Howler Magazine Pura Vida - Health, Wellness & Yoga Mini-Mag, September / October 2018

Costa Rica’s

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Health, Wellness

& Yoga Mini-Mag

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September / October 2018

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HOWLER

CO N T E N T S 12

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LONG-TIME CRUSADER Feature Article

AWARENESS EVENTS Join the Fight

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Pura Vida: Health, Wellness & Yoga Breast Cancer Awareness 4 - FUNDESO: A Pioneer in the Costa Rica Breast Cancer Fight 6 - The Cherry on the Cake: Tattooing 8 - A Portrait of Breast Cancer in Costa Rica 10 - Whatever it Takes: US Family's Devotion to Costa Rica 12 - Awareness Events: Join the Fight 14 - Yoga Wisdom: It can Make a Difference 16 - Mindfulness: Mental Diet to Heal 17 - Superfoods: Stinky but Nutritious Cancer-Fighting Fruit 18 - Reason to Smile: Dental Sealants

20 Lifestyle

YOGA WISDOM

Breast Cancer Recovery

20 - Fashion Flash: Packing Pointers for Kids 22 - Spanish: Ten Interesting Facts about Learning Spanish

NUTRITIOUS NONI WHATEVER IT TAKES Spotlight #searchfindhowl

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Superfoods

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PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

FUNDESO fundraising walk organized by ANDE (National Association of Educators).

FEATURE ARTICLE

Photos courtesy of Florencia Gelman

by Howler Staff

Breast cancer patients with limited resources can apply for financial assistance.

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A Pioneer in Costa Rica’s Breast Cancer Fight

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undacion Nacional de Solidaridad Contra el Cancer de Mama (FUNDESO) has been fiercely fighting on multiple fronts in Costa Rica’s battle against breast cancer for more than 35 years. The oldest non-profit, non-governmental organization of its kind was created by Elena Sikora de Schifter and a group of San José women in 1983. Having no social security or health ministry funding, nor affiliation with any public entity, the foundation remains true to its volunteer roots.

Everyone involved with FUNDESO’s important work contributes whatever time and effort they can for the benefit of a common cause. The primary purpose is twofold: • to educate Costa Ricans about breast cancer so it can be detected at the earliest possible stage; and • to support breast cancer patients and their families during treatment and recovery.

Education

With education being a key aspect of the fight against breast cancer, FUNDESO seeks to communicate as widely as possible with Costa Ricans throughout the country. No request for an educational presentation goes unanswered, regardless of audience size or location. Over the years, FUNDESO speakers have participated in a wide range of large and small group events organized by community leaders, health centers, educational and

financial institutions, private companies, public offices, churches and temples. Although no presentation fee is charged, financial support may sometimes be necessary to cover the cost of transportation, lodging and meals for the participating volunteers.

Depending on the time and space available for each talk, FUNDESO strives to inform audiences as thoroughly as possible about early detection of breast cancer, including warning symptoms, the importance of selfexamination and how to perform it. Typically, audiences will also hear testimony from a breast cancer survivor, and time permitting, information on risk factors and nutrition.

An overview of FUNDESO’s services to breast cancer patients and their families is also provided, and background on the organization’s history, mission and vision.

As an extension of its educational mandate, the foundation also accepts as many invitations as it can to participate at health fairs across Costa Rica.

Early detection emphasis

Recognizing that early detection of breast cancer can make a life-or-death difference, FUNDESO focuses on promptness and effectiveness in responding to everyone needing attention.

Patients make a small contribution — 10,000 colones — for referral as soon as possible to a high-quality radiology diagnostic

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facility, and to an oncology specialist who collaborates with FUNDESO regarding the radiology results and patient’s clinical assessment.

Whenever possible, consulting specialists work in a hospital that is relatively convenient for patients to visit. Patients can also choose a radiology facility and package of diagnostic exams according to location or price.

A variety of mammography and/or ultrasound options are offered to FUNDESOreferred patients at several specialized laboratories, sometimes at discounted prices. Additionally, breast biopsy services may be available at below-market costs.

Thanks to donations from corporate sponsors, breast cancer patients with limited resources can apply for financial assistance from FUNDESO to help pay for diagnostic tests and specialist care.

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Comprehensive rehabilitation services

FUNDESO provides a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services for breast cancer patients and their families. A commitment to emotional well-being is evident at all stages of the physical healing journey.

It starts with a visit to hospitalized breast cancer patients awaiting or recovering from surgery. A FUNDESO volunteer offers words of encouragement and hope, perhaps sharing stories of what other women have experienced. In addition to this emotional and psychological support, advice may be offered on post-surgery self-care and management, for example, when arm movement is affected.

Breast cancer patients are also invited to participate in FUNDESO’s self-help program. Emotional support is available through self-

Breast cancer survivors and FUNDESO support group volunteers in Nov. 2017 at a fundraising fashion show.

FUNDESO volunteer Ines Gutierrez talks to representatives of Avon, a major foundation sponsor.

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Educational talk for Citibank employees, Oct 2017.

help support groups, or even individual appointments in crisis circumstances, using the services of three volunteers with professional expertise in psychology.

The foundation also offers physical therapy for breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery. Three physiotherapists volunteer two days a week to work in a specially designed space helping patients alleviate pain and grow physically and emotionally stronger.

Also from an emotional healing standpoint, FUNDESO plays a vital role in helping women cope with the sometimes socially isolating side effects of breast cancer treatment relating to self-image and confidence. A turban and wig rental service is available for women undergoing treatment, while breast prostheses and special brassieres may be purchased at cost.

Foundation sponsors FUNDESO is grateful for the generosity of these sponsors in making its volunteer programs and services possible: • Avon • Payless ShoeSource • SwissJust • Inmobiliaria San Juan • Allergan, Ingelectra • Central de Mangueras • Salerm • Sardimar • Laica • Plaza Real Cariari • Televisora de Costa Rica S.A. • Walmart • MERCASA

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Elena Sikora Hostel

A cornerstone of FUNDESO’s legacy of caring for Costa Rican breast cancer patients is the Elena Sikora Shelter. Equipped with 14 beds, the hostel provides free accommodations and meals for women traveling to San José to receive chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments, or attend followup specialist appointments. Overnight lodging is available to those having no close relatives or friends in the capital, along with a female companion.

Located on FUNDESO’s San José premises, the Elena Sikora facility is open seven days a week. Amenities include showers and common rooms, along with three meals and two snacks served daily. Although there is no cost to stay at the shelter, donations are gratefully accepted.

The ‘Cherry SPOTLIGHT

PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

on the Cake’

Tattooing & Breast Reconstruction

by Howler Staff

O

ne of the most important parts of the rehabilitation of breast cancer patients is the reconstruction of the removed breast, which includes recreating the nipple, whether by surgery or by tattoos.

The program Fundación Tinta Esperanza, or Ink Hope Foundation, developed by the Colombian tatoo artist Fabián Henao, is dedicated to creating realistic tattoos of the nipple and aureola in 50 breast cancer survivors, all in one week (10 a day), all for free.

These tattoos are so realistic that they appear to be in three dimensions, though they are only drawings on the skin. This procedure is a way to avoid more surgery, and it’s only one session of one hour, in place of the three or more tattoo sessions.

In the first campaign in San José, May 29-June 3, A project for making natural hair wigs available to breast cancer 2017, 53 women benefited survivors was organized by Walmart and Horizontes Foundation. from this service, and in the second, Feb. 26-March Photos courtesy of Florencia Gelman

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Tattoo artist Fabián Henao dedicates his services through the Ink Hope Foundation as a post-mastectomy alternative to surgical breast reconstruction. Photo: Florencia Gelman

2, 2018, 52 women were served. These were women who had waited months, if not years, to close an unhappy chapter in their lives and “put the cherry on the cake,” as some have called this procedure.

These tattoo campaigns are made possible by donations from Payless ShoeSource of Costa Rica, an official sponsor of the initiative.

The days spent doing these tattoos are full of emotion for the patients, their families and volunteers from FUNDESO. Organizers say it’s an impressive experience to share the happiness of women who, after so much time, are able to see their breasts made whole after

this terrible illness. In the words of one of the beneficiaries, who called to express her thanks, the tattoo was “as pretty as what God gave me.” Comments like this have moved organizers to repeat the campaign.

Before finishing the last round, organizers began preparing a list of survivors interested in participating in a new campaign planned for this November, to coincide with the 35th anniversary of FUNDESO. Thanks to the incomparable artwork and generosity of Fabián Heano, more than 100 Costa Rican women have now been successfully “crowned” after a long process of pain and suffering.

These tattoos are so realistic that they appear to be in 3D.

SHARE • VOLUNTEER • DONATE

(506) 2233-1692 presidencia@fundeso.or.cr www.fundeso.or.cr

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WELLNESS FEATURE

PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

A Portrait of Breast Cancer in Costa Rica

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reast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the world. To promote awareness of the suffering this disease is causing and urgency to find a cure, the United Nations and the World Health Organization have designated October 19 as the International Day for Breast Cancer.

The need for knowledge and action in Costa Rica is no less critical. For many years, breast cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths in Costa Rican women. Compared to other cancers, the incidence rate for women in this country is second only to skin cancer, which — with the exception of melanoma — has little impact on mortality. Oncologists remain concerned about the prevalence and impact of breast cancer as a deadly epidemic.

The number of breast cancer cases in Costa Rica 16 continues to increase, consistent with trends in other 14 parts of the world. Although the disease remains more common 12 in women older than 50 years, it is being diagnosed more and 10 more frequently in younger women. A recent United 8 Kingdom report stated that one out of five women who are 6 diagnosed with breast cancer 4 are under age 50.

The good news is that 2 survival rates for breast cancer patients are continuously 0 improving. Early diagnosis and 2000 more personalized treatment options are partly attributable

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for this improvement.

Breast cancer, like all cancers, is a genetic disease involving gene mutations.

Eventually, a normally functioning cell

other organs in the body.

Some people are born with genetic abnormalities — for example, in a tumor suppression gene — making them more vulnerable to developing cancer much earlier in life. Although genetic mutations are a common cause of hereditary breast cancer, only five to 10 percent of all breast cancer is hereditary.

The vast majority of breast cancers are familial. That means there is a significant family history of breast cancer, and other types of cancer, but without a specifically identified genetic mutation.

So-called “sporadic” breast cancer refers to cases in which family history is not known to be a factor.

Survival rates for breast cancer patients are continuously improving. may be transformed into an autonomous, destructive cell capable of spreading to

Malignant Tumor Mortality Per Year in Costa Rican Women (Adjusted Rates Per 100,000)

2001

2002

Stomach

2003 Breast

2004

2005

2006

Cervix

Data Source: National Tumor Registry, Costa Rica Ministry of Health

by Dr. Efrain Cambronero

2007 Lung

2008 Colon

2009

2010 Leukemia

2011

2012

2013

Liver

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A rendering of the new Costa Rican Oncology Center.

This new facility is scheduled to open in Nov. 2018, bringing to San Josė the most advanced technology for cancer diagnosis and treatment anywhere in Central America and the Caribbean.

The following are possible reasons for the increasing incidence of breast cancer in Costa Rica: • More Costa Ricans have access to screening with mammography and breast ultrasound.

• More women are using hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills.

• Women are having fewer children and later in life than previous generations.

• Costa Rican society as a whole has undergone significant changes in the last 30 years. Lifestyles have become more sedentary as the country’s workforce has shifted away from agriculture and other jobs involving physical activity to mentally driven employment. More and more women are getting less exercise and are overweight.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Efrain Cambronero

•

Diets are now more abundant in saturated fat and carbohydrates.

• Smoking and alcohol consumption in women have increased.

• Stress levels in every sphere of Costa Rican life are higher than ever before.

Efforts to modify these risk factors are an essential aspect of Costa Rica’s fight against breast cancer. So is the need for organizations and sectors to work together. A team mentality is needed to improve coordination of information and activities among service providers in the public and private health care systems and government ministries.

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Whatever It Takes

SPOTLIGHT

One U.S. family devoted to improving cancer treatment in Costa Rica

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by Katherine Stanley

or the Haney family, fighting cancer in Costa Rica is a family affair.

If you’ve spent much time in Costa Rica over the past few years, their name is likely to be familiar in one of a few very different ways. There’s the official: S. Fitzgerald Haney served as the U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica from 2015 to 2017. There’s the sparkly and glamorous: After finishing his term as ambassador, Haney surprised many by joining the cast of Channel 7’s “Dancing with the Stars,” pairing with former world salsa champion Luci Jiménez and delighting audiences with his Spanish skills and good humor.

There’s the personal: Partway through his turn on the reality show, Haney and his wife, Rabbi Andrea Haney, revealed that part of his motivation for appearing on the show was to raise funds to support cancer patients in Costa Rica, a cause that’s been close to the family’s heart ever since Andrea was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer around the time of Fitzgerald’s confirmation hearings in 2015.

She was treated in Costa Rica and became passionate about the challenges many cancer patients, especially those from lowincome families, face here. In late 2017, this led the family to create the Andrea and Fitzgerald Haney Donor-Advised Fund to Support the Ana Ross Foundation.

And then there’s the slimy: The

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Haneys’ eldest daughter, Nava, created her own business, Slimes Pura Vida, to raise funds for the Haney Fund and the Ana Ross Foundation. She capitalized on the worldwide slime craze and whipped up homemade slimes – sparkly, textured or scented globs of goo that kids love to smush,

She was treated in Costa Rica and became passionate about the challenges many cancer patients face here. stretch and smack for hours – to sell as a fundraiser.

“At some points, I was really scared because I didn’t know if she was gonna make it through,” Nava says about her mom in a video she recorded to promote Slimes Pura Vida and encourage people to give back. “This fight doesn’t end with her… We have lost too many battles. Let’s not lose this one.”

While Slimes Pura Vida is no longer active because the family moved to Israel last month, the family’s commitment to Costa Rican cancer treatment and to

the Haney Fund is very much alive. As an initial goal, the Haney Fund is raising money to support the Ross Foundation’s efforts to create the first-ever early cancer detection center in San José. According to Ross Foundation Director Fabiola Ross, the center will provide services for the five most common cancers in Costa Rica: breast, skin, cervical, prostate and digestive cancers.

The foundation seeks to raise $1 million for the first clinic in San Jose and expand to other clinics around the country.

“It is such an honor to collaborate with the Haneys and the Anna Ross Foundation in this effort,” said Emily Arnold, executive director of Amigos of Costa Rica, the U.S. counterpart of the Costa Rica USA Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA) in San José. CRUSA houses the Haney Fund in Costa Rica, and Amigos of Costa Rica, a registered U.S. nonprofit, makes it possible for donors to make contributions to the Haney Fund that are tax-deductible in the United States. “Cancer has had a big impact on my own family, as it has many others, so this work has provided an opportunity to contribute to a cause I care deeply about.”

For more information about the Haney Fund or to make a donation, visit amigosofcostarica.org.

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Photo courtesy of the Haney Family and Dancing with the Stars.

PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

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PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Anna Ross Foundation

15th Fight Against Cancer Race/Walk

SAN JOSÉ

W

e are the only non-profit organization that donates 100% of the donations against the fight of all types of cancer.

Sign up online at caminataross.com or Extremos stores at City Plaza, Paseo de las Flores, Terramall, Paseo Metrópoli, Lincoln Plaza, Multiplaza Escazú and Curridabat, Avenida Central in front of Plaza de la Cultura and in front of Universal and Fundación Ross.

Where: San José Start: Paseo Colon Finish: La Sabana Park When: Sun, Oct 7 8 am - Run 8:15 - Walk Contact: Natalia Chaves, Partner Director 8841-3872 / 2446–0528 nchaves@cdmcomunicacion.net

PRETTY IN PINK – PLAYAS DEL COCO Walk • Run • Dine • Dance • Stretch

SAN JOSÉ

for Breast Cancer Awareness

S

ince its inception in 2009, Corre Por Mí (Run For Me) has contributed the proceeds from this annual fundraising event to a variety of non-profit organizations fighting breast cancer in Costa Rica. More than 10,000 people have benefited from the initiatives of groups such as FUNDACANCER, Asociación Tour Rosa from Costa Rica, Asociación Mujeres en Rosa, Fundación Elige Vivir and Asociación Resurgir.

Where: San José Start/Finish: National Stadium, La Sabana When: Sun, Oct 14

6:30 am Cost: 15K - c15,000 10K - c12,000 5K - c12,000 Contact: info@correpormi.com www.correpormi.com

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Dine - Dance - Auction

Buffet dinner and art auction with donations by Carlos Hiller and other well-known local artists.

Silent auction plus door prizes and 50/50 draw.

Where: Zi Lounge When: Thurs, Oct 25 5 pm, Premium buffet 6 pm, Live entertainment by Giampy Cost: $30

Stretch

Sunset Yoga & Martinis with Annie Where: Casa Aude When: Fri, Oct 26 5:30 pm Cost: $10

Walk - 3 or 6K

Where: Starts at soccer field When: Sat, Oct 27 7:30 am, Registration 8 am, Walk begins Cost: $10

Dinner & Dance

Where: La Puerta de Sol When: Sat, Oct 27 5:30 pm, Cocktails 6:30 pm, Sit-down dinner 7:30 pm, Live music - The Leatherbacks Cost: $30

Pretty in Pink Pancake Breakfast Where: Coconutz When: Sun, Oct 28 8 -11 am Cost: $10

Zumbathon

Featuring local zumba coaches led

by Zin Scar Where: Hard Rock Cafe When: Sun, Oct 28 5 pm, Registration 5:30 pm, Zumbathon Cost: $10

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PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

YOGA WISDOM

Yoga in Breast Cancer Care: It can make a difference

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by Marian Paniagua

egular practitioners of yoga attest to its positive impact on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Yoga can be empowering as we strive for balance and inner awareness. Moving from one pose to another, slowly and deliberately, encourages us to maintain sensations and notice what’s happening in our body, with curiosity instead of fear. This sense of presence and compassionate selfawareness is how we identify unresolved issues in our physical body.

But what if those issues have already manifested in our body as a disease like cancer? Can a regular practice of yoga have an effect on a person’s recovery?

There are compelling reasons to answer, yes. Yoga has much to offer during recovery from illness, including breast cancer. Various yoga poses — particularly forward bends, back bends and twists — can help pacify and then activate the adrenal glands, which are depleted through the stress and anxiety typically associated with cancer treatment and recovery.

Daily yoga practice has also been shown beneficial in overcoming fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression. It can lift our spirits and help us regain valuable energy. Equally important, it’s a time for meditation and quieting the

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noise of our mind, so we are better able to make thoughtful, careful choices.

When a woman undergoes chemotherapy, the impact on her body is dramatic. In addition to hair loss, her nails may become darker and more fragile and her skin appearance may change. Yoga can help a woman adjust to these changes in her body. It can help her develop the emotional strength to feel more comfortable embracing the way she looks, the way she moves and how she is feeling.

Science supports yoga as a complementary therapy for breast cancer recovery.

One of the ways yoga promotes this is through the practice of “santosha,” which translate as contentment — accepting the present moment as it comes. It does not mean giving up, but rather is an active form of surrender to the here and now. Instead of judging a life experience as good or bad, we can adopt a neutral point of view, detached

from the outcome. Many attribute their acquired wisdom in dealing with life’s difficulties to this practice of detachment or contentment.

Science supports yoga as a complementary therapy for breast cancer recovery. A 2014 Ohio State University study, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that yoga significantly improved symptoms of fatigue, low vitality and inflammation.

Women in the test group attended 90-minute hatha yoga classes, twice a week for 12 weeks. They were randomly selected from 200 research participants in different stages of breast cancer, all having completed treatment within the past three years, and follow-up therapy at least two months earlier. Comparisons with the control group showed that the women attending yoga classes had significantly higher vitality rates early in the study and at the end. Fatigue and inflammation symptoms were significantly reduced in the yoga group after three months.

The investigators concluded, “Chronic inflammation may fuel declines in physical function leading to frailty and disability. If yoga dampens or limits both fatigue and inflammation, then regular practice could have substantial health benefits.”

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MINDFULNESS

PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

A Mental Diet for Your Body to Heal

T

by Marian Paniagua

he mind is a powerful tool for creating the experiences we choose in life. It is said that everything in life exists twice — first in the mind and then in reality.

What happens when our mind wanders is that we move through life unconsciously. How many times have you found yourself thinking about a subject, experience or person having no recollection of the thought chain that got you there? Or in conversation with another person, you end up talking about something unpleasant that makes you feel a negative emotion. Suddenly you ask yourself, why are we talking about this?

In the absence of attention and focus, there is also a lack of intention and purpose in the life we create.

Just as we nourish our body with food, water and exercise to keep it healthy, it is vital to become aware of our thoughts and choose those that cultivate a clear and focused mind. It is important that we train our attention to fully engage in the present moment, lovingly observing the content of our mental world. This practice will gradually shift you towards mindfulness and away from a mind conditioned to work on autopilot.

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We are familiar with sayings such as “the mind is everything, what you think you become.” Another variation is, “whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Amazing as these truths may be, our logical mind gets confused and anxious trying to figure out what it all means. We try to interpret our world according to physical sensations and tangible experiences.

The illness-induced sensation of threat negatively influenced the patients’ perception of their health condition.

It’s even more mind boggling to consider that our own perception of reality is unique. Every human on earth is experiencing time and space in a different way than anyone else. If one person thinks this is a sad day and another one thinks it is a happy day, they are both right. Both are creating and experiencing different

versions of reality true to themselves. If you think you are smart and prosperous, you are right; if you think you are stupid and always fail, you are also right.

Psychoneuroimmunology is a branch of medicine focusing on the relationship and communication between the brain and immune system. Thoughts provoke emotions, which are translated into substances that trigger a chemical reaction. This has the effect of optimizing or weakening our functional state and immune system.

Studies of the immune system under prolonged stress were conducted in cancer patients. Investigators demonstrated that the illness-induced sensation of threat negatively influenced the patients’ perception of their health condition. In effect, the neuroendocrine processes were being altered.

Becoming mindfully attentive and highly selective in our thoughts can make or keep us healthier. This goes along with monitoring the positive and negative emotions those thoughts provoke, knowing they are reliable indicators of our well-being status. Practices like yoga, meditation and self-appreciation are tools worth using to support this journey.

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PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

NUTRITIOUS NONI Stinky but wholesome cancer-fighting fruit

by Jessie Rowan

N SUPERFOODS

oni is the common name for morinda citrifolia, which has been used as a folk medicine for over 2,000 years. It is believed to have a broad range of beneficial medicinal benefits, including anticancer properties.

Costa Rica is among the tropical regions where noni grows as an evergreen tree or shrub. The fruits, leaves, flowers, stems, bark and roots have all been used in traditional remedies. The yellowish-green noni fruit, with its unmistakably pungent and seemingly unappetizing odor, produces what many call the “wonder juice.”

According to cancertutor.com, an online resource for natural cancer treatment and prevention information, noni is most effective as a primary treatment for newly diagnosed patients, and a supplemental protocol in advanced cases. Noni provides critical nutrients to the body’s non-cancerous cells, while likely killing many cancer cells, including breast cancer.

It is important to note that the nutrients available for cancer treatment come from multiple parts of the noni tree, not just the fruit.

Where can you find noni?

Noni can be grown all around Costa Rica and may be sold at local fruit stands. Try buying your own noni tree and grow your own super fruit! Noni powder and juice, available from online sources or in grocery stores, are also great ways to consume this beneficial fruit.

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How to consume

Noni is best consumed naturally with as few additives as possible. Some simply pick the fruit off the tree, peel and eat. But most commonly, people drink noni juice or incorporate it with other smoothie ingredients to mask the cheesy, stinky smell.

ORGANIC NONI COLADA RECIPE Ingredients:

• Noni fruit - 2x2 inch square, cut up (or substitute natural noni juice or powder) • Kale (a few leaves, without ribs) • Spinach (small handful of leaves) • Celery with leaves (2 sticks, chopped to minimize stringy mixture) • Liquid ingredients of choice, such as: • Coconut milk, for a creamy, tropical-tasting smoothie • Coconut water, for a lighter smoothie with a tropical flavor • All natural pineapple juice, for extra sweetness • Nut milk, if you’d like some extra protein • Water, if you like the pure flavors to shine through • Fresh and frozen fruits of choice, such as: • Pineapple • Unsweetened coconut flakes or chunks • Avocado

Method of Preparation

• Place noni with kale, spinach and celery in a blender.

• Add liquid ingredients and blend until the noni and veggies are totally liquefied.

• Add any combination of fresh and frozen fruits for best results in flavor, nutrition and smoothie texture.

• Blend and adjust for desired texture and taste.

• Too bitter or pungent? Add more pineapple juice.

• Too sweet? Go for more greens.

• Too watery? Add ice or more frozen fruit. More avocado may also help thicken things up, or add a banana if it’s both too watery and too thin.

• Too thick? Add more liquid, but go easy. Even the thickest smoothie can usually be loosened with just a splash more liquid.

• Garnish and serve. Part of the fun of smoothies is how pretty they look when they’re served up in a tall glass with just a few garnishes. For this smoothie, you might want to garnish with fresh fruit, like a pineapple wedge and strawberry. For an added touch of protein, top with nuts or seeds.

HM HOWLER MAGAZINE | 17

REASON TO SMILE

PURA VIDA - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

DENTAL SEALANTS For a lifelong healthy smile

by Dr. Dalia Vargas Guanacaste Dental

M

ost people are aware that daily flossing and brushing will help prevent tooth decay.

But it’s not always easy to access every single tooth surface, especially the larger teeth at the back called molars. Molars have special anatomical features for chewing, which also make them the most common area for bacteria to hide and develop tooth decay.

Dental sealants offer a safe, durable and cost-effective form of extra protection against dental cavities in addition to our dental hygiene routine.

The application of thin protective dental coatings helps to seal out cavity-forming plaque and acids.

Think of sealants working the same way as sunblock, which prevents skin damage by acting as a protective boundary against the harmful effects of UV rays.

When bacteria, present in normal microbial flora, interact with leftover food particles, they produce acids that destroy the minerals of your tooth’s enamel, resulting in tooth decay. Dental sealants act as a barrier against those bacteria and tiny bits of food to prevent acids from attacking your teeth.

Anyone can get sealants, including adults, but children and teenagers are the best candidates. The earlier you get them the better! A child’s first molar typically appears at around age 6. Sealing these teeth as soon as they appear can keep them cavity-free from the start, helping save time and money in the long run.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, school-age children without sealants have three times more cavities than children with sealants. Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80 percent in molars.

The sealant application procedure is painless and it takes just a few minutes to apply. The tooth is cleaned and dried before applying a gel on the chewing surface, which helps create a strong bond between the tooth and the sealant. Once the gel has been rinsed off, the dental sealant is placed, in liquid form, and hardened with a special blue light.

Regular dental visits are the best way to keep your sealants in good condition, including reapplication if needed. Keep in mind that this dental treatment is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, but part of a combined approach to keep cavities from forming.

Think of sealants working the same way as sunblock.

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Packing Pointers for Kids’ Stuff Put together ready-to-wear outfits, from head to toe, when packing.

FASHIONFLASH

by Patricia Sterman

T

hese seven simple tips for packing your kids’ travel clothes can help everything run more smoothly before, during and after a trip.

1. Bring their favorite clothes.

When travelling, we might want our kids to wear what they don’t wear at home, but that usually doesn’t work. They ONLY want to wear their favorite clothes. If it makes them feel good, what’s wrong with that?

2. Make complete outfits. Put together ready-to-wear outfits, from head to toe, when packing for a trip. Getting dressed away from home is a lot easier for everyone if your kids don’t have to tear their suitcases apart figuring out what to wear with what.

3. Let each kid have a suitcase. One kid’s belongings in one place is better than two or three. This will keep their things together and help them get dressed easily.

4. Bring layers. Some places can be 90 degrees at noon but 60 degrees in the afternoon. Be ready to add and subtract pieces of clothing throughout the day and evening.

5. Pack lightweight clothes. Choose the most lightweight sneakers, lightweight jacket and lightweight everything. You won’t regret it!

6. Include some accessories. Your kids will be happy feeling dressed up. Add hairbands, earrings and hats for girls. For boys, it could be their favorite soccer team lycra shirt or a shark-tooth necklace.

7. Let your kids join in. They will learn the important skill of packing for themselves.

Bonus: they are less likely to blame you for everything forgotten at home.

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SPANISH

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Ten Interesting Facts About Learning Spanish

L

earning Spanish may seem daunting at times, but these interesting facts might help you see the way to fluency in an easier light.

1. Spanish is the second most spoken language on the planet!

With 400 million native speakers and as the official language of 20 countries, Spanish is second only to Chinese.

2. Studies show that it is easier to understand and communicate in a second language after two alcoholic drinks. This so-called “Dutch brain” phenomenon is named after the Dutch study that proved it.

3. Spanish-speaking countries all differ in usage of the “you” pronoun. There are three variations: “tú”, “vos” and “usted”. In North and Central America,“tú” is used to say “you,” or in Costa Rica, the traditional alternate “usted.” Everyone south of Colombia uses “vos,” while in Colombia you’ll hear all three Spanish versions of “you” used.

Meanwhile, the use of "vosotros" (you all) is generally limited to native Spanish speakers from Spain.

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by Sylvia Monge

4. Two nouns cannot be paired together (one being a modifier) in Spanish. They must be separated with “de”. For example, “wine glass” is “copa de vino.” Similarly, there is no Spanish equivalent to the English possessive apostrophe “s.” You can’t say “José’s casa” but rather, “casa de José.”

Spanish pronunciation is incredibly simple.

5.

6.

Spanish is a phonetic language; words are pronounced as they are spelled. Unlike English and French, which are littered with vowel blends and silent letters, Spanish pronunciation is incredibly simple.

“G” and “c” are the only Spanish consonants that change sound, depending on the vowel they precede. The vowels “a”, “o” and

“u” make the “g” and “c” hard sounding, as in “color” and “gato.”

Preceding the vowel “e” or “i,” they become soft, as in “cielo” and “girafa.”

7. Vowels in Spanish have only one sound each! Unlike English vowels, which have at least three different sounds each, Spanish vowels never change, never blend and are almost always pronounced.

8. A new verb may be created in Spanish by adding “ear” to the end of an English verb. Example of new additions to the language include “escanear” (to scan) and “tuitear” (to tweet).

9. An exception to the aforementioned Spanish vowel sound rule is “u,” acting as a helper vowel for “g” or “q.” In “gu” words such as guerra and guitara, the “u” is silent but keeps the “g” hard (like Viagra!) in front of an “e” or “i.” Spanish “qu” words are pronounced with a “k” sound, and “q” must be paired with the silent “u.”

10. There is no Spanish translation of the English verb “like.” “Me gusta la fruta” literally translates to “the fruit pleases me.”

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