fat burning zone 75% of the time over the first month of exercise training. Before you are conditioned, driving your heart rate higher will kick in cortisol, stress your adrenal gland unnecessarily, increase fatigue, drive up stress level hormones, and tear down muscle for energy instead of the fat you wish to decrease.

Interval training of 3-4 minutes in the fat zone, followed by increased effort for 1 minute to move the heart rate higher, then reducing back to original effort will slowly condition your body and heart to respond to stressors.

Then after a month or so you can gradually work your way to increase your effort.

Eating properly and correct exercise strategy when involved in a life change is so important that we have introduced cooking classes and a physical trainer in our medical office. For some, they respond well no matter what they do in regard to diet exercise and body physiology. For most others, having guidance is very helpful and can lead to a more successful result. The key is to do something, rather than sit on the couch watching infomercials on exercise muttering, “Maybe one day.”

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An activelife Personified

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h, Napoli! Romantic Italia. The perfect way to start a life together. How could a honeymoon get any better? “We were on a Mediterranean cruise,” says Joe Boggs, this month’s featured athlete, a master conditioning specialist at Concept Training, Inc. “When the ship pulled into port in Naples, we set off on foot to explore the city.” But historic streets are narrow, and when his wife Jamie Jo suggested they get off the beaten bath—“Let’s take a left!”—that’s when the fun began. A few zigzags through the steep, winding ribbons of pavement the Italians call streets, and the newlyweds were lost. Lost in Naples. “I counted 191 steps,” Joe tells me, as he recalls the climb the two of them made uphill on a one-way street during rush-hour traffic. The volume of traffic on the narrow streets—with nary a sidewalk in sight—made it impossible to try another way out, so they kept climbing. All said, Joe and Jamie Jo hiked 10 miles up and down the hills of Naples. “It’s all downhill from here,” he said to Jamie Jo at one point. “All roads lead to Rome.” She didn’t find the humor. www.activelifeguide.com

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years of improper conditioning and weight training in his high school athletic endeavors led to problems. “I bent over to pick up my niece when I was 21 and threw my back out. My doctors recommended surgery as the best way to go, and I said ‘No way.’” In working through his own non-surgical rehabilitation, Joe found himself on the road to being a personal trainer, and a passion was kindled inside him.

“I know of one 15-year-old girl whose coach makes her team run 50 miles a week in 94-degree heat,” he says disapprovingly. “I save at least two kids a year from coaches that treat them like they’re in the military. Do I tell them not to do what their coach says?

No. But I make sure they know how to safely work out.” He eventually wants to focus his business more on insuring that young athletes are properly trained and coached in weight training—so they can live their adult lives free of needless pain.

“

I grew up as one of eight siblings,” Joe tells me. “We rode bikes, or played football or basketball, or swam every day of the summer.” He certainly belongs to a physically active family—at a recent reunion, his family competed in water polo matches, basketball games, and golf. “I was more tired than relaxed by the end of it!” But Joe attributes his current active lifestyle to the competitive spirit of his early years. And he’s greatly concerned for the youth of today, with the ever-increasingly sedentary lifestyle that so many children lead.

“It’s important to start being active early,” he urges. Otherwise, bad habits get set into stone. “I have clients who used to regularly eat fast food. Now that they’re leading a healthy life, they realize that they were quite literally killing themselves.”

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ut Joe’s desire to study exercise science at Ball State; to become a Certified Personal Trainer; to be a Certified Power Plate Specialist—came from his days as captain of his high school football team. Neck, shoulder, and back pain run in his family, and

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hatever the client’s situation, Joe must be prepared to meet their need. The day I met with him, he had been working with a young man required to lose 20 pounds to join the Army. Earlier that morning he’d worked with a gentleman who, three months ago, had spinal surgery and needs help with range of motion; the client’s goal is to play golf six times a week.

“No matter what they come to me for, I come up with a plan to get them back to doing what they do. Or what they want to do.” His clients range from a 19-year- old drafted into the NHL who needs to learn how to stretch his hamstrings, to local politicians and company executives. “My goal is to get people’s bodies back to working the way they’re supposed to work.” He looks to Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian man” for inspiration: there is balance and order in a properly functioning human body, and it is Joe’s ultimate goal for his clients to reach that ideal.

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n a world where individuals are growing more and more isolated even as technology seemingly brings us closer together, Joe believes in the

to stay physically healthy is so that I can enjoy the good things in life occasionally. Jamie Jo and I love to eat out, and we keep each other in check.”

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power of personal interaction, and he brings that desire to connect personally to each of his clients. One way he customizes his sessions is through the use of Power Plate. Power Plate uses vibration acceleration technology to achieve any number of fitness goals, and the program is tailored to each client. “Instead of using weights to increase the force with which we work, this technology uses acceleration to achieve the same end,” he explains.

Think Newton and his famous law: force equals mass times acceleration.

Joe even throws music therapy into the mix. “I set up a station on Pandora for each of my clients; music helps to put them at ease during their sessions.”

Sometimes he sings to them. Ask his client Mandy what she thinks of his Barry Manilow impression. (He admits to a proclivity towards cheesy 70s love songs.) “They see that I want to connect with them, and that I love what I do, and they really respond to this.”

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oe cares deeply about the wellbeing of each and every person that walks into his office. But what does he do to maintain his own active

with free weights,” he says. One day he focuses on cardio, and the next on weight training. “I’ll do two hours of weights one day, but I take it easy; I don’t rush, and I don’t work with heavy weights.” Another two days a week you’ll find him at lunch taking a long walk around the paths at the Monon Center.

It’s an opportunity to get out of the gym environment and take in the natural world—and a means of recovery and renewal for him. And two days a week, he works on stretching, circulation, massage, and recovery on the Power Plate. Come Sunday, he rests—“The way God intended!” he quips. When asked if he participates in any group sports, he tells me his competitive days are mostly behind him. “I’ve played kickball with Circle City Athletics, and I play basketball and dodge ball at the gym, but mostly I care about personal fitness.” He confesses that his style is very laidback, both in his own pursuits and with his clients. “I just want to be healthy— not on the front cover of Ripped.”

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lifestyle? For two hours a day, twice a week, Joe goes to the gym in between his morning and afternoon clients. “I swim laps, play basketball, and work

hen it comes to eating right, Joe and Jamie Jo have found that ordering fresh, local fruits and vegetables from a home delivery service brings the right kinds of food into their house. “Every Tuesday we get a shipment of fresh orange juice, granola, fruits, and veggies,” he tells me, and this encourages them to eat healthily. Is there an occasional splurge? “Of course,” Joe says. But he doesn’t beat himself up when that happens. “The reason I work so hard

f course Joe loves to eat—he’s of Italian descent, after all. That Italian heritage has contributed to the longevity that runs in his family. “My grandma lived to be 94,” he says. “The only complaint I have is that I didn’t inherit a full head of Italian hair!” In addition to eating right, Joe and Jamie Jo stay active together, taking walks around their neighborhood or going to the gym together on the weekends.

And when they take vacations, they don’t lie on the beach soaking up the sun—they get out there and explore on foot (just like that day in Naples). Jamie Jo is an athlete in her own right; the two of them met when she was working as a dancer at Disney World.

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f you’re considering a move towards a healthier lifestyle, Joe stresses that a positive attitude is key, and that you should take care not to set yourself up for failure. “People think they have to look a certain way.

Not true. You just have to get started, and you really have to filter out what you see in the media, on the cover of so many magazines.” And he advises to stay away from crash diets. He also encourages individuals to hire a qualified personal trainer, even if it’s just for a short period of time.

“It’s important to educate yourself in the right way to exercise,” he says, and hiring a qualified trainer is one way to efficiently and safely become educated in this way. “The mistake so many people make is viewing exercise and health as an endpoint. But it’s a continual process. If you make a mistake one day, it’s not the end of the world. Just don’t give up.”

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o maybe, unlike Joe, your goal is to make the cover of Ripped.

But your aim need not be so lofty—or self-absorbed. “If your goal is to have energy to play with your kids at the end of the day, that’s a pretty cool goal.”

Barry Manilow thinks so, too. www.activelifeguide.com

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Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Preparation Ingredients 1/2 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 3 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled 3 tablespoons butter, melted 2 large garlic cloves, minced 4 limes, cut into quarters 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 8 6-inch corn tortillas 2 to 3 cups finely shredded green cabbage bottled green tomatillo salsa

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1. Whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, and cumin. Set aside.

2. Skewer the shrimp. (If using wood skewers, soak them in water for 10 minutes beforehand.) In a small bowl, combine the butter and garlic.

3. Preheat a gas grill to high; adjust to medium after 15 minutes. (If cooking over charcoal, allow the coals to burn until they are covered with gray ash.)

4. Brush the skewered shrimp with the garlic butter. Place them on the grill with the limes. Cook about 4 minutes on each side or until the shrimp are opaque and the limes are browned. Remove from grill. Lightly salt the shrimp.

5. Grill the tortillas for 30 seconds on each side; then place inside a paper bag to keep warm.

6. To serve, pull the shrimp off the skewers and divide them evenly among the tortillas. Top with the cabbage, sour cream sauce, tomatillo salsa, and a spritz of grilled lime.

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Health

By Dr. Dion Chaviz, MD, FACS

Age What Exactly is Age Management?

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ver the past decade, the term “anti-aging” has become synonymous with everything from sunscreen to breakfast cereal. We have been overwhelmed with a media blitz suggesting that if we only eat a certain fruit or apply a certain cream to our skin, we will forever be eighteen. However, reality suggests that the aging process is an unavoidable part of our journey through life. The good news is that if we take steps to modify our lifestyle, we can maintain a level of activity and vitality for the long term.

Age Management medicine, described by many as “twentyfirst century primary care,” is a discipline that focuses on the creation of a proactive, healthy lifestyle that plans on preventing the disease process rather than attempting to treat the results.

An in-depth evaluation of a patient’s medical history, current health status and future goals is required prior to developing an individualized, specific plan of action. Often times, the recommendations will include a

low glycemic diet, oral supplementation, exercise (both resistance and cardio), stress reduction and healthy sleep techniques.

However, there is a certain portion of this patient demographic that will benefit greatly from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Studies have shown that, in those patients with a documented hormonal deficiency, testosterone and growth hormone replacement can improve muscle tone, stamina, exercise tolerance, and libido, and can have a positive influence on our sense of wellbeing. The starting point, however, is a consultation with a physician trained in Age Management medicine. Together, we can create a game plan that will allow your health to last a lifetime.

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Fitness

By Laura Marenco, PT

Myths and Facts

What might happen if you have built a bit of muscle and then stop exercising and eating healthy, a layer of fat will eventually cover your beautifully toned muscles and you might end up with a “softer” appearance, until you decide to go back and pick up those dumbbells again.

About Women

Here are some of the reasons why women should be weight training.

You Will Lose Body Fat.

and

Weight Training Your new year’s resolution was to get rid of those extra inches around your hips and belly and tone up. You have been devoted to walking or even running a few times a week and try to eat low fat for the most part. But six months later, you are not happy with the results. Ladies, if this scenario sounds familiar, pay attention: we must weight train! Next time you step into the gym, don’t be shy—pick up those weights! I want to clarify why you should start pumping some iron and shed light on some of the myths out there that have stopped us in the past from developing a beautifully toned physique.

Myth #1: If I lift weights I will get bulky and end up looking like a man Truth: Though a woman might be able to build some amount of appreciable muscle, the lack of testosterone in our bodies will not allow us to attain large amounts of it. You might be thinking of women bodybuilders.

These women have trained specifically to get that look through years and years of training and lifting very heavy amounts of weight plus specialized supplementation that you and I will probably never touch.

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Studies have found that the average woman who weight trains two to three times a week for two months will gain nearly two pounds of muscle and will lose 3.5 pounds of fat. As your lean muscle increases, so does your resting metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories all day long.

Generally speaking, for each pound of muscle you gain, you burn 35 to 50 more calories each day. That can really add up.

You Decrease Your Risk Of Osteoporosis.

Research has found that weight training can increase spinal bone mineral density (and enhance bone modeling) by 13 percent in six months.

This, coupled with an adequate amount of dietary calcium, can be a woman’s best defense against osteoporosis.

You Can Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease.

Weight training can improve cardiovascular health in several ways, including lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. When cardiovascular exercise is added, these benefits are maximized.

You Can Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes.

Weight training may improve the way the body processes sugar, which may reduce the risk of diabetes. Adultonset diabetes is a growing problem for women and men.

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Health

By Dr. Robert Prather, D.C., D.A.B.C.I., LAc

ACUPUNCTURE IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

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e would all agree that there has been a lot of interest from the public when it comes to acupuncture. But that interest also comes with many questions that we would like to clear up for you. There are a few questions that you may ask.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient health science which is used to successfully treat both pain and dysfunction in the body. Authorities agree the science is between 5,000 and 7,000 years old.

Acupuncture appears strange to most Westerners as its primary application is the utilization of very slender painless needles placed in the skin at various locations to relieve pain or affect a body part or function.

Early Asian physicians discovered there is an energy network traversing on or just below the surface of the skin which communicates from the exterior to the internal organs and structures at over 1,000 “acupoints” on the body.

This energy works in harmony with the body’s circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, and all other systems of the body. When this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident. Stimulation of one or a combination of key acupoints on the body may restore harmony to the affected area.

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How Does It Work?

Far too often, a patient is told after extensive examination, “There is nothing wrong. It’s all in your head.” Or, “Sorry, you’ll just have to learn to live with it.” The examining doctor unable to find the cause of the problem has little else to tell the patient. Fortunately, many physicians are now referring their patients for an acupuncture evaluation as a last resort.

The Asians have reported over thousands of years--and now modern science is verifying the fact--not only does the human body have an electromagnetic energy system, it courses through defined channels referred to as “meridians.” In normal health, this energy field flows in a balanced state. If a disruption occurs, the altered energy flow can produce conditions and symptoms affecting certain organs, or in many cases, the entire body.

Is Treatment Painful?

One would assume inserting a needle into the skin would be painful since most can relate to having a hypodermic injection or being stuck by a pin. However, four acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle.

Because of the extreme slenderness of the needle, most people compare the sensations to less than a mosquito bite.

However, at the Prather Wellness Center, we can use a non-needle approach, i.e. electronic and laser stimulation. We also can apply a

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powder over the acupoint that stays on 24 hours. Know that if you have a fear of needles, there are other ways to skin a cat.

What Conditions Are Accepted?

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists over 100 specific pain and organic conditions which specifically respond to acupuncture. A partial list of those conditions includes headaches, low back pain, TMJ, sinus conditions, depression, abdominal pain, high or low blood pressure, sciatica, gall bladder attacks, tennis elbow, nausea/vomiting, addictions, etc…

(For a full list of all of the conditions the World Health Organization has proven acupuncture to be of merit go to www.IAMA.edu and see “Additional Articles.”)

How Do I Know It’s Right For Me? It is best to go to a physician that is a licensed acupuncturist in case of underlying health issues. A thorough exam with consultation should be done first. At the Prather Wellness Center, we then evaluate the need for acupuncture through the use of Electro Meridian Imaging (EMI). We place an electronic probe on the skin over specific acupoints. By the way of a sensitive metering device, the electro potential of the point is measured. We then know where the imbalances are and test for either needle or non-needle acupuncture treatment.

To see if acupuncture is right for you, the Prather Wellness Center is offering new patients a consultation and evaluation with 2 acupuncture treatments for just $35.00. ($225 value.) This offer only valid for new patients and expires August 31, 2010.

Dr. Robert Prather of the Prather Wellness Center is the host of the Voice of Health radio show, which airs every Saturday at 9 a.m. on Freedom 95.9 FM WFDM and NewsTalk 1430 AM WXNT.

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Kids

The Best

Back-to-School

Lunches

T

he transition back to the classroom is hard enough without a rumbling stomach or midmorning sugar crash. That’s why the right lunchbox foods are crucial to your child’s first days back. The following meals do more than just curb hunger. They also help improve focus and concentration, boost memory, and provide sustained energy throughout the day to help your young ones stay alert when they should be, you know, learning. Plus, they’re more nutritious than what you’ll find in many school cafeterias.

Here are four expert-approved portable meals for any age group.

Tiny Eater (4- to 5-year-olds) Pack this: Shelled edamame 1 organic string cheese 1 ounce of mini-meatballs 20 activelife Guide

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1 organic juice box Strawberries and blueberries This meal is designed to help your preschooler pay attention.

Antioxidant-rich fruits like strawberries and blueberries may help young children’s reasoning skills and may also boost their ability to perceive, recognize, and conceive information. A diet rich in antioxidants has been shown to boost the cognitive functioning of rats and may do the same in humans.

Both edamame and meatballs contain filling protein to help your child stay satisfied until dinner. Meatballs made from lean ground beef also contain iron, which can improve your child’s ability to concentrate. Iron deficiency is the most common type of nutritional shortfall in American children, and it can affect kids’ ability to pay attention. Lean ground beef is one of the best-absorbed sources of iron you’ll find in the supermarket.

Picky Eater (8- to 12-year-olds)

alG

Pack this: Peanut butter sandwich made on whole wheat banana bread 1 organic low-fat milk box Fresh cherries Whole wheat banana bread is a delicious way to dress up a standard peanut butter sandwich. Whole wheat is rich in fiber, and many breads contain folate, a B vitamin that aids in manufacturing memory cells in the brain. Cherries and other purple fruits contain brain-boosting antioxidants to help improve cognitive functioning, as well.

Breakfast Club (12- to 14-year-olds) Pack this: Scrambled egg wrap (made with black beans and salsa) Fruit salad Small oatmeal muffin Water Research has shown that breakfast eaters do better academically and have fewer behavior problems than breakfast skippers but as many as 37% of American kids routinely blow off this meal. If you can’t get your tween to sit down for breakfast, send her out the door with morning fuel. Avoid high-sugar cereals as they set kids up for a midmorning energy crash. This egg wrap contains protein, fat, and complex carbs to give kids a steady stream of energy throughout the day. Plus, choline, a vitamin-like substance found in eggs and nuts, is vital for the creation of memory stem cells. The more cells we have, the better our memories.

Healthy Eater (14- to 18-year-olds) Pack this: 2 ounces babaganoush with two miniature whole wheat pita breads 2 to 3 stuffed grape leaves Pizza salad (3 tomato slices, grated skim milk mozzarella, and torn fresh basil leaves, topped with drizzle of olive oil, sea salt, and cracked black pepper) Small bottle organic low-fat milk The number of overweight children has tripled in the past 20 years, so it’s more important than ever to stock your kitchen with foods that will help keep your kid’s weight in check. This Mediterranean lunch is rich in crucial nutrients, and it requires little prep because most of these foods can be found in your supermarket’s prepared foods aisle.

Babaganoush is a sneaky way to help your teen get his or her veggies as it’s made with pureed eggplant. Calcium, which you’ll find in the cheese and milk, affects how our bodies regulate energy and plays an important role in the body’s production of insulin. A diet rich in low-fat dairy may protect children from obesity, so unless there is a true lactose intolerance, it should be a nonnegotiable part of your child’s diet. www.activelifeguide.com

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