HealthyLife June 2013 by Times Union Magazines

body. mind. spirit. june 2013

No  vacation from

Food

What’s your

Guilty Pleasure?

Allergies MOVE OVER

‘MOM’ jeans

Don’t mis s o ur next FRE E semina

Repotath o

J u n e 22

✽ PLUS

•T ime to Swing (on the golf course, that is) •L iving with Dementia •O varian Cancer: The Silent Killer •a nd MORE!

• See Pa ges 21, 6 4

Check ou t our

spec

HealthyH ial insert! om e See Pag es 50 -66

Overwhelmed?  Learn to delegate

Our Compassion. Your Best Health.

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Learning with a Difference

www.healthylifect.com Publisher Michelle McAbee Editorial Janet Reynolds, Group Executive Editor Rebecca Haynes, Editor Brianna Snyder, Associate Editor Design Krista Hicks Benson, Design Director Tony Pallone, NY Division Design Director Colleen Ingerto, Emily Jahn, NY Division Designers Contributing Writers Beth Cooney, Cathleen F. Crowley, Sandra Diamond Fox, Valerie Foster, Alison Grieveson, Wendy Healy, Carin Lane, Merci Miglino, Lee Nelson, Jennifer Parris, Emma Tennant, John Torsiello, Linda Tuccio-Koonz, Melinda McGarty Webb

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Contributing Photographer Daryl Beyers Circulation Bill Mason, Circulation Director Business Ray Koupal, Chief Financial Officer If you’d like to receive free home delivery of HealthyLife magazine, sign up online at www.healthylifect.com or call (203) 330-6435. For advertising information, call (203) 964-2435. Reach the editorial office at (203) 731-3360. HealthyLife is published by HEARST Media Services, 333 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810 The entire contents of this magazine are copyright 2013 by HEARST Media Services. No portion may be reproduced in any means without written permission of the publisher. HEARST Media Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hearst Corporation.

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june ’13 body

24 Swing Time

Golf can be a great way to exercise in the warm weather

30 No Vacation From Food Allergies

Eat safely while traveling without packing up your entire kitchen

34 Opposite Days

Sometimes you just want breakfast for dinner

39 Summer Skin

Dehydrated skin can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but it can be fixed

46 The Silent Killer

What you should know about ovarian cancer

24  special insert 

healthyhome 52 Window Shopping Shop Smart, Shop Local for ecofriendly goods for your home

55 Refurnished Living

Outdoor games

56 Opening Up the World of Windows Repair or replace? making sense of the optionss

60 Au Naturel

Why organic gardening can yield lush results

Don’t miss our FREE seminar!

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mind

70 Living with Dementia Experts say caregivers can’t forget to care for themselves

caring across the generations...

74 Overwhelmed? Exhausted? Frustrated?

Learning to delegate could change all that

spirit

RVNA is your VNA!

81 Move Over Mom Jeans

How to pick the right denim style for your body type

84 Guilty as Charged

Why we all keep some of our pleasures secret

every issue 10 contributors’ page

Registered Nurses • Physical Therapists • Occupational & Speech Therapists • Home Health Aides • Homemakers • Live-ins & Companions

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Transitional Care Services

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Lifeline Medical Alert

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Quality Living at Home

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Flu & Shingles Vaccine

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Whether you are returning home from the hospital, traveling to a foreign country or needing to update your vaccinations, you can ﬁnd comprehensive support with RVNA’s extraordinary and professional staff. No need to involve several agencies when one call will provide all the support you need. Your time is valuable. RVNA’s care is remarkable. For nearly a century, our exceptional home and community health care services are available throughout Western Connecticut.

12 what’s on the web 14 editor’s note 16 news and views 20 fit and fab

86 Cover credits: Clothing/ accessories provided by Ann Taylor, Westport. Hair/ makeup by the Christopher Noland Salon and Beauty Spa, Greenwich. Cover and inside model photographs taken at Audubon Connecticut’s Birdcraft Sanctuary, Fairfield. Photo by Krista Hicks Benson.

29 did you know? 43 your body: an owner’s manual The Kidneys

69 ask emma

A Room of Your Own

79 my word essay

The Good Mother

86 cover model Q&A Up Close with Loredana Trandu

90 East Ridge | Ridgeﬁeld, Connecticut 203.438.5555 | ridgeﬁeldvna.org Follow us on Facebook Staff Drop-in Site 250 Main Street South | Southbury, Connecticut 203.264.3250

talk back

The story behind the story from our contributors Staying hydrated

Real empathy Valerie Foster  I thought I knew what dementia is all about — until I took part in the Virtual Dementia Tour at Jewish Family Services Home Companion. I was transformed from somebody who devotes at least two hours a day to exercise to a hunchedover, cowering old woman who could not remember directions, startled at sirens and found it impossible to set a table for four. What an incredibly eyeopening experience. Find Valerie’s story on dementia on page 70.

Have food (allergy), will travel Sandra Diamond Fox  I had no idea how much preparation is involved for people with food allergies when they’re traveling on vacation. I give them a lot of credit for making sure they’re always prepared in case there is no food they can eat. See page 30 for Sandra’s story.

Caffeine and stroke

“I’ve been discovering a lot of research that supports my daily coffee habit and, well, it always, perks me up.” Beth Cooney  The latest news is that coffee and green tea consumption has been associated with diminishing the risk of stroke. I love anything that justifies my daily cup of joe, but I do try to limit myself to one cup as research also indicates too much caffeine can be harmful. Read about this study in News and Views on page 16.

Enjoy those guilty pleasures! Merci Miglino  If you really want to indulge in a guilty pleasure go all in! You will do it less often and enjoy it a whole lot more. To read Merci’s story, turn to page 84.

Brianna Snyder  I sort of always knew I don’t drink enough water. While reporting the hydration story, I learned that hunger, light-headedness, fatigue, general achiness can all be attributed to dehydration — and surprisingly it’s pretty easy to get dehydrated. Now I keep jugs of water near me all the time. It’s easy and I feel great. To read Brianna’s story, go online to healthylifect.com.

Opening up Lee Nelson  Windows that don’t function well aren’t fun. I have two of them in my house right now. I have to use a stick to hold them up for the breeze. It is amazing though, that windows that are 150 years old still exist and can be fixed to be functional. Lee’s story is on page 56.

We asked, you answered! join the conversation!

LIKE us on

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 What is your alltime favorite fruit? Patricia: a good ole Apple! Jennifer: Green apple....ok, maybe green grapes.... Donna: Watermelon Loredana: Cherries!!! Rebecca: Blueberries! Corrinn: Lemons! Kidding. Apples.

@healthylifect

 If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Jennifer: To freeze time so I can get all my projects up to date. There are not

healthylife

enough hours in the day! Traci: Time travel ... Is that a superpower? Sandi: To prevent myself from getting running injuries for the rest of my life. Michele: ^ I’m with Sandi... I’d change my physiology. I was poorly constructed. Linda: The ability to eat a small or normal portion of food without thinking about it

 What do you do when you’re craving something sweet? Indulge? Find

something else? Agonize? Patricia: I usually eat an apple! Or drink a big glass of water. Amazing how the craving goes away! Krista: I often replace it with something else like a smoothie (a great one is protein powder/ frozen banana/milk) or a 100-calorie pastry bar. But let’s face it, sometimes you just gotta indulge in the real thing! Michele: I don’t crave sweet — I crave savory!

Osborn care, right where you need it. The Osborn’s quality extends beyond our picturesque Rye Campus. Our state-licensed agency, Osborn Home Care, makes it possible for Westchester County seniors to receive customized personal care in the comfort of their own home. An experienced Registered Nurse will meet with you and develop a custom plan to ﬁt your health care needs, schedule and lifestyle. The nurse will also supervise your personal Home Health Aide, who provides your care on a regular basis. Osborn Home Care also provides light housekeeping, meal preparation and personal attention from a friendly, familiar face. Schedule your in-home consultation and see for yourself. For more information, call 1-800-865-2593.

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on the web

➺

www.healthylifect.com Behind the Scenes Our June cover model, Loredana Trandu, arrived at Greenwich’s Christopher Noland Salon and Beauty Spa the morning of our photo shoot. They first gave her hair a glaze to add shine and volume. Then, owner Christopher Noland made sure her styling was sleek and sophisticated before we were off to our location, Connecticut Audubon’s Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield. To read more about Loredana’s day, go online.

n a’s L o r e da ot h s test

read these... only on our website!

It is easier ➺ Float on ➺ being green Read about GreenTowns, a social network that provides information about green living in towns across the country.

The ➺ Gardening

Set aside your coffee. And — we beg you — don’t do that shot of pink-lemonade-flavored 5-Hour Energy. Instead, reach for a glass of water. Staying hydrated is more important than you think. Read about it on our website.

For Margaret Roach — and many gardeners — gardening is more than just digging in the dirt. It’s spiritual. And in her book, The Backyard Parables: Lessons on Gardening, and Life, Roach explores the profound connection between her garden and her self.

HEALTHYLIFE

BLOGS

Healthy Tips

➺ EXTRA RECIPE!

Want to make chicken cinnamon rolls or huevos rancheros tacos? Both recipes from Breakfast for Dinner, Recipes for Frittata Florentine, Huevos Rancheros, Sunny-SideUp Burgers, and More!, by Lindsay Landis and Taylor Hackbarth, are on our website.

healthylife

Freelance writer and good-health enthusiast Beth Cooney scans the web to bring you the latest info and tips for healthy living.

Window Shopping Look for green home goods found around Fairfield County by writer Melinda McGarty Webb.

and more!

Photos: Cover model test shot, Krista Hicks Benson; Behind the scenes photo, Rebecca Haynes; Pitcher, ©iStockphoto.com/© DundStock; Chicken Cinnamon Rolls, Courtesy of Quirk Publishing.

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editor’s note

We asked and you answered!

hanks so much to everybody who took our online readership survey. We were happy to hear that, for the most part, we’re on the right track with HealthyLife. More than 63 percent of you read every issue, with nearly the same percentage spending between 30 and 60 minutes doing it. And here’s a statistic that particularly pleased us: almost 99 percent of you say the magazine’s articles and layouts are easy to navigate. We also asked whether you read the ads, which almost 85 percent of you say you do. Even better news for our advertisers, more than half of you have looked up, visited or recommended a business because you saw its ad in HealthyLife. Most of our readership — 91 percent — is female (no surprise there!) and 87 percent of you are between the ages of 35 and 54. More than half of you work fulltime outside the home.

So we’re going to use these statistics, as well as your feedback, to try to make the magazine even more relevant to your daily lives. Thanks for opening up and sharing your opinions. And congrats to Maritza J. of Ridgefield, who won our random drawing for a $500 AmEx gift card for completing the survey! As we move into vacation season, you know how difficult it can be to travel if you’re one of the thousands of people with food allergies. Check out our story on page 30 for great tips that will ensure you don’t go hungry, no matter where you are. This issue also contains one of our four yearly HealthyHome sections starting on page 51. There you’ll find information on how to garden organically and what to do if your windows are in need of repair or replacement. And just because our readership survey has officially closed doesn’t

mean we don’t want to hear from you. Send me your e-mails: rhaynes@ hearstmediact.com. Let us know how we’re doing and how we can make HealthyLife better for you. Thanks for reading!

Get well. Stay well. G e n t l e , E f f e c t i v e Tr e a t m e n t o f : pain • asthma • digestive ailments insomnia • headaches • depression menstrual problems • infertility stress • anxiety • neck & back pain allergies • weight loss smoking cessation • arthritis muscle & tendon issues

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news and views — compiled by beth cooney

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR Michael Bloomberg’s recent attempt to ban supersized sodas seemed a little overzealous to some critics, but new research suggests the mayor may really save some lives if it goes into effect. That’s one interpretation you could make from a study recently presented at an American Heart Association conference, which blames sugary drinks (think soda, fruity drinks and sports thirst-quenchers) with a whopping 180,000 worldwide deaths a year. Harvard researchers suggest in their study that these drinks are a major factor in the diabetes epidemic and contribute to some 25,000 American deaths each year. If that isn’t enough for you to dump your soft drink habit (and discourage kids from sipping sugary drinks), consider this: Latin American countries, which have high rates of sugary drink consumption, had very high rates of death associated with this phenomenon. Meanwhile, Japan, which has one of the lowest rates of soda consumption, showed low death rates associated with sweetened drinks. source: tinyurl.com/hl13soda

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Crisis IN A SOBERING STATISTIC for the Baby Boomer generation (as well as their adult children), it is now reported that one out of three elderly Americans dies suffering from issues related to Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association recently released its 2013 annual summary of Read our story on disease facts and figures, including the Living with fact that 5 million Americans are sufDementia on page 70. fering from the cognitive diminishment associated with the mentally wasting disease. The implications for families and loved ones of Alzheimer’s sufferers are equally devastating. In 2012 some 15 million unpaid caregivers provided 17 billion hours of care to people suffering from the neurological disorder. This disturbing news makes it even more vital for adults to do everything possible to prevent the illness. Healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, consumption of a healthy diet, maintaining a normal weight and doing brain-stimulating activities, such as crossword puzzles, are all known to help prevent Alzheimer’s. source: tinyurl.com/hl13alzheimer

healthylife

Photos: Soda, ©iStockphoto.com/FL-photography; Women doing crossword puzzle, Maskot/GettyImages; Coffee mugs. © Darren Fisher/Dreamstime.com; Bubble gum, appleuzr/GettyImages.

Death by Soda

Sip

Prescription

A of Stroke Prevention

WARNING

YOUR DAILY CUP of java or morning green tea may be helping you keep your risk of stroke a sip or two away. Japanese researchers have concluded the simple act of having a daily cup of antioxidant-rich green tea or a cup of caffeine-rich coffee can be correlated with a diminished risk of stroke in that nation’s populace. Indeed, researchers, who studied a group of some 83,000 Japanese men and women and looked at data over a 13-year period found that having a cup of coffee or green tea daily could reduce stroke risk by as much as 20 percent. The researchers, who reported their findings recently in the journal Stroke, did not establish a specific cause-and-effect relationship or explain exactly why these beverages may reduce stroke risk. While it’s unproven yet, they suspect that some known anti-inflammatory properties in caffeine and healthful micronutrients known as catechins in green tea, may be beneficial. source: tinyurl.com/hl13stroke

Chew On This

EVER WATCH a commercial for a prescription medication and fixate on whether you need it? In the case of a popular class of medications to treat high blood pressure, researchers say TV commercials appear to influence how many people demand these drugs from their doctors. A new study conducted by researchers at Cornell University has found that TV advertising may be driving the overprescription of statins, which are treated to lower bad LDL cholesterol. Their analyses suggest that adults who had been exposed to statin ads were 16 to 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with high cholesterol, and 16 to 22 percent more likely to be using statins. Interestingly, the likelihood of both a diagnosis of high cholesterol and increased statin use was driven almost exclusively by men and women at low risk for future cardiac events. Conversely, those at high risk of heart disease exposed to statin ads on TV were not more likely to be taking a statin. The study was reported recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. source: tinyurl.com/hl13commercials

SURE, SOME PEOPLE CRINGE when they hear the sound of gumsnapping. But if you’re trying to give yourself a competitive edge you may want to chew away. British researchers have found that study participants who chewed gum for an extended period of time did better on a variety of tests that assessed their ability to memorize difficult number sequences. The researchers at Cardiff University suggested the chewing helped with cognitive function and concentration during a difficult task. “Interestingly participants who didn’t chew gum performed slightly better at the beginning of the task but were overtaken by the end,” researcher Kate Morgan reports in a news release issued by the British Psychological Association. “This suggests that chewing gum helps us focus on tasks that require continuous monitoring over a longer amount of time.” Of course, the other fringe benefit to all that chewing can be minty fresh breath. Just refrain from the snapping, please. source: tinyurl.com/hl13gumchew continued on page 18

healthylifect.com

news and views continued from page 17

Healthy Marriages the research buzz has suggested a strong correlation between the benefits of marriage and longevity. The thinking disseminated by scores of studies was that it takes two to live long and emotionally prosper. But a new study out of Ohio State University (in collaboration with researchers at the University of Texas at Austin) suggests marriage is the most beneficial when the couples involved are healthy. In other words, healthy divorced, single and separated folks don’t need to rush to the altar to obtain the RX benefits of matrimony.

Hormone Therapy and GALLSTONES MENOPAUSAL WOMEN who take hormone replacement pills seem to be at greater risk of needing surgery to treat gallstones, according to a study recently published in the journal of the Canadian Medical Association. Interestingly, women who wear an estrogen patch to help ease symptoms related to menopause do not seem to have a higher incidence of gallbladder disease. Researchers in France, where transdermal hormone patches tend to be preferred over pills often prescribed in North America, compared the two medication options to see if there were different risks and side effects. They discovered hormone pill-takers have much higher rates of gallbladder surgery. The study, however, did not establish a specific cause-and-effect relationship. “Complicated gallstone disease should be added to the list of potential adverse events to be considered when balancing the benefits and risks associated with menopausal hormone therapy,” says Dr. Antoine Racine, of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research and Paris-Sud University in a CMAJ press release. source: tinyurl.com/hl13gallstones

healthylife

“We believe marriage is still good for the health of some people, but it is not equally protective for everyone,” says Hul Zheng, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of sociology at OSU. “For those who are already in poor health, marriage doesn’t seem to provide any extra benefits.” In another interesting finding that may allude to how people perceive the benefits of partnership, the researchers found married people tend to overestimate how healthy they are! source: tinyurl.com/hl13benefits

Protein Respite

WANT TO CUT DOWN on those night-time snack attacks and junk food binges? Eat a protein-packed breakfast. That’s the advice from experts at the University of Missouri, who say that in a study of young adults they found that eating a protein-rich breakfast of eggs or lean beef curbed their appetites for high-fat, high-sugar foods later in the day. In their study, which also included groups of breakfast skippers and cereal-and-milk eaters, it was the protein-eating group who told researchers they were less hungry at meals throughout the day and less likely to crave junk food. The researchers suggest that their findings may have implications for anyone trying to lose weight and make healthier food choices throughout the day. source: tinyurl.com/hl13protein

Photos: Senior couple, Huntstock/GettyImages; Fried egg, Donald Erickson/GettyImages; Pink pills, © mushisushi/ Dreamstime.com; Mammogram, Keith Brofsky/GettyImages; Woman on cell phone, Robert Nicholas/GettyImages.

False Positive Trauma ANY WOMAN who’s ever had a suspicious or false-positive mammogram will tell you the experience is devastatingly frightening. And now, researchers in Denmark suggest women can carry the trauma of such false-positive cancer screenings for years to come. A new study published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that the psychological effects of getting a false-positive mammogram result can linger for as long as three years. Indeed, the researchers found anxiety levels were on par with women who received a positive cancer diagnosis. The researchers from the University of Denmark further suggest that the trauma associated with such false positives should compel doctors to get news of women’s test results to them as quickly as possible, and also encourage them to suggest counseling to women who are struggling with anxiety related to their frightening initial results. Researchers suggest the false positives are devastating because they force women to confront their mortality. Meanwhile, after the study’s release the American College of Radiology responded with a statement suggesting the study had flaws. That body suggested, for example, that the researchers did not account for women who may have had family histories of breast cancer, a factor that may have played a role in their profound anxiety. source: tinyurl.com/hl13trauma

The Heart of Antibiotic Risks

PLENTY OF US know someone who has taken the popular antibiotic azithromycin to fight everything from strep throat to pneumonia. While these potent drugs can be life-saving as they combat dangerous infections, the federal Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that these popular antibiotics can also be associated with fatal heart rhythms. Azithromycin, sold under brand names such as Zithromax or Zmax, have a risk associated with fatal heart rhythms in certain circumstances. (Particularly vulnerable are the elderly and anyone with a prior heart irregularity.) As a result of the FDA’s recent ruling, these drug warning and precaution labels have been updated to make note of these potential risks. source: tinyurl.com/hl13antibioticv

e r o MCell Phone Distractions DOES LISTENING to a onesided cell phone conversation while you’re drying your salon manicure or standing in the supermarket line drive you bonkers? Well, you’re not alone. It turns out that being subjected to these one-sided conversations can be nearly as distracting as, well, texting while driving. Researchers at Cornell University, who recently reported their findings in the journal Plos One, say their research suggests that being exposed to secondhand cell phone conversations is a more distracting form of back-

ground noise than listening to an animated conversation between two people. Although researchers weren’t exactly sure why study participants were more distracted by a series of scripted one-side cell phone conversations (which focused on mundane topics such as furniture shopping and family birthday parties) they noted understanding this element of human response has real implications since Americans spent a whopping 2.3 trillion minutes on various wireless phones in 2012. source: tinyurl.com/hl13distraction

healthylifect.com

fit and fab

▶ See Me Run! Under Armour is on top of its game with this moisture-wicking, anti-microbial gear. No matter your body type, these superlightweight shorts provide full coverage with the loose outer layer and fitted under-short. Pair them with the racer-back mesh top that lets your arms move freely and prevents chafing — and features reflective material to keep you in sight. $49.99 and $34.99. Available at Dick’s Sporting Goods, or visit www.underarmour.com.

▲ Fleet Feet More runners than ever are wearing these barefoot sneakers. The latest Vibram FiveFinger SeeYa LS sneakers are ultralightweight, grip the ground, provide flexibility for a more natural movement, and come in some fabulous styles. Best of all, you can toss them in the wash after a run and leave them to air dry until you’re ready to head back out. $100. Available at Athletic Shoe Factory and EMS, or visit www.vibramfivefingers.com.

! eason n s K 5 a It ’s you’re t r e h t us Whe er or j n n u r is avid out, th r g n i t r a sta Fab ge d n a Fit ve you a h l l i w k. to roc y d a e r in by car

lane

You can follow Carin on twitter @tiredorinspired and Pinterest at pinterest.com/carinlane. Have a new product you’d like to share? E-mail Carin at clane@timesunion.com.

Staying Cool ▲ You’ll feel 10 degrees cooler with this Brooks lightcolored mesh cap to protect you from the beating sun. With various patterns to choose from, mesh panels and a perforated bill to allow for airflow, and stretch spandex material that provides the perfect fit, this hat is a no-brainer. $20. Available at sporting goods stores, or visit www.brooksrunning.com.

▲ See Ya! Anderson Cooper taught us that even eyes can get sunburned. Protect your peepers with these great-looking Oakley polarized warm-up sunglasses that stay in place to give you full coverage plus 100 percent protection from UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light. Their style flatters any face shape, and they’re also available with prescription lenses. $170. Available at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Opticare in Fairfield, or visit oakley.com.

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▶ Staying on Track

What better way to track your times on as many as 50 past runs — not to mention your distance, pace and calories burned — than with this Nike+ SportWatch powered by TomTom’s tracking system? You also can upload your data to Nikeplus.com, and join challenges with friends and others on Facebook and Twitter. The personal coaching will help you stay on top — and remind you to go for a run. $169. Available at sporting goods stores, or visit www.nike.com.

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home FREE

SEMINAR

With summer in high swing, you’ll want to tuck plants into every nook and cranny of your life. Tovah Martin teams up with Nielsen’s Florist to erase the lines between indoors and outside. She’ll demonstrate how to create containers ﬁlled with plants that make the leap from your patio or deck in summer to your windowsill in autumn and winter. Not only will she demonstrate the secrets of repotting, but she’ll describe how to pair plants with similar cultural requirements so they live together happily ever after. And she’ll blow the cobwebs off houseplants—showing you how to bring your favorite garden plants into your home. Nielsen’s combinations of containers coupled with cool plants will be continuously created; plants of all descriptions will get a major face-lift using Nielsen’s expansive line of accessories; there will be brown thumb hand-holding; and Tovah’s new book—The Unexpected Houseplant—will be signed. at 1:00 pm Come, bring questions, and be converted into an outdoor/indoor gardener.

FREE SEMINAR

nielsen’s

Florist & Garden Shop

1405 Post Road, Darien, CT 203-655-2541 Refreshments provided by Michael Joseph’s

presented by

Tovah Martin Garden columnist and author of the newly published The Unexpected Houseplant, Tovah Martin is an honorary member of the Litchﬁeld Garden Club and the Garden Club of America. Her previous books include The New Terrarium and Tasha Tudor’s Garden. She also writes for many national publications including Country Gardens, Traditional Home, Martha Stewart Living, Design New England and Victoria. Tovah has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show, PBS television series and the CBS Sunday Early Show as well as many other broadcasts.

To pre-register, go to www.healthylifect.com/seminar Space is limited, so please pre-register.

Photo: Susan Johann

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Keep healthy foods — fruits and veggies — in clear bowls and the not-so-healthy stuff in a cabinet out of sight. Why? Research shows that women ate 71 percent more food from a clear bowl because it looked more appetizing.

body Swing Time (on the Golf Course) 24

Did You Know? 29

No Vacation From Food Allergies 30

Breakfast for Dinner 34

Summer Skin 39

The Silent Killer 46

Your Kidneys 43

fitness

Swing Time!

golf can be a great way to exercise in the warm weather

by john torsiello

healthylife

blood glucose levels fall by up to 20 percent for the young, 10 percent for the middle-aged, and 30 percent for the elderly players, and body weight is slightly reduced for all groups. Regardless of handicap, gender, or course played, golfers exceed 10,000 steps during a typical round of golf, which meets the guideline for exercise recommended by most medical and clinical physicians. No wonder women are getting hip to the fun and fitness of golf. “I have seen more women taking up the game,” says Suzy Whaley, teaching professional at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, former LPGA player and winner of the 2012 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award. “It is an exciting trend that I see continuing as PGA and LPGA professionals welcome women to the game and show them all the

FUN FACTS

  

Playing an 18-hole round of golf is roughly equivalent to a 3.5- to 4-mile run. Walking 18-holes of golf can drop blood glucose levels by up to 20 percent for the young, 10 percent for the middle-aged, and 30 percent for elderly players. Golfers typically exceed 10,000 steps during a round of golf, which meets the guideline for exercise recommended by most medical and clinical physicians.

Photo: Jordan Siemens/GettyImages.

olf is more than getting a little white ball into a hole using, as the late President Woodrow Wilson once famously said, “implements ill-adapted to the purpose.” While not as obviously strenuous as running, walking 18 holes of golf on a sunny day is great exercise — a point increasing numbers of women are realizing. The PGA of America estimates that walking 18 holes, carrying a bag or using a hand/pull cart, approximately equals a 5-mile walk. The total caloric expenditure for an 18-hole round is approximately 2,000 calories for walking while carrying clubs and 1,300 calories when riding in a cart. Since walking is biomechanically more efficient than running, playing an 18-hole round of golf is roughly equivalent to a 3.5- to 4-mile run. When walking 18 holes of golf,

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benefits golf offers to their lives.” Angela Aulenti, director of golf at Sterling Farms Golf Course in Stamford, sees the same trends. “More women are coming into the game and it has become a family sport and women tend to take more lessons than men, in general,” she says. “Women like group settings. It used to be women took the game up for social reasons, but now lots of women do it for business reasons.” Not surprisingly, savvy course owners are taking steps to attract female golfers, says Julie Cole, managing partner of the Dana Rader Golf School, headquartered in North Carolina. “Any golf course in this day and age that does not cater to kids, families, beginners and all levels of play will not survive in this economy.” Brian Gehan, director of operations/head golf professional at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, says that women comprise 15 to 20 percent of the players who frequent the course. The Richter Park Ladies Golf Club plays almost every Tuesday morning and some Saturdays. And the course conducts an event on Thursday evenings after work for men and women to play together called “9 & Dine.” Mixed groups go out and play nine holes together and then have dinner in the restaurant after. There’s a “good sized” female memberships at Richter Park, he says, and it’s growing.

he reasons for women to take up golf are as diverse as the holes on a typical 18-hole course. “Just as men do, females have different reasons for playing and learning golf. The women I encounter at the course love it for multiple reasons, including beauty, serenity, sociability, health and wellness, networking opportunities, competition and family benefits,” Whaley says. “Once women learn how to maximize their abilities, they can use golf as an escape from the daily pressures they encounter and enjoy the game with friends and family.” In the past, one of the classic deterrents to women taking up golf has been a perception — with some real validity — that the game at many clubs is a male bastion and that male members would rather not have women on the course. Well, that may have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but times have changed. What still has to change, say those in the profession, is the intimidation some women may still feel for the game. “Ladies who are just beginning with the game of golf can be more intimidated than the ladies who have had experience on the golf course,” says Gehan. “This is because of a couple factors, [the] first being that anyone who is trying something new is going to be a bit intimidated. Second, golf has been thought of as a good-oldboy’s game for so long, which is not true at all anymore.” Aulenti says the sport’s intimidation factor is not gender-specific. “The game is intimidating, period, not just

No Bones About It!

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

Ronald A. Ripps, M.D.

elighted by the broad response we got from our grab bars ar ticle, I am compelled to publicize the most impor tant safety feature one can install in the home: light. In 2003, falls in people over 65 accounted for 12,900 deaths, 1.8 million emergency room visits, and 421,000 hospitalizations (the Centers for Disease Control). Elderly folks, especially those with failing vision (1 out of ever y 28 Americans over the age of 40), can become easily disoriented in the dark, which is when most of these falls occur. Night lights either come incandescent or LED. LEDs have a number of advantages over the older incandescents: they use 10% as much energy, they are brighter, they last 25 times longer, and, most impor tantly, they are cool to touch and won’t burn little fingers. (US Consumer Product Safety Commission repor ts about 10 cases a year

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of fires possibly having been star ted by incandescent night lights). Night lights should be installed in the bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, and the kitchen. In stairwells the night light benefit can be enhanced by putting a reflective strip on the edge of the steps. Illuminated toggle switches on the walls help night walkers find the light switch, and some night lights come with a batter y so they continue to work through power outages. Most night lights today come with a photo sensor, but they also make some with motion sensors that turn the lights on and off automatically. The night light should only be so bright that one can discern the general layout of the room - to identify obstacles or stairs - and not to interfere with sleep. And just enough to allay childrens’ fears about all those “things that go bump in the night.”

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I am ageless. I am KHF. The Glenholme School combines a traditional boarding school experience and a therapeutic atmosphere complemented by a positive motivational program, devoted to young people who struggle with Asperger’s, depression, anxiety, and various learning differences. The school offers challenging extracurricular courses to instruct students to achieve competence, socially and academically. With an education based in strong character values, the graduates of Glenholme matriculate to colleges and universities and go on to meaningful careers.

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fitness

Where to Go Here’s a partial list of area golf courses to get you started.

for women,” she says. “Some women never played sports or are not used to the competition of golf. So we have to make learning fun and get them comfortable with the learning experience. We get lots of women at Sterling Farms and we absolutely are women-friendly at our course.” Sterling Farms has nine- and 18-hole women’s leagues on Tuesdays and a working-women’s group on the weekends. Cole claims that women make better students than men, even though they may be intimidated by the game at the start. “Women are intimidated by golf at times. But the male professional behind the counter does not assist in creating a comfort level. Women have a tendency to want to learn and have knowledge of the game before they go out and embarrass themselves. Men don’t tend to be as embarrassed by poor performance and think they can learn the game themselves.” HL

Photo: pbnj productions1/GettyImages.

Getting Started “Get Golf Ready” is an inexpensive way to learn golf. For $99, at most facilities, you receive five lessons, including an on-course lesson from a PGA or LPGA instructor at a facility near where you live. In this introduction to golf, you will learn the basics of the swing, rules and etiquette, enjoy on-course play, and meet new friends to enjoy golf with after the program is complete. Go to getgolfready.com to find a facility near you that offers the program.

Staying Healthy Most golf injuries are the result of improper grip and swing mechanics, and a lack of fitness and flexibility. Injuries typically occur in the soft tis-

D. Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course, Fairfield (203) 373-5911, fairchildwheelergolf.com

South Pine Creek Golf Course, Fairfield

(203) 256-3171

H . Smith Richardson Golf Course, Fairfield (203) 255-7300, hsrgolfclub.org

Griffith E. Harris Golf Course, Greenwich (203) 531-6944, greenwichct.org

Oak Hills Park Golf Course, Norwalk

(203) 838-0303, oakhillsgc.com

Ridgefield Golf Course, Ridgefield

(203) 748-7008, ridgefieldgc.com

E . Gaynor Brennan Golf Course, Stamford (203) 324-4185, brennangolf.com

Sterling Farms Golf Course, Stamford (203) 461-9090, sterlingfarmsgc.com

Richter Park Golf Course, Danbury (203) 792-2550, richterpark.com

sues (muscle, ligaments, tendons) and joints of the upper body (back, elbow, wrist and shoulder). Here are some tips to help prevent injuries: • shorten your backswing slightly (end with the club head at a 1 o’clock rather than 3 o’clock) • strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular muscles • strengthen the chest and back muscles that generate the power in the swing • take a lesson with a professional to refine your swing so it is fluid. To help prevent hand, wrist and elbow pain and injuries try: • selecting larger club grips • using softer grips • using a neutral grip

• selecting irons with large heads and “sweet spots” to lessen vibration • selecting graphite shafts to lessen vibration • selecting the correct club length (the end of the club should extend slightly beyond the palm of the leading hand) • strengthening the forearm muscles. Doing some simple exercises before you play, such as neck rolls, shoulder stretches, hamstring stretches, trunk side bends and trunk rotation, as well as swinging a club gently (start with a half swing and work up to a full swing after several minutes, while focusing on proper mechanics and a slow easy stroke), also helps ensure you’re warmed up and ready to play. source: About.com article on Sports Medicine by Elizabeth Quinn

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fast facts

did you know?

On average, skin regenerates itself every 27 days. Regeneration is most intensive at night. Photos: Rollerblader Hakan Hjort/GettyImages; Jeans, Jeffrey Kaphan/Getty Images; Compost, Martin Poole/GettyImages

source: tinyurl.com/ hl13skinreg

compiled by brianna snyder

913

Running at 8 mph will burn 986 calories in an hour. Not a runner? Rollerblading burns 913 calories per hour. Jumping rope will burn up 730 calories an hour. And high-impact aerobics? That’s 511 calories burned per hour. (Based on a 160-pound person.) source: tinyurl.com/hl13running

228

percent Composting can reduce homeowner trash at the curb by 25 to 40 percent. Leaves, grass and kitchen scraps represent 30 percent of material that goes to landfills. source: tinyurl.com/ hl13compost

The highest recorded IQ score in the world (228) belongs to Marilyn vos Savant, an American magazine columnist, author, playwright and lecturer. She writes “Ask Marilyn” for the Sunday edition of Parade Magazine and solves her readers’ queries on a wide range of topics and puzzles. source: tinyurl.com/hl13iq

1873

Jeans are invented and patented by German immigrant Levi Strauss and Russian immigrant Jacob Davis. Today, U.S. consumers spend about $14 billion a year on jeans. source: tinyurl.com/hl13jeans

healthylifect.com

your diet

No Vacation From

Food Allergies eat safely while traveling without packing up your entire kitchen

healthylife

by sandra diamond fox photos by krista hicks benson

orwalk resident Allison Carriere is looking forward to her summer vacation. But while she knows she and her family will enjoy the beaches, the water and the sun in Raleigh, N.C., she’s already stressing over what she’ll eat. “I have celiac disease and wherever I travel I must prepare what I’ll be eating ahead of time,” says Carriere. If she eats gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, malt and rye flours, she gets cramps and diarrhea that can last for about an hour — symptoms she definitely wants to avoid on vacation. While it’s challenging living with celiac disease or food allergies while you’re at home, doing so when you’re on vacation can cause even more stress. So to ensure Carriere enjoys her vacations, she always has a food plan in place. “I do research and look up the restaurants in the area [I’m traveling to]. I let the hotel or B&B know I can’t have gluten and they always find something for me,” says Carriere, who travels about six times a year for either business or pleasure. “If they don’t have a dedicated gluten-free menu, I know I’m safe eating something like salad with chicken or salmon for lunch. Dinner is typically some kind of fish or chicken with veggies and rice or baked potato.” Like Carriere, if you have food allergies it’s important to take extra precautions when traveling or dining out in order to prevent getting sick. According to Judy Prager, registered dietitian and certified dietitian nutritionist in New Fairfield, when dining out make sure to explain your food issues to the wait staff. “Call ahead to the restaurant you’ll be eating at. Ask to speak with the chef. Plan out your meal in advance and explain how you need it prepared,” Prager says. “Then, when you get to the restaurant, go over with the wait staff what you spoke about on the phone. If you feel more comfortable, request the chef come out to your table so he or she can speak with you directly.” The most important issue to be aware of for those with celiac and food allergies is the danger of cross-contamination, Prager explains. For example, for people with gluten intolerance, cross-contamination can occur when french fries are cooked in the same oil as chicken nuggets, which have a bread coating that’s off-limits to those with gluten intolerance. Abby Greenspun of Westport, registered dietitian and certified dietitian nutritionist, witnessed what can happen from cross-contamination firsthand. “I have a good

Sometimes circles just make sense. The Get Around Knee system is designed to replace the knee’s naturally circular motion. Other knee systems follow an oval motion. Don’t just replace your knee. Replace the way your knee moves. To learn more or to find an orthopaedic surgeon near you, visit getaroundknee.com or call 1- 888-Get -Around.

Total knee replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid, and post-traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the knee. As with any surgery, knee replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and death. Implant related risks which may lead to a revision include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), and reaction to particle debris. The information presented is for educational purposes only. Knee implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint.

Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any device is limited and depends on several factors like weight and activity level. Your doctor will help counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. Ask your doctor if the GetAroundKnee is right for you. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: GetAroundKnee, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

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your diet friend who is deathly allergic to poultry. About 15 years ago we were at an Italian restaurant in New York City and my friend had a reaction. After she ate a piece of bread, her lips started swelling so her husband took her right to the ER,” Greenspun says. “Someone in the kitchen probably touched a piece of chicken before handling the bread. Very scary!” Prager offers these questions to ask restaurant staff to help prevent crosscontamination: Do you keep a separate allergy-free section in your kitchen and have the griddle and cooking utensils been cleaned with soap and water from the food that was cooked before? Danbury resident Sue Mills, who is currently in remission from ulcerative colitis, discovered she feels best by keeping to a gluten-free diet. “In general I’ve found [restaurants] to be very accommodating. I usually just ask for a gluten-free menu. In the rare times one is not available, I explain the situation and order something like grilled salmon

and a baked potato,” Mills says. Greenspun says when traveling through an airport, many restaurants and snack bars will let travelers know what offerings are safe for them to eat. However, it’s a good idea to always be prepared — anywhere you travel — by taking foods from home you know you’ll do well with, she explains. “I bring a little cooler bag with me everywhere I go. Inside it I keep fruits such as melon, grapes or strawberries, as well as Greek yogurt. I make my own granola from gluten-free oats, and pecans, walnuts and almonds. I use coconut sugar and maple syrup. I also pack hard-boiled eggs,” Carriere says. “If I’m in an area where I really don’t want to eat the food, such as the airport or some kind of sketchy place, I will often choose something like nachos — with corn tortilla chips, salsa and cheese.” Mills says “Whenever I travel, I like to bring fruit, yogurt, cashews, almonds, rice crackers, and Udi gluten-free bread. I also bring gluten-free pizza

from my favorite pizza place, Tuscanero’s Pizza in Danbury.” When on an airplane, if it’s a long flight and meals will be served, “travelers can request special meals in advance such as kosher, vegetarian or gluten-free,” Greenspun says. According to Kim Koehler, co-author of Let’s Eat Out with Celiac/Coeliac & Food Allergies!: A Timeless Reference for Special Diets, everyone, no matter what kind of food issue they have, should be able to enjoy the experience of dining out safely anywhere. “Eating is very social. It shouldn’t have a negative impact on the quality of your life,” says Koehler, founder and president of Gluten Free/Allergy Free Passport, a health education firm in Illinois that promotes awareness of celiac disease, food allergies, and special diets. According to Koeller, there are three key points to remember with regard to eating out and traveling with food allergies: education, communication

and preparation. “Educate yourself on the ingredients and preparation of meals that are safe for you to eat,” says Koehler, who has celiac disease and over a dozen food-related allergies and intolerances including dairy, seafood, fish, pork and preservatives. When you’re ordering at a restaurant, “don’t give the wait staff a laundry list of foods you can’t have,” Koehler says. “Just ask questions about the specific dish you’re ordering. Find out how they modify the preparation of it to ensure you won’t get sick. “When traveling to a foreign country, bring dining cards with you that indicate upfront the foods you can’t eat, in the language spoken in that country. You can find these cards on my website, glutenfreepassport.com,” Koehler says. “I never leave home without mine.” “Having celiac disease does restrict you since you’re at constant risk for cross-contamination,” Carriere says. “The most important thing to remember is when in doubt, do without.” HL

Safe Vacation Practices Our experts recommend the following for people with gluten and food allergies to help them eat safely while traveling:

   

Ask for a refrigerator in your hotel room, then buy items you know are safe at a local market. Carry a small cooler bag with safe food items while on daily excursions. Educate yourself on the ingredients and preparation of meals that are safe for you to eat. Call ahead to restaurants where you plan to dine and speak to the head chef about their abilities to prepare gluten-free meals, avoid crosscontamination, and cater to your specific food allergy.



If you’re traveling internationally, carry cards that say what you can’t eat in the language of the country you’re visiting.

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cookbook

Opposite

Days sometimes you just want breakfast for dinner

by janet reynolds | photos courtesy quirk publishing

remember vividly the envy I felt when my best friend told me she had served her family cereal for dinner. The idea that I could just put out some bowls and let people pour their own dinner seemed like a dream come true at the end of a long work day. I also remember the joy with which my children responded when I told them one weekend when their father was away that everyone could stay in their pajamas as long as they wanted (which turned out to be the entire weekend), everyone could pick a rental video and we could watch them during the day (!), and pancakes were on the menu for dinner. (We also ate all our food as a picnic on the family room floor, and I’m pretty sure I served dessert first. It was a truly decadent time.)

healthylife

The point is that mealtime mixing-it-up is one of life’s great pleasures, especially if the mix includes swapping dinner for breakfast. Somehow eggs seem so much more exotic when they’re being served up after the sun is down. Love & Olive Oil blogger Lindsay Landis decided to make it easier to decide how to serve some of your favorite breakfast items for dinner in her new cookbook, Breakfast for Dinner. The book is chock-a-block with variations on triedand-true breakfast items served with a twist to make them perfect for dinner (or lunch for that matter, but that’s a different story). Landis, who blogs with and co-wrote the book with her husband, Taylor Hackbarth, has loved serving breakfast after noon for years. “There are so many great ingredients

Breakfast for Dinner, Recipes for Frittata Florentine, Huevos Rancheros, Sunny-Side-Up Burgers, and More!, by Lindsay Landis and Taylor Hackbarth, Quirk Publishing, 160 pages, $19.95

and flavors for breakfast,” she says, “but who has time to cook in the morning? Reinterpreting dinner when you can appreciate that is some of the appeal [of breakfast for dinner]. It’s like you’re getting away with something. You’re a grownup now and you can do what you want.” While most of us think eggs — and not much further — when contemplating serving breakfast in the evening, Landis and Hackbarth go far beyond that serviceable item. “We really tried to take typical breakfast dishes and make them more unique,” she says. “This is not a breakfast cookbook; it’s definitely a breakfast-for-dinner cookbook.” Their version of eggs benedict, for instance, is more savory and filling because it includes steak and vinegar. When contemplating how to add grapefruit to the recipe mix, they created a unique risotto that features this classic breakfast fruit.

either Landis nor Hackbarth are trained chefs — they run a design business and a pet-accessories business when they’re not cooking together. Cooking is a way for them to come together at the end of the day. And experimenting is the way they come up with their creative recipes. “We try our recipes on anyone willing to try them,” Landis says. “We have very happy neighbors.” Both did a lot of cooking with their families as children and began cooking together when they were in college. While they share kitchen duties, they divvy up certain cooking chores based on their respective interests. Landis is the sweets person, she says, while Hackbarth is the savory guy. “If we were put on a desert island, I would go for chocolate chip cookies and he’d go for a pastrami sandwich or something.” With different taste buds, it might seem agreeing on a recipe would be tough. Not the case, says Landis. “Most of the time we agree on the final recipe. We definitely have different tastes. I’m not a big ham sausage kind of person but Taylor really likes that,” she says, “so in some recipes with that I defer to him if it’s a good addition or not.” HL continued on page 36

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cookbook: recipe

continued from page 35

savory lentil & carrot stuffed crepes makes 12 crepes (4 servings) ingredients For Lentils 1/2 cup French green lentils*, rinsed 1 bay leaf 1/4 onion 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon Salt and black pepper, to taste For Honeyed Carrots 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound carrots, peeled, halved, and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick semicircles 1/2 onion, chopped 3 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons lemon juice Salt and black pepper 12 whole wheat crepes (use your favorite recipe or the one on page 44 in the book) 1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts *If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find French green lentils, you can use brown lentils and cook according to package directions. method

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Place lentils in a saucepan; cover with water by 1 to 2 inches. Add bay leaf and onion and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Take care not to overcook lentils, or they will be mushy. Drain well, discarding bay leaf and onion quarter, and return to saucepan. Toss with lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high

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heat. Add carrots and onion and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent. Add honey, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup water and cook until liquid has evaporated and carrots are tender, 20 to 22 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Spread 1 tablespoon of ricotta cheese down the center of each crepe. Top with a spoonful of lentil mixture, followed by carrots. Top with chopped parsley and hazelnuts. Roll up and serve warm.

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dehydrated skin can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but it can be fixed

summer skin

by wendy healy

fter taking a great spring break at Disney World in Florida, Rebecca Heiden returned to Danbury to find her skin severely dry and flaky. The rigors of being outdoors 12 hours a day, coupled with the damaging effects of the sun and chlorinated pool water, had taken a toll on her skin. She immediately ran to one of the high-end beauty stores at the mall, only to spend $120 on products that didn’t really work. “I was just back from Florida and I couldn’t understand what was happening,” says the mother of two teen girls. “I had just spent a fortune.” What Heiden had was severely dehydrated skin, and for someone with a dry skin type to begin with, it was extra uncomfortable. “I couldn’t go a day without moisturizing or I’d be peeling and itching again.” Dehydration, according to the experts, is the No. 1 concern for both

men and women. Skin that is properly hydrated is plumped up, has fewer lines and wrinkles, and looks better overall, according to Julie Edwards of Brookfield, an instructor at the Institute of Aesthetic Arts and Sciences in Southbury. “First, get hydrated,” she says. “It all begins there.” That means using a cream or a lotion morning and night, usually after washing your face and showering, to help keep the moisture — or water — trapped in. Edwards compares dehydrated skin to a dry sponge; when water is added, it plumps up. Dehydrated skin is different than dry skin, she says, explaining that dry skin is a skin type that lacks oil. Dehydration, however, is a skin condition that results from lack of water. Any skin type can become dehydrated for a variety or reasons, says Edwards, including the weather, exposure to

 healthylifect.com

summer skin indoor heat, and not moisturizing and taking care of your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology defines dry skin as rough, scaly or flaking; itching, gray or ashy for those with darker skin color; having cracks, which may bleed if severe; and chapped lips. “Everyone’s skin is made of oil and water,” says Edwards. “The water is for hydration and the oil is for skin type.” Dehydrated skin usually tends to feel tight, has very fine lines, and a puckered look, she adds. For women like Heiden, spring to summer can be a little challenging on the skin. As the season transitions, most women will likely have dehydrated skin from being inside in

the dry heat for months. The summer months are less dehydrating since there is more moisture in the air. Summer also can be a problem, says Edwards, since people are outside more and the sun and wind draw moisture out. “Both oily skin and dry skin can be dehydrated,” says Edwards, “but usually the drier the skin type, the more prone to dehydration.” Sometimes, she says, women with oily skin can actually dehydrate their skin by using products that take the oil out, but also strip the moisture. It’s very important, she says, to use products with the proper ingredients for what you are trying to repair. “Look for something that reads ‘moisturizing’ on the label,” she says, and stay clear of anything that says “minimizing fine lines or Skin that is wrinkles” or contains retinol and alpha hydroxy acid, as both are is plumped up, very drying and can cause inhas fewer lines and wrinkles, creased pigmentation and hypersensitivity. and l . “So much stuff is on the market today that didn’t used to be available,” says Edwards. “You used to go into a drugstore and there were a few things. Today, everything is very aggressive and a lot of it is focused on retinol.”

hydrated

properly

ooks better overall

hile Heiden bought very expensive products to moisturize, ones that included more natural and plantbased ingredients, she says she has since learned that products don’t have to be expensive to work. She relies now on an over-the-counter drugstore-brand moisturizer, which works just as well as the fancy tubes from the mall. “You don’t need anything too fancy,” says Dr. Loyd Godwin, a dermatologist with offices in Norwalk and Stratford. “A lot of the big classic brands, like Eucerin and Cetaphil, are really good and dermatologists like a lot.” These brands, including a new line called CeraVe, contain ceramides that help the skin retain moisture and are renewing. “Some products have a lot of bells and whistles, but usually the simpler the better. It’s unnecessary to spend a lot of money,” he says. “Everyone likes different things and everyone has a different price point or budget.” Godwin also recommends choosing a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15, year-round. Even the sun rays that you catch in the winter while walking to your car are enough to be damaging. “I believe every person — man or woman — needs to wear moisturizer and sun protection every day of the year,” he says. He also recommends moisturizing all over the body, especially after showering, to retain the most moisture. When selecting a moisturizer, Edwards recommends picking one best suited for your skin type – dry, oily or combination. Thick, cream-type moisturizers are best for drier skin types. Thinner lotions are better for oily or normal skin. But she

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 Did you know?

Brands like Cetaphil and Eucerin contain ceramides that help the skin retain moisture and they won’t break the bank.

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cautions that a product’s consistency isn’t as important as the ingredients. The right ingredients make the product penetrate the skin, she says, and not just allow it to sit on top. While it’s OK to buy something inexpensive, Edwards doesn’t recommend cleansing with anything in a bar form on your face. Because the skin is mostly water and oil, look for products that include water as the first ingredient, she says, and an oil among the product’s top ingredients if you have dry skin. Hyaluronic acid, she says, also is good since it locks in moisture, but is best applied in a cream and not by itself. Some brands are more natural than others and include wheat germ, oat kernel and hazelnut oil, she says, while less expensive brands will contain mineral oil. As long as a cream has both water and oil, it will be hydrating. “Natural products will contain more natural things, while synthetics will include names with very long names that you can’t pronounce.” A quick survey of some of the more popular moisturizing drugstore brands found water as the first ingredient in all. Other good ingredients include aloe vera, lanolin, cocoa butter, glycerin, Echinacea, petroleum, shea butter and panthenol. Farther down on most ingredient lists were preservatives ad additives like alcohol and urea. How to determine your skin type? Edwards says that if your skin feels tight, itchy or flaky, then it’s most likely dry. Oily skin will have a residue on it, and combination skin will contain both patches of dry and oily. And although drinking lots of water every day is good for your body, very little will actually hydrate the skin, Edwards says. “You can drink water till the cows come home and it won’t get to the top layer of your skin.” The best piece of advice she can give is to use a moisturizer that will hydrate the skin. HL

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owner’s manual

Your kidneys — a primer compiled by linda tuccio-koonz

ost of us have two kidneys, each about the size of a fist and shaped like a bean. They’re found to the left and right of the kidneys backbone, at the lowest level of the rib cage, and they work independently to remove waste products and excess fluid from your body. If you donate a kidney or lose one through disease or accident, your remaining kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss.

Photo: tomproutGettyImages Illustration: DEA PICTURE LIBRARY/GettyImages.



After filtering impurities and excess salts from the blood, your kidneys return about 200 quarts of fluid to the bloodstream every 24 hours, only 2 of which are processed as urine and removed.



If the kidneys’ ability to filter blood is damaged, dangerous waste and excess fluid can build up in your body.

The kidney is the most common organ given by a living donor.



Warning signs of kidney disease include high blood pressure, blood and/or protein in the urine, more frequent urination (particularly at night), difficult or painful urination, puffiness around the eyes and swelling of hands and feet.



Kidney stones — often caused by urinary tract infections or too much calcium absorbed from foods — are a common kidney issue

and can cause severe pain when they pass from the body.



Using a large number of overthe-counter analgesics (pain and fever reducers) can be harmful if taken for extended periods or in large doses. Street drugs such as heroin and crack also can damage the kidneys.



Kidney dialysis, where the blood is cleansed of toxins through an outside machine, can be done in a hospital setting or at home.



Kidney transplants have high success rates. The kidney can be from someone who died or from a healthy living donor who may be a relative, friend or stranger. The donor and recipient must have compatible blood types and certain tissue similarities.



To keep your kidneys healthy: keep blood pressure/cholesterol levels in check; watch salt and alcohol intake; eat a balanced diet; exercise; maintain a healthy weight; don’t smoke. HL

For additional information on the kidneys go to

www.healthylifect.com

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page header cancer risk

The

Silent Killer what you should know about ovarian cancer by cathleen f. crowley

healthylife

varian cancer runs in Maria Angelica Calandriello’s family. Her grandmother, great aunt and two cousins all had gynecological cancers that took their lives. Her uncle nagged Calandriello to get a genetic test to tell her if she carried the genetic mutation that placed her at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. But life got too busy for the 46-year-old massage therapist and single mom. “I never pooh-poohed it. I said ‘Yes, I have to do that, but I just don’t have the time,’” says Calandriello, who lives in Westport. About 22,240 new cases of ovarian cancer are reported annually in the United States. The median age at diagnosis is 63. With 14,000 deaths each year, ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other gynecological cancer. More than half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die within five years because so often it is found af-

Photo: Thoughtful woman, Ranald Mackechnie/Getty Images; Maria Calandriello, Contributed; Ribbon, © iStockphoto.com/Alexander Tesevich.

Ovarian cancer symptoms ter spreading to the abdomen, lungs, brain or other organs. In October 2012, Calandriello started having trouble breathing. When she laughed, her chest hurt and she had to catch her breath. A cough started in November. She didn’t feel sick, but she couldn’t finish a sentence without coughing. “I try not be the type of person that complains,” she says. Calandriello kept working at her massage job at Noelle Spa for Beauty & Wellness in Stamford, and even did a six-hour walking tour through Central Park in December. She had to stop and rest, but she finished. “I just thought I’m old and I’m fat and I’m out of shape,” she says. Her family doctor diagnosed it as asthma and then bronchitis. None of the drugs she was prescribed helped. The day after Christmas, she was out of breath and exhausted. She went to the emergency room at Norwalk Hospital. A chest X-ray and CT scan showed her abdomen was so full of fluid that a lung had collapsed under the pressure. Looking back, the lung probably had collapsed weeks ago. The doctor who read the scan said he wasn’t sure what she had but suggested it might be ovarian cancer. “When he said that, I just knew he was right,” she says. He was right. She has tumors in both ovaries and one under her sternum. The first few weeks after learning the news, she couldn’t stop thinking about her daughter, Giana. “She is 7 years old and I don’t want to leave her,” she says. Most ovarian cancers aren’t detected until stage 3 or 4 because the symptoms of it are so mild that women often ignore them: bloating, feeling full, abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Frequent urination can also be a sign. There is no proven screening method that catches ovarian cancer in the general population. In fact, testing healthy women for ovarian cancer causes more harm than good, accord-

ing to a major study that used a blood test and an ultrasound of the ovaries to screen for cancer. The high rate of false positives led to unnecessary surgeries — 20 women underwent surgery to find one case of cancer, according to the 2011 study. Still, regular blood tests and ultrasounds are recommended for women who have a family history of ovarian cancer or a mutated breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2). Having the mutated gene significantly increases the risk of developing both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer among women in the general population is 1.4 percent. For women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, it is 15 percent to 40 percent. “Any woman who has a first- or second-degree family member — children, sisters, aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents with ovarian cancer — they should speak with their physician about genetic testing for the BRCA

Maria Angelica Calandriello

Ovarian cancer symptoms are often vague. Women and their doctors often blame the symptoms on other, more common conditions. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, the tumor has often spread beyond the ovaries. You should see your doctor if you have the following symptoms on a daily basis for more than a few weeks:  Bloating or swollen belly area  Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly  Pelvic or lower abdominal pain; the area may feel “heavy” to you (pelvic heaviness) Other symptoms are also seen with ovarian cancer. However, these symptoms are also common in women who do not have cancer: • Abnormal menstrual cycles • Constipation • Increased gas • Indigestion • Lack of appetite • Nausea and vomiting • Unexplained back pain that worsens over time • Vaginal bleeding that occurs in between periods • Weight gain or loss • Excessive hair growth that is coarse and dark • Needing to urinate more often than usual Source: American Accreditation HealthCare Commission

healthylifect.com

cancer risk gene,” says Dr. Adam Calandriello had talked A. Ofer. about genetic testing with Ofer is the director of several of her doctors over the gynecology at Norwalk years, but each one told her Your risk of developing ovarian cancer is higher if: Hospital and is interested to go to a genetic counselor.  You have a close family member who has had in hereditary cancers. He “You never find the time and ovarian cancer used to send his patients you never think it’s going to be to genetic counselors for you,” she says.  You have had breast cancer testing, but his philosoIn the back of her mind, she  You have a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene phy has evolved. had already decided she would “Over the years I’ve have her ovaries removed if  You have never had a child come to terms with the she tested positive. Today, she  You took estrogen-only hormone replacement for fact that if you have a pais undergoing chemotherapy 5 or more years tient in front of you that and will have surgery to re You are over 55 meets the criteria for gemove her ovaries and areas netic testing, you really affected by the cancer. Her Source: National Institutes of Health should do it right there daughter fills her thoughts, and then,” Ofer says. and her uncle’s advice haunts All it takes is a saliva her. sample. Three weeks lat“I wish that I had listened er, Ofer discusses the test results with patients in person. and I wish that I had done something sooner,” she says, A woman with a BRCA gene mutation has several options: choking up. “I feel like an idiot now for not taking the extra do nothing, increase screening, or have her ovaries, and steps to find a geneticist to take this test. It would have been possibly uterus, removed. Removing the organs reduces the so much easier if one of the doctors had the test right there, chance of developing ovarian cancer by 96 percent. like a Pap smear. I would have done it right there.” HL

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Ovarian Cancer and Genetic Testing

arina Zinger Richeson

using a person’s genetic in-

diagnosed,” she says. “In my

thought

being

formation when making de-

heart, I felt I was in danger and

tested for the genetic muta-

cisions about insurance eli-

there was this sense of urgen-

tion associated with breast

gibility, hiring, promotions or

cy about it.”

and ovarian cancer, but de-

terms of employment.

about

Richeson, a financial analyst

ous tumors in her fallopian

family history of both can-

at St. Vincent’s Medical Cen-

tubes during the first surgery.

cers, but she worried her in-

ter in Bridgeport, was finally

Her second surgery has been

surance company would deny

tested this fall and learned

delayed while she receives

her coverage if she tested

she carried the mutation. She

chemotherapy.

positive.

quickly scheduled surgery in

Genetic testing can be ex-

That was 14 years ago. To-

November to remove her ova-

pensive, but most insurance

day, Americans are protected

ries and planned a December

companies cover the cost for

by a 2009 federal law called

surgery for a double mastec-

women considered at high

the Genetic Information Non-

tomy. Both her sisters had

risk for developing ovarian or

discrimination Act. The law

had breast cancer.

breast cancer, including pa-

prohibits

com-

“Here I am at 46, older than

panies and employers from

insurance

my sisters when they were

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ď ľ Windows: repair or replace? June 2013

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go window shopping â&#x20AC;˘ outdoor games

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Shop smart, shop local

Window Shopping highlights eco-friendly furnishings, décor and seasonal items available in stores in and around Fairfield County. Have a favorite store we’ve missed? Send an e-mail to rhaynes@hearstmediact.com. We’d love to hear from you! by melinda mcgarty webb

Oooh, So Soft The alpaca wool in this throw is woven by Peruvian artisans. Dyed in soft shades of citrine and pearl, the alpaca strands are intertwined to create a soft, loose knit. Alpaca wool contains no lanolin (unlike sheep’s wool), and is considered to be a better choice for some allergy sufferers. At 50x70 inches, it’s perfect for cuddling up near the outdoor fire on a chilly summer night. $498. Terrain, 561 Post Road East, Westport, (203) 226-2750. shopterrain.com

Reclaimed Wood This magnificently weathered Valhalla table by Kingsley-Bate may have you reconsidering the merits of new, unblemished wood. Constructed of reclaimed teak, it’s treated with an exteriorgrade gray wash that highlights its imperfections, enhances its stain resistance and lends an air of quiet elegance. The 96-inch table seats eight and costs $1,790; a 73-inch version that seats six is $1,500. Swimm Pool & Patio, 512 Post Road, Darien, (203) 656-4336. swimmpoolandpatio.com

healthylife

Woodsy or Beachy? This driftwood chandelier could play it either way to suit your decor. Twined branches of sandblasted grapewood house nine candelabra bulbs. At 16 inches high and 25 inches in diameter, it would fit comfortably above a dining room table or large kitchen set. $3,298. Terrain, 561 Post Road East, Westport, (203) 226-2750. shopterrain.com

Celebrate Summer This recycled glass beverage service will hold 16 quarts of liquid refreshment. The clear bubble-like glass container is fitted with a stainless steel spout and a wood lid made of sheesham, a fast-growing Indian hardwood. It measures 16.25 inches high and 14.5 inches in diameter. $298. Terrain

Organic Softness Because these polka dot bath towels are dyed with pigments made from petals, leaves and stems, the manufacturer says their colors will soften and change with time. Made with plush 100 percent organic cotton, the bath towel ($78) is about 47 inches long and 24 inches wide. Also available is a hand towel ($28) and wash cloth ($22). Terrain

check out our blog for additonal finds

Window Shopping

@203

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Save A Tree No need to harvest precious red cedar or pine for Malibu Outdoor Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s furniture line. Recycled dairy and detergent bottles are turned into high density polyethylene (HDPE) lumber to construct these Adirondack chairs. That means that unlike wooden chairs, these wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be re-stained. $330. Swimm Pool & Patio, 512 Post Road, Darien, (203) 656-4336. swimmpoolandpatio.com

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Let the Games Begin

With the warm weather upon us, my family and I are spending as much time outdoors as possible. When I’m not purloining perfectly good plastic playhouses and slides from my neighbor’s junk pile, I like to search for outdoor toys that are also easy on the planet. by alison grieveson

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This Ride-On Recycle Truck is 

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Check out these biodegradable  beach toys made from corn! Also available in orange and pink combo. zoeborganic.com, $22 

Good enough to eat!

This lead-free sidewalk chalk w

is made from organic ingredients and comes in five colors. weecantooart.com, $12  This eco-friendly croquet set x

is made from environmentally friendly rubberwood and non-toxic paints, dyes and lacquers, plus formaldehyde-free glue.  TheGreenPlayroom.com, $48

“Bob” is a climb-on y

sliding board tractor made of recycleable corrugated cardboard. tsuchinoco-kids.com,  $1,700 HL

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Made from corn!

Alison Grieveson is a graphic designer who enjoys exploring the greener side of the design and decorating industries. For more green tips, check out RefurnishedLiving.com.

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your home

Opening

Up the

World of Windows

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repair or replace? making sense of the options by lee nelson

Photo: Elliot/Gettyimages.

he windows in your home do so much for you and your family. They allow natural light to pour into your rooms and into your soul. On summer nights, the breezes can float through the screens to fill it with the sweet smell of your nearby rose garden. But lately, your windows look shabby, and you’re dealing with drafts and condensation. Do you need to spend thousands to replace them? Can you repair them, even if they’re decades or even a century old? The answer is up to you. But with some facts from the experts about cost, environmental and health concerns, and efficiency, you can make a more informed decision about what’s best for your situation, budget and conscience. “The reality is that replacing windows is a major investment. You can find cheap and expensive products with everything in between,” says Kerry Haglund, consultant for the Efficient Windows Collaborative, a consortium of manufacturers, home performance contractors, reou search organizations and others dedDid yw? kno icated to increasing the market share of high-efficiency windows. “Windows are a system,” she says. Federal tax “You don’t necessarily know if the credits are system is all intact. The life of a winavailable to dow is probably 30 years for older homeowners windows. Now, they will last up to 50 installing years. But repairing them should alEnergy Starways be your first option.” rated Many people do buy new windows replacement for energy efficiency. But Haglund windows, doors says that’s not the best reason for or skylights. To such a large purchase. “People have find out if you to remember the reasons for winqualify, visit dows. It’s not to save energy,” she energystar.gov/ says. “They provide natural light, nattaxcredits. ural ventilation and natural connection to the outdoors. We can’t forget that. We have to have a view. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have windows at all.” CHOOSING TO REPAIR He is called the Greenwich Window Doctor and he likes to save people’s windows from death and destruction. Andrew Coviello has been saving old windows for a couple of decades. He has expertise in fixing double-hung wood sash windows — the type found in many of Fairfield County’s historic and older homes. He says that after he restores the window, it can last another 100 years, compared to someone replacing it with a

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your home know the lingo

Five signs your windows need attention

To shop for replacement windows is to learn a foreign language, a bit of chemistry and mathematics, and some new vocabulary. Here are a few key terms from the National Fenestration Rating Council (windowratings.org):

 Single hung: Windows with one fixed and one movable sash.  Double-hung: Windows with two sashes that are operable.  Fill: A (harmless, odorless, clear) gas or combination of gasses sealed in the space between two layers of glass, used to help insulate a window.

SINGLE pane often has a storm window, screen or combination

 Frame: The enclosing structure of a window, made of wood, metal, vinyl, fiberglass and composite (combination)  Glazing: The transparent or semitransparent in-fill material in a glazing system. Windows are often described by the number of glazings they contain — singleglazed, or one pane of glass; double-glazed, or two panes of glass, etc.

 Low-e glass:

Low-e stands for low

emissivity. This type of glass is treated so that it conducts visible light while controlling the passage of heat. The glass is then an energy efficient way to control the heat being allowed in and out of a home or environment. Different types of low-e glass are available to meet the needs of varying climates.  Solar Heat Gain Coefficient: This measures how much heat from the sun is blocked. The lower the SHGC, the better

DOUBLE pane

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 U-factor: A key measure, especially in cold climates, of how well a window prevents heat from escaping. The lower the U-factor, the better a window is at keeping heat inside. This number should fall between 0.15 and 1.20.

 Curtains are blowing or

a lit match held near the frame wiggles or goes out

 Window is difficult to fully open or slams shut when opened

 Faded spots on rugs or furniture where sun comes in

 Window rattles and

shakes and/or glass repeatedly cracks or breaks

 Windows are made of wood and/or energy bill continues to climb source: Jerry More, Comfort Windows

TRIPLE pane space between glass may be gas-filled; glass may be low-E type

vinyl one that has only a 20- to 30-year lifespan. He can also save homeowners cash, since it’s often cheaper to repair than replace, Coviello says. Many times, when he’s called to an older home to fix the windows, he finds that someone has painted over the ropes or the frame, making it impossible to open. “I can restore windows from the 1700s through the 1940s,” he says. “The first windows that came to America were casement, double-hung with ropes. Everything came from Europe.” He says that system is still in use today. He charges about $100 to $300 to clean the upper and lower sashes, scrape off all the built-up paint, replace or fix the ropes or chains that maneuver the window up and down, and educate the homeowner on how to keep the windows in working condition. If the glass is bad or broken, he works with a company in Pennsylvania that sells restored glass taken from old build-

a window blocks solar heat gain, important during summertime, when air conditioning is running. This number should fall between 0 and 1.

Want to learn more?

Illustration by Emily Jahn

 Fenestration: Windows, doors and anything else that fills holes in a home’s architecture

The Efficient Windows Collaborative offers information on the benefits of efficient windows, how windows work, how to select an efficient window, and manufacturers that provide efficient products. Visit efficientwindows.org.

ings and homes. Coviello also created a DVD that he sells for $14 on his website that can help people learn how to fix their own older windows, since he can’t get to everybody. “This is just one real way to go green. You don’t have to take your windows and throw them in the dumpster. Vinyl windows aren’t biodegradable,” he says. And he says he’s witnessed some of the tilt windows, marketed as easy to handle and clean, become impossible to open or close properly as they age. “And those systems break down very easily. All the springs inside are the same size. The springs get stretched out and then they break,” Coviello says. “That can make the windows come crashing down and be dangerous.” He truly believes that historic windows are an important part of preserving the integrity of a property. “People think that their windows have to be airtight. You don’t want air-

Photo: Window, TERRY MCCORMICK/GettyImages.

tight. That isn’t good. You want the house to breathe.” According to Coviello and many environmental groups, vinyl or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) used in replacement windows is toxic to humans and the rest of the environment. The Healthy Building Network says that more than 14 billion pounds of PVC are produced annually in North America, and 75 percent of it is manufactured to be used in construction materials, including windows. The organization was formed in 2000 to help transform the market for building materials to advance the best environmental, health and social practices. “PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing major hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal,” the network states on its website. It goes on to say that dioxin, a carcinogen, is released from PVC and this can create several health problems from cancer to endometriosis and birth defects. “Homeowners stick to their environmental beliefs. If they feel vinyl isn’t what they want, then they can get a wood or fiberglass window,” says Haglund. “There are options to go with your environmental beliefs.” Recycling old windows sometimes can be difficult to do, she admits. If you remove the sash from the window and the frames, you can recycle the glass. Sometimes, you can’t recycle the frame. “That’s the hard part with vinyl windows,” she says. “If you replace a vinyl window, there isn’t a vinyl recycling program.” REPLACING WINDOWS Sure, new windows can save on your energy bill, especially if you have old, single-pane windows that don’t seem to stop any of the cold or heat from coming in or going out. According to ConsumerReports.org, you might save 10 to 25 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills with new windows. Just keep in mind that the cost of those windows can average $7,000-$20,000. If you need custom-sized windows, add on another 15 percent. When people finally do decide to replace their windows and call David Metviner, they usually have a budget in mind, but most don’t know all the window options available. “Replacement windows can be confusing to people. They have a preconceived notion that they don’t want vinyl. They think it is cheap. They feel that they want windows made of wood,” says Metviner, sales manager of New England Win-

dow and Exterior Co. in Ridgefield. Vinyl is everywhere. It is in everything from your refrigerators to your windows, he says. “But window companies give choices to their customers including aluminum and wood windows,” he says. “But I still sell more vinyl windows … and there is a lifetime warranty on vinyl. Wood would be more expensive, but the warranty is only 20 years on the glass or 10 to 20 years on the frames.” People often choose to get new windows because their windows are rotting, which causes mold and attracts bugs. “Even if that small amount of mold isn’t toxic to the inhabitants, it still needs to be fixed or replaced before the problem grows,” Metviner says. Many people are looking for top efficiency in a window to save on energy and money. But he says most people don’t need to buy the triple-pane windows. “It’s like wrapping your sandwich in three layers of Saran wrap or three Ziploc bags. It’s unnecessary,” he says. “But a lot of people still want that product.” Homeowners can choose either replacement windows or new construction windows for an existing home. The replacement variety are custom-made within an inch of the original window, using insulation and caulking to make them draftfree. New construction windows are more difficult and time-consuming to put in. Installers take the entire old frame and exterior trim off, Metviner says. “Windows are only 15 percent of your home’s exterior,” he says. “Even if you have new windows that are very energyefficient but the rest of your house isn’t insulated, you are just wasting your money.” Haglund agrees and says homeowners should also have the right air conditioner and furnace, adequately sized for the home to keep everyone cozy without throwing money out the window — well, figuratively anyway. Plus, with houses built prior to 1978, installers have to be careful. Homes of this age continue to be the most common source of lead exposure, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Heath Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program. Lead paint was used on the window frames and if chipped, it can release lead dust into the air, which can cause lead poisoning, especially in young children and pregnant women. So finding a firm that has lead-certified installers/repairers is important, Metviner says. HL

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your gardens

Au Naturel why organic gardening can yield lush results

healthylife

by valerie foster | photos by daryl beyers

estruction and sadness greeted Marie Meyer when she visited post-World War II Germany in 1949. Until she saw her grandmother’s beautiful garden. “She had saved seeds and bulbs all during the war,” she says. “I was 11, and I remember that in the midst of all this destruction there was such beauty in her garden. I vowed that if I ever lived someplace where there is dirt, I would plant a garden.” That, however, was impossible to do when she arrived home, since she lived with her family in an apartment in the Bronx. But she could dream, something she did on her frequent visits to the New York Botanical Garden. Once married, she moved with her minister husband, Bill, to the South, and planted the first of many gardens. A few years later, when living in Patchogue, N.Y., they were lucky to have a lovely Greek neighbor who taught her all about gardening, but most importantly, how to garden without chemicals. “The Europeans tend to use natural fertilizers, organic gardening without calling it that,” she says. In Patchogue, she grew vegetables and berries, the produce that fed her four children and foster son from Vietnam. “We thought it was important for our

kids to learn that you can grow vegetables to eat as food,” Meyer says. “And when they wanted a snack, they could run out and grab a handful of berries.” When her husband was transferred to Garden City, also on Long Island, she added flowers to her vegetable and berry gardens. And now, with her husband retired, their threequarters of an acre in Bethel is decorated with four main flower gardens, three auxiliary gardens and a raised bed for tomatoes and herbs. And although all gardens sport different looks, they all have something in common: They are all au naturel – lacking any chemical intervention. It comes as no surprise to Bill Duesing that Meyer’s gardens are gorgeous. “The most beautiful parks in Connecticut are fertilized with nothing but leaves,” says Duesing, executive director of the Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association. Adds Chris Hadin, the horticultural specialist at the Abilis greenhouse in Greenwich: “It’s also better for the environment, and in the long run, makes the land sustainable. Healthy organic soil does not get depleted.” Abilis provides people with developmental disabilities support and advocacy to build able

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your gardens lives. They work with Hadin in the greenhouse, growing organic micro-greens for two area restaurants, Rebeccas and Barcelona. “Above all, organic gardening is healthier for the individuals who are eating the product of that land,” Hadin says. But where to start? All experts agree — with the soil. Both Hadin and Duesing suggest you send a sample of your soil to the Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory at the University of Connecticut — soiltest. uconn.edu — which costs $8. (Many local garden centers also offer this service.) Duesing says to ask for organic recommendations if your soil needs nutrients. Next, begin composting, a practice that Meyer has passed down to her children. “We all compost. We have containers under our sink. Some of my children have them on their counters. We don’t even think about composting. We just do it,” she says. Once the under-sink containers are filled, the material is transferred to a large container outside, which her husband stirs from time to time. Things to in-

clude in your bin:  Tea bags and coffee grinds  All vegetable peelings and trimmings from vegetables, including pepper tops, kale veins and carrot peels  Trimmings and peelings from fruits, including apple cores, orange skins and banana peels  Kitchen paper towels that have not been used for meat or any containing chemicals  Newspaper strips Never add foods that will attract vermin, such as cooked food, meat, poultry, fish and cheese. For fertilizer, Meyer then mixes her compost with manure. She also uses Milorganite fertilizer, derived from heat-dried microbes that have digested the organic material in wastewater; it is manufactured by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. “It’s sludge, but it’s perfectly sanitary and very low in nitrogen, so it’s perfect,” Meyer adds.

Getting started with organic gardening The following eco-friendly checklist is from the Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association. Its website, ctnofa.org, includes a wealth of information on organic gardening. This shortened checklist comes from the 54-page pdf, “Introduction to Organic Lawns and Yards,” on the website:  Keep pesticides off your lawn and garden.  Use non-synthetic fertilizers from natural sources.  Reduce water use.  Remove invasive plants.  Garden with native plants.  Grow food.  Make and use compost.  Test your soil.  Increase biodiversity.  Mow your lawn high, 3 to 4 inches, leaving grass clippings on the lawn.

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Bethel resident Marie Meyer has created the gardens shown here (and on preceding pages) — without using chemicals. “It’s all about taking care of God’s earth and being healthy,” she says.

They also chop up their fallen leaves in the fall and spread them throughout their gardens, a practice Duesing says everyone should follow. “Leaves are organic matter, a critical part of soil,” he says. “Historically, for 8,000 years, every fall soil received an application of leaves. Starting in the ’50s and ’60s, homeowners began raking up those leaves and taking them away. Our soils have been deprived of those leaves for more than half a century. But this is the annual organic input all of our soil needs.” He suggests using a mulching mower — today most mowers come with this function — and use that function throughout the leaf-falling season. “It’s the best thing you can do for your soil and your lawn,” he says. And leave the leaves that fall into your flower or ornamental shrub beds. Come spring, most of those leaves can be turned over, into the soil, providing a good base to start planting. Want another reason not to rake? “Think about all the time you’ll save not bagging leaves, or the money not having someone cart your leaves away,” Duesing says. Come spring, Hadin heads to the beach

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your gardens

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to collect seaweed to fertilize his soil. “This goes back to ancient times in Ireland,” he says. “These people had the worst possible land possible, but by layering seaweed in between sand they created very fertile land.” He uses ulva lactuca, aka sea lettuce, which he says is easily dried out in your backyard. Then you simply crumble it in your hands and spread it over your flowers and vegetable beds. When his daughter was a toddler, he enlisted her help gathering and scattering this natural fertilizer. He also built her a green teepee using poles to make the teepee shape, held together with twine at the top. Pole beans and peas grew up the sides of the poles, and within a short

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time, she had a little clubhouse to sit in and call her own. It’s this emotional connection with the soil that all our experts say is so important to pass on to future generations, making gardening so much more than a weekend hobby. “Once, I had some compost in my hand and said to my son, ‘Look how beautiful this is,’” Meyer says. “He said to me, ‘Mom, I don’t know anyone else who gets as excited about dirt as you do.’ “Gardening is part of my emotional well-being,” she adds. “It’s just a part of me, ever since I saw what my grandmother was able to accomplish. It’s all about taking care of God’s earth and being healthy.” HL

Organic gardening is the only way to go for Bethel resident Marie Meyer. Her gardens, pictured here, thrive under her environmentally friendly care.

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Living with Dementia 70

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ask emma

Put Your Shoes On! advice from the 8th century on how to avoid suffering by emma tennant

am not making this up. I was in Whole Foods to buy a salad, sit down and do some reading in preparation for writing this column. I brought my salad to the checkout line. About five people were ahead of me. No other cashiers in sight. The woman at the front of the line had two kids, packets of flower seeds, groceries, macaroni, bags of whole grains that needed to be weighed, and was trying to hang on to her kids and fish out her wallet with one hand, while holding her own takeout salad in the other. Meanwhile, the two girls in front of me cackled like crows about their weekend. Something about “Darren.” They were driving me nuts. Time passed. My salad got heavy. My head started swiveling around: “My God, they have one cashier?,” I thought. “Where is everyone? Who runs a business this way? Can’t they have an express lane like everybody else?” I fantasized about putting my salad on the counter and leaving. To be honest, I even had a fantasy of dropping it on the ground. “Oh, excuse me, how clumsy,” I’d say, make my apologies and walk out. Then a cashier about six aisles away caught my eye. She was waving at me from quite a distance. With enormous relief I walked and put my salad in front of her. “I could see you looking around,” she said. “Thank you,” I gushed, “I was about to lose it.” “Why?” I didn’t really want to have the conversation but, you know, I was in it now: “Oh,” I said, “the line wasn’t moving very fast. It was nobody’s fault.” “Maybe it was your fault,” she said. “You got impatient.” And there was my lesson for the day, for in fact she was absolutely right. The feeling I was having, the irritation with everyone in front of me, the almost panicked feeling of time being wasted, was entirely my fault. These feelings rose in me of their own accord. I was making myself miserable. I guess I’m very acutely aware these days of an unassailable truth — we are the source and origin of our suffering. For instance, my patient Sheila begins every session by telling me how “unfair” everything is. Her coworkers keep asking her why she doesn’t have a boyfriend, which is “unfair.” Her ex-boyfriend has married and is organic farming in Arkansas. This is also “unfair.” There is no mistaking that underlying her experience of the unfairness of things is the expectation that things should be otherwise — life is hard, that is true, but Sheila thinks it should not be hard.

We are all like this, and life continues to present us with hardness. Please fill out this form. Here is your electric bill. We are cutting your health care benefit. You need new glasses. Your car will not start. The basement has mold. Your son appears to have ADHD, or, at least, we wish he would behave and we secretly believe that if you were a better mother, he would.

hey add up, these demands, and they never end. I find myself at times looking — as we all do — at photographs of movie stars walking up the stairs of a private plane and thinking, “Why them and not me?” But here’s the thing. Yes, at one given moment or another we may be more overwhelmed by the hardness of life than, say, Anne Hathaway — for whom things seem to be going pretty swimmingly. But the truth is that we are all caught in this web of unmet expectations, disappointments, unexpected tragedies, and the inevitability of old age. So is Anne Hathaway. So what do we do? The answer can be found in the writings of Shantideva, an 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk and scholar, and his long poem, traditionally translated in English as “The Way of the Bodhisattva.” In one verse, he writes: To cover all the earth with sheets of hide — Where could such amounts of skin be found? But simply wrap some leather around your feet, And it’s as if the whole earth had been covered. In other words: Put on your shoes. We can’t make the world a place of perfection. It will always be stony, cold, hot, uneven and unfair. There is no way to cover the world in hide so that we don’t hurt our feet. We keep trying to solve our problems this way. Bigger houses. More money. Better clothes, and so on. But it is an impossible task. The solution is simple — we have to tame our mind. We have to learn patience. We have to discipline our expectations of perfection. The solution lies with us. All of this is easier said than done. One way to begin to work with our mind and to increase our patience is to spend some time just breathing, just relaxing, staying in the present. If you want a basic direction in breath meditation, find a simple one here: tinyurl.com/HLMeditation. HL E-mail your questions to askemma@healthylifect.com and check out her blog at www.healthylifect.com.

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family issues

Living With Dementia

experts say caregivers can’t forget to care for themselves by valerie foster

heresa Pizzarello knows all about dementia. A registered nurse, she is a geriatric care manager at Sterling Care Home Health Services in Greenwich. But it’s also personal: Her 86-year-old mother is suffering from moderate-to-severe dementia. For years, her dad was caring for her mom at home, with Pizzarello, her nine siblings and other relatives taking turns to help him out. A few months ago, they placed her mom in a nursing facility. “The situation is difficult,” Pizzarello says. “And I feel guilty. But I have to keep reminding myself that I have a husband, children, grandchildren that need me. At times I think I should quit everything and go help my mother. But I know I can’t really do that.” Pizzarello is a member of the sandwich generation. Her

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parents live three hours from her Greenwich home, which means she can’t just drop in to see how things are going. And since she works in the geriatric field, her siblings look to her for guidance on how to cope with their mother. “One of my nieces goes to visit my mother all the time, and my mother doesn’t recognize her,” Pizzarello says. “Then I show up and my mother remembers me. As I tell everyone, they cannot take anything personally, because it’s not personal. It’s just hard.” Which is why Jewish Family Services Home Companion in Stamford had Second Wind Dreams come to its headquarters to conduct Virtual Dementia Tours for caregivers. “One of the most important things a caregiver can learn about the disease is what their loved ones are going through,” says

More than 35 million people are living with some type of dementia. Isrella Knopf, director of senior services at JFS. “The more you know, the better prepared you are to take care of the person.” And prepared we all need to be, since the World Alzheimer Report recently noted that more than 35 million people are living with some type of dementia. The figure shocked scientists, who predicted a few years ago that the number of dementia patients was 10 percent lower. Add a new study from the University of Washington in Seattle that calls Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia, the fastest-growing threat to health in the United States. The World Alzheimer Report projects that without a medical breakthrough, dementia patients will nearly double over the next 20 years. According to Second Wind Dreams:  Someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 68 seconds in the United States.  Seven out of 10 Alzheimer’s patients live at home, with 75 percent of the care provided by family and friends.  The National Association of Elder Abuse and Neglect says the better educated the caregiver is about how to provide good care, the less likely they will abuse or neglect the patient.  More than 50 percent of caregivers admit to abusing their family member with Alzheimer’s. So what to do? All of HealthyLife’s experts agree on one point: Caregivers

need to take care of themselves. “If you don’t take care of yourself, you will never be able to care for someone else,” says Steven Katz, president of Sterling Care. “The statistics are high: More than 60 percent of caregivers wind up with mental or emotional strain or are clinically depressed.” He cites sleep deprivation as a huge issue for caregivers. “Caregivers are constantly being woken up, and when you are exhausted, there is no way that you can function as a caregiver,” he says. His suggestion: Hire someone to watch the patient during the night. Pizzarello adds that it’s important to get out of the house, even for a few hours, although she says an overnight or weekend reprieve is better. “You need a break,” she says. She also

What is dementia? Consider dementia the umbrella. The Mayo Clinic says that dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. Most associate dementia with memory loss, but if that is the only symptom, it is not dementia. Dementia indicates issues with at least two brain functions, such as memory loss, language loss or impaired judgment. It can make people confused, unable to remember other people, and even change personality and social behavior.

Much is still unknown about the cause of dementia. There are more than 100 types of dementia and as the disease progresses, it can become:  Alzheimer’s disease, the most common dementia in adults older than 65. It progresses slowly, usually over seven to 10 years, but eventually memory, movement, language, judgment, behavior and abstract thinking are affected.  Vascular dementia is the second most common dementia, the result of brain damage caused by

problems with the arteries serving your brain or heart. Symptoms begin suddenly, often after a stroke, and may occur in people with high blood pressure, or who have had previous strokes or heart attacks  Lewy body dementia affects approximately 20 percent of people with dementia, with symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s. Where it differs is that affected people have visual hallucinations, tremor and rigidity and often REM sleep behavior disorder — acting out dreams, causing thrashing or kicking during sleep.

 Pick’s Disease is more common in women, occurs at an early age and affects personality, orientation and behavior.  Huntington’s disease is inherited and causes certain nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to waste away. Signs and symptoms appear early, during the 30s or 40s. It can begin with personality changes at first — irritability, anxiety and depression — and progress to severe dementia. It also causes difficulty with walking and movement, weakness and clumsiness.

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family issues understands that often people are uncomfortable asking for help, but advises that if someone offers to help, accept it.

ing to hurt, and you probably didn’t see it coming,” says Knopf. “It’s OK to remind them who you are, but they still won’t remember. Move on. Never take it personally. And tomorrow may be different. They may recognize you.” Our experts say that long-term memory is always better than short term, so reminiscing about happy times is one way to communicate. It’s also important for caregivers to engage them in hobbies and interests that were once important. For example, for avid baseball fans talk about the sport or watch clips on TV. For gardeners, talk about flowers and plants or bring them into a garden. Show them old photos, a wonderful way to walk down memory lane. Music, singing and reading can also comfort the patient, and if they are able, take them for a walk or a trip to an art exhibit to see colors. And then there’s following directions. For example, a caregiver may say it’s time for bed and expect the patient to get ready. “That means nothing to someone with dementia,” Knopf says.

WHEN WORDS FAIL One of the major issues facing caregivers is communication. Jenna Sweet, the Northeast’s Certified Virtual Dementia Tour Facilitator for Second Wind Dreams, singles out memory. For example, she says you might ask the patient how she feels, and the response might be “blender,” said with a big smile. “They can’t find the word for good or happy,” Sweet says. “Word association has misfired.” “Dementia is a disease of the brain,” says Knopf. “Some days things are connecting. Other days things aren’t. It will vary from person to person. Engage them to where they are that day. How you see them one day is different from how they will be the next day.” And prepare yourself for the day when your loved one will not recognize you. “This is something that is go-

Instead, bring them into the bathroom and tell them it’s time to take a shower. She cautions about asking them if they want to take a shower because they will probably say no. Then tell them it’s time to brush their teeth, next wash their face, and finally put on pajamas. “You have to break everything down for them,” she adds. Whatever you do, our experts agree you should never argue. Stay in their reality and don’t try to correct them. When possible, just change the subject. Second Wind Dreams offers additional tips for dealing with dementia patients:  Always give them enough time to finish tasks.  When possible, cut down on noise and distractions, which can confuse or scare them.  When speaking to them, look in their eyes, get down to their level and speak slowly.  Create routines, allowing them to repeat things over and over

Walking in their shoes by valerie foster

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like being in control at all times. So the idea of donning various gear to simulate what it’s like to have dementia, although intriguing, was downright scary. Called a Virtual Dementia Tour, it was conducted at Jewish Family Services Home Companion in Stamford and led by Jenna Sweet of Second Wind Dreams. Sweet conducts these tours throughout the Northeast to give caregivers some understanding of what it’s like to have dementia. Sweet gave me: — Goggles to blur my vision, make me color blind and obscure my peripheral range; — A headset that constantly streamed chatter, doors shutting, bells, whistles and the occasional loud siren that had me cowering; — Bulky gloves to hinder my grasp; — And pads with spikes – yes spikes – to

put into my shoes to simulate neuropathy or arthritis. She led me and four others similarly decked out into a dark room. She took my hands, made eye contact with me, and asked me to perform five tasks. I could hardly understand a word she was saying because of the noise in my head, thanks to the headphones. The first task I heard loud and clear: Put on a white sweater. I never saw a white sweater but did see a white shawl, which felt soft, nice and warm on my shoulders. I remember thinking that Sweet got it wrong — she meant to say shawl. Piece of cake I thought, and went on to task No. 2: Set a table for four. I love to entertain and table setting is my thing. Not this day. Those horrid gloves made it next to impossible to separate the plates, let alone put them neatly in front of each chair. By the third place setting I was

again. This makes them feel safe.  A gitated behavior means a need is not being met. Try to figure out what they are trying to tell you.  Stay positive and encouraging. If the time comes when you cannot care for them at home, our experts say you should never feel guilty about seeking care outside the home. The facility will help you with this transition, sometimes recommending that you not visit your loved one until a routine is established. But be sure to surround them with family pictures and objects that will make them feel comfortable. During every phase of dementia, Katz suggests one sentence caregivers should repeat often: My loved one has a disease. “Caregivers often forget this because outwardly their loved one looks the same,” he says. HL

For a list of books to help children understand dementia go to www.healthylifect.com

muttering to myself and throwing plates, silverware and napkins onto the table. It looked like a table set by a 3-year-old. I couldn’t have cared less. I was so frustrated I felt tears beginning to form. Then I totally spaced. I had no idea what I was supposed to do next, and as I started shuffling to my right I realized the spikes were making me stoop over. My hands were clutching the ends of my shawl. I was beginning to go inward, into a world all my own. In less than 15 minutes, I had aged decades. But then I spotted a pitcher of water and decided to pour myself a glass. As water splashed over the rim of the glass, I wondered why I was pouring the water, since I wasn’t thirsty. Maybe I should put it at a table setting? Too much effort. Instead, I left it where it was and shuffled over to the next table, spotted a pad, and

remembered I was supposed to draw my family tree. Not easy with those gloves, but somehow four stick figures emerged. When I later looked at the drawing I realized I left myself out of my family portrait. I started to shuffle again, saw a bottle of pills, and kind of remembered I needed to put them in the pill holder. I managed to get three of the seven pills tucked inside. By this time my feet were killing me. I had no idea how many tasks I completed, but I didn’t care. I was done. I needed to sit down. As I removed all my gear, I realized my soft, warm shawl was actually a scratchy towel. When I got my report card from Sweet, I saw how poorly I really did. I was either following around the four other people in the room or was just wandering.

I don’t remember this at all. I was also doing their tasks: I was not told to pour the water. I totally forgot to fold six pairs of socks, but honestly, I would not have been able to wearing those gloves. The good news is that I didn’t hoard, something a few of the other people in the room did. It seems hoarding is a common habit for those with dementia. Sweet was very nice throughout my tour, patting me on the back and telling me what a good job I was doing. It is this encouragement that she says is so important for caregivers to provide. The experience made me tell my kids that if I am ever diagnosed with any form of dementia, to please make sure my clothes match and that I am not wearing a bathroom or kitchen item. And I swear I will be more patient with any loved one who develops dementia.

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stress

OVerwhElmed?

ExhauS ted?

FRustraTed? learning to delegate could change all that

by jennifer parris

elegating isn’t something that Read our comes easily to Claudia Sanders.  first-person “Ever since I was little, I have alaccount on ways been very independent,” says delegating on page 79. Sanders, a Brookfield resident and mom to her 7-year-old daughter, Lucy. “Coming from a big family, I learned how to do things on my own, and now I find it hard to give up control.” Not surprisingly, many women struggle to adequately delegate, both at work and at home. In a recent study from the Families and Work Institute, a leading national nonprofit research organization, many women feel that when it comes to getting things done, whether at the office or at home, it’s best if they do it themselves. Why? “Women are not natural at asserting themselves and can be afraid to ask for help, fearing they might sound wimpish, or, the other extreme, aggressive,” says Maud Purcell, Ph.D., a psychotherapist and founder of The Life Solution Center in Darien. They are also concerned that once assigned, the task wouldn’t be done correctly, or to their standards. And this also translates to the workplace. “Women have fought hard to achieve their positions in the workforce, and might be [reluctant] to delegate for fear that others will think

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Photos: RubberBall Productions/GettyImages. Family, Comstock Images/GettyImages.

they can’t do their jobs,” says away. After all, if you microSophie Abreu, Ph.D., a career manage, you’ve defeated the expert in Bridgeport. “In realpurpose of delegating, which ity, delegating at the office is a is to free up your time for sign of strength and epitomiztasks that can only be done es a good leader who utilizes by you. her staff’s strengths.” But what happens if afSo how can women learn ter finally handing over the to delegate? There are a few reins, the results are not steps to learn: what you expected? This  Evaluate tasks. Take a look is just another part of the at the project at hand and aslearning curve, says Purcell. sess what needs to be done, “No one is going to ever be soup to nuts. Then analyze able to pull off a project exwhat can only done by you, actly as you would,” notes suggests Abreu. “Ask yourPurcell. “This is an expected self, ‘Can anyone else do this, part of the delegating proor do you want to do this cess.” Maybe the report’s Why Delegating Is Good For You because it’s something you wording was not how you It lessens your stress Every item you add to your neverlove?’” says Abreu. would have phrased it or ending to-do list is an added stress. And by not delegat Find a good fit. Not all the PowerPoint presentation ing, you might start feeling overwhelmed and unhappy. In tasks can be done well by lacked a little finesse — or in turn, your health — and your job performance — can start all people, including you. So the case of home, that cleanto suffer. Delegating routine work not only will relieve keep in mind what everyone’s ing job lacked a little elbow some of your stress, but it will give you more time to do strengths and weaknesses grease. Stop and ask youryour job — and relax. are, and assign accordingly. If self if the outcome is good It increases your value Instead of being burdened with something requires strict atenough — this will require mundane tasks that others can perform, you can actually tention to detail, task it to the you to be as objective as boost your own potential by delegating. Having extra time detail-oriented person. That possible. After all, each perwill allow you to look for more challenging tasks that can way, everyone feels that their son brings something unique increase your skill sets or give you the opportunity to look own strengths are being recto the table, so be sure to for new opportunities for your team. ognized — and utilized. embrace their style without It builds your managerial skills Entrusting a teammate  Keep encouraging. Shortrejecting it outright. In fact, with a task means that you trust that she can complete it. sighted people (or short peotheir fresh input might even So instead of being responsible for your own work, you ple, like your children) might inspire you to tackle projects boost your own managerial skills by being accountable for have a hard time seeing the in a new light in the future. their work as well as your own. end goal. So break down a However, if the results are It strengthens your team Allowing members of your project into smaller sections, unacceptable (or worse, team (or your family) to showcase their skills, you’re not only to make it more wrong), set up a meeting giving them an opportunity to develop themselves even manageable, but to also help with your colleague (or sit further. It not only inspires loyalty, but it makes everyone those involved keep sight of down and talk to your family feel valued. the finish line, advises Purcell. member). Point out the arWhether it’s getting your kids eas that need improvement, to clean their room or getting and offer tips on how the your assistant to file those expense reports on time, present assignment or task can be completed more efficiently. And the task, and focus on the shared end goal. tweak your own delegating style, assessing which parts of  Give thanks. Once the tasks are completed, be sure to the project need a little more input from you and where you spotlight those who contributed to the cause. For example, can let your designee work more independently. But don’t take a few minutes out of the weekly meeting to thank evbe discouraged if your first attempts at delegating don’t go eryone for a job well done, or take your child out for a special smoothly. In time, you’ll develop the delegating skill set nectreat as a reward for making her bed for an entire week. essary to work at your optimal best. Delegating is a delicate dance, and like almost everything Even better, encouraging women to delegate tasks to their else in the workplace — or home — is a skill that must be colleagues as well as their family members — and to be conlearned. Once you decide on the project (or a part of it) that tent with the results — can help strengthen those relationneeds to be delegated, assess your team (or family memships in the future. And if the assignments aren’t completed bers) to match up the work with the person who can best to perfection — or to your exact standards? Says Sanders, complete it. Give specific instructions on how you would like who now delegates laundry-folding duties to her daughter: the task completed, and then do the hardest part — walk “I’ve learned that it’s OK.” HL

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my word

The ‘Good’ Mother by rebecca haynes

Photo: Erik Dreyer/GettyImages.

thought I was being a good mom. Aspiring to “take care” of my family I did my best to attend to their physical needs. I planned meals and did the grocery shopping, put home-cooked dinners on the table more days than not, and kept the house clean (OK, relatively!). And until the kids got a little older, I did all of the laundry for a family of five. Then, of course, came the smaller, myriad tasks moms do every day — all in addition to my paying job. Wow. Was I trying to be a martyr? (I’ll unequivocally deny it, if pressed.) After all, “I’m just a soul whose intentions are good,” as the song goes, but “oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.” I like to think that I was just a very misguided June Cleaver wannabe (and clearly stuck in a ’50s/’60s pop culture time warp). But now that the kids are grown I’ve begun to look at it differently — and come to a disturbing realization: I was a terrible delegator! What a revelation, you say. Was I that blind? Wanting to be a good mom may be an admirable goal, but my definition of “good” was not. Not only did my attempts to do it all keep me oftstressed, but I fear they did a disservice to the kids. I worry “doing it all” denied them the opportunity to master certain essential household chores. I also worry I wasn’t a proper role model: I don’t want them to go into relationships thinking the mom is supposed to do it all. Seriously, what was I thinking? Why wasn’t my first response to delegate? Hmmm…. I’m thinking the answer to that question would probably take years of therapy to uncover. My poor delegation skills are surely an annoyance for my husband, who, as a project manager, delegates all day long. And believe me, those skills don’t shut down when he’s home.

He can always come up with a project to delegate to somebody. So why has this talent eluded me, even when I recognized it was an issue I needed to correct? Sure, the kids did chores. They know how to clean up after dinner and how to clean the various rooms of the house — including their own, although they often had to be threatened before they did it. They’ve all scrubbed toilets and showers and bathtubs, dusted furniture, and mopped and swept floors. They just didn’t have to do it with regimented regularity. Laundry delegation I could handle (go figure!). Each of the kids began doing their own wash in their early teens. And I tried to delegate dinner-planning and cooking, but ran out of steam when it became a source of constant pestering to make it happen. Yes, my kids definitely know how to play me! Now, at 25, 22 and 18, I’m trying to assess whether my inadequate delegation skills have done them any lasting damage. So I start with the boys, both of whom have successfully grocery shopped, cooked and fed themselves while living in their own apartments. And with the exception of one year and one choice of two particularly slovenly roommates, even managed to keep said apartments relatively clean. One recent evening I wasn’t feeling well. After getting home from work and getting all of the main ingredients out for that night’s dinner, I decided I just couldn’t do it. So I called my daughter down from her room and said she was going to have to take over. And you know what happened? A nice, delicious dinner appeared on the table. Maybe I was a good mother after all. HL

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fashion

Move Over,

MOM Jeans how to pick the right denim style for your body type

Photo: PhotoAlto/Sigrid Olsson/GettyImages.

or as long as she can remember, Andrea Demers has worn high-waisted jeans. “Before I had my two children, I would wear stilettos and skinny jeans,” says the Redding mom. “Even though I know this isn’t the best look for me, I don’t even know how to dress my body anymore.” Demers is cursed with Mom Jean Syndrome — ill-fitting pants that do anything but flatter her figure. Jennifer Eve Eisner, a fashion stylist and image consultant in Greenwich, has seen this unfortunate trend hit too many women. “I think this has to do with two things: lack of knowledge about the fashionable way to wear denim and lack of time to shop for some flattering jeans,” she says. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to break out of the Momjeans rut, according to Tina Broccole, a wardrobe stylist and founder of Style by Tina, a personal styling, wardrobe editing and personal shopping service based in Fairfield County. “The most important thing to do is to truly be honest with yourself,”

by jennifer parris

says Broccole. Most likely, your body changed a little — OK, a lot — after having kids, and you have to learn to fit your body the way it is right now. But if you’re clueless about what’s hot, pick up any More than fashion magazine — most will offer a fashion spread showing current denim styles. Check of out some retail websites and pay close atwomen own at least one pair tention to what denim styles celebrities are of jeans wearing, too. Armed with all that info, you should grab Nearly your best friend and head to some stores own more than that carry great denim lines, such as GAP 10 but rotate or a larger department store. Eisner sugfour pairs on a gests setting aside a few hours for jeans regular basis shopping. Along with your best bud, find a — Shop Smart, knowledgeable sales associate who can help a division of you determine your body type and style. Plan on Consumer Reports trying on as many as 20 pairs of pants in varying styles — and sizes. As hard as it might be, don’t focus on the size, says Broccole. “It means nothing. It’s just a number and it will be different from

90%

25%

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fashion

The

Best Jeans for …

PETITE

PEAR SHAPE

APPLE SHAPE

HOURGLASS SHAPE

STRAIGHT OR ATHLETIC

 Colorful stretch skinny jean

 Stretch skinny jean with a contoured wasitband

A stretch denim that hugs (a straight leg or skinny) will showcase a slim thigh and leg and create curves

Many silhouettes flatter a petite figure but avoid a wide leg or too-baggy fit, or you may look like you’re drowning in denim.

3 4

 Slight bootcut with dark wash

3 4

4 5

 Cuts that run smaller in the waist than thigh, light wash

Darker washes will have an all-over slimming effect.

 Low-rise Boot cut

 A mid-rise or contoured waistband

Look for a contoured waistband to avoid a gap

2 3 4

3 4

Denim Don’ts... Don’t wear the wrong size. Too small will cut in at your waistband and create a muffin top. Too big can be unflattering and make you appear heavier. Don’t select jeans with long, low-hanging rear pockets. Too high and long can create a “mom jean” butt. Chose a high pocket to create lift. Don’t wear jeans that are too low. The “Thong Song” was so 2000.

Photos: Jeans, Emily Jahn; Woman, Dan Hallman/GettyImages.

Don’t be afraid to tailor to get just the right fit. Many times, the tiniest adjustment can make a big difference. Don’t wear matching denim on denim, unless it’s two different shades, i.e. dark jeans with a light denim top. That works. Don’t wear small pockets, if your rear is larger. The general rule is to choose a pocket that is at the center of the fullest part of your cheek. Sources: Bichi Fasso, department store assistant manager and Alexa Franze, denim buyer.

brand to brand.” According to the experts, the three most important points to keep in mind when shopping for jeans are fit, rise and wash. “Fit is important because you have to fit the widest part of your body first, whether that’s your waist, hips or thighs,” says Broccole. “Once you fit that part well, then you can tailor the other parts to fit you properly.” No matter what your body type, everyone looks good in a mid-rise, mid-width pant. Not only does it help control muffin top, by fitting well around the waist, but it adds length to your legs. And it’s best to avoid low-rise jeans, which not only bring up the question of age-appropriateness but also only work on a very thin frame. As for the wash of your jeans, a lighter wash can show off curves that you may — or may not — want to highlight. Or opt for a dark rinse, which looks good on everyone and is definitely more slimming. Here are the jeans to pick if you’re: Heavy on the bottom — A mid-rise, mid-width pant with a straight leg works best for this body type. You can even wear pants with a small flare, but the flare should start past the knee, not right at the knee. Heavy on the top — Luckily, you can pretty much wear any type of jeans. Straight leg, flared jeans work great, as do jeans with pockets on the posterior to help build volume without adding bulk. You can also wear jeans with decorations, embellishments or stitching to highlight your legs. Heavy in the midsection — The best option is a boot cut pair of jeans, which will help to balance out the weight in the middle by adding a little more volume. A flare can also work well for this body type. Boy shaped — If you’re straight up and down, a skinny jean or flared jeans are good options. Once you’ve picked out the best jeans for you, it’s a good idea to make an investment. Buy at least three or more pairs, and splurge on tailoring. Go to your tailor or local dry cleaner and bring along the shoes you plan to wear with each pair. That way, whether you’re wearing ballet flats or your Louboutins, both you — and your jeans — will always look great. One mom who moved up from Mom jeans to a more chic style is Heather Sacco. A Danbury native, Sacco used to wear jeans that didn’t exactly flatter her figure. But after a recent shopping trip with her daughter, Nicole, she realized that fit truly does make all the difference. “I tried on a pair of jeans in Old Navy of all places and was shocked to realize that, not only did I have a waist, but that my legs looked twice as long in the proper fit!” says Sacco, who went home and ditched all the Mom-jean offenders. “Just because I’m a mom doesn’t mean I have to dress like one.” HL

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our psyche

GUILTY As

Charged by merci miglino

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when in reality they might just be pleasures without the guilt.” “Over time,” adds Goldsmith, “people just adopt this association between guilt and pleasure. And now, if we feel guilty doing something, we almost expect to like it more. However, this doesn’t ring true for all activities or products.” Think vacuuming your house, for instance. “It really only happens where that relationship between guilt and pleasure is relevant … and perceived as pleasurable,” says Goldsmith. Some of this delicate dance stems from the often-forbidden nature of a particular pleasure.

why we all keep some of our pleasures secret

Photo: Junos/GettyImages.

e all have them even if we don’t want to admit them: those delightful distractions known as guilty pleasures that make us feel good and bad at the same time. They might include such things as eating chocolate and sleeping late or watching non-stop episodes of Honey Boo Boo or The Real Housewives of (Fill-in the-Blank). The question is why do we feel the need to keep them secret? And why do we so often — paradoxically — berate ourselves for what we just enjoyed? At least one of the reasons, research suggests, is that pleasure and guilt apparently go hand in hand. “When we experience guilt, we oftentimes also experience pleasure,” says Professor Kelly Goldsmith, Ph.D., author of Getting More Out of Guilty Pleasures, which is based on several studies she conducted at Stanford University. “If we eat a little bit of chocolate cake, we feel a little guilty after doing it. If we get excited after looking at online dating profiles, we feel a little bit guilty for doing it at work or for doing it at all. This is called ‘repeated coactivation.’ That is, when we experience guilt, we also experience pleasure,” explains Goldsmith. This association between guilt and pleasure is often reinforced by external sources such as the media and advertising. “For example, we see this sinful, indulgent chocolate messaging everywhere. There’s a lot of advertisements linking guilt or sin or indulgence,” says Goldsmith. “So there’s lots of external reinforcement that guilty pleasures are real,

(Think vacuuming again.) Ignoring the prohibition of eating dessert while you’re on a diet, for instance, increases the guilt, the pleasure and the likelihood that you will repeat the activity. Norwalk Community College Psychology Professor William Grodman, Ph.D., says there is both a psychological and neurobiological explanation for the repeated behavior of indulging. “Once the brain is reinforced or rewarded, the pleasure centers of the brain are activated and we want more of it. So it is also biological,” says Grodman, who is also a clinical psychologist. “Which explains a little about why, when we know that something is bad for us, it doesn’t necessarily prevent us or inhibit us from doing it. That could be because guilty pleasures tend to be occasional and the result of ‘intermittent reinforcement,’ which is when you receive some type of reward just often enough to keep you doing it. So when you have chocolate every three or four times versus every time it increases the behavior more.”

ntire businesses are based on the guilt-pleasure principle and the intermittent reinforcement that goes with it, including the Chocolate Rain Shop in Norwalk. Co-owner Diana Gould says her customers want to reward themselves or “put a smile on their face with a fine piece of chocolate or candy.” “There is some guilt there but the overall experience is one of pleasure,” says Gould, who notes that chocolate stimulates the brain’s opioid production, which diminishes pain and enhances pleasure, providing an overall sense of well-being. “Most people know that chocolate, for example, is not entirely bad for you. A little dark chocolate even has health benefits and we sell as much dark chocolate as other kinds.” New Milford health coach Patti Garland agrees with Gould, adding that the connection between depriving ourselves of harmless pleasures and the tendency to overindulge is one we can break if we want. “I don’t believe in deprivation,” says Garland. “I’d rather see a client eat some super-expensive piece of fabulous chocolate as opposed to five or six ordinary cookies from a box. If that would be more satisfying in the moment, I say go for it. I encourage people to find something that they feel is decadent … and enjoy it.” Overall, Garland is not concerned with the guilt-pleasure conundrum — in moderation. “If it lights our fire to associate a little bit of guilt with indulgence, if that’s what makes it jazzy for us, then we need to find a healthy way to do that,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be a way of depriving ourselves. It has to be all things in moderation.” HL

what you said...

Guilty Pleasures – What’s Yours? It’s easier than you think to get folks to admit to their guilty pleasures. Whether it’s eating junk food or giggling at crude humor on Family Guy, we appreciate our indulgences, as they give us a sense of power and a vicarious thrill — all at the same time! HealthyLife made some phone calls and posted a question on Facebook, asking people to tell us about their guilty pleasures. Here are a few of their responses:  Watching TV in bed:) — Kelly S.

20/20, Dateline etc. — Christina B.

 Art supplies and books... all sorts! — Tracy C.

 Everyone I know is shocked to discover I adore Will Ferrell! I don’t even watch movies or TV as a rule and only read non-fiction but will take the afternoon off if I come across a Will Ferrell flick. — Lorna P.

 Buying my new car with all the bells and whistles. — Cindy M.  White chocolate, macadamia nut cookies from Subway. Sometimes I just get lunch at Subway for the cookies. — Robert B.  Books, fresh-cut flowers, and Miss Vickie’s Salt and Vinegar chips. — Rob S.  Dark Chocolate Covered Caramel with Salt on top. — Lori K.  Really good apple pie for breakfast always puts a smile on my face. — Sarah F.  Watching court dramas,

 Comedy… I Love Lucy, Will and Grace and I own every Mel Brooks movie ever made and have worn out my copy of The Bird Cage. — Sybil B.  Frozen Yogurt. Any flavor except chocolate which my friends just don’t understand. — Laurie L.  Shady Glen cheeseburgers. It’s a place in Manchester known for its burgers. They fry the cheese on the grill. — Kathy G.

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Loredana Trandu by rebecca haynes | photo by krista hicks benson

oredana Trandu probably wouldn’t have the happy life she now enjoys without the hardships that came before. The 40-year-old Fairfield resident lived through the communist regime in Romania and later suffered from depression and anxiety. But she found her way through it all and, in the aftermath, discovered inner peace and love. Happily married, she and her husband, Christopher Constand, celebrated their one-year anniversary in May. Theirs is a personal and professional commitment. In April of 2012, just a month before they wed, they opened Transcend: Mind/Body Training & Beyond in Fairfield. Here, Trandu shares her passion for balancing fitness of the body and mind. A licensed psychotherapist, yoga teacher (and faithful practitioner) and personal trainer, she has taken an unusual journey to get where she is today (read about that journey in a longer version of this Q&A at www.healthylifect.com). “I think I have a story to tell that would be helpful to others,” she says. “I’ve walked in those shoes [of depression and anxiety], but now I’m walking in different ones. And I feel I can take people on that path and guide them [to a better life].” You came to the U.S. as a teenager. How difficult was the adjustment to a new country? I was 17 and a half and it was hard, because I didn’t speak any English when I came. I took ESL classes. You learned by watching TV and just being immersed in the language. We didn’t have a choice, really. We were here and we had to learn it! But it was a tough adjustment and really a loss of identity for me. The thing that saved me was tennis. I was a professional player in Romania so I joined the team at Stamford High School and was the number one singles player. So fitness has always been important to you? Yes. First out of necessity because I was an athlete, so we had to be disciplined. But I found that my self-discipline was excessive, in

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an extreme kind of way. So I had to find my way to balance. Explain what you mean by balance? …it became very obvious to me having been just the athlete, or just the mind person, or the yogi, that it was very important to have all of these components working together to become a whole healthy human being. You say you practice mindful fitness? Yes. Mindful fitness is not so much goal-oriented, because I want to lose a certain amount of weight. …it’s about reconnecting to your body in a healthy way. How do you spend your free time? I don’t have much free time! But I do love going on hikes with my husband. … We both love to try new things. We never give each other actual stuff for gifts. We give each other trips. We love exploring together! HL Clothing and accessories provided by Ann Taylor, 97 Main St., Westport, (203) 227-7557, anntaylor.com. Hair and makeup provided by the Christopher Noland Salon and Beauty Spa, 124 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, (203) 622-4247, christo phernoland.com; Christopher Noland, stylist; Elena Hristu, makeup. Cover and inside model photographs taken at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield, 314 Unquowa Road, (203) 259-0416, ctaudubon.org.

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